Sliding door seal
AssigneeSchlage Lock Company LLC
InventorK. James Harrell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Certain embodiments of the present application relate to a sliding door system. An example sliding door system includes a frame, a sliding door, and a drop seal mechanism. The sliding door is mounted in the frame for sliding movement between an open position and a closed position. The drop seal mechanism is mounted within the sliding door, and has a deployed state in which the drop seal mechanism forms a seal with the frame, and a retracted state in which the drop seal mechanism does not form a seal with the frame. The frame comprises a projection configured to drive the drop seal mechanism from the retracted state to the deployed state as the sliding door slides from the open position to the closed position.
Claims20
A seal mechanism for a sliding door, the seal mechanism comprising:
- a channel member configured for mounting to the sliding door;
- a seal member movably mounted in the channel member for movement between a withdrawn position and a deployed position;
- an actuation lever pivotably mounted in the channel member for pivotal movement about a pivot axis between an unactuated position and an actuated position, wherein the actuation lever comprises:
- an input arm positioned below the pivot axis, the input arm including a first portion that extends downward from the pivot axis and a foot that is positioned below the first portion and extends in a direction of the pivot axis;
- and
- an output arm positioned above the pivot axis;
- and
- a transmission configured to move the seal member between the withdrawn position and the deployed position in response to movement of the actuation lever between the unactuated position and the actuated position.
A sliding door system, comprising:
- a frame;
- a sliding door mounted in the frame for sliding movement between an open position and a closed position;
- and
- a drop seal mechanism mounted within the sliding door, the drop seal mechanism having a deployed state in which the drop seal mechanism forms a seal with the frame, the drop seal mechanism having a retracted state in which the drop seal mechanism does not form a seal with the frame;
- wherein the frame comprises a projection configured to drive the drop seal mechanism from the retracted state to the deployed state as the sliding door slides from the open position to the closed position;
- and
- wherein the drop seal mechanism comprises:
- an actuation lever pivotably mounted in the sliding door for movement between an unactuated position and an actuated position;
- and
- a rod pivotably connected with the actuation lever.
A method of forming a seal between a sliding door and a frame, the method comprising:
- during sliding movement of the sliding door in a first direction from an open position to a closed position, causing a portion of the frame to exert a first force on an actuation lever pivotably mounted within the sliding door, wherein the first force is exerted at least primarily in a second direction opposite the first direction;
- and
- in response to the first force on the actuation lever, causing the actuation lever to exert a second force on a transmission, thereby causing the transmission to drive a seal member from a withdrawn position, in which the seal member does not form the seal between the sliding door and the frame, to a deployed position, in which the seal member forms the seal between the sliding door and the frame.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.