Sliding Closures Patents (Class 49/370)
  • Patent number: 10501977
    Abstract: A rear slider window assembly for a vehicle includes an upper rail and a lower rail, with a fixed window panel having at least one glass panel having an inner surface and an outer surface and an opening between opposite side panel portions of the fixed window panel. The upper rail is attached at the inner surface of the fixed window panel at an upper region of the fixed window panel and above the opening. The lower rail is attached at the inner surface of the fixed window panel at a lower region of the fixed window panel and below the opening. First and second movable window panels are movable along the upper and lower rails between a closed position, where the movable window panels cooperate to close the opening, and an opened position, where both movable panels move away from one another to open the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Darin J. Snider, Peggy L. Gustafson, R. Scott Repp
  • Patent number: 9492038
    Abstract: A shower sealing system includes a sliding shower door slidable along a length of an upper track assembly and configured to slide horizontally and freely above a surface and a sealing element configured to provide a fluid seal between the surface and at least a portion of the shower door. The system also includes a trigger mechanism coupled to the sealing element and a stop configured to activate the trigger mechanism when at least partially in contact with the trigger mechanism. The trigger mechanism is configured to move the sealing element from a storage position to a sealing position when the stop activates the trigger mechanism. The sealing element provides a fluid seal between the shower door and the surface when the sealing element is in the sealing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Weerasak Taingtae, Roque M. Corpuz, Jr., Matthew Joseph Ball, Peter W. Swart
  • Patent number: 9458661
    Abstract: A sliding door assembly is provided comprising a first door having a tortuous leading edge, a door frame, a guide track, and a member having a complementary tortuous edge to that of the door. The drive assembly includes magnets to drive the door between open and closed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: VERITAS MEDICAL SOLUTIONS LLC
    Inventors: David P. Farrell, Herbert Todd Ferrence
  • Patent number: 8808073
    Abstract: An air passage open/close device includes a casing having an air passage, and a sliding door having a board member slidably located in the casing so as to open or close the air passage. The casing has a guide groove for guiding a movement of the board member. The guide groove has an upstream wall extending in a moving direction of the board member at an upstream side of the board member in an air flow direction, and a downstream wall opposing to the upstream wall at a downstream side of the board member in the air flow direction. The board member is configured to be elastically deformed when the board member is arranged in the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Tokunaga, Yukio Uemura, Yoshikazu Sakaki
  • Patent number: 8763327
    Abstract: A paneled partition assembly is disclosed that can be used to selectively separate a first space from a second space. The paneled partition assembly can cover an opening when in a closed and extended position and uncover the opening when in an opened and retracted position. The paneled partition assembly can include a first panel and a second panel configured such that rotation of a handle on the first panel causes linear movement of the second panel. The partition assembly can include a pair of mating assemblies that selectively move from open and retracted positions on opposite sides of an opening to closed and extended positions in which opposite leading edges abut one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eugene Harter, Jeffrey Scott Miller, Christopher Osborne
  • Publication number: 20130310173
    Abstract: A display device for a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a shutter assembly configured to cover and uncover the display panel at least in part, the shutter assembly including a first sliding door configured to move along a guide; and a driving unit configured to drive the first sliding door
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicants: Aruze Gaming America, Inc., Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi JOKO, Hiroatsu IKE, Kenta KITAMURA, Kazuo OKADA
  • Patent number: 8429853
    Abstract: A boat has an outside pocket door that opens to provide a passageway large enough for a person to pass. Of particular interest are sliding doors that utilize a traveler and a guide, each positioned on one of the door and the housing, having tolerances that severely restrict side to side movement of a distal edge of the door under normal operating conditions. The guide can advantageously comprise a track and rollers, and the traveler can comprises a foot disposed to travel between opposing ones of the rollers. In such embodiments the rollers can advantageously be mounted in spaced apart opposing pairs on a guide, using off-set centers to adjust the tolerances. Sliding doors can be operated in any suitable manner, manually or otherwise, and it is especially contemplated that sliding doors can be operated using a pneumatic ram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Inventor: Garret Martin
  • Patent number: 8424652
    Abstract: An electromagnetic coupling device includes a vane member and an electromagnet. The electromagnet includes a core having a plurality of poles comprising at least four poles. An electrically conductive winding has a first portion surrounding a first one of the poles and a second portion surrounding a second one of the poles. The winding is selectively energized for selectively magnetically coupling the electromagnet and the vane member such that the vane member and the electromagnet are movable together in a desired direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Jacek F. Gieras, Sastry V. Vedula, Pei-Yuan Peng, Bryan Siewert
  • Publication number: 20120317884
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a set-up station door apparatus for a machine tool, including: safety guard protecting a multi-pallet system of a machine tool; door member that consists of a first door member and second door member and can move between a first position where a set up station is closed and a second position where the set-up station is opened in a direction that each side of the first door member and the second door member moves away from and close to each other, respectively; a door support member that is disposed at a side of the safety guard adjacent to the door member and guides the movement of the door member by being combined with the door member; and a door guide member that is disposed at the door member and guides movement of the door member by being combined with the door support member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventor: Jin Kook Park
  • Publication number: 20120247022
    Abstract: A panel fastening system includes a first panel unit having a first glass panel mounted within a first frame, a second panel unit having a second glass panel mounted within a second frame, and a detachable fastener. The detachable fastener includes a bracket configured to be positioned on a jamb of the first frame, a suction cup configured to be fastened to the second glass panel, and a joining link having one end coupled to the suction cup and another end coupled to the bracket for urging the first frame against the second frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventor: Sean T. McDonough
  • Patent number: 8272481
    Abstract: An elevator door guide (16) includes at least one elevator door guide member (30, 32) having a first channel (18) and a second channel (64) each for at least partially establishing a direction of door movement. The first channel (18) is open in a first direction (24) and the second channel (64) is open in a second direction (66). In one example, the channel (18) at least partially establishes a direction of door movement and a passage (26) extends through the elevator door guide (16) in a direction (28) that is transverse to the direction of door movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Michael Tracey, Richard Kulak
  • Publication number: 20120228429
    Abstract: A vehicle has a passenger section, a control section and a door positioned between the passenger section and the control section. The door has an indented region on a side of the door facing the control section when the door is in a closed position, where the indented region has a surface. The vehicle also includes a second surface. A locking mechanism has a first locking portion, a second locking portion and a connecting portion connecting the first locking portion and the second locking portion. The locking mechanism locks the door in the closed position when the first locking portion engages the surface of the indented region and the second locking portion engages the second surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: TARGET BRANDS, INC.
    Inventors: Oliver Colin Hanson, Richard David Sedgwick
  • Patent number: 8006436
    Abstract: A pair of interlocking bi-parting sliding doors includes a first sliding door and a second sliding door, wherein the first sliding door has a first meeting stile that includes a first side portion for maintaining a door glass panel and a first mating side portion for engaging the second sliding door, wherein the first mating side portion includes a plurality of recessed zones, and wherein the second sliding door has a second meeting stile that includes a second side portion for maintaining a door glass panel and a second mating side portion for engaging the first mating side portion of the first sliding door, wherein the second mating side portion includes a plurality of extensions, wherein when the first sliding door and the second sliding door are in a closed position, the plurality of extensions interlock with the plurality of recessed zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventor: Kyle A. McDaniel
  • Patent number: 7992346
    Abstract: A drive device for a sliding door system having a transom and at least one door leaf guided along the transom. The drive device includes: a housing which can be mounted on the transom; a pulley which can be driven in rotation by a drive, the pulley being mounted for rotation on the housing and having a flange with locking elements adjacent to the housing; an endless traction mechanism guided around the pulley for moving the at least one door leaf linked to the traction mechanism; complementary locking elements which can be moved relative to the housing to engage the locking elements on the flange and thereby prevent rotation of the pulley; and an electromechanical actuation device which moves the complementary locking elements in response to an impulse emitted by a locking control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Dorma GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventor: Andreas Finke
  • Patent number: 7984590
    Abstract: At both sides of a pair of doors 10L, 10R, a pair of television cameras (two-dimensional image sensors) 18A, 18B for detecting a moving object, and a pair of spare infrared ray sensors 20A, 20B are provided. A central control unit 16 calculates the position and moving direction of moving object by image processing of outputs of television cameras 18A, 18B, and predicts the passing position of moving object on the vertical plane P when the moving object approaches, thereby calculating the target opening degree of a pair of doors 10L, 10R individually, and determines the target opening degree of doors in full closing when the moving object leaves away, and thus outputs move command signals to motor controllers 14L, 14R so that the pair of doors 10L, 10R may be set at the target opening degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: THK Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kaoru Hoshide, Miki Tobita, Akira Sato
  • Patent number: 7762020
    Abstract: A sliding wall-mounted interior door system that includes a telescoping door actuating mechanism that is attached to the upper portion of the door, and a roller assembly that extends horizontally from the wall and engages a track in the lower portion of the door. The door actuating system is designed so that the movement of one of the door panels simultaneously moves the other door panel in the opposite direction. The actuating mechanism is designed so that a gearing assembly within the actuating mechanism moves laterally when the door system is moved between the open and closed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Masonite Corporation
    Inventors: Georgios Petridis, Jason M. Walsh
  • Patent number: 7757437
    Abstract: A horizontally sliding door includes a resilient retention system that helps hold a door panel tightly against its seals when the door is closed, and resiliently releases the door panel when an external force displaces the panel beyond its normal path of travel. If the door panel is displaced off its normal path, the resilience of the retention system or simply opening and closing the door automatically returns the panel back to normal operation. The resilient retention system can be installed off the floor, so the system avoids creating a tripping hazard and avoids being damaged by nearby vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Rite-Hite Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Peter S. Schulte, Perry Knutson, Rodney Kern, Bill Hoerner, Allan H. Hochstein
  • Patent number: 7726723
    Abstract: A slide door structure of an automobile which enables occupants to get in and out with ease even in a narrow parking space because the door of the automobile can be largely opened and capable of reducing the constraints on the design of the body of the automobile. Forward lower rail boards (11, 13) are positioned on the lower part of the body (1) at the front of a rear wheel house (5) when the slide doors (2, 3) are closed and, when the slide doors (2, 3) are opened, extracted from the front side of the rear wheel house (5) to the outside rear side of the body (1) by the rotation of a front link mechanism, and a rear lower rail board (12) is positioned on the lower part of the body (1) at the rear of the rear wheel house (5) when the slide doors (2, 3) are closed and, when the slide doors (2, 3) are opened, extracted from the rear side of the rear wheel house (5) to the outside front side of the body (1) by the rotation of a rear link mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Inventor: Hisashi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7650985
    Abstract: A closure system for a trough comprising a first closure member and a second closure member, the first closure member being movable between a closed position, where it closes against the perimeter of a first opening in the bottom of a trough and an open position where it retracts to a position away from contact with the perimeter of the first opening, the second closure member being movable between a closed position where it closes against the perimeter of a second opening in an opposite side of the bottom of the trough and an open position where it retracts to a position away from contact with the perimeter of the second opening, and first and second controllers operable to move the first closure member and second closure member respectively between the open and closed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Sandvik Mining & Construction Australia Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Toby Adam Lennox Day
  • Patent number: 7603813
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of monitoring a door gap to determine whether a proper final closed position of doors exists after a closing of doors of rail vehicles, or other vehicles or elevators. The vehicles or elevators have at least one door leaf which is equipped on its main closing edge with an elastically deformable or elastically mounted profile. The position and/or shape of the profile is detected by electric, pneumatic, optical, inductive, capacitive or magnetic sensors or a combination of such sensors in connection with an electronic monitoring system which analyzes the signals of the sensors and, if applicable, determines the existence of the door gap. The method steps include closing the doors, activating the electronic monitoring system after the closing of the doors; monitoring the door gap and determining a final closed position of the doors by the electronic monitoring system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Knorr-Bremse Gesellschaft Mit Beschrankter Haftung
    Inventor: Friedrich Hackl
  • Patent number: 7464794
    Abstract: The invention is relating to a coupling device for elevator car (5) and landing doors of the kind comprising moving cams (3) integral with the car door (5) and driving the landing door in front of a story landing by means of a coupling plate integral therewith and engaging with the cams (3), locking it mechanically and electrically upon door closure to allow the subsequent drive of the car, wherein said cams (3) are movably mounted with a variable distance from each other on the car door (5), independently from the car door drive belt (19), and a part (7) is provided to drive the cams (3) with a variable distance, which part (7) is mounted on the car door (5) and connected to the drive belt (19) and to one of the cams (3) to drive it towards and away from the other cam (3) with a large displacement relative to a small overtravel drive of the belt (19), in order to respectively allow to unlock the coupling plate and its landing door drive coupling when the doors open and to lock it when they close.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Amine Badaoui, Jean-Pierre Tantis
  • Publication number: 20080148643
    Abstract: A sliding door structure comprises at least one door or plate (12), and a substantially horizontally arranged track device (13). The track device (13) includes a stationary track part (14) and at least one door carrier (16) for carrying the door. The door carrier is supported by the stationary track part (14) at one or more supporting points and displaceable horizontally in relation to said track part between first and second opposite positions. The door (12) is connected to the track device (13) such that the centre of gravity of the door or plate (12) is spaced horizontally from the adjacent supporting point by a distance being a substantial fraction of the width of the door or plate (12). Thus, the door (12) is supported by the carrier (16) in a cantilever-like manner and the length of the track (13) may be reduced to a value substantially corresponding to the width of the door opening (11).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventor: Michael Erik Lemming
  • Patent number: 7367159
    Abstract: A sliding door for selectively opening and closing an opening. The door comprises a first guide track defining a first linear guide path and a second guide track defining a second linear guide path. The second guide track is spaced from the first guide track. The door further comprises a door panel having a top edge, a bottom edge, a leading edge and a trailing edge. The door panel is adapted to translate laterally relative to the opening between a closed position and an open position. A first portion of the door panel is attached to the first guide track and a second portion of the door panel is attached to the second guide track. The door moves vertically as the door is translated from the open position to the closed position as rollers engage recesses positioned on the first and second guide tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Rytec Corporation
    Inventors: Joe Delgado, Arno Klein, Louis B. Mueller, Mark Semmann
  • Patent number: 7350332
    Abstract: A sliding wall-mounted interior door system that includes a telescoping door actuating mechanism that is attached to the upper portion of the door, and a roller assembly that extends horizontally from the wall and engages a track in the lower portion of the door. The door actuating system is designed so that the movement of one of the door panels simultaneously moves the other door panel in the opposite direction. The actuating mechanism is designed so that a gearing assembly within the actuating mechanism moves laterally when the door system is moved between the open and closed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Masonite Corporation
    Inventors: Georgios Petridis, Jason M. Walsh
  • Patent number: 7264088
    Abstract: A device moves a door seal for a displaceable door panel of an elevator car in an elevator installation with an elevator shaft having shaft doors. The movable door seal is arranged so that the door panel in a closed state is sealed off. The device includes an entrainer unit connected with the door panel and upon stopping of the elevator car at a floor executes a part movement. The device also includes a coupling mechanism mechanically connecting the entrainer unit with the door seal to bring the door seal out of a sealing position into an open position when the entrainer unit executes the part movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Peter J. Spiess, Dario Augugliaro
  • Patent number: 7162835
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing or inspecting semiconductors comprising a main body, an opening arranged in the main body, and a safety door. The safety door includes a first door element for covering a first portion of the opening and a second door element for covering a second portion of the opening, the first door element having a movement direction along which the first door element is driven by a driving device, the second door element being urged toward the first door element along the movement direction of the first door element by an external force. If a part of a person's body should be caught between the first and second door elements, the second door element is urged against the external force by the force generated by the part of the person's body to protect the part of the person's body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Tokyo Seimitsu, Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Manpuku, Kazunori Hiranuma, Mamoru Takashina
  • Patent number: 6983565
    Abstract: A door system for a cold storage locker has increased resistance to damage by including resilient door panels that flex when hit by a forklift. A high degree of insulation is achieved by the choice and thickness of the resilient foams therein. Also, the resilient door panels are magnetically attracted to a gasket seal on a doorframe to provide an affirmative seal. Active magnetic control may enhance the attraction or repulsion of the door panel. Frost control is realized by warming air from the cold storage locker and passing it through air channels in the door panel proximate to the gasket seal and down an astragal interface between door panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Jamison Door Company
    Inventors: Curtis L. Berry, William B. Nichols
  • Patent number: 6951268
    Abstract: A system is proposed for transmitting energy and/or data between a vehicle body and a removable part, a first core half having a pin and a pin ring which extend into a second core half to thus improve an inductive coupling. The first and second core halves are elements of an inductive transformer, and in each case have windings to transmit the energy and data, respectively. So that the pin does not protrude when a movable part is removed from a vehicle, in a further development, a ring is provided with bore holes and an annular spring which ensure that all primary-side transformer parts terminate flush with the vehicle floor. The improved inductive coupling makes it possible for the core halves to be made predominantly of an iron material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Hans Guettler
  • Patent number: 6912812
    Abstract: A side sliding door apparatus for an electric railcar includes a side sliding door suspended from a horizontal door rail with a C-shape cross-section. The side sliding door is capable of moving freely via a door roller, and a gap is formed between the door roller and a ceiling of the door rail. A guide roller with a smaller diameter than that of the door roller is provided adjacent to the door roller. A gap between the guide roller and the ceiling of the door rail is set to be smaller than that between the door roller and the ceiling of the door rail. Preferably, a gap adjusting mechanism is provided for adjusting the gap between the guide roller and the ceiling of the door rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akio Inage
  • Patent number: 6910301
    Abstract: A door seal for use with a bi-parting door in which the door panels of the door have supplementary angled leading edges. One leading edge has a triangular cross-section, while the other has a cross-section similar to a parallelogram. To further the reliability of the door seal, a plurality of magnets with corresponding magnet attracting plates may be attached along the leading edges. Alternatively, both leading edges may have at least one magnet aligned with a magnet on the other edge. With the double magnet configuration, the use of multi-pole magnets is necessary. The magnets also help reduce the bounce between the door panels, which may be closed roughly, and increase the force required to separate the door panels when closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Rytec Corporation
    Inventors: Walenty Kalempa, Brian Norbert Drifka
  • Publication number: 20040206004
    Abstract: A door for at least partially covering a doorway defined by a wall and a lower surface. The door comprises a first door panel adapted to laterally translate along a plane relative to the doorway between a doorway blocking position and an unblocking position. The door further comprises a first seal including a first sealing surface interposed between a first attachment end and a first distal end with the first attachment end being attached to the first door panel. The door also has a second seal disposed to allow relative movement between the first seal and the second seal, the second seal including a second sealing surface interposed between a second attachment end and a second distal end, such that the first door panel in the doorway blocking position causes the first sealing surface to face the second sealing surface and positions the second distal end between the first distal end and at least one of the first door panel and the first attachment end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventors: Walenty Kalempa, Brian Norbert Drifka
  • Publication number: 20040134128
    Abstract: A door system for a cold storage locker has increased resistance to damage when by including resilient door panels that flex when hit by a forklift. A high degree of insulation is achieved by the choice and thickness of the resilient foams therein. Also, the resilient door panels are magnetically attracted to a gasket seal on a doorframe to provide an affirmative seal. Active magnetic control may enhance the attraction or repulsion of the door panel. Frost control is realized by warming air from the cold storage locker and passing it through air channels in the door panel proximate to the gasket seal and down an astragal interface between door panels. Door panels of laminate, bagged poured foam formation, and self-skinning foam formation give further reduced cost of manufacture and shipping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Applicant: Jamison Door Company
    Inventors: Curtis L. Berry, William B. Nichols
  • Publication number: 20040083653
    Abstract: A sliding door for selectively opening and closing an opening is disclosed. The door comprises a first guide track defining a first linear guide path and a second guide track defining a second linear guide path. The second guide track is spaced from the first guide track. The door further comprises a door panel having a top edge, a bottom edge, a leading edge and a trailing edge. The door panel is adapted to translate laterally relative to the opening between a closed position and an open position. A first portion of the door panel is attached to the first guide track and a second portion of the door panel is attached to the second guide track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Inventors: Joe Delgado, Arno Klein, Louis B. Mueller, Mark Semmann
  • Publication number: 20020157317
    Abstract: An automatic door assembly including a sliding door and an electric motor drivingly coupled to the sliding door. The electric motor includes a clutch movable between a locked position preventing rotation of the electric motor and an unlocked position permitting rotation of the electric motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2001
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Applicant: Dor-O-Matic, Inc.
    Inventors: Gilbert Valencia, Kevin Bailey
  • Patent number: 6360487
    Abstract: A resilient, insulated door panel for a sliding door includes a resilient core protected by a compliant outer covering with a seal disposed about the perimeter of the panel. The panel has sufficient resilience to recover from an impact that temporarily deforms it, yet has sufficient rigidity to transmit a compressive force needed for effectively setting the seals. Much of the core is filled with air to not only provide effective insulation and resilience, but to also provide an extremely lightweight door panel that can be operated to travel rapidly along an overhead track. Some embodiments include relatively rigid backup plates that provide a solid foundation to which the perimeter seals can be attached. The backup plates are segmented so as not to completely restrict the flexibility of the door panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Rite-Hite Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Rodney Kern, Joe Korman, Dave Leppert, Peter Schulte, James Schwingle, Dean Shanahan
  • Patent number: 6330763
    Abstract: A generally horizontally sliding door includes a sliding or otherwise translating door panel with a full-perimeter seal that engages sealing surfaces upon closing and at least partially disengages the surfaces upon opening. The door panel travels along an overhead track that is slightly inclined to lower the panel's upper and lower edge seals into engagement with sealing surfaces as the door closes. To provide a substantially full-perimeter seal, a leading edge seal and a trailing edge seal engage sealing surfaces as well. Some of the edge seals are joined to create corner seals. The seals are adapted for single panel sliding doors, bi-parting doors, multi-panel doors, and various combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2001
    Assignee: Rite-Hite Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Rodney Kern, Dave Leppert, Peter Schulte, James Schwingle, Dean Shanahan
  • Patent number: 6286882
    Abstract: A motor vehicle has a vehicle interior and a partition which divides the vehicle interior into a front area that has a driver's side, and a passenger side and a rear area. The partition is divided into at least two partial units that abut one another in a transverse direction of the vehicle. One partial unit of the partition is immovably mounted behind a driver's side of the front area. At least one additional partial unit is movable between two end positions, with the end positions opening or closing a passageway area between the front area and the rear area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventor: Ina Rastetter
  • Patent number: 6152549
    Abstract: A frameless sliding door system for a television cabinet stand having a top board coupled to two vertical guide mounts. The frameless sliding door system has two doors, each door having top and bottom bearing rail mechanism that permits the doors to move horizontally away and towards one another, but fixes the movement of the doors in other directions. Other features are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Goto, Shunsuke Hanaoka, Jared Lee Zamaloff, Richard Gioscia
  • Patent number: 6021608
    Abstract: A new interior window locking system for preventing intruders from gaining illegal entry into a building. The inventive device includes a pair of horizontally disposed guide rails secured above and below a window within a window frame. A pair of square tubing frames are slidably disposed between the guide rails. Each of the frames have a steel grate disposed therein. A spring-loaded latch assembly is disposed on corresponding inner members of the pair of square tubing frames for engagement thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Inventor: Charles A. Ollison
  • Patent number: 5594316
    Abstract: In order to realize a power supply device for a sensor which can be used for a long time without any wire linking an outside power source and a movable door so as to supply an electric power, an outside power source contact on a transom and a battery contact on a door are connected when the door is in its closed or open position, induced current is generated from a primary circuit on the transom to a secondary circuit on the door by electro-magnetic induction when the door is in its closed or open position, or electric current is generated by a generator mounted to the door by utilizing the closing and opening movements of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: Tsuden Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tatekazu Hayashida
  • Patent number: 5542213
    Abstract: A weatherproof sliding closure such as a window, door or hatch, especially suitable for closing openings in a marine environment, is disclosed. The closure is mounted top and bottom on bearing assemblies via camshafts extending through the closure and rotatably mounted in the assemblies. The bearing assemblies travel along fixed top and bottom guideways to move the closure between open and closed positions with respect to the closure opening. Cam portions of the shafts act against internal portions of the closure itself, serving as cam followers, when the camshafts are rotated in unison in the same direction through operation of a closure handle and drive train interconnecting the camshafts internally of the closure. This causes the closure to shift laterally on its bearing assemblies into sealing engagement with a closure frame defining the closure opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: Freeman Marine Equipment, Inc.
    Inventor: Arvie E. Freeman
  • Patent number: 5148631
    Abstract: A power door operator for transit vehicles utilizing a rodless pneumatic cylinder as a prime mover in opening and closing doors in the sidewall of a transit vehicles. Door movement having a controlled, predetermined door edge force is achieved through mechanical coupling an external piston of the rodless cylinder and vehicle doors through and endless toothed belt. Magnetic coupling between internal and external pistons of the cylinder provide controlled force having a maximum or breakaway value applied to the operated door. A novel reaction lock operated by admission of pressurized air to the cylinder latches or unlatches the operated door in its closed position subsequent or prior to door closing or opening. Control of door motion at the ends of its travel is achieved through the use of a novel differential area internal piston in the pneumatic cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1992
    Assignee: Mark IV Transportation Products Corporation
    Inventors: Robert G. Bayard, Anthony J. Walsh, Roger J. Weseloh
  • Patent number: 5028082
    Abstract: A latching mechanism (10) for automatically locking, and selectively unlocking, opposed first and second sliding members (11A and 11B). The latching mechanism (10) has first and second latch subassemblies (45 and 50). The first latch subassembly (45) is adapted to be secured to one sliding member (11A), and the second latch subassembly (50) is adapted to be secured to a second sliding member (11B). A catch block (75) is presented from the first latch subassembly (45). The catch block (70) has a cam portion (76) and a locking portion (80). The first latch subassembly (45) has a pivotally mounted first release lever (65), and the second latch subassembly (50) has a pivotally mounted second release lever (95). A latch arm (106) is presented from the second release lever (95) to engage a cam portion (76) when the sliding members (11A and 11B) are closing and to engage the locking portion ( 80) to lock with sliding members (11A and 11B) in their closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1991
    Assignee: Chardon Rubber Company
    Inventor: Clarence W. Kronbetter
  • Patent number: 4991347
    Abstract: An opening/closing mechanism for use in a circular-arc shaped sliding door including a transverse frame having a circular-arc horizontal sectional shape and mounted on the upper parts of a pair of left and right door bodies; a drive pulley and a driven pulley mounted on the circumferentially one end of the transverse frame and on the other end thereof, respectively; and an endless belt wound between and around the drive pulley and a driven pulley, the pair of door bodies being connected in place to the endless belt so that they may be slidably moved in opposite directions to each other along a pair of left and right guide rails, respectively, each of which is bent in a circular-arc shape concentric with the center of the circular-arc of the transverse door frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Assignee: Yoshida Kogyo K. K.
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Takimoto, Kenzo Ono, Yuichi Noguchi
  • Patent number: 4901474
    Abstract: A power door operator for transit vehicles utilizing a rodless pneumatic cylinder as a prime mover in opening and closing doors in the sidewall of a transit vehicles. Door movement having a controlled, predetermined door edge force is achieved through mechanical coupling an external piston of the rodless cylinder and vehicle doors through an endless toothed belt. Magnetic coupling between internal and external pistons of the cylinder provide controlled force having a maximum or breakaway value applied to the operated door. A novel reaction lock operated by admission of pressurized air to the cylinder latches or unlatches the operated door in its closed position subsequent or prior to door closing or opening. Control of door motion at the ends of its travel is achieved through the use of a novel differential area internal piston in the pneumatic cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1990
    Assignee: Vapor Corporation
    Inventors: Robert G. Bayard, Anthony J. Walsh
  • Patent number: 4882795
    Abstract: A partition, more particularly for a corner shower, contains two door-elements mounted displaceably in an upper guide-rail. In the vicinity of the entrance, the upper guide-rail is curved like the edge of the tub and is connected to two lateral wall elements which are secured to the room and are flat. The purpose of the invention is to achieve reliable sealing and equally reliable guidance combined with a simple design. It is proposed that the guide-rail be curved over its entire length and comprise curved end-parts behind the flat wall-element. No lower guide-rail is provided. Instead, small narrow guide-elements are located outside the entrance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1989
    Inventor: Heinz G. Baus
  • Patent number: 4807312
    Abstract: A partition, more particularly for a corner-shower, with a rounded entrance area, contains door-elements by means of which the entrance-area may be closed off or opened. The door-elements are arranged displaceably in guide-rails which are curved in the entrance area and are connected to at least one wall-element. It should be possible to produce a partition of this kind inexpensively and to obtain reliable guidance and accurate alignment of the door-elements with as few components as possible. The door-elements are curved to match the guide-rails and the guide-elements of each door-element is arranged at a predetermined distance from the longitudinal edges. A total of two door-elements is provided and these are curved over an angular range of approximately 45.degree.. They are adjustable in height by means of at least one guide-element, more particularly an eccentric pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1989
    Inventor: Heinz G. Baus
  • Patent number: 4754573
    Abstract: A sliding door unit has two spaced cabinets, a single top guiding rail extending between and in the cabinets, two bottom guiding rails extending in the cabinets, and a door with two door panels slidable into and out of the cabinets between the rails and having rollers fixable in depressed parts of the top guiding rail to fix the panels in open and closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1988
    Inventors: Henricus F. van Rooij, Johannes J. M. Kompier
  • Patent number: 4698938
    Abstract: A drive mechanism for full-automatic opening and closing of a sliding door comprises two drive mechanisms for supplying different moving speeds to the door. A main motor for the higher speed drives a worm-gear spindle, a low-power motor for the lower speed drives a profiled bar. A gear wheel moving on the worm-gear spindle and a pinion slideably mounted on the profiled bar mesh with each other and are contained in a sliding carriage guiding the sliding door via a latch. The selective or common drive of both motors results in various combinations and enables an adaptation to the requirements for variable door speeds. The drive mechanism is of simple design, relatively cheap and does not require trained service personnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1987
    Inventor: Jakob Huber
  • Patent number: 4635398
    Abstract: A watertight window assembly adapted to be mounted in an automobile comprises a window frame, two sliding panes, weather strips which are mounted in a guide groove formed in the frame and which abut on the panes in a watertight manner, frame members mounted to the opposite ends of the panes, and a seal member of a resilient material. The seal member is mounted to one of the frame members and abuts on the other in a watertight manner. The end portions of the frame members and of the seal member are received in the weather strips. The portions of the frame members which bear on the weather strips are inclined to the direction in which the panes slide. These inclined portions face the panes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1987
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shunichi Nakamura