Plastic mirror track

Claim 2

A closure structure, comprising: an elongated lower track means having an upwardly opening lower guide slot extending longitudinally thereof; an upper track means disposed substantially vertically above said lower track means and having a downwardly opening upper guide slot extending longitudinally thereof, said upper guide slot being disposed opposite and spaced from said lower guide slot; a substantially vertically oriented panel extending between and slidably received within said upper and lower track means, the lower edge of said panel being slidably received within said lower slot and the upper edge of the panel being slidably received within said upper slot, whereby said panel is slidably movable relative to said track means in the longitudinal direction thereof; and movable retainer means mounted on said upper track means and disposed within said upper slot for normally preventing undesired upward vertical movement of said panel, said movable retainer means being spaced downwardly from the upper end of said upper slot and being disposed closely adjacent and directly above the upper edge of said panel for preventing undesired vertical movement thereof, said retainer means being movable for permitting the upper edge of said panel to be moved into a position adjacent the upper end of said upper slot during installation of the panel.

Claim 3

A structure according to claim 1, wherein said movable retainer means is normally resiliently maintained in a position closely adjacent and directly above the upper edge of said panel.

Claim 4

A structure according to claim 2, wherein said movable retainer means extends substantially throughout the complete length of the upper track means for substantially preventing undesired upward vertical movement of the panel irrespective of the longitudinal position of the panel relative to said track means.

Claim 5

A structure according to claim 1, wherein said movable retainer means comprises a resilient, cantilevered, substantially horizontally extending fin having one end thereof secured to said upper track means.

Claim 6

A structure according to claim 1, wherein said upper track Means comprises a substantially downwardly directed channel-shaped member having a substantially horizontal top wall portion and a pair of substantially parallel downwardly extending vertical wall portions, said vertical wall portions defining said upper guide slot therebetween, and said movable retainer means comprising a cantilevered projection fixedly secured to one of said vertical wall portions with said projection extending outwardly into said slot in a direction toward the other vertical wall portion, said cantilevered projection being spaced vertically upwardly a substantial distance from the lower free ends of said vertical wall portions and also being spaced vertically downwardly a substantial distance from said top wall, said projection being normally disposed closely adjacent and directly above the upper edge of said panel.

Claim 7

A structure according to claim 5, wherein said channel-shaped member and said projection are integrally constructed as a one-piece plastic member.

Claim 8

A structure according to claim 5, wherein said projection comprises a narrow resilient fin extending outwardly from said one vertical wall portion in a direction substantially transverse thereto with said fin extending outwardly across at least approximately one-half the width of said upper slot.

Claim 9

A structure according to claim 5, wherein said channel-shaped member includes a third vertical wall portion cooperating with one of said first-mentioned vertical wall portions for defining a second downwardly opening upper guide slot therebetween, said second upper slot being disposed adjacent and substantially parallel with said first-mentioned upper slot; said lower track means also including a second upwardly opening lower guide slot formed therein adjacent and substantially parallel with said first-mentioned lower slot; and a second panel extending between said upper and lower track means and having the upper and lower edges thereof slideably extending into and received within the second upper slot and the second lower slot, respectively; said upper track means further including a second cantilevered projection secured to one of the vertically extending wall portions defining said second upper slot with said second projection extending outwardly into said second upper slot so as to be disposed closely adjacent and directly above the upper edge of said second panel for preventing undesired upward vertical movement thereof, said second projection being vertically spaced downwardly from the upper end of said second upper slot.

Claim 10

An improved track structure for slidably guiding the edge of a panel for permitting sliding movement of the panel longitudinally of the track while preventing undesired transverse movement of the panel, said track structure comprising an elongated channel-shaped member having a base wall and at least three substantially parallel sidewalls fixedly connected to and extending substantially transversely outwardly from one surface of said base wall, said first and second sidewalls being spaced from one another to define a first elongated slot therebetween, said second and third sidewalls being spaced from one another to define a second elongated slot therebetween, said first and second elongated slots being parallel and spaced one from another by means of the intermediate second sidewall, the internal surfaces of the first and second sidewalls as defining said first slot being substantially smooth except for the provision of a first resilient flange fixedly secured to one of said first and second sidewalls with said first flange extending into said first slot in a direction toward the other of said first and second sidewalls, said first flange projecting across at least approximately one-half the width of said first slot, and the internal surfaces of said second and third sidewalls as defining said second slot being substantially smooth except for the provision of a projecting second resilient flange secured to one of said second and third sidewalls with saId second flange projecting outwardly into said second slot in a direction toward the other of said second and third sidewalls, said second flange extending across at least approximately one-half the width of said second slot, and said first and second resilient flanges being spaced between said base wall and the free ends of said sidewalls.

Claim 11

An improved track structure for slidably guiding the edge of a panel for permitting sliding movement of the panel longitudinally of the track while preventing undesired transverse movement of the panel, said track structure comprising an elongated channel-shaped member having a base wall and at least three substantially parallel sidewalls fixedly connected to and extending substantially transversely outwardly from one surface of said base wall, said first and second sidewalls being spaced from one another to define a first elongated slot therebetween, said second and third sidewalls being spaced from one another to define a second elongated slot therebetween, said first and second elongated slots being parallel and spaced one from another by means of the intermediate second sidewall, the internal surfaces of the first and second sidewalls as defining said first slot being substantially smooth except for the provision of a first resilient flange fixedly secured to one of said first and second sidewalls with said first flange extending into said first slot in a direction toward the other of said first and second sidewalls, said first flange projecting across at least approximately one-half the width of said first slot, and the internal surfaces of said second and third sidewalls as defining said second slot being substantially smooth except for the provision of a projecting second resilient flange secured to one of said second and third sidewalls with saId second flange projecting outwardly into said second slot in a direction toward the other of said second and third sidewalls, said second flange extending across at least approximately one-half the width of said second slot, and said first and second resilient flanges being spaced between said base wall and the free ends of said sidewalls.

Claim 12

A track structure according to claim 9, wherein said channel-shaped member and said first and second flanges are integrally constructed of plastic.