Bi-fold door stop
View Patent ↗A bi-fold door stop controls movement and travel of lead and pivot doors in a set of vertically hung bi-fold doors. The bi-fold door stop has at least two non-parallel surfaces that each may act upon one or both of the lead and pivot door stiles to limit movement in two directions. Movement transverse to the track longitudinal axis is limited when the bi-fold door is either fully open or fully closed, while parallel movement is controlled by limiting the extent that the bi-fold door may be opened. At least two non-parallel surfaces are provided that each may act upon one or more of the lead and pivot door stiles, while an additional surface may act upon the face of the pivot door. The bi-fold door stop may be fabricated as a single part using common molding operations, and acts directly on the door panels, thereby preserving bi-fold door hardware.
1 . A bi-fold door stop, comprising:
a supporting plate defining a first generally planar surface and configured to be fastened to a static structure;
a between-doors spacer defining a second generally planar surface extending from said supporting plate in a plane generally perpendicular to said first generally planar surface, said between-doors spacer configured to extend parallel to a longitudinal axis of a bi-fold door track and adjacent to said bi-fold door track and to separate a guide pin edge of a lead door from a pivot pin edge of a pivot door when said lead door and said pivot door are open;
a lead door opening stopper plate defining a third generally planar surface extending from said supporting plate in a plane generally perpendicular to said first generally planar surface and also generally perpendicular to said second generally planar surface, said lead door opening stopper plate configured to engage with said lead door guide pin edge when said lead door and pivot door are open;
a pivot door opening stopper plate defining a fourth generally planar surface extending in a plane generally parallel to and offset from said lead door opening stopper plate third generally planar surface;
a lead door rotation stopper plate defining a fifth generally planar surface extending in a plane generally parallel to and offset from said between-doors spacer second generally planar surface and offset therefrom by said lead door opening stopper plate third generally planar surface;
a pivot door rotation stopper plate defining a sixth generally planar surface extending coplanar with said lead door rotation stopper plate fifth generally planar surface and separated therefrom by said between-doors spacer second generally planar surface; and
a curved interface coupled with an edge of said sixth generally planar surface distal to said between-doors spacer second generally planar surface and extending therefrom more distally from said between-doors spacer second generally planar surface and more distally from a plane defined by said between-doors spacer second generally planar surface.
2 . The bi-fold door stop of claim 1 , wherein said lead door rotation stopper plate fifth planar surface and said lead door opening stopper plate third generally planar surface intersect along mutual edges to define a corner therebetween and are affixed together at said intersection.
3 . The bi-fold door stop of claim 1 , wherein:
said lead door rotation stopper plate fifth planar surface and said lead door opening stopper plate third generally planar surface intersect to define a first corner therebetween and are affixed together at said lead door rotation stopper plate fifth planar surface and said lead door opening stopper plate third generally planar surface intersection;
said lead door opening stopper plate third planar surface and said between-doors spacer second generally planar surface intersect to define a second corner therebetween and are affixed together at said lead door rotation stopper plate third planar surface and said between-doors spacer second generally planar surface intersection;
said between-doors spacer second generally planar surface and said pivot door opening stopper plate fourth generally planar surface intersect to define a third corner therebetween and are affixed together at said between-doors spacer second generally planar surface and said pivot door opening stopper plate fourth generally planar surface intersection; and
said pivot door opening stopper plate fourth planar surface and said pivot door rotation stopper plate sixth generally planar surface intersect to define a fourth corner therebetween and are affixed together at said pivot door opening stopper plate fourth planar surface and said pivot door rotation stopper plate sixth generally planar surface intersection.
4 . The bi-fold door stop of claim 3 , wherein said between-doors spacer second generally planar surface, said pivot door opening stopper plate fourth generally planar surface, and said pivot door rotation stopper plate sixth generally planar surface each extend from and are rigidly affixed to said supporting plate.
5 . The bi-fold door stop of claim 1 , further comprising a means for affixing said supporting plate to said static structure.
6 . The bi-fold door stop of claim 1 , wherein said static structure further comprises a head jamb and said affixing means further comprises at least one hole passing entirely through said supporting plate.
7 . The bi-fold door stop of claim 1 , wherein said between-doors spacer is configured to engage with and thereby limit travel of said pivot door in a direction perpendicular to said bi-fold door track longitudinal axis when said lead door and pivot door are in a closed position.
8 . A bi-fold door stop, comprising:
a supporting plate defining a first generally planar surface and configured to be fastened to a static structure;
a between-doors spacer defining a second generally planar surface extending from said supporting plate in a plane generally perpendicular to said first generally planar surface, said between-doors spacer configured to extend parallel to a longitudinal axis of a bi-fold door track and adjacent to said bi-fold door track and to separate a guide pin edge of a lead door from a pivot pin edge of a pivot door when said lead door and said pivot door are open;
a lead door opening stopper plate defining a third generally planar surface extending from said supporting plate in a plane generally perpendicular to said first generally planar surface and also generally perpendicular to said second generally planar surface, said lead door opening stopper plate configured to engage with said lead door guide pin edge when said lead door and said pivot door are open;
a lead door rotation stopper plate defining a fifth generally planar surface extending in a plane generally parallel to and offset from said between-doors spacer second generally planar surface and offset therefrom by said lead door opening stopper plate third generally planar surface, said lead door rotation stopper plate configured when said lead door and said pivot door are open to limit a maximum amount of rotation of said lead door around a pivotal axis of a pivot pin of said pivot door;
a pivot door opening stopper plate defining a fourth generally planar surface extending in a plane generally parallel to and offset from said lead door opening stopper plate third generally planar surface;
a pivot door rotation stopper plate defining a sixth generally planar surface extending coplanar with said lead door rotation stopper plate fifth generally planar surface and separated therefrom by said between-doors spacer second generally planar surface, said pivot door rotation stopper plate configured when said lead door and said pivot door are open to limit a maximum amount of travel of said pivot door transverse to a longitudinal axis of said bi-fold door track; and
a curved interface coupled with an edge of said sixth generally planar surface distal to said between-doors spacer second generally planar surface and extending therefrom more distally from said between-doors spacer second generally planar surface and more distally from a plane defined by said between-doors spacer second generally planar surface.
9 . The bi-fold door stop of claim 8 , wherein said lead door rotation stopper plate fifth planar surface and said lead door opening stopper plate third generally planar surface intersect along mutual edges to define a corner therebetween and are affixed together at said intersection.
10 . The bi-fold door stop of claim 8 , wherein:
said lead door rotation stopper plate fifth planar surface and said lead door opening stopper plate third generally planar surface intersect to define a first corner therebetween and are affixed together at said lead door rotation stopper plate fifth planar surface and said lead door opening stopper plate third generally planar surface intersection;
said lead door opening stopper plate third planar surface and said between-doors spacer second generally planar surface intersect to define a second corner therebetween and are affixed together at said lead door rotation stopper plate third planar surface and said between-doors spacer second generally planar surface intersection;
said between-doors spacer second generally planar surface and said pivot door opening stopper plate fourth generally planar surface intersect to define a third corner therebetween and are affixed together at said between-doors spacer second generally planar surface and said pivot door opening stopper plate fourth generally planar surface intersection; and
said pivot door opening stopper plate fourth planar surface and said pivot door rotation stopper plate sixth generally planar surface intersect to define a fourth corner therebetween and are affixed together at said pivot door opening stopper plate fourth planar surface and said pivot door rotation stopper plate sixth generally planar surface intersection.
11 . The bi-fold door stop of claim 10 , wherein said between-doors spacer second generally planar surface, said pivot door opening stopper plate fourth generally planar surface, and said pivot door rotation stopper plate sixth generally planar surface each extend from and are rigidly affixed to said supporting plate.
12 . The bi-fold door stop of claim 8 , further comprising a means for affixing said supporting plate to said static structure.
13 . The bi-fold door stop of claim 8 , wherein said static structure further comprises a head jamb and said affixing means further comprises at least one hole passing entirely through said supporting plate.
14 . The bi-fold door stop of claim 8 , wherein said between-doors spacer is configured to engage with and thereby limit travel of said pivot door in a direction perpendicular to said bi-fold door track longitudinal axis when said lead door and pivot door are in a closed position.
15 . A bi-fold door stop, comprising:
a supporting plate defining a first generally planar surface and configured to be fastened to a static structure;
a between-doors spacer defining a second generally planar surface extending from said supporting plate in a plane generally perpendicular to said first generally planar surface, said between-doors spacer configured to extend parallel to a longitudinal axis of a bi-fold door track and adjacent to said bi-fold door track and to separate a guide pin edge of a lead door from a pivot pin edge of a pivot door when said lead door and said pivot door are open;
a lead door opening stopper plate defining a third generally planar surface extending from said supporting plate in a plane generally perpendicular to said first generally planar surface and also generally perpendicular to said second generally planar surface, said lead door opening stopper plate configured to engage with said lead door guide pin edge when said lead door and said pivot door are open; and
a lead door rotation stopper plate defining a fifth generally planar surface extending in a plane generally parallel to and offset from said between-doors spacer second generally planar surface and offset therefrom by said lead door opening stopper plate third generally planar surface, said lead door rotation stopper plate configured when said lead door and said pivot door are open to limit a maximum amount of rotation of said lead door around a pivotal axis of a pivot pin of said pivot door,
wherein said lead door opening stopper plate third generally planar surface and a major surface of said lead door are generally parallel to each other when said lead door and said pivot door are open.
16 . A bi-fold door stop, comprising:
a supporting plate defining a first generally planar surface and configured to be fastened to a static structure;
a between-doors spacer defining a second generally planar surface extending from said supporting plate in a plane generally perpendicular to said first generally planar surface, said between-doors spacer configured to extend parallel to a longitudinal axis of a bi-fold door track and adjacent to said bi-fold door track and to separate a guide pin edge of a lead door from a pivot pin edge of a pivot door when said lead door and said pivot door are open;
a lead door opening stopper plate defining a third generally planar surface extending from said supporting plate in a plane generally perpendicular to said first generally planar surface and also generally perpendicular to said second generally planar surface, said lead door opening stopper plate configured to engage with said lead door guide pin edge when said lead door and said pivot door are open;
a lead door rotation stopper plate defining a fifth generally planar surface extending in a plane generally parallel to and offset from said between-doors spacer second generally planar surface and offset therefrom by said lead door opening stopper plate third generally planar surface, said lead door rotation stopper plate configured when said lead door and said pivot door are open to limit a maximum amount of rotation of said lead door around a pivotal axis of a pivot pin of said pivot door; and
a pivot door rotation stopper plate defining a sixth generally planar surface extending coplanar with said lead door rotation stopper plate fifth generally planar surface and separated therefrom by said between-doors spacer second generally planar surface, said pivot door rotation stopper plate configured when said lead door and said pivot door are open to limit a maximum amount of travel of said pivot door transverse to a longitudinal axis of said bi-fold door track;
wherein said pivot door opening stopper plate sixth generally planar surface and a major surface of said pivot door are generally parallel to each other when said lead door and said pivot door are open.