Sliding door assembly

• US 9,518,387 B2
• Filed: 01/02/2015
• Issued: 12/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Geister, Ryan, Haan, Theodore M.
• Primary Examiner(s): A, Phi
• Application Number:
  US14/588,504
• Publication Number:
  US 20150107171A1
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: 522/07, 522/13, 522/17, 526/562, 526/567, 526/561, 522/431, 522/43, 494/09, 494/10, 494/11, 495/05
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/82 specifically with respect to sound only of floors or ceilings E04B9/001; noise damping in ducts or channels E04F17/00; noise damping in general G10K11/16
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/00 Walls, e.g. partitions, for buildings; Wall construction with regard to insulation; Connections specially adapted to walls connections for building structures in general E04B1/38; insulation for buildings in general E04B1/62; building elements of relatively thin form for parts of buildings E04C2/00
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/56 Load-bearing walls of framework or pillarwork; Walls incorporating load-bearing elongated members E04B2/74, E04B2/88 take precedence; pillars E04C3/30
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/72 Non-load-bearing walls of elements of relatively thin form with respect to the thickness of the wallE04B2/56, E04B2/74, E04B2/88 take precedence; with joint fillings acting as framework or pillars E04B2/68; elements E04C2/00
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/721 connections specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/74 Removable non-load-bearing partitions; Partitions with a free upper edge framed panels E04C2/38
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/7409 special measures for sound or thermal insulation, including fire protection
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/7412 Posts or frame members specially adapted for reduced sound or heat transmission
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/7453 with panels and support posts, extending from floor to ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/7457 with wallboards attached to the outer faces of the posts, parallel to the partition E04B2/7459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/765 with one continuous profile, the perpendicular one being interrupted
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/766 T-connections
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/78 characterised by special cross-section of the frame members as far as important for securing wall panels to a framework with or without the help of cover-strips
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/7863 of substantially I - section with web perpendicular to plane of partition
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/825 the connection between the floor and the ceiling being achieved without any restraining forces acting in the plane of the partition
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7462 using resilient connectors, e.g. clips
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7466 using hooks
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7474 using releasable connectors actuable with a key or a tool
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7483 Details of furniture, e.g. tables or shelves, associated with the partitions
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7487 Partitions with slotted profiles
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7488 : Details of wiring
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/749 : Partitions with screw-type jacks
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 1/06 : Office buildings; Banks E04H1/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 15/0053 : means providing a stable, i.e. indexed, position of lock parts
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/006 : for covers or panels for manholes E02D29/1427; for holes enabling access to installations in buildings E04F19/08; for pressure vessels F16J13/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 1/06 : with operating handle or equivalent member moving otherwise than rigidly with the bolt
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 1/08 : with latching action
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 15/0621 : Details, e.g. suspension or supporting guides E05D15/0604, E05D15/08 - E05D15/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/142 : Partition walls
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 1/00 : Border constructions of openings in walls, floors, or ceilings; Frames to be rigidly mounted in such openings E06B5/00 takes precedence; features relating also to inner frames or wing frames, features relating solely to the mounting of inner frames E06B3/00; corner joints or edge joints E06B3/96
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 1/52 : Frames specially adapted for doors
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/32 : Arrangements of wings characterised by the manner of movement; Arrangements of movable wings in openings; Features of wings or frames relating solely to the manner of movement of the wing fittings or supporting means, separable from the frame, for guiding or controlling the movement of wings, arrangements of wings characterised by particular forms of such means E05D
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/36 : with a single vertical axis of rotation at one side of the opening, or swinging through the opening wings requiring lifting before opening E06B3/52
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/4654 : disappearing in pockets in the wall; Pockets therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/123 : in thin walls
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/388 : in modular walls, e.g. wall panels
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49629 : Panel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/096 : Sliding

Abstract

A modular wall assembly includes a frame assembly that includes at least one vertical frame member and at least one horizontal frame member, wherein the frame assembly is configured to define a door opening, a door member slidably operable between a closed position, wherein the door member is at least partially located within the door opening, and an open position, wherein the door member is at least partially removed from with the door opening to allow ingress and egress through the door opening, and a support assembly that includes a sliding support member that slidably supports the door member between the open and closed positions, and at least one mounting arrangement coupling the sliding support member, wherein the at least one mounting arrangement allows vertical adjustment of the sliding support member with respect to the frame assembly.

Claims

1. A modular wall assembly, comprising:

a frame assembly including at least one vertical frame member and at least one horizontal frame member, wherein the frame assembly is configured to define a door opening;

a door member slidably supported on the frame assembly between a closed position, wherein the door member is at least partially located within the door opening, and an open position, wherein the door member is at least partially removed from within the door opening to allow ingress and egress through the door opening;

a trim member coupled to the at least one vertical frame member, the trim member including an outwardly opening channel disposed adjacent to the door member when the door member is in the closed position;

a seal member having a first portion coupled to the outwardly opening channel of the trim member, and a second portion, wherein the second portion is spaced apart from an inner surface of the door member as the door member moves between open and closed positions; and

a trim strip coupled to the inner surface of the door member and extending inwardly from the inner surface of the door member towards the trim member, wherein the second portion of the seal member seals against the trim strip when the door member is in the closed position.

2. The modular wall assembly of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the seal member includes one or more tabs configured to engage the outwardly opening channel of the trim member.

3. The modular wall assembly of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the seal member is comprised of a polypropylene material.

4. The modular wall assembly of claim 3, wherein the second portion of the seal member is comprised of an ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber.

5. The modular wall assembly of claim 4, wherein the first portion is more rigid than the second portion of the seal member.

6. The modular wall assembly of claim 5, wherein the seal member is a unitary extruded member.

7. The modular wall assembly of claim 1, wherein the trim member is a vertical trim member and the outwardly opening channel is a longitudinally extending channel disposed along a length of the vertical trim member.

8. The modular wall assembly of claim 7, wherein the seal member is vertically disposed along the length of the vertical trim member.

9. The modular wall assembly of claim 8, wherein the second portion of the seal member is flexibly resilient.

10. A modular wall assembly, comprising:

a frame assembly including at least one vertical frame member and at least one horizontal frame member, wherein the frame assembly is configured to define a door opening;

a door member slidably supported on the frame assembly between a closed position, wherein the door member is at least partially located within the door opening, and an open position, wherein the door member is at least partially removed from within the door opening to allow ingress and egress through the door opening; and

a support assembly that includes a sliding support member that slidably supports the door member between the open and closed positions, and at least one mounting arrangement coupling the sliding support member to the frame assembly, wherein at least one of the at least one vertical frame member and the at least one horizontal frame member includes a plurality of apertures, and wherein the at least one mounting arrangement engages the plurality of apertures to removeably couple the at least one mounting arrangement with the frame assembly;

a trim member coupled to the at least one vertical frame member, the trim member including an outwardly opening channel disposed adjacent to the door member when the door member is in the closed position; and

a seal member coupled to the outwardly opening channel of the trim member, the seal member configured to seal against the door member when the door member is in a closed position.

11. The modular wall assembly of claim 10, wherein the door member includes an upper portion having a top edge, a lower portion having a bottom edge and a pair of side portions, each side portion including a side edge.

12. The modular wall assembly of claim 11, including:

a trim strip coupled to one of the side portions of the door member and extending inwardly from the side portion of the door member towards the trim member, wherein the seal member seals against the trim strip when the door member is in the closed position.

13. The modular wall assembly of claim 12, wherein the trim strip is an L-shaped trim strip coupled to one of the side portions of the door member at a first portion thereof, and further coupled to the side edge at a second portion thereof.

14. The modular wall assembly of claim 10, wherein the seal member includes first and second portions, wherein the first portion is coupled to the outwardly opening channel of the trim member, and further wherein the second portion extends outwardly towards the door member.

15. The modular wall assembly of claim 14, wherein the second portion is flexibly resilient as compared to the first portion of the seal member.

16. The modular wall assembly of claim 14, wherein the second portion is spaced apart from an inner surface of the door member as the door member moves between open and closed positions.

17. A modular wall assembly, comprising:

a frame assembly including at least one vertical frame member and at least one horizontal frame member, wherein the frame assembly is configured to define a door opening;

a door member slidably supported on the frame assembly between a closed position, wherein the door member is at least partially located within the door opening, and an open position, wherein the door member is at least partially removed from within the door opening to allow ingress and egress through the door opening; and

a vertical seal arrangement comprising;

a trim member coupled to the frame assembly, the trim member including an outwardly opening channel;

a seal member having a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is coupled to the outwardly opening channel of the trim member, and further wherein the second portion is a flexibly resilient portion configured to vertically seal against the door member when the door member is in the closed position; and

a trim strip coupled to an inner surface of the door member and extending inwardly from the inner surface of the door member towards the seal member, wherein the second portion of the seal member vertically seals against the trim strip when the door member is in the closed position.

18. The modular wall assembly of claim 17, wherein the second portion of the seal member includes one or more living hinges configured to flex as the second portion seals against the door member when the door member is in the closed position.

19. The modular wall assembly of claim 18, wherein one or more living hinges includes three living hinges.

20. The modular wall assembly of claim 17, wherein the first portion of the seal member includes one or more tabs configured to engage the outwardly opening channel of the trim member.