Panel guide and impact separation system for a sliding door

A sliding door for selectively opening and closing an opening, the opening having an upper and lower extent, the door comprising:

• a door panel having a top, a bottom, a leading edge and a trailing edge, the door panel being adapted to translate laterally relative to the opening between a closed position and an open position;
• and,
• a guide mounted to a mounting surface located between the upper and lower extent of the opening;
• a guide follower disposed in operable engagement with the guide, the guide follower being adapted to translate along at least a portion of the guide;
• and,
• an elongate beam having a first and second end, the first end of the elongate beam being connected to the guide follower, and the second end of the elongate beam being attached to the door panel and extending generally horizontally along at least a portion of a vertical plane of the door panel.

A sliding door for selectively opening and closing an opening, the opening having an upper and lower extent, the door comprising:

• a door panel having a top, a bottom, a leading edge and a trailing edge, the door panel being adapted to translate laterally relative to the opening between a closed position and an open position;
• a guide located proximate the opening and between the upper and lower extent of the opening;
• and,
• an elongate beam attached to the door panel between the top and the bottom, a first portion of the elongate beam extending generally horizontally along a vertical plane of the door panel and a second portion of the elongate beam extending away from the leading edge of the door panel, beyond the trailing edge of the door panel and operably engaging the guide.

A sliding door for selectively opening and closing an opening, the opening having an upper and lower extent, the door comprising:

• a door panel having a top, a bottom, a leading edge and a trailing edge, the door panel being adapted to translate laterally relative to the opening between a closed position and an open position;
• a guide mounted to a mounting surface located between the upper and lower extent of the opening;
• and,
• a guide follower pivotally attached to the door panel and disposed in operable engagement with the guide, the guide follower being pivotally biased around an axis parallel to the lateral translation of the door.