Sliding flush door

Abstract

 A sliding flush door assembly is provided comprising a wall element (2) comprising an opening (8), a door element (3) arranged to close the opening, a bottom plate (14) mounted on the wall element at a bottom side of the opening, the bottom plate (14) comprising at least a first and a second bottom groove, and a top plate (15) mounted on the wall element at a top side of the opening, the top plate comprising at least a first and a second top groove. A first and second bottom guiding element are rotatably arranged in a bottom of the door element, for guiding the door element along the respective bottom grooves. A first and second top guiding element are arranged in a top of the door element, for guiding the door element along the top grooves. A driving means is arranged to drive the door element from a closed position to an opened position and vice versa. The first and second top grooves and the first and second bottom grooves are curved grooves, each having a first outer end part, towards which the door element is moved when closing the opening, making an angle α with the wall element, wherein 0° < α < 90°, and a second outer end part, towards which the door element is moved when opening the door, the second outer end part being arranged to steer the guiding elements so as to move the door element along an outer surface of the wall element. The first and second bottom guiding elements are arranged to support the weight of the door element.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to flush doors, and more particularly to sliding flush doors for ships.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

[0002] Nowadays luxurious yachts are equipped with the latest technologies. This accounts for the engines, the hull, as well as the interior. Often ships are equipped with nautical doors which are nowadays mostly automatic doors, especially in luxurious yachts. One type of nautical doors, the so-called flush doors, not only close on opening in a exterior wall of a ship, but at the same time form an integrated part of the wall of the ship after closing, creating a substantially smooth outer surface.

[0003] A flush door can be pivotable arranged so that it opens in a conventional way by means of turning. To save space and also for safety reasons, the doors are often arranged so that they slide open. These doors are referred to as sliding flush doors. At present such sliding flush doors are also known in other vehicles such as trains or air planes.

[0004] Known sliding flush doors are driven by means of a hanging arrangement. The weight of those doors are fully supported by the hanging arrangement. This severely restricts the possibilities because of the limited possible weight and size of the doors.

SUMMARY

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to overcome the limitation of the size and/or weight of the sliding flush doors mentioned above.

[0006] The object of the invention is achieved by providing a sliding flush door assembly comprising:

• a wall element comprising an opening;
• a door element arranged to close the opening;
• a bottom plate mounted on the wall element at a bottom side of the opening, the bottom plate comprising at least a first and a second bottom groove;
• a top plate mounted on the wall element at a top side of the opening, the top plate comprising at least a first and a second top groove;
• a first bottom guiding element rotatably arranged in a bottom of the door element, for guiding the door element along the first bottom groove;
• a second bottom guiding element rotatably arranged in the bottom of the door element, for guiding the door element along the second bottom groove;
• a first top guiding element arranged in a top of the door element, for guiding the door element along the first top groove;
• a second top guiding element arranged in the top of the door element, for guiding the door element along the second top groove;
• a driving means arranged to drive the door element from a closed position to an opened position and vice versa;

wherein the first and second top grooves and the first and second bottom grooves are curved grooves, each having:

• a first outer end part, towards which the door element is moved when closing the opening, making an angle α with the wall element, wherein 0° < α < 90°, and
• a second outer end part, towards which the door element is moved when opening the door, the second outer end part being arranged to steer the guiding elements so as to move the door element along an outer surface of the wall element,
  and wherein the first and second bottom guiding elements are arranged to support the weight of the door element.

[0007] The door element is supported by the bottom guiding elements, so relative large and heavy door can be opened and closed with relatively light weight driving means. There is no need to hang the door using a hanging mechanism like in present flush doors.

[0008] Preferably the first and second top guiding elements are rotatably arranged in the top of the door element. By making the top guiding means rotatable as well, they will be able to fellow a groove in a similar way as the bottom guiding elements, wherein an orientation of the guiding elements can differ from the orientation of the door element, without causing too much friction.

[0009] In an embodiment, the first outer end part and the second outer end part are substantially straight, making an angler β relative to each other. Grooves constituting of two straight parts result in the most simple configuration to establish the advantageous of the invention.

[0010] In a further embodiment, an angle ρ formed by the first outer end part of the first top and bottom groove and the second outer end part of the first top and bottom groove, is such that 130° < ρ < 160°.

[0011] In an embodiment, an angle θ formed by the first outer end part of the second top and bottom groove and the second outer end part of the second top and bottom groove, is such that 140° < θ < 175°.

[0012] In an embodiment, each of the first and second bottom guiding elements comprises:

• a main body comprising a top side, a bottom side, a left side and a right side;
• a substantially cylindrical shaped pin mounted onto and extending from the top side;
• two wheels rotatably arranged at the left and the right side respectively, each of the wheels, at least in use, contacting a top surface of the bottom plate at a respective side relative to the first or second bottom groove.

[0013] In an embodiment, the driving means comprises a closed chain strained between a first rotation point and a second rotation point, an electrical motor arranged to drive the chain, and a transmission pivotably connected between a connection point on the chain and a connection point on the door element.

[0014] In a further embodiment, a contact surface of a first side edge of the door element makes an angle 5 relative to the door element, wherein 5 unequal to 90°. In an embodiment, the angle δ is substantially equal to the angle ρ.

[0015] In an embodiment, the wall element and the door element form a slightly curved surface when being in the closed position.

[0016] According to another aspect of the invention, a ship is provided comprising a sliding flush door assembly as described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] 

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the sliding flush door assembly according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the embodiment of figure 1 wherein the door element is in an opened state;

FIG. 3 shows a cross section of the assembly wherein only two panels of the wall element and the bottom plate are shown;

FIG. 4A shows a top view of the first bottom groove;

FIG. 4B shows a top view of the second bottom groove;

FIG. 5 is a schematic front view of the door element showing four guiding elements;

FIG. 6A-6B are perspective views of a top guiding element according to embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 7A-7B are perspective views of a bottom guiding element according to embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 8A shows a cross section of an example of a guiding element placed in a bottom groove;

FIG. 8B shows a cross section of an example of a guiding element placed in a top groove;

FIG. 9 is a top view of the assembly according to an embodiment showing the door element in a closed position;

FIG. 10-12 show the same assembly of Figure 9 in three different positions during the opening of the door element;

FIG. 13 is the top view of Figure 9, also showing a driving means;

FIG. 14 is a schematic cross section of part of the wall element and the door element according to an embodiment;

FIG. 15 is a schematic cross section of part of the wall element and the door element at an opposite side of the one shown in Figure 14;

FIG. 16-17 show top views of a further embodiment in a closed and opened position;

FIG. 18 shows a top view of the embodiment of Figure 16 without the door elements;

FIG. 19-20 show top views of a further embodiment with two sliding doors in a closed and opened position;

FIG. 21 shows a top view of the embodiment of Figure 19 without the door elements;

FIG. 22 schematically shows a ship according to an aspect of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0018] The present invention will now be described with reference to the figures, in which like reference labels are used to refer to like elements throughout. Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the sliding flush door assembly 1 according to the invention. The assembly 1 comprises a wall element 2 and a door element 3. The wall element 2 in this example comprises two windows 4 and 5. The door element 3 also comprises a window 6. The assembly 1 further comprises a bottom plate 14 and a top plate 15 mounted on the wall element 2. Each of the top plate and bottom plate comprises at least two grooves as will be described below. The assembly 1 further comprises a driving means for opening and closing the door element 3.

[0019] Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the embodiment of figure 1 wherein the door element 3 is in an opened state, so that an opening 8 is created. At a bottom side of the opening 8 the bottom plate 14 is mounted, and at a top side of the opening 8 the top plate 15 is mounted.

[0020] Figure 3 shows a cross section of the assembly 1 wherein only two panels of the wall element 2 and the bottom plate 14 are shown. The bottom plate 14 comprises a first bottom groove 21 and a second bottom groove 22. Both grooves 21, 22 are angled opposite to many known sliding doors using straight grooves for sliding the door.

[0021] Figure 3 also shows a seal 23 which is used for weather tightness and can be left out of the assembly 1.

[0022] Figure 4A shows a top view of the first bottom groove 21 which comprises a first outer end 41 and a second outer end 42 which are substantially straight parts meeting each other at a corner 43. Figure 4B shows a top view of the second bottom groove 22 which comprises a first outer end 44 and a second outer end 45 which are substantially straight parts meeting each other at a corner 46. The corners 43 and 46 are curved corners and may have a variety of curvatures. It should be clear to the skilled reader that instead of two substantially straight parts, the grooves 21, 22 may be comprised of one continually curved part.

[0023] In the embodiment of Figure 1 and 2, the top plate 15 comprises a first and second top groove similar to the grooves of the bottom plate shown in Figure 4A and 4B.

[0024] The first outer end parts 41, 44 towards which the door element 3 is moved when closing the opening 8, make an angle with the wall element 2 lying between 0° and 90°, see Figure 3 wherein 0° < α₁ < 90° and 0° < α₂ < 90°. In the embodiment of Figure 3 the angles α₁ and α₂ differ, but they could be equal in other embodiments. The second outer end parts 42, 45, towards which the door element 3 is moved when opening the door element 3, makes an angle ϕ with the wall element 2, wherein ϕ is substantially equal to 0°, see Figure 3. As will be explained in more detail below, the door element 3 will be slided along an outer surface of the wall element 2 getting in an opened state wherein it is positions substantially parallel to the wall element. It is preferred to have the opened door close to the wall element so that it will not form any obstruction for people. However it should be noted that the invention is not limited to a sliding door that is parallel to the wall. An example is a slightly curved wall element and a flat door element. In that case the door element 3 will slide in front of part of the wall element, but is will strictly not be 'parallel' to the wall element as will be clear to the skilled reader.

[0025] Figure 5 is a schematic front view of the door element 3. The door element 3 comprises an activating button 50 to operate driving means the sliding door 3. The button 50 may be a push button or any other means for automatically opening the door 3. Figure 5 also shows four guiding elements referred to as first bottom guiding element 51, second bottom guiding element 52, first top guiding element 53, and second top guiding element 54. Each guiding element is rotatably arranged in a side of the door element 3. In Figure 5, the dashed lines 56, 57 indicated the top and bottom edge of a frame of the door 3. The guiding elements are positioned in between a front panel and a back panel of the door, the front and back panel extending from the edges 56, 57 between the wheels the distance will be filled with profiles of the frame of the door 3. The guiding elements can not be seen from the outside. The bottom guiding elements 51, 52 are arranged at a bottom of the door element 3, and the top guiding elements 53, 54 are arranged at a top of the door element 3. In use, the first bottom guiding element 51 is moving in the first bottom groove 21, for guiding the door element 3 along the first bottom groove 21. The second bottom guiding element 52 guides the door element 3 along the second bottom groove 22. Similarly, the first and second top guiding elements 53, 54 guide the door element along the first and second top grooves (not shown) respectively.

[0026] Figure 6A is a perspective view of a top guiding element 53; 54 according to an embodiment of the invention. Figure 6A shows a main body 61 being a beam shaped member onto which a pin 62 is attached. At the opposite side of the pin 62, two rotatable front wheels 63, 64 are arranged. Furthermore a cylindrical member 65 is arranged at the same side. This may be a rotatable wheel, but is may also be fixed onto the main body 61. Instead of the cylindrical member 65, two or more wheels, similar to the front wheels 63, 64 may be used, see e.g. Figure 6B wherein an embodiment is shown having four wheels 63, 64, 67 and 68 at the opposite side of the pin 62.

[0027] Figure 7A is a perspective view of a bottom guiding element 51; 52 according to an embodiment of the invention. Figure 7A shows a guiding element which may be similar to the one shown in Figure 6A, but is also comprises two side wheels 76, 77.

[0028] These side wheels are rotatably arranged on a side of a main body 71 and, at least in use, are supported by the bottom plate 14 at a respective side relative to the bottom grooves 21, 22. In the embodiment of Figure 7A, the bottom guiding element 51, 52 has three wheels 73, 74, 75 arranged at the bottom of the main body 71.

[0029] Alternatively, a bottom guiding element 51, 52 may have four or more wheels, as is shown in Figure 7B where a third wheels is numbered 78 and a fourth wheel is not visible. The function of the wheels 73, 74, 75 is to fellow the inner contours of the grooves 21, 22 as is illustrated in Figure 8.

[0030] Figure 8A shows an example of a cross section of the grooves 21, 22. The cross section may be rectangular, but may have other shapes as will be clear to the skilled person. In Figure 8A a cross section of the guiding element 51, 52 is shown with dashed lines. As can be seen from Figure 8A, the two side wheels 76, 77 are supported by the bottom plate 14 and contact a supporting layer 80 arranged in and next to the groove. The layer 80 may be made of aluminium, plastic or stainless steel so as to protect the bottom layer 14. It should be noted that the layer 80 can be absent and that other configurations are possible. Please note that the wheels are rotatable attached to the body 71 via a wheels axis, which is not shown.

[0031] The side wheels 76, 77, together with wheels of the second bottom guiding element 52, will support the weight of the door element 3. This means that there is no need to make a hanging arrangement for this flush door, contrary to known sliding flush doors. An advantage of supporting the door onto the bottom plate 14 is that large, and therefore heavy, doors can be used. There is nearly no restrictions to the size and weight of doors that could be slid when implementing the present invention. Doors with a width up to 3 meters or even more could be slid, as well as doors having a weight up to 500 kg, or even more. Since the door 3 is supported by the bottom guiding elements, which are standing and/or rolling on the bottom plate 14, the maximum possible weight is only restricted to the design and material used for the guiding elements.

[0032] Figure 8B shows an example of a cross section of a top groove in which one of the top guiding elements 53, 54 is positioned. In this embodiment, the guiding elements do not have side wheels, as those present in the bottom guiding elements 51, 52. However, side wheels could also be present in the top guiding elements 53, 54.

[0033] Figure 9 is a top view of the assembly 1 showing the door element 3 in a closed position. In Figure 9 the top plate 15 and the driving means 16 are not shown for reasons of clarity. Figures 10-12 show the same assembly 1 in three different positions during the opening of the door 3. As can be seen from Figure 10, the door element 3 will make an angle relative to the wall element 2 at a given time, and will ultimately be parallel to the wall element 2, see Figure 12. It should be noted that the orientation of the door element 3 in its most open position, see Figure 12, is actually depending on the configuration and orientation of the grooves 21, 22. The door 3 does not necessarily need to be placed exactly parallel to the wall element 2; it may as well make an angle ϕ with the wall element 2, where ϕ is unequal to 0°, as should be clear to the skilled person.

[0034] Figure 13 is a top view of the assembly 1 showing a closed door. In Figure 13, the driving means 16 is shows which is arranged to drive the door element 3 from a closed position to an opened position and vice versa. In this embodiment, the driving means 16 comprises a closed chain strained 91 between a first rotation point 92 and a second rotation point 93. An electrical motor 94 is arranged to drive the chain 91. A transmission 95 is pivotably connected between a connection point 96 on the chain 91 and a connection point 97 on the door element 3. Preferably the driving means 16 are arranged near the top of the door element 3, for example next to the top plate 15, see also Figure 1. Instead of a chain 91, other elongated flexible transfer means could be used such as a belt.

[0035] Please note that in the closed position, the door 3 at the angled side (i.e. the left side in Figure 13) is fixated in the plane of the wall element 2 by the transmission 95. When in rest and locked into the drive, the transmission 95 is actually avoiding that forces applied from the opposite side of the door 2, can open the door 3.

[0036] Figure 14 is a schematic cross section of part of the wall element 2 and the door element 3 together with a part of the first bottom groove 21, according to an embodiment. As can be seen from Figure 14, a side surface of a side edge 101 of the door element 3 makes an angle δ relative to outer surface of the wall element 2 which angle δ is unequal to 90°. In the example of Figure 14, the angle is about 135°.

[0037] The angle δ is preferably, but not necessarily, equal to the angle ρ. The angle p, according to an embodiment lies between 130° and 160°, and preferably between 140° and 150°, such as 145°. In Figure 14 a seal 102 is shown which may be fixed onto the wall element 2. At the inner surface of the wall element 2 a second sealing 103 is arranged. In the closed position, a part of the side edge 101 of the door 3 is in contact with the sealing 102. This will provide for a good sealing, which is preferable in most situations, especially in the embodiment wherein the door assembly is arranged on a ship.

[0038] Figure 15 is a schematic cross section of part of the wall element 2 and the door element 3 at the opposing side relative to the side shown in Figure 14. Also a part of the second bottom groove 22 is shown, according to an embodiment. As can be seen from Figure 14, a side surface of a side edge 105 of the door element 3 is substantially perpendicular to the outer surface 106 of the door element 3. In Figure 15 an extension, e.g. a ridge, 107 is shown which may be part of the door element 3. The extension 107 will fall into the vertical groove 108 arranged in the side wall of the wall element 2. At the surface of the wall element 2 a sealing 108 is arranged. In the closed position, a part of the side edge 105 of the door 3 is in contact with the sealing 108. This will provide for a good sealing. The driving means 16 shown in Figure 1 and 13 will, when trying to open the door element 3, pull the door element 3 in the direction X shown in Figure 14 and 15. Since the door is guided by means of the guiding elements 51, 52, 53, 54, along the respective top and bottom grooves, the door will not be moved in the direction of X. At the position of the guiding element 51 the door 3 will be moved in a direction indicated by the arrow 110. And at the same time, at the position of the guiding element 52, the door 3 will be moved in a direction indicated by the arrow 111.

[0039] Because the outer ends 41, 44 of the bottom (and top) grooves, see Figure 4A, 4B, are inclined relative to the plane of the wall element, it is possible to immediately move the door element into a direction having an X-component. This means that the door can be opened faster than when there is not initially an X-component. Furthermore, it is possible to use relatively simply driving means, which only need to exert a force in the X-direction. The door 3 may even be opened manually. This is advantageous in case the driving means are not operating due to a power failure. As was already mentioned above, the door element 3 is supported at the bottom by the bottom plate 14 which is after assemblage onto a ship, support by a floor of the ship. This means that the driving means only need to move the door sideways and there is not need for lifting the door element 3. As a result, relatively large doors can be used as sliding flush doors. Such relatively large doors are advantageous in for example luxurious yachts.

[0040] It is noted that relatively large sliding door are known, but these are always sliding doors that fellow straight grooves. Those doors will not become part of the wall in the closed position, as flush doors do.

[0041] Figures 16 and 17 show top views of a further embodiment. In this embodiment, a wall element 162 and a door element 163 form a slightly curved wall when being in a closed state, see Figure 16. This embodiment is suitable for integration into curved ship walls. A driving means 164 is shown, which is arranged to pull or push the door element 163 along grooves 165, 166 arranged in a bottom plate 168 shown in Figure 18. Figure 18 shows a top view of the embodiment of Figure 16 and 17 but without the door elements so that the grooves 165, 116 are more visible. As can be seen from Figure 18, the grooves 165 and 166 both comprise two groove ends which are angle relative to each other similar to the grooves 21, 22 shown in Figure 3.

[0042] However, the outer ends of the grooves towards which the door moves when it is opened, are slightly curved. The curvature of these outer ends is preferably equal to the curvature of the wall and the door. It should be noted that other curvatures are conceivable, and that the outer end may even be straight, similar to the ones shown in Figure 3. The advantage of a curvature equal, or substantially equal to the curvature of the wall element 162, is that the door will can be moved along the wall element 162 without causing any obstruction for the passengers of the ship.

[0043] Figures 19-20 show top views of a further embodiment with two sliding doors 171, 172 in a closed and opened position. The functioning of these doors is similar to the embodiment with a single door, and is not further discussed in detail. Figure 21 shows a top view of the embodiment of Figure 19 without the door elements. In

[0044] Figure 22 schematically shows a ship according to an aspect of the invention, the ship comprises a sliding flush door assembly as described above. The sliding door may be positioned at a side of the ship as well as on other side, such as the back side.

[0045] It should be noted that in the embodiments described above, the angle α₂ is smaller than α₁. When using a sealing shown in Figure 15, the angle α₂ preferably lies between 10° - 20°. When closing the door element, it will just before the complete closure, move substantially in the plane of the wall. So the side of the door 3 shown in Figure 15 will approach the vertical groove 108 arranged in the side wall of the wall element in a frontal manner. There is no need to make that side of the door opening angled as was done at the other side shown in Figure 14.

[0046] As will be clear from the above, the side edge of the door element at the side shown in Figure 15 could also be inclined comparable to the opposite side shown in Figure 14. In that case, the angles α₁ and α₂ can be equal.

[0047] Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to certain preferred embodiments, it is obvious that equivalents and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of the specification. The present invention includes all such equivalents and modifications, and is limited only by the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A sliding flush door assembly (1) comprising:

- a wall element (2) comprising an opening (8);

- a door element (3) arranged to close said opening (8);

- a bottom plate (14) mounted on said wall element at a bottom side of said opening, said bottom plate comprising at least a first and a second bottom groove (21, 22);

- a top plate (15) mounted on said wall element at a top side of said opening, said top plate comprising at least a first and a second top groove;

- a first bottom guiding element (51) rotatably arranged in a bottom of said door element, for guiding the door element (3) along said first bottom groove (21);

- a second bottom guiding element (52) rotatably arranged in said bottom of said door element, for guiding the door element along said second bottom groove (22);

- a first top guiding element (53) arranged in a top of said door element, for guiding the door element along said first top groove;

- a second top guiding element (54) arranged in said top of said door element, for guiding the door element along said second top groove;

- a driving means (16) arranged to drive said door element from a closed position to an opened position and vice versa;

wherein said first and second top grooves and said first and second bottom grooves are curved grooves, each having:

- a first outer end part (41), towards which the door element is moved when closing the opening, making an angle α with the wall element, wherein 0° < α < 90°, and

- a second outer end part (42), towards which the door element is moved when opening the door, said second outer end part (42) being arranged to steer said guiding elements so as to move said door element along an outer surface of said wall element,
and wherein said first and second bottom guiding elements (51,52) are arranged to support the weight of said door element.

2. A sliding flush door assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first outer end part (41) and said second outer end part (42) are substantially straight, making an angle β relative to each other.

3. A sliding flush door assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an angle ρ formed by said first outer end part (41) of said first top and bottom groove (41) and said second outer end part of said first top and bottom groove (42), is such that 130° < ρ < 160°.

4. A sliding flush door assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein an angle θ formed by said first outer end part (44) of said second top and bottom groove and said second outer end part (45) of said second top and bottom groove, is such that 140° < θ < 175°.

5. A sliding flush door assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each of said first and second bottom guiding elements comprises:

- a main body (71) comprising a top side, a bottom side, a left side and a right side;

- a substantially cylindrical shaped pin (72) mounted onto and extending from said top side;

- two wheels (76,77) rotatably arranged at said left and said right side respectively, each of said wheels, at least in use, contacting a top surface of said bottom plate at a respective side relative to said first or second bottom groove.

6. A sliding flush door assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said driving means comprises:

- a closed chain (91) strained between a first rotation point and a second rotation point;

- an electrical motor (94) arranged to drive said chain;

- a transmission (95) pivotably connected between a connection point (96) on said chain and a connection point (97) on said door element (3).

7. A sliding flush door assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a contact surface (101) of a first side edge of said door element (3) makes an angle δ relative to said door element, wherein δ unequal to 90°.

8. A sliding flush door assembly according claim 7, wherein the angle δ is substantially equal to the angle ρ.

9. A sliding flush door assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said wall element (2) and said door element (3) form a slightly curved surface when being in the closed position.

10. Ship (120) comprising a sliding flush door assembly (1) according to any of the preceding claims.

Drawing