Floating pivot sliding and swinging panel construction for doors and the like

A sliding and swinging closure structure for an opening comprising:

• at least one pair of panels including a first panel having means for mounting said first panel in an opening, said means for mounting including a first pivot assembly positioned at the bottom of said first panel and a second pivot assembly at the top of said first panel for pivoting said first panel open and closed in a swinging mode of operation, and a second panel, said second panel mounted to slide relative to said first panel between a closed position when said first and second panels are extended relative to one another to a slid open position when said first and second panels are substantially overlapped, said second panel being further mounted to pivot about a vertical axis which travels with said second panel in said swinging mode of operation,
• a first track means mounted along the top of said opening,
• at least one wheel assembly positioned along the top of said second panel, said wheel assembly engaging with said first track means to allow said second panel to slide relative to said first panel,
• a pivot mounting provided along a section of the bottom of said second panel,
• a first channel formed in said pivot mounting,
• a guide mounted within said first channel, said guide being adapted to slide in said first channel,
• an arm extending from said guide, said arm having a wheel mounted thereon,
• a second track means positioned in the bottom of said first panel, said wheel of said arm being received in said second track means of said first panel as said second panel slides relative to said first panel, said wheel being a pivot point about which said second panel pivots as said panels are in said swinging mode of operation,
• a first bar mounted along said wheel assembly,
• a second bar positioned along the top of said second panel, said first and second bars engaging through an overlapping flange connection along a length of both of said bars, and
• a stop bar positioned along a section of the top of said opening and located to prevent said swinging mode of operation until said panels are substantially overlapped.

A sliding and swinging closure structure for an opening comprising:

• at least one pair of panels including a first panel mounted in an opening, said mount including a first pivot assembly positioned at the bottom of said first panel and a second pivot assembly positioned at the top of said first panel for pivoting said first panel open and closed in a swinging mode of operation, and a second panel, said second panel mounted to slide relative to said first panel between a closed position of the structure when said first and second panels are extended relative to one another to a slid open position when said first and second panels are substantially overlapped,
• a header in the top of said opening,
• a first track formed in said header,
• at least one wheel assembly carried on a carrier bar adjacent the top of said second panel, said wheel assembly engaging said carrier bar with said track to allow said second panel to slide relative to said first panel,
• a mounting block mounted along a section of the bottom of said second panel,
• a first plate mounted to the bottom of said mounting block,
• a first channel formed in said first plate,
• a second plate received for sliding movement in said first channel,
• a wheel mounted to said second plate,
• a second track positioned in the bottom of said first panel, said wheel of said second plate being received in said second track for sliding movement relative to said first panel, said wheel being a pivot point about which said second panel pivots,
• a torsion bar positioned within said second panel, said torsion bar rotatably engaged with said carrier bar, said second panel further pivoting about said torsion bar,
• said carrier bar further engaging with a mounting bar fixed to said second panel through an overlapping flange connection along a length of both of said carrier and mounting bars, said carrier and mounting bars releasably disengaging when said panels are in said swinging mode of operation,
• a stop bar positioned along a section of the top of said header, said carrier bar abutting said stop bar from said fully closed position to said slid open position such that said second panel is maintained in said opening as said second panel slides from said fully closed position to said slid open position, such that when said second panel is slid beyond said stop bar, said first and second panels can then be rotated as a unit in said swinging mode of operation.

An assembly for pivoting and sliding movement of a pair of panels, comprising:

• a pair of panels including a first panel and a second panel;
• a mounting mechanism for mounting said second panel for sliding movement relative to said first panel in a sliding mode of operation, said panels further being overlapped through said sliding movement for a swinging mode of operation, said mounting mechanism being located adjacent the top of an opening within which said panels are moved to open and close said opening;
• a first pivot device carried by said second panel for pivoting movement of said second panel in said swinging mode of operation, said first pivot device being engaged with said mounting mechanism;
• a second pivot device for said second panel, said second pivot device having a first channel formed along a section of said second panel spaced from said first pivot device, said first channel extending generally parallel to the direction of travel of said second panel in said sliding movement, a guide slidably mounted within said first channel, a pivot member mounted on said guide and extending therefrom, and a pivot track formed along a section of said first panel within which said pivot member is slidably received.

A sliding and swinging closure for an opening defined in a building, such as a door opening, comprising:

• a pair of panels including a first panel and a second panel;
• a mounting device for mounting said first panel in the opening for pivoting movement of said first panel about a first panel pivot axis;
• a mounting mechanism for mounting said second panel for sliding movement relative to said first panel in a sliding mode of operation, said panels further being overlapped through said sliding movement for a swinging mode of operation wherein both said panels swing as a unit about said first panel pivot axis, said mounting mechanism being located along the top of the opening;
• a first pivot device carried by said second panel for movement of said second panel relative to said first panel in said swinging mode of operation, said first pivot device being connected to said mounting mechanism;
• and
• a second pivot device for said second panel, said second pivot device having a first channel formed along a section of said second panel spaced from said first pivot device, said first channel extending generally parallel to the direction of travel of said second panel in said sliding movement, a guide slidably mounted within said first channel, a pivot member mounted on said guide and extending therefrom, and a pivot track formed along a section of said first panel within which said pivot member is slidably received.

A closure structure comprising:

• a pair of panels including a first panel, a mount for said first panel in an opening defined in a structure within which said panels are received, and a second panel, said second panel being adapted to slide relative to said first panel through use of a mounting mechanism having a first track positioned along the top of said opening on which said second panel slides relative to said first panel between a closed position of the opening when said first panel and said second panel are extended relative to one another and a slid open position when said first panel and said second panel are substantially overlapped, said second panel being adapted to pivot about a pivot device which travels with said second panel in a swinging mode of operation and is rotatably connected to a part of said mounting mechanism, and including a top pivot mount assembly for said second panel;
• a pivot mounting along a section of the bottom of said second panel;
• a first channel formed in said pivot mounting;
• a guide mounted within said first channel, said guide being adapted to slide in said first channel;
• an arm extending from said guide, said arm having a pivot member extending therefrom;
• and
• a second track formed along the bottom of said first panel within which said pivot member is received for movement thereon.

A closure for a door opening comprising:

• a pair of panels including a first panel, a mount for said first panel in the opening within which said panels are received, and a second panel, said second panel being adapted to slide relative to said first panel through use of a mounting mechanism having a first track positioned along the top of said opening on which said second panel slides relative to said first panel between a closed position of the opening when said first panel and said second panel are extended relative to one another and a slid open position when said first panel and said second panel are substantially overlapped, said second panel being adapted to pivot about a vertical axis which travels with said second panel in a swinging mode of operation, and including a top pivot mount assembly for said second panel;
• a header in the top of said opening, said first track formed in said header;
• a wheel assembly adjacent the top of said second panel, said wheel assembly having a carrier bar which engages with said track to allow said second panel to slide relative to said first panel;
• a support member carried on said first panel, said support member slidably received in a channel of a guide bar mounted to said second panel, said guide bar and support member combining to support said second panel on said first panel in said swinging mode of operation;
• a floating pivot comprising
• a first plate mounted to the bottom of said second panel,
• a first channel formed in said first plate,
• a second plate received for sliding movement in said first channel, said second plate having an arm extending therefrom toward said first panel,
• a wheel mounted to said arm of said second plate,
• a second track positioned in the bottom of said first panel, said wheel of said second plate being received in said second track for sliding movement relative to said first panel, said wheel being a pivot point about which said second panel pivots when said panels are in said swinging mode of operation, said floating pivot serving to permit said panels to move relative to one another in said swinging mode of operation and with said guide bar substantially maintaining the relative spacing between said doors in said overlapped condition;
• a torsion bar positioned within said second panel, said torsion bar being rotatably engaged with said carrier bar, said second panel further pivoting about said torsion bar,
• said wheel assembly further having said carrier bar engaging with a mounting bar fixed to said second panel, said engagement of said carrier bar and said mounting bar being through an overlapping flange connection along a length of both of said carrier and mounting bars, said carrier and mounting bars releasably disengaging when said panels are in said swinging mode of operation;
• and
• a stop bar positioned along a section of the top of said header, said carrier bar abutting said stop bar from said fully closed position to said slid open position such that said second panel is maintained in said opening as said second panel slides from said fully closed position to said slid open position, such that when said second panel is slid beyond said stop bar, said first and second panels can then be rotated as a unit in said swinging mode of operation.