Door Control System For Folding Doors

Abstract

Folding door construction including a sinuous overhead track and means for moving a folding door therealong. The moving means includes a power driven pulley mounted cable laid out to define two elongated runs guided over a series of spools which maintain a generally centralized orientation of the cable throughout the oppositely directed track curvings. The lead post of the door is secured to one of the cable runs for movement thereby through a thin vertical cable clamp projecting upwardly from the lead post support assembly.

Description

The instant invention is generally concerned with accordion type folding doors, and more particularly relates to a unique construction whereby such a door, either itself or in conjunction with a second door, can be guided along an elongated sinuous track, that is a track arcuately curving first in one direction and then in another.

The control of the door of the instant invention is to be effected in a simple although highly unique manner, utilizing a pulley mounted cable guided along the sinuous track by a series of vertical spools which generally centrally retain the cable regardless of the track curvatures, the lead post of the door being fixed to the cable for movement thereby.

The lead post is supported for movement along the track by a roller assembly which is specifically adapted so as to engage the track in a non-binding manner for free movement therealong regardless of an off-center pull on the lead post or support assembly such as may easily occur when an other than straight track is provided. The cable clamp projects upwardly from the roller assembly and centrally engages the cable whereby a movement of the cable to the opposite sides of the guide spools can easily be effected as the track curvature changes, the clamp itself freely riding over the spools as they are sequentially encountered.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a sinuous track laid out in accordance with the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a view taken generally on a plane passing along line 2--2 in FIG. 1 illustrating the upper portion of the lead post and the associated post supporting roller assembly in engagement with the overhead track;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail, taken generally in the plane of line 3--3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the door at the end wherein the cable manipulating power means is located;

FIG. 5 is a perspective detail of the door mounting roller assembly, illustrating the cable clamp affixed thereto;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one of the cable guiding spools;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a section of track with one of the guiding spools positioned adjacent thereto; and

FIG. 8 illustrates the manner in which a pair of centrally meeting doors can utilize the system of the instant invention.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral 10 is used to generally designate a sinuous or alternately opposite curving track, it being the primary intention of the instant invention to provide means for the guided folding and unfolding of an accordion type folding door 12 along such a track.

The track 10 itself is formed of two laterally spaced parallel track sections 14. Each of the track sections 14 is in the shape of an inverted channel member with each of the side plates being inwardly curled so as to define a pair of laterally spaced tracking grooves 16.

The door 12, usually formed of a pair of laterally spaced sections so as to define a hollow core, is supported in rolling engagement from the track sections 14 by a series of rollers (not illustrated) along the length thereof, and by an enlarged specially constructed roller assembly 18 affixed to the upper end of the door lead post 20. The assembly 18 includes a plate 22 extending transversely across the lead post 20 and terminating at the opposed edges thereof in upturned roller mounting flanges 24. Each of the flanges 24 mounts three pairs of rollers engaged within the corresponding track section 14. The forward and rear pairs of rollers, designated by reference numeral 26, associated with each flange 24, ride in the tracking grooves 16, while each central pair of rollers, designated by reference numeral 28, is upwardly offset relative to the associated rollers 26 and rides along the top of the corresponding track section 14 so as to maintain the forward and rear associated pairs of rollers 26 in proper tracking engagement with the grooves 16. The hollow core folding door and associated lead post engaged support assembly 18, which ensures a non-binding opening and closing movement of the door, has been set forth in greater detail in U.S. Pat. No. 3,509,934, the disclosure in which is incorporated herein by reference thereto.

The invention herein is concerned with the provision of control means in association with the afore described door construction so as to enable a movement of the door along a sinuous path, that is a path wherein the track first arcuately curves in one direction and then arcuately curves in the opposite direction, generally as illustrated in FIG. 1. Movement of the door 12 is to be effected by means of a power controlled endless cable 30 extending in two generally parallel runs along the track 10 between the track sections 14. One end of the cable 30 is downturned about a pair of pulleys 32 and engaged with a motor driven unit 34 which, at the option of the operator, selectively pulls the cable 30 so as to open or close the door. The unit 34 can be of any appropriate type capable of selectively driving an endless cable in opposite directions, and as such, no further detailing thereof is considered necessary. An appropriate idler pulley 36 is provided at the opposite end of the track 10 for a friction reduced movement of the cable thereabout.

In order to guide the cable runs along the sinuous path defined by the track, a series of vertically orientated peripherally concave spools 38 are provided along the track between the opposed track sections 14. Each of the spools is rotatably mounted on a vertical shaft 40 engaged between the upper and lower flanges 42 and 44 of a laterally directed generally U-shaped bracket 46. The upper flange 42 is elongated relative to the lower flange 44 so as to accommodate a pair of mounting screws 48 which secure the corresponding bracket 46 to an overhead support.

The track 10, along each arcuately curving portion thereof, includes a concave side and a convex side. The spools 38 and cable 30 are so arranged as to have each cable run engaged with the associated spools 38 on the side thereof directed toward the convex side of the track. In those instances wherein the track reverses its curvature, as will be noted at the central portion of FIG. 1, each cable run in effect passes from one side of the associated spools to the other side thereof so as to continue along the convex side of the portion of the track being traversed. In this manner, both cable runs are maintained centrally along the track between the track sections 14 for a clear running of the cable regardless of the curvature of the track.

The cable 30 is to be locked to the lead post roller assembly 18 whereby movement of the cable will effect a simultaneous movement of the door 12. This locking of the cable 30, and more particularly one run thereof, to the assembly 18 is effected by a cable clamp 50. The cable clamp 50 consists of a pair of vertical thin plate-like members 52 and 54, the member 52 having a transverse base plate 56 integral therewith. The base plate 56 rests on and is rigidly affixed to the upper surface of the roller assembly plate 22 as by welding or the like. The plate-like member 54 is releasably bolted to the member 52 in a manner so as to clamp a portion of one cable run therebetween as will be best noted in FIGS. 3 and 5. In order to seat and firmly lock to the cable 30, both of the members 52 and 54 can, adjacent the upper edges thereof, be provided with shallow seating grooves. The thin vertical nature of the clamp members 52 and 54 is of significance so the clamp can easily ride over the encountered spools 38, as suggested in FIG. 3, in that the spools 38 have the outer periphery thereof projecting outwardly beyond the associated brackets 46. Further, inasmuch as the clamped cable run and the clamp members are generally in a common plane, no difficulty is encountered in the movement of the clamp from engagement with one side of a series of rollers to engagement with the other side thereof as when moving through the transition zone between one curvature and an oppositely directed curvature. As will be appreciated from the drawings, the bracket mounted spools 38 can be so located between the track sections 14 as to achieve such an orientation of the cable runs as is contemplated to most effectively move the door along the track. By the same token, the cable clamp 50 need not be directly centered on the roller assembly plate 22, any slight twisting or the like introduced by an offset mounting of the cable being adequately compensated for by the nature of the roller assembly itself as previously indicated.

In those instances wherein two doors are to be provided, opening outwardly relative to each other and closing at the center of the door opening, the lead post of each door will be provided with one of the support assemblies 18, the support assemblies being clamped to the two cable runs for a synchronized movement of the two doors. This construction has been generally illustrated in FIG. 8 wherein the two lead post support assemblies 18 have been illustrated against each other at the center of the track and door opening, in which position the door lead posts would abut each other and effect a complete closing of the opening.

From the foregoing, it should be appreciated that a highly unique folding door construction has been set forth wherein provision is specifically made for accommodating the movement of an accordion type folding door along a sinuous track. Notwithstanding withstanding the difficulties which could be anticipated in such a construction, the instant invention, in a simple and highly effective manner, provides a cable control, with associated guide spools, which provides for a highly efficient operation.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

Claims

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. Folding door construction comprising an overhead track, said track arcuately curving first in one direction and then in the opposite direction to define a sinuous path, a folding door suspended from said track for movement along the sinuous path defined thereby, said door having a leading end, a roller assembly affixed to the leading end of the door and rollingly engaging the track for movement therealong, pulley means at opposite ends of said track, an elongated cable engaged about said pulley means and defining two cable runs along said track, means engaged with said cable to longitudinally move said cable along said track, said roller assembly being engaged with one run of said cable for movement therewith, and cable guiding means along said track engaged by the two cable runs for a guiding thereof along the sinuous path defined by the track, said cable guiding means comprising a plurality of vertically oriented guide spools associated with each cable run, said spools being rotatable about vertical axes, the spools associated with each run being laterally spaced from the spools of the other run with the runs maintained in generally horizontal coplanar relation with each other, said track, in each arcuately curving portion, having a concave side and an opposed convex side, each cable run being engaged with the associated spools on the side thereof directed toward the convex side of the track curvature in each arcuately curving portion, said track comprising a pair of laterally spaced track sections oriented to the opposite sides of said guide spools, said roller assembly including a plate positionable transversely across said track immediately below said spools, and upwardly directed roller means on the opposite ends of said plate rollingly engaged within the track sections, a cable clamp mounted on said plate and projecting vertically upward therefrom, said cable clamp including means for a clamped locking to the cable, said cable clamp being so configured as to engage and ride over the spools sequentially encountered during the movement of the door.

2. The construction of claim 1 wherein each spool is rotatably mounted within a bracket engageable with an overhead support between the track sections.

3. The construction of claim 2 wherein said cable clamp comprises a pair of thin vertically orientated plate-like members, one of said members being fixed to the roller assembly plate, and the other of said plate-like members being selectively lockable to the first plate-like member with the cable clamped therebetween and along the upper portion thereof.

4. The construction of claim 4 wherein said cable clamp comprises a pair of thin vertically orientated plate-like members, one of said members being fixed to the roller assembly plate, and the other of said plate-like members being selectively lockable to the first plate-like member with the cable clamped therebetween and along the upper portion thereof.