Sliding rail assembly for a sliding panel movable along a track
View Patent ↗A sliding rail assembly ( 20 ) for a sliding panel ( 22 ), movable along a track ( 24 ) between open and closed positions, includes a runner ( 26 ) and a glide ( 28 ) for sliding engagement along the runner ( 26 ). The runner ( 26 ) is adapted to extend from the track ( 24 ). The glide ( 28 ) has an interior surface ( 64 ) disposed about the runner ( 26 ) and an exterior surface ( 62 ) adapted to extend from the sliding panel ( 22 ). A layer of polymeric material ( 48 ) is secured by an adhesive ( 90 ) to either one of the interior surface ( 64 ) of the glide ( 28 ), the runner ( 26 ), or both for facilitating sliding movement of the glide ( 28 ) along the runner ( 26 ).
1. A sliding rail assembly ( 20 ) for a sliding panel ( 22 ) movable along a track ( 24 ) between open and closed positions, said sliding rail assembly ( 20 ) comprising;
a runner ( 26 ) adapted to extend from the track ( 24 ),
a glide ( 28 ) presenting a cross-section having an exterior surface ( 62 ) adapted to extend from the sliding panel ( 22 ) and an interior surface ( 64 ) with said interior surface ( 64 ) disposed about said runner ( 26 ) for sliding engagement along said runner ( 26 ),
a first layer of polymeric material ( 48 ) secured to at least one of said interior surface ( 64 ) of said glide ( 28 ) and said runner ( 26 ) for facilitating sliding movement of said glide ( 28 ) along said runner ( 26 ), and
a first adhesive ( 90 ) disposed between said first layer of polymeric material ( 48 ) and said at least one of said interior surface ( 64 ) of said glide ( 28 ) and said runner ( 26 ) for adhesively securing said first layer of polymeric material ( 48 ) to said at least one of said interior surface ( 64 ) of said glide ( 28 ) and said runner ( 26 ).
2. A sliding rail assembly ( 20 ) as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first adhesive ( 90 ) comprises a thermoplastic vulcanizate.
3. A sliding rail assembly ( 20 ) as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a second layer of polymeric material ( 50 ) secured to said other one of said interior surface ( 64 ) of said glide ( 28 ) and said runner ( 26 ) for facilitating sliding movement of said glide ( 28 ) along said runner ( 26 ).
4. A sliding rail assembly ( 20 ) as set forth in claim 3 further comprising a second adhesive ( 92 ) disposed between said second layer of polymeric material ( 50 ) and said other one of said interior surface ( 64 ) of said glide ( 28 ) and said runner ( 26 ) for adhesively securing said second layer of polymeric material ( 50 ) to said other one of said interior surface ( 64 ) of said glide ( 28 ) and said runner ( 26 ).
5. A sliding rail assembly ( 20 ) as set forth in claim 4 wherein at least one of said adhesives ( 90 , 92 ) comprises a thermoplastic elastomer.
6. A sliding rail assembly ( 20 ) as set forth in claim 4 wherein at least one of said adhesives ( 90 , 92 ) comprises a thermoplastic vulcanizate.
7. A sliding rail assembly ( 20 ) as set forth in claim 3 wherein at least one of said layers of polymeric material ( 48 , 50 ) comprises a polyamide.
8. A sliding rail assembly ( 20 ) as set forth in claim 3 wherein at least one of said layers of polymeric material ( 48 , 50 ) comprises nylon.
9. A sliding rail assembly ( 20 ) as set forth in claim 3 wherein at least one of said layers of polymeric material ( 48 , 50 ) comprises a thermoplastic material.
10. A sliding rail assembly ( 20 ) as set forth in claim 4 wherein said adhesives ( 90 , 92 ) comprise the same adhesive ( 90 ).
11. A sliding rail assembly ( 20 ) as set forth in claim 1 wherein said interior surface ( 64 ) of said glide ( 28 ) at least partially encapsulates said runner ( 26 ).
12. A sliding rail assembly ( 20 ) as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cross-section of said glide ( 28 ) is further defined as a C-shaped cross-section having a C-shaped cavity ( 60 ).
13. A sliding rail assembly ( 20 ) as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a mounting platform ( 36 ) adapted to extend from the track ( 24 ) with said runner ( 26 ) extending from said mounting platform ( 36 ).
14. A sliding rail assembly ( 20 ) as set forth in claim 13 wherein said mounting platform ( 36 ) includes a center arch ( 84 ) and side feet ( 86 ) as viewed in cross-section for disposition of said arch over a guide ridge ( 82 ) in the track ( 24 ).
15. A sliding rail assembly ( 20 ) as set forth in claim 13 further comprising a post ( 38 ) interconnecting said mounting platform ( 36 ) and said runner ( 26 ).
16. A sliding rail assembly ( 20 ) as set forth in claim 1 wherein said runner ( 26 ) presents an arcuate cross-section having an arcuate shape.
17. A sliding rail assembly ( 20 ) as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a flange ( 68 ) extending from said exterior surface ( 62 ) of said glide ( 28 ) for attaching said glide ( 28 ) to the sliding panel ( 22 ).
18. A sliding rail assembly ( 20 ) as set forth in claim 1 wherein said glide ( 28 ) is suspended from said runner ( 26 ).
19. A sliding rail assembly ( 20 ) for a sliding panel ( 22 ) movable along a track ( 24 ) between open and closed positions, said sliding rail assembly ( 20 ) comprising;
a runner ( 26 ) adapted to extend from the track ( 24 ) with said runner ( 26 ) extending along a first axis ( 40 ) and including a pair of arcs ( 42 ) presenting an arcuate cross-section with said arcs ( 42 ) extending in opposite directions transverse to said first axis ( 40 ) with said first axis ( 40 ) bisecting said arcs ( 42 ),
a glide ( 28 ) adapted to extend from the sliding panel ( 22 ) and presenting a C-shaped cross-section having two opposing ends ( 56 ) with said glide ( 28 ) defining a C-shaped cavity ( 60 ),
said glide ( 28 ) having an exterior surface ( 62 ) and an interior surface ( 64 ) with said interior surface ( 64 ) facing said C-shaped cavity ( 60 ),
a second axis ( 58 ) bisecting said C-shaped cross-section of said glide ( 28 ), and
said glide ( 28 ) at least partially encapsulating said runner ( 26 ) with said ends ( 56 ) disposed about said arcs ( 42 ), and said ends ( 56 ) being rotatable about said arcs ( 42 ) such that said first axis ( 40 ) can be aligned or misaligned relative to said second axis ( 58 ).
20. A sliding rail assembly ( 20 ) as set forth in claim 19 wherein said ends ( 56 ) and said first axis ( 40 ) define a space between each of said ends ( 56 ) and said first axis ( 40 ) such that said glide ( 28 ) and said second axis ( 58 ) can rotate with respect to said runner ( 26 ) and said first axis ( 40 ).
21. A sliding rail assembly ( 20 ) as set forth in claim 19 further comprising a post ( 38 ) extending along said first axis ( 40 ) from said runner ( 26 ) adapted to extend from the track ( 24 ).
22. A sliding rail assembly ( 20 ) as set forth in claim 21 wherein said post ( 38 ) further comprises a thickness (T) and said ends ( 56 ) of said glide ( 28 ) define a width (W) as the shortest distance between said ends ( 56 ) with said thickness (T) being less than said width (W) and said post ( 38 ) extends between said ends ( 56 ) such that said glide ( 28 ) and said second axis ( 58 ) can rotate with respect to said runner ( 26 ) and said first axis ( 40 ).
23. A sliding rail assembly ( 20 ) as set forth in claim 19 wherein said arcs ( 42 ) extend to a respective tip ( 44 ) and said glide ( 28 ) is further defined as including a base ( 52 ) and a pair of hooks ( 54 ) extending from said base ( 52 ) to said ends ( 56 ) and said hooks ( 54 ) defining said C-shaped cavity ( 60 ) with said base ( 52 ) and said hooks ( 54 ) and said interior surface ( 64 ) facing said C-shaped cavity ( 60 ).
24. A sliding rail assembly ( 20 ) as set forth in claim 23 further comprising a gap (G) defined as the shortest distance between said tips ( 44 ) and said base ( 52 ) such that said glide ( 28 ) and said second axis ( 58 ) can rotate with respect to said runner ( 26 ) and said first axis ( 40 ).
25. A sliding rail assembly ( 20 ) as set forth in claim 19 further comprising a first layer of polymeric material ( 48 ) secured to at least one of said interior surface ( 64 ) of said glide ( 28 ) and said arcs ( 42 ) of said runner ( 26 ) for facilitating sliding movement of said glide ( 28 ) along said runner ( 26 ).
26. A sliding rail assembly ( 20 ) as set forth in claim 25 further comprising a first adhesive ( 90 ) disposed between said first layer of polymeric material ( 48 ) and said at least one of said interior surface ( 64 ) of said glide ( 28 ) and said arcs ( 42 ) of said runner ( 26 ) for adhesively securing said first layer of polymeric material ( 48 ) to said at least one of said interior surface ( 64 ) of said glide ( 28 ) and said arcs ( 42 ) of said runner ( 26 ) with said first adhesive ( 90 ) comprising a thermoplastic vulcanizate.
27. A sliding rail assembly ( 20 ) for a sliding panel ( 22 ) movable along a track ( 24 ) between open and closed positions, said sliding rail assembly ( 20 ) comprising;
a runner ( 26 ) adapted to extend from the track ( 24 ),
a glide ( 28 )presenting a C-shaped cross-section having a C-shaped cavity ( 60 ) with said slide having an exterior surface ( 62 ) adapted to extend from the sliding panel ( 22 ) and an interior surface ( 64 ) with said interior surface ( 64 ) disposed about said runner ( 26 ) for sliding engagement along said runner ( 26 ),
a first layer of polymeric material ( 48 ) secured to at least one of said interior surface ( 64 ) of said glide ( 28 ) and said runner ( 26 ) for facilitating sliding movement of said glide ( 28 ) along said runner ( 26 ), and
a first adhesive ( 90 ) disposed between said first layer of polymeric material ( 48 ) and said at least one of said interior surface ( 64 ) of said glide ( 28 ) and said runner ( 26 ) for adhesively securing said first layer of polymeric material ( 48 ) to said at least one of said interior surface ( 64 ) of said glide ( 28 ) and said runner ( 26 ),
wherein said slide ( 28 ) includes a base ( 52 ) and a pair hooks ( 54 ) extending from said base ( 52 ) in a spaced and mirrored relationship to respective ends ( 56 ) thereof with said base ( 52 ) and said hooks ( 54 ) and said interior surface ( 64 ) facing said C-shaped cavity ( 60 ) and said hooks ( 54 ) defining a slot ( 66 ) extending into said C-shaped cavity ( 60 ).
28. A sliding rail assembly ( 20 ) as set forth in claim 27 wherein said runner ( 26 ) includes a midpoint ( 46 ) and a pair of arcs ( 42 ) extending in opposite directions from said midpoint ( 46 ) with said arcs ( 42 ) supporting said hooks ( 54 ) of said glide ( 28 ).
29. A sliding rail assembly ( 20 ) as set forth in claim 28 further comprising a post ( 38 ) for connecting said runner ( 26 ) to the track with said post ( 38 ) extending from said midpoint ( 46 ) of said runner ( 26 ) and said arcs ( 42 ) extending from said midpoint ( 46 ) transverse to said post ( 38 ) with said post ( 38 ) extending through said slot ( 66 ) and said runner ( 26 ) being disposed in said C-shaped cavity ( 60 ) with said arcs ( 42 ) supporting said hooks ( 54 ) of said glide ( 28 ).
30. A sliding rail assembly ( 20 ) as set forth in claim 28 wherein said arcs ( 42 ) curve away from the track ( 24 ) when said runner ( 26 ) is attached to the track ( 24 ).