# US 8,464,471 B2 · Panel movement system

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 8,464,471 B2
- Document ID: US8464471B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/989,945
- Filed: 2009-04-17
- Published: 2011-06-02
- Granted: 2013-06-18
- Earliest claimed: 2008-04-28
- Applicants: Graeme Owen Bertram
- Inventors: Graeme Owen Bertram
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8464471B2

## CPC

- E06B 3/4654: {disappearing in pockets in the wall; Pockets therefor}
- E05D 15/0621: {Details, e.g. suspension or supporting guides (E05D15/0604, E05D15/08 - E05D15/14 take precedence)}
- E05Y 2900/14: Doors disappearing in pockets of a wall, e.g. so-called pocket doors
- E06B: FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES (shades or blinds for greenhouses A01G9/22; curtains A47H; lids for car boots or bonnets B62D25/10; skylights E04B7/18; sunshades, awnings E04F10/00)
- E05D: HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS (pivotal connections in general F16C11/00)
- E05Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF

## Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of operating a panel system including a moveable panel and an opening, the method characterised by the steps of aligning the panel with respect to the opening in an alignment plane so that the panel is capable of moving across the opening in the alignment plane, and positioning a panel release mechanism such that a user pushing on the panel along the alignment plane causes the panel release mechanism to release the panel from a fixed position within the panel system.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A panel release mechanism configured to release a moveable panel from an open position within a panel system, the panel release mechanism comprising:
a housing;
a translation member configured to be moved between a released position and a loaded position;
a biasing mechanism configured to bias the translation member towards the released position;
a control mechanism configured to control movement of the translation member, comprising a locating mechanism and a guidance mechanism, wherein the guidance mechanism comprises a path which interacts with the locating mechanism to define the travel and release of the biasing mechanism, which indirectly or directly causes the panel to be released from the open position, and
wherein either the locating mechanism or the guidance mechanism is configured to remain in a fixed position relative to the housing while the guidance mechanism or the locating mechanism respectively rotates and travels within the housing in order to control the movement of the translation member.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The panel release mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein the path comprises a series of positions from which the locating mechanism can only move in one direction along the path.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The panel release mechanism as claimed in claim 1 configured to maintain a substantially biased condition of the biasing mechanism until released by a user.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The panel release mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the translation member is configured to be moved from the released position to the loaded position by a user pushing against the bias of the biasing mechanism.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The panel release mechanism as claimed in claim 4, wherein the translation member is configured to be subsequently released from the loaded position by the user pushing against the bias of the biasing mechanism.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A method of operating a panel system comprising a moveable panel, an opening, and a panel release mechanism as claimed in claim 1, the method comprising the steps of:
a) aligning the panel with respect to the opening in an alignment plane so that the panel is capable of moving across the opening in the alignment plane, and
b) positioning the panel release mechanism such that a user pushing on the panel along the alignment plane causes the panel release mechanism to release the panel from an open position within the panel system.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the panel is a door.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the panel system is a cavity slider door system.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein releasing the panel moves the panel across the opening sufficiently for the user to grasp the panel and pull it fully across the opening.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the panel is substantially contained within a cavity before being released by the panel release mechanism.

### Claim 11 (depends on 6)

A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the panel release mechanism is positioned on an edge of the panel facing away from the opening.