Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02841223 2014-01-29
SLIDING DOOR AND PIVOTING DOOR
FOR DEMOUNTABLE WALL SYSTEM
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application is based on and claims priority to U.S.
Provisional Patent
Application Serial No. 61/759,504 filed February 1, 2013.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to a wall panel system.
More specifically,
the present disclosure relates to both a sliding door and a pivot door that
can be used with a wall
panel system that includes laminated glass panels.
[0003] Panel-type wall systems are commonly used to divide space in an
open-plan
office environment. In a typical modular panel-type wall system, a number of
wall panels are
interconnected together in a configuration suitable for the intended use of
the space. Each wall
panel typically includes a structural frame to which a pair of tiles are
mounted. The tiles may be
broadly classified as either decorative tiles or functional tiles. Decorative
tiles have an acoustic
insulating material covered by an appropriate finishing material such as
fabric, metal or wood
and are designed to provide sound proofing and aesthetic appearance.
Functional tiles generally
have a tile frame that supports functional components, such as a tool rail,
one or more hooks, an
opening, a window, a shelf, a marker board, paper management components, etc.
[0004] The large number of panel-type wall systems currently available
allow a business
owner to divide an open space into a series of enclosed areas. Although panel-
type wall systems
are commonly available, the solid surfaces used in most panel systems create
an enclosed area
that may not have any exterior windows or any other types of glass areas open
to allow light to
enter into the enclosed area.
[0005] Presently, modular wall systems have been developed that include
glass panels as
the structural elements rather than just as windows within a typical panel
system. The
demountable wall systems that use tempered or laminated glass as the primary
exposed surface
increase the amount of light that reaches into the enclosed area defined by
the wall panel.
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However, utilizing glass panels instead of solid, structural panels creates
certain challenges since
structural components of the panel systems are viewable through the glass
panel members.
SUMMARY
[0006] The present disclosure generally relates to a wall panel system
that includes a
series of wall panels and a doorway defined by a pair of spaced vertical
support posts and a
horizontal header. The doorway can include either a sliding glass door or a
pivoting glass door
depending upon the user requirements.
[0007] In an embodiment in which the modular wall system includes a
sliding door, the
sliding door is supported by a sliding door track that is mounted to the
horizontal header. The
sliding door track is positioned adjacent to the horizontal header and extends
along the entire
length of the horizontal header and past one of the pair of spaced vertical
posts. The sliding
glass door is movable along the sliding door track to open and close the
doorway.
[0008] The sliding glass door is attached to at least a pair of trolley
assemblies that are
each movable along the sliding door track. Each of the trolleys is connected
to the sliding glass
door by a mounting bracket. The mounting bracket securely supports the sliding
glass door
between the trolleys such that the sliding glass door moves along with the
trolleys within the
sliding door track.
[0009] The mounting brackets attached to the sliding glass door are
adjustably connected
to a trolley such that the distance between the upper end of the sliding glass
door and the sliding
door track can be adjusted. In this manner, the vertical height of the sliding
glass door can be
modified to compensate for adjustments in the panels of the wall panel system.
[0010] The sliding glass door further includes a lower trim assembly that
is mounted to a
lower end of the sliding glass door. The lower trim assembly is adjustable to
modify the overall
height of the sliding glass door. In this manner, the trim assembly can be
slightly modified to
compensate for adjustments made to the panels of the wall panel system.
[0011] The lower trim assembly includes a bottom clamp that is attached
to the lower end
of the sliding glass door. The position of the bottom clamp can be adjusted
relative to the lower
end of the sliding door. The adjustment made between the bottom clamp and the
door are
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facilitated by a series of spaced attachment holes that are each sized to
receive a connector that
passes through a mounting hole formed in the sliding glass door. The bottom
clamp can be
adjusted such that the connector passes through a selected one of the spaced
attachment holes.
[0012] In an alternate embodiment in which the modular wall system
includes a pivoting
glass door, the pivoting glass door is mounted and supported by a bottom pivot
assembly and a
top pivot assembly. The pivoting glass door is not supported on either one of
the spaced vertical
posts that defines the doorway and is instead supported by the bottom pivot
assembly.
[0013] The bottom pivot assembly of the pivoting glass door includes a
bottom clamp
that is securely attached to the bottom end of the pivoting glass door. The
position of the bottom
clamp is adjustable relative to the bottom end of the pivoting glass door such
that the overall
vertical height of the pivoting glass door can be adjusted to compensate for
adjustments made in
the wall panels of the wall panel system.
[0014] The bottom clamp, when mounted to the bottom end of the pivoting
glass door,
receives a pivot pin that is supported on the floor of a building. The support
provided by the
pivot pin allows the pivoting glass door to pivot about a pivot access while a
pivot pin supports
the weight of the glass door.
[0015] The top pivot assembly is mounted to the top end of the pivoting
glass door and
defines a top end of the pivot access. The top pivot assembly includes a
plunger that is received
within the upper header to pivotally support the top end of the pivoting glass
door. The plunger
is biased into an extended position by a bias spring such that the plunger is
received within a
bushing formed within the upper header.
[0016] An upper end of the plunger that forms a portion of the top pivot
assembly
includes a sloped upper surface such that the sliding glass door can be moved
into position with
the plunger retracted. Once in position, the bias spring urges the plunger
into engagement with
the bushing formed as part of the horizontal header. The combination of the
bottom pivot
assembly and top pivot assembly define a pivot access and support the weight
of the pivoting
glass door.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] The drawings illustrate the best mode presently contemplated of
carrying out the
disclosure. In the drawings:
[0018] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a demountable wall system of the
present
disclosure;
[0019] Fig. la is a front view of a sliding glass door assembly;
[0020] Fig. 2 is a section view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. la of the
sliding glass door
assembly;
[0021] Fig. 3 is a partial section view taken through the top support
frame;
[0022] Fig. 3a is a side view showing the trolley assembly used to
support the sliding
glass door;
[0023] Fig. 4 is an exploded view of the lower trim used on the sliding
glass door;
[0024] Fig. 5 is a section view showing the attachment of the lower trim
to the sliding
glass door;
[0025] Fig. 6 is a front view of a pivoting glass door used with the wall
system;
[0026] Fig. 7 is a section view showing detail 7-7 of Fig. 6;
[0027] Fig. 8 is a section view of one of the support posts;
[0028] Fig. 9 is a detailed view of the area shown by line 9-9 in Fig. 6;
[0029] Fig. 10 is a section view taken along line 10-10 of Fig. 6;
[0030] Fig. 11 is a section view showing the pivot plate attachment;
[0031] Fig. 12 is a section view taken along line 12-12 of Fig. 6;
[0032] Fig. 13 is a section view taken along line 13-13 of Fig. 9;
[0033] Fig. 14 is a section view taken along line 14-14 at the bottom end
of the pivoting
door; and
[0034] Fig. 15 is a partial side view showing the attachment of the
bottom pivot block.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0035] Fig. 1 illustrates a demountable wall system (DWS) 11 constructed
in accordance
with the present disclosure. The wall system 11 shown in Fig. 1 includes
multiple glass panels
13 that can be used with conventional solid wall panels or with each other to
create multiple
rooms 15.
[0036] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the wall system 11 includes a
both a sliding
door 10 and a pivoting glass door 100 that can each be used to selectively
expose a doorway to
enter into one of the rooms 15. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the
adjacent wall panels 13
abut each other to create a panel joint 17. In the embodiment illustrated, the
panel joint is a butt-
glazed joint in which one of the side edges of the adjacent wall panels 13
includes a bulb seal
that creates a seal between the pair of adjacent wall panels at the panel
joint. In addition, one of
the pair of wall panels 13 that define the corner also include a bulb seal to
create the joint
between the pair of walls positioned at a 90 angle relative to each other.
[0037] As illustrated in Fig. 1, the demountable wall system 11 includes
a lower trim 19
and an upper trim 21 that enhance the overall aesthetic appearance of the
demountable wall
system 11. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, both the lower trim 19 and the
upper trim 21 are
continuous sections that extend across multiple glass wall panels 13. The
upper and lower trim
sections are installed after the construction of the demountable wall system
and provide a
visually appealing appearance for the wall system 11.
[0038] Fig. la illustrates one embodiment of the sliding glass door 10
constructed in
accordance with the present disclosure. The sliding glass door 10 is designed
for use with the
demountable wall system 11 shown in Fig. 1 that includes multiple glass wall
panels 13 that can
be used with conventional solid wall panels or alone to create multiple rooms.
The demountable
wall system 11 includes the sliding glass door 10 that is movable between the
closed position
shown in Fig. la and an open position to provide entry and exit into one of
the rooms created by
the demountable wall glass system. In addition to utilizing the sliding door
10 shown in Fig. 1, it
is also contemplated that a pivoting glass door could be utilized with the
modular wall system
11, as will be described in greater detail below.
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[0039] As illustrated in Fig. la, the demountable wall system includes a
pair of vertical
posts 12 that are spaced from each other to define an open doorway 14 that can
be open and
closed through the sliding movement of the glass door 10. When the glass door
10 is in the
closed position shown in Fig. 1, the outer edges 16 of the glass door 10
extend past inner edges
18 of the doorway 14.
[0040] The glass door 10 is movable along a sliding door track 20 that
allows the sliding
door 10 to move from the closed position to an open position in which the
sliding door 10 is
moved completely away from the doorway 14. In Fig. la, the door track 20
includes a broken
section; however, the length of the door track 20 should be at least twice the
width of the glass
door 10.
[0041] Fig. 2 is a section view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and
illustrates the
attachment of the door track 20 to a door frame header 22. The door track 20
is an extruded
component that is securely attached to the door frame header 22 through a
series of connectors
24. The connectors 24 are spaced along the length of the header 22 such that
the door track 20
can be securely supported on the header 22. As can be understood in Fig. 1,
the door track 20
extends past the door frame header 22 and past the vertical post 12 that
defines one side of the
doorway. The header 22, in turn, is supported by the pair of vertical posts 12
and defines the top
of the doorway. The extruded aluminum header 22 includes an insert 26 that
receives a trim
piece 28 to provide a finished appearance for the lower surface of the header
22.
[0042] As illustrated in Fig. 2, the sliding glass door 10 includes a
glass panel 30 that is
slidably supported relative to the stationary door track 20 by a pair of
mounting brackets 32.
Each of the mounting brackets 32 receives a pair of connectors 34 that extend
through an outer
face 36 of the mounting bracket 32. Each of the connectors 34 includes a
threaded end 38 that is
received by an internally threaded receiver 40. A resilient bushing 41 is
positioned in each of the
mounting holes formed in the glass panel 30 to protect the glass from the
connectors 34 and
receiver 40. The combination of the receiver 40 and the connector 34 connects
the mounting
bracket 32 to the glass panel 30 as illustrated.
[0043] The upper end 42 of the mounting bracket 32 includes a support
plate 43
connected to the upper end by a pair of screws 41, as shown in Fig. 3a. As
shown in Fig. 2, a
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connector 44 having a connecting post 46 extends upward through an access
opening 48 formed
in the door track 20 and is received within a trolley 50. The end 51 of the
connecting post 46 is
preferably threaded such that the distance between the trolley 50, and thus
the door track 20, can
be adjusted to adjust the effective height of the sliding glass door. The
trolley 50 is movable
within the door track 20.
[0044] The trolley 50 is more clearly shown in the side view of Fig. 3a.
The trolley 50
and includes a support bar 49 that includes a pair of front rollers 53 and
rear rollers 55. Both the
front and rear rollers 53, 55 are entrapped within the sliding door track 20,
as can be understood
in Fig. 2. Each of the rollers 53, 55 travels along the length of the sliding
door track 20 to permit
smooth sliding movement of the sliding glass door. A top support bar 52 holds
the trolley in the
position indicted in Figs. 2 and 3.
[0045] As illustrated in Fig. 2, an outer valence 54 is attached to the
door track 20 to
provide a visually desirable appearance to the outer surface of the door track
20.
[0046] Referring back to Fig. la, the bottom of the glass door 10
includes an adjustable
lower trim assembly 56 that provides a visually desirable appearance for the
bottom surface of
the sliding glass door 10. Fig. 4 illustrates the details of the lower trim
assembly 56. The lower
trim assembly 56 includes an adjustable bottom clamp 58 that includes a pair
of spaced vertical
sidewalls 60 that are spaced to define an open receiving channel 62. The
receiving channel 62 is
sized to receive the width of the bottom end 64 of the glass panel 30, as best
shown in Fig. 5.
[0047] Referring back to Fig. 4, the bottom end 64 of the glass panel 30
includes a pair of
mounting holes 66. The mounting holes 66 are used to secure the bottom clamp
58 to the bottom
end 64 of the glass panel 30. Specifically, a bushing 68 is positioned within
the mounting hole
66 and a standoff 70 and screw 72 extend through one of the spaced attachment
holes 74 and is
received by a corresponding nut 76. The spaced attachment holes 74 allow the
bottom clamp 58
to move upward or downward relative to the glass panel 30 such that the
location of the bottom
clamp 58 can be adjusted as needed. The adjustability between the bottom clamp
and the glass
panel 30 of the sliding door allows for slight adjustments to closely space
the bottom of the
sliding door to the floor.
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[0048] As can be understood in Figs. 4 and 5, a front cover 78 and a back
cover 80 are
received on the sidewalls 60 of the bottom clamp 58 to provide a visually
desirable appearance
for the lower trim assembly. The front and back covers 78, 80 can be formed of
different types
of material, such as a coated plastic or metal to provide the desired
appearance of the lower end
of the sliding door.
[0049] Referring back to Fig. 4, a pair of end caps 82 are attached to
each end of the
bottom clamp 58 to complete the visual appearance of the lower end of the
sliding glass door.
[0050] A lower guide assembly 84 is positioned in alignment with one of
the vertical
support posts 12. The lower guide assembly 84 is mounted to the bottom end of
the support post
12 by a pair of connectors 86. The lower guide assembly 84 includes a guide
block 88 that is
secured to an attachment plate 90 by a series of attachment screws 92 as shown
in Figs. 4 and 5.
A pair of gaskets 94 are mounted to each side of the bottom end 64 of the
glass door 30 to
cushion the insertion of the bottom end 64 into the bottom clamp 58.
[0051] As can be understood in Fig. 5, the guide block 88 is received
within a lower
cavity 96 defined by the bottom clamp 58 to guide the sliding movement of the
glass panel 30.
[0052] Figs. 6-14 illustrate the details of a pivoting glass door 100
that can be mounted
for pivoting movement between the pair of spaced vertical posts 12. The
pivoting glass door 100
can be used in place of the sliding glass door 10 shown in the embodiments of
Figs. la-5 or can
be used with a different room 15, as shown in Fig. 1. The pivoting glass door
100 is movable
within the doorway defined by the spaced vertical posts 12 and the horizontal
header 22. The
door 100 includes a handle 102 that allows the door to pivotally open about a
lower pivot
assembly and an upper pivot assembly, the details of which will be described
in detail below.
[0053] Fig. 7 illustrates the lower pivot assembly 104 that is mounted to
the bottom end
of the vertical support posts 12. The lower pivot assembly 104 includes a
pivot plate 106 that is
positioned between the lowermost portion of the vertical support posts 12 and
the ground. The
pivot plate 106 receives a pivot bolt 108 that is received within an
adjustable pivot receiver 110
of a bottom assembly 112.
[0054] Referring now to Fig. 14, the bottom assembly 112 is securely
attached to the
bottom edge 114 of the glass panel 116. The bottom assembly 112 includes an
adjustable
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mounting block 118 that is securely attached to the bottom edge 114 of the
door 116 through a
pair of set screws 120. The mounting block 118 receives a pair of side shims
122 that are located
on opposite sides of the glass panel 116. The side shims 122 are included to
create a tighter fit
between the glass panel 116 of the pivoting door and the vertical sidewalls
130 of the mounting
block 118. As illustrated in Fig. 14, the bottom edge 124 of the glass panel
116 contacts a
bottom shim 126 positioned within the open cavity 128 defined between the pair
of spaced
vertical sidewalls 130. In the embodiment shown, four separate bottom shims
126 are stacked on
top of each other within the open cavity 128. The bottom shims 126 can have
different
thicknesses varying from V2 inch to 1/8 inch such that different combinations
of the bottom shims
126 can vary the location of the bottom edge 114. Since the pair of set screws
120 holds the
mounting block 118 on the bottom edge 114, the position of the mounting block
can be adjusted
to adjust the overall height of the pivoting glass door. In the embodiment
shown, the total
adjustment from the lower shim 126 to each of the set screws 120 is
approximately 1.75 inches.
In this manner, the bottom assembly 112 can slightly adjust the overall height
of the glass panel
116 that forms the pivoting door.
[0055] As illustrated in Fig. 14, trim sections 132 are each mounted to
the mounting
block 118 to provide a more visually desirable appearance for the bottom
assembly 112. Each of
the trim sections 132 is securely held in place as illustrated.
[0056] As illustrated in Fig. 14, a pair of bottom flanges 134 of the
mounting block 118
defines an open receiving cavity 136. As illustrated in Fig. 7, the open
receiving cavity 136
includes the bottom pivot block 138 that in turn receives the pivot member 110
and the pivot bolt
108. As shown in Fig. 15, a pair of set screws 139 extends through the bottom
flange 134 and
engages the bottom pivot block to hold the pivot block within the mounting
block. The location
of the bottom pivot block can be adjusted in or out to control the swing of
the pivoting glass
door.
[0057] Fig. 13 is a cross-section view illustrating the interaction
between the top end 140
of the glass panel 116 that forms the swinging door and the header 22. In the
embodiment
shown in Fig. 13, the trim piece 28 mounted to the top header 22 includes a
weather strip 142
that extend vertically below the trim piece 28 and engages a top surface 144
of the glass panel
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116. The weather strip 142 provides a seal between the top header 22 and the
glass panel 116 of
the swinging door.
[0058] Fig. 8 is a bottom view showing one of the vertical posts 12. The
vertical post 12
includes outer trim sections 146 that are received within clips 148.
[0059] Fig. 9 is a detail, partial section view illustrating the pivoting
connection between
the top of the pivoting glass door 100. The top end of the door includes a
gasket 150 that is
received in a top portion of the door. The gasket 150 provides support for a
bias spring 152
which in turn acts upon a plunger 154. The plunger 154 extends into an upper
pivot bushing 156
and has a sloped upper surface 158. The sloped upper surface 158 allows the
top end of the
pivoting glass door to be moved into position to initially depress the plunger
154 against the bias
force created by the bias spring 152. Once the door is properly located, the
bias spring 152
forces the sloped upper surface 158 into the upper pivot bushing 156. When in
this position, the
plunger 154, along with the lower pivot bolt 108 shown in Fig. 7, defines the
pivot axis for the
pivoting glass door.
[0060] As can be understood in the drawing figures, the weight of the
pivoting glass door
is supported on the floor rather than by hinges attached to the vertical
support posts 12. The
pivot axis defined by the lower pivot bolt 108 and the plunger 154 is spaced
from the vertical
support posts 12. Since one of the vertical support posts 12 do not need to
support the entire
weight of the pivoting glass door, the size of the vertical support posts 12
can reduced.
[0061] Fig. 10 is a section view taken along line 10-10 that illustrates
the configuration
of the vertical post and the inner edge 160 of the pivoting glass door 100. A
pivot housing 166 is
connected through the glass panel by a pair of mounting screws 168 that are
each received within
an attachment nut 170. The spring 152 is shown in its compressed condition
within the pivot
housing 166. Vertical post 12 includes a molding 162 having a resilient bulb
seal 164.
[0062] Fig. 11 is a section view that shows the attachment of the pivot
plate 106 through
the use of one or more screws 172. The pivot plate 106 is located beneath the
bottom edge of the
vertical support post 12 and the ground.
[0063] Fig. 12 is a section view showing the attachment of a molding to
an inner surface
of the vertical support post 12. The molding 174 acts as a door stop and
limits the movement of
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the pivoting glass door 100 to only one direction. The molding 174 includes a
resilient bulb seal
176 that contacts the inner surface 178 of the pivoting glass door 100 when
the glass door is in
the closed position illustrated. The molding 174 includes a strike plate
weldment 180 that is
attached to the support post 12 through a screw 182. The strike plate weldment
180 is securely
attached over the length of the vertical support post 12.
[0064] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention,
including the
best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use
the invention. The
patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include
other examples that
occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be
within the scope of the
claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal
language of the claims,
or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial
differences from the literal
languages of the claims.
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