Patent Application
20250188778
The invention relates to an assembly for mounting a door to a rail to allow the door to move along the rail between open and closed positions.
Mounting a door to move along a rail between open and closed positions is well known. This configuration of door is typically referred to as a ‘sliding door’. A sliding door is typically mounting to the rail via a carriage assembly, typically with one or more wheels to roll (i.e. slide) along the rail.
Various carriage or mounting arrangements have been employed over the years to mount a door to slide along a rail. However, there are often problems associated with installation of a door to carriage assembly on a rail. Connection of the mounting or carriage assembly to the door can be difficult and can often require two people to lift and locate the door to the carriage assembly.
Many existing sliding door mounting arrangements can also be cumbersome to install, and require channels to be routed in the top edge of the door to receive the mounting hardware. This routing generally requires a skilled labourer to do properly, and as a result these mounting systems are not suitable as an off-the-shelf DIY kit of parts.
It is also highly desirable to improve the reliability of sliding door mounting arrangements. Sliding door mounting assemblies can fail for a number of reasons. Mounting arrangements can result in the height of the door slowing dropping over time, requiring periodic adjustments to be made. Maintenance and/or disassembly for maintenance or replacement of carriages can be difficult, again requiring two or more people to remove a door from a rail. Some arrangements may include a latch mechanism to attach the door to the carriage, which introduces complexities to the door mount assembly and to the installation and removal of a door. Furthermore, latch assemblies can become jammed, for example due to debris or dirt over time, preventing disassembly such that destruction (i.e. cutting) of the mounting arrangement is required to remove the door from the rail.
In some door mounting systems, small generally plastic tabs or clips are used to secure components of the door mounting system to prevent movement. However, these have been found to fail over time, dislodge, fall out, or otherwise become lost which can compromise the performance of the door mounting system. In some situations, these clips can become lodged in the track further hindering the movement of the door.
It is an object of the invention to provide an assembly to mount a door to move along a rail that addresses one or more of the above or below-mentioned disadvantages, or provides other advantages as mentioned herein, or that at least provides the public or industry with a useful choice.
According to one aspect of the technology, there is provided an assembly for mounting a door to a rail to move between open and closed positions, the assembly comprising:
The configuration of the slot provides for an easy and simple connection of the door to the mounting assembly. The assembly may include a number of further features to simplify the installation process of hanging the door by the mounting assembly.
In some embodiments, the height of the head is commensurate with a height of the lower portion of the slot.
The slot may be open through an end of the mounting plate to allow the connection member to be inserted into the slot from an end of the mounting plate.
In some embodiments, the mounting plate comprises a pair of tabs at an end of the mounting plate, the tabs spaced apart to present an entry or alignment slot aligned with the lower portion of the slot.
The entry slot may have the same width as the lower portion of the slot.
The height of the tabs may be the same as the height of the lower portion of the slot.
The mounting assembly comprises a securing plate mounted to the mounting plate to capture the connection member within the slot. The securing plate closes an open end of the slot to capture the connection member within the slot.
The securing plate prevents movement of the connection member along the slot. The connection member is captured in a horizontal direction between the securing plate and a closed end of the slot.
The assembly may comprise a locking member to lock the securing plate to the mounting plate.
For example, the mounting plate has an aperture and the securing plate has a corresponding aperture, and with the securing plate positioned on the mounting plate, the apertures are aligned to receive the locking member.
The locking member may be a pin or rod configured to be dropped into the aligned apertures, such that no tools are required to connect the connection member to the mounting plate.
The mounting plate may comprise a recess or projection and the securing plate a corresponding projection or recess, such that engagement of said recess and projection couples the securing plate to the mounting plate in a vertical direction. The securing plate is attached to the mounting plate by sliding the securing plate on the mounting plate in a direction along the slot.
In some embodiments, the securing plate comprises a feature to engage a complementary feature on the connection member to prevent the connection member from rotation relative to the securing plate and therefore the mounting plate. In some embodiments, the securing plate presents a lateral surface to engage a flat surface on the connection member to prevent rotation of the connection member relative to the securing plate. The connection member may comprise at least a pair of diametrically opposed flat surfaces for engagement by a spanner and the lateral surface of the securing plate engages one or more said flat surfaces. The securing plate may have a recess or slot to receive the connection member. Lateral sides of the securing plate recess or slot engages one or more said flat surfaces on the connection member to prevent rotation of the connection member relative to the securing plate.
In an aspect of the invention, the connection member is attached to the pin by a threaded engagement to provide for height adjustment of the door.
In some embodiments, the carriage comprises a chassis and the assembly comprises a joint between the chassis and the pin to allow the pin to pivot relative to the chassis. The joint may allow for the pin to pivot or rotate relative to the chassis. In some embodiments, the joint allows for the pin to pivot or rotate relative to the chassis about a pivot axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the pin and parallel to the rail. The chassis may comprise a socket, and the pin comprises a ball at an upper end received in the socket to form the joint. A pair of diametrically opposed members may be provided between the ball and chassis on a central axis of the ball perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the pin.
To move along the rails, the carriage may comprise a chassis and one or wheels rotationally mounted to the chassis.
The mounting assembly of the first aspect may be configured for a sliding door assembly, for example a cavity sliding door assembly. In another aspect, the invention may provide a cavity sliding door assembly comprising a door, a frame presenting a cavity for receiving the door when in an open position, a rail, and an assembly for mounting the door to the rail as described in any one or more of the above statements in relation to the first aspect of the invention.
According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided an assembly for mounting a door to a rail to move between open and closed positions, the assembly comprising:
In an aspect of the invention, the connection member comprises a head and a neck, and the mounting plate has a slot dimensioned to receive the neck, wherein the head is too wide to be received in or pass through the slot so that in use the door hangs from the mounting assembly with the mounting plate bearing on the head of the connection member.
In some embodiments, the mounting assembly comprises a securing plate mounted to the mounting plate to capture the connection member within the slot. The securing plate may comprise a feature to engage a complementary feature on the connection member to prevent the connection member from rotation relative to the securing plate and therefore the mounting plate. For example, the securing plate presents a lateral surface to engage a flat surface on the connection member to prevent rotation of the connection member relative to the securing plate. The connection member may comprise at least a pair of diametrically opposed flat surfaces for engagement by a spanner and the lateral surface of the securing plate engages one or more said flat surfaces. The securing plate may have a recess or slot to receive the connection member, lateral sides of the securing plate recess or slot engaging one or more said flat surfaces on the connection member to prevent rotation of the connection member relative to the securing plate.
The second aspect may comprise any one or more features described above in relation to the first aspect of the invention.
According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for mounting a door to a rail to move between open and closed positions, the method comprising:
In some embodiments, engaging the connection member with the mounting plate comprises vertically aligning the head with the lower portion of the slot and moving the connection member along the slot. The slot may be open through an end of the mounting plate and the method comprises inserting the connection member into the slot from the open end of the slot. The mounting plate may comprise an entry slot aligned with the lower portion of the slot and the method comprises inserting the head into the entry slot and moving the head along the entry slot to move the head into the lower portion of the slot and the neck into the upper portion of the slot. The height of the head may be commensurate with the height of the lower portion the slot, and the method comprises lifting the door to contact the head with a top edge of the door, and moving the connection member along the top edge surface of the door until the head and neck are received in the lower and upper portions of the slot.
The mounting assembly may comprise a securing plate and the method comprises attaching the securing plate to the mounting plate to capture the connection member within the slot, for example by sliding the securing plate onto the mounting plate in a direction along the slot. The mounting assembly may comprise a locking member and the mounting plate and securing plate with complementary apertures that are aligned when the securing plate is attached to the mounting plate. The locking member may be dropped into the aligned apertures to lock the securing plate to the mounting plate in a vertical direction.
In an aspect of the invention, the connection member is attached to the pin by a threaded engagement and the method comprises adjusting a height of the door relative to the rail by rotating the connection member on the pin. The securing plate may have a feature to engage a complementary feature on the connection member to prevent the connection member from rotation relative to the securing plate, and the method comprises rotating the connection member for height adjustment of the door and attaching the securing plate to the mounting plate to capture the connection member and prevent rotation of the connection member to set the height of the door.
In a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a two-part mounting and securing plate assembly, for hanging a door carriage assembly which includes a connection member, the two-part mounting comprising:
In a further aspect there is provided a securing plate, which includes an open-ended securing slot which is configured to, in-use:
Preferably the connection member includes a nut portion.
In a still further aspect, there is provided a securing plate which includes sides and/or a terminal end which engage and hold a nut portion on a connection member therein.
In yet a still further aspect there is provided a use of securing plate substantially as described above to rotate the nut portion forming part of a connection member to adjust the height at which a carriage assembly supports a sliding door.
In examples, the open ended first slot and/or the open ended second slot on the mounting plate may be positioned substantially centrally on the mounting plate.
In examples, the securing slot may be positioned substantially centrally on the securing plate.
In examples, the connection member may comprise a threaded aperture, which engages with a threaded carriage pin.
In a further aspect the present invention there is provided a connection member which includes:
Preferably, in-use the lateral dimensions of the head are greater than those of an upper slot in the mounting plate.
Preferably, the nut portion resembles a hex nut although a four sided nut portion could also be used.
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise”, “comprising”, and the like, are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense, that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to”.
The entire disclosures of all applications, patents and publications cited above and below, if any, are herein incorporated by reference.
Reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that that prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour in any country in the world.
The invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, in any or all combinations of two or more of said parts, elements or features.
Further aspects of the invention, which should be considered in all its novel aspects, will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading of the following description which provides at least one example of a practical application of the invention.
One or more embodiments of the invention will be described below by way of example only, and without intending to be limiting, with reference to the following drawings, in which:
A cavity sliding door assembly 100 is shown in
A mounting assembly 1 for mounting the door 101 to the rail 103 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in
The mounting assembly 1 comprises a carriage to carry the door along the rail. The carriage has wheels 2. The wheels 2 engage the rail 103 to roll (slide) along the rail 103. The carriage has a chassis 3 to which the wheels are rotationally mounted. The illustrated embodiment has two pairs of wheels. The wheels are mounted on axles 25 extending through the chassis 3. Other carriage configurations are possible, for example there may be one or more wheels and alternative wheel mounting arrangements, and/or the carriage may comprise alternative sliding elements.
The assembly 1 comprises a mounting plate 4 configured to be attached to the top edge of the door. A carriage pin 5 extends between the carriage chassis 3 and the mounting plate 4, to connect the door 101 to the carriage 3 to slide on the rail 103. The mounting plate 4 has apertures 6 to receive fasteners (not shown) therethrough to attach the plate 4 to the top of the door.
An upper end of the pin 5 is received in a socket 7 within the chassis. The pin 5 comprises a ball 8 at the upper end, to be received in the socket 7. As best shown in
The use of a ball-and-socket mounting arrangement may advantageously allow for multi-axial rotation of the door relative to the cavity and carriage to which is it mounted, for example the ball-and-socket arrangement may allow for longitudinal tilting of the door, i.e. in the axis of movement of the door, together with lateral movement of the door, i.e. perpendicular to the axis of movement of the door. This arrangement may advantageously allow for self-centering of the door within the cavity, (for example by way of free lateral movement) as well as allowing for each end of the door to be mounted to the carriage separately. For example, a first end of a door, may be lifted and the door mounting hardware attached, while the opposing end of the door remains at rest on the ground. Accordingly, the engaged end of the door may be higher, than the opposing end of the door, which is at rest on the ground. Once attached, the second end of the door may be raised and connected to the mounting hardware thereby levelling out the door within the cavity. This can advantageously reduce the total weight that an installer may need to lift, reduce the number of people required to mount the door, may the mounting system better suited for frail people, or those with disabilities and/or reduce the likelihood of heath and safety incidents occurring during installation, such as the door falling onto the user's toes and feet.
A pair of diametrically opposed members (grub screws) 10 are provided to the ball 8 on a central axis of the ball perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the pin 5. The members 10 are received in complementary recesses or grooves 11 provided to the chassis 3 adjacent the socket 7 to restrict movement of the pin 5 relative to the chassis 3 to pivot or rotate about a pivot axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pin 5, i.e. about a horizontal axis. The pivot axis is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the rail 103 and/or is in a plane of the door 101 in use. Other joint arrangements may be provided to connect the pin 5 to the chassis 3 while allowing for the door 101 to pivot relative to the rail 103 about an axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the rail.
The assembly further comprises a connection member 12 attached to or formed with the pin 5. The connection member 12 connects the pin 5 to the mounting plate 4 to thereby couple the door 101 to the carriage.
The mounting plate 4 is best illustrated in
To insert the connection member 12 into the slot 13, the head 12a is vertically aligned with the wider lower portion 13a of the slot 13. The connection member 12 is moved along the open ended slot 13 to receive the head 12a of the connection member 12 in the lower portion 13a of the slot and the neck 12b of the connection member 12 in the narrow upper portion 13b of the slot, to couple the pin 5 to the mounting plate 4, as shown in
In the illustrated embedment, the slot 13 is open ended, i.e. the opening is provided through an end of the mounting plate 4, to allow the connection member 12 to be inserted into the slot 13 from an end of the mounting plate 4, for example from an open end of the slot.
In the illustrated embodiment, the mounting plate comprises a set of low-profile opposing arms which are directly mounted to the top of the door in use using fasteners inserted through apertures 6. This configuration can reduce the overall height profile of the mounting system allowing for a smaller gap between the top of the door and the carriage, and therefore a more compact, and less visible mounting system. Furthermore, by directly mounting the arms to the top of the door via fasteners in the apertures 6 means the loading weight of the door may be directly transferred through the fasteners, reducing the stresses imparted to the mounting plate 4 which may result in deformation of the mounting plate over time.
In the illustrated embodiment, the mounting plate 4 has a pair of tabs 14 at an end of the mounting plate 4. The tabs 14 are spaced apart to present an entry or alignment slot 15 also referred to herein as a first open ended slot. The first open ended slot 15 is aligned with the lower portion 13a of the slot 13. The entry slot has the same width as the lower portion 13a of the slot 13. In the illustrated embodiment, the height of the tabs 14 is the same as the height of the lower portion 13a of the slot 13. To insert the neck 12b of the connection member 12 into the upper portion 13b of the slot 13, the head 12a is initially placed in the entry slot 15 (with the neck 12b above the tabs 14). The connection member 12 can then be moved along the entry slot 15 to then move the head 12a into the lower portion 13a of the slot and the neck 12b into the upper portion 13b of the slot, to connect the mounting place 4 to the carriage. Thus, the entry slot 15 forms a guide, to align the connection member 12 in a horizontal direction with the slot 13 so that the neck 12b and head 12a are easily received into the 13 slot (the connection slot) of the mounting plate 4.
In the illustrated embodiment, the height of the head 12a is commensurate with (matched to) the height of the lower portion 13a of the connection slot 13, so that the head 12 is configured to engage a surface immediately below the lower portion 13a of the slot 13 to vertically align the head 12a with the lower and the neck 12b with the upper portion of the slot. In the illustrated embodiment, the upper portion 13b of the slot extends through an upper surface of the mounting plate 4 and the lower portion 13a of the slot extends through a lower surface of the mounting plate 4. In use, with the mounting plate 4 mounted to a top of the door 101, the top edge of the door provides a surface immediately below the lower portion 13a of the slot 13. To insert the connection member 12 into the slot 13, the head 12a of the connection member may be placed against the top edge of the door, i.e. by lifting the door 101 to contact the head 12. The connection member 12 can then be moved along the top edge surface of the door 101 until the head and neck are received in the lower and upper portions 13a, 13b of the slot. Thus, the configuration of the mounting plate assists with aligning the connection member with the mounting plate slot in a vertical direction.
The mounting assembly further comprises a securing plate 16. The securing plate is best illustrated in
The assembly 1 comprises a locking member 18 in the form of an M4 6 mm screw to lock the securing plate 16 to the mounting plate 4. The illustrated embodiment has an aperture 17a in the mounting plate and a corresponding aperture 17b in the securing plate 16, refer
With the securing plate 16 positioned on the mounting plate 4 to capture the connection member 12, the aperture 17b of the securing plate 16 is aligned with the aperture 17a on the mounting plate 4. As shown in
The locking member 18 is a pin or rod that is configured to be dropped into the aligned apertures 17a, 17b. A screw type fastener may be used as the pin or rod, as illustrated in
The illustrated embodiment has an aperture 17a, 17b adjacent each longitudinal edge of each of the mounting plate 4 and the securing plate 16 so that there the aperture 17a, 17b to receive the locking member 18 is accessible from each side of the door 101 for easy access by an installer. A locking member 18 may be provided to one pair of aligned apertures 17a, 17b only.
The mounting plate 4 comprises a recess 19 to receive a corresponding projection 20 of the securing plate 16, to couple the securing plate 16 to the mounting plate 4 in a vertical direction. With reference to
Additionally, projection 20 on the underside of the securing plate 16 has lateral side wall dimensions (shown by double headed arrow X in
Accordingly, in the illustrated examples the securing plate is configured to engage with an upper surface portion 4U of the mounting plate, and a lower surface of the mounting plate via recesses 19, in use.
The mounting plate and securing plate assembly has a height of, or around, 10.25 mm as shown by double headed arrow Z in
With reference to
The securing plate 16 comprises a feature to engage a complementary feature on the connection member 12 to prevent the connection member 12 from rotation relative to the securing plate 16 and therefore the mounting plate 4. For example, the connection member may comprise a hex nut, or other suitable fastener head which can be rotated in use to adjust the height of the door. Rotation of the carriage and carriage pin 5 relative to the rail 103 about a vertical axis is largely prevented by engagement between the carriage and the rail 103, with the carriage received on the rail 103. Further, the door 101 is largely prevented from rotation relative to the rail 103 about a vertical axis by members (refer members 104 in
The securing plate 16 presents lateral surfaces 23A and converging surfaces 23B, such as sides and ends of the securing slot 24 to in use engage a diametrically opposed flat surfaces 22A on the nut portion 22 of the connection member 12 to prevent rotation of the connection member 12 relative to the securing plate 16. The lateral surface 23 of the securing plate 16 engages a flat 22 of the hex on the connection member 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the securing plate 16 has a recess or slot 24 herein referred to as a securing slot, which is configured to receive the connection member 12 when the securing plate 16 is attached to the mounting plate 4. Lateral sides 23 of the securing plate slot 24 engage diametrically opposed flats 22 on the connection member 12 to rotationally couple the connection member 12 to the securing plate 16 to prevent relative rotation therebetween. In the illustrated embodiment, a closed end of the securing plate slot 24 is configured to engage two flats 22 on the connection member 12. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, the securing plate 16 engages four flats on the connection member 12 (as shown in
In use, the with the securing plate 16 installed, the connection member 12 is prevented from rotating, and as such the height of the door cannot sag or drop over time. Should a user wish to adjust the height of the door, they can simply remove the securing plate by removing the fasteners in the apertures 17b, and slide the securing plate away from the connection member, thereby disengaging the side and/or end walls of the securing slot 24 from the connection member, and allowing rotation of the connection member for adjustment.
It should be appreciated, that with the securing plate removed, the present technology, allows the height of the door to be adjusted, while the door remains connected to the carriage assembly. Accordingly, the securing plate 16 can be removed without affecting the positioning or attachment of the door. In other words, the mounting plate of the present technology is configured to take the full weight of the door, while adjustments are being made.
Components of the present invention including but not limited to the mounting plate 4, securing plate 16, pin 5, and connection member 12 are preferably constructed of a rigid material, such as a metal, or more preferably a steel such as stainless steel. The use of metals may advantageously improve the wear resistance, total loading supported by the door, and/or prevent failure over time, for example due to plastic degradation.
Embodiments of the present invention provide one or more of the following benefits:
Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to integers or components having known equivalents thereof, those integers are herein incorporated as if individually set forth.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022259850 | Mar 2022 | AU | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/NZ2023/050033 | 3/17/2023 | WO |
