U.S. patent number 3,829,930 [Application Number 05/331,777] was granted by the patent office on 1974-08-20 for slidable door hanger device.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Lawrence Brothers, Inc.. Invention is credited to Delmar D. McNinch.
United States Patent |
3,829,930 |
McNinch |
August 20, 1974 |
SLIDABLE DOOR HANGER DEVICE
Abstract
The present invention relates generally to improvements in
hanger devices for horizontally slidable doors, of the type known
as pocket doors which are slidable into a wall portion to occupy an
open position and more particularly to novel hanger structures for
vertically adjusting the leading edge of such doors in order to
plumb the door against the jamb. The embodiment of the invention
disclosed herein comprises a first section or base adapted for
attachment to the upper margin of a slidable door in the vicinity
of the leading edge thereof, and a second section pivotally
supported by the first section. Said second section is in the form
of a pair of angularly disposed arms, the extremity of one arm
supporting a guide roller, and the extremity of the other arm
supporting an internally threaded member which accommodates a
rotatable adjusting screw. By rotating this screw, the supported
guide roller may be lowered or elevated for vertically adjusting
the leading edge of the door, said door member being suspended in a
given position by a hanger device in the vicinity of the trailing
margin thereof.
Inventors: |
McNinch; Delmar D. (Rock Falls,
IL) |
Assignee: |
Lawrence Brothers, Inc.
(Sterling, IL)
|
Family
ID: |
23295327 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/331,777 |
Filed: |
February 12, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
16/105; 16/97;
49/420 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E05D
15/0634 (20130101); E06B 3/4654 (20130101); Y10T
16/3834 (20150115); E05Y 2900/14 (20130101); Y10T
16/381 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
E05D
15/06 (20060101); E06B 3/46 (20060101); E06B
3/32 (20060101); A47h 015/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;16/105,99,97,19,34
;49/409-412,420,425 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Gay; Bobby R.
Assistant Examiner: Aschenbrenner; Peter A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Olson, Trexler, Wolters, Bushnell
& Fosse
Claims
The invention is claimed as follows:
1. A door hanger device for vertically adjusting the leading edge
of a horizontally slidable door member to which it is mounted,
which door member is suspended in a predetermined position of
elevation in the vicinity of the trailing edge thereof, said hanger
device including a first section having a horizontal plate portion
adapted to rest on the upper margin of a slidable door member in
the vicinity of the leading edge thereof, and an upstanding flange
portion integral with said horizontal plate portion, a second
section pivotally supported by said upstanding flange portion and
including a guide roller accommodating portion on one side of the
pivotal axis and having a guide roller member carried thereon,
means carried by said first section and engaged with a portion of
said second section on the other side of said pivotal axis for
imparting pivotal movement to said second section and thereby
adjusting the vertical position of said guide roller, and a
mounting plate member detachably secured to said first section and
adapted for mounting to a side surface of a door member thereby
fixing the position of said first section relative to the upper
margin of said door member, and means for effecting said detachable
securement of said mounting plate to said first section, said means
comprising first tongue means on said first section adapted for
interlocking engagement with said plate member, and second tongue
means on said plate member disposed oppositely of said first tongue
means and adapted for interlocking engagement with said first
section, such that said first section will be fixed against lateral
and longitudinal movement relative to said mounting plate.
2. A hanger device as defined in claim 1, wherein said tongue means
on said first section is struck from said upstanding flange portion
in an upwardly facing direction, and said mounting plate member
includes an aperture then which said first tongue means is disposed
in overlapping engagement with said plate member and a pair of
spaced tongue members formed on said plate member and defining said
second tongue means, said spaced tongue member adapted to engage
said first section on opposite sides of a segment thereof
projecting upwardly between said spaced tongue member, thereby to
fix the longitudinal position of said first section relative to
said mounting plate.
3. A door hanger device according to claim 1, wherein said second
section includes an internally threaded projection, and said means
carried by said first section and comprises an externally threaded
member rotatably supported thereon and engaged with said internally
threaded projection, such that upon rotation of said externally
threaded member movement of said second section will be
effected.
4. A door hanger device as set forth in claim 2 wherein means is
provided for restraining the screw element against longitudinal
movement with respect to the first section which means comprises an
element having a recess for laterally accommodating said screw
element.
5. A door hanger device as set forth in claim 3 wherein said second
section is in the form of angularly disposed arms pivotally mounted
on the first section intermediate the free extremities of said
arms.
6. A door hanger device as set forth in claim 5 wherein the guide
roller is supported in the vicinity of the extremity of one of said
arms and the first mentioned threaded member is supported in the
vicinity of the extremity of the other arm.
Description
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
There are certain problems which may be encountered when a slidable
door of the pocket variety is initially installed and suspended
from a horizontally disposed track. The vertical height of the door
member must be such that when it is initially suspended from a pair
of horizontally spaced hangers located in the vicinity of the upper
margin thereof, the lower edge of the door will clear the floor
therebeneath. After the door has been suspended, the leading edge
of the door member is generally out of the vertical alignment. In
other words, further adjustment is required to raise or lower the
leading margin of the door in order to bring the leading edge of
the door into a position to close plumb against the jamb. It is
common practice to employ a hanger for the trailing margin of a
slidable door member which is nonadjustable vertically, but which
will assure the required spacing of the bottom edge of the door
member with respect to the floor, and which will permit limited
edgewise tilting of the leading margin of the door member. Should
the leading edge of the door member be out of plumb when the door
member is initially installed, means must be provided for edgewise
tilting of the leading margin of the door to effect vertical
alignment thereof. It is therefore an important object of the
present invention to provide a simple yet highly practical,
improved hanger structure whereby the leading margin or edge of a
slidable door member may be vertically adjusted with a minimum
amount of effort or skill.
More specifically, the invention contemplates the provision of an
adjustable door hanger, as set forth above, in which the mere
rotation of a threaded member such as a screw member will effect
the vertical adjustment of the leading edge of the door.
The invention also contemplates an improved adjustable hanger
device which is extremely simple in construction and may be struck
and formed from sheet metal, thus assuring minimum cost of
manufacture.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved
adjustable hanger device of the type referred to above which is
adapted for use with doors of plywood construction where attachment
must be made to the side of the door rather than the top of the
door to assure screw holding ability.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The foregoing and other objects and advantages will be more
apparent from the following detailed description when considered in
connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a front elevational view illustrating a horizontally
slidable door installation;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical transverse sectional view taken
substantially along the line 22 of FIG. 1, disclosing the hanger
device of the present invention attached to the upper edge of a
relatively thick or solid door member;
FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating the manner in which
the hanger device of the present invention may be attached to doors
of less thickness, as for example doors constructed of plywood
laminations;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the parts of the adjustable hanger
device shown in FIG. 2, said parts being disassociated from each
other for purposes of more clearly illustrating the hanger
structure;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken
substantially along the line 5--5 of FIG. 2, the leading edge of
the door member being disclosed in somewhat exaggerated
out-of-plumb relation;
FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view similar to FIG. 5 disclosing
the door member after it has been tilted edgewise through the
agency of the adjustable hanger device of the present invention, so
as to position the leading edge of the door member in vertical
alignment with the adjacent door jamb or frame;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view disclosing the adjustable hanger
device of the present invention attached to the upper margin of a
door member of less thickness, such as a door member constructed of
plywood laminations;
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially
along the line 8--8 of FIG. 7; and
FIG. 9 discloses a modified form of track structure which may be
used for supporting the hanger device of the present invention.
Referring now to the drawings more in detail, wherein like numerals
have been employed to designate similar parts throughout the
various figures, it will be seen that FIG. 1 discloses a front
elevation of a horizontally slidable door installation, designated
generally by the numeral 10. The installation 10 includes a
horizontally slidable door member 12 which in its left position, as
viewed in FIG. 1, closes the door opening. The initial steps in
providing the door installation 10 is to mount within the door
opening a horizontally disposed track 14, as clearly illustrated in
FIG. 2. Such installations are commonly referred to in the trade as
pocket frame sliding door installations.
It will be noted from FIG. 1 that the trailing margin of the door
member 12 is suspended from the track 14 by a hanger device of
conventional design indicated generally by the numeral 16. This
hanger device 16 is of the non-adjustable type and serves to
support the trailing margin of the door member 12 with
predetermined clearance between the bottom edge of the door member
and the surface of the floor 18. It will also be apparent that
before suspending the door member 12 through the agency of the
roller carrying hanger 16, the overall height of the door member
must have a dimension which will assure the above mentioned
clearance of the bottom edge of the door member. Details of the
conventional non-adjustable hanger device 16 are not illustrated or
described herein because the structural details thereof are well
known in the trade and are not necessary for a clear understanding
of the present invention.
The leading margin of the door member 12 is adapted to be suspended
from the guide track 14 by means of a novel hanger device embodying
the present invention and designated generally by the numeral 20,
FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6. The hanger device 20 includes a first
section 21, including a plate 22 adapted to be attached to the
upper edge of the door member 12 in any suitable manner, as for
example by screws 24. These screws are accommodated by
complementary apertures 26 in the first section or plate 22, as
clearly shown in FIG. 4. Extending upwardly and formed integral
with one margin of the plate 22 is a sheet metal portion 28 of said
first section 21 which is apertured at 30 to accommodate a pivot
member or rivet 32. The hanger device 20 also includes a second
section 34 which is in the form of a pair of angularly disposed
arms 36 and 38. Intermediate the extremities of the arms 36 and 38
is an aperture 40 to accommodate the aforesaid rivet 32, whereby to
render said second section 34 pivotally supported by the upwardly
extending plate member 28.
The free extremity of the arm 36 rotatably supports a guide roller
42, and an internally threaded member or nut 44 is swivelly
supported in the vicinity of the free extremity of the arm 38. A
slot 46 provided in the plate 22 serves as a guide for the free
extremity of the arm 38, whereby to secure the pivotally mounted
section 34 against lateral displacement. Extending laterally and
formed integrally with one side of the upstanding plate 28 is a
support member 48 provided with a recess 50 for accommodating one
extremity of a rotatable screw element 52. Axially spaced head
sections 54 and 56 are rotatable with the screw element 52, and the
outer extremity of the above mentioned element 48 is adapted to be
accommodated within the space between said head elements 54 and
56.
It will be apparent from the foregoing description that when
rotation is imparted to the screw member 52, as by means of a
suitable turning tool such as a screwdriver (not shown), pivotal
movement of the section 34 about the axis of the rivet 32 will be
experienced. Thus, assume that upon initial application of the
roller 42 to the guide track 14, the door member 12 will be
supported in the tilted position illustrated in FIG. 5. For
purposes of clearness in disclosure, the degree of tilting has been
somewhat exaggerated. In this tilted position, the leading edge 58
will be out of plumb or, in other words, out of parallelism with
respect to the vertical surface of an adjacent door jamb or frame
member 60. By applying rotation to the screw element 52, the
leading margin of the door member 12 will be shifted so as to bring
the leading edge 58 thereof into vertical alignment, as illustrated
in FIG. 6. The limit of pivotal movement of the arm 38 may be
controlled by the use of suitable abutments or bosses 62 and 64
formed in the sheet metal upright plate member 28. Obviously,
sufficient clearance is provided in mounting the screw element 52
within the recess 50 to account for slight variations of said screw
element from the horizontal, as the arms 36 and 38 are pivotally
shifted. Also, as previously mentioned, the internally threaded nut
44 is swivelly mounted within the arm 38.
The above described hanger device 20 is particularly adapted for
use with solid or relatively thick door members, as illustrated in
FIG. 2. In instances where it is not feasible to rely solely upon
the screw members 24 for supporting a door member, as for example
the door member 12a, FIGS. 3, 7 and 8, comprised of plywood
laminations, a modified attachment device designated by the numeral
66 may be employed. The device 66 includes a plate member 68
adapted to be secured to the side of a door member 12a by means of
screws 70. The upper portion of the plate 68 is provided with an
aperture 72 designed to accommodate and interlock with a tongue 74
struck from the previously described plate member 28. Also, the
upper margin of the plate 68 at each side thereof is formed to
provide downwardly projecting tongues 76 which are adapted to
engage and interlock with the upper marginal edges of the plate 28,
as clearly illustrated in FIG. 7. Thus, the previously described
hanger device 20 may be conveniently and quickly attached for use
with laminated type doors and the like by the mere attachment
thereto of the element 66. The opposite horizontally spaced edges
or margins of the plate member 28 are engaged by the prongs 76 to
secure the plate 68 against horizontal displacement with respect to
said plate, and the struck out prong 74 cooperates to prevent
relative lateral displacement of the upper portion of the plate 68
with respect to the plate 28. A modified form of guide track 10a
for accommodating the rollers of the hanger devices 16 and 20, is
shown in FIG. 9. To initially apply the rollers of the hanger
devices 16 and 20, it is only necessary to tilt the bottom of the
door member outwardly a sufficient amount to permit insertion of
said rollers and the ultimate resting thereof within the guide
track.
It will also be understood that the use of the adapter plate avoids
the necessity of keeping two separate hanger designs in stock. In
other words, both the manufacturer and the distributor are not
required to stock two separate hanger designs. This is a
significant advantage over other hanger devices now available.
From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present invention
contemplates the provision of a structurally simple yet sturdy
hanger device for slidable doors which will greatly facilitate the
ease with which the edge of the door may be adjusted into parallel
relation with the adjacent door frame. With the exception of the
adjusting screw, the hanger device of the present invention may be
struck and formed from sheet metal stock. Also, the above described
improved hanger device is adapted for attachment to door members of
varying thicknesses including laminated plywood door members. By
the simple adjustment of a screw member or the like, the leading
edge of a slidable door may be vertically adjusted. The
detachability of the adapter plate coupling precludes the necessity
of employing screws, bolts and like, thereby reducing the
installation time. While for purpose of illustrating one practical
application of the present invention certain structural features of
the contemplated improved hanger device have been shown, it should
be understood that other modifications and changes are contemplated
without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended
claims.
* * * * *