Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02228320 2000-12-08
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The present invention relates to roller assemblies for sliding doors of the
type
that slide along a track, and, more particularly, to an anti jump member
engageable with
the track to prevent the roller assembly from derailing.
Roller assemblies for sliding doors that move along a track are known in the
art.
Advantageously, such a roller assembly may comprise a bracket for attachment
to the
door, a roller mounting member slidably seated in the bracket and a roller
mounted on
the roller mounting member for travel along the track.
A problem common to all such roller assemblies is derailing, which may occur
if
the door is struck or bumped, or if it encounters an obstruction on the track,
or if force
is not applied parallel to the track when the door is being opened or closed.
The
problem is exacerbated if the door is installed in a doorway which varies in
height from
one end to end or is not plumb.
Many sliding doors are intended for installation by the user, the so called
"do-it-
yourself" market. Products in this market must be simple to install, using
only
commonly available tools.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to pmvide a novel roller
assembly for a tracked sliding door which resists derailing.
It is also an object to provide such a roller assembly which is specifically
adapted
for user installation.
Another object is to provide such an assembly which is quiet in operation and
inexpensive to produce.
It has now been found that the foregoing and related objects may be readily
attained in a roller assembly of the type which includes a bracket adapted for
attachment
to the door, a roller mounting member slidably seated in the bracket, and a
roller
rotatably mounted on the roller mounting member for travel along a track
extending
CA 02228320 2000-12-08
2
adjacent the bottom of the doors and formed at the top with two shoulders on
either side
of a central cavity.
An anti jump member is provided which is engageable with the track to prevent
the roller from derailing. The anti jump member is displaceably carried by the
roller
mounting member for movement between an operative position, whereat it engages
the
track, and a retracted position, whereat it does not engage the track. The
anti jump
member is displaced both translationally arid rotationally in moving
vertically from the
retracted position to the operative position and vice versa. The roller
assembly is
operable to slide the door with the anti jump member in either the operative
position or
the retracted position, the roller has a circular central portion providing
the rim flanked
by two coaxial circular side portions of smaller diameter than the central
portion. The
anti jump member includes a handle and an elongate shaft which extends from
the handle
and terminates in an enlarged track engagement member.
More specifically, the present invention provides a roller assembly for a
sliding
door which slides along a track formed with shoulders on either side of a
central cavity,
the roller assembly including (a) a bracket adapted for attachment to the door
adjacent a
bottom edge of the door, the bracket having a generally planar body portion;
(b) a roller-
mounting member slidably seated in the bracket, the roller-mounting member
having first
and second side walls extending generally parallel to a plane in which the
bracket body
portion lies; (c) a roller rotatably mounted on the roller-mounting member for
travel
along the track, the roller being disposed between the first and second side
walls and
rotating about an axis perpendicular to the plane in which the bracket body
portion lies,
the roller having a median plane extending parallel to the plane in which the
bracket body
portion lies, the roller having a circular central portion providing a
circumferential rim
flanked by two coaxial circular side portions, each of the two coaxial
circular side
portions having a smaller diameter than a diameter of the central portion and
being
adapted to ride on a respective one of the shoulders of the track; and (d) a
vertically and
rotatably displaceable anti jump member engageable with the shoulders of the
track to
prevent the roller from derailing.
The anti jump member includes a handle adjacent an upper end of the anti jump
member, an elongated shaft extending downwardly from the handle, and an
enlarged
track engagement portion at a lower end of the anti jump member, the
engagement
portion including elongated extensions which extend beyond a periphery of the
shaft
CA 02228320 2000-12-08
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along a longitudinal axis which is perpendicular to an axis of the shaft. The
anti jump
member is disposed with the shaft lying in the median plane of the roller and
adjacent the
central portion of the roller. The anti jump member is pivotably- and
vertically-
displaceably carried by the roller-mounting member for vertical movement
relative to the
roller-mounting member between an operative lowered position, wherein the
engagement
portion is extended downwardly with respect to the roller-mounting member and
rotated
so that the longitudinal axis of the elongated extensions extends
perpendicularly to the
median plane and the elongated extensions are adapted to engage the shoulders
of the
track if the engagement portion is displaced upwardly relative to the track,
and an
elevated retracted position wherein the engagement portion is rotated so that
the
longitudinal axis of the elongated extensions is parallel to the median plane
and is
retracted upwardly with respect to the roller-mounting member. The roller
assembly is
adapted to support the door as the door slides along the track with the anti
jump member
in one of the operative lowered position and the elevated retracted position.
Preferably, a detent is provided for releasably retaining the anti jump member
in
the retracted position and in the operative position.
Advantageously, the roller-mounting member, the roller and the anti jump
member are formed from a synthetic resin. In a preferred embodiment, the
roller
comprises a wheel and an integrally molded axle. Also in a preferred
embodiment, the
roller is snap fitted to the roller-mounting member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the roller-mounting member, roller and anti-
jump member of a roller assembly embodying the present invention;
Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the structure shown in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the anti-jump member shown in Figures
1
and 2;
Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the anti jump member of Figure 3;
Figure S is a front elevational view of the roller assembly embodying the
present
invention attached to a door and sliding in a track;
Figure 6 is a sectional view along the line 6-6 of Figure 5;
Figure 7 is a sectional view along the line 7-7 of Figure 5;
Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the roller-mounting member of
Figures 1 and 2;
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Figures 9-12 are a series of enlarged fragmentary views of the roller mounting
member shown in Figure 8 with an anti jump member attached, showing the
sequence of
operating steps;
Figure 13 is a perspective view of the bracket of a roller assembly embodying
the
present invention; and
Figure 14 is a plan view of an alternate roller structure.
DETAIT .D DE~G 1PTION OF T E P FFFRRR .MB()D M,ENT~
Turning first to Figure 5 of the attached drawings, therein illustrated is a
roller
assembly for sliding doors embodying the present invention and generally
designated by
the numeral 1. Roller assembly 1 comprises a bracket 3, a roller mounting
member 5
slidably seated in the bracket 3, a roller 7 rotatably mounted on the roller
mounting
member 5, and an anti jump member 9 carried by the roller mounting member 5.
The bracket 3 has a generally planar body portion 24 having an inner surface
17
upon which the roller mounting member 5 is slidable. Along the sides thereof
are side
walls 26 each having outwardly extending flanges 38 and 40 at the ends thereof
and an
inwardly extending lip 28 centrally thereof. The side walls 26 and the body
portion 24
define a channel in which the roller mounting member 5 is seated, and the lip
28 retains
the roller mounting member 5 therein.
An end wall 30 extends perpendicularly to the upper end of the body portion 24
transversely across the width thereof between the side walls 26 to close the
channel at its
upper end. A flange 32 extends perpendicularly to the other or lower end of
the bracket
body portion 24 at its other end and in a direction opposite to the side walls
26 and end
walls 30. Along the free end of the flange 32 is a pair of holding tabs 34
which extend
parallel to the plane of the body portion 24 and seat in the slots 12 in the
bottom wall of
the door rail 8. While illustrated as part of the bracket 3, it should be
understood that
the holding tabs 34 on the flange 32 may be omitted, or removed or flattened,
and the
flange 32 may be connected to the rail 8 by screws passing through openings 31
in the
flange 32 when the rail 8 is not adapted to receive the tabs 34, such as
CA 02228320 2000-12-08
when the frame is formed from a hardwood greater than the thickness for which
its
channel was intended.
The upper side flanges 38 on the bracket 3 and the lower side flanges 40 have
generally planar body portions 42 and 44 extending generally parallel to the
plane of the
body portion 24. The planar body portion 42 of the flange 38 is formed with a
generally G-shaped tab 50 which has a free end providing an inturned snap tip
51. The
tabs 50 are generally coplanar with the planar portion 42 except for the snap
tip 51
which is angled towards the plane of the body portion 24. This allows the tip
51 to pass
into the slot 10 formed in the side of the door stile 6 and thereafter snap in
place behind
the interior surface of its side wall 13. An upwardly offset tab 52 on the
flange 38
extends in a plane generally parallel to the plane of the bracket body portion
24 and is
spaced above the plane of the planar portion 42. This cooperates with the G-
shaped tab
50 and bears against the outer surface of the stile 6 to capture it
therebetween.
Each G-shaped tab 50 is provided with weakening section 56 which permits the
tab 50 to be broken off in the event that the stile 6 is cut adjacent its end
so that the slot
is no longer present or aligned therewith. In this circumstance, the offset
tab 52 is
connected to the stile 6 by a screw (not shown) which extends through an
aperture 54 in
the tab 52. The weakening section 56 has an L-shaped slot 58 and a deformed
region
surrounding the slot 58 which allows the tab 50 to be broken off when a tool,
such as a
screwdriver tip, is inserted therein and moved back to flex the tab 50 until
it breaks off.
Each flange 38 also includes a notch 60 which receives the upper end wall 30
therewithin. Thus, the flange 38 has a portion 62 which extends behind the end
wall 30
so as to abut the outer face of the end wall 30 and provide it with enhanced
load bearing
capacity. This is important because the weight of the door bears on the end
wall 30 by
forces imparted to it through the mounting member 86. The juncture of the body
portion 24 and end wall 30 may be further stiffened by providing spot welds or
staking
gussets 64 therealong.
The lower end flange 40 secures the lower end of the bracket 3 to the open end
of the stile 6. The lower end flange 40 includes at its lower end an arm
portion 65
which extends outwardly of and perpendicularly to the planar body portion 44
and
provides a tab 66 which extends upwardly so as to engage the inner surface of
the stile
CA 02228320 1998-O1-29
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6. At its upper end, the flange 40 has an upwardly offset, outwardly extending
tab 53
which extends parallel to the body portion 24 along the outer surface of the
stile 6. The
tab 66 works in conjunction with the offset tab 53 to seat the wall of the
stile 6
therebetween.
The roller mounting member 5 is cooperatively dimensioned to slidingly seat in
the channel of the bracket 3 and has a generally rectangular configuration
with its upper
end portion seated within the channel of the bracket 3 and its lower end
portion
extending below the bracket 3. The roller mounting member 5 has spaced side
walls 76
and 78 which extend generally parallel to the plane of the body portion 24 of
the bracket
3 and an end wall 82 at its upper end.
The end wall 82 of the roller mounting member 5 is provided with an aperture
84
which threadably seats a machine screw 86 having a head 88 which abuts against
the
lower surface of the end wall 30 of the bracket 3 to transfer the door load to
it. The end
wall 82 is provided with reinforcements 29 adjacent the aperture 84. The screw
86
enables adjustment of the position of the roller mounting member 5 and thereby
the door
height above the supporting surface and reduces play in the door by allowing
the door to
be moved upwardly snugly against the upper track (not shown). The end wall 30
has an
access aperture 90 therein which permits a screwdriver blade to be inserted
through the
end wall 30 of the bracket 3 to engage the head 88 of the screw 86 in order to
make
such adjustments.
As best seen in Figures 1 and 2, the roller 7 is rotatably mounted adjacent
the
lower end of the mounting member 5 on an integral shaft or axle 92 which
extends
through aligned apertures in the side walls 76 and 78. As seen in Figure 2,
each of the
apertures 73 includes an enlarged guide portion which allows the hub of the
roller 7 to
be snapped into place in the mounting member 5. Alternatively, a ball bearing
110 may
be utilized between the roller hub 112 and the roller tire 114 as illustrated
in Figure 14.
As clearly shown in the drawings, and particularly Figure 6, the roller 7
comprises a wheel 7' integrally molded with the axle 92. The wheel 7'
comprises a
circular central portion 7a, providing a rim flanked by two coaxial, circular
frustroconical , side portions 7b,7c. The side portions 7b, 7c are of smaller
diameter
than the central portion 7a and each side portion 7b,7c tapers axially
outwardly to a
CA 02228320 1998-O1-29
-6-
smaller diameter, that is, in a direction away from the central portion 7a. As
shown
best in Figures 6 and 7, the track 100, resting on a base 202, is formed with
two curved
shoulders 204,206 on either side of a curved central cavity 208. The two
shoulders
204,206 are situated at the top of the track 100, above the level of the base
202. The
roller 7 rolls on the track 100 by virtue of the side portions 7b,7c of the
roller 7 rolling
on the shoulders 204,206 respectively. The open top of the central cavity 208
of the
track 100 forms a slot 210, level with the two shoulders 204,206 and the
cavity 208
widens out below the two overhanging shoulders 204,206. The central portion 7a
of the
roller 7 extends through the slot 210 and below the level of the two shoulders
204,206
into the cavity 208.
The roller mounting member 5 is limited in its movement outwardly of the
bracket 3 by a detent or tab 98 which extends inwardly from the body portion
24 and
seats in an elongated slot 96 in the sidewall 78 of the roller mounting member
5. The
detent 98 is resiliently deflectable to be deflected into the plane of the
bracket body
portion 24 when the upper end of the roller mounting member 5 is inserted into
the
bracket 3 until it springs into the slot 96 upon continued movement of the
mounting
member 5 toward the upper end flange 30 of the bracket 3.
As best seen in Figures 3 and 4, the anti jump member 9 includes a handle 91
and an elongated shaft 93 extending downwardly therefrom and terminating at
its bottom
end in an enlarged track engagement portion 95. The anti jump member 9 is
rotatably
and translatably carried by clips 87 on the side of the roller mounting member
5,
adjacent the rim of the roller 7, with the shaft 93 lying in the mller median
plane. As
illustrated in Figures 9-12, the anti jump member 9 is first rotated from the
elevated
position shown in Figure 9 to the position of Figure 10 in which it is still
elevated, then
displaced longitudinally downwardly to the lowered but inoperative position of
Figure
11 and then rotated again, wherein the track engagement portion 95 can engage
the track
100, as best seen in Figure 7.
In the lowered operative position of the anti jump member 9 shown in Figures 7
and 12, the shoulders 204,206 of the track 100 overhang parts of the track
engagement
portion 95 as shown, so that the track engagement portion 95 cannot be
withdrawn from
the track 100. When the lowered anti jump member is rotated to the lowered
CA 02228320 1998-O1-29
_7_
inoperative position shown in Figures 10 and 11, the shoulders 204,206 of the
track 100
no longer overhang any part of the track engagement portion 95 so that the
track
engagement portion 95 can be displaced longitudinally, i.e., vertically, to be
inserted
into or withdrawn from the cavity 208 through the slot 210, as desired.
A pair of recessed, flattened portions 94 formed in the shaft 93 of the anti
jump
member 9 are selectively engageable with a locking member 89 disposed between
the
clips 87 to releasably retain the anti jump member 9 in the retracted position
or the
operative position as desired. It will be appreciated that the mller assembly
1 can move
freely along the tracks with the anti jump member 9 in either the lowered
position or the
raised position.
In assembling the connector to the panel 2 and frame elements 6, 8, the roller
mounting member 5 with the roller 7 mounted therein may be initially inserted
into the
channel of the bracket 3 until the detent 98 snaps into the slot 96 of the
mounting
member 5. Thereafter, depending on whether the connector is to be used in a
right or
left corner of the panel, the side flanges 38 and 40 disposed along the
corresponding
right or left lateral side of the bracket 3 are used in the connection. In the
illustrated
example of Figure 5, the right corner of the door is being connected and those
along the
right side of the bracket 3 are used. The tab 66 is first engaged in the open
end of the
stile 6 and the tabs 34 of the lower end flange 32 are inserted into the slots
12.
Thereafter, the bracket 3 is pivoted toward the slot 10 in the stile 6 until
the G-shaped
tab 50 is inserted through the slot 10 and the tip 51 snaps against the inner
surface of the
stile 6. Concurrently, the tabs 52, 53 seat against the outer surface of the
stile 6 and the
body portion 24 seats against the outer surface of the rail 8 to engage the
stile 6 and rail
8 firmly with the bracket 3. The stiles and rails are conventionally
fabricated from steel
or aluminum to provide a rigid frame while providing some degree of flexure to
grip the
panel securely. The bracket is conveniently stamped from sheet metal of about
0.030-
0.050 inch thickness. The roller mounting member, roller and anti jump member
are
conveniently molded from synthetic resin such as nylon, polypropylene and
acetal.
