The present invention relates to a door system, and more specifically, to a door system with sliding and hinging capabilities.
Traditional two-panel patio doors typically offer either fixed-axis rotation (swinging) or lateral movement (sliding). Swinging patio doors can maximize space for ingress and egress but they do not allow for any variability in the size of an opening between the interior and the exterior. Additionally, swinging patio doors provide insufficient pressure resistance from wind, air, and water because of the seam between the two doors. Sliding patio doors can vary the size of an opening between the interior and the exterior. Sliding patio doors can also be configured to overlap with each other to make the doors less prone to air pressure fluctuations and water entry. However, sliding patio doors typically offer approximately half of the space for ingress and egress as swinging patio doors.
Some patio door systems attempt to accomplish both sliding and swinging functionality but rely on complex hinging mechanisms or complicated hardware, such as motorized systems. Other patio door systems attempt to provide flexibility with multiple panels allowing for various configurations; however, the designs can be confusing and cumbersome for users due to requiring multiple sliding and lifting motions to open and close the panels as desired.
Therefore, there is a need for a patio door system which provides both fixed-axis rotation and lateral movement. Such a door system should be intuitive for the user to operate, allow variability in the size of an opening between the interior and the exterior, and maximize an available opening space for ingress and egress.
The present disclosure provides for a door assembly comprising a door, a first track, a first carriage assembly, a second carriage assembly, and a first locking mechanism. The first carriage assembly can be slidably moveable on the first track and include a first pivot mechanism, which pivotably couples the door to the first track. The second carriage assembly can also be slidably movable on the first track. The first locking mechanism can configure the door in either a sliding configuration or a pivoting configuration. In particular, the first locking mechanism can mechanically couple the door to the second carriage assembly in the sliding configuration and mechanically decouple the door from the second carriage assembly in the pivoting configuration.
In some examples, the first pivot mechanism can include a hinge pin which pivotably couples the first carriage mechanism and the door. For example, the hinge pin can extend between the first carriage mechanism and the door. The door assembly can further include a mounting bracket mechanically coupled to the door. The mounting bracket can further include a pin connector for receiving the hinge pin.
In some examples, a second locking mechanism is provided that can selectively fix a position of the first carriage assembly in the first track. The second locking mechanism can be positioned above the first track. The second locking mechanism can include a rod for fixing the position of the first carriage assembly and a linear motion device for positioning the rod for either the sliding configuration or the pivoting configuration. The linear motion device can position the rod to extend through the first track and the first carriage assembly to lock the first carriage assembly in place for the pivoting configuration. The linear motion device can position the rod so as to be retracted from the first carriage assembly for the sliding configuration. This second locking mechanism can be manually operated.
Similar to the second locking mechanism, the first locking mechanism can also include a rod and a linear motion device for positioning the rod for either the sliding configuration or the pivoting configuration. In a sliding configuration, the linear motion device can position the rod to extend through the door and the second carriage assembly. In a pivoting configuration, the linear motion device retracts the rod from the second carriage assembly for the pivoting configuration.
In some examples, the second carriage assembly can further include a striker extending towards the door from a base of the second carriage assembly. The door assembly can further include a set of detents on the door. The detents can be positioned and shaped to receive the striker and thereby couple the door to the second carriage assembly. The second carriage assembly can thereby secure the striker for the sliding configuration.
In some examples, the first locking mechanism can be integrated into the door, and can optionally be manually operated.
In some examples, the door assembly can further include a second track and a third carriage assembly. The third carriage assembly can be slidably movable on the second track and can include a second pivot mechanism. The second pivot mechanism can pivotably couple the door to the second track. The second pivot mechanism and the first pivot mechanism can be configured to operate cooperatively.
In some examples, the door assembly can further include a third locking mechanism configured to fix a position of the third carriage assembly in the second track.
In some examples, the door assembly can further include a fourth carriage assembly and a fourth locking mechanism. The fourth carriage assembly can be slidably movable on the second track. The fourth locking mechanism can mechanically couple the door to the fourth carriage assembly in the sliding configuration and mechanically decouple the door from the fourth carriage assembly in the pivoting configuration.
In some examples, the third locking mechanism and the second locking mechanism can operate together. In some examples, the fourth locking mechanism and the first locking mechanism can operate together.
The present invention is described with reference to the attached figures, where like reference numerals are used throughout the figures to designate similar or equivalent elements. The figures are not drawn to scale and are provided merely to illustrate the instant invention. Several aspects of the invention are described below with reference to example applications for illustration. It should be understood that numerous specific details, relationships, and methods are set forth to provide a full understanding of the invention. One having ordinary skill in the relevant art, however, will readily recognize that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods. In other instances, well-known structures or operations are not shown in detail to avoid obscuring the invention. The present invention is not limited by the illustrated ordering of acts or events, as some acts may occur in different orders and/or concurrently with other acts or events. Furthermore, not all illustrated acts or events are required to implement a methodology in accordance with the present invention.
The present disclosure relates to a door assembly comprising at least a first and second door. Each door can be connected to an upper track via first and second carriage assemblies. The first carriage assembly of each door can be configured to optionally pivot or slide along the upper track. The second carriage assembly of each door can be configured to allow each door to optionally engage or disengage with the upper track, depending on whether the first carriage assembly is configured to slide or pivot. Therefore, the present disclosure provides a door assembly with fixed-axis rotation where the door assembly can pivot about the first carriage assembly. The same door assembly can be configured for lateral movement of both doors.
Second handles 110 can be located near an interior edge 109 of each of door frames 105 and allow a user to pull door panel 104 open, thus permitting pivoting of each door panel 104 about an axis 103. In some implementations, second handles 110 can be pocket-type handles. Door panels 104 can also optionally include a light transmitting pane 108 to allow exterior light to enter an interior room. The light transmitting pane 108 can be glass, plastic, or any material or combination of materials that transmit light. Further, light transmitting pane 108 can have any level of opaqueness. For example, the light transmitting pane 108 can be transparent, partially opaque, or a combination of transparent portions and opaque and/or partially opaque portions. Door panels 104 can further be connected to upper track 112 via respective mounting brackets 102. Each mounting bracket 102 can ensure that a connected door panel 104 remains attached to upper track 112 when sliding or pivoting.
As shown in
Finally,
In some examples, pivot mechanism 220 can further act as a locking feature. For example, pivot mechanism 220 can go fully into the door 104 until the door 104 is hinged open. In some examples, pivot mechanism 220 can have a latch (not pictured) inside the door frame 104 which can act as an additional safeguard and configure door 104 for swinging. This latch can further secure the door 104 in place so that the door 104 does not swing in response to wind or air pressure.
As shown in
Handle apparatus 626 can thus pull a connecting rod 624 located above handle apparatus 626 downward such that a coupling rod 620 located above handle apparatus 626 retracts from a carriage assembly and locking mechanism. At the same time as that movement, handle apparatus 626 can pull a connecting rod 624 located below handle apparatus 626 upwards such that a coupling rod 620 also retracts from a carriage assembly and locking mechanism. Therefore, a carriage assembly and locking mechanism located at a top portion of a door panel can be operate simultaneously with a carriage assembly and locking mechanism located at a bottom portion of a door panel. This synchronous, or cooperative, movement can be manually controlled by a user operating handle apparatus 626.
In some examples, receiving sleeve 730 can be configured to protect the material of the door 504 from the sliding up and down movement of locking rod 734. For example, receiving sleeve 730 can be a nylon sleeve. Additionally, stopping element 736 can be a cap inside the track, configured to stop upward movement of coupling rod 620.
Connector pins 910 can be received by corresponding receiving holes 912 inside a door 908. Door 908 can have a two-tier structure corresponding to the shape of carriage body 902. For example, an edge of door 908 can have a first portion 909a which is lower than a second portion 909b. The receiving holes 912 can be on a side surface of second portion 909b which faces the carriage body 902. The first portion 909a of door 908 can fit flush against second portion 903b of carriage body 902. The second portion 909b of door 908 can fit flush against first portion 903a of carriage body 902. Therefore, the connector pins 910 of the carriage body 902 can mate with the corresponding receiving holes 912 when the door 908 is in a sliding configuration. In a pivoting configuration, connector pins 910 can easily snap out of receiving holes 912 to allow door 908 to swing freely.
In some examples of the present disclosure, a user can switch between a pivoting configuration and a sliding configuration of the door assembly by interacting with an electronic display. The electronic display can coordinate with the door to lock or unlock the respective locking mechanisms according to which configuration the user selects. In other examples, the present disclosure can provide for a mechanical switch on the door panels or on the carriage and lock assemblies. In other examples, a user can change a configuration of the door assembly by means of a wirelessly transmitted device or a smartphone application on an electronic device.
For example, a user can press a button on an electronic device to put the door assembly in a pivoting configuration. The door assembly can then automatically lock the locking mechanisms above the pivoting carriage assemblies on an exterior portion of the door assembly and automatically unlock the locking mechanisms above the sliding carriage assemblies on an interior portion of the door assembly. Consequently, a user can pull interior handles and the door panels pivot about a fixed axis 103.
If the user presses a button on an electronic device to put the door assembly in a sliding configuration, the door assembly can automatically unlock locking mechanisms above the pivoting carriage assemblies and lock the locking mechanisms above the sliding carriage assemblies. Consequently, a user can pull on any handles on the door assembly to slide the door assembly across an upper and/or lower track.
In another example of the present disclosure, a user can press a button or flip a switch (or any other mechanical apparatus on a door) to put the door assembly in either a pivoting or sliding configuration. For example, there can be one switch for the pivoting configuration and a second switch for the sliding configurations. In some examples, there can be a single switch which alternates between the pivoting and sliding configurations.
While various examples of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. Numerous changes to the disclosed examples can be made in accordance with the disclosure herein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above described examples. Rather, the scope of the invention should be defined in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.
Although the invention has been illustrated and described with respect to one or more implementations, equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of this specification and the annexed drawings. In addition, while a particular feature of the invention may have been disclosed with respect to only one of several implementations, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of the other implementations as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular examples only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, to the extent that the terms “including,” “includes,” “having,” “has,” “with,” or variants thereof, are used in either the detailed description and/or the claims, such terms are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising.”
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Furthermore, terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
This application is a continuation, which claims priority to U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 16/134,265 entitled, “Door System with Sliding and Hinging Capability”, filed Sep. 18, 2018. This application is also a bypass continuation of International Application No.: PCT/US18/47369, filed Aug. 21, 2018, entitled, “Door System with Sliding and Hinging Capability,” the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. This application also claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/548,041, filed Aug. 21, 2017, entitled, “Design and Apparatus for Entryway Door System With Sliding and Hinging Capability,” the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.
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U.S. Appl. No. 16/134,265, dated Jan. 4, 2019, 10 pages. |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20190301217 A1 | Oct 2019 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62548041 | Aug 2017 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 16134265 | Sep 2018 | US |
Child | 16444853 | US | |
Parent | PCT/US2018/047369 | Aug 2018 | US |
Child | 16134265 | US |