Supporting roller assembly for a sliding panel
United States Patent Helmick Apr. 29, 1975 SUPPORTING ROLLER ASSEMBLY FOR A SLIDING PANEL [76] Inventor: B. J. l-lclmick, 303 Deborah CL.  
 Upland, Calif. 91786 [22] Filed: Jan. 16, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 324,235  
 [52] US. Cl. 49/420; 49/425; 16/99 [5 l] Int. Cl. E05d 13/02 [58] Field of Search 49/420, 425; 16/91, 97, 16/99, 105  
 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,448,845 3/1923 Johnson ct al 49/420 X 2,697,848 l2/l954 Tompkins l6/l05 3,283,444 l H1966 Andres 49/420 3,722,028 3/1973 Schocnbrod 42/420 X Primary E.\&#39;aminer-Kenneth Downey Attorney, Agent, or FirmBoniard I. Brown ABSTRACT A supporting roller assembly for a sliding closure, such as a sliding screen door, movable along a track and having an edge channel opening toward said track. The roller assembly has a bracket positioned in the edge channel of the panel, an arm pivoted at one end on the bracket and mounting a track engaging roller at its other end, and a spring for urging the roller toward the track. The invention provides a novel adjustable limit stop for limiting movement of the roller arm away from the track. The described stop is a plunger slidable in the bracket and urged by a spring into contact with the roller arm and a lock screw ac cessible from the outside of the panel for adjustably securing the plunger in fixed position. The lock screw also serves to secure the roller assembly on the channel.  
 18 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures SUPPORTING ROLLER ASSEMBLY FOR A SLIDING PANEL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to closures of the class which comprise a sliding closure panel, such as a door or window, movable along a supporting track. The invention relates more particularly to a novel adjustable spring-loaded supporting roller assembly for such panels.  
 2. Discussion of the Prior Art Closures of the class to which this invention pertains are well known in the art and are widely used in a variety of building structures. Generally speaking, such a closure comprises a stationary metal rectangular frame to be fixed within a door or window opening in a wall, and at least a pair of relatively movable closure panels mounted within the frame. One of these panels is a fixed panel which is securely fastened to the frame and occupies a portion only of the frame so as to define with the frame as access opening through the frame. The other panel is a movable panel which is supported on the frame for movement between an open position, wherein the movable panel is located at one side of the fixed panel to uncover the access opening, and a closed position, wherein the movable panel is extended across and closes the access opening. To this end, the movable panel is provided with a number, typically 2, of supporting roller assemblies mounted with a channel along the lower edge of the panel. These roller assemblies include circumferentially grooved supporting rollers which ride on a supporting track extending along the lower horizontal member of the closure frame. The upper edge of the movable panel is guided in the frame in various ways, as by providing the upper panel edge with a groove or channel for slidably receiving a rib along the upper horizontal member of the frame.  
  The movable panel is commonly installed in the closure frame in such a way that the panel is capable of limited vertical floating movement relative to the frame. This floating movement assures maximum freedom of panel movement between its open and closed positions and permits the panel to be conveniently removed from and replaced in the frames by first elevating the panel to disengage its supporting rollers from the frame track. However, this capability of vertical floating movement of the panel introduces a problem in that it tends to permit accidental disengagement of the panel rollers from the frame track. For example, when opening or closing the movable panel, the latter may be inadvertently raised in a manner which tends to disengage the rollers from the track. In order to prevent such inadvertent disengagement of the rollers, the latter commonly spring loaded into engagement with the track. As a consequence, the rollers remain in contact with the track at all times, even though the movable panel is inadvertently raised slightly. The roller biasing springs are relatively weak and serve merely to urge the rollers toward the track and not transmit vertical loads between the rollers and the panel. These vertical loads are transmitted by roller positioning members or stops which limit deflection of the rollers toward the panels against spring action. Generally, these roller positioning stops are adjustable to permit adjustment of the limiting positions of the supporting rollers relative to the panel.  
  A wide variety of spring-loaded supporting roller assemblies for the purpose described have been devised. Representative of such roller assemblies are those disclosed in the following prior art U.S. Pat. Nos.: 3,044,391; 3,090,084; 3,120,033; 3,175,255; 3,283,444 and 3,284,953.  
  These existing roller assemblies, however, are characterized by certain deficiencies, notably relatively great complexity, high cost of manufacture, difficulty of adjustment, and poor load carrying capability.  
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The improved roller assembly of this invention has a mounting bracket to be positioned in the edge channel of the sliding panel. Pivoted at one end on this bracket is an arm which mounts a track engaging roller at its other end. Attached to this arm is a spring which engages the panel in such a way as to urge the roller toward the track.  
  The primary novelty of the invention resides in an adjustable stop which engages the roller arm between its ends for limiting movement of the roller away from the track. The described stop is a plunger which slides in the bracket toward and away from the roller arm and is releasably secured in fixed position by a stop screw to limit movement of the roller away from the track. A spring urges the plunger toward the arm.  
  The lock screw is accessible at the outside of the sliding panel through an opening in one side wall of the panel channel to permit the screw to be released for setting the stop during installation of the roller assembly and then secured to hold the stop in fixed position. According to a feature of the invention, the lock screw also serves to secure the roller assembly in the panel channel.  
 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a sliding screen door equipped with roller assemblies according to the invention;  
  FIG. 2 is an enlarged section through the lower channel edge of the door showing one roller assembly in position in the channel;  
  FIG. 3 is an enlarged section taken on line 33 in FIG. 2; and  
  FIG. 4 is a section similar to FIG. 2 showing a modified roller assembly.  
 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 illustrates a sliding door assembly 10 including a frame 12 defining a door opening and glass doors 14 for closing the opening. One glass door 16 occupies about one half the opening and is fixed. The other glass door (not shown) is slidable between open and closed positions. The door assembly 10 also includes a sliding screen panel or door 18 for extension across the open half of the door opening when the sliding glass door is open.  
  Sliding screen panel or door 18 has a rectangular frame 20 and a screen extending across the frame opening. The edges of the screen are secured in the usual way to the door frame 20. Screen door 18 is movable along a lower track 22. Along the lower edge of the screen door frame 20 is a channel 24 which opens downwardly toward the track 22. Within this channel are two roller assemblies 26 according to the invention.  
  Turning to FIG. 2, each roller assembly 26 has a generally L-shaped mounting bracket 28 positioned within the lower door frame channel 24 with side faces of the bracket facing the side walls 30 of the channels. As shown in FIG. 3, the bracket has a relatively close fit in the channel. Bracket 28 has an arm 32 which seats againstthe bottom wall 34 of the channel and an arm 36 which extends from one end of the arm 32 toward the lower open side of the channel. Arm 36 is slightly narrower than arm 32, for reasons to appear presently.  
  Pivoted at one end on the lower end of the bracket arm 36 is an arm 38. A track engaging roller 40 is mounted on the other end of arm 38 to turn on an axis parallel to the pivot 42 of the arm. Roller 40 is circumferentially grooved in the usual way to ride on the track 22. The particular roller arm 38 shown is formed from sheet metal and has an upper channel 44 receiving the lower end of the bracket arm 36. As noted and shown, bracket arm 36 is reduced in thickness, as shown, to accommodate the side flanges 46 of the roller arm 38 between the bracket arm and channel side walls 30. The roller arm pivot 42 extends through these arm flanges, as shown.  
  Attached at one end to the bottom wall 48 of the roller arm 38 is an arcuate leaf spring 50. The outer end of this spring seats against a door frame wall 52 which extends across the frame channel 24 at opposite sides of the roller assembly. Spring 50 urges roller arm 38 clockwise (as viewed in FIG. 2) about its pivot 42 to bias the roller 40 toward the track 22.  
  A primary feature of the invention resides in an adjustable limit stop 54 which engages the roller arm 38 between its ends to limit movement of the roller 40 away from track 22. The limit stop shown is a plunger with an upper stem 58 and a lower head 60. Plunger stem 58 slides in the bracket arm 32 and extends through a clearance opening 62 provided in the bottom wall 34 of the door frame channel 24. The plunger head 60 seats against the roller arm 38. A coil spring 64 about the plunger 54 urges the latter against the roller arm.  
  Plunger 54 is secured in fixed position by a lock screw 66 threaded in the bracket 28 and engageable with the plunger stem 58. According to a feature of the invention, the lock screw extends through a hole 68 in one side wall 30 of the door frame channel 24 and has an enlarged head 70 outwardly of the side wall, such that the lock screw also serves to secure the roller assembly 26 in the channel 24.  
  It is now evident that the roller 40 is urged toward the track 22 by the roller spring 50 and is limited in movement away from the track by limit stop plunger 54. This plunger is adjustable to adjust the limit position of the roller. The upper end of the plunger stem 58 is accessible above the lower member of the door frame for movement or holding of the plunger by hand, when desired.  
  The modified roller assembly 26a of FIG. 4 is similar to that just described except its mounting bracket 28a is essentially a .rectangular block seating at its upper end against the bottom wall 34 of the screw door frame channel 24. Also, the roller arm 380 has a laterally projecting shoulder member 39a between its ends against which seats the stop plunger 54a. The plunger stern 58a extends slidably through the upper end of bracket 28a transverse to the longitudinal axis of the bracket. The plunger lock screw 66a is threaded in the upper end of the bracket and serves to secure the plunger in fixed position and also the roller assembly to the door frame 20, as before.  
  What is claimed as new in support of Letters Patent: 1. A supporting roller assembly for a sliding panel movable along a track and having an edge channel opening toward said track comprising:  
 a mounting bracket having side faces and adapted to be removably positioned in said channel with the side faces of the bracket facing the channel side walls,  
 an arm,  
 means pivotally mounting said arm on said bracket on a pivot axis substantially normal to said side faces of the bracket,  
 a track engaging roller mounted on said arm with the roller axis generally parallel to and displaced from said pivot axis,  
 a spring for urging said arm in one direction about said pivot axis to bias said roller toward said track, and  
 an adjustable stop on said bracket engageable with said arm for adjustably limiting movement of said arm in the opposite direction about said pivot axis, said stop comprising a plunger slidable in said bracket toward and away from said arm with the plunger axis generally parallel to said bracket faces, a spring for urging said plunger toward said arm, and a lock screw threaded in said bracket on an axis substantially normal to said bracket faces and engageable with said plunger for releasibly securing said plunger in a fixed position relative to said bracket, said lock screw projecting beyond one side of said bracket for extension through a hole in one of said panel channel side walls, whereby said lock screw is accessible externally of said panel for releasing and locking said plunger.  
 2. A roller assembly according to claim 1 wherein:  
 said lock screw has an enlarged head beyond one side face of said bracket and is insertable into said bracket through a hole in one side wall of the panel channel to serve the dual function of securing said bracket in said channel and securing said plunger in fixed position relative to said bracket.  
 3. A roller assembly according to claim 2 wherein:  
 said plunger spring is a coil spring about said plunger.  
 4. A roller assembly according to claim I wherein:  
 said bracket has a generally L-shape and includes a first arm for seating against the bottom wall of said channel and a second arm extending beyond one side of saif first arm,  
 said roller arm is pivoted on said second bracket arm,  
 and  
 said plunger is slidable in said first bracket arm toward and away from said roller arm.  
 5. A roller assembly according to claim 4 wherein:  
 said lock screw has an enlarged head beyond one side face, and  
 said lock screw is insertable into said bracket through a hole in one side wall of said panel channel to perform the dual function of securing said bracket in said panel channel and securing said plunger in fixed position relative to said bracket.  
 6. A roller assembly according to claim 5 wherein:  
 said first mentioned spring comprises a leaf spring fixed at one end to said one end of said roller arm and extending from the arm for engagement with said panel.  
 7. A roller assembly according to claim 1 wherein:  
 said bracket comprises an elongate rectangular block adapted to seat at one end against the bottom wall of said panel channel and pivotally connected at its other end to said roller arm,  
 said roller arm includes a transverse shoulder member projecting beyond one side of the roller arm, and  
 said plunger is slidable in said bracket toward and away from said roller arm shoulder member.  
 8. A roller assembly according to claim 7 wherein:  
 said lock screw has an enlarged head beyond one side face, and  
 said lock screw is insertable into said bracket through a hole in one side wall of said panel channel to perform the dual function of securing said bracket in said panel channel and securing said plunger in fixed position relative to said bracket.  
 9. A roller assembly according to claim 8 wherein:  
 said roller arm has a longitudinal channel receiving said bracket and one end of said shoulder member.  
 10. In combination with a sliding panel movable along a track and having an edge channel opening toward said track, a supporting roller assembly comprising:  
 a mounting bracket removably positioned in said channel and having side faces facing the channel side walls,  
 an arm,  
 means pivotally mounting said arm on said bracket on a pivot axis substantially normal to said channel side walls and bracket side faces,  
 a roller on said arm engaging said track and having its turning axis substantially parallel to and displaced from said pivot axis,  
 a spring for urging said arm in one direction about said pivot axis to bias said roller toward said track, and  
 an adjustable stop on said bracket engaging said arm for adjustably limiting movement of said arm in the opposite direction about said pivot axis, said stop comprising a plunger slidable in said bracket toward and away from said arm with the plunger axis generally parallel to said bracket said faces, a spring for urging said plunger toward said arm, and a lock screw threaded in said bracket on an axis substantially normal to said bracket side faces and engageable with said plunger for releasibly securing said plunger in a fixed position relative to said bracket, said lock screw projecting beyond one side of said bracket and through a hole in one of said panel channel side walls, whereby said lock screw is accessible externally of said handle for releasing and locking said plunger.  
 11. The combination according to claim 10 wherein:  
 said lock screw has an enlarged head outwardly of said one channel side wall and performs and dual purpose of securing said bracket in said channel and securing said plunger in fixed position.  
 12. The combination according to claim 11 wherein:  
 said plunger spring is a coil spring about said plunger.  
 13. The combination according to claim 10 wherein:  
 said bracket has a generally L-shape and includes a first arm seating against the bottom wall of said channel and a second arm extending from said first arm toward said track, and  
 said plunger is slidable in said first bracket arm toward and away from said roller arm.  
 14. The combination according to claim 13 wherein:  
 said lock screw has an enlarged head outwardly of said one channel side wall and serves to both secure said bracket in said channel and secure said plunger in fixed position.  
 15. The combination according to claim 14 wherein:  
 said roller arm has a longitudinal channel opening toward said first bracket arm and receiving the end of said second bracket arm, and  
 said first mentioned spring comprises a leaf spring fixed at one end to said one end of said roller arm and extending from the arm for engagement with said panel.  
 16. The combination according to claim 10 wherein:  
 said bracket comprises an elongate rectangular block seating at one end against the bottom wall of said panel channel and pivotally connected at its other end to said roller arm,  
 said roller arm includes a transverse shoulder member projecting beyond one side of the roller arm, and  
 said plunger is slidable in said bracket toward and away from said roller arm thrust member.  
 17. The combination according to claim 16 wherein:  
 said lock screw has an enlarged head outwardly of said one channel side wall and serves to both secure said bracket in said channel and secure said plunger in fixed position.  
 18. The combination according to claim 17 wherein:  
 said roller arm has a longitudinal channel receiving said outer bracket end and one end of said shoulder