Adjustable guide device for a sliding element

Abstract

An adjustable guide device, which serves for guiding a sliding element, such as a sliding door, with a mounting body that is mountable on the floor, a guide member that is pivotally connected to the mounting part and is designed for interacting with the lower side of the sliding element, and a locking element, with which the connection between the mounting part and the guide member is fixable or releasable. The guide member comprises a guide body and a guide foot, which are connected with one another, which guide body comprises a guide column that is aligned along a guide axis (y) and which guide foot is seated on an upper side of the mounting body and is pivotally connected by a joint element to the mounting body so that the guide foot can be turned around a pivot axis (x), which is distant from the guide axis (y).

Claims

1. Adjustable guide device for a sliding element, such as a sliding door, with a mounting part, which comprises an elongated mounting body that is mountable on the floor, with a guide member that is pivotally connected to the mounting part and that is designed for interacting with the lower side of the sliding element, and with a locking element with which the connection between the mounting part and the guide member is fixable or releasable, wherein the guide member comprises a guide body and a guide foot, which are connected with one another, which guide body comprises a guide column that is aligned along a guide axis (y) and which guide foot is seated on an upper side of the mounting body and is pivotally connected by a joint element to the mounting body so that the guide foot can be turned around a pivot axis (x), which is distant from the guide axis (y) and wherein on a lower side of the guide foot a first structured contact surface is provided, which adjoins a second structured contact surface that is provided on the upper side of the mounting body, which first and second contact surfaces comprise a plurality of structured elements that engage in a form-locking manner into one another, when the mounting part and the guide member are connected.

2. Guide device according to claim 1, wherein the guide axis (y) and the pivot axis (x) are aligned in parallel to one another.

3. Guide device according to claim 1, wherein the structured elements are aligned radially to the pivot axis (x).

4. Guide device according to claim 1, wherein the number of the structured elements, which encircle the pivot axis (x) in a wave form, are selected such that the guide member is adjustably turnable and fixable with increments in a range from 5-15 around the pivot axis (x).

5. Guide device according to claim 1, wherein the joint element is bolt shaped and is held coaxially aligned to the pivot axis (x) in a first pivot hole in the mounting body, which adjoins the second contact surface or is enclosed by the second contact surface, and in a second pivot hole in the guide foot, which adjoins the first contact surface or is enclosed by the first contact surface.

6. Guide device according to claim 5, wherein the bolt-shaped joint element comprises a bolt head that adjoins an upper side of the guide foot and that the mounting body comprises a cantilever at one end on which the first contact surface is provided, and that the locking element is provided below the cantilever in the form of a nut, which encloses a threaded member of the joint element.

7. Guide device according to claim 6, wherein the mounting body is connected to a securing ring, which is held below the cantilever and which is provided with a ring opening that is coaxially aligned to the first and second pivot holes and that encloses a securing member of the bolt shaped joint element, whereby the locking element is held secured between the cantilever and the securing ring.

8. Guide device according to claim 1, wherein the width of the elongated mounting body corresponds approximately to the width the guide column.

9. Guide device according to one of the claims 1, wherein the width of the elongated mounting body corresponds approximately to the width of the guide foot.

10. Guide device according to claim 1, wherein the guide body and the joint element are integrally connected with one another or wherein the guide body and the joint element are connected by mechanical connecting means.

11. Guide device according to claim 1, wherein the guide body and the joint element comprise form elements which are complementary to one another.

12. Guide device according to claim 1, wherein the mounting body comprises a bearing shell which adjoins the guide foot.

13. Guide device according to claim 1, wherein the guide column serves as guide element or that the guide column holds at least one guide element, such as a guide wheel or a gliding element.

14. Guide device according to claim 13, wherein the guide column is provided with an axial bore, in which a shaft is inserted that rotatably holds the guide wheel.

15. Guide device according to claim 1, wherein the guide column is adjustable in height and comprises two column elements that are adjustably screwed or adjustably coupleable to one another.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention is described below in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a sliding element, i.e. a sliding door 8, which is held slidable by means of a sliding system 7 in front of a door frame 88, and which exhibits at the lower side a guide groove 81, which is opened downwards and in which inventive guide devices 1 are engaged, which are mounted at the floor;

(3) FIG. 2 shows one of the guide devices 1 of FIG. 1, which engages at the lower side into a guide groove 81 of a sliding door 8 shown in longitudinal section, in which a guide rail 82 is provided and which in this embodiment is closed at the front side 83 of the sliding door 8;

(4) FIG. 3 shows the guide device 1 of FIG. 2 with the guide member 11, which engages with a guide element, i.e. a guide wheel 13 in the guide rail 82 shown in a longitudinal section, and a mounting part 12, which is mounted at the floor and connected by a joint element 15 with the guide member 11;

(5) FIG. 4a shows the guide device 1 of FIG. 2 in explosion view;

(6) FIG. 4b shows the guide device 1 of FIG. 4a with the elements of the guide member 11 and the mounting part 12 from a different angle;

(7) FIG. 5 shows the mounting part 12 and a guide body 14 of the guide member 1 with structured contact surfaces 123, 143 that are facing one another;

(8) FIG. 6 shows the guide device of FIG. 2 with a cut along cutting line A--A shown in FIG. 7a;

(9) FIG. 7a shows the guide device of FIG. 2 with the guide member 11 not swivelled out; and

(10) FIG. 7b shows the guide device of FIG. 2 with the guide member 11 turned to the right side.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(11) FIG. 1 shows a sliding element, i.e. a sliding door 8, which is slidably held in front of a door frame 88 by means of a sliding system 7, as shown for example in U.S. Pat. No. 9,290,977B2. The sliding system 7 comprises for example two carriages, which are connected to the sliding element 8 and which are guided by means of one or a plurality of rails along a pathway. The displacement can thereby be executed in parallel to a room opening or in parallel to the room opening up to a closing phase, in which the sliding element in addition is guided against the room opening. In order to tightly close the room opening, it is required that the sliding element is precisely guided at the upper side and at the lower side and is guided in a given distance to the room opening, i.e. to a door frame or a casing 88 provided there. For precisely guiding the sliding element 8 at the lower side, two inventive guide devices 1 are provided at the floor, which engage into a guide groove 81 that has been machined into the lower side of the sliding element 8.

(12) The guide groove 81 shown in FIG. 1 is open at the front side. As an alternative, in the embodiment of FIG. 2, the guide groove 81 is closed at the front side 83 of the sliding element 8. As described below, in both alternatives convenient access is provided to the guide device 1 for adjustment purposes (see FIG. 3).

(13) FIG. 2 shows one of the guide devices 1 of FIG. 1, which engages at the lower side into a guide groove 81 of a sliding door 8 shown in longitudinal section, in which a guide rail 82 is provided. The guide rail 82 exhibits a U-profile that is opened downwards, with an intermediate member 821 and side members 822 laterally connected thereto, whose inner sides form running surfaces for guide elements 13. Below the guide rail 82, which for example is screwed to the sliding element, a rather large space is kept free within the guide groove 81, in which the guide device 1 is received partly or completely. Between the lower side of the sliding element 81 and the floor a gap is kept free, through which a tool can be guided (see FIG. 3). Due to the advantageous construction of the guide device 1, this gap can have little height allowing only the transfer of the tool.

(14) The guide device 1 shown in FIG. 2 comprises a mounting part 12 mountable at the floor and a guide member 11, which is rotatably connected by means of a joint element 15 to the mounting part 12 and which is lockable by means of a fixing element 16. The guide member 11 is provided with a guide element, i.e. a guide wheel 13, which is guided within the guide rail 82 and can roll along its sidewalls 822.

(15) FIG. 3 shows the guide device 1 of FIG. 2 with the guide member 11, which engages with a guide wheel 13, which is supported by a guide body 14, into the guide rail 82, which is shown in longitudinal section. The mounting part 12, which is mounted at the floor by means of two mounting screws 9 (see FIG. 7a), comprises a mounting body 121, which at its lower side is provided with a recess 129. In the recess 129 the locking element, i.e. the nut 16 is provided, with which the threaded bolt 15 is fastened and the guide body 14 can be fixed on the mounting body 121.

(16) Optionally a securing ring 126, which is connected to the mounting body 121, extends into the recess 129, which however exhibits only a little height. Hence, the nut 16 is held practically directly above the floor and can be grasped and turned with a tool, e.g. the open-ended wrench shown. The open-ended wrench can be guided below the door laterally or from the front side, in order to release or fasten the nut 16. Hence, although the guide device 1 does optically not appear it can conveniently be operated, i.e. adjusted. The guide wheel 13 is guided within the guide rail 82, the guide body 14 is received completely and the slim mounting body 121 to a major part in the guide groove 81 and is invisible from the outside.

(17) FIG. 4a and FIG. 4b show the guide device 1 of FIG. 2 in explosion view with the mounting body 121 of the mounting part 12 and the guide member 11, which comprises the guide body 14 that is firmly connected to the joint element, i.e. the joint bolt 15, and the guide element, i.e. guide wheel 13 that is held by a shaft 131. Further shown is the locking element 16, with which the joint bolt 15 can be fastened. In FIG. 4a, the device parts, except the fixing element 16, are elevated in vertical direction, whereby, on the one hand, the guide body 141 and the joint bolt 15, and, on the other hand, the shaft 131 and the guide wheel 13 are connected with one another.

(18) In FIG. 4b, the device parts are turned against one another in order to improve the view to the relevant features.

(19) The guide body 14 comprises a guide column 141 and a guide foot 142 that is connected in one part to the guide column 141. The guide foot 142 is placed onto the upper side of the mounting body 121 and is therefore not integrated into the mounting body 121. Hence, an elongated and symmetric mounting body 121 can be provided with a slim design. FIG. 7a shows that the width of the mounting body 121 corresponds approximately to the diameter of the guide column 141. Hence, in comparison to the guide groove 81 provided at the lower side of the sliding element 8, the guide device 1 is designed very narrow and can still be adjusted over a wide range.

(20) The guide foot 142 is provided with a pivot hole, i.e. pivot bore 140 (see FIG. 4b), through which the shaft 152, 153, 154, 155 of the joint bolt 15 has been inserted.

(21) FIG. 4b shows that the shaft of the joint bolt 15 comprises a plurality of axially displaced shaft members 152, 153, 154 and 155, which are stepped relative to one another and which fulfil different functions. Shaft member 152 is a connecting member with vertically extending furrows, which are deformed under pressure within the pivot bore 140 of the guide foot 142, so that a stable connection results, which is not releasable during operation of the guide device 1. FIG. 4a shows the guide body 141 and the joint bolt as a unity. For securing and taking load off this connection a form-locking connection between the guide body 141 and the joint bolt 15 is provided in addition. The guide column 141 is provided with a coupling groove 1411 that extends in parallel to the longitudinal axis y and that is facing the pivot bore 140, i.e. the bolt head 151. The bolt head 151 is provided with a cut that corresponds to the form of the coupling groove 1411. Hence, the bolt head 151 is held in a form-locking manner in the coupling groove 1411 and cannot be turned, whereby load on the connection between the connecting member 152 of the shaft of the joint bolt 15 and the guide foot 142 is reduced, when forces are acting.

(22) The passage member 153 of the shaft of the joint bolt 15, which adjoins the connecting member 152 with reduced diameter, is rotatably held within a pivot bore 120 provided in the mounting body 121.

(23) The threaded member 154, which adjoins the passage member 153 with reduced diameter, serves for interacting with the nut 16. The securing member 155, which adjoins the threaded member 154 with reduced diameter, serves for the introduction into the securing ring 126, which assures that the nut 16 when released from the threaded member 154 cannot escape. Hence, the nut 16 is held between a cantilever 124 of the mounting body 121, which is provided with the related pivot bore 120, and the securing ring 126. The cantilever 124 and the securing ring 126 are preferably integral members of the mounting body 121 or are members of modules which are connected to the mounting body 121 in a form-locking manner and are fixed, e.g. by means of one of the mounting screws 9. For the introduction of the mounting screws 9, the mounting body 121 is provided with mounting bores 127, 128. The first mounting bore 127 is provided approximately in the centre of the mounting body 121. The second mounting bore 128 is provided at the end of the mounting body 121, which lies opposite to the end of the mounting body 121, at which the cantilever 124 is provided. Hence, the mounting body 121 is built as a kind of springboard with a pedestal that is mounting with the mounting screws 9 at the floor and with a stable cantilever 124, which forms the springboard. Further, a bearing shell 125 is provided, which adjoins the cantilever 124 at the front side and with which at least one sided a form-locking connection between the guide foot 142 and the mounting body 121 is reached, which again reduces the load on the connection between the joint bolt 15 and, on the one hand, the mounting body 121 and, on the other hand, the guide body 14.

(24) In the embodiment shown, structured contact surfaces 143, 123 are provided at the lower side of the guide foot 142 and at the upper side of the mounting body 121, i.e. of the cantilever 124, which comprise forms that are complementary to one another and which engage in different turning positions of the guide foot 142 relative to the mounting body 121 always in a form-locking manner into one another. The structures of the contact surfaces 123, 143 exhibit regularly arranged structured elements, which correspond to one another, i.e. which are complementary to one another. For this purpose, mutually complementary depressions and elevations may uniformly be repeated several times. The recesses may be openings, bores, or wave hollows. In contrast, the elevations may be formations, cones or wave crests. Bores and cones engaging into one another result in good form-locking connections. However, such structured elements are not easily released from one another for the purpose of making adjustments. Particularly advantageous are therefore wave forms, which are easily releasable from one another and with which good form-locking connections can still be achieved.

(25) In the preferred embodiment shown, the first and the second contact surfaces 123; 143 comprise structured elements that radially extend to the pivot axis x and that engage in a form-locking manner into one another, after the connection of the mounting part 12 and the guide member 11 has been established.

(26) In a particularly preferred embodiment wave-shaped structured elements are provided, which partially or, as shown in FIG. 4b, completely surround the pivot axis x, i.e. the pivot bores 120, 140. The wave crests and wave hollows always extend radially to the pivot axis x, whereby the extension in direction to the mounting bores 127, 128 is largest and is significantly reduced laterally and in direction to the bearing shell 125. Hence, the contact surfaces 123, 143 with their structured elements are therefore designed asymmetrically with reference to the pivot axis x.

(27) Number and form of the structured elements are selected such, that the guide member 11 is turnable around the mounting body 121 stepwise with increments in a range from preferably 5 to 15 and is fixable. Preferably, the structured elements are an integral part of the mounting body 121 and of the guide foot 142 and in preferred embodiments are coated or processed, e.g. hardened. Alternatively, the structured elements can also be provided on a module, which is connected to the mounting body 121, i.e. the guide foot 142.

(28) The guide column 141 and the shaft 131 of the guide element 13, which can be inserted into an axial bore 149 provided at the upper side of the guide column 141, are coaxially aligned with their longitudinal axes to a guide axis y, which after installation of the guide device 1 is normally vertically aligned. The shaft 152, 153, 154, 155 of the joint bolt 15 however defines a pivot axis x, around which the guide body 14, i.e. the guide column 141, is turnable after the joint bolt 15 has been released. The distance between the pivot axis x and the guide axis y lies preferably in a range from 5 mm to 25 mm, further preferred in a range from 10 mm to 20 mm. The length of the guide foot 142 is dimensioned accordingly.

(29) Hence, after releasing the fixing element 16, the guide member 14 can be turned to the one or the other side preferably by at least approximately +/90 to the outside, so that the guide axis y, which defines the sliding plane of the sliding element 8, can be displaced outwards by a corresponding degree to the one or the other side.

(30) FIG. 5 shows the mounting body 121 with the cantilever 124 provided with the first wave shaped structured contact surface 123 at its upper side, and the guide body 14 with the guide foot 142 provided with the second wave shaped structured contact surface 143 at its lower side. Below the cantilever 124, the securing ring 126 with a ring opening 1260 is shown, which serves for receiving the securing member 155 of the shaft of the joint bolt 15.

(31) FIG. 6 shows in sectional view the guide device of FIG. 2 cut along line A--A shown in FIG. 7a. Shown are the elements of the joint bolt 15 with connecting member 152 received by the guide foot 142, passage member 153 received by the mounting body 121, i.e. the cantilever 124, threaded member 154 connected to the nut 16 and securing member 155 held in the securing ring 126. Further drawn is pivot axis x which extends coaxially to the joint bolt 15. It is further shown that the shaft 131 of the guide element, i.e. of the guide wheel 13 is inserted into the axial bore 149 provided in the guide column 141. It is further shown that guide foot 142 with the second contact surface 141 at its lower side is seated on the first contact surface 123 provided at the upper side of the mounting body 121. Further the guide axis y is shown, which coaxially extends through the guide column 141 and the shaft 131.

(32) The pivot axis x and the guide axis y are located distant from one another and are aligned in parallel to one another. The guide member 11 is held centrally above the mounting body 121 and is not swivelled out to the one or the other side, wherefore the guide axis y intersects the longitudinal axis z of the mounting body 121, which also intersects the pivot axis x regardless of the turning position of the guide member 11. The distance between the pivot axis x and the guide axis y corresponds at least approximately to the diameter of the guide column 141 and coarsely also to the diameter of the guide wheel 13. Hence, the guide axis y can be swivelled approximately by half the width of the mounting body 121 to the one or the other side, so that a relatively large adjustment range results, with which even larger deviations of the guide device 1 from a correct position can be compensated.

(33) FIG. 7a shows the guide device of FIG. 2 with the guide member 11 without swivelling out.

(34) FIG. 7b shows the guide device of FIG. 2 with the guide member 11 turned to the right side.

LIST OF REFERENCES

(35) 1 guide device 11 guide member 12 mounting part 120 first pivot hole 121 mounting body 123 first structured contact surface 124 cantilever 125 bearing shell 126 securing ring 1260 ring opening 127, 128 receiving openings 129 recess 13 guide element, guide wheel 131 shaft 14 guide body 140 second pivot hole 141 guide column 1411 coupling groove 142 guide foot 143 second structured contact surface 149 axial bore 15 joint element, preferably joint bolt 151 bolt head 152 connecting member 153 passage member 154 threaded member 155 securing member 16 locking element 7 guide system with guide rails and carriages 8 sliding element, sliding door 81 guide groove 82 guide rail 821 intermediate member of the guide rail 8 822 lateral members of the guide rail 8 83 front side of the guide groove 81 (open/closed) 88 frame 9 claims x pivot axis y guide axis