US2577884A - Folding door - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 95l A, T, GARUBO 2,577,884

FOLDING DOOR Filed N0v. 23, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET l /2 INVENToR.

*f 22 B@ 7J@ .2.4M F1610 Y Tr ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 11, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE' FOLDING BOOR Angelo 'llr Garulio, Newark, N. J.

Application November 23, 1948, Serial'Nu. 61,615

The present invention relates to folding doors, partitions, and the` like. More particularly, it relates to improvements in a folding-section portion of a wall, ceiling, or roof comprising means for communicating lateral displacementfrom'one of a number of sections, for example, a section having a handle on it, to all of the others and for maintaining a parallel relationship between surfaces of the sections throughout the range oi their lateral displacement, It is known to the prior art to employ folding doors and partitions inrsituations lwhere it would be inconvenient to control a single door or movable partition of the size required'. A usual practice in such a situation has been to employ an ungainly arrangement comprising a plurality of doors hinged to one another edge-on-edge'with one of them hinged tov a wall ofthe large room in which it is employed. In such an arrangement there is ordinarily no means `for oausingsynchronous folding or unfolding of the several doors and because of this fact they are dicult to manage and are easily damaged.

Another well known expedient is to use sliding` partitions which can be moved out of the way into a space provided between two surfaces of a partition. The dinculty with such an arrangement isV that it requires a special and expensive construction for that partition.

i It is one object of the present invention to provide a folding-section door or the like having associated pantograph or lazy-tong means for communicating synchronous lateral displacement between a number of cooperating'sections and for maintaining them ina parallel relationship throughout their displacement in either direction whereby they may be easilyV placed inV an open condition withthe sections compactly nested together or in. a closed conditionv with the sections extended, and disposed sequentially adjacent to one another edgewise.

While. prior art folding doors have the disadvantages which have been explained herein, conventional Vswinging. doors also have a number of disadvantages which it is the purpose of this invention to eliminate.

A principal disadvantage is that swinging doors inherently are prone to slamming, especially if they are spring-loaded. It is evident that the .edge opposite the rotational axis of the door may,

especially in. a wide door, move with considerable velocity even though` the angular rotation is at a Vlow rate. For heavy and/ or spring-loaded doors this has necessitated the` use of expensive .checks and energy-absorbing devices.

6 Claims. (Cl. 160--113) Therefore it is a `further-object of the present invention to provide a folding-section door of the kind described above which may be take the place of an ordinary swinging door of average size with its pantograph means for synchronously turning each of the sections so arranged that even when spring-loaded the door does not have the disadvantage of slamming or banging against the jainb.

It is a further object te` provide aziolding door of the sind in question which is suitable for overhead use in-a ceiling or roof, as, for example, in a solarium roof. l

It is a further object of the` present invention to provide a ioldingsection door of the kind described above which is suitable for use as a garage door in which the sections extendhorizontally and iny which individual means such as springs are provided for balancing the weight of the respective sections .so that there is little diference in the amount of energy for opening or closing the closure-portion.

Other objects, features and advantages of the .present invention willA be apparent to those skilled i in the art from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments of the invention and from the drawing in which:

Figure 1` is a front elevation of a folding-section door .suitable for taking the place ci" an ordinary swinging door and having one element partially cut away to ,disclose the arrangement of other elements;

Figure 2 is a frontelevation of a cut-01T upper portion oi the structure shown in Figure l illustrating the outward vdisplacement of an apron element which is effected as the door is opened;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view of a fragmentary upper portion of the structure shown in Figure l, the section being taken along the line 3 3 shown in Figure l; t

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view of a fragmentary lower portion of the structure shown in Figure 1, the section being taken along the line ll-S shown in Figure l;

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional View of the upper portion of the structure shown in Figure 1, the section being taken along the line 5-5 shown in Figure l;

Figure 6 is a representation of a horizontal sec tional view corresponding to that of Figure 5 which would be `produced along the line t-E oi Figure ,1 ii the fo-ldngdoor were in a partly opened condition;

Figure '7 is a represeni'fati,onof a horizontal sectional view correspondingto that of Fgures' and 6 but which would be produced along the line --5 of Figure l lif the folding door were in a fully opened condition; and

Figure 8 represents a horizontal sectional view corresponding to that of Figure 5 for a modified form of the embodiment of Figure 1, so modified that when the door is in its fully opened condition the sections are so co-extensive edge-to-edge that their respective front and back surfaces lie in the same two planes.

Figure 9 corresponds to a portion of Figure 3 and illustrates a modification including a spiral spring for holding a section either normally open or normally closed.

Fig. 10 corresponds to Fig. 9 and illustrates an arrangement for staggering the spiral springs for adjacent sections to prevent them from interfering with each other when the sections are nested together as in Fig. 7.

Figure l shows a door opening surrounded by a conventional casing I. In the description herein the inner upright opposite surfaces of the casing will be referred to as the jambs and the inner top surface as the head jamb. At the bottom of the opening there is a saddle 2, which may be a conventional hard wood saddle modified to meet the requirements hereof. A suitable modification is most clearly shown in Figure 4. A channel or slot is cut in the top surface of the saddle along its long axis approximately midway between its edges. Since this slot is to serve as a pivot bearing and a guideway in preferred forms of the invention, it will be advantageous to line it with a metallic U-channel 3, which may be connected in the slot by any suitable means, such as a number of screws I.

In the example shown in Figure 1, the folding door has four sections. Three of these, sections 5, 5a and 5b, are full-width sections, each of which is substantially at least as wide as 1% of the width of the door opening. Each of the sections is preferably somewhat wider than this to provide overlap between adjacent sections. The fourth section which will be referred to as anchor section 6 is at least half as wide as the other sections. It is thev only section which is turned without being laterally displaced as a whole, as the door is opened or shut and which is turned about an axis near to one of its edges, rather than midway between them. It is section 6 which determines the nesting position for the sections when the door is open. For this purpose, it is provided with a bottom pivot I and a top pivot 8 (which is concealed by the apron in Figure l but appears in Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8). If desired, hinges, not shown, may be used to assist in anchoring and supporting section 6. This will be especially advantageous, for example, for a garage door. However, pivots 1 and 8, in addition to anchoring section 5 and affording it a rotational axis, also play a part in a pantograph or lazy-tong linkage arrangement whereby its rotation is related to the rotation and displacement of the other sections. For this reason, where no great strain is to be imposed on the anchor section, it is convenient simply to employ top and bottom pivots as herein shown. The saddle channel and its metallic lining 3 do not extend all the way to the left jamb of frame I but terminate at a short distance therefrom. In a line with the axis of the channel and nearer to the left jamb than its termination, a socket is provided for anchor pin 'I. This socket may be a hole bored in thesaddle and lined with a sleeve of metal. A corresponding socket is provided for anchor pin 8 in the head-)amb of frame I.

Pivots 1 and 8, as well as other similar pivots to be described below, may be fastened to the ends of the respective sections in any suitable manner. For example, they may be formed with wood screw threads and screwed into the sections. However, in the example shown herein, the pivots are mechanically, connected, e. g., welded. to shallow U-channels which in turn are tted over and connected to the ends of the respective wood sections. This has been found suitable for a number of reasons. The channels provide a smooth surface for the end of the sections which is desirable in preference to the end-grain wood surfaces for smoothest operation of the interlinkage arrangement shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7. In addition, the channels impart a finished appearance to the ends of the sections and 9a and 9b, and a top pivot I0, IIIa and IIIb. Ex-

cept for the fact that they are fastened to sections 5, 5a and 5b in alignment with the respective center axes thereof instead of near to an edge, the bottom pivots 9, 9a, and 9b are similar to pivot 1. On the other hand, the top pivots, IIJ, IIIa and IIIb, differ from pivot 8 in one further respect. Each of these pivots has in addition a head which is shown in Figure 3 for pivot I0b. In the embodiment of Figure 1 the heads of pivots I0, I 0a and IIIb serve the purpose of carrying the weight of sections 5, 5a and 5b, as shown in Figure 3. It is obvious, however, that in alternate embodiments the weight of the sections, or at least a part thereof, may be borne on saddle 2. Where this is done, it is advisable to substitute for channel 3 a metallic insert having overturned edges providing a metallic sliding surface parallel .to the upper surface of the saddle. 4If this is done, the weight of the sections may be carried on broad flat washers like the bottom one shown in Figure 4. The bottom pivot should be kept short enough so that the weight of the section is not carried on its end. One disadvantage in supporting the sections on the saddle is that any lubricant which is employed is exposed on the upper surface of the saddle, whereas in the supporting arrangement shown in Figure 3, the lubricant is out of the way.

Figure 3 shows the guiding and section-carrying structure employed on the head-jamb. It includes a slotted block I2 which is screwed on to the top jamb. The slot in block I2 is wider than the heads of the pivots. Two metal straps, Il and I 4, are fastened to the lower surface of block I2 with their opposite edges extending beyond the vertical sides of the slot to define a guideway of slightly larger width than the diameters of the pivots, but considerably narrower than their heads. In the installation of a door, one of the straps, for example strap Il. may be put on after sections 5, 5a and 5b are placed in position with the heads of the upper pivots engaging the overhanging edge of strap I3.

It is apparent that the interlinkage employed herein necessitates a certain minimum amount of space between the top edges of the sections and the bottom surface of the head jamb. In the example shown herein, I employ an apron I5 which serves to close this space and'to conceal the linkage mechanism, thus improving the door both functionally and artistically. The apron may comprise a facing strip I6 which norvmally hangs -in af-vertical -planelfrornr the' head casingby-f-someY suitable means,` such as hinges Ifa vand-a lip portion I-l fastened att-he bottom edge thereofat right angles to 'it with fits! free edgeformed Vto the'overlap contour'afiorded by sections? 5, 5, 5o and 5b inthe closed condition of vtheidoor- "The contour of the edgeappears most clearly `from Figure- 2. When lthe -door is openedione edge of each of the-: sections 5,5a and 5b will `be displaced outward from the axis of the guideway as appears in Figures 6 and 7. These edgescwill abut against thellip I1, pushing apronloutward to the position shown in Figure 2. If desired, light spring hinges may be employed to assure complete downward returnof the apronlwhenthe door is again closed. xyFigure 6 most clearly illustrates the operati-on of the-interlinkage employed' for communicating lateral displacement from one'sectionto another, i; e.; for causing all of the sections-to be laterally displaced whenfoneof them'is moved byv a force exerted on its handle and for turning themsynchronously, i. e.,l maintaining them parallel to one another at all times. An anchor link IS is fitted over pin 8 and also over a pin in the top edge of section: 5, the last-mentioned pin being at an equal distance from.. pin 'lliv to the distance betweenthe holes in anchor link it. Two interconnecting links I9 and 20 have holes in their respective centerswhich are placed respectively over pivots l0 and Ia. Onev free-'end of link 'I9 is'ttedover a pinin the unanchored edge of'anchor Section5. This last-mentioned pin is vso positioned nthat one-half' of link i9; all

of anchor-link- IB; and the ltopedges or'anchor a, l

section 5 and lsection 5 define -an equilateral parallelogram. nThe samearrangement is 'borne out sequentially along adj acentsections, as shown in the drawing, through to 5 the final section which is 5b, in the presentexample. Itis ap-A parent that this assembly is-flexible to movement in certain directions, due to the fact'that the pivots are free to slide, and due to the fact that a parallelogram is a collapsible structure, for example, as contrasted with a triangle. If a force exerted leftward on handle 2 I, as shown in Figure 6, this force will be communicated over several of the links and will be guided in the guideways respectively formed by U channel 3 and between straps I3 and lli, causing pivots 9, 9a, 9b, II), Ia and Illb, and sections 5, 5a, and 5b to be displaced to the left in the guided direction. Since section 6 and link I 8 are anchored and incapable lof sliding to the left, each of the parallelograins will collapse with one of its diagonals becoming shortened and the other being lengthened whereby the surfaces of the sections, while always maintained parallel to each other, will oe shifted away from the closed limiting position in which they are p-ositioned edge-to-edge with their surfaces in alignment to an opposite opened limiting position where their surfaces are nested one above the other in a compact group to one side of the door opening as shown in Figure 7.

There appear in the drawing without assigned reference numerals such structural details as finish mouldings on the side jambs and beveled edges for the sections to provide an overlapping joint of satisfactory appearance. The moulding is desirable for sea-ling the edges of the door. The overlapping arrangement for adjacent edges of the sections is particularly advantageous when. the folding cl-osure-portion is used in a ceiling"l or roof section since, if sufficient pitch is given.

to the long axis of the guideways, an overlapping roof structure is achieved in" which water-'willi runfY across thenjunctures between adjacentsedtionswithout leaking. through.

Figure L 3 illustrates how the edge. pivots; prg.. vided'forthe linkage arrangement may be. appro# priately offset ,from the center .line betweenthe surfacesof the l.sections so .thatin a fully closed condition of the door thefront .and back surfaces of allof the sectionsV are respectively coextensive in. two-parallel planes. Portions. of anchor-.link It and link ils are cut away in Figure. 8 Ato illustrate a suitable `joint' for abutting edgesof adjacent sections to prevent a directline of sight between them.

.Wherea folding. closure portion of .the kind described hereinis employed in an openingV of al ceilingA or roof, 4no heads. are required .for any of the pivots inasmuchA asthe weight of the lsections is. borne on the sidesof the pivots; rather than alongv their long axes. Accordingly,:pro vision shouldbemade that the .pivots are strongly enough fastened to vthe sections. and Ithel guide- Ways are strong .enough to be capable .of carryingtheweight of the. sections with .the force exerted :therebybeing..transverse Ato the axis.. of'

the pivots.

'-uiilliere` a folding door .of the .kindgdisclosed' herein is employed for a garage and is opened andy closed along a vertical. axis the'guideways serve primarily. asguideways and doznot .support substantial weight. However, insuch .an `em loo-:limerit the anchorsection will support 'the' weight ofall of the sections and therefore, either its pivots should. be designed accordingly,- orfthey should be supplemented byvhinges.

Figure 9 corresponds-.to Figure 34 but. alsoshows a spiral spring which may be loaded so-.aszato urge'a section toward.` either lits opened s or closed'position, as desired. Y*Inza garageedoor einbodimentthere maybe onespring 22 for each center ipivot. Since the ytotalnumheimis quite large ,1 and since each may be cuite stifl,Y these springs may serve to counterbalance the weight of the sections. In Figure 9 the pivot is rotatably carried in a bearing in a lug 23 which is grooved on its opposite edges to fit into and be slidably borne in the guideway formed between straps I 3 and I4. A spring-anchoring arm 24 holds the outside end of spiral spring 22 while its inside end is retained in the head of the pivot.

Where each spring 22 in its most unwound condition has a diameter greater than the thickness of one of the sections, it will be necessary, as shown in Fig. l0, to stagger the springs to prevent adjacent ones from interfering with each other. This can be accomplished if the heads of the pins comprising one alternate set thereof are of a first length and if the heads of all the others are either longer or shorter, so that adjacent springs may overlap.

The expression folding-section portion for a closure is used in the claims which follow as a way of broadly referring to folding-section doors for use in either Walls, ceiling, or roofs.

What is claimed is:

l. A folding closure portion comprising: a plurality of parallel elongated sections; pantograph means interconnecting the sections along their end-edges; a pair of parallel guideways carrying the interconnected sections slidably therealong; said means comprising a set of links joined to the end-edges of the sections by center and end pivots in a lazy tong arrangement; one of the guideways including a support and two straps attached thereto with an edge of one .in alignment with and spaced from an edge of the other; a plurality of lugs each having aligned grooves in a pair of its opposite edges and a bearing extending through its center portion between said edges; the lugs being borne in said one guideway with their grooves tightly engaging the aligned edges of said straps whereby they are only slidably movable in the guideway; the center pivot in each end-edge of each section extending through and being rotatably borne in the bearing of respective one of said lugs; and a spiral spring carried on the end of each of said last mentioned center pivots with its innermost turn fixed thereto, and its outermost turn fastened t the 111g associated therewith, the springs being loaded to urge the sections along the guideways in the direction to fold the closure portion and to still be partially loaded when it is fully folded.

2. A folding closure portion as in claim 1 in which one of said two straps is removably attached to said support to facilitate installation of the folding closure portion in an opening.

3. A folding closure portion as in claim 1 in which the elongated sections are disposed horizontally and the guideways vertically and the two spiral springs of each individual section are pre-loaded fully to counter weigh the weight thereof.

4. A folding closure portion as in claim 1 in which said sections are disposed vertically within a four-sided frame with one of said lazytong arrangements also within the frame and along the top side thereof and which furtherl lazy-tong arrangement and a lip portion extending from the bottom edge of said facing strip toward said sections and having its free edge shaped'to the contour presented thereby in their fully unfolded edge-to-edge relationship. said free edge of the lip portion facing the side-edges of the sections which move frontward during folding of the closure portion to be forced thereby into said second position, and means yieldably urging said apron toward said first position.

5. A folding closure portion as in claim 1 in which a spring anchoring arm is attached to each of said lugs with its free end fastened to the outermost turn of a. respective one of said springs.

6. A folding closure portion as in claim 1 in which the spiral springs for successive ones of said sections are positioned on the center pivots thereof at staggered distances from the ends of the sections whereby for the folded condition ot the closure portion the springs of adjacent sections will tend to overlap rather than to abut against one another.

ANGELO T. GARUBO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 799,398 McMullen Sept. 12, 1905 1,351,229 Bombelli Aug. 31, 1920 1,444,349 Leeds Feb. 6, 1923 1,463,346 Walker July 31, 1923 1,877,950 Nordell Sept. 20, 1932 2,188,575 McLennan Jan. 30, 1940 2,422,407 Green June 17, 1947 2,448,800 Harju Sept. 7, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 117,701 Great Britain Aug. 1, 1918

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