Triple slide assembly for sliding doors

• US 7,174,944 B1
• Filed: 06/08/2004
• Issued: 02/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shower Enclosures Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Shower Enclosures Incorporated
• Inventors: Guidos, Mike, Clark, Mike
• Primary Examiner(s): Thompson, II; Hugh B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bradford; Candace L.
• Application Number:
  US10/864,305
• Time in Patent Office: 980 Days
• Field of Search: 160/184, 160/186, 160/197, 160/200, 160/202, 160/205, 160/222, 160/223, 160/196.1, 160/181, 160/201, 160/214, 16/94.R, 16/96.R, 16/95.R, 16/99, 161/05, 16/87, 16/874.R, 494/24, 494/25, 491/30, 493/66, 491/68, 494/09, 494/04, 491/16, 491/18, 491/17
• US Class Current: 160/197
• CPC Class Codes: A47H 2001/047 with multiple tracks
• CPC Class Codes: A47H 2023/025 Panel type curtains
• CPC Class Codes: A47H 2201/01 Magnets
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 15/063 on wheels with fixed axis
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 15/0652 Tracks E05D15/063 - E05D15/0647 and E05D15/0656 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 15/08 consisting of two or more independent parts movable each in its own guides
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 2017/007 with means for interlocking the wings
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/684 Rails
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/708 Sliders E05Y2201/64 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/46 in or on the wing
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/122 Telescopic action
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/00 Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/132 Doors

Abstract

A triple slide assembly for a three panel door system that mounts on a two track header and allows the panels to slide easily and sequentially with an interlocking function that provides a means to align the panels. The outer rails or panels each have an inward facing track to support rollers mounted to the middle rail or panel in an alternating configuration. The track and roller assembly interlocks the three panels and has stops, positioned in the ends of the inward facing tracks, keep the panels interlocked. The inward facing tracks and middle rail or panel remain aligned with the header when the outer panels are adjusted to align with adjacent door jambs to provide a smooth sliding operation. The triple slide assembly can be used for a six-door, center opening enclosure and for a five panel sliding assembly mounted on a three track header.

Claims

1. A slide assembly for three sliding panels adapted to couple to a header having first and second header tracks comprising:

first and second rail members adapted to slidingly couple to the first and second header tracks respectively;

first and second track members adapted to couple to said first and second rail members respectively; and

a third rail member adapted to slidingly couple to said first and second track members;

wherein said third rail member is supported by said first and second track members; and

wherein said first and second track members remain aligned with the header when the alignment of said first or said second rail members is adjusted.

2. A slide assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of rollers, wherein said first and second rail members are adapted to slidingly couple to the first and second header tracks with said rollers.

3. A slide assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of rollers, wherein said third rail member is adapted to slidingly couple to said first and second track members with said rollers.

4. A slide assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of stops coupled to said first and second track members;

wherein said stops are positioned to limit movement of said third rail member to between said first rail member and said second rail member.

5. A slide assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and second track members are positioned on said first and second rail to be concealed by a header.

6. A slide assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein stops positioned at the ends of said first and second track members interlock said first and second rail members with said third rail member.

7. A slide assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said first, said second and said third rail members further support a door panel.

8. A slide assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein alignment of said first and second rail members relative to the header is adjustable.

9. A slide assembly as recited in claim 8, wherein said third rail member remains aligned with the header when the alignment of said first or said second rail members is adjusted.

10. A slide assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and said second track members have a C shape cross section.

11. A slide assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and said second track members are straight.

12. A three door slide assembly comprising:

a header configured with first and second header tracks;

first and second rail members adapted to slidingly couple to said first and second header tracks;

first and second track members adapted to couple to said first and second rail members respectively; and

a third rail member adapted to slidingly couple to said first and said second track members;

wherein said third rail member is supported by said first and said second track members;

wherein said first, said second and said third rails members support a first, a second and a third door panel respectively; and

wherein said first and second track members are recessed in said first and said second door panels respectively.

13. A slide assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein said first and second track members remain aligned with the header when the alignment of said first or said second rail members is adjusted.

14. A three door slide assembly as recited in claim 12:

wherein said first and second rail members are interlocked to said third rail member by a plurality of stops mounted in said first and said second track members; and

wherein movement of said first or said second rail member guides movement of said third rail member.

15. A three door slide assembly as recited in claim 12:

wherein said first and said second door panels are interlocked to said third door panel by a plurality of overlapping protrusions mounted to said first and said second door panels; and

wherein said first and said second door panels are further interlocked to said third door panel by a plurality of stops mounted to said first and said second track members.

16. A three door slide assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein said first and said second door panels are interlocked to said third door panel by a plurality of overlapping protrusions mounted to said first, said second and said third door panel.

17. A three door slide assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein the alignment of said first and second rail members relative to said header is adjustable.

18. A three door slide assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein the alignment of said third door panel relative to said header remains fixed when alignment of said first or said second rail members is adjusted.

19. A three door slide assembly, comprising:

a header configured with first and second header tracks;

first and second rail members adapted to slidingly couple to said first and second header tracks;

first and second track members adapted to couple to said first and second rail members respectively; and

a third rail member adapted to slidingly couple to said first and said second track members;

wherein said third rail member is supported by said first and said second track members; and

wherein the alignment of said first and second track members relative to said header remains fixed when alignment of said first or said second rail members is adjusted.

20. A three door slide assembly as recited in claim 19, wherein said first, said second and said third rails members support a first, a second and a third door panel respectively.

21. A three door slide assembly as recited in claim 19:

wherein said header is straight; and

wherein said first and said second track members are straight.

22. A slide panel assembly adapted to couple to a header with a first track and a second track comprising:

a first panel member adapted to slidingly couple to the first header track;

a first track member coupled to said first panel member;

a second panel member adapted to slidingly couple to the second header track;

a second track member coupled to said second panel member;

a middle panel member adapted to slidingly couple to said first track member and said second track member;

wherein said first and second track members are recessed in said first and said second panels respectively.

23. A slide panel assembly as recited in claim 22, further comprising:

a plurality of stops mounted in said first, and second track members;

wherein said stops limit movement of said middle panel member to between said first and second panel member.

24. A slide panel assembly as recited in claim 22, further comprising:

a plurality of protrusions mounted on said first, and second panel members;

wherein said protrusions limit movement of said middle panel member to between said first and second panel member.

25. A slide panel assembly as recited in claim 22, wherein alignment of said first and second panel members is adjustable relative to the header.

26. A slide panel assembly as recited in claim 25,

wherein alignment of said middle panel member with the header remains fixed when the alignment of said first or second panel member is adjusted.