WO1997036075A1

WO1997036075A1 - Folding door construction

Info

Publication number: WO1997036075A1
Application number: PCT/NL1997/000156
Authority: WO
Inventors: Petrus Elisabeth Maria Camps
Original assignee: Petrus Elisabeth Maria Camps
Priority date: 1996-03-27
Filing date: 1997-03-26
Publication date: 1997-10-02
Also published as: NL1002718C1; AU2047097A

Abstract

A folding door construction comprising a plurality of articulated vertical lamellas, panels or the like (1, 3, 5, 7) coupled in hinged fashion in the way of a folding partition, which are borne by upper (23) or lower axles (63) directed vertically and rollable in an upper guide (19) or lower guide (67) respectively, around each of which axles at least two hinged elements (29, 31, 75, 77), placed axially relative to each other, are turnably arranged, the axle (23, 63) between the guide (19, 67) and the hinged elements (29, 31 and 75, 77) is provided with a stabilizing sleeve (41, 61) closely fitting around the axle, the sleeve forming a continuation in axial direction of the hinged elements (29, 31 and 75, 77) mounted in succession on the axle in axial direction.

Description

FOLDING DOOR CONSTRUCTION

The invention relates to a folding door construction comprising a plurality of articulated vertical lamellas, panels or the like coupled in hinged fashion in the way of a folding partition, which are borne by upper or lower axles directed vertically and rollable in an upper or lower guide respectively, around each of which axles at least two hinged elements either or not placed axially relative to each other are turnably arranged, these hinged elements having suitable means, for example, holes or slotted openings for the lamellas, panels or the like to be mounted. The folding door construction described here is generally known.

There are a number of annoying drawbacks to the folding door constructions known to date which are often used for shutting off, for example, open spaces in shops, offices etc., which drawbacks often render the use of these types of folding door constructions less interesting. It has appeared that such folding door constructions are hard to handle owing to the circumstance that the lamellas, panels or doors mounted between the upper and lower vertical carriers may easily be pulled out of square and obstruct the folding of the successive panels. Furthermore, in their closed position, the known constructions appear to be hardly burglar-resistant.

This has specifically appeared to be owing to the axle construction selected thus far, which requires in itself rather long axles having an acceptable diameter that is not too large. Such axles are sensitive to distortion resulting from, on the one hand, the rather large weights of the door constructions and are, on the other hand, to withstand the large shearing forces when the doors are opened or closed.

It is an object of the invention to improve this type of folding door constructions so that the door can be folded open and closed in an extremely simple manner, without the above-mentioned pulling out of square of the hinged elements, while this construction may furthermore be qualified as burglary-delaying.

For this purpose, the main characteristic feature of the folding door construction according to the invention is that the axle between the guide and the hinged elements comprises a stabilizing sleeve closely fitting around the axle, the sleeve forming a continuation in axial direction of the hinged elements mounted in succession on the axle in axial direction. Applying the invention provides the possibility of having a construction which, together with the hinged elements mounted on the axles, is flush with the hinge blades, thus does not show grooves or the like accessible from the exterior, which is robust, not subject to annoying distortions and also works highly burglary-delaying.

The construction according to the invention will be further explained with reference to the drawing of an embodiment, in which: Fig. 1 gives a diagrammatic representation of a four-part folding door in a folded-out state,

Fig. 2 gives a diagrammatic representation of this folding door in plan view,

Fig. 3 shows partly in elevational view, partly in cross-sectional view the supporting structure near to the upper guide,

Fig. 4 shows partly in elevational view, partly in cross-sectional view the supporting structure near to the lower guide Fig. 5 shows in elevational view, partly in cross-sectional view, a hinged structure of adjacent panels at a position located between upper and lower guide, and

Fig. 6 shows a plastic strip to be inserted into an empty lower guide .

The folding door shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is in this example a four-part folding door comprising panels 1, 3, 5 and 7 which are hinged around axles 9, 11, 13, 15 and 16. This door is movable in customary fashion in a manner not shown in detail in an upper guide 19 or lower guide 67, respectively.

The supporting structure shown in Fig. 3 comprises a runner arrangement of wheels 15 and 17 which are included in customary fashion in an assembly 21 diagrammatically shown at 19. In like customary fashion is included an axle 23 extending in vertical direction and having head-end 27 to which hinged elements 29 and 31 are attached. These hinged elements have through-holes 33, 35 and 37, 39 through which the door panels can be secured to these elements by screwed joints .

According to the invention, a stabilizing sleeve 41 is used which is kept away from the assembly 21 against the action of a pressure spring 43. The pressure spring 43 is essential here; it adds to compensating for architectural finishing, unevennesses etc. already present in buildings in the continuous upper guide; this spring can be instrumental in setting the stabilizing sleeve in the desired manner. After being set in axial direction, the stabilizing sleeve is locked in place by a locking screw 45. The stabilizing sleeve 41 rests against the hinged element 29, while a pivot bearing of the type SKF-GLY-PXG 122401 SA, for example, in which the lower bearing part 49 is locked in protected manner in a chamber of the stabilizing sleeve 41, is locked in between. This construction prevents dust and dirt from penetrating from the exterior, while a smooth turning of the hinged element relative to the axle 23 is guaranteed by the presence of the pivot bearing. The hinged element 29 is kept away from the lower hinged element 31 by the flange 51 of a sleeve 53 made of plastic. This lower hinged element transfers the axial forces acting on it to a second pivot bearing 56, 58 of the same type as the pivot bearing 47, 49. An adjusting nut 57 is screwed on the lower end of the axle 23. Once all the parts have been retained on the axle 23, the nut is tightened by an adjusting screw 59. The adjusting nut 57 is covered by a cap.

The lower supporting structure shown in Fig. 4 is built up in like manner to the supporting structure shown in Fig. 3. A stabilizing sleeve 61 is used here which closely fits around an axle 63. Via a known roller mechanism, the axle has a stainless steel roller 65 which has a radial, sea- water and detergent-resistant sliding bearing 66, which roller 65 is movable in a rail referenced 67 in the floor 69.

Fig. 4 shows the arrangement of the pivot bearing 71, 73 also transferring the axial forces and being of similar type to the pivot bearing 47, 49 mentioned earlier. This construction only needs a single axial pivot bearing. The further structure of the supporting structure shows hinged elements 75 and 77 in similar fashion to Fig. 3. The axle is retained by a locking screw 76 in the upper hinged element 75. This hinged element 75 is kept away from the lower hinged element 77 by the flange 78 of a sleeve 79 also made of plastic. The sleeve 61 is retained here by a locking screw 64.

The constructions of Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 respectively, provide a smooth supporting structure which is sturdy, solid, robust and insensitive to dust and dirt . Despite the proportionally long axles 23 and 63, this provides a very robust tilt- insensitive and torque-resistant supporting structure which as it were is smoothly extended by the respective hinged elements 29, 31 and 75, 77. In practice it has appeared that with these constructions the axles 23, 63 are not subject to the customary effects of distortion.

Fig. 5 shows an intermediate hinged structure which interconnects adjacent panels 1 and 3 of Fig. 1. This construction comprises here too only two hinged elements 81, 83 which are arranged on an axle 89 having the flange 91 ^" while a plastic sleeve 85 with flange 87 is locked in between. The hinged elements are locked by a locking screw 95 screwed in groove 93 of the axle 89. With this construction it is impossible to lift a door panel without removing the invisible locking screw 95, which also has a burglary-delaying effect.

When the folding door is in folded-up position, the lower guide 67 shown in Fig. 4 may form an annoying open groove to people. For closing this open groove, a plastic strip 97 of the profile represented in Fig. 6 may be used. It is to be removed when the folding door is closed again.

Claims

1. A folding door construction comprising a plurality of articulated vertical lamellas, panels or the like (1, 3, 5, 7) coupled in hinged fashion in the way of a folding partition, which are borne by upper (23) or lower axles (63) directed vertically and rollable in an upper guide (19) or lower guide (67) respectively, around each of which axles at least two hinged elements (29, 31, 75, 77) , either or not placed axially relative to each other, are turnably arranged, these hinged elements having suitable means, for example, holes or slotted openings for the lamellas, panels or the like to be mounted, characterized in that the axle (23, 63) between the guide (19, 67) and the hinged elements (29, 31 and 75, 77) comprises a stabilizing sleeve

(41, 61) closely fitting around the axle, the sleeve forming a continuation in axial direction of the hinged elements (29, 31 and 75, 77) mounted m succession on the axle in axial direction.

2. A folding door construction as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a pivot bearing (47, 49) , (71, 73) respectively, is arranged between the sleeve (41, 61) and the adjacent hinged element (29, 77) .

3. A folding door construction as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the axle (23) of the upper axle construction (Fig. 3) on its end turned away from the guide (19) shows a screwed- on adjusting nut (57) , a second pivot bearing (56, 58) being arranged between the adjusting nut (57) and the adjacent hinged element (31) . A folding door construction as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a plastic strip (97) can be inserted into the lower guide (67) for the rollers of the lower supporting structure (Fig. 4) to close this open guide when the folding door is in a folded-up position.