Patent US3932347A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3554267A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Folding doors
Assignee: Steelcraft Manufacturing Co
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Filing: 1969-07-14
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Granted: 1971-01-12
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Expires: 1989-07-14
Abstract
Abstract A folding door formed of sheet metal and intended for indoor use, such as a closure for closets and similar storage areas. The folding door preferably is constructed in the form of two independent-folding sections, each section comprising a hinged door pivotally connected to one side of the door opening and having a sliding door hingedly connected to the free edge of the hinged door. The outer edge of the sliding door includes guide block assemblies at top and bottom and the door opening at top and bottom is provided with tracking rails in which the blocks are slidably engaged. The arrangement is such that each folding section may be pivoted to an open position in accordion fashion, with the hinged door and sliding door substantially parallel with one another and projection from the side of the door opening into the room. In order to facilitate installation, the edges of the hinged doors include pivot screws which provide a bearing engagement with pivot blocks secured to the door opening at top and bottom. The pivot location is such that the pivoted edge portion of the door swings outwardly in lever fashion when the door is closed so as to engage a trim strip and provide a neat finished appearance. The slide blocks, which guide the outer edges of the sliding doors for straight line motion, are spring-loaded and may be released from the tracking rails, permitting the entire door section to be swung about the pivot screws to an open position for access into the closet for cleaning or painting.
Inventors
- 👤 John H Brinker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 04:53
CPC Classifications
E; E06; E06B; E06B3/00; E06B3/32; E06B3/48; E06B3/481
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
434 words
A folding door for the door opening of a closet or other area, said door opening having a top, a pair of vertical sides, and a bottom adjacent the floor of the building, said folding door comprising: a pair of folding sections; each folding section comprising a hinged door and a sliding door hingedly connected to the swinging edge of the hinged door; upper and lower pivot elements mounted at the upper and lower edge portions of the hinged door adjacent the side of the door opening; bearing means mounted at the top and bottom of the door opening at opposite sides; said pivot elements having outer ends pivotally connected to the said bearing means; 23 hinge means connecting the swinging edge portion of the hinged door to an adjoining edge of the sliding door, whereby the hinged door and sliding door may be articulated along said hinge means relative to one another; respective upper and lower horizontal trackways extending across the door opening at the top and bottom thereof; said trackways each including respective upper and lower tracks, said tracks disposed in a common vertical plane and projecting upwardly toward one another from the top and bottom of the door opening; upper and lower guide elements mounted on the free outer edge portions of said sliding doors at the upper and lower portions thereof; said upper and lower guide elements each having a respective vertical slot normally engaging the vertical tracks of the upper and lower trackways; the open slots of said guide elements providing a shiftable engagement with reference to the vertical tracks of said upper and lower horizontal trackways, whereby the outer edge of each sliding door Is guided for straight line motion when the hinged door and sliding door of said folding sections are articulated relative to one another to the closed or open position; the guided edges of said sliding doors being disposed adjacent one another when the said folding sections are shifted to the closed position; and spring means connected to said upper and lower guide elements for biasing the guide elements outwardly and thereby engaging the slots of the guide elements with the upper and lower tracks, said spring means yielding under pressure to provide inward movement of the guide means for disengaging the guide elements with reference to the said upper and lower tracks of the horizontal trackways, whereby the said folding sections comprising the hinged and sliding doors may be swung about the pivot elements to an open position relative to the door opening for access into the interior of the closet or other area.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
434 words
A folding door for the door opening of a closet or other area, said door opening having a top, a pair of vertical sides, and a bottom adjacent the floor of the building, said folding door comprising: a pair of folding sections; each folding section comprising a hinged door and a sliding door hingedly connected to the swinging edge of the hinged door; upper and lower pivot elements mounted at the upper and lower edge portions of the hinged door adjacent the side of the door opening; bearing means mounted at the top and bottom of the door opening at opposite sides; said pivot elements having outer ends pivotally connected to the said bearing means; 23 hinge means connecting the swinging edge portion of the hinged door to an adjoining edge of the sliding door, whereby the hinged door and sliding door may be articulated along said hinge means relative to one another; respective upper and lower horizontal trackways extending across the door opening at the top and bottom thereof; said trackways each including respective upper and lower tracks, said tracks disposed in a common vertical plane and projecting upwardly toward one another from the top and bottom of the door opening; upper and lower guide elements mounted on the free outer edge portions of said sliding doors at the upper and lower portions thereof; said upper and lower guide elements each having a respective vertical slot normally engaging the vertical tracks of the upper and lower trackways; the open slots of said guide elements providing a shiftable engagement with reference to the vertical tracks of said upper and lower horizontal trackways, whereby the outer edge of each sliding door Is guided for straight line motion when the hinged door and sliding door of said folding sections are articulated relative to one another to the closed or open position; the guided edges of said sliding doors being disposed adjacent one another when the said folding sections are shifted to the closed position; and spring means connected to said upper and lower guide elements for biasing the guide elements outwardly and thereby engaging the slots of the guide elements with the upper and lower tracks, said spring means yielding under pressure to provide inward movement of the guide means for disengaging the guide elements with reference to the said upper and lower tracks of the horizontal trackways, whereby the said folding sections comprising the hinged and sliding doors may be swung about the pivot elements to an open position relative to the door opening for access into the interior of the closet or other area.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
423 words
A folding door for the door opening of a closet or other area, said door opening having a top, a pair of vertical sides, and a bottom adjacent the floor of the building, and said folding door comprising: a hinged door and a sliding door interfitted within said door opening; upper and lower pivot elements mounted at the upper and lower edge portion of the hinged door; coacting bearing means secured to the top and bottom of the door opening adjacent one side thereof and interfitting the said pivot elements of the hinged door, thereby hingedly connecting the edge portion of the hinged door to the side of the door opening for a swinging motion; said bearing means and coacting pivot elements including for positioning the hinged door vertically within the door opening; hinge means connecting the swinging edge of the hinged door to an adjoining edge portion of the sliding door, adapting the hinged door and sliding door to be articulated relative to one another; respective upper and lower horizontal trackways extending across the door opening at the top and bottom thereof; said trackways each including respective upper and lower flanges projecting at right angles to the trackways, said flanges forming tracks disposed in a common vertical plane projecting outwardly toward one another from the top and bottom of the door opening; elongated upper and lower guide elements secured to the free edge of the sliding door at the upper and lower edge portions thereof; said elongated upper and lower guide elements each having a respective vertical slot facing outwardly, said vertical slots disposed in a common vertical plane and normally engaging the upper and lower tracks; said elongated guide elements providing a shiftable engagement relative to the said upper and lower horizontal trackways for guiding the free edge of the sliding door in straight line motion when the hinged door and sliding door are articulated to the closed or open position; and compressible spring means connected to said upper and lower guide elements for biasing the same outwardly and thereby engaging the slots of the guide elements with the edge portions of the upper and lower tracks, said spring means providing inward motion counter to the biasing effect of the spring means for disengaging the guide elements with respect to the said upper and lower horizontal trackways, whereby the hinged door and sliding door may be swung about the pivot elements to an open position relative to the door opening for access into the interior of the closet or other area.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
423 words
A folding door for the door opening of a closet or other area, said door opening having a top, a pair of vertical sides, and a bottom adjacent the floor of the building, and said folding door comprising: a hinged door and a sliding door interfitted within said door opening; upper and lower pivot elements mounted at the upper and lower edge portion of the hinged door; coacting bearing means secured to the top and bottom of the door opening adjacent one side thereof and interfitting the said pivot elements of the hinged door, thereby hingedly connecting the edge portion of the hinged door to the side of the door opening for a swinging motion; said bearing means and coacting pivot elements including for positioning the hinged door vertically within the door opening; hinge means connecting the swinging edge of the hinged door to an adjoining edge portion of the sliding door, adapting the hinged door and sliding door to be articulated relative to one another; respective upper and lower horizontal trackways extending across the door opening at the top and bottom thereof; said trackways each including respective upper and lower flanges projecting at right angles to the trackways, said flanges forming tracks disposed in a common vertical plane projecting outwardly toward one another from the top and bottom of the door opening; elongated upper and lower guide elements secured to the free edge of the sliding door at the upper and lower edge portions thereof; said elongated upper and lower guide elements each having a respective vertical slot facing outwardly, said vertical slots disposed in a common vertical plane and normally engaging the upper and lower tracks; said elongated guide elements providing a shiftable engagement relative to the said upper and lower horizontal trackways for guiding the free edge of the sliding door in straight line motion when the hinged door and sliding door are articulated to the closed or open position; and compressible spring means connected to said upper and lower guide elements for biasing the same outwardly and thereby engaging the slots of the guide elements with the edge portions of the upper and lower tracks, said spring means providing inward motion counter to the biasing effect of the spring means for disengaging the guide elements with respect to the said upper and lower horizontal trackways, whereby the hinged door and sliding door may be swung about the pivot elements to an open position relative to the door opening for access into the interior of the closet or other area.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
225 words
A pivot structure for the hinged edge portion of a hinged door as set forth in claim 2 in which there is provided respective threaded elements secured to the upper and lower edge portions of the door, respective pivot screws passing in threaded engagement through said threaded elements and disposed on generally vertical axes, each of said pivot screws having an outer end which provides a journal, respective upper and lower bearing means mounted at the top and bottom of the door opening aDjacent the vertical side thereof and displaced outwardly from the door opening, said journals of the pivot screws projecting outwardly and into bearing engagement with the said bearing means, thereby hingedly connecting the edge portion of the hinged door to the side portion of the door opening in a plane displaced outwardly from the opening, said pivot screws adapted to be adjusted vertically with reference to the opposite edges of the door, thereby to locate the door vertically with reference to the door opening, and means projecting inwardly from the door toward the door opening for mounting the upper and lower guide element in positions displaced inwardly from the plane of the doors, said upper and lower horizontal trackways and tracks, which are engaged by the slots of said guide elements, thereby being displaced inwardly and concealed from view by the doors.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
300 words
A pivot structure for the hinged edge portion of a hinged door as set forth in claim 2 in which there is provided a pair of pivot mounting elements secured to the edge portion of the hinged door at the upper and lower portions thereof, said pivot mounting elements each having a threaded hole formed therein, said threaded holes being located in a horizontal direction inwardly from the hinged edge of the hinged door, a pair of upper and lower pivot screws disposed on vertical axes and threaded through the threaded holes of the mounting elements, said pivot screws projecting outwardly in opposite directions with respect to the upper and lower edge portions of the door, the outer ends of said pivot screws providing journals, respective bearing means mounted at the top and bottom of the door opening in positions spaced in a horizontal direction inwardly from the vertical side of the door opening and displaced outwardly from the door opening, said pivot screws and bearing elements providing a fulcrum point, whereby the edge portion of the door which extends in a horizontal direction from the pivot screws toward the vertical side of the opening forms a lever portion, said pivot screws and bearing means mounting the door for swinging motion, whereby upon swinging the door inwardly toward a closed position with reference to the door opening, the lever portion of the door beyond the pivot screws swings outwardly, and a trim strip secured to the vertical side of the door opening and engaging the said lever portion of the door in the closed position thereof, said pivot screws and bearing elements locating the door in a plane displaced outwardly from the upper and lower trackways and thereby concealing the trackways from view when the doors are in closed position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
228 words
A pivot structure for the hinged edge portion of a hinged door as set forth in claim 2 in which the hinged door includes horizontal channel-shaped reinforcement rails extending along the upper and lower edge portions thereof and projecting inwardly from the plane of the door toward the door opening, in which the hinge elements comprise upper and lower pivot screws threaded through the said channel-shaped rails adjacent the hinged edge portion of the door upon axes displaced inwardly from the plane of the door toward the door opening, said pivot screws having outer ends which are generally cone-shaped, and a pair of pivot blocks mounted at the top and bottom of the door opening adjacent the vertical side thereof, said pivot blocks being located outwardly relative to the trackways and having cone-shaped recesses formed therein, the cone-shaped ends of the pivot screws being in bearing engagement with the recesses of the bearing blocks at top and bottom and thereby providing a hinged connection at the swinging edge portion of the door, whereby the door is displaced outwardly relative to the trackways and guide elements to conceal the same from view when the doors are closed, said pivot screws being adjustable relative to one another whereby the hinged door may be raised or lowered with reference to the door opening by relative rotation of the said pivot screws.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
200 words
A guide structure for the free edge portion of a sliding door as set forth in claim 2 in which there is provided a bracket element secured to the free edge portion of the sliding door at the upper and lower edge portion thereof, said guide elements being in the form of elongated slide blocks including said slots, shiftably mounted within each of said mounting brackets at the upper and lower edge portions of the door, each of said guide blocks being mounted for movement along a substantially vertical axis, the axis of each of said guide blocks being displaced inwardly from the plane of the door and projecting toward the door opening, said trackways and tracks engaged by the slots of said guide blocks, and being displaced inwardly to a concealed position relative to the doors when the doors are in closed position, said guide blocks adapted to be retracted to a disengaged position with respect to said tracks, thereby disengaging the free edge of the sliding door with respect to the said tracks, whereby the sliding door and hinged door may be swung about said pivot elements outwardly to an open position with respect to the door opening.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
211 words
A guide structure for the free edge portion of a sliding door as set forth in claim 2 in which a mounting bracket is secured to the free edge of the sliding door at the upper and lower portion thereof, a slide rod mounted on a generally vertical axis for sliding movement relative to each of said mounting brackets, said guide elements being in the form of elongated slide blocks including said vertical slots, a respective guide block being mounted upon the outer end portion of said slide rod, a compression spring disposed between the mounting bracket and guide block and urging the guide blocks outwardly at the upper and lower edge portions of the door, each of said trackways having a horizontal track extending in a vertical plane outwardly from the top and bottom of the door opening, the slots of said guide blocks being slidably engaged upon said tracks and thereby guiding the free edge of the sliding door in straight line motion, said compression springs adapting the upper and lower guide blocks to be retracted for disengagement with respect to said tracks, whereby the hinged and sliding doors as a unit may be pivoted about said pivot elements to an open position with respect to the door opening.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
292 words
A guide structure for the free edge portion of a sliding door as set forth in claim 2 in which a mounting bracket is secured to the free edge of the sliding door at the upper and lower portion thereof, a slide rod mounted on a generally vertical axis for sliding movement relative to each of said mounting brackets and including outer end portions projecting outwardly, the axes of said slide rods being displaced inwardly from the plane of the door by said mounting brackets, each of said guide elements comprising a slide block mounted upon the outer end portion of said slide rod, a compression spring disposed between the mounting bracket and slide block and urging the slide blocks outwardly at the upper and lower edge portions of the door, each of said slide blocks having said slot formed in the outer face thereof and displaced from the axis of the guide rod toward the tracking rail, each of said tracking rails having a base structure attached to the top and bottom of the door opening with said tracks extending in a vertical plane outwardly from the top and bottom of the base structure, the said slots of the slide blocks being slidably engaged upon said tracks and thereby locating the door in a plane displaced outwardly from the tracking rails for concealing the rails when the doors are closed, said slide blocks guiding the free edge of the sliding door in straight line motion, said compression springs adapting the upper and lower slide blocks to be retracted for disengagement with respect to said tracks, whereby the hinged and sliding doors as a unit may be pivoted about said pivot elements to an open position with respect to the door openinG.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
173 words
A door construction as set forth in claim 2 in which there is provided two folding sections, each folding section comprising a hinged door and a sliding door hingedly connected to the swinging edge of the hinged door and in which the edge portions of the hinged doors are pivotally connected to the door opening along the opposite vertical sides thereof, each of said sliding doors having a spring latch located adjacent the meeting hinged edges thereof, said spring latch constituting a strip of flat spring material having a vertical shank attached to the door and projecting upwardly above the upper edge of the door, the vertical shank having an angular extension projecting from the upper end thereof, said angular extension including a camming portion which establishes a latching engagement with the trackway at the top of the door opening when the folding sections are closed, whereby the folding sections are latched independently in closed position, and hand grip means on said folding sections for pulling the sections individually to the open position.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-01-11 | 1974-07-13 | 1975-01-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-01-11 | 1978-07-13 | 1979-01-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-01-11 | 1982-07-13 | 1983-01-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |