Provided is a sliding door device which can move a support shaft attached to a sliding door along an inclined portion of a rail by using a pull-in device. The rail (6a) is provided with the straight portion (11) for linearly guiding the support shaft attached to the sliding door (2) and the inclined portion (12) which is inclined with respect to the straight portion (11) and obliquely guides the support shaft. The straight portion (11) of the rail (6a) is provided with the pull-in device (15) which can capture a trigger (18) provided on the straight portion (11) of the rail (6a) and linearly move along the straight portion (11) of the rail (6a) when the sliding door (2) is closed. A pull-in force transmission part (20) for moving the support shaft along the inclined portion (12) of the rail (6a) is coupled to the pull-in device (15).

Provided is a sliding door device which can move a support shaft attached to a sliding door along an inclined portion of a rail by using a pull-in device. The rail (6a) is provided with the straight portion (11) for linearly guiding the support shaft attached to the sliding door (2) and the inclined portion (12) which is inclined with respect to the straight portion (11) and obliquely guides the support shaft. The straight portion (11) of the rail (6a) is provided with the pull-in device (15) which can capture a trigger (18) provided on the straight portion (11) of the rail (6a) and linearly move along the straight portion (11) of the rail (6a) when the sliding door (2) is closed. A pull-in force transmission part (20) for moving the support shaft along the inclined portion (12) of the rail (6a) is coupled to the pull-in device (15).

An overhead door system is disclosed, which includes a first track and a second track mounted on opposite sides of an opening. Each track has a vertical portion, a transition portion, and a horizontal portion, with the transition portion being between the vertical portion and the horizontal portion. An overhead door engages the first and second tracks on opposite sides of the overhead door and is movable along the first and second tracks between a closed, vertical position and a raised, horizontal position. A motor unit has a motor that is mounted above the horizontal portions of the first and second tracks. A rail is parallel to and disposed between the horizontal portions of the first and second tracks. The rail carries a carriage configured to move in a first direction to raise the overhead door and in a second, opposite direction to lower the overhead door. A connecting member is pivotally attached at one end near a top edge of the overhead door and attached at an opposite end to the carriage. A one-way bearing is disposed between the motor and the carriage. The motor, as it rotates in a first rotational direction, applies force to the carriage to move the carriage in the first direction to raise the overhead door. Nevertheless, owing to the one-way bearing, the motor, as it rotates in a second, opposite rotational direction, does not apply force to the carriage to move the carriage in the second direction to lower the overhead door. A kit to retrofit an overhead door system with a one-way bearing is also disclosed.

An overhead door system is disclosed, which includes a first track and a second track mounted on opposite sides of an opening. Each track has a vertical portion, a transition portion, and a horizontal portion, with the transition portion being between the vertical portion and the horizontal portion. An overhead door engages the first and second tracks on opposite sides of the overhead door and is movable along the first and second tracks between a closed, vertical position and a raised, horizontal position. A motor unit has a motor that is mounted above the horizontal portions of the first and second tracks. A rail is parallel to and disposed between the horizontal portions of the first and second tracks. The rail carries a carriage configured to move in a first direction to raise the overhead door and in a second, opposite direction to lower the overhead door. A connecting member is pivotally attached at one end near a top edge of the overhead door and attached at an opposite end to the carriage. A one-way bearing is disposed between the motor and the carriage. The motor, as it rotates in a first rotational direction, applies force to the carriage to move the carriage in the first direction to raise the overhead door. Nevertheless, owing to the one-way bearing, the motor, as it rotates in a second, opposite rotational direction, does not apply force to the carriage to move the carriage in the second direction to lower the overhead door. A kit to retrofit an overhead door system with a one-way bearing is also disclosed.

A spring assisted overhead door is disclosed. An overhead door is movable between an open and a closed position. In the open position the overhead door is in a horizontal orientation and rests on a track that is also horizontal. Weight of the door in this position may be insufficient to initiate downward movement of the overhead door. A spring is used to urge the overhead door along the track until a release point at which point the overhead door is at least partially on a downwardly oriented portion of the track where gravity can pull the overhead door along the track.

A spring assisted overhead door is disclosed. An overhead door is movable between an open and a closed position. In the open position the overhead door is in a horizontal orientation and rests on a track that is also horizontal. Weight of the door in this position may be insufficient to initiate downward movement of the overhead door. A spring is used to urge the overhead door along the track until a release point at which point the overhead door is at least partially on a downwardly oriented portion of the track where gravity can pull the overhead door along the track.

A retraction device includes a housing and a driving element guided in the housing between a parked position and an end position. A first end of a spring energy accumulator is connected to the housing. The spring energy accumulator is loaded to a maximum operating value when the driving element is in the parked position and is unloaded to a residual energy value when the driving element is in the end position. A second end of the spring energy accumulator can either be fixed to the housing or coupled to the driving element by means of a bistable coupling. The coupling has a blocking element that can be moved between the housing and the driving element.

A retraction device includes a housing and a driving element guided in the housing between a parked position and an end position. A first end of a spring energy accumulator is connected to the housing. The spring energy accumulator is loaded to a maximum operating value when the driving element is in the parked position and is unloaded to a residual energy value when the driving element is in the end position. A second end of the spring energy accumulator can either be fixed to the housing or coupled to the driving element by means of a bistable coupling. The coupling has a blocking element that can be moved between the housing and the driving element.

A retraction device for two end positions has two driving elements which are connected to one another by a spring energy accumulator. Each driving element is displaceably mounted in a respective guide housing. A sliding door has such a retraction device, and a sliding door arrangement has such a sliding door. Each driving element is coupled or can be coupled to a cylinder-piston unit mounted in the respective guide housing. Both guide housings are adjustable relative to one another in the longitudinal direction of the retraction device by means of at least one sliding joint. This provides a retraction device for two end positions, which can be used for a range of door widths without design modifications.

A retraction device for two end positions has two driving elements which are connected to one another by a spring energy accumulator. Each driving element is displaceably mounted in a respective guide housing. A sliding door has such a retraction device, and a sliding door arrangement has such a sliding door. Each driving element is coupled or can be coupled to a cylinder-piston unit mounted in the respective guide housing. Both guide housings are adjustable relative to one another in the longitudinal direction of the retraction device by means of at least one sliding joint. This provides a retraction device for two end positions, which can be used for a range of door widths without design modifications.