Roller guide for pocket doors

Abstract

A roller guide (1) for a pocket door comprising a roller (16) supported by two angled support arms (10, 13) extending from a base plate (2). The roller guide may be mounted adjacent to a pocket door so the roller makes contact with a surface of the pocket door and prevents the pocket door from scraping against an opening of a wall in which the pocket door is slideably mounted.

Claims

1. A pocket door assembly having roller guides comprising: a rectangular shaped pocket door located within a wall opening having a right side and a left side; a first roller guide attached to the right side of the wall opening; a second roller guide attached to the left side of the wall opening; said first roller guide having a substantially rectangular-shaped base plate having a front edge, a rear edge, a right side edge, a left side edge, a top surface and a bottom surface; said first roller guide having a right support arm having a proximal end and a distal end extending from the right side edge of the base plate; said first roller guide having a left support arm having a proximal end and a distal end extending from the left side edge of the base plate; said first roller guide having a cylindrical-shaped roller having an outer surface, a right side and a left side is located between the distal end of the right support arm and the distal end of the left support arm; at least one axle being rotatably connected to the distal end of each support arm; said second roller guide having a substantially rectangular-shaped base plate having a front edge, a rear edge, a right side edge, a left side edge, a top surface and a bottom surface; said second roller guide having a right support arm having a proximal end and a distal end extending from the right side edge of the base plate; said second roller guide having a left support arm having a proximal end and a distal end extending from the left side edge of the base plate; said second roller guide having a cylindrical-shaped roller having an outer surface, a right side and a left side located between the distal end of the right support arm and the distal end of the left support arm; and at least one axle being rotatably connected to the distal end of each support arm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the following detailed description, reference will be made to the attached drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective top view of a roller guide of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a top view of a roller guide of the present invention;

(4) FIG. 3 is a left side view of a roller guide of the present invention;

(5) FIG. 4 is a right side view of a roller guide of the present invention;

(6) FIG. 5 is a bottom view of a roller guide of the present invention;

(7) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a pocket door assembly wherein a pocket door installed in a doorway in a wall and in a partially open position extending out of an opening in the wall; and

(8) FIG. 7 is a side view of the pocket door of FIG. 6 along lines A-A wherein the pocket door is in a closed position within the wall.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(9) For purposes of describing the preferred embodiment, the terminology used in reference to the numbered accessories in the drawings is as follows: 1. roller guide, generally 2. base plate 3. front edge of base plate 4. rear edge of base plate 5. right side edge of base plate 6. left side edge of base plate 7. top surface of base plate 8. bottom surface of base plate 9. attachment means 9a. aperture 9b. screw 10. right support arm 11. proximal end of right support arm 12. distal end of right support arm 13. left support arm 14. proximal end of left support arm 15. distal end of left support arm 16. roller 17. outer surface of roller 18. right side of roller 19. left side of roller 20. pocket door 21. doorway 22. wall 23. opening of wall 24. right side of opening 25. left side of opening 26. trim 27. right side surface of pocket door 28. left side surface of pocket door

(10) With reference to FIGS. 1-5, a roller guide 1 of the present invention is illustrated. The roller guide 1 of the present invention comprises a preferably rectangular-shaped base plate 2 having a front edge 3, rear edge 4, right side edge 5, left side edge 6, top surface 7 and bottom surface 8. The base plate 2 may be mounted to a surface using an attachment means 9, such as one or more screws that engage apertures 9a located on the base plate 2, an adhesive and so forth. A right support arm 10 having a proximal end 11 and a distal end 12 extends from the right side edge 5 of the base plate 2 at a substantially perpendicular angle in relation to the front edge 3 and the rear edge 4 of the base plate 2. In addition, the right support arm 10 preferably extends from the base plate 2 at a slanted angle in relation to the right side edge 5, thereby extending the distal end 12 of the right support arm 10 over the front edge 3 of the base plate 2. Likewise, a left support arm 13 having a proximal end 14 and a distal end 15 extends from the left side edge 6 of the base plate 2 at a substantially perpendicular angle in relation to the front edge 3 and the rear edge 4 of the base plate 2. The left support arm 13 preferably extends from the base plate 2 at a slanted angled in relation to the left side edge 6, thereby extending the distal end 15 of the left support arm 13 over the front edge 3 of the base plate 2.

(11) A cylindrical-shaped roller 16 having an outer surface 17, a right side 18 and a left side 19 is located between the distal end 12 of the right support arm 10 and the distal end 15 of the left support arm 13 and rotates via at least one axle 19 extending from the right side 18 of the roller 16 and the left side 19 of the roller 16. Said at least one axle 19 being attached to the distal end 12 of the right support arm 10 and the distal end 15 left support arm 13, thereby allowing the roller 16 to rotate independently of the right support arias 10, the left support arm 13 and the base plate 2. The distal end 12 of the right support arm 10 and the distal end 15 of the left support arm 13 are each preferably rounded and the outer surface 17 of the roller 16 extends beyond said distal end 12 of the right support arm 10 and the distal end 15 of the left support arm 13, thereby allowing the roller 16 to make full contact with a surface without interference from the distal end 12 of the right support arm 10 and the distal end 15 of the left support arm 13.

(12) With reference to FIG. 6, a perspective view of a pocket door assembly wherein pocket door 20 installed in a doorway 21 in a wall 22 and in a partially open position extending out of an opening 23 in the wall 22 is illustrated. Roller guides 1 of the present invention are installed adjacent to the pocket door 20 to prevent the pocket door 20 from making contact with the wall 22.

(13) With reference to FIG. 7, a side view of the pocket door 20 of FIG. 6 along lines A-A wherein the pocket door 20 is in a closed position within the wall 22 is illustrated. The pocket door 20 normally hangs vertically centered within the opening 23 of the wall 22. The opening 23 of the wall 22 comprises a right side 24 and a left side 25. As illustrated herein, the right side 24 of the opening 23 and the wall 22 is covered by trim 26. The left side 24 of the opening 23 and the wall 22 is left rough and exposed. As illustrated on the left side 24 of the opening 23, a first roller guide 1 of the present invention is installed with the base plate 2 attached to the left side 24 of the opening 23 via an attachment means 9, such as one or more screws 9b that engage apertures 9a located on the base plate 2. The roller 16 extends partially into the opening 23 and the wall 22 and makes contact with a right side surface 27 of the pocket door 20. Likewise, a second roller guide 1 of the present invention is installed with the base plate 2 attached to the right side 24 of the opening 23. However, the base plate is not visible due to the fact that it has been covered by trim 26. The trim 26 and/or the side 24 of the opening 23 may be notched to allow the base plate 2 to be recessed, thereby allowing the trim 26 to sit flush. The roller 16 of the second roller guide 1 extends partially into the opening 23 and the wall 22 and makes contact with a left side surface 28 of the pocket door 20. The roller guides 1 of the present invention are installed adjacent to the pocket door 20 to prevent the pocket door 20 from making contact with the wall 22 and/or trim 26.

(14) It is to be understood that while a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and drawings.