Height compensating sliding fenestration systems and methods

A sliding fenestration system configured for installation in a building opening that includes a bottom, first and second sides, and a top, wherein the bottom extends between the first and second sides at the bottom of the building opening, and wherein the top extends between the first and second sides at the top of the building opening, the fenestration system comprising:

• a head track extending from a first end to a second end, the head track attached to the top of the building opening between the first and second sides of the building opening, wherein the first and second ends of the head track are configured to move towards and away from the bottom of the building opening with the top of the building opening, wherein the head track comprises a guide rail projecting downward away from the top of the building opening, and wherein the guide rail comprises an inner guide rail surface and an outer guide rail surface located on an opposite side of the guide rail from the inner guide rail surface, and further wherein the guide rail moves with the head track towards and away from the bottom of the building opening with the top of the building opening;
• a sliding panel configured for sliding movement between the first end and the second end of the head track along a direction defined by the guide rail of the head track, wherein the sliding panel comprises a frame that comprises a first stile, a second stile, a bottom rail, and a top rail, wherein the top rail extends between a top end of the first stile and a top end of the second stile, and wherein the bottom rail extends between a bottom end of the first stile and a bottom end of the second stile;
• a guide channel in the top rail of the sliding panel, wherein the guide channel comprises an inner channel surface and an outer channel surface, wherein the inner channel surface faces the outer channel surface across the guide channel, wherein at least a portion of the guide rail of the head track is located in the guide channel when the sliding panel is assembled with the head track in the building opening, and wherein the inner channel surface faces the inner guide rail surface and the outer channel surface faces the outer guide rail surface, and further wherein the guide rail on the head track moves within the guide channel when the head track moves towards and away from the bottom of the opening;
• a lift mechanism operably connected to the sliding panel, wherein the lift mechanism is configured to raise the sliding panel from a lowered configuration to a raised configuration, wherein the top rail of the sliding panel moves towards the head track when moving from the lowered configuration to the raised configuration;
• and
• a guide channel seal assembly located in the guide channel between the guide rail and the guide channel, wherein the guide channel seal assembly forms a seal in the guide channel when the sliding panel is in both the raised and lowered configurations, wherein the guide channel seal assembly comprises an inner seal between the inner guide rail surface and the inner channel surface and an outer seal between the outer guide rail surface and the outer channel surface;
• a first sliding seal assembly attached to the first stile proximate the top rail of the sliding panel, wherein the first sliding seal assembly comprises a sliding guide and a biasing member operably connected to the sliding guiding, wherein the biasing member is configured to bias the sliding guide against the guide rail of the head track, and wherein the sliding guide is movable along the first stile such that the sliding guide maintains contact with the guide rail of the head track as a distance between the top rail of the sliding panel and the head track changes;
• and
• a second sliding seal assembly attached to the second stile proximate the top rail of the sliding panel, wherein the second sliding seal assembly comprises a second sliding guide and a second biasing member operably connected to the second sliding guiding, wherein the second biasing member is configured to bias the second sliding guide against the guide rail of the head track, and wherein the second sliding guide is movable along the second stile such that the second sliding guide maintains contact with the guide rail of the head track as a distance between the top rail of the sliding panel and the head track changes.

A sliding fenestration system configured for installation in a building opening that includes a bottom, first and second sides, and a top, wherein the bottom extends between the first and second sides at the bottom of the building opening, and wherein the top extends between the first and second sides at the top of the building opening, the fenestration system comprising:

• a head track extending from a first end to a second end, the head track configured for attachment to the top of building opening between the first and second sides of the building opening, wherein the first and second ends of the head track are configured to move towards and away from the bottom of the building opening with the top of the building opening, wherein the head track comprises a guide rail projecting downward away from the top of the building opening, and wherein the guide rail comprises an inner guide rail surface and an outer guide rail surface located on an opposite side of the guide rail from the inner guide rail surface;
• a sliding panel configured for sliding movement between the first end and the second end of the head track along a direction defined by the guide rail of the head track, wherein the sliding panel comprises a frame that comprises a first stile, a second stile, a bottom rail, and a top rail, wherein the top rail extends between a top end of the first stile and a top end of the second stile, and wherein the bottom rail extends between a bottom end of the first stile and a bottom end of the second stile;
• a guide channel in the top rail of the sliding panel, wherein the guide channel comprises an inner channel surface and an outer channel surface, wherein the inner channel surface faces the outer channel surface across the guide channel, wherein at least a portion of the guide rail of the head track is located in the guide channel when the sliding panel is assembled with the head track in the building opening, and wherein the inner channel surface faces the inner guide rail surface and the outer channel surface faces the outer guide rail surface;
• a first side jamb comprising a top end and a bottom end, wherein the first end of the head track is located closer to the top end of the first side jamb than the bottom end of the first side jamb when the head track is positioned along the top of the building opening and the first side jamb is positioned along the first side of the building opening, and wherein the first end of the head track is configured to move along the first side jamb along a first axis extending between the top and bottom ends of the first side jamb;
• and
• a first head track slide assembly proximate a junction of the first end of the head track and the first side jamb, wherein first head track slide assembly forms a first head track end seal between the first end of the head track and the first side jamb as the first end of the head track moves along the first axis, and wherein the first head track slide assembly comprises a first slide block at the first end of the head track, wherein the first slide block moves within a first alignment channel in the first side jamb as the first end of the head track moves along the first axis.