Flexible or portable closure – partition – or panel – Plural strip – slat – or panel type – With mounting or supporting means
Patent
1990-05-25
1991-12-10
Purol, David M.
Flexible or portable closure, partition, or panel
Plural strip, slat, or panel type
With mounting or supporting means
160206, E05D 1526
Patent
active
050709267
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a folding door having plural pairs of panels and in which the panels of each pair are pivotally connected to one another. Respective neighboring pairs of panels are articulated to a common carrier and at least the carrier or carriers are guided along one or more horizontal guide rails.
A problem with folding doors of the type under consideration is that a torque must be exerted on the individual panels when the pairs of panels are to be opened from the closed position. The torque causes the panels to fold out of the closed position about the pivot axis.
During opening, the required torque can usually be applied, by means of a handle, to the first pair of panels which a user intends to open. However, this is no longer possible for subsequent pairs of panels so that an effective opening accessory is desired here.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a folding door of the type under consideration having an economical and compact opening accessory for the opening of all pairs of panels.
According to the invention, this object is achieved in that a follower is affixed to the panels of at least one pair of panels in the region of the hinge between neighboring pairs of panels and that a two-armed lever pivotable on a pivot axis extending parallel to the hinge axis is secured to the common carrier. One lever arm lies in the range of pivoting of the follower and the other lever arm projects to the region of the panel adjacent to the panel with the follower. Thus, beyond a predetermined angle of rotation of the panel with the follower, a torque acting in the direction of opening is exerted on the neighboring panels via the two-armed lever.
Such a construction constitutes a highly effective opening accessory for the folding of successive pairs of panels without special manipulating techniques by the user. Furthermore, an opening accessory in accordance with the invention is assembled in a simple manner and consists of only a few individual components. Due to the fact that the two-armed lever is pivotable about a pivot axis which is parallel to the hinge axis, the opening accessory of the invention is also extremely compact which is of great importance especially as regards folding doors for cabinets.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention is described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a schematic rear view of a folding door with two pairs of panels,
FIG. 2 is an enlarged partly sectional view of the detail indicated at II in FIG. 1,
FIG. 3 is a section along the line III--III of FIG. 2,
FIG. 4 is a section similar to that of FIG. 3 with the pairs of panels in a partially open position,
FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of another exemplary embodiment of the invention,
FIG. 6 is a section along the line VI--VI of FIG. 5 with the folding door partially open, and
FIG. 7 is a partial elevational view as seen in the direction of the arrow VII of FIG. 5.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The folding door 1 shown in FIG. 1 has two pairs of panels 2 and 3. The panels 2a and 3a of each pair of panels 2 and 3 are pivotally connected to one another as indicated by the illustrated hinges 4.
The two neighboring pairs of panels 2 and 3 are articulated to a common carrier 5 which, in known manner, is guided for movement along a horizontal guide rail 6.
Moreover, the respective outer panels 2a and 3a in FIG. 1 are likewise guided for movement in the guide rail 6.
This means that the folding door 1--as considered in the showing of FIG. 1--can be opened to the left as well as the right.
It is pointed out that the fundamental concept of the present invention is independent of whether the folding door 1 can be opened to both sides or whether one of the end panels 2a or 3a is fixed with reference to the guide rail 6. In the latter case, the folding door 1 would then open only to the right or only to the left.
The problem which concerns the present invention is
REFERENCES:
patent: 3181596 (1965-05-01), Winnan et al.
patent: 3361188 (1968-01-01), Rudnick
patent: 3385344 (1968-05-01), Andrews
patent: 4598751 (1986-07-01), Peeters-Weem
patent: 4763712 (1988-08-01), Klaauw
patent: 4867221 (1989-09-01), Dixon et al.
patent: 4953611 (1990-09-01), Verstraten
Kontler Peter K.
Paul Hettich GmbH & Co.
Purol David M.
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