PANEL DOOR SYSTEM

Abstract

A panel door system has at least two support tracks and at least two panels hanging from the at least two support tracks. The at least two support tracks are mounted to a support structure such that each support track is offset from a previous support track both horizontally and vertically. The least two panels are hung using hanging mechanism such that each panel is hung on a different support track. The at least two panels create a door. The at least two panels are movable along the at least two support tracks in a first direction to open the door and in a second direction to close the door. The at least two panels stack horizontally with each other when the door is in the open position.

Claims

1. A panel door system comprising: at least two support tracks mounted to a support structure such that each support track is offset from a previous support track both horizontally and vertically; at least two panels hanging from the at least two support tracks by a hanging mechanism such that each panel is hanged on a different support track, the at least two panels creating a door, the at least two panels being movable along the at least two support tracks in a first direction to open the door and in a second direction to close the door, the at least two panels stacking horizontally with each other when the door is in the open position.

2. The panel door system of claim 1 wherein each of the at least two support tracks is mounted such that each adjacent track is positioned anterior to and above the previous track with the first track being the lowest and most posterior track.

3. The panel door system of claim 1 wherein the horizontal offset and the vertical offset are equal.

4. The panel door system of claim 1 wherein the hanging mechanism is at least one roller.

5. The panel door system of claim 1 wherein a bottom end of the at least two panels is positioned within a bottom guide groove.

6. The panel door system of claim 1 wherein the support structure is a header.

7. The panel door system of claim 1 wherein the support structure supports the ends of the at least two tracks.

8. The panel door system of claim 1 wherein the at least two panels are made of extruded aluminum.

9. The panel door system of claim 1 wherein the at least two panels stack horizontally within a door receiving space when the door is in the open position.

10. The panel door system of claim 1 wherein the hanging mechanism comprises an orthogonal element protruding from the at least two support tracks.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] These and other features will become more apparent from the following description in which references are made to the following drawings, in which numerical references denote like parts. The drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to in any way limit the scope of the invention to the particular embodiments shown.

[0019] FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a panel door system in the closed position.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the panel door system in the open position shown in FIG. 1.

[0021] FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the panel door system in the closed position shown in FIG. 1.

[0022] FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the panel door system in the open position shown in FIG. 1.

[0023] FIG. 5 is a detailed perspective view of the support tracks of the panel door system shown in FIG. 1.

[0024] FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the support tracks of the panel door system shown in FIG. 1.

[0025] FIG. 7 is a front elevation view of the panel door system with a variation of the support structure for the support tracks.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0026] A panel door system, generally identified by reference numeral 10, will now be described with reference to FIG. 1 through FIG. 7.

[0027] Referring to FIG. 1, panel door system 10 has support tracks 12a, 12b, 12c and 12d mounted to a support structure 14 and panels 16a, 16b, 16c and 16d. It will be understood by a person skilled in the art that any number of support tracks and panels may be used as long as there are two or more and the number of support tracks should be equal to the number of panels. As an example, where two support tracks are used, two corresponding panels should be present. In the embodiment shown, four support tracks 12a, 12b, 12c and 12d and four panels are used 16a, 16b, 16c and 16d. Referring to FIG. 6, as can be seen, support track 12b is offset from support track 12a both horizontally and vertically, support track 12c is offset from support tracks 12a and 12b both horizontally and vertically and support track 12d is offset from support tracks 12a, 12b and 12c both horizontally and vertically. Support track 12a is the lowest and most posterior track mounted to support structure 14 with support track 12b being positioned anterior to and above support track 12a, support track 12c being positioned anterior to and above support track 12b and support track 12d being positioned anterior to and above support track 12c. It will be understood that each adjacent track is positioned anterior to and above the previous track when mounted to support structure 14. Referring to FIG. 5, this creates a staggering configuration in both the horizontal and vertical planes. The horizontal and vertical offsets between support tracks may be equal. All support tracks could be made in one complete piece or as a set of individual tracks that are then secured to each other in some suitable manner to resist loads and deflection.

[0028] The horizontal and vertical offsets between support tracks 12a, 12b, 12c and 12d allow for the use of multiple panels while reducing the width of door receiving space 20 and the required depth of door receiving space 20. The offsets of tracks 12a, 12b, 12c and 12d allow panels 16a, 16b, 16c and 16d to stack horizontally more closely together.

[0029] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1-FIG. 6, support structure is a header 30. Header 30 provides for support of support tracks 12a, 12b, 12c and 12d. Referring to FIG. 6, header 30 may have a flat outer surface which may require the use of brackets 38 to attach and space support tracks 12a, 12b, 12c and 12d properly. Support tracks 12a, 12b, 12c and 12d may be integrally formed with header 30. Support columns 32 may also be used in conjunction with header 30.

[0030] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, support structure is a pair of support columns 32 on either side of entrance 22. Support tracks 12a, 12b, 12c and 12d span entrance 22 between support columns 32. Support tracks 12a, 12b, 12c and 12d may be attached directly to support columns 32 or may be attached to support columns 32 using brackets or any other method known to a person skilled in the art. Support columns 32 may be notched out to create the appropriate spacing between support tracks or appropriate spacing may be created through mounting support tracks using brackets of appropriate sizes.

[0031] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, panels 16a, 16b, 16c and 16d hang from support tracks 12a, 12b, 12c and 12d, respectively, such that each panel is mounted on a different support track. Panels 16a, 16b, 16c and 16d create a door 18 with panels 16a, 16b, 16c and 16d being movable along support tracks 12a, 12b, 12c and 12d in a first direction to open door 18, shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, and in a second direction to close door 18, shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3. Each panel 16a, 16b, 16c and 16d travel a different distance during opening and closing of the door. Panel 16a travels the shortest distance as it is closest to door receiving space 20, while panel 16d travels the greatest distance as it is the farthest from door receiving space 20. Panels 16a, 16b, 16c and 16d stack horizontally with each other when door 18 is in the open position. In the embodiments shown, when door 18 is in the open position, panels 16a, 16b, 16c and 16d stack within a door receiving space 20 positioned to one side of an entrance 22. Door receiving space 20 allows for an unobstructed entrance 22 as panels 16a, 16b, 16c and 16d appear hidden within door receiving space 20. The width of door receiving space 20 may dictate the width of panels 16a, 16b, 16c and 16d and the number of panels used to cover entrance 22. Where a narrower door receiving space 20 is provided, a larger number of more narrow panels may be used to accommodate the size of door receiving space 20. A larger number of more narrow panels will require a deeper door receiving space 20 than a smaller number of wider panels.

[0032] In the embodiment shown, hanging mechanism utilizes rollers 24. In the embodiment shown, two rollers 24 are used, however it will be understood by a person skilled in the art that a single roller 24 or multiple rollers 24 may be used and the number of rollers 24 is limited only by the space available. Hanging mechanism may also include an orthogonal element 34 protruding from support tracks 12a, 12b, 12c and 12d. As can be seen, orthogonal elements 34 are connected to rollers 24 and panels 16a, 16b, 16c and 16d and act as an intermediary between rollers 24 and panels. Support tracks 12a, 12b, 12c and 12d may have edges 36 to fully capture or guide rollers 24 or other mechanisms of hanging panels 16a, 16b, 16c and 16d. It will be understood by a person skilled in the art that other methods of hanging panels may be used between support tracks and panels, including but not limited to tongue and groove connections, ball bearings and any other method known in the art.

[0033] Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, a bottom guide groove 26 is positioned at a bottom of entrance 22 such that a bottom end 28 of panels 16a, 16b, 16c and 16d are positioned within bottom guide groove 26. Bottom guide groove 26 provides guidance to panels 16a, 16b, 16c and 16d and prevents excessive swinging of panels 16a, 16b, 16c and 16d during movement. Bottom guide groove 26 may also prevent binding of panels 16a, 16b, 16c and 16d as they move.

[0034] Support tracks 12a, 12b, 12c and 12d may be made of any suitable material known in the art. The use of a substantially rigid material such as extruded aluminum sections is preferable. Support tracks 12a, 12b, 12c and 12d may be configured from one or more pieces of material to aid in manufacturability, assembly or cost. Mounting hardware may include standard fasteners and brackets that connect support tracks 12a, 12b, 12c and 12d rigidly to header 30 or support columns 32. Panels 16a, 16b, 16c and 16d may be made of any suitable material known in the art. However, the use of extruded aluminum may be beneficial due to its relatively high strength to weight ratio. Panel door system 10 may be used in any suitable application and may be suitable for use in elevators and moving carriage elevator systems where the compact space requirements of panel door system 10 could be useful.

[0035] Any use herein of any terms describing an interaction between elements is not meant to limit the interaction to direct interaction between the subject elements, and may also include indirect interaction between the elements such as through secondary or intermediary structure unless specifically stated otherwise.

[0036] In this patent document, the word comprising is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article a does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one and only one of the elements.

[0037] It will be apparent that changes may be made to the illustrative embodiments, while falling within the scope of the invention. As such, the scope of the following claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth in the examples and drawings described above, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.