Guide Rollers Patents (Class 16/91)
  • Publication number: 20020170141
    Abstract: An improved retractable roller mechanism 20 and method for statically supporting an item 42 upon a support surface 40 in an inoperative state and supporting the item 42 to roll along the support surface 40 in an operative state. The retractable roller mechanism 20 includes a housing 22, a roller frame 24 that is slideably engaged with the housing 22, a spring 30, and a roller 28. The roller frame 24 has reciprocative movement relative to the housing 22, such that the frame 24 has an inoperative position state where the frame 24 is retracted allowing the housing 22 to rest on and statically contact the support surface 40 and an operative position state where the frame 24 is extended such that the housing 22 is not in contact with the support surface 40 allowing the item 42 to roll along the support surface 40.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Inventor: Hema Cherukuri
  • Publication number: 20020162189
    Abstract: Guide rollers for upward-acting track guided doors are formed of dual durometer plastic materials wherein a hub portion of the guide roller is formed of a relatively hard moldable plastic material having a durometer of about Rockwell R 120. A tire or tread is preferably molded over the hub and is characterized by a thermoplastic elastomer material, such as urethane, having a durometer of about 70 to 90 Shore A. A circumferential recess may be formed in the rim of the roller hub to receive a tread which is not molded over the full extent of the rim. The tire or tread may have an arcuate thin-walled, a somewhat elliptical or a circular segment shape in cross section. The improved guide roller provides for quiet long-lasting operation in guiding upward-acting sectional and one-piece garage doors and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2001
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Applicant: OVERHEAD DOOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: L. Blake Whitley
  • Publication number: 20020162190
    Abstract: A carrier hinge assembly is used to suspend adjacent hinged panels from a track. The assembly has a carriage (30) which travels along the track, and a hinge (34) dependent from the carriage (30). The hinge is formed by a hinge pin (35) having an upper portion (39) threaded into a boss (32) on the carriage (30), and hinge leaves (36, 37) which are pivotable about the hinge pin (35). The hinge leaves (36, 37) are fixed, in use, to opposing edge faces of the panels. The height of the panels may be adjusted by rotation of the hinge pin (35). A locking mechanism includes a retractable lock tongue (40) located in an axial slot (42) in a stop (38) at the bottom of the hinge pin (35). The lock tongue (40) is biased by spring (50) to engage an axial slot (58) in hinge leaf (37), to key the hinge pin (35) to the hinge leaf (37) and prevent relative rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Inventors: Nigel Frank Spork, Glen Douglas Pacholke
  • Patent number: 6418588
    Abstract: The suspension device which serves to connect a door element (2) to a running mechanism (6) guided in a rail (4) has a securing means (30) which can be connected to the door element (2), and a connecting screw (10) which is provided with a screw head (11) and a shank (12-15), can be fitted into the securing means (30) and screwed into a threaded drill-hole (9) provided in the running mechanism (6). The securing means (30) has two wing elements (32a, 32b) which can be connected to the door element (2) and which are connected by a central piece (33) which is provided with a recess (34) and is bent upward relative to the wing elements (32a, 32b) in such a manner that, after the securing means (30) is installed, the screw head (11) can be guided through under the central piece (33), so that the shank (12-15) can be introduced into the recess (34), which is adjoined by a collar (35) serving to hold the screw head (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Hawa AG
    Inventors: Karl Haab, Otto Haab
  • Patent number: 6336247
    Abstract: A hanger assembly for a sliding screen door comprises a horizontally mounted track that fits within a standard door header and roller assembly, preferably one roller assembly per side of the screen door. Each roller assembly comprises at least a roller, and preferably two per roller assembly, and a holder that connects the roller(s) to the screen door. The holder includes a connecting bar portion that attaches to the roller(s) and a generally U shaped bracket portion that extends downwardly from the connecting bar portion, whereby the screen door is positioned and held snugly within the U shaped portion. A side of the bracket U shaped portion includes a slot for vertically and/or horizontally adjusting the screen by positioning of attachment means through the slot such as a screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Inventor: Frank Schnoor
  • Patent number: 6253418
    Abstract: A running mechanism assembly includes a profile element (5) whose hollow space (10) with the guide groove (9) is laid bare by a recess (15), which makes possible the perpendicular insertion of the running mechanism (19). The running mechanism (19) is locked within the guide grove (9) by displacement within the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: EKU AG
    Inventors: Heinz Schmidhauser, Heinz Zingg
  • Patent number: 6227281
    Abstract: A sectional door is disclosed that includes a safety system. The safety system includes a shield apparatus, an improved support track, reverse angle track shields, and hemmed roller track edges to prevent injury or harm to body parts errantly placed within or around the support track during the opening or closing of the sectional door. The sectional door includes a plurality of door sections hingedly joined in an edge-to-edge relationship to form the completed sectional door. The sectional door further include support rollers attached to the door sections, and a pair of support tracks, in which the support rollers are confined. Each support roller further includes a circular or rectangular roller shield that is mounted to the axle of the support roller outside of the support track where it is proximate the support track in such a manner as to limit or prevent any fingers from engaging within the support track with the support rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Martin Door Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: David O. Martin
  • Patent number: 6189182
    Abstract: A guiding block for pulling a window curtain comprises a pulling plate, a left wheel seat, a plurality of rolling balls, and a right wheel seat. A confining cap is formed between the right wheel seat and the rolling balls. The primary body of the confining cap is a circular plate with a through hole on the center thereof. Claws with respective to the gaps between each two rolling balls are axially extended from the circular plate on the inner side of the confining cap. Not only the rolling action is smooth, but also the friction and collision between two rolling balls is prevented. Other then noises from frictions and collisions are reduced, the lifetime of the window curtain is prolonged. The circular groove of the convex tube on the right wheel seat is enforced into the rib on the inner rim of the convex tube on the left wheel seat so as to form a buckling state for combining the left wheel seat. Thus, sliding therebetween is seldom occurred and the stability of the combination thereof is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Inventor: Kuen-Tin Ko
  • Patent number: 6185783
    Abstract: A garage door roller assembly includes a one-piece, unitary shaft and a one-piece, unitary roller, each composed of a polymeric material and a washer and a pin, each composed of case-hardened steel. The roller includes a sleeve portion having an axial bore, a wheel portion, and a web extending radially from the wheel portion to the sleeve portion. The shaft includes an axial bore, a mounting portion, and a race portion. The race portion is rotatably mounted within the bore of the sleeve portion of the roller. The pin includes a head and a stem which extends axially from the head through the opening of the washer into the bore of the shaft. A knurled segment of the stem frictionally engages the bore of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Carpin Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph Carpinella
  • Patent number: 6141827
    Abstract: A carrier slide is provided for window coverings and includes a main body, at least one vertical roller assembly, and at least one horizontal roller assembly. The main body includes at least one compartment defined therein. At least one vertical hole is defined in an upper end thereof and communicated with the compartment, and at least one transverse hole is defined in the upper side thereof. The vertical roller assembly includes a first roller rotatably received in the compartment. The first roller has a diameter greater than a width of the main body and smaller than a width of a track so as to be in a rolling contact with two inner lateral walls of the track. The horizontal roller assembly includes a second roller rotatably attached to a lateral side of the main body. The second roller is in a rolling contact with the inner face of the bottom wall of the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Bao Song Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junn Ming Wu
  • Patent number: 6125506
    Abstract: A roller shield apparatus and method for shielding a support roller of a sectional door against a finger being inserted between the support roller and the support track. The roller shield is configured as a disc that is mounted to the axle of the support roller so as to be supported in a plane parallel to the support roller and outside of the support track. The support track includes a single hem to eliminate a sharp edge from the support track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Martin Door Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: David O. Martin
  • Patent number: 6119307
    Abstract: An overhead door having two tracks each of which is designed to be mounted on the side of an opening in a building. Each track has a script-v shape in cross-section, and a groove or channel that runs along its longitudinal axis. One or more panels are positioned between the tracks and coupled to each other. Each panel has a multiple-layer design that provides superior insulation. At least two plungers are positioned on each panel and each plunger has a first end which is biased in a first position. In the first position, the first end of the plunger rides within the channel of the track. The plungers are designed with a low-friction tip that wears away after repeatedly traveling in the channel of the track. The plungers may be designed to release from the track when the panel on which they are mounted is impacted, to rotate in whole or in part as they travel in a channel of a track, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: United Dominion Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: William B. Weishar, Jeremy Becker, Eric Westfall
  • Patent number: 6081966
    Abstract: A hinge and roller assembly for use in a roll-up door including a pair of leaves each forming a portion of a bearing socket, a bushing mounted in the bearing socket, a shaft slidably mounted in the bushing. The shaft mounts a roller on one end and the roller is adapted to roll in a track. A spring is mounted between the shaft and the bushing to bias the shaft axially toward the track. A releasable retainer on the bushing removably retains the bushing in the socket. Preferably, each of the leaves includes a plate through which the hinge is mounted to the door and an integral strap which is bent into a circular shape to define a portion of the socket and is attached at a distal end to the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Fleet Engineers, Incorporated
    Inventors: Steve A. Antekeier, Jerry G. Miller
  • Patent number: 6058656
    Abstract: A drive gear for a guide rail with a partition wall or similar device in a hanging bearing from the drive gear, whereby the drive gear has a carrying roller and two guiding rollers. The guiding rollers have a truncated vertical section and approach with their casing surface as close as possible to the carrying roller's casing surface while still maintaining a minor gap. The guiding rollers are supported in guiding roller receivers in a way that the gap between the guide rail, passing above the carrying roller and the guiding rollers, and the carrying roller and the guiding rollers respectively is approximately identical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Dorma GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Markus Bischof, Stefan Rechsteiner
  • Patent number: 6026612
    Abstract: An apparatus having a sliding leaf, a slide member, at least two rail wheels mounted on respective spindles, a mounting mechanism affixed to the slide member and extending in a direction perpendicular to a plane of the sliding leaf, and fixing lugs affixed to and extending outwardly from a lower edge of the slide member at respective ends of the slide member. The slide member is a casing having two sets of recesses. The recesses in each set of recesses increase in height from a center of the casing to a respective end of the casing. The recesses in each set extend from the lower edge of the casing towards an upper wall of casing. The spindles have ends received by respective recesses of the two sets of recesses. The recesses have a narrowing so as to lock onto a respective end of the spindles. The casing is secured in a slot formed in a lower edge of the sliding leaf. The mounting mechanism enables the casing to rock within the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Ferco International Ferrures et Serrures de Batiment Societe Anonyme,
    Inventors: Richard Strassel, Gerard Prevot
  • Patent number: 5860189
    Abstract: A door wheel includes a casing approximately having a form of "", a climbing frame approximately having a form of isosceles triangle and a portion of which is rotatably fixed on the casing, a roller rotatably installed on the climbing frame, a wedge approximately having a form of right-angled triangle and the inclined surface of which is adjacent to the surface corresponding to the fixed end of the climbing frame and which can be rectilinearly moved in the casing, and a control screw which is rotatably installed in the casing to rectilinearly move the wedge and one end of which is coupled with the wedge. The free end of the climbing frame can be climbed together with the roller by moving the wedge through rotating the control screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Inventor: Tae-Heup An
  • Patent number: 5857290
    Abstract: A check mechanism is provided to regulate door speed of a roller supported sliding door as the door is manually opened or closed. The check mechanism includes an idler arm assembly attached to a door hanger with an idler roller attached to the idler arm assembly. The check mechanism further includes a pivotable spring biased lever arm having two inclined ramp sections. As the door slides, the idler roller contacts the lever arm. The inclination of the ramp causes an increasing retardation force to be applied to the idler roller, thereby retarding the speed of the door. After the idler roller passes a point of maximum retarding force, the door becomes free wheeling until a second idler roller contacts the lever arm of a second checking mechanism which in turn slows the speed of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company
    Inventor: Raymond H. Schnarr
  • Patent number: 5855041
    Abstract: This heavy-duty, sliding panel door guard/bumper includes a rigid base plate which is suitable for mounting upon a doorjamb or a sliding panel in a distortion-free connection, by means of plural fastening anchors. The panel serves as a mount for opposed trunnions which mount a wheel axle thereon. The gudgeons of the trunnions are elevated vertically from the base plate, adjacent one end thereof and the elevation of each trunnion is inclined forwardly to form a sliding slope which corresponds at its proximal end to the circumference of an aligned sliding panel bumper wheel, although the maximum elevation of the trunnions is less than the protruding circumference of the bumper wheel. The wheel has axle bearings therein such that a minimum of friction is presented to passing contact of one heavy duty panel which is slid relative to another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Inventor: Paul C. McMichael
  • Patent number: 5826302
    Abstract: A fitting for holding rollers of roller pull-out guides, for the rear wall of drawers, below the bottom and next to a side wall of the drawer, and protruding beyond the underside of the bottom. The longitudinal edges of the bottom of the drawer are held in grooves in the respectively assigned side walls of the drawer. The roller is rotatably mounted on a bearing flange section of the holding fitting, which can be mounted on the drawer. The bearing flange section protrudes downwards at right angles from a panel-shaped supporting flange section that can be fastened in horizontal abutment to the underside of the bottom of the drawer at a distance from and parallel to the side wall of the drawer. At least one matching flange section is provided at a distance from the bearing flange section and essentially parallel to the supporting flange section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: MEPLA-Werke Lautenschlager GmbH & Co.KG
    Inventor: Horst Lautenschlager
  • Patent number: 5704086
    Abstract: Passenger boarding bridge extendable sections are provided with roller assemblies supporting one extendable bridge section relative to a second extendable bridge section wherein the roller assemblies assist in reducing the downward load in the overlapping area of the bridge sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Christian M. Hansen, Kenneth John Stoddard
  • Patent number: 5671969
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a guide mechanism for plates and a sun protection system under a translucent sun roof in an automobile. The invention comprises at least two plates having guide blocks non-rigidly attached thereto and provided at each end of the plates. The guide blocks are adapted to slide within two opposing guide tracks located within guide sections in the roof of the automobile. Each of the guide blocks includes an elastic spring device which coacts with the plate whereby uneven torque forces caused by sliding of the plates and which causes friction at the guide track is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Assignee: Westmont Technik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Johannes Sutor, Michael Lenders
  • Patent number: 5671502
    Abstract: A roller mechanism for a sliding door that slides along a lower track. The roller mechanism includes a rigid bracket member so that it may be attached to a sliding door, a roller housing that contains a roller and that is vertically adjustable within the bracket member, and lower track engaging means that are releasably retained within the lower track. The lower track engaging means comprises a pair of leading and a pair of following track retainers. One of the leading and one of the following track retainers are rigid and capable of supporting the sliding door when the roller is removed from the lower track while the other of the leading and following track retainers are flexibly resilient such that they may be displaced to allow for the insertion and removal of the lower track engaging means into and out of the lower track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Inventor: Lucian S. Ezman
  • Patent number: 5538064
    Abstract: A guide rail has running surfaces separated by a longitudinal slit and a load bearing member carried by the same so that it may slide but not rotate and on it a closing element, preferably a door of a folding sliding door, is attached. In order to be able to secure the closing element carried by the load bearing member to the guide rail simply and quickly, the load bearing member has an elongated carriage part running in the guide rail and having a width corresponding to the longitudinal slit in the guide rail. In a hole, at a right angle to the guide rail, in the load bearing member a pin is mounted so that it may rotate but not move axially and adjacent to carriage part it has a T-head, whose width is less than the width of the longitudinal slit but whose length is greater than it. The pin is able to be locked to the load bearing member in a setting in which the head bears against the running surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: Arturo Salice S.p.A.
    Inventor: Luciano Salice
  • Patent number: 5349783
    Abstract: A support assembly for a sliding door includes an elongated track providing a track portion of generally inverted U-shaped cross section with spaced vertical walls. A wheeled guide rides in this track portion and includes a mounting member and a body member of generally inverted L-shaped configuration. The vertical leg is secured to a door and extends upwardly therefrom; and the horizontal leg extends horizontally above the door. A pair of wheels is rotatably mounted on the horizontal leg for rotation about axes perpendicular to the horizontal leg and their peripheral portions extend beyond the opposite ends of the horizontal portion. The axes of the wheels are oriented on an imaginary line extending at an angle of at least 30.degree. to the central axis of the horizontal leg, and the circumferential portions of the wheels rotatably bear on the vertical walls of the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: The Stanley Works
    Inventors: Steve J. Jasperson, Torsti T. T. Jerila
  • Patent number: 5343594
    Abstract: A sliding panel includes top, bottom and side members. A corner roller arrangement has integral corner keys, whereby a corner member abuts the ends of the panel members at each of the corners thereof. Each of the corner members includes a spring biased roller whereby the rollers are self-leveling at each of said corners. A clip is arranged to adjust the roller to a plurality of inwardly and outwardly extensions relative to the top and bottom panel members. The arrangement is such that the corner members are effective as an installation guide for the sliding panel and impart an anti-rattle feature thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Assignee: Metal Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel H. Harvey
  • Patent number: 5165142
    Abstract: A runner guide for an elevator door includes a ramp member at an end of travel position along a guide rail for engaging a roller attached to the door and running on the guide rail. The roller has a rim disc which engages a surface on the ramp member to move an insert in the roller out of engagement with the rail thereby relieving the load on and preventing flattening of the running surface on the insert when the door is at rest. The insert is formed of a non-metallic and hard elastic material to reduce running noise. The door is supported by a pair of such rollers, each having a pair of rim discs, and one roller is asymmetric with one of the rim discs being of a smaller diameter to move past the ramp member associated with the other roller without contact during opening and closing of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1992
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Richard H. Pilsbury
  • Patent number: 5048196
    Abstract: A guided working device (1) is driven by an operable traction motor (2) for movement along a travel rail (3). The working device carries a driver (4) provided with articulated heads for a measuring carriage (5), which measuring carriage always travels the same distance as the working device (1). The measuring carriage travels on a control rail (11) and includes a measuring device (6). A plurality of sliding conductors (17) are also receivable by the control rail (11). The measuring carriage carries a preferably toothed measuring wheel about at least a circumferential portion of which a preferably toothed measuring belt is wrapped. The measuring wheel (7) is pressed, by guided wheels (8) in front of and behind the measuring wheel, against a toothed belt supporting surface which is associated with the control rail (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: Mannesmann Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Alfred Bernd, Anton Munzebrock, Heinz Pfannkuche, Uwe Schulte, Roland Staggl
  • Patent number: 5031269
    Abstract: A wheel (10) for rolling drawer guides in furniture construction. A wheel body journaled on a wheel shaft and made from a hard plastic of good stability of shape has a circumferential, groove-like gap opening into the wheel rim, and in it there is disposed a tire of resiliently deformable material, preferably elastomeric plastic, protruding slightly above the rim surface of the wheel body. In at least one of the confronting side surfaces and/or in the circumferential bottom surface of the groove-like gap there is provided at least one, preferably a plurality of indentations in which the material of the tire, converted to fluid from and then to the resiliently deformable state, interlockingly engages. From one of the outer faces of the walls at least one injection hole extends into the groove-like gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1991
    Assignee: Karl Lautenschlager GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Horst Lautenschlager
  • Patent number: 4899493
    Abstract: A roller assembly is provided as an easily replaceable assembly for use with a sliding door. The roller assembly includes a roller or wheel mounted in a roller housing and carried in a cantilevered manner at one end of a leaf spring. The opposite end of the leaf spring is permanently bent to form a hook which is engageable with a mounting tab on an upper or lower door edge through a mounting insertion gap in the door edge such that the leaf spring extends across a bearing tab. When the hook is engaged on the mounting tab the roller is carried in a roller receiving pocket in the door edge such that the leaf spring bears against a bearing tab. The leaf spring allows the roller to move into and out of a roller receiving pocket to accommodate imperfections and obstructions in a stationary track on the door frame in which the roller travels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1990
    Assignee: Columbia Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: James E. Baumgarten
  • Patent number: 4845806
    Abstract: With a suspended sliding partition with a level track (1) and at least one panel-like element (3) is provided an upper mounting rail (4) which is suspended from the track (1) by two carrying bolts (2) which extend through a continuous slot in the underside of the track (1) into the latter and are there each connected to a carrying device (26, 27, 28, 40) which is supported in the track (1). The track (1) has two guide channels (12, 20) arranged at a distance one above the other and provided with lateral guiding surfaces (13, 21) on both sides, as well as a level supporting surface (17). On each carrying bolt (2) are mounted two lateral guiding elements (23, 30, 33, 34) which are guided in one of the guide channels (12, 20), as well as the carrying device (26, 27, 28, 40) which is supported on the supporting surface (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1989
    Inventor: Walter Hamacher
  • Patent number: 4837891
    Abstract: A track and trolley system that allows wall panels to be moved with a minimum amount of friction is disclosed. The system includes a track having a first rail, a second rail which is higher than the first rail, and a trolley having two drive wheels that engage the rails via annular track engaging surfaces of different diameters. Each drive wheel is independently rotatable in opposite directions. The system further includes a wall panel mount assembly haivng a housing integral with a movable wall panel and slide pads at track intersections to reduce the vertical elevational drop of a trolley when it moves across a track intersection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1989
    Assignee: Modernfold, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Toma, N. Douglas Owens
  • Patent number: 4805262
    Abstract: The roller assembly of this invention comprises a grooved wheel attached to a perforated metal tape or spring which is movable over a sloping track by means of a toothed gear wheel or sprocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1989
    Assignee: JW Window Components, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary J. Marshik
  • Patent number: 4722150
    Abstract: A slider (41) for guiding the top of a sliding door (12) in a channel (42) comprises spaced cheeks (56) between which extends a rib (59) which engages one side of the channel, and flexible tongue (60) which flexes between the cheeks and is thereby biased into engagement with the other side of the channel. Another embodiment of door guide has a pair of wheels (113, 114) having enlarged rims at one end for engaging opposite walls of a door guiding channel. One of the wheels is inverted relative to the other. Thus, the rim of one wheel is at a higher elevation than the rim of the other wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1988
    Assignee: Acme General Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth Jacobs, Auguste J. Menard
  • Patent number: 4672712
    Abstract: The device of the present invention is used in combination with a building having a door opening and at least one slidable door with upper and lower edges and opposite front and back sides for restraining the door against forward and backward movement with respect to the door opening. The door is supported at its upper edge by a guide track so as to be laterally movable between an open position and a closed position. The device includes an elongated bar extending across the door opening and having opposite ends, end brackets for releasably securing the opposite ends of the bar to the sides of the door opening, and a plurality of rollers each of which are operatively connected to the elongated bar by a support bracket, and being rotatable about a vertical axis. The elongated bar, support brackets and rollers form an elongated channel for receiving the lower edge of the door and for preventing forward and rearward movement of the door with respect to the door opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1987
    Assignee: Lynn B. Stevenson
    Inventor: Ralph G. Stevenson
  • Patent number: 4433507
    Abstract: A structure for preventing a sliding door from moving vertically, comprises the sliding door having an inner and an outer panels, a vehice body, a guide rail fixed to the vehicle body in such a manner that the sliding door can be guided by the guide rail when the sliding door is opened and closed, the guide rail being inwardly curved at the front end portion thereof, a bracket fixed to the inner panel of the sliding door, a roller attached to the bracket, the roller engaging the guide rail, a locking element having a tapered surface sloping in a lateral direction of the vehicle body, the locking element being attached to the bracket in such a way that, when the sliding door is closed, the tapered surface of the locking element engages a portion fixed relative to the vehicle body thereby to prevent the sliding door from moving vertically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1984
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Company, Limited
    Inventor: Takayo Chikaraishi
  • Patent number: 4423685
    Abstract: A novel crane trolley has four guiding pulleys lying on opposed upper and lower guiding surfaces, arranged diagonally to eliminate the need for having eight guiding pulleys. On each side of the trolley are upper and lower guiding pulleys, with the lower in front on one side and the upper in front on the other side. The pulleys may be mounted under spring tension. Two such trolleys may be hinged together to support heavy loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1984
    Assignee: Mannesmann Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Wilhelm Kerckhoff
  • Patent number: 4232885
    Abstract: A passive seatbelt system including a passenger restrictive seatbelt of which an inner end is attached to a roller mechanism fastened to a center of the motor vehicle and an outer end which is fastened to a moving plate, the moving plate is fastened to a roof side of the motor vehicle and constrained to forward and rearward motion, a narrow belt is attached to the moving plate at one end and to a winding roller located to the rear of the roof side for winding up the narrow belt, the narrow belt and winding roller being arranged and configured such that it permits free unwinding to accommodate passengers of different physique except at times of a vehicular emergency wherein the unwinding of the narrow belt is stopped by an emergency locking retractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1980
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ichiro Suzuki, Masanao Motonami, Hisashi Ogawa
  • Patent number: 4112622
    Abstract: A roller assembly is provided for a sliding screen door, and the like, which includes a housing adapted to be supported as a friction fit in an opening in the edge of the door, and which also includes a roller supported in the housing. The roller may be spring-biased by a flat spring member which constitutes a resilient support for the roller and which is hooked into the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1976
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1978
    Assignee: Empire Metal Products Corp.
    Inventor: David E. Stewart
  • Patent number: 4014378
    Abstract: A structure comprising a door panel having an elongated opening therein, and resilient mounting means on the panel engageable with a rail for moving the panel along the rail, the mounting means comprising a glide including a body disposed on one side of the panel, a roller rotatably mounted on the body engageable with the rail for movement of the glide thereon, a shank on the body extending through the panel opening and moveable therein for relative movement of the glide and the panel, detent grooves provided at both sides of the shank, and flanges provided at both sides of the elongated opening integral with the door panel, the edges of the flanges being disposed within the detent grooves of the shank, thereby retaining the glide slidable within the elongated opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1976
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1977
    Assignee: United States Gypsum Company
    Inventor: George A. Kochanowski
  • Patent number: 4014377
    Abstract: A structure comprising a door panel having an elongated opening therein, and resilient mounting means on the panel engageable with a rail for moving the panel along the rail, the mounting means comprising a glide including a body disposed on one side of the panel, a roller rotatably mounted on the body engageable with the rail for movement of the glide thereon, a shank on the body extending through the panel opening and moveable therein for relative movement of the glide and the panel, detent flanges provided at both ends of the shank, and a C-shaped glide retainer mounted on the reverse side of the panel having flanges adapted to engage and clamp the detent flanges of the shank, and means for restraining the retainer against transverse movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1976
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1977
    Assignee: United States Gypsum Company
    Inventor: George A. Kochanowski