Vertically adjustable sliding door suspension system

A sliding door suspension system for supporting a heavy door in a door frame, comprising:

• a rail having an upper roller guide surface and a first longitudinal axis, the upper roller guide surface in transverse cross section being arcuate, the rail being mounted to the door frame such that the first longitudinal axis is substantially horizontal;
• and
• a roller assembly including an axle having a second longitudinal axis, a roller having a hollow bore through which the axle extends, bearing means mounted within the hollow bore for rotationally supporting the roller on the axle, the roller also having a roller guide engaging surface of a shape which conforms to and rollingly engages the upper roller guide surface when the second longitudinal axis is substantially perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis and the roller guide engaging surface engages the rail, door support means mounted to the axle outboard of the roller for supporting the door, and attachment means for securing the roller and door support means on the axle, whereby the door support means supports the door while the roller rolls along the rail to slidably open and close the door in a direction substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis;
• wherein the axle and door support means are threadably engaged, and the door support means has height adjustment means for adjusting the height of the door with the attachment means disengaged, and the door height being maintained when the attachment means are secured;
• wherein the door support means includes an adjuster member and a door hanger member having an upright leg and a substantially horizontal leg for supporting the door therefrom, the upright leg having a longitudinal slot therethrough which slidably receives the axle, the horizontal leg having a hole therethrough, the adjuster member having a first internally threaded hole therethrough which threadably engages the axle and a second internally threaded hole perpendicular to, intersecting with and terminating at the first internally threaded hole;
• and
• wherein the height adjustment means comprises a threaded member which extends through the hole in the horizontal leg and threadably engages the second internally threaded hole in variable amounts to vary the position of the axle in the longitudinal slot thereby adjusting the height of the door.

A sliding door suspension system for supporting a heavy door in a door frame, comprising:

• a rail having an upper roller guide surface and a first longitudinal axis, the upper roller guide surface in transverse cross section being arcuate, the rail being mounted to the door frame such that the first longitudinal axis is substantially horizontal;
• and
• a roller assembly including an axle having a second longitudinal axis, a roller having a hollow bore through which the axle extends, bearing means mounted within the hollow bore for rotationally supporting the roller on the axle, the roller also having a roller guide engaging surface of a shape which conforms to and rollingly engages the upper roller guide surface when the second longitudinal axis is substantially perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis and the roller guide engaging surface engages the rail, door support means mounted to the axle outboard of the roller for supporting the door, and attachment means for securing the roller and door support means to the axle, wherein the door support means further comprises:
• a door hanger member having an upright leg and a substantially horizontal leg for supporting the door therefrom, the upright leg having a longitudinal slot therethrough which slidably receives the axle, the horizontal leg having a hole therethrough;
• an adjuster member having a first internally threaded hole therethrough which threadably engages the axle and a second internally threaded hold perpendicular to, intersecting with and terminating at the first internally threaded hole;
• and
• a threaded member which extends through the hole in the first leg and threadably engages the second internally threaded hole in variable amounts to vary the position of the axle in the longitudinal slot thereby adjusting the height of the door, whereby the door support means supports the door while the roller rolls along the rail to slidably open and close the door in a direction substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis.

A sliding door suspension system for supporting a heavy door in a door frame, comprising:

• a rail having an upper roller guide surface and a first longitudinal axis, the upper roller guide surface in transverse cross section being arcuate, the rail being mounted to the door frame such that the first longitudinal axis is substantially horizontal;
• and
• two roller assemblies, each roller assembly including:
• an axle having a second longitudinal axis, a roller having a hollow bore through which the axle extends, bearing means mounted within the hollow bore for rotationally supporting the roller on the axle, the roller also having a roller guide engaging surface of a shape which conforms to and rollingly engages the upper roller guide surface when the second longitudinal axis is substantially perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis and the roller guide engaging surface engages the rail, door support means mounted to the axle outboard of the roller for supporting the door, and attachment means for securing the roller and door support means on the axle, whereby the door support means supports the door while the roller rolls along the rail to slidably open and close the door in a direction substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis;
• wherein the rail has a transverse circular cross section;
• wherein each axle including a bearing surface upon which the bearing means rides, first and second radial grooves to each side of the bearing surface, and an externally threaded end beyond the first radial groove which threadably engages the door support means;
• wherein each bearing means comprises a bearing assembly having needle bearings;
• wherein each attachment means threadably engages the threaded end and the second radial groove of each respective axle;
• and
• wherein each door support means comprises:
• a door hanger member having an upright leg and a substantially horizontal leg for supporting the door therefrom, the upright leg having a longitudinal slot therethrough which slidably receives the axle, the horizontal leg having a hole therethrough;
• an adjuster member having a first internally threaded hole therethrough which threadably engages the axle and a second internally threaded hole perpendicular to, intersecting with and terminating at the first internally threaded hole;
• and
• a threaded member which extends through the hole in the first leg and threadably engages the second internally threaded hole in variable amounts to vary the position of the axle in the longitudinal slot thereby adjusting the height of the door.

A sliding door assembly comprising:

• a door frame;
• a heavy door;
• a rail having an upper roller guide surface and a first longitudinal axis, the upper roller guide surface in transverse cross section being arcuate;
• mounting means for mounting the rail to the door frame such that the first longitudinal axis is substantially horizontal;
• and
• a roller assembly including an axle having a second longitudinal axis, a roller having a hollow bore through which the axle extends, bearing means mounted within the hollow bore for rotationally supporting the roller on the axle, the roller also having a roller guide engaging surface of a shape which conforms to and rollingly engages the upper roller guide surface when the second longitudinal axis is substantially perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis and the roller guide engaging surface engages the rail, door support means including an L-shaped member having an upright leg mounted to the axle outboard of the roller and a substantially horizontal leg extending from the upright leg and under the rail for supporting the heavy door with the horizontal leg terminating in a lock receiving portion, and attachment means for securing the roller and door support means on the axle, whereby the door support means supports the door while the roller rolls along the rail to slidably open and close the door in a direction substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis;
• and
• locking means having a locking member movable between a door locking position a door opening position for respectively locking and unlocking the heavy door, the locking means being secured to the door frame so as to allow the locking member to engage the lock receiving portion of the door support means when the door is closed, and to disengage the lock receiving portion of the door support means to unlock the door.

A roller assembly for a sliding door suspension system which supports a heavy door in a door frame, the suspension system having a rail with an upper roller guide surface and a first longitudinal axis, the upper roller guide surface in transverse cross section being arcuate, the rail mounted to the door frame such that the first longitudinal axis is substantially horizontal, the roller assembly comprising:

• an axle having a second longitudinal axis;
• a roller having a hollow bore through which the axle extends;
• bearing means mounted within the hollow bore for rotationally supporting the roller on the axis;
• the roller also having a roller guide engaging surface of a shape which conforms to and rollingly engages the upper roller guide surface when the second longitudinal axis is substantially perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis and the roller guide engaging surface engages the rail, the roller also having inboard and outboard shoulders to each side of the roller guide engaging surface, with the outboard shoulder having a first longitudinal width and the inboard shoulder having a second longitudinal width greater than the first longitudinal width;
• door support means mounted to the axle near the outboard shoulder of the roller for supporting the heavy door;
• and
• attachment means for securing the roller and door support means on the axle, whereby the door support means supports the door while the roller rolls along the rail to slidably open and close the door in a direction substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis.