Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Framing to receive door – doorjamb – or window sash – With one movable door section and at least one fixed section
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-29
2001-05-22
Stephan, Beth A. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Framing to receive door, doorjamb, or window sash
With one movable door section and at least one fixed section
C052S204660, C052S204700, C052S656400, C052S656500, C049S504000, C016S104000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06233888
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a closure assembly, such as a door assembly or a window assembly, for spanning a wall opening and operable in different manners to form openings or entrances of different sizes.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1
illustrates a conventional hinged window
10
which includes a fixed outer frame
11
mounted in a wall opening (not shown), a window panel
12
hinged to the outer frame
11
, and a linking member
13
for connecting a lower edge portion
122
of the window panel
12
to a bottom frame member
112
of the outer frame
11
. The window
10
is operable in a single manner by moving the window panel
12
pivotally relative to the outer frame
11
to form an opening and to close the opening.
FIG. 2
illustrates a slidable door
20
which includes a fixed outer frame
21
mounted securely inawall opening. The outer frame
21
has top and bottom frame members
211
,
212
, each of which is formed with parallel slide grooves for retaining slidably two vertically disposed door panels
22
,
23
within the outer frame
21
such that the door panels
22
,
23
are slidable along the slide grooves. The door panels
22
,
23
have overlapping vertical frame members
221
,
231
which are provided with a locking unit
24
for locking the door panels
22
,
23
in a closed state. Referring to
FIG. 3
, to open the door
20
, one of the door panels
22
is pulled to slide along the respective slide groove in the top and bottom frame members
211
,
212
and to be disposed on one side of the other door panel
23
. An entrance
215
generally as wide as the door panels
22
,
23
is thus formed.
However, each of the conventional window
10
of FIG.
1
and the conventional door
20
of
FIGS. 2 and 3
is operable in only a single manner to form an opening or entrance of a certain size. It is desirable to provide a closure assembly which is operable in more than one mode to form openings or entrances of different sizes as desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to provide a closure assembly which is operable in different manners to provide openings or entrances of different sizes as desired.
Accordingly, the closure assembly of the present invention includes a rectangular outer frame, at least two rectangular panel members, at least two slidable rail units, at least two pivot linking units, and at least two locking members. The outer frame has elongated and horizontally disposed top and bottom frame members, and opposite vertically disposed lateral members that interconnect the top and bottom frame members. The top and bottom frame members have confronting rail mounting surfaces, each of which is formed with a slide groove unit. The panel members are disposed vertically within the outer frame. Each of the panel members has an upper edge portion and a lower edge portion. Each of the slidable rail units includes an upper rail disposed between the top frame member of the outer frame and the upper edge portion of a respective one of the panel members, and a lower rail disposed between the bottom frame member of the outer frame and the lower edge portion of the respective one of the panel members. Each of the upper and lower rails is provided with a rolling ball unit which extends slidingly into the slide groove unit in a respective one of the top and bottom frame members of the outer frame. Each of the pivot linking units connects the upper and lower rails of a respective one of the slidable rail units to adjacent ones of the upper and lower edge portions of a respective one of the panel members such that the panel members are pivotable relative to the upper and lower rails of the respective one of the slidable rail units about vertical axes. Each of the locking members is mounted on a respective one of the slidable rail units, and is operable to lock selectively the respective one of the slidable rail units to the respective one of the panel members, thereby preventing pivoting movement of the respective one of the panel members relative to the respective one of the slidable rail units while permitting sliding movement of the respective one of the slidable rail units along the slide groove units in the top and bottom frame members of the outer frame. Each of the locking members is further operable to lock selectively the respective one of the slidable rail units to the outer frame, thereby permitting pivoting movement of the respective one of the panel members relative to the respective one of the slidable rail units while preventing sliding movement of the respective one of the slidable rail units along the slide groove units in the top and bottom frame members of the outer frame.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2888718 (1959-06-01), Francotte
patent: 3025937 (1962-03-01), Finkel
patent: 3027606 (1962-04-01), Nicklas
patent: 3491483 (1970-01-01), Miller
patent: 3854245 (1974-12-01), Anderson
Glessner Brian E.
Jenkens & Gilchrist P.C.
Stephan Beth A.
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