The present invention is directed to a system for a flush track sliding door having a subsurface assembly and an aboveground assembly separated by a cover assembly and disposed in connection through an interconnection mechanism disposed therebetween, wherein such a subsurface assembly may additionally comprise a drainage assembly.
In the realm of sliding doors, windows, and other like apparatuses, structural integrity is of utmost importance. Indeed, doors, windows, and the like provide both ingress and egress in relation to a user's dwelling, as well as security therefor. As such, door and window systems are typically heavy, in order to facilitate the above. Such weight of door and window systems is only exacerbated when installed in locations requiring impact resistance, such as from hurricanes and tornadoes. As a result, the weight of such door and window systems is typically regarded as non-negotiable.
As such, typical systems for doors and/or windows disposed on the bottom floor of a house or other dwelling are typically buried into the pavement, substrate, or other surface. Burying at least a portion of such a door and/or window system facilitates greater structural integrity, while likewise protecting at least some of the components, particularly those configured for movement, from outside influences such as rain, thereby protecting the same from unintended degradation and/or destruction. Moreover, the burying of at least a portion of such door and/or window systems yields certain aesthetic benefits, as the same may provide continuity between the flooring material extending from the interior of a dwelling to the exterior thereof. Alternatively put, the resulting appearance of an at least partially buried door and/or window system may appear flush with the pavement, substrate, floor, or surface within which it resides.
However, the foregoing configuration necessarily results in certain issues. For instance, as occurs in all mechanical systems, the stresses and strains associated with moving parts, such as sliding doors and windows, eventually leads to material degradation and component failure. The likelihood of failure of such systems as a whole is only increased in instances of poor installation, or where water or other extrinsic factors infiltrate the system. As may understood, the installation of sliding door and/or window systems in an at least partially buried orientation exacerbates instances of mechanical failure and/or material degradation.
Indeed, repair of sliding door and/or window systems is often costly and necessitates a highly specialized technician. In instances where at least a portion of the sliding door and/or window system is disposed beneath a substrate, the need to unearth the relevant components of the system prior to repair vastly increases both the time and expense required to fix the same. Even further, in instances wherein the substrate at issue is made of marble, wood, or some other finished flooring, replacing such flooring material adds even further time and expense to the repair job, especially during times where flooring material can be difficult to source due to delays in global logistics and other similar issues. And, notably, the continual removal and replacement of the sliding door and/or glass system, as well as the accompanying substrate, further degrades the substrate itself, often leading to water leakage, and thus perpetuating the foregoing costly negative feedback loop.
In view of the foregoing, there exists in the need in the field of sliding door and/or window systems which reduces or otherwise vitiates the complexities and issues relating to systems buried in a substrate. For instance, any such solution should be configured for easy repair of below-substrate placed components, while simultaneously preventing such components from damage due to water, fluid, and/or debris interactions. Alternatively put, such a solution should be configured to avoid the need to remove the substrate when repairing any components disposed there below. Likewise, any such solution should be configured for ease of installation, while retaining the desired flush appearance with the underlying substrate. Furthermore, any such solution should still retain the requisite structural rigidity for impact-resistant applications. And finally, such a system should be configured to expel any water and/or fluid which may infiltrate the components disposed below the substrate, thereby reducing the damage any such water and/or fluid may cause on such components.
In view of the foregoing, alternative embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to a system for a flush sliding door and/or window assembly (hereafter “flush assembly”), wherein such an assembly comprises an aboveground assembly and a subsurface assembly disposed in connection through an interconnecting mechanism disposed therebetween. Such an aboveground assembly may be disposed above a floor, substrate, or some other surface, whereas such a subsurface assembly may instead be disposed below such a floor, substrate, or other surface. Due to the interconnection between such aboveground assembly and such subsurface assembly via the interconnecting mechanism, it may be understood any movement imparted on one such assembly may thus be imparted on the other. As may be understood, such interaction between the aboveground assembly, the subsurface assembly, and the interconnecting mechanism may be applied to a variety of different sliding door and/or window assemblies, such as two-track systems, three-track systems, four-track systems, or any other such system whether now known or hereafter developed.
As previously stated, the aboveground assembly of at least one embodiment of the present invention may comprise a support assembly configured to support a panel, whether comprising a door, a piece of glass, or some other structure connected thereto. Accordingly, it may be understood such a support assembly may comprise various elements configured to secure the door and/or window of the flush system described herein.
For instance, in at least one embodiment, such a support assembly may comprise a clamping mechanism configured to securely fasten the support assembly to the panel connected thereto. For example, such a clamping mechanism may comprise two oppositely disposed structures each of which are configured to align with a notching component disposed on the panel. In at least one embodiment, such a clamping mechanism may further be disposed in connection with padding, dampening, or other similarly situated materials and/or components configured to reduce or otherwise vitiate damage occurring to the panel as a result of the engagement between the same and the support assembly. However, it may be understood such a clamping mechanism may instead comprise any other similarly functioning structure, whether now known or hereafter developed.
In at least one embodiment, such aboveground assembly may be disposed in connection with a subsurface assembly, the latter of which is configured to provide the sliding functionality of the flush assembly. As such, the subsurface assembly of at least one embodiment of the present invention may comprise a track assembly. Such a track assembly may comprise a track component or a plurality thereof, dependent upon the number of tracks and/or panels required of the flush assembly of the present invention. Further, such a track assembly may comprise at least one roller member, which may be configured in movable engagement with the track component, such that the track assembly, and by extension both the subsurface assembly and the aboveground assembly may be moved longitudinally along such track component. In at least one embodiment, such roller member(s) may comprise, for instance, stainless steel trolley wheels with high-capacity bearing, or any other similarly situated structure. As may be understood, each such roller member may comprise a single wheel or a plurality thereof.
Further, such a track assembly may additionally comprise a lodging cavity configured to house certain components, such as at least a portion of the track component. Such a lodging cavity may further be configured to receive debris and other unwanted materials that may fall into the track assembly and may thus itself comprise an expansion chamber configured to receive such debris and move the same away from the track component.
In at least one embodiment of the present invention, such a subsurface assembly May further comprise a drainage assembly configured to receive fluids and/or debris therein. Such drainage assembly may be disposed below the track assembly, and may comprise, for instance, a sill pan and/or a sill tray configured to receive fluid and/or debris therein. In at least one embodiment, such a drainage assembly may be sloped, or otherwise have an angle of inclination, such that any fluids and/or debris that fall therein are predisposed to travel in at least one direction. As such, the drainage assembly of at least one embodiment of the present invention may further comprise at least one drainage outlet, to which the angle of inclination is directed, such that the fluid disposed therein may ultimately exit the drainage assembly.
As previously stated, such subsurface assembly and such aboveground assembly may be disposed in connection via an interconnection mechanism disposed therebetween. Such interconnecting mechanism may comprise any structure configured to securably fasten the various components of the subsurface assembly and such aboveground assembly to each other, such that any movement imparted on one such assembly is likewise imparted on the other. For instance, such an interconnection mechanism may comprise two attachment ends, namely, an aboveground attachment end and a subsurface attachment end. Such aboveground attachment end may be disposed in connection with the aboveground assembly, such as through the support assembly. In contrast, the subsurface attachment end may be disposed in connection with the subsurface assembly, such as through the track assembly.
Such an interconnection mechanism may further be disposed in connection with a cover assembly. For instance, such a cover assembly may be configured so as to provide two principal functions: (1) protect the subsurface assembly from the infiltration of water, fluids, and/or debris therein; and (2) provide easy access to such subsurface assembly in the event repairs, maintenance, cleaning, or access is needed thereto. Accordingly, in at least one embodiment of the present invention, such a cover assembly may comprise a removable lid, a hinged lid, or some other similarly situated structure, which may be disposed to be level with the surface, or otherwise disposed slightly thereunder. Such a cover assembly may, in at least one embodiment, be configured to match, approximate, or otherwise resemble the surface upon which it is disposed.
For instance, such a cover assembly may comprise individual planks of material, and may be formed of, for instance, marble, wood, or any other flooring finish, such that the same may be coextensive in appearance with the flooring material of the interior and/or exterior of a dwelling. Each such plank may be individually removable from the subsurface assembly and/or the aboveground assembly, thereby facilitating easy access and repair at discrete locations.
As may be understood, the interrelation between the cover assembly and the interconnection mechanism may require precise dimensioning, such that the interconnection mechanism may freely impart movement between the track assembly and the panels, while likewise minimizing the gaps and/or openings available for the infiltration of fluid and/or debris into the subsurface assembly. As such, the cover assembly of at least one embodiment of the present invention may comprise at least one cover opening, wherein such at least one cover opening may be cooperatively sized with the interconnection mechanism. As may be understood, the cover assembly of at least one embodiment may comprise one such cover opening per each such interconnection mechanism—i.e., there may be an equivalent number of openings per tracks of the flush assembly of the present invention. As used herein, the term “cooperatively sized” refers to the minimum amount of clearance required for the interconnection mechanism to impart movement between the track assembly and the panels, as may be understood by one having skill in the art.
In at least one embodiment, such at least one opening of the cover assembly may comprise a dividing structure, which may be configured to provide a some physical structure within the space between the cover opening(s) of the cover assembly and the interconnection mechanism. For instance, such a dividing structure may be disposed on each side of the cover opening, and thus on each side of the interconnection mechanism. Such a dividing structure in at least one embodiment may be configured in touching engagement with the interconnection mechanism, such that the dividing structure abuts, and indeed touches upon the interconnection mechanism. However, such a dividing structure may be configured so as not to prevent movement of the interconnection mechanism, or otherwise provide frictional forces sufficient to deter and/or interfere with the interconnection mechanism of its intended function. As such, the dividing structure may comprise, for instance, a bristle assembly, or some other similarly situated structure intended to touch, but not deter, the interconnection mechanism, while simultaneously preventing debris from infiltrating the subsurface assembly.
These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become clearer when the drawings as well as the detailed description are taken into consideration.
For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
As discussed heretofore, alternative embodiments of the present invention are directed to systems for a flush assembly 100—i.e., a system for a flush sliding door and/or window assembly, wherein such an assembly is disposed at least partially below a surface, substrate, floor, or other similar structure. Various embodiments of such a flush assembly 100 may comprise, for instance, an aboveground assembly 110 and a subsurface assembly 130, which may be disposed in connection through an interconnection mechanism 120 disposed therebetween. As may be understood, such an aboveground assembly 110 may be disposed above a surface 101, such a floor, whereas the subsurface assembly 130 may be disposed below such a surface 101. Various embodiments of such a flush assembly may comprise singular track, two-track, or three-track systems, or any other such system whether now known or hereafter developed. As such, it may be understood that the various components of the flush assembly 100 may reside in multiples dependent on the number of tracks utilized therein. In other words, while each component may be discussed in the singular herein, it may be understood the flush assembly 100 of the present invention may comprise multiple such components to account for each track thereof.
For instance, the embodiments depicted in
With continued reference to
In at least one embodiment, such a track assembly 131 may comprise individual track components which may be configured for movable engagement with at least one roller member 133. Accordingly, such roller member(s) 133 may be configured to move any structures attached thereto along the track components. Alternatively put, the moveable engagement between the roller member(s) 133 and the track components may enable the subsurface assembly 130 and the aboveground assembly 110 to move longitudinally along the track component(s). In at least one embodiment, such a roller member 133 may comprise stainless steel trolley wheels having a high-capacity bearing, whether one or a plurality thereof. Alternative embodiments of the flush assembly 100 described herein contemplate alternative structures for such roller member 133, provided such structures enable the moveable engagement recited herein, while likewise having sufficient structural integrity to bear the weight of the flush assembly 100 recited herein.
With continued reference to
Referring now to
Returning to
With continued reference to
In at least one embodiment, such a cover assembly 121 may instead comprise a plurality of individual planks of material, which may be substantially rectangular in shape, or may instead comprise some other shape. Such planks of material may be configured to match, approximate, or otherwise resemble the surface(s) residing next to the flush assembly 100 recited herein. For instance, such planks of material may be formed of marble, wood, or any other flooring finish. It should be understood that the cover assembly 121 of varying embodiments of the present invention may similarly be formed of the aforementioned materials with the intent of resembling the surface at hand. Each of such plank of material may be individually disposed in removable engagement with the subsurface assembly 130 and/or the aboveground assembly 110.
As may be understood, such a cover assembly 121 of varying embodiments of the present invention may be configured to provide the interconnection mechanism 120 between the aboveground assembly 110 and the subsurface assembly 130 through at least one cover opening 122, through which the interconnection mechanism 120 may be disposed. Accordingly, through such a cover opening 122, such an interconnection mechanism 120 may freely impart the movement from the subsurface assembly 130 to the aboveground assembly 110. In at least one embodiment of the present invention, such a cover opening 122 may be cooperatively sized, such that the same enables the functionality of the interconnection mechanism 120 recited heretofore, while similarly reducing the gaps through which fluid and/or debris may infiltrate the subsurface assembly 130.
In certain embodiments of the present invention, such as those depicted in
With reference now to
Since many modifications, variations and changes in detail can be made to the described preferred embodiment of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.
This Non-Provisional patent application claims priority to a previously filed and currently pending Provisional patent application, namely, that having 63/297,531 and a filing date of Jan. 7, 2022, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
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