GB2458127A - Sliding door arrangment - Google Patents

Abstract

A mechanism for mounting a panel, for example a partition wall panel, on a support for sliding movement relative thereto using a two part coupler connector. The panel and support have frame members 10 12 each formed with slots 8 in which a coupler is adapted to slide. Each coupler has two elongate bodies 2 4 with parallel longitudinal axes, the bodies 2 4 are pivotally interconnected for relative rotation about a third parallel axis and this pivotal interconnection allows rotation of each body 2 4 in its respective slot. The interconnection comprises a male 14 and a female element 18 where the female element snap fits over the male element. The bodies 2 4 are locked against movement parallel to said axes.

Description

Sliding Panel Arrangement This invention relates to sliding door arrangements, but more generally to mechanisms for mounting a panel on a support for sliding movement relative thereto.

The mechanism has particular application in internal partition walls which can be dismantled for cleaning. An example is the wall of a shower area or cubicle.

A simple mechanism for mounting a panel on a support for sliding movement relative thereto comprises a projection on the panel which can move in a groove formed in the support. When the panel is to be mounted for translational movement without substantial rotation, then the panel is coupled to two parallel slots. In order for the movement to be smooth, and for the panel to be steady during such movement, the projection must be able to move smoothly in its respective groove for the full range of that movement. To achieve that, and to avoid "wobbling"; ie, lateral movement of the projection relative to the groove, the groove or grooves must be accurately formed with a uniform cross-section complementing that of the received projection, and its open face consistently and accurately oriented towards the projection. These and particularly the last criterion can be difficult to ensure in a manufacturing processes. This is especially the case when the groove is formed in an extrusion, such as a metal or plastic extrusion of the kind that is used to form frames for panels or supports of the kind in which mechanisms of the invention are likely to be used. In shower rooms or shower cubicles for example, sliding door arrangements are used in which panels and supports consist of plastics or glass sheets surrounded by extruded sections. The slide coupling is made between the respective extruded sections.

The present invention provides a simple and expedient means for overcoming problems arising from distortions in grooves in sliding arrangements of the kind described above. It is directed at a mechanism for mounting a panel on a support for sliding movement relative thereto, in which the panel and support are each formed with equally spaced parallel slots. According to the invention the mechanism comprises a plurality of couplers, each coupler having two elongate bodies with parallel longitudinal axes. The bodies are pivotally interconnected for relative rotation about an axis parallel to the body axes. Each body has a slide portion adapted to slide in a respective one of the slots in the panel and support. The pivotal interconnection within each coupler allows a degree of rotation of each body in its respective slot, thereby enabling it to cope with distortions in the slot without adversely affecting the sliding movement.

The pivotal interconnection between bodies in each coupler in mechanisms of the invention is conveniently formed by a male element on one body having a cylindrical outer surface, and a female element on the other body with a complementary cylindrical inner surface. The female element may be a snap fit over the male element, and it typically has a C-shaped cross-section, while the male element will normally present one or more continuous cylindrical surfaces. The complementary cylindrical inner surface on the female element can be discontinuous. This reduces the force required to engage the bodies in a snap fit of the kind referred to above.

Mechanisms according to the invention will not normally be adapted to enable one body to slide relative to the other. The sliding engagement is within one or other, or both of the grooves. Thus, while the bodies are interconnected to allow pivotal movement, movement parallel to their axes is prevented or at least restricted.

As noted above, the pivotal interconnection between the elongate bodies in a mechanism according to the invention can be a snap lit of a female element over a male element. This is a particularly preferred arrangement. More generally, in preferred mechanisms according to the invention the interconnection between the bodies in at least one of the couplers comprises elements forming parts of the bodies which are separable in a direction perpendicular to the pivotal axis. This enables a panel mounted on a support by the mechanism to be detached from the support at one of the parallel grooves while the couplers engaging the other parallel groove allow the panel to pivot.

This provides initial access to the space between the panels, which can be particularly useful for cleaning. In an alternative arrangement, the slide portion of one of the bodies in each coupler is separable from an element of the respective body interconnected with the other body in the respective coupler. This allows for the panel to be removed in its entirety from the support without removing the slide bodies from their respective slots.

This feature and the pivoting facility referred to above can be combined with couplers comprising separable elements being disposed in association with one of the slots, and couplers in which the slide portion of one of the bodies is separable from a section of the other body being associated with the other slot. This enables a sliding panel to be wholly removed from a support by first separating the bodies of the couplers in the one slot with the panel pivoting about the coupler axes associated with the other slot, and then withdrawing the panel translationally by means of the bodies of the couplers associated with the other slot being withdrawn one from the other. In this sequence, the translational movement of the panel as it is withdrawn from the support is different from and normally substantially perpendicular to the direction of separation of the separable elements in the couplers associated with the one slot in the initial pivotal movement of the panel.

It will be appreciated that the invention provides for the progressive separation and uliuiiiate detachment of the panel from the support. This is particularly usefti! for cleaning the surfaces between the panel and the support, and specifically those surfaces that would otherwise be inaccessible. This is of especial value in internal partitions and in shower rooms or cubicles where dirt can easily accumulate.

The invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a first coupler for use in a mechanism according to the invention; Figure 2 shows the two bodies of the coupler of Figure 1 spaced from each other; Figure 3 shows the coupler of Figure 1 installed to form a sliding connection between two frame members; Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a second coupler for use in a mechanism according to the invention; Figure 5 shows the parts of the coupler of Figure 4 separate from one another; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the coupler of Figure 4 installed between two frame members; and Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a panel partially detached from a support in a sliding arrangement using couplers of the kind shown in Figures 1 to 6.

The coupler shown in Figure 1 comprises first and second bodies 2,4. Each body has a slide portion 6 adapted to be received and to slide in a slot 8 in a frame member 10,12 (Figure 3). A body 2 is formed with a male element 14. The element 14 has a discontinuous cylindrical surface divided into two by an annular ridge 16. The body 4 is formed with a female element 18 which has a discontinuous C-shaped cross-section, complementing that of the male element 14, and broken by a gap 20 for receiving the annular ridge 16. When the two bodies are brought together as shown in Figure 1, the female element 18 receives the male element 14 by means of a snap fit.

When installed in frame members 10 and 12 as shown in Figure 3, it will be appreciated that the frame members can pivot relative to each but more importantly, the coupler can tolerate a degree of misalignment between the slots 8. With extruded metal frame members, the alignment of the slot opening with the respective member face can be inconsistent, and the pivotal coupie as illustrated can accommodate these variations.

By allowing for these variations, this avoids the need to reject frame members exhibiting these variations, without in any way compromising the appearance or performance of a sliding arrangement in which the frame members are used.

Figures 4 and 5 show a second coupler for use in mechanisms according to the invention. This differs from the coupler of Figures 1 and 2 primarily in that the body 2 consists of two separable parts; the slide portion 22 and the male element 24. Instead of the ridge 16, the male element 24 is formed with a slotted section 26, and the slide portion with a spigot 28 having a projection 30 for inserting into the slot 32 in section 26. With the body 2 of the second coupler assembled, the male element 24 can be received in the female element 18 of body 4 by means of a snap fit as described above with reference to Figures 1 and 2. Similarly, the slide portions 6 and 22 can be received in slots 8 in frame members 34 and 36 (Figure 6) in the same way as is shown in Figure 3. However, the members 34 and 36 shown in Figure 6 can be separated from one another in two different directions. As with the coupler shown in Figure 3, the snap fit between the male and female elements can be broken by forcing the members directly apart. However, the slotted connection between the slide portion 22 and male element 24 in the coupler of Figures 4 to 6 allows the member 35 to be withdrawn upwards relative to the member 34 without any snap fit or other coupling having to be broken.

A panel mounted on a support for sliding movement relative thereto using first couplers of the kind described above with reference to Figures 1 to 3 associated with equally spaced parallel slots can be separated from the support by breaking the snap fit between the male and female elements. The snap fit in the couplers associated with one of the slots would first be broken, with the pivotal connection in the couplers associated with the other slot allowing the panel to incline away from the support. The snap fit between the male and female elements in the couplers associated with the other slot can then be broken to wholly detach the panel from the support.

When a panel is mounted on the support with couplers of the kind shown in Figures 3 to 6 associated with two parallel slots, with the bodies having the female elements each being mounted in the support, the panel can of course be separated in its entirety from the support merely by lifting it upwards and away in the manner described with reference to Figure 6 in connection with one of the second couplers. However, in a particularly preferred arrangement according to the invention, a panel is mounted on the support with two spaced parallel siols by neans of a plurality of second couplers associated with the lower slot with the slide portion of the body having the female element being in the slot and a plurality of first couplers being associated with the upper slot. It is less important which slide portion of the respective first couplers is installed within the upper slot. When the panel is to be detached from the support, the snap fit in the first couplers is broken by forcing the respective frame members apart in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the support as shown in Figure 7. With the upper portion of the panel withdrawn from the support and the panel inclined thereto, the panel can then be lifted up and away by withdrawing the projections 30 from the slot 32 in the male element 24 of the respective second couplers, which remains retained within the respective female elements 18.

A panel may be remounted on a support in each of the three arrangements described above by simple reversal of the separation procedure. It will though, be appreciated that the procedure is particularly straightforward in the third arrangement described as once the projections are fitted in the slots, the male and female elements of the first couplers associated with the upper slot will be automatically aligned and can be re-engaged merely by forcing them together.

It will be appreciated from the above description that mounting mechanisms of the invention provide three distinct benefits. Firstly, it provides a means for accommodating imperfections in grooves or slots in a support upon which a panel is to be mounted, as such imperfections are very difficult to avoid, particularly in aluminium extrusions of the kind which are commonly used in frames for internal partitions, and particularly in shower areas and cubicles. By providing for simple partial dismantling access can be had to the internal space between a panel and a support for cleaning purposes; and by providing for simple total disassembly, more extensive cleaning, repair and maintenance work can be done quickly and efficiently. Most significantly, it greatly simplifies the fitting of replacements.

Claims (14)

1. CLAIMS: 1. A mechanism for mounting a panel on a support for sliding movement relative thereto, in which mechanism at least one of the panel and support is formed with equally spaced parallel slots, the mechanism comprising a plurality of couplers, each coupler having two elongate bodies with parallel longitudinal axes and being pivotally interconnected for relative rotation about an axis parallel to the body axes, each body having a slide portion adapted to slide in a said slot.
2. 2. A mechanism according to Claim i wherein the interconnection comprises a male element on one body having a cylindrical outer surface and a female element on the other body having a complementary cylindrical inner surface.
3. 3. A mechanism according to Claim 2 wherein the female element is a snap fit over the male element.
4. 4. A mechanism according to any preceding Claim wherein the bodies are locked against movement parallel to said axes.
5. 5. A mechanism according to any preceding Claim wherein the interconnection between the bodies in at least one of the couplers comprises elements forming parts of the bodies and separable in a direction perpendicular to the pivotal axis.
6. 6. A mechanism according to any preceding Claim wherein the slide portion of one of the bodies in at least one of the couplers is separable from a section of the respective body interconnected with the other body in the respective coupler.
7. 7. A mechanism according to Claim 5 and Claim 6 wherein at least one of the couplers the separable elements form the pivotal interconnection and the body portion separable from the respective body is separable in a direction perpendicular to the pivotal axis and substantially perpendicular to the direction of separation of the separable elements.
8. 8. A mechanism according to Claim 6 or Claim 7 wherein said slide portion is formed with a projection received in an orifice in the respective element.
9. 9. An arrangement in which a panel is mounted on a support for sliding movement relative thereto by a mechanism according to any preceding Claim.
10. 10. An arrangement according to Claim 9 wherein the mechanism has at least one upper coupler comprising elements forming parts of the bodies and separable in a direction perpendicular to the pivotal axis, and at least one lower coupler in which the slide portion of one of the bodies is separable from the respective body in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of separation of the separable elements of the said at least one upper coupler.
11. ii. An arrangeriteut according to Claim 9 or Claim 10 wherein the panel and the support include elongate members in which the slots are formed.
12. 12. An arrangement according to Claim 11 wherein the elongate members are extrusions.
13. 13. An arrangement according to Claim 12 wherein the elongate members are aluminium extrusions.
14. 14. An arrangement according to Claims 11 to 13 wherein at least one of the panel and support includes a glass section.