US3683451A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Unitary guide for sliding panels
Assignee: Southeastern Aluminum Products Inc
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Filing: 1971-03-12
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Granted: 1972-08-15
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Expires: 1991-03-12
Abstract
Abstract A unitary guide including a guide body having a guide element extendable through the guideway entrance and a laterally extending lug engageable with the shoulder within an elongated guideway. The guide body includes a lateral portion bridgeable across the entrance and being of a lateral dimension to inhibit ingress through the entrance when the element is positioned through the entrance. A resilient flexing portion is connected to the lateral portion whereby the lateral portion may bend about a longitudinal axis generally parallel with the guideway. The element and lug are insertable through the entrance by a pushing force thereon exerted perpendicularly to the guideway thereby bending the flexing portion. The element and lug are of a smaller lateral dimension with the flexing portion in a bent condition than the entrance to permit ingress of the element and lug therethrough and into the guideway. The element and lug are of a normal lateral dimension to inhibit egress thereof through the entrance after seating of the element and lug in the guideway by an outwardly pulling force thereon exerted perpendicularly to the guideway. The body has another lateral portion spaced from and above the first lateral portion and defining therebetween and with the flexing portion a space to permit first lateral portion to be swung thereinto upon bending of the flexing portion. The element includes a cam surface disposed rearwardly of the lug, such cam surface and lug being engageable with the entrance upon initial insertion of the element into the entrance.
Inventors
- 👤 Homer C Tanner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 13:11
CPC Classifications
E; E05; E05D; E05D15/00; E05D15/06; E05D15/0621; E05D15/0626; E05D15/0656; E05Y; E05Y2201/00; E05Y2201/60; E05Y2201/606; E05Y2201/61; E05Y2201/612; E05Y2201/614
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
205 words
A unitary guide for use in a longitudinal guideway of a track having an inwardly directed shoulder defining an entrance and communicating between the guideway and outwardly thereof comprising a guide body having a guide element extendable through the entrance and having a laterally extending lug engageable with the shoulder within the guideway, said guide body having a lateral portion integral with said guide element and bridgeable across the entrance and being of sufficient lateral dimension to inhibit ingress thereof through the entrance when said guide element is positioned through the entrance, said body having a flexing portion connected to said lateral portion whereby said lateral portion may bend about a longitudinal axis, said guide element and lug being of sufficient lateral dimension to inhibit egress thereof through the entrance by an outwardly pulling force thereon exerted perpendicularly to the longitudinal guideway, said guide element and said lug being insertable through the entrance by a pushing force thereon exerted perpendicularly to the longitudinal guideway thereby bending said flexing portion, said guide element and lug having a lateral dimension with said flexing portion in a bent condition sufficiently smaller than the entrance to permit ingress of said guide element and lug therethrough and into the guideway.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
205 words
A unitary guide for use in a longitudinal guideway of a track having an inwardly directed shoulder defining an entrance and communicating between the guideway and outwardly thereof comprising a guide body having a guide element extendable through the entrance and having a laterally extending lug engageable with the shoulder within the guideway, said guide body having a lateral portion integral with said guide element and bridgeable across the entrance and being of sufficient lateral dimension to inhibit ingress thereof through the entrance when said guide element is positioned through the entrance, said body having a flexing portion connected to said lateral portion whereby said lateral portion may bend about a longitudinal axis, said guide element and lug being of sufficient lateral dimension to inhibit egress thereof through the entrance by an outwardly pulling force thereon exerted perpendicularly to the longitudinal guideway, said guide element and said lug being insertable through the entrance by a pushing force thereon exerted perpendicularly to the longitudinal guideway thereby bending said flexing portion, said guide element and lug having a lateral dimension with said flexing portion in a bent condition sufficiently smaller than the entrance to permit ingress of said guide element and lug therethrough and into the guideway.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The guide as defined in claim 1 wherein said guide body has a space adjacent said lateral portion located opposite to said guide element, said flexing portion being located adjacent said lug.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
The guide as defined in claim 1 wherein said flexing portion is located adjacent said lug, said guide body having another lateral portion spaced from said lateral portion and defining therebetween and with said flexing portion a space to permit said lateral portion to be swung thereinto upon bending of said flexing portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The guide as defined in claim 1 wherein said guide element includes a cam surface disposed rearwardly of said lug, said cam surface and said lug engageable with the entrance upon initial insertion of said guide element into the entrance.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
71 words
The guide as defined in claim 1 wherein said guide body includes an elongated portion adjacent said flexing portion and adapted and arranged to be slidably engaged within a housing attached to a sliding door, said Elongated portion and flexing portion and lateral portion defining a space to permit said lateral portion with said attached guide element and lug to be swung about said longitudinal axis thereby partially closing said space.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
The guide as defined in claim 1 wherein said flexing portion is resilient so that after bending thereof to permit insertion of said guide element and lug through the entrance the flexing portion will return to its original unbent condition with said guide element extending through the entrance and said guide element and lug being located in the guideway.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
158 words
A unitary guide for use in a longitudinal guideway of a track having an inwardly directed shoulder defining an entrance and communicating between the guideway and outwardly thereof comprising a guide body having a guide element at one extremity extendable through the entrance and having a laterally extending lug engageable with the shoulder within the guideway, said guide body including flexing means connected to said guide element for swinging said guide element and lug about a longitudinal axis, said guide element and lug being of sufficient lateral dimension to inhibit egress thereof through the entrance by an outwardly pulling force thereon exerted perpendicularly to the longitudinal guideway, said guide element and lug having a lateral dimension with said flexing means in flexed condition sufficiently smaller than the entrance to permit ingress of said guide element and lug therethrough by an inwardly pushing force on said guide body exerted perpendicularly to the longitudinal guideway thereby flexing said flexing means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
158 words
A unitary guide for use in a longitudinal guideway of a track having an inwardly directed shoulder defining an entrance and communicating between the guideway and outwardly thereof comprising a guide body having a guide element at one extremity extendable through the entrance and having a laterally extending lug engageable with the shoulder within the guideway, said guide body including flexing means connected to said guide element for swinging said guide element and lug about a longitudinal axis, said guide element and lug being of sufficient lateral dimension to inhibit egress thereof through the entrance by an outwardly pulling force thereon exerted perpendicularly to the longitudinal guideway, said guide element and lug having a lateral dimension with said flexing means in flexed condition sufficiently smaller than the entrance to permit ingress of said guide element and lug therethrough by an inwardly pushing force on said guide body exerted perpendicularly to the longitudinal guideway thereby flexing said flexing means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The guide as defined in claim 7 wherein said flexing means is resilient.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The guide as defined in claim 7 wherein said guide element includes an end engageable with the bottom surface of the guideway.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The guide ad defined in claim 7 wherein said guide element includes a cam surface disposed rearwardly of said lug, said cam surface and lug engageable with the entrance upon initial insertion of said guide element into the entrance.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
The guide as defined in claim 10 wherein said guide element includes a pair of generally parallel and opposite surfaces adjacent respective said lug and cam surface and being engageable with respective edges defining the entrance.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
72 words
The guide as defined in claim 7 wherein said flexing means includes a lateral portion integral with said guide element and bridgeable across the entrance and being of sufficient lateral dimension to inhibit ingress thereof through the entrance when said guide element is positioned through the entrance and a flexing portion connected to said lateral portion whereby said lateral portion and guide element and lug may be swung about said longitudinal axis.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The guide as defined in claim 12 wherein said lateral portion is adapted and arranged to engage the track outwardly of the entrance.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
The guide as defined in claim 12 wherein said lateral portion and flexing portion are generally perpendicularly connected with a space being defined therebetween to permit swinging of said lateral portion toward said flexing portion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
The guide as defined in claim 14 wherein said guide body includes another lateral portion connected generally perpendicularly with said flexing portion and being generally parallel to and oppositely disposed across said space from said lateral portion.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
The guide as defined in claim 7 wherein said guide element extends longitudinally of the guideway and having an elongated dimension greater than the lateral dimension of the guideway whereby twisting and lodgement of said guide element in the guideway is inhibited.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-15 | 1976-02-14 | 1976-08-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-15 | 1980-02-14 | 1980-08-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-15 | 1984-02-14 | 1984-08-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |