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(11) | EP 1 705 327 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Suspension guide for sliding doors |
| (57) The suspension guide for sliding doors is formed from channel-shaped steel profiles
(30.1, 30.2) disposed one following the other. A first lateral wall (32) of each channel
profile (30.1, 30.2) is intended to be fixed to the relative constructional support
element, whereas the second lateral wall (34) is bent outwards and downwards to create
both a longitudinal slide track for the support wheels of the sliding door and a lowerly
open longitudinal groove (36) for fixing, to the adjacent end portions of contiguous
channel profiles (30.1, 30.2), a male element (40) and respectively a female element
(44) which are able to mate in a longitudinal direction to ensure alignment between
the various parts (34) forming the slide track. Joint cover means (54) can be provided
to at least partially reestablish the structural continuity of the first lateral wall
(32) of the various channel profiles (30.1, 30.2).
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[0002] Sliding doors are known to be normally suspended from a horizontal suspension guide, fixed to the building or the like in which the aperture to be closed by said door is contained. In this respect, this latter can slide along said guide between a closed position and a maximum opening position. Door sliding is facilitated by being suspended from the guide via two or more wheels rotatably fixed to the door and able to slide along the guide, this considerably reducing the force required to open and close the door.
[0003] A known suspension guide for sliding doors is shown schematically in cross-section in the accompanying Figure 1. As can be seen, this guide (indicated overall by 10) is very simple, consisting essentially of one or more steel channel profiles 12, the two lateral walls of the channel having different heights though. The individual profile 12 is fixed directly to the relative constructional support element 14 by suitable fixing means (for example expansion bolts). The free longitudinal edge 18 of that lateral wall of the channel profile 12 which is of lesser height forms a slide track for wheels 20 (one of which is visible in Figure 1) comprising a circumferential groove 22 into which the free edge 18 of the profile 12 enters. The wheels 20 are mounted idle on a relative pin, to one end of which there is fixed the upper end of a hanger 24, from the lower end of which a door 26 is suspended. As will be apparent observing Figure 1, the guide 10 is very simple and can be advantageous because of the ease with which it can be constructed and applied to the constructional elements (in particular walls and beams) of a building. It also enables the door 26 to slide easily. However, the guide 10 has certain drawbacks in that it can easily bend and twist when under load (i.e. the profile 12 tends to open out).
[0004] In a variant of the guide 10, a round steel bar (not shown) is welded to the free longitudinal edge 18 of the profile 12, after being milled longitudinally and the longitudinal edge 18 inserted into the milled slot. In addition to reinforcing the profile 12 (so preventing or at least substantially limiting its said tendency to "open out"), this solution improves sliding of the wheels 20.
[0005] For the same purpose, another variant (also not shown) of the guide 10 has the free edge 18 of the profile 12 bent inwards and then downwards to form a slide rib for the wheels 20, this rib presenting in cross-section a shape which matches the groove 22 in the wheels. Because of this matching shape, the wheels 20 not only slide more easily but also have a longer life.
[0006] However the guide 10, even in its two aforedescribed variants, presents a considerable problem due to the fact that its dimensional construction tolerances are of an order of magnitude greater than that generally offered by the constructional brickwork or reinforced concrete elements to which they are fixed. For doors of considerable width, the guide cannot be made in one piece for transport reasons, because of which it has to be composed of two or more channel profiles disposed one following the other. When installing such a guide, frequent difficulties are encountered in aligning the profiles 12, and in particular the various portions of the slide track, with the formation of vertical or horizontal steps which make door sliding more difficult, in addition to resulting with time in greater wear of the wheels supporting the sliding door.
[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a guide of the aforesaid type which does not present these latter drawbacks.
[0008] This object is attained according to the present invention by a guide of the type comprising two or more channel-shaped steel profiles disposed one following the other, a first lateral wall of each channel profile being intended to be fixed to the relative constructional support element, characterised in that the second lateral wall of each channel profile is bent outwards and downwards to create both a longitudinal slide track for the support wheels of the sliding door and a lowerly open longitudinal groove for fixing, to the adjacent end portions of two contiguous channel profiles, a male element and respectively a female element which are able to mate in a longitudinal direction to ensure alignment between the various parts forming the slide track.
[0009] Conveniently said first lateral wall of each channel profile has a greater height than its second lateral wall, in order to facilitate fixing of the guide to the relative constructional support element.
[0010] Again conveniently, joint cover means are provided to at least partially re-establish the structural continuity of the first lateral wall of the channel profiles.
[0011] Preferably, said first lateral wall of the channel profiles presents a longitudinal bend which significantly reinforces said wall and consequently the overall guide. In particular, said bend can be shaped such as to distance, while still maintaining it vertical, that part of the first wall above the bend from the vertical surface of the constructional support element, such as to obtain an upperly open longitudinal space, into the space there being insertable at least a portion of a piece of steel profile bar fixable by screws (in the manner of a joint cover) to the first wall of each of the two consecutive channel profiles.
[0012] Preferably said piece of profile bar has an inverted L cross-section, its vertical flange forming the portion insertable into said space, whereas its horizontal flange rests on the upper edge of said first wall of the channel profile.
[0013] The invention will be more apparent from the ensuing description of one embodiment thereof given by way of example. In this description reference is made to Figures from 2 to 4 of the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of a joint between two consecutive profiles of a horizontal guide for sliding doors;
Figure 3 is a side view thereof in the direction of the arrow 3 of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-section therethrough taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;
Figures 5 and 6 are reduced cross-sections through two variants of profiles usable for the guide of the invention.
[0014] Figure 2 shows two of the channel profiles forming a guide according to the present invention, the two profiles being indicated by 30.1 and 30.2. As can be seen, the profiles 30.1 and 30.2 have their two lateral walls of different heights, a first lateral wall 32 being of much greater height than the second lateral wall 34. In particular, the second wall 34 is bent outwards and then downwards (as best seen from Figure 4) to form a lowerly open longitudinal groove 36, the bend also contributing to significantly strengthening the relative profile. The width of the groove 36 is chosen to receive and retain in position, along the relative end portion of a channel profile 30.1, a male element 40 provided with a longitudinally projecting peg 42 arranged to mate (as can be seen in Figure 3) with a female element 44 received and retained in position along the corresponding end portion 36 of the adjacent profile 30.2. The male element 40 and female element 44 can be conveniently fixed in position by weld spots.
[0015] As can be seen, the bending of the second lateral wall 34 of each channel profile (30.1 and 30.2) of the guide also creates a slide track which, in cross-section, presents a profile which matches the groove in sliding door support wheels (not shown).
[0016] The channel profiles (30.1 and 30.2) are fixed to the constructional support element (not shown for simplicity, but consisting for example of a reinforced concrete beam or a brick wall) in this specific case by expansion bolts, the screws (not shown) of which are inserted through holes 50 provided for this purpose in the profiles 30.1 and 30.2.
[0017] As can be seen from Figures 2-4, the first lateral wall 32 (of greater height) of the profiles 30.1 and 30.2 presents a longitudinal bend 46 which distances that part 48 of the first lateral wall 32 lying above the end 46 from the vertical surface of the constructional support element, while maintaining it vertical.
[0018] The bend 46 results in a space 31 (see Figure 4) between the relative vertical face 33 of the constructional support element to which the guide is fixed, and the upper part 48 of the first wall 32 of the profiles 30.1 and 30.2. The space 31 extends longitudinally and is upperly open, making it possible to insert therein one side of a piece 54 of angle iron acting essentially as a joint cover and fixable to each of the two profiles 30.1 and 30.2 by screws 52 insertable into suitable threaded holes 56 provided through the piece 54 and through corresponding holes 58 provided in the top 48 of the first lateral wall 32 of each of the two profiles 30.1 and 30.2.
[0019] It should be noted that the space 31 and through holes similar to the holes 58 can be used to fix other accessories to the guide, and in particular elements similar to the piece of angle iron 54 but with a wider horizontal flange, enabling a finishing cover for the guide to be supported.
[0020] As will be apparent from the aforegoing, the cooperation between the male element 40 and female element 44 enables the upper edge of the second lateral walls 34 of the two channel profiles 30.1 and 30.2 to be perfectly aligned, even if there are irregularities in the vertical face of the constructional support element to which the guide is fixed. This enables a slide track for the sliding door suspension wheels to be obtained which is free of vertical or horizontal steps, hence avoiding impediments or resistance to door sliding. Moreover the absence of steps means that the door support wheels have a longer life. It should also be noted that the cooperation between the male element 40 and female element 44 and the presence of the joint cover 54 enable good structural continuity to be obtained between two consecutive channel profiles 30.1 and 30.2 of the slide guide.
[0021] In conclusion, it should be noted that the longitudinal bend provided in the first lateral wall of the profiles used can have a different form than that indicated by 46 for the profiles 30.1 and 30.2. In particular, this stiffening bend could be shaped for example as shown in Figures 5 and 6, in which it is indicated respectively by 46A and 46B. It should however be stated that in these two cases it is not possible to use the joint cover 54, which however is not always required. If it is required, a joint cover suitable for the situation can be made, of a type well known to the structural steel expert.
1. A suspension guide for sliding doors, comprising two or more channel-shaped steel
profiles disposed one following the other, a first lateral wall of each channel profile
being intended to be fixed to the relative constructional support element, characterised in that the second lateral wall of each channel profile is bent outwards and downwards to
create both a longitudinal slide track for the support wheels of the sliding door
and a lowerly open longitudinal groove for fixing, to the adjacent end portions of
two contiguous channel profiles, a male element and respectively a female element
which are able to mate in a longitudinal direction to ensure alignment between the
various parts (34) forming the slide track.
2. A guide as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first lateral wall (32) of each channel
profile (30.1, 30.2) has a greater height than its second lateral wall (34).
3. A guide as claimed in claim 1, wherein joint cover means (54) are provided to at least
partially re-establish the structural continuity of the first lateral wall (32) of
the channel profiles (30.1, 30.2).
4. A guide as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first lateral wall (32) of each channel
profile (30.1, 30.2) presents a longitudinal stiffening bend (46, 46A, 46B).
5. A guide as claimed in claim 4, wherein the longitudinal stiffening bend (46) is shaped
such as to distance, while still maintaining it vertical, that part (48) of the first
lateral wall (32) above said bend (46) from the vertical surface (33) of the constructional
support element, to obtain an upperly open longitudinal space (31), into the space
(31) there being insertable a portion of a piece of steel profile bar (54) fixable
by screws (52) to each of the two consecutive channel profiles (30.1, 30.2).
6. A guide as claimed in claim 5, wherein the piece of profile bar (54) has an inverted
L cross-section, one flange of which is insertable into the space (31), whereas its
other flange rests on the upper edge of the first wall (32) of relative channel profiles
(30.1, 30.2).
7. A guide as claimed in claim 1, wherein the male element (40) and the female element
(44) are insertable into the relative groove (36) by slight forcing, and are fixed
in position by welding.