[0001] This invention relates to a device for supporting and anchoring in a hanging condition
the door panel in a counter-frame for retractable sliding doors.
Field of the invention
[0002] The proposal finds particular but not exclusive application in the sector of the
industry for the production of accessories for window and door frames, particularly
window and door frames of sliding type.
[0003] With reference to the door frames, the sliding doors of retractable type are structured
in such a way as to include a series of fixed elements, intended to be integrated
in the load-bearing structure, and a series of movable elements, which are intended
to be used during the installation phase of the door and then removed subsequently.
Substantially, a counter-frame is integrated in the load-bearing structure, which
can be of plaster or plasterboard type. The mentioned fixed elements are provided
to be associated to the load-bearing structure and include at least one case or large
case intended to be the structure within which the door panel will be contained once
the same has been slid up to the opening position, together with a rabbet stanchion
intended to be anchored to the wall at the vertical profile of the doorcase opposite
to the one for positioning the mentioned case, in such a way as to allow the door
itself to go into abutment against it when in the closing position. Moreover, above
the same case a longitudinal guide is engaged, being screwed to said load-bearing
structure. In order to allow the actual opening and closing movement of the door,
the presence of a sliding track is conventionally provided to which the door panel
is suspended by means of convenient means. In order to allow the opening and closing
movement of the door, the sliding track, placed at the upper part of the case structure,
is usually equipped with sliding means usually of the trolley type to which, by means
of conventional threaded means, the upper edge of the door is joined by means of appropriate
devices for the support and anchorage of the door panel.
Prior art
[0004] The technical panorama shows several solutions of devices for the support and anchorage
of door panels in a counter-frame for sliding doors. A brief and not in-depth research
within the patent literature has allowed to find at least the following documents:
D1: JP6146726 (Yamamoto)
D2: ITFO2001A000009 (Scrigno)
D3: ITTV2007A000007 (DE Faveri)
[0005] D1 proposes to facilitate the adjustment in height of the door panel relatively to
the guide track and to prevent the possibility of loosening caused by a prolonged
use. The solution provides a lever body consisting of a vertical screw jointed to
a threaded seat with an assembly seat assembled on the surface of the upper edge of
the door panel. A suspension and support means, of the sliding type, is placed on
the sliding track and is connected to the upper part of the rod of the screw of the
lever body, which can rotate around an axis. A locking seat is obtained in the end
part of a through-hole through which said rod of the suspension and support means
is inserted. Moreover, a protruding locking means of the type engageable and disengageable
from a locking seat is obtained at the upper part of the end of said rod. The length
of the threaded lever body, placed between the suspension and support element and
the door panel is provided to be capable of being adjusted through the rotation of
the screw of the lever body so that the mentioned protruding locking means during
the assembly of the door panel is released from said locking seat, and then successively
constrained to said locking seat.
[0006] In D2 the upper edge of the door panel is provided with appropriate seats, placed
at each of the two side ends of the same mentioned upper edge. Within each seat a
supporting device is positioned comprising a guide, consisting of a metallic section
bar with a "C"-shaped section and provided with holes for the engagement of threaded
fixing means by means of which the anchorage is obtained of each guide to the corresponding
seat of the door panel. Inside the mentioned guide two metallic wedges with 45 degree
oblique cut are placed which are reciprocally engaged by means of a threaded fixing
means, where the reciprocal clamping by means of the same mentioned threaded fixing
means causes them to ward off towards two opposite sides of said guide and thus to
lock the ensemble. One of the two wedges is provided to be equipped with an orthogonally
through hole for the engagement of a threaded pin of the type equipped with head intended
to be screwed on the corresponding threaded seat of which the sliding trolley is provided
with, which sliding trolley supports the door panel to the guide track.
[0007] Also in D3 an improved support and anchorage device for sliding doors is described.
More particularly it consists of a guide profile of the type with "C"-shaped section,
provided with at least one through-hole for the engagement of the same to the upper
edge of the panel of a sliding door and further provided, at one side wall at least,
with at least one seat for a tooth which is present in at least one movable lever,
equipped with a spring, forming part of a door-pin small block comprising a shaped
body equipped with at least one retaining pin for the movable lever and at least one
through-hole for a threaded pin of the type equipped with head.
Drawbacks
[0008] Even though the technique has evolved, in the opinion of the applicant, the current
known solutions of support and anchorage devices for door panel in a counter-frame
for sliding doors still have some limitations.
[0009] A first limitation which has no solution so far in the technical panorama of the
support and anchorage devices for sliding doors, consists in the difficulty of positioning
and following locking of the door-pin device inside the guide profile.
In particular the applicant believes that the positioning of the device, for example
of the one described in D2 because it substantially consists of two wedges which are
in a loose condition in the insertion phase, is complex and particularly difficult
requiring a preventive manual alignment. In the same way, there seems to be the same
disadvantage as in the solution shown in D3 and maybe even in a more increased way
because the spring lever present in the lower part would represent an additional obstacle
to the linear insertion of the so configured device.
[0010] A second limitation of the current solutions of support and anchorage devices for
sliding doors, also relates to the difficulty they have for a following removal of
the door-pin device from the guide profile. In other words, in the solution described
in both D2 and D3, it is necessary to operate in the presence of a screw, for determining
the locking, in a position difficult to access, rotating several times in an uncomfortable
way, and so much as to allow the sufficient loosening of the wedge-shaped or lever
retaining devices which determine the locking of the device.
[0011] A third limitation consists in the difficulty to obtain an optimal support of the
sliding door avoiding the disadvantage that the loosening of the door-pin device may
cause an undesired sliding of the same inside the guide profile with inevitable negative
repercussions for the stability of the corresponding panel of the sliding door, which
circumstances contribute to make the movement of said door panel particularly noisy.
[0012] In relation to the above the need emerges to identify alternative and more functional
solutions with respect to the current ones.
[0013] This invention aims at providing a device for the support and anchorage in a hanging
condition of the door panel in a counter-frame for sliding doors which allows to improve
the positioning and the removal of the door-pin device within the guide profile, at
the same time optimizing the anchorage and support conditions.
Brief description of the invention
[0014] This and other aims are achieved by the present invention according to the characteristics
as per the appended claims, solving the above problems through a device for the support
and anchorage (10) in a hanging condition, of the door panel (20) in a counter-frame
for sliding doors, which consists of a mechanical hooking obtained by means of a protruding
fixing movable tooth (130, 140) which is hinged on a body (110) which slides within
a metallic section bar (100) and is left to fall unscrewing a dowel screw (150) which
supports it, and is inserted in a slit (101) obtained in the fixed section bar (100)
and is successively locked by the same dowel screw (150) which prevents its exit from
said slit (101).
Aims
[0015] In this way, through the appreciable creative contribution whose effect constitutes
an immediate technical progress, some advantageous aims are achieved.
[0016] A first advantageous aim consists in realizing a support and anchorage device for
door panel which assures a locking having considerable resistance against accidental
sliding, due to strong impacts of the door panel at the end of stroke, and which does
not need clamping controls due to a possible loosening of the locking provoked by
vibrations, transmitted by the normal sliding of the door panel, at the same time
ensuring an optimal anchorage and support of the door panel, facilitating the necessary
operations for the positioning and the possible removal of the door-pin small block
from inside the guide profile.
[0017] A second advantageous aim consists in the realization of an improved support and
anchorage device for sliding doors in which the position can be predetermined of the
door-pin small block within the guide profile.
[0018] Another advantageous aim consists in the realization of an improved support and anchorage
device for sliding doors which allows to reduce the installation time of the same,
consequently, contributing to contain the costs related to such an operation. In particular,
the insertion phase of the movable bracket inside the fixed bracket is rendered more
comfortable, and at the same time the removal phase is rendered easier, without the
need to pay particular attention in the alignment, as the movable bracket forms a
single stable body together with the lever which integrates the hooking tooth.
[0019] These and other advantages will appear from the following detailed description of
at least one preferred solution with the aid of the enclosed schematic drawings.
Brief description of the drawings
[0020]
Figure 1 represents a whole top view of the device for the support and anchorage in
a hanging condition of the door panel according to the invention, in an installed
condition along the upper side of the door panel;
Figure 2 represents an exploded view of the device for the support and anchorage of
Figure 1 and of the door panel;
Figure 3 is an axonometric view of the movable bracket body;
Figure 4 represents a top view of the device for the support and anchorage of Figure
1;
Figure 5 represents a longitudinal sectional view of the device for the support and
anchorage according to the object of the present invention, according to the section
A-A of Figure 4, in a release condition of the lever with hooking tooth;
Figure 6 is a local view of the hooking lever of the device for the support and anchorage
according to the object of the present invention;
Figure 7 represents a top view of the object of the present invention;
Figure 8 represents a longitudinal sectional view of the device for the support and
anchorage according to the object of the present invention, according to the section
B-B of Figure 7, in an engagement condition of the lever with hooking tooth;
Finally, Figure 9 is a local view of the lever with hooking tooth, in a locking condition
of the device for the support and anchorage in a hanging condition.
Practical example of embodiment
[0021] The device for the support and anchorage in a hanging condition (10) of the door
panel (20) (Fig. 1), in a counter-frame for sliding doors, substantially consists
of a fixed guide bracket (100), a movable bracket body (110) having substantially
square section, an adjusting screw (120) for the connection to the sliding trolley
along the track, which adjusting screw (120) is substantially perpendicular and passing
through with respect to said movable bracket (110), a lever (130) with hooking tooth
(140) where said lever is hinged with respect to the movable bracket (110), a dowel
(150) screwing at the front head (111) in at least one of the two threaded seats (112,
113) each passing through said front head (111) of the movable bracket (110) in such
a way as to communicate with the housing recess (114) for said lever (130) with hooking
tooth (140).
[0022] The device for the support and anchorage in a hanging condition (10) is conceived
to allow the anchorage of a door panel (20) of a sliding door and for the connection
and fixing of the sliding trolleys along the track joined to the crosspiece, in a
counter-frame for sliding door to the door panel (20), as close as possible to the
track of the same counter-frame, thus leaving a space as short as possible between
the track and the door panel (20) and thus without using the normal support brackets,
screwed along the upper side of the door panel (20) which namely protrude from the
perimeter of encumbrance of the same panel.
[0023] The device for the support and anchorage in a hanging condition (10) consists of
a mechanical hooking obtained by means of a hooking tooth (140) which protrudes with
respect to the movable bracket (110) and which, hinged on the body of said movable
bracket (110) by means of the lever (130), is capable to oscillate from a locking
position, Figure 9, to an unlocking position, Figure 6, with respect to the fixed
guide bracket (100). In more detail, the movable bracket (110) in an installation
phase slides inside the fixed guide bracket (100), which consists of a metallic section
bar with "C"-shaped section, so that the lever (130) which is left to fall unscrewing
the dowel screw (150) from the seat (113), makes the relative tooth (140) enter at
least one slit (101) (Fig. 9) which is obtained at the bottom (102) of the fixed guide
bracket (100). In this condition the lever (130) with the hooking tooth (140) is then
locked by the same dowel screw (150) which prevents the exit from this slit (101),
moving said dowel screw (150) in the upper threaded seat (112). The insertion of the
movable bracket body (110) along the fixed guide bracket body (100) can be also carried
out with the dowel (150) already unscrewed and removed with respect to the seat (113),
simply pushing the movable bracket body (110) inside the longitudinal housing in the
fixed guide bracket (100).
[0024] As for the lever (130) (Fig. 5), it consists of a monolithic body, housed inside
the recess (114) which is obtained along the base side of the movable bracket (110)
facing the bottom (102) of the underlying fixed guide bracket (100). Said lever (130)
is hinged with one end inside the recess (114) and with respect to the movable bracket
(110) in such a way that its oscillation allows the front end (131) of the lever (130),
opposed with respect to the pivoting lever which is provided with a hooking tooth
(140), to protrude with respect to said recess (114) to enter the slit (101) at the
underlying fixed guide bracket (100). More in particular the front end (131) of the
lever (130) includes the hooking tooth (140) which faces the underlying fixed guide
bracket (100) while the head side (134) of the lever (130) against which the dowel
screw abuts (150) includes two inclined planes (132, 133) oriented in opposite directions
(Fig. 6), against each of which depending on the required operativeness, said dowel
screw abuts (150) in such a way that at the lower inclined plane (132) the lever (130)
and the relative hooking tooth (140) raise, while varying the position of said dowel
screw (150) moving it from the lower threaded seat (113) inside the upper seat (112),
it progressively abuts at the upper inclined plane (133) in such a way as to push
the lever (130) with the hooking tooth (140) over the edge of said recess (114) in
order to make said hooking tooth (140) enter the slit (101) of the underlying fixed
guide bracket (100). In this position, the front end of the lever (131) with the locking
seat (135) of the dowel (150) is placed in a nearly aligned position to the upper
threaded seat (112) in such a way as to let the dowel (150) in a screwed condition
determine the stop of the oscillation movement of said lever (130), through the overlap
of the dowel (150) in said locking seat (135).
[0025] Operatively, in the insertion phase of the movable bracket body (110) into the fixed
guide bracket (100), the dowel screw (150) maintains the lever (130) with hooking
tooth (140) in a raised position, which lever is hinged by means of the metal peg
to the movable bracket body (110). Once arrived at the locking position, which can
be predetermined, for example by a clamp for movable bracket body (110), the dowel
screw is unscrewed (150) from said lower holed and threaded seat (113) which is at
the head of the movable bracket body (110). In this way the lever (130) with hooking
tooth (140) rotates downwardly and the hooking tooth (140) goes inside the fissure
or slit (101) present on the bottom (102) of the fixed guide bracket (100). The dowel
screw (150) is then screwed in order to lock the lever (130) and the hooking tooth
(140) in the closing position.
References:
[0026]
(10) device for the support and anchorage in a hanging condition
(20) door panel
(100) fixed guide bracket
(101) slit
(102) bottom of the fixed guide bracket
(110) movable bracket
(111) front head
(112, 113) threaded seats
(114) recess
(120) adjusting screw for the connection to the trolley
(130) lever
(131) front end of the lever
(132, 133) inclined planes
(134) head side of the lever
(135) lever locking seat
(140) hooking tooth
(150) dowel
1. Device for the support and anchorage (10) in a hanging condition of the door panel
(20) of the type comprising a fixed guide bracket (100) with "C"-shaped section, which
fixed guide bracket (100) has a bottom (102) which is provided with through-holes
for the engagement by means of fixing means along the upper side of said door panel
(20), characterised in that it has a mechanical hooking obtained by means of the protruding hooking tooth (140),
which is hinged with respect to the movable bracket body (110) inside said fixed guide
bracket (100), and is left to fall unscrewing a dowel screw (150) with respect to
the movable bracket body (110) which supports it, entering at least one slit (101)
obtained in the fixed bracket (100) to be then locked by the same dowel screw (150)
which prevents the exit from said slit (101).
2. Device for the support and anchorage (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that it consists of a movable bracket body (110) with at least one adjusting screw (120) for the connection
to the sliding trolley along the track, which adjusting screw (120) is substantially
perpendicular and passing-through with respect to said movable bracket (110); one
lever (130) with hooking tooth (140) where said lever is hinged with respect to the
movable bracket (110), a dowel (150) which is screwed at the front head (111) of the
movable bracket (110), in at least one of the threaded seats (112, 113), each passing
through said front head (111) of the movable bracket (110) in such a way as to communicate
with the recess (114) for the housing of said lever (130) with hooking tooth (140),
said movable bracket body (110) lever (130) and hooking tooth (140) being inserted
inside the fixed guide bracket (100).
3. Device for the support and anchorage (10) according to claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the lever (130) is a monolithic body, housed inside the recess (114) which is obtained
along the base side of the movable bracket (110) facing the bottom (102) of the underlying
fixed guide bracket (100), said lever (130) hinged with one end inside the recess
(114) and with respect to the movable bracket (110) in such a way that its oscillation
allows the end front (131) of the lever (130), opposed with respect to the pivoting
one which is provided with a hooking tooth (140), to protrude with respect to said
recess (114) to enter the slit (101) at the underlying fixed guide bracket (100).
4. Device for the support and anchorage (10) according to the preceding claims, characterised in that the front end (131) of the lever (130) at the head side (134) against which the dowel
screw (150) abuts, includes two inclined planes (132, 133) oriented in opposite directions,
against at least one of which said dowel screw (150) abuts in such a way that the
lever (130) and the relative hooking tooth (140) rise at the lower inclined plane
(132), while varying the position of said dowel screw (150) moving it from the lower
threaded seat (113) inside the upper seat (112), it progressively abuts against the
upper inclined plane (133) in such a way as to push the lever (130) with the hooking
tooth (140) over the border of said recess (114) for making said hooking tooth (140)
enter the slit (101) of the underlying fixed guide bracket (100).
5. Device for the support and anchorage (10) according to the preceding claims, characterised in that the head side (134) has a locking seat (135) of the dowel (150).