The present invention relates to a device for support and handling of sliding panels for doors.

Two types of sliding doors are currently known, the first one being simpler and cheaper, in which the panel slides from opening position to closing position while remaining on the same vertical plane that coincides with the plane where the panel lies.

In such first type of doors, the panel is hung to simple rectilinear tracks fixed in external position on the wall above the door lintel, in such manner that said tracks inevitably remain visible, unless they are concealed under masking elements.

Said first type of doors also include the so-called sliding doors in which the panel is concealed inside a suitable space provided on the wall where the door obtained, in such manner that, when opening, the panel can be laterally inserted inside said space and disappear when it reaches its maximum opening position.

Obviously, in this case, also the rectilinear tracks that support and make the panel slide, are housed and concealed inside said space.

According to a second type of doors with sliding panels, the panel abuts against the jambs of the frame, as in traditional revolving doors supported by pivoting hinges. This second type of doors can be technically defined as "doors with sliding abutting panel".

According to the second type of doors, the panel slides by moving along two different, parallel close vertical planes, of which one plane lying inside the door, and one lying in external position to the door close to the vertical wall where the door is obtained. Evidently, the second type of doors with sliding abutting panel requires the use of complicated and expensive devices to support and make the panel slide.

Some models of "doors with sliding abutting panel" are provided with support and sliding devices for the panel that are aesthetically impaired by the fact that they remain permanently visible on the wall on the side of the door where the panel slides during opening.

Other models of "doors with sliding abutting panel" are provided with support and sliding devices of the panel that are remain hidden on the back of the panel when the door is closed. In any case, also this second type of support and sliding devices of the panel is not completely satisfactory from the aesthetic viewpoint, given the fact that they are designed in such manner to remain visible after opening the door.

EP 1 559 861,DE 20 2011 022 810 U1, DE 36 10 775 and DE 33 43 366 disclose devices used to handle sliding panels. Nevertheless, in order to make the panel slide from right to left and vice versa, said devices must be mounted as a pair in suitable frames above and under the panel. Consequently, the device mounted under the panel remains visible, when the panel is open, with a very negative aesthetic and functional impact because it creates an obstacle for users when passing through the door. Moreover, special works are required in the door frame in order to house the two handling devices. It must be also noted that a single device is not self-standing, meaning that it is not capable of supporting the panel.

The purpose of the present invention is to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks with reference to the known types of support and sliding devices of panels of "doors with sliding abutting panel", which comprises sliding tracks that are not visible on the masonry wall when the door is opened or closed.

An additional purpose of the present invention is to disclose a device for sliding panels that can be mounted both on new doors and on existing doors without requiring any masonry works to embed or conceal support and guide tracks of the sliding panel.

A further purpose of the present invention is to disclose a device for sliding panels that can be used both on sliding doors with right-side opening and sliding doors with left-side opening, in such manner to avoid the manufacturing costs of two specific versions of the same device, one for left-opening doors and one for right-opening doors.

These purposes are achieved by the present invention, the main characteristics of which are listed in the attached first claim, whereas the dependent claims describe preferred embodiments of the invention.

The device comprises a first fixed frame adapted to be housed into a door opening and fixed under the door lintel, a second mobile frame disposed under the first fixed frame and connected to it with means that allow it to assume a retracted position, in which the panel is housed inside the door opening and abuts against the jambs of the door frame, without sliding laterally, and an extracted position, in which the door is not housed inside the door opening and does not abut against the jambs of the door frame, thus being free slide laterally.

Moreover, the device comprises a telescopic guide with two or more tracks, used to support and handle the sliding panel, the upper edge of which must be coupled to the last translating track of the telescopic guide, whereas the first track of the telescopic guide must be coupled with said mobile frame of the device.

The device further comprises:

• at least one rotating wheel with vertical axis disposed in said first fixed frame,
• a return rod with vertical axis connected to said rotatable wheel,
• a horizontal arm connected to the return rod and provided with a roll (or runner) with vertical axis, slidingly inserted into a longitudinal groove along the lower edge of the panel,
• synchronization means to synchronize the movement of said mobile connection means with the rotation of said rotating wheel, so as to allow a synchronized movement of the upper edge and lower edge of the door panel.

Because of the provision of synchronization means, the movement of the upper edge and of the lower edge of the door panel can be synchronized, avoiding the use of a second support and handling device disposed under the lower edge of the panel, thus completely overcoming the drawbacks of the prior art, which provides for two support and synchronization devices disposed on the upper edge of the panel and under the lower edge of the panel.

For explanatory reasons, the description of the device according to the present invention continues with reference to attached drawings, which only have illustrative, not limiting value, wherein:

• Figs. 1A to 1D are diagrammatic views of a door provided with the device, the sliding panel of which is illustrated in a series of different positions and seen from different angles;
• Fig. 2 is an axonometric top view of the first and second frame of the device;
• Fig. 3 is an axonometric bottom view of the first and second frame of Fig. 2;
• Fig. 4 is a front view of the first and second frame of Figs. 2 and 3;
• Fig. 5A is a sectional view with a vertical plane of the first and second frame and of the telescopic guide applied onto the second frame, wherein the panel is separated from the jambs of the door frame;
  Fig. 5B is the same view as Fig. 5A, where the panel abuts against the jambs of the door frame;
• Fig. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of a component of the first frame;
• Fig. 7A is an axonometric view of a second embodiment of the device, wherein the second mobile frame is moved back inside the door opening;
• Fig. 7A' is an enlarged view of a detail of Fig. 7A;
  Fig. 7B is the same view as Fig. 7A, wherein the second mobile frame is moved forward outside the door opening;
• Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the first frame of a third embodiment of the device,
• Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the second frame of the device of the third embodiment,
  Fig. 9A is an enlarged view of a detail of Fig. 9, showing an eccentric mechanism;
  Fig. 10 is the same view as Fig. 9, wherein the eccentric mechanism is moved with respect to Fig. 9,
• Fig. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the various parts of the eccentric mechanism of Fig. 9; and
  Fig. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device according to the third embodiment.

Figs. 1A to 1D are diagrammatic views of the device, generally indicated with reference numeral (1), applied on a "door with sliding panel abut against jambs", which comprises only one panel (A). An opening is obtained in a masonry wall (M), generating a door opening (V) wherein a frame of the door comprising two uprights (MO) is mounted. Jambs (S) are mounted on the uprights (MO).

The panel (A) can have the following three positions:

• a first retracted position, in which the panel (A) is housed inside the door opening (V) and abuts against the jambs (S) of the door frame, without sliding laterally; such a first position is shown in Figs. 1A and 1D and practically corresponds to the closed door condition;
• a second extracted position, in which the panel (A) is not housed inside the door opening (V) and is separated from the jambs (S) of the door frame, in spite of being still able to obstruct the passage through the door opening (V); however, the panel is in the condition to slide laterally outside the masonry wall (M), where the door is obtained; such a second position is shown in Fig. 1B and corresponds to the condition that precedes the lateral sliding phase of the panel (A);
• a third position, in which the panel (A) does not obstruct the passage through the door opening (V) and remains in external position close to the masonry wall (M); such a position is shown in Fig. 1C and corresponds to the completely open door position.

Especially referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the device (1) comprises a first fixed frame (10) adapted to be fixed to the door frame. The first fixed frame (10) consists in a box-shaped cross-piece with parallelepiped shape, having suitable length to be housed inside the door opening (V), resting on the uprights (MO) of the door frame.

The first fixed frame (10) is removably connected to a second frame (20), likewise composed of a cross-piece. Referring to Fig. 4, the second frame (20) has length (L2) lower than length (L1) of the first frame (10). The second frame (20) is positioned close to and under the first frame (10).

The second mobile frame (20) is connected to the first fixed frame (10) with connection means (M1) allowing said second frame (20) to be in retracted position, as shown in Fig. 5B, wherein the panel (A), supported by the device (1), is housed inside the door opening (V) and abut against jambs (S) of the door frame, and an extracted position, as shown in Fig. 5B, wherein the panel (A) is not housed inside the door opening (V) and is separated from the jambs (S) of the door frame.

According to a first embodiment, said connection means (M1) comprise a pair of identical rockers (2). Each rocker (2) comprises a first pin (2a) situated on the first frame (10), and a second pin (2b) situated on the second frame (20). In view of the above, the first frame (10), the second frame (20) and the pair of rockers (2) form an articulated quadrilateral that allows the second frame (20) to roto-translate with respect to the first frame, while always remaining parallel to the first fixed frame.

The roto-translations of the second frame (20) are guided by guiding means comprising two identical curvilinear guide tracks (3) obtained on the first frame (10), in which second pins (2b) of the rockers (2) are inserted with freedom of sliding.

The device (1) further comprises means to provide perfect synchronism between the alternate oscillations of the rockers (2).

In view of the above, each first pin (2a) consists in a revolving shaft with vertical axis, provided with lower end wherein one of the two ends of the rocker (2) is splined, and provided with upper end wherein a toothed pulley (4) is splined, as shown in Fig. 2.

The two toothed pulleys (4) are housed inside the first frame (10), which also contains a toothed belt (5) engaged with both toothed pulleys (4), thus ensuring perfect synchronism between oscillations of the two rockers (2).

Said toothed belt (5) engages also with a third toothed pulley (6), which is also housed inside the first frame (10), confined at one end of the first frame (10). Said third pulley (6) is splined to an upper end of a vertical shaft (7), supported by the first frame (10). The vertical shaft (7) has an axial hole (7a) (refer to Fig. 3), with splined profile, with opening accessible from the bottom.

The shaft (7) is situated in correspondence of an ending section of the first frame (10), which protrudes from said second frame (20), in view of the fact that the first frame (10) is provided, as mentioned earlier, with length (L1) higher than length (L2) of the second frame (20).

The first frame (10) has length (L1) such to be housed inside the door opening (V), astride uprights (MO) of the door frame. Therefore, said shaft (7) surmounts one of the uprights (MO) of the door frame, as shown in Fig. 2.

The upper section of a vertical return rod (8) is inserted into the opening of the hole (7a) of said shaft (refer to Figs. 3 and 4) with prismatic profile. The return rod (8) is adapted to be disposed and concealed behind one of the uprights (MO) of the door frame.

As shown in Fig. 6, at the base of the return rod (8) a horizontal arm (9) is applied, ending with a roll (9a) with vertical axis, slidingly inserted into a central groove (SL) (refer to Fig. 1 D) longitudinally obtained along the lower edge (A1) of the panel (A).

Referring to Figs. 5A and 5B, the device (1) comprises a telescopic guide (30) with two or more tracks, for support and handling of the sliding panel (A). The last translating track of the telescopic guide (30) is joined with the upper edge (A2) of the panel.

According to a simpler embodiment, the second mobile frame (20) acts as support for the first non-translating track of the telescopic guide (30).

It is possible to realize for a special version of the second frame (20), wherein said second frame (20) acts as first non-translating track of the telescopic guide (30). Therefore, the second frame (20) is an integral part of the telescopic guide. In view of the above, said second frame (20) comprises a series of idle wheels (32) with horizontal axis, to which an intermediate track (33) is slidingly associated.

The intermediate track (33) supports a series of idle wheels (34) to which the last translating track (35) of the telescopic guide (30) is slidingly associated; the last track (35) is joined with the panel (A) near the upper edge (A2) of the door.

A telescopic guide that can be efficaciously used in the device (1) is disclosed in the Italian patent application RM2010A000594 under the name of the Applicant.

The device (1) also comprises actuator (T) (refer to Fig. 3) for decelerated automatic return of the panel (A) during the first opening phase or the last closing phase, i.e. in those two phases in which the panel does not slide parallel to the wall (M), but simply moves inside the door opening (V), respectively moving away from the jambs (S) or moving closer to the jambs (S)

According to the first embodiment, shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, said actuators (T) consist in a gas spring, composed of a jack with cylinder (40a) hinged under the first frame (10) and stem (40b) hinged above the second frame (20) .

As shown in Figs. 5A and 5B, the first frame (10) remains protected and concealed behind finish bands (F) of the door frame.

Fig. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of the first frame (10), in which the driving belt (5) is replaced by an opposite pair of racks (5a), meshing with two toothed pulleys (4) and the third toothed pulleys (6).

Figs. 7A, 7A' and 7B shows a second embodiment of the device (1), which uses mobile connection means (M2) between the first frame (10) and the second frame (20), which differ from the connection means (M1) of the first embodiment.

In particular, said connection means (M2) comprise a pair of identical slides (50) joined with the second frame (20), slidingly coupled within corresponding guide tracks (51) joined with the first frame (10).

The sliding axis (X) of said slides (50) is horizontal and orthogonal to the panel (A), which is fixed to the second frame (20), after interposition of the telescopic guide (30) (described in the first embodiment and not shown in Figs. 7A and 7B). The telescopic guide (30) allows the panel (A) to make rectilinear alternate travels on a vertical plane, orthogonal to the horizontal sliding axis (X) of the slides (50).

For the perfect synchronism of the alternate travels of said slides (50), the second frame (20) supports a shaft (52) with horizontal axis orthogonal to the sliding axis (X) of said slides (50). At the two ends of the shaft (52) two identical pinions (53) are splined, engaging with corresponding racks (54) joined with the first frame (10) and parallel to the sliding axis (X) of the slides (50).

Likewise, this embodiment provides for a return rod (8) with vertical axis, which starts rotating around its vertical axis every time the second mobile frame (20) moves with respect to the first fixed frame (10). The return rod (8) is inserted into a revolving bush (55) with vertical axis housed into a suitable seat obtained in the first frame (10). The bush (55) has an external toothed ring (56) engaging with a rack (57) joined with the slide (50), so that every travel of the slide (50) corresponds to a simultaneous rotation of said revolving bush (55) around its axis, in clockwise direction or vice versa, according to the direction (forward or backward) of the travel of the slide (50).

As shown in Figs. 7A and 7B, the first frame (10) is provided at its ends with two identical bushes (55), wherein the return rod (8) is selectively inserted according to the opening direction (right or left) of the panel (A).

The return rod (8) is not provided with circular section, but with at least one facet allowing for insertion into the bush (55) or the shaft (7) of the first embodiment according to the opening direction (right or left) of the panel (A).

This second embodiment of the device (1), which is shown in Figs. 7A and 7B, is characterized by higher flexibility compared to the first one, in the realization of devices (1) with different lengths, compatible with the width of the door opening (V).

The above is due to the fact that connection means (M2) are mounted at the two ends of a simple mounting plate, which can have different length from time to time, without requiring any dimensional adjustment of said means (M2), which have therefore standardized shape and dimensions (V).

Each slide (50) is preferably provided with decelerated automatic return means, which also guarantee the stable stop of the slide in its two opposite stop positions. Said means can be gas springs or other equivalent means, of known type and therefore not illustrated herein.

Figs. 8 to 11 show a third embodiment of the device (1), which uses mobile connection means (M3) between the first frame (10) and the second frame (20), which differ from the connection means (M1 and M2) of the first two embodiments.

In particular, said mobile connection means (M3) comprise a pair of roto-translating plates (60) fixed on the side of the second frame (20) facing towards the door opening (V) and connected to the first fixed frame (10) by means of an eccentric mechanism (E).

In order to show said eccentric mechanism (E), the first fixed frame (10) is not shown in Figs. 9 and 10, whereas Fig. 11 is an exploded view of all parts of said eccentric mechanism (E).

Fig. 12 shows said eccentric mechanism (E) cut with a vertical plane passing through its axis of rotation.

Referring to Fig. 11, said eccentric mechanism (E) comprises:

• a disk (61) provided with an off-centered shaft (62) with vertical axis, provided with base end (62a) and top end (62b);
• a radial bearing (63) circumscribing the disk (61);
• a circular housing (64) that houses said radial bearing (63).

Said circular housing (64) consists in a through hole obtained on each plate (60), the lower and upper openings of which are circumscribed by two annular cavities (65) where axial push bearings (66) are housed.

Said eccentric mechanism (E) and the relevant plate (60) are housed in a compartment (67) obtained in the first fixed frame (10) and provided with front opening for the mobile plate (60) that makes roto-translation motions inside said compartment (67).

Said compartment (67) is obtained by fixing a sort of frontally open drawer (68) under the first frame (10).

Said base and top ends (62a and 62b) of the off-centered shaft (62) are inserted into corresponding housings (69a and 69b), respectively obtained on a bottom wall (70) of said drawer (68) and in said first fixed frame (10), as shown in Fig. 11.

Said axial push bearings (66) are interposed between the roto-translating plate (60) and the first frame (10), on one side, and between the roto-translating plate (60) and the bottom wall (70) of the drawer (68), on the other side.

Likewise, this embodiment provides for a return rod (8) with vertical axis, which starts rotating around its vertical axis every time the second mobile frame (20) moves with respect to the first fixed frame (10).

The kinematic mechanism used to drive said return rod (8) into rotation every time the second mobile frame (20) moves with respect to the first fixed frame (10) comprises:

• a first pinion (71) fixed on the top end (62b) of the shaft (62);
• a second pinion (72) fixed on the top end of a bush (74) revolvingly contained into a housing obtained in the first frame (10);
• a rack (73) engaging with both pinions (70 and 71).

The rod (8) is inserted from below into said bush (74), as shown in Fig. 12.

Also in this embodiment, exactly as in the preceding one, the panel (A) is fixed to the second frame (20) with the interposition of a telescopic guide that allows the panel (A) to make alternate rectilinear travels over a vertical plane.

Although the operation of said eccentric mechanism (E) is evident, this description continues by illustrating the operating mode when the panel (A) is grabbed and pulled to extract it from the door opening (V), when the door is closed.

Fig. 9 shows the position of the eccentric mechanism (E) when the door is closed.

. In such a circumstance, being the panel (A) fixed to the second mobile frame (20) and being the plates (60) supported by said second frame (20), the disk (61) is induced and forced to rotate together with the shaft (62), which is constrained to the first fixed frame (10).

The rotation of the disk (61) causes the movement of the plate (60) that makes a roto-translation with center of rotation on the shaft (62), consequently extracting said second mobile frame (20) from the door opening (V), as shown in Fig. 10 , which also shows the different position of the eccentric mechanism (E) compared to Fig. 9.

Such a roto-translating motion of the plate (60) corresponds to a simultaneous synchronized rotation of the return rod (8), given the fact that the pinion (71), revolving jointly with the shaft (62), drives into rotation, by means of the rack (73), the pinion (72) mounted on the bush (74) coupled at the top end of the return rod (8).

This third embodiment can be motorized easily and inexpensively, by associating the shaft (62) to an electric motor with two directions of rotation, mounted on the first frame (10).

It must be noted that the device (1) illustrated in the three embodiments shown in the figures comprises two independent parts, which can be separately ordered by the final user and combined together (being possibly already available in the warehouse):

• a. the first independent part is the part comprising the two frames (20 and 10) and connection means (M1 of M2 of M3) and allowing for outward motion of the panel (A). Such a part is integrated with the synchronized return rod (8) concealed in the upright (MO) of the door. Said rod (8) is not direction-bound, meaning that it can be mounted on the right or left, in front or rear position with respect to the door passage.
• b. The second independent part is the guide (30) that allows the panel to slide outwards/beyond the empty space of the door passage. Said guide (30) is not direction-bound, meaning that the door can be opened by moving the panel (A) rightwards or leftwards (by simply rotating the guide (30) by 180°).

In view of the above, customers who have purchased, used and stocked the guide (30), at any time, should they decide to use the device (1), can fix said guide (30) in the device (1), without having to consider the opening direction of the panel (A).

It must be noted that, in the prior documents, the handling movements and the relevant guides have a predefined direction. This means that different devices are provided for doors with right-side opening and doors with left-side opening. Moreover, the guide is constrained to the handling device.