Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
3~7
A STRUCTURE HAVING A MOVABLE A PANEL
Backqround of the InventiQn
The present invention relates to a structure having a
movable panel.
In structures of this type it is known to use slidable
or rollable devices to transfer a movable panel out of a
flush-fitting plane into a parallel non-flush plane and
to move the panel in a lateral manner such that an
openiny in the structure is presented. The known means
for transferring the panel between planes may be
provided by sets of slidable extension devices mounted
perpendicular to the panel and positioned at the top and
bo~tom thereof, and at additional intermediate positions
for large panels. There is no guarantee of simultaneous
movement of the extension devices since even movement of
the panel is difficult and may be impossible with larse
panels. This may result in excessive stresses in the
panel and any means allowing lateral movement ~hereof
such that operation becomes difficult.
It is obvious that when the panel is required to be
angled to the vertical when closed, e.g. for a glazed
structure, the bearing surfaces or slide6 of the
,-
.
':
~86~3~7
extensiorl devices must be maintained horizontal in order
~o avoi~ t~le ef~ect oE gcavity increasirlg the orce
required to transfer the panel between the flush--fitting
and the non-flush planes. Dificulties are known to
,~ arise concerning the arranyement of the wheels or
rollers of the devices used ~or lateral movement,
particularly with regard to the angle of contact between
the track and the rollers engageable therewith.
It is also a fea~ure of known panelled structures that
~0 at leas~ one internal ~rame is used to whieh the sets of
slidable extension devices may be attached. Side panels
may also be attached thereto.
SummarY of the Invention
An object of the invention is to obviate the need for
~5 even movement of the panel between planes and to reduce
considerably the difficulties concerned with lateral
movement of angled panels.
According to the present invention there is provided
a structure comprising support means, a support
two side portions being slidably mounted on said suppor~
means to allow sliding movement of said frame between a
retraoted and an extended position relative to said
support means, a movable panel mounted on said front
portion of said frame, and interengaging track means
mounting said movable panel on said ront portion of
.~
,
)3~
2a
said fralne and comprising arcuate members operable for
allowing a first tilting oE said movable panel between a
flush-Eitting plane and an inc:Lined plane on sliding
rnovemerlt oE saicl frame from said retracted position ~o
said extended position thereoE and Eor allowiny a second
tiltiny oE said movable panel between said inclined
plane and a non-flush plane subs~antially parallel to
said flush-fitting plane, said arcuate members of said
interengaging track means being further operable to
permi~ said movable panel to move laterally along said
front portion of said frame when said movable panel is
in said non-Elush plane.
_
' ~
3 ~ 03~
Preferably, a frame having a eront portion and two side
portions is situated adjacent to the movable panel.
Preferably, the means allowing the tilting and lateral
movement are mounted on the front portion of the frame
and form a connection between the frame and the pan~1.
The tilting and lateral movement means may comprise a
part-circular ~rack engageable by part-spherical rollers
or wheels or by carriers presenting ball race abutments
or pairs or sets of wheels to the track. Equally, the
track may be slidably engageable by a rod of
substantially part-circular cross section. The tilting
movement is facilitated by the rotation of the rollers,
wheels, carriers or rod in the track in the plane of
~5 part-circular ccoss section and about the centre o
curvature thereof, while the lateral movement is
facilitated by the rollinq of the rollers, wheels or
carriers or by the sliding of the rod in the track.
The extension devices facilitating movement of the panel
between the flush-fitting and non-flush planes are
mounted on the side portions of the frame. These
devices may be any slidable device, but are preferably
of the same type used to facilitate tilting and lateral
movement.
~7~8~3~
The frame is connected to the structure by the tilting
and lateral movement means and extension devices which
may be mounted directly on the panels of the structure.
A large internal frame i5 not required and the panels
may be easily and directly connected so as to support
each other.
In a preferred arrangement relating to a rectangular
panel, at least two frames as described above may be
present in the structure according to the invention.
10 These may be located at the top and bottom of the panel
and at any intermediate position therebetween. The
tilting means allow one end of the panel to be extended
between the flush-fitting and non-flush planes before
the opposite end is moved. Thus the movable panel may
be extended into the non-flush plane and moved laterally
into an open position by one person.
The tilting means also allow the movable panel to remain
angled to the vertical at all times without requiring
any adjustment to the components of the frame and means
attached thereto, by virtue of the relative rotatability
of the rollers, wheels, carriers or rod and the track.
In a further preferred arrangement, e.g. when the panel
is inclined and/or triangular or narrow at one end, it
may not be possible or desirable to employ two frames.
~2~
A single frame may then be positioned at one end. The
opposite end may be held in place in the fully closed
position, preferably by a trapping channel or the like,
resilient means beiny attached between the panel and
tilting means. Tilting of the panel by ext0nsion of one
end into a non-flush plane preferably releases the
opposite panel end allowing the resilient means to bring
the opposite panel end into the desired non-flush plane.
The present invention may be applied to any structure
requiring an openable flush-fitting panel with a
concealed mechanism. In particular it may be applied to
a showcase or display unit where the panels are made of
glass or similar transparent material and each panel
forms one complete side of the unit. Alternatively, the
movable panel may form part of a large flush fitting
planar structure, for example a floor, wall or ceiling.
The invention may equally be applied to partitions,
window displays, museum display panels and structures,
access panels and doors in machinery, vehicles, plant
and containers, building, domestic and commercial
furniture systems.
Brief Description of the Drawinas
Embodiments of the invention will now be described with
reference to Figures l to 15 of the accompanying
deawings wherein:
~8~3~
Figure l i5 a GrOSs section through the track and roller
assembly of the tilting and lateral movement means of a
first embodiment relating to a display unit with the
panel in a vertical position,
Figure 2 is the same cross section as in Figure l but
with the p3nel in a tilted position,
Figures 3a and 3b show perspective and sectional views
of a first alternative embodiment of the tilting and
lateral movement means,
10 Figures 4a and 4b show perspec~ive and sectional views
of a second alternative embodiment of the tilting and
lateral movement means,
Figures Sa and 5b show perspective and sectional views
of a third alterna~ive embodiment of the tilting and
lateral movemen~ means,
Figure 6 shows a perspective view of one corner of the
frame shown in Figure l and the corresponding track and
rollers,
Figure 7 is a diagrammatic side view of ~he movable
panel shown in Figure l in the f1ush-fitting closed
position,
.
3~
Figure ~ is a diagrammatic side view of the tilted
movable panel shown in Figure l with one end extended
into the non-flush plane,
Figure 9 is a diagrammatic side view of the mavable
eanel shown in Figure 1 fully extended in the non-flush
plane,
Figure 10 is a cross section through the track and
roller assembly of a structure of a second embodiment
relating to a display unit having a movable panel and a
side panel inclined to the vertical,
Figure ll shows a cross section through a structure
according to the invention as applied to a rectangular
ceiling panel,
Figure 12 is a diagrammatic side view of a third
embodiment having a movable panel inclined to the
vertical and mounted on a single frame, the panel being
~hown in the fully closed position,
Figure 13 shows the struc~ure of Figure 12 with the
single frame extended into the non-flush plane,
Figure 14 shows the structure of Figures 12 and 13 with
the movable panel fully extended into the non-flush
~2~Z33~
plane and,
Figure 15 is a perspective view o~ the structurq of
Figures 12 to 19 with the panel in the open pOSition.
Detailed DescriPtion of the Drawinas
In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, a track 1 is
mounted on a movable panel 5 and comprises an extruded
or rolled main profile having a main channel of
part-circular cross section 3 and may have additional
channels, abutments or linear form screw threads 6 for
additional or corner fixing. Fitting closely into the
main channel 3 are wheels or rollers 2 having a
part-spherical shape, being carried on axles 4 and
mounted on the front section of a frame 8. It will be
appreciated that the track and roller configu~ation may
be reversed, the track ~ being attached to the frame 8
and the rollers 2 being mounted on the panel 5.
The close fitting form of the rollers 2 and channel 3
allow the tilting movement to take place as shown in
Figure 2, occurring when ~he panel 5 is extended at the
top or bottom only. Excessive rotation is prevented by
contact of the roller 2 with a protruding lip 7.
Alternative arrangements for providing tilting and
lateral movement means are shown in Figures 3 to 5.
,
- ~ .
)3~'7
Figures 3a and 3b show an arrangement comprising a
carrier 12 on which are mounted pairs of part-spherical
rollers 13 such that the rollers 13 engage with the
track 1.
Figures 4a and 4b show a similar arrangement comprising
a carrier 14 having ballrace abutments 15 engaging with
the track 1.
Figures 5a and 5b show an arrangement having a solid bar
16 of part-circular cross section slidably and rotatably
mounted in the track 1.
The frame 8 is shaped such that two side portions extend
horizontally from tha front portion in a direction
perpendicular to the front portion. In the case of a
rectangular display unit, the side portions may be
parallel to fixed side panels and may be attached
thereto. As may be seen from Figure 6, the frame 8 is
positioned such that the front portion 8a is parallel to
the movable panel 5, and the side portion 8b is parallel
to side panel 9. Tracks la, lb are attached to the
panels 5, 9 respectively; track la having the particular
cross section described above. Track lb is preferably
of the same cross section. A plurality of rollers 2a
engage track la and a further plurality of rollers 2b
engage track lb. Two frames 8 are provided, one
-` 5.Z~ 7
positioned at the top of the movable panel and the
second at the bottom. Means (not shown) may be providsd
such that the extension and lateral movement is limited
so as to prevent total disengagement of the tracks la,
lb from the rollers 2a, 2b.
In ~he fully closed position shown in Figure 7, all
rollers 2a, 2b make contact with the tracks la, lb and
the movable panel 5 is fitted flush to the side panel
9. In order to extend the movable panel 5 into the
non-flush plane, one end may be extended before the
other as shown in Figure 8. The rollers 2b and track lb
of the upper frame 8 move slidably to extend the top end
of panel 5, while the rollers 2a of both frames 8 rotate
in the part-circular tracks la without lataral motion,
such that the panel 5 is tilted. The bottom end may
then be extended in a similar way, the rollers 2b and
track lb of the lower frame moving slidably to allow
extension to occur. The rollers 2a rotate in the tracks
la back to their original positions, again wi~hout
lateral motion. The extended position is shown in
Fiqure 9. The panel 5 may then be moved laterally by
sliding of the rollers 2a in track la such that an
opening is provided in the panelled structure.
The panel may be closed by reversal of the above
procedure.
~ '
3~L~
11
In Figure 10 an embodiment having inclined panels is
described. The frame 8 is horizontal and tracks are
attached to both the movable and fixed panels 5, 9. The
part~circular track lb allows the rollers 2b to operate
in a permanently tilted position. This arrangement may
impose a particular order in which the ends of the
movable panel 5 may be extended due to limitation of
rotation of the rollers 2b relative to the track lb.
The panel 5 should preferably be extended such that the
first end ~o be extended reduces the angle of incline to
the vertical. Once the panel 5 is in the non-flush
plane, lateral movement may take place as described
above.
In the embodiment shown in Figure 11, the movable panel
~5 5 lies flush with adjacent panels in the fully closed
position. In this case, the side portions 8b of the
frame extend vertically from the front portion 8a and
carry rollers 2b engageable in tracks lb so as to
facilitate vertical movement of the panel 5 between the
a~ ~lush-fitting and non-flush planes. Means (not shown)
may be provided to allow the panel to be held in the
fully closed position. Two frames 8 are provided on
opposite sides of the movable panel 5.
Side frames having vertical portions 10 carrying the
~S track used to facilitate vertical extension of the panel
~ 2~3C)3~
12
5 are attached to panels adjacent to the panel 5. The
panel 5 is extended to a non-flush plane below the
flush-fitting plane and is then moved laterally so as to
overlap an adjacent panel and provide an opening in the
structure.
Figures 12 to 15 relate to an embodiment of the
invention having an inclined movable panel 5 and having
one frame 8 located at the bottom of panel 5. The upper
end 17 of panel 5 is trapped under a trapping channel 18
when in the fully closed position shown in Figure 12.
In order to extend the panel 5 into a non-flush plane,
rollers 2b are moved slidably in tracks (not shown) such
that the lower end o~ panel 5 is extended as shown in
Figure 13. The extension causes the upper end 17 to
move in the direction of the arrow to a position where
it is no longer trapped by the trapping channel 18.
Resilient means (not shown) are attached such that when
the upper end 17 is clear of the trapping channel 18,
~he panel 5 rotates about rollers 2a until the required
position in the non-flush plane is achieved as shown in
Figure 14. Lateral motion is now possible and the
structure with the panel 5 in the open position is shown
in Figure 15.
Similar embodiments providing polygonal movable panels
in horizontal, vertical or inclined planar surfaces are
,, ~ , .
~2~3~t-
~13
obvious and may be provided by carrying out alterations
to ~he above described embodiments.
~ -
