EP2977534B1

EP2977534B1 - Rail, particularly for in-wall frames of sliding doors

Info

Publication number: EP2977534B1
Application number: EP15167344.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Luigi De Faveri
Original assignee: Eclisse SRL
Current assignee: Eclisse SRL
Priority date: 2014-07-22
Filing date: 2015-05-12
Publication date: 2020-04-15
Anticipated expiration: 2035-05-12
Also published as: EP2977534A1

Description

The present invention relates to a rail, particularly for in-wall frames of sliding doors.
Nowadays it is known to provide door frames which involve the use of an in-wall casing, positioned inside a wall, in which a door or a panel is slideably associated and which is also known as a "retractable door".
Such solution makes it possible to reduce the encumbrances of the door in a room thanks to the possibility of sliding it into the in-wall casing: thus one can use the space adjacent to the door, which would otherwise be occupied by doors of the type that are hinged laterally to a casement.
In the known art the in-wall casing, embedded in the wall or between two plasterboard slabs, defines a containment case for the door and is usually constituted by a framework that comprises a plurality of vertical profiled elements, including a front post and a rear post, between which slides the door, and an upper lintel, all of which define the opening that can be closed by way of the door.
Protruding above the case, along an axis that is longitudinal with respect to the case and that extends from the side opposite to that of the containment case, is a rail which is hidden by a horizontal jamb.
Carriages coupled to the upper edge of the door are slideably integrated in the rail in order to enable the sliding of the door into and out of the in-wall casing.
Usually associated with the end of the rail which is not associated with the vertical posts is an additional element that acts as a terminal for the abutment of the front edge of the door.
The use is also known of a doorstop which is usually constituted by a block made of plastic material, one end of which is shaped like a spout with elastically deformable wings in order to allow the insertion and the temporary locking of a complementarily shaped tab that protrudes axially with respect to the carriage.
In such sense, Italian patent no. 0001350865 discloses a doorstop with which it is possible to associate laterally the first end of a cylindrical L-shaped retaining rod; such rod thus protrudes laterally and externally both to the doorstop and to the rail and at the second end it is provided with a plate, which protrudes radially from it and along a surface perpendicular to the carriage, and is selectively positioned at adapted retaining seats which are provided on the rail.
Such solution however suffers many drawbacks: first of all the positioning of the retaining rod laterally to the doorstop increases the space occupation and is structurally complex, resulting in high production costs.
Furthermore, the positioning of the retaining rod laterally and externally to the rail entails the possibility of generating noise owing to the vibrations imposed on the retaining rod during the movement of the door.
The positioning, by gravity, of the plate on the rail is further subject to possible decouplings caused for example by the impact of the door, when being closed, on the jamb.
Another drawback is constituted by the low flexibility of positioning of the doorstop, owing to the reduced travel of the cylindrical transfer rod, constrained by the slot provided on the sliding guide (rail) by way of which the rod is associated with the doorstop.
DE 197 41 156 A1 discloses an adjustable limiting stop for C-shaped guide profile rail of door leaf. The limiting stop has a stop part and a plate clamp holding between them the end sections of the guide profile rail, leaving a profile gap. The end sections of the profile rail are clamped against the stop forces of the slide by clamp screws. The stop part may have reinforcement ribs, which are formed as stop formations vertically arranged relative to the clamping frame and extending from it. The ribs may be provided in the form of bent formations on the end areas of the stop part located in the profile longitudinal direction of the guide profile rail.
EP 1 028 214 discloses a sliding door assembly having an upper guide rail in a wall opening, for the rollers at the top of a suspended sliding door. The rail is inserted into a pocket in the brickwork. The sliding movement of the door is defined by stoppers at the ends of the rail, linked together rigidly by at least one connector, which slides horizontally in the rail. The stopper to block the sliding movement is locked to the rail. When the stopper is released, it can slide together with the other stopper and, if required, widen to door opening.
The aim of the present invention is therefore to resolve the above mentioned technical problems, eliminating the drawbacks in the cited known art and thus devising a rail provided with a doorstop which is structurally simple, flexible and reliable in use.
Within this aim, an object is to provide an invention that makes it possible to contain the lateral space occupation of the rail.
Another object is to provide an invention that makes it possible to eliminate any vibrations during its use and thus the noise when opening/closing the door.
Another object of the invention is to provide a rail provided with a doorstop that is stably associated with the rail.
Another object is to provide an invention that can be installed rapidly and easily, with considerable flexibility of positioning and thus of adjustment.
Another object is to provide a rail provided with a doorstop which can be made with the usual plants and machines and is low cost.
In accordance with the invention, there is provided a rail, particularly for in-wall frames of sliding doors, as defined in the appended claims.
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the detailed description of a particular, but not exclusive, embodiment, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a view from below of the invention;
Figure 2 is a front elevation view of the invention;
Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III in Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a three-quarters side view from below of the invention;
Figure 5 is a similar view to Figure 4 of the condition in which the flat bar and the doorstop are disconnected from the rail;
Figure 6 is a plan view of the flat bar;
Figure 7 is a side view of the flat bar;
Figures 8 and 9 are two three-quarters side views of the first and of the second end of the flat bar, associated with the rail;
Figures 10 and 11 are a three-quarters side view and a detail of a variation of the rail;
Figures 12 and 13 are a three-quarters side view and a detail of the variation in the previous figures;
Figures 14 and 15 are two separate views of a detail of the doorstop of the flat bar.

In the embodiments illustrated, individual characteristics shown in relation to specific examples may in reality be interchanged with other, different characteristics.
With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 generally designates a rail, particularly for in-wall frames for sliding doors, which is provided, in a transverse cross-section, with a substantially Ω shape so as to define an upper surface 2, which is connected at its ends to a pair of first fins 3a, 3b, which protrude from it at right angles and are in turn connected at their ends to a pair of second fins 4a, 4b which are arranged at right angles and at the opposite end with respect to the respective first fins 3a, 3b.
Below the rail 1 there is a longitudinal opening 5 and, internally and axially thereto, a seat 6 for the sliding of a pair of carriages 7a, 7b, for supporting an underlying sliding door, not shown.
Each carriage 7a, 7b is constituted by a body 8 that is substantially shaped like a parallelepiped and with which, in the particular embodiment shown, two pairs of wheels 9, 10 are associated rotatably which can slide on adapted first tabs 11a, 11b that protrude within the rail 1 at a plane that is substantially equal to the plane of arrangement of the pair of second fins 4a, 4b.
Second tabs 12a, 12b protrude axially at the ends of the body 8 and have, in a transverse cross-section, a substantially circular shape.
A complementarily shaped end 13 of a doorstop 14, which is preferably made of plastic material and is accommodated slideably within the rail 1, cooperates selectively with one of the second tabs 12a, 12b.
Below the doorstop 14, at the opening 5 and externally to the rail 1, it is possible, by way of an adapted first screw 15, to associate a flat bar 16.
The latter is substantially constituted by a strip that is essentially L-shaped so as to define a first, shorter wing 17 and a second, longer wing 18, which are mutually blended along a curve.
The length of the first wing 17 is such that it lies in the interspace between the second fins 4a, 4b, and the second wing 18 is thus positioned at the region below one of the second fins 4a, 4b.
The length of the second wing 18 is such that it is arranged at a distance that is greater than the distance between the pair of carriages 7a, 7b.
At the perimetric edge 19 of the second wing 18 which is directed away from the first wing 17 means are provided for lateral sliding with respect to the rail 1, such means being constituted by a substantially C-shaped tab 20 that is folded so as to wrap around one of the second fins 4a, 4b.
The end of the second wing 18 can be associated selectively with the rail 1, one or more holes 21 being provided therein and acting as seats for an adapted fastening screw 22 that is adapted to lock the second wing 18 in a selected point of one of the second fins 4a, 4b.
Thus it has been found that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects, a rail having been devised that is structurally simple, low cost and provided with a doorstop that is also structurally simple and reliable in use and which makes it possible to contain the lateral space occupation of the rail since it is arranged below it.
The invention further makes it possible to eliminate any vibrations during its use and thus the noise when opening/closing the door, owing to its lateral connection to a second tab 4a or 4b, while the presence of the fastening screw 22 makes it possible to stably couple the doorstop in a selected position with respect to the rail.
Obviously, the invention is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.
Thus, for example, Figures 11 to 15 show a second embodiment for a rail 101 which comprises a doorstop 114 provided with an elastically deformable end 113 that cooperates with one of the second tabs which protrude from the body that constitutes each carriage.
Below the doorstop 114, at the opening 105 and externally to the rail 101, it is possible to associate, by way of an adapted screw 115, a bar 123 that is substantially L-shaped so as to define a third wing 124, the width of which is approximately equal to the distance between the ends of the pair of second fins 104a, 104b and the length of which is slightly shorter than that of the doorstop 114.
A fourth wing 125 protrudes from the third wing 124 at the plane of arrangement of one of the second fins 104a, 104b and extends axially by an extent that is slightly greater than that on which the end 113 of the doorstop 114 lies.
A flat bar 116 is provided that has a substantially rectilinear shape so as to define a second wing 118 that is longer than the distance between the pair of carriages and is substantially as wide as one of the second fins 104a, 104b.
The interconnection between one end of the second wing 118 and the fourth wing 125 occurs by way of an adapted connection, such as a second screw 126.
Advantageously, the fourth wing (125) lies on a plane that lies slightly below the plane of arrangement of the third wing (123), the displacement between the planes being substantially equal to the thickness of the second wing 118.
In this case also, at the perimetric edge 119 of the second wing 118 means are provided for lateral sliding with respect to the rail 101, such means being constituted by a substantially C-shaped tab 120 that is folded so as to wrap around one of the second fins 104a, 104b.
The end of the second wing 118 can be associated selectively with the rail 101, one or more holes being provided therein and acting as seats for an adapted fastening screw 122 that is adapted to lock the second wing 118 in a selected point of one of the second fins 104a, 104b.
Such solution also achieves the set aim and objects.
Obviously, the materials used as well as the dimensions of the individual components of the invention may be more pertinent according to specific requirements.
The various means of achieving certain different functions certainly need not coexist only in the embodiment shown, but may be present in many embodiments, even if they are not shown.
The characteristics indicated above as advantageous, convenient or the like, may also be missing or be substituted by equivalent characteristics.
Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

A rail (1), particularly for in-wall frames of sliding doors, which is provided with a seat (6) in which there slides a pair of carriages (7a, 7b), for supporting an underlying sliding door, with one end of which there is associated selectively a doorstop (14) of the rail (1), wherein said rail (1) is provided, in a transverse cross-section, with a substantially omega-like shape so as to define an upper surface (2), which is connected at its ends to a pair of first fins (3a, 3b), which protrude from it at right angles and are in turn connected at their ends to a pair of second fins (4a, 4b) which are arranged at right angles and at the opposite end with respect to the respective first fins (3a, 3b), below said rail (1) there being a longitudinal opening (5) and, internally and axially thereto, said seat (6) for the sliding of said pair of carriages (7a, 7b), for supporting the underlying sliding door, each carriage of said pair of carriages (7a, 7b) being constituted by a body (8) that is substantially shaped like a parallelepiped and with which two pairs of wheels (9, 10) are associated rotatably which can slide on adapted first tabs (11a, 11b) that protrude within said rail (1) at a plane that is substantially equal to the plane of arrangement of said pair of second fins (4a, 4b), second tabs (12a, 12b) protruding axially at the ends of said body (8) and having, in a transverse cross-section, a substantially circular shape, with at least one of which a complementarily shaped end (13) of said doorstop (14) accommodated slideably within said rail (1) cooperates selectively, characterized in that below said doorstop (14), at said opening (5) and externally to said rail (1), a flat bar (16) is associated to the doorstop and associated selectively with said rail (1), the flat bar being provided with means (20) for lateral sliding with respect to said rail (1), wherein said flat bar (16) is constituted by a strip that is substantially L-shaped so as to define a first, shorter wing (17) and a second, longer wing (18), which are mutually blended along a curve.
The rail (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the length of said first wing (17) is such that it lies in the interspace between said second fins (4a, 4b), said second wing (18) being arranged at the region below one of said second fins (4a, 4b), the length of said second wing (18) being such that it is arranged at a distance that is greater than the distance between said pair of carriages (7a, 7b).
The rail (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that at the perimetric edge (19) of said second wing (18) which is directed away from said first wing (17) means are provided for lateral sliding with respect to said rail (1), said means being constituted by a substantially C-shaped tab (20) that is folded so as to wrap around one of said second fins (4a, 4b).
The rail (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the end of said second wing (18) is associated selectively with said rail (1), one or more holes (21) being provided therein and acting as seats for an adapted fastening screw (22) that is adapted to lock said second wing (18) in a selected point of one of said second fins (4a, 4b).
A rail (101), particularly for in-wall frames of sliding doors, which is provided with a seat (6) in which there slides a pair of carriages (7a, 7b), for supporting an underlying sliding door, with one end of which there is associated selectively a doorstop (114) of the rail, wherein said rail (101) is provided, in a transverse cross-section, with a substantially omega-like shape so as to define an upper surface (2), which is connected at its ends to a pair of first fins (3a, 3b), which protrude from it at right angles and are in turn connected at their ends to a pair of second fins (104a, 104b) which are arranged at right angles and at the opposite end with respect to the respective first fins (3a, 3b), below said rail (101) there being a longitudinal opening (105) and, internally and axially thereto, said seat (6) for the sliding of said pair of carriages (7a, 7b), for supporting the underlying sliding door, each carriage of said pair of carriages (7a, 7b) being constituted by a body (8) that is substantially shaped like a parallelepiped and with which two pairs of wheels (9, 10) are associated rotatably which can slide on adapted first tabs (11a, 11b) that protrude within said rail (101) at a plane that is substantially equal to the plane of arrangement of said pair of second fins (104a, 104b), second tabs (12a, 12b) protruding axially at the ends of said body (8) and having, in a transverse cross-section, a substantially circular shape, with at least one of which a complementarily shaped end (13) of said doorstop (114) accommodated slideably within said rail (101) cooperates selectively, characterized in that below said doorstop (114), at said opening (105) and externally to said rail (101), a flat bar (116) is associated selectively with said rail (101), the flat bar being provided with means (120) for lateral sliding with respect to said rail (101), wherein below said doorstop (114), at said opening (105) and externally to said rail (101), there is associated to the doorstop (11), by way of an adapted screw (115), an additional bar (123) that is substantially L-shaped so as to define a third wing (124), the width of which is approximately equal to the distance between the ends of said pair of second fins (104a, 104b) and the length of which is slightly shorter than that of said doorstop (114) and in that a fourth wing (125) protrudes from said third wing (124) at the plane of arrangement of one of said second fins (104a, 104b) and extends axially by an extent that is slightly greater than that on which said end (113) of said doorstop (114) lies, said flat bar (116) having a substantially rectilinear shape so as to define a second wing (118) connected to said fourth wing (125), said second wing being longer than the distance between said pair of carriages and is substantially as wide as one of said second fins (104a, 104b).
The rail (101) according to claim 5, characterized in that the interconnection between one end of said second wing (118) and said fourth wing (125) occurs by way of an adapted connection, such as a second screw (126), said fourth wing (125) lying on a plane that lies slightly below the plane of arrangement of said third wing (123), the displacement between the planes being substantially equal to the thickness of said second wing (118).
The rail (101) according to claim 6, characterized in that at the perimetric edge (119) of said second wing (118) means are provided for lateral sliding with respect to said rail (101), said means being constituted by a substantially C-shaped tab (120) that is folded so as to wrap around one of said second fins (104a, 104b).