A folding door and window
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- GUANGDONG OPK SMART HOME TECH CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2026-03-06
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-09
Smart Images
Figure CN122169700A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the field of door and window technology, and more particularly to a folding door and window. Background Technology
[0002] Folding doors and windows have gained widespread use in modern residential and commercial buildings due to their significant advantages, such as small space occupation when open, large opening area, and aesthetically pleasing appearance. A typical folding door or window mainly consists of an upper track, multiple pulleys sliding within the upper track, door / window sashes connected to the pulleys, and hinge assemblies connecting adjacent sashes. Guided by the hinge assemblies, the door / window sashes can flexibly switch between unfolded (closed) and folded (open) positions. However, existing folding door and window technologies have revealed shortcomings in practical applications, specifically in the following two aspects: 1. Difficulty in Closing Folding Doors and Windows: When closing folding doors and windows, users need to overcome various resistances, including door inertia, hinge friction, and resistance from sliding tracks. The final stage of the closing process is particularly strenuous, significantly impacting the user experience. This is especially difficult for the elderly, children, or those with mobility issues. Although door closers designed for hinged or sliding doors exist, their complex structures make them difficult to directly adapt to folding doors due to their unique movement trajectory, thus failing to effectively solve the problem of difficulty in closing folding doors and windows.
[0003] 2. Limitations of the Horizontal Frame Structure Design: The existing horizontal frame structure design of folding doors and windows has significant limitations. To ensure the door can reach its maximum opening angle when folded, the mounting box connecting the pulleys usually needs to be installed at the end of the horizontal frame. This installation method inevitably interferes with the hinge assembly spatially, or requires a complex combination method. This leads to two problems: First, the space within the horizontal frame available for installing other functional components (such as dampers, locks, etc.) becomes extremely limited, greatly restricting the further expansion of product functions; second, the assembly process is extremely cumbersome, requiring the mounting box and hinge assembly to be assembled on the horizontal frame first, and then the entire door leaf to be lifted and connected to the pulleys on the track. This operation is difficult, inefficient, and prone to assembly errors, affecting the overall performance and service life of the folding doors and windows. Summary of the Invention
[0004] The purpose of this invention is to disclose a folding door and window that solves the problems of laborious closing operation, high operation difficulty, and low assembly efficiency of folding doors and windows.
[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention discloses a folding door and window, comprising: an upper track; a plurality of pulleys disposed within the upper track; at least two door / window sashes, including a first door / window sash and a second door / window sash connected adjacent to each other by a hinge assembly, each door / window sash having a horizontal frame, wherein the horizontal frame is provided with a mounting groove extending along its own length and two side grooves, the two side grooves being located on opposite sides of the mounting groove; the hinge assembly, one end of which is connected to the side groove of the first door / window sash, and the other end of which is connected to the side groove of the second door / window sash; guided by the hinge assembly, all door / window sashes can move between an unfolded position and a folded position; a hanging box disposed at the end of the mounting groove of each door / window sash and connected to the corresponding pulley; and an automatic closing mechanism. The device includes: a housing fixed within the side groove of the first door / window sash, the housing having a sliding track; a sliding member slidably placed within the sliding track; an elastic member disposed within the housing for providing a restoring elastic force to the sliding member; and a pull rope, one end connected to the sliding member and the other end fixed within the side groove of the second door / window sash. The fixing point of the pull rope on the second door / window sash, the rotation axis of the hinge assembly, and the sliding path of the sliding member are configured such that: when the folding door / window rotates from a closed state to an open state, the pull rope is tensioned and pulls the sliding member to overcome the elastic force of the elastic member to move and store energy; when the folding door / window rotates from an open state to a closed state, the elastic member releases energy to drive the sliding member to move in the opposite direction, and the pull rope assists in closing the door sash.
[0006] By adopting the above solution, when the folding door / window rotates from the closed to the open state, the pull cord is tensioned and pulls the sliding component to overcome the elastic force of the elastic component, thereby accumulating energy in the elastic component. When the folding door / window rotates from the open to the closed state, the elastic component releases the previously accumulated energy, driving the sliding component to move in the opposite direction, and thus assisting the door to close via the pull cord. This ingeniously utilizes the energy storage and release characteristics of the elastic component, achieving automatic door closing assistance without a complex structure. It effectively solves the problem of laborious closing operations in existing folding doors and windows, making it especially convenient for the elderly, children, or those with mobility impairments. Each door / window sash has an installation groove and two side grooves extending along its length within its horizontal frame. This allows for a rational spatial layout of the mounting box and hinge components, preventing interference and eliminating the need for complex assembly. During assembly, there is no need to first assemble the mounting box and hinge components on the horizontal frame before lifting the door sash to connect with the pulleys. Instead, the mounting box can be directly installed at the end of the installation groove and connected to the pulleys, while the hinge components are installed in the side grooves. This greatly simplifies the assembly process, reduces operational difficulty, improves assembly efficiency, effectively reduces assembly errors, and enhances the overall quality of folding doors and windows.
[0007] Furthermore, when all the door and window sashes are in the folded position, the hinge assembly is disposed between the relatively close side grooves of two adjacent door and window sashes; the two ends of the pull rope of the automatic closing mechanism are respectively disposed in the relatively far side grooves of two adjacent door and window sashes.
[0008] By adopting the above solution, the hinge assembly can be arranged in a more compact and reasonable spatial layout when folded, reducing the external space occupied and making the folded doors and windows more regular in shape. By setting the two ends of the pull rope of the automatic closing mechanism in the relatively far side grooves of two adjacent door and window sashes, the space between the side grooves can be fully utilized during the opening and closing of the door and window sashes, so that the pull rope has sufficient travel and a reasonable movement trajectory, ensuring that the automatic closing mechanism works stably and effectively, assisting the smooth closing of the door and window sashes, and improving the convenience and reliability of use.
[0009] Furthermore, the automatic closing mechanism also includes a first guide member fixed in the side groove of the first door / window sash, the first guide member being provided with a first guide wheel; the pull rope extends to the side groove of the second door / window sash after passing around the first guide wheel.
[0010] By adopting the above solution, the pull rope can change direction during operation with the help of the first guide wheel, effectively reducing friction between the pull rope and components such as the side groove, reducing wear, and extending the service life of the pull rope. At the same time, the guiding effect of the guide wheel can make the pull rope move more smoothly and steadily, avoiding problems such as jamming and tangling, ensuring that the automatic closing mechanism can stably and reliably assist the closing of the door and window sash, and improving the overall performance and user experience of the folding door and window.
[0011] Furthermore, the automatic closing mechanism also includes an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the initial preload of the elastic element; the adjustment mechanism includes an adjustment housing and an adjustment rod; the first guide member is disposed on the adjustment housing; one end of the adjustment rod is rotatably connected to the housing, and the other end is threadedly connected to the adjustment housing, and rotating the adjustment rod can adjust the gap distance between the housing and the adjustment housing.
[0012] By adopting the above solution, the initial preload of the elastic element can be flexibly and accurately adjusted according to different usage scenarios and needs, thereby changing the force of the automatic closing mechanism in assisting the closing of the door and window sash. Whether the door and window sash is light or heavy, the ideal closing effect can be achieved, which greatly improves the applicability and versatility of folding doors and windows, while optimizing the user experience.
[0013] Furthermore, it also includes a closing damping assembly and / or a latch assembly; the closing damping assembly is disposed at the end of the mounting groove of any of the door / window sashes away from the hanging box; the latch assembly includes a mounting shell and a latch disposed at the end of the mounting groove of the other door / window sash away from the hanging box, the latch being movable up and down relative to the mounting shell to lock relative to the upper track when the door / window sash is in the unfolded position; when the closing damping assembly and the latch assembly are present simultaneously, the closing damping assembly and the latch assembly are respectively disposed on the adjacent first door / window sash and second door / window sash.
[0014] By adopting the above solution, the closing damping component is located at the end of the door / window sash mounting groove furthest from the mounting box. This provides cushioning when the door / window sash closes, effectively preventing damage or excessive noise caused by the impact of rapid closing, extending the lifespan of the doors / windows, and improving user comfort. The latch component, through its engagement with the upper track lock box, reliably locks the doors / windows when they are in the unfolded position, enhancing the anti-theft and security of the folding doors / windows. Its rational structural layout does not occupy extra space, making the folding doors / windows both practical and secure. The closing damping component effectively cushions the doors / windows when they close, reducing impact and noise and protecting the door / window structure, while the latch component precisely engages with the upper track lock box when the doors / windows are unfolded, achieving reliable locking. Both components perform their respective functions without interfering with each other, greatly enhancing the security and anti-theft performance of the folding doors / windows while improving user comfort, and making full use of the door / window sash space, resulting in a compact and functional overall design.
[0015] Furthermore, it also includes an opening damping assembly, which includes a damping element and a toggle element, used to abut against each other to trigger damping when the folding door / window is displaced in the opening direction.
[0016] By adopting the above solution, the door opening damping component can effectively play a buffering role when the door and window sash is opened, reducing impact and noise and protecting the door and window structure.
[0017] Furthermore, the door closing damping assembly includes a connecting shell and a damping tube. The connecting shell is disposed at the end of the mounting groove, and the damping tube is disposed in the connecting shell. When all the door and window sashes are in the folded position, the movable end of the damping tube extends beyond the mounting groove along the length direction of the mounting groove.
[0018] By adopting the above solution, the damping tube can make contact with the relevant components earlier and more fully during the closing process of the door and window sash, play a buffering role in advance, effectively extend the buffering stroke, and thus more smoothly slow down the closing speed of the door and window sash, avoid strong impact caused by rapid closing, reduce the risk of damage to the door and window sash and track components, and further reduce the noise generated during closing, improve the user experience and the overall quality of folding doors and windows.
[0019] Furthermore, the latch assembly also includes a cover that slides on the mounting housing and is movable relative to the latch between a first position and a second position; when all the door and window sashes are in the folded position, the cover is in the first position and blocks the latch from extending; when all the door and window sashes are in the unfolded position, the door and window sash opposite to the cover pushes the cover to the second position, releasing the obstruction to the latch.
[0020] By adopting the above solution, the lock tongue can be prevented from accidentally extending in the folded state, causing collision damage or interfering with the folding operation, thus ensuring a smooth and safe folding process. When the door or window sash is in the unfolded position, the cover is pushed to the second position relative to the door or window sash to release the obstruction, allowing the lock tongue to extend normally and engage with the lock box to achieve locking. This design cleverly controls the lock tongue action automatically according to the different states of the door or window sash, improving the reliability and safety of the lock tongue component and optimizing the user experience of folding doors and windows.
[0021] Furthermore, the hinge assembly includes a first hinge arm and a second hinge arm that are hinged to each other; the first hinge arm is connected to the end of the side groove of the first door / window sash and has a first limiting wall thereon; the second hinge arm is connected to the end of the side groove of the second door / window sash and has a second limiting wall thereon; when all the door / window sashes are in the folded position, the first limiting wall abuts against the second limiting wall to keep the first hinge arm and the second hinge arm parallel.
[0022] By adopting the above solution, excessive deformation of the hinge assembly in the folded state can be effectively limited, ensuring that the door and window sashes are structurally neat and stable after folding. This avoids misalignment and shaking of the door and window sashes due to the hinges swinging arbitrarily, improving the overall stability and reliability of the folding doors and windows. It also facilitates subsequent unfolding operations and optimizes the user experience.
[0023] Furthermore, when all the door and window sashes are in the folded position, the ends of the pulleys on two adjacent door and window sashes abut against each other, or the door and window sashes are parallel to each other.
[0024] By adopting the above solution, the contact of the pulleys can play a positioning and support role, preventing excessive offset or shaking of the door and window sashes in the folded state, thus enhancing the stability of the structure. The parallelism between the door and window sashes makes the overall appearance after folding more regular and beautiful, reduces space occupation, and avoids problems such as jamming and unevenness when unfolding due to misalignment of the door and window sashes, thereby improving the convenience and reliability of folding doors and windows.
[0025] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: 1. The automatic closing mechanism utilizes the energy storage and release characteristics of elastic elements. When the folding door / window opens from the closed state, the tensioned rope pulls the sliding element to overcome the elastic force of the elastic element and move to store energy; when closing from the open state, the elastic element releases energy to drive the sliding element to move in the opposite direction, and the door closes with the assistance of the rope. This achieves the automatic closing assistance function without a complex structure, effectively reducing the effort required by users when closing doors and windows, solving the problem of difficult closing, and is especially convenient for the elderly, children, or people with mobility impairments. 2. Each door and window sash has an installation groove and two side grooves extending along its length in the horizontal frame. This design allows for a reasonable spatial layout of the mounting box and hinge components, avoiding mutual interference and eliminating the need for complex assembly methods. It also provides ample space for the installation of other functional components, which is conducive to the further expansion of product functions, such as the convenient installation of dampers, locks, etc. 3. During the assembly process, the traditional, complex method of first assembling the mounting box and hinge assembly on the horizontal frame and then lifting the door leaf to connect with the pulley has been changed. This folding door and window can directly install the mounting box at the end of the mounting groove and connect it with the pulley, while the hinge assembly is installed in the side groove, which greatly simplifies the assembly process, reduces the difficulty of operation, and improves assembly efficiency; 4. It reduces the cumbersome operations in the assembly and connection of multiple components, thereby effectively reducing the generation of assembly errors, making the cooperation between the various components of folding doors and windows more precise, improving the overall performance and service life of folding doors and windows, and ensuring their operational stability and reliability. Attached Figure Description
[0026] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.
[0027] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the opening structure of a folding door and window according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the folding door and window closing structure according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram showing the pulleys abutting against each other when the folding doors and windows are opened according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the folding door and window when it is opened according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the folding structure of the first and second door / window sashes according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the unfolded structure of the first and second door / window sashes according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the automatic closing mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the adjustment mechanism structure of the automatic closing mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the hinge assembly structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the locking tongue assembly in an unlocked state according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the locking tongue assembly in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the internal assembly structure of the upper track according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 13 This is an exploded structural diagram of the door closing damping component according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of the horizontal frame structure according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 15 This is a schematic diagram showing the position of the locking member and the locking tongue in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 16 This is a schematic diagram of the specific installation structure of the locking component according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0028] Explanation of key figure labels: 1. Upper track; 2. Pulley; 3. Horizontal frame; 31. Mounting groove; 32. First side groove; 33. Second side groove; 34. First door / window sash; 35. Second door / window sash; 36. Handle; 4. Hinge assembly; 41. First hinge arm; 411. First limiting wall; 42. Second hinge arm; 421. Second limiting wall; 43. Hinge shaft; 5. Hanging box; 6. Automatic closing mechanism; 61. Housing; 611. Slide rail; 62. 63. Sliding component; 64. Elastic component; 65. Pull rope; 66. First guide component; 661. First guide wheel; 67. Adjustment mechanism; 671. Adjustment housing; 672. Adjustment rod; 7. Closing damping assembly; 71. Connecting housing; 72. Damping tube; 8. Lock tongue assembly; 82. Mounting housing; 83. Lock tongue; 84. Cover; 9. Opening damping assembly; 91. Damping component; 92. Actuating component; 10. Locking component; 11. Abutting component. Detailed Implementation
[0029] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.
[0030] In this invention, the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "front," "rear," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "middle," "vertical," "horizontal," "lateral," and "longitudinal" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. These terms are primarily for the purpose of better describing the invention and its embodiments, and are not intended to limit the indicated devices, elements, or components to having a specific orientation, or to be constructed and operated in a specific orientation.
[0031] Furthermore, in addition to indicating direction or positional relationship, some of the aforementioned terms may also have other meanings. For example, the term "above" may also be used in certain situations to indicate a dependency or connection. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of these terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.
[0032] Furthermore, the terms "installation," "setup," "equipped with," "connection," and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral structure; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or an internal connection between two devices, components, or parts. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of these terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.
[0033] Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," etc., are primarily used to distinguish different devices, components, or parts (which may be the same or different in specific type and construction), and are not intended to indicate or imply the relative importance or quantity of the indicated devices, components, or parts. Unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.
[0034] The technical solution of the present invention will be further described below with reference to the embodiments and accompanying drawings.
[0035] Please refer to the embodiments of the present invention. Figures 1 to 3 As shown, a folding door and window is provided, which aims to solve the problems of laborious closing operation of folding doors and windows in the prior art, as well as the complex assembly and limited functional expansion caused by the design limitations of the horizontal frame structure.
[0036] like Figure 1 As shown, the folding door and window includes an upper track 1, multiple pulleys 2, at least two door and window sashes, a hinge assembly 4, a hanging box 5, and an automatic closing mechanism 6. The at least two door and window sashes include at least a first door and window sash 34 and a second door and window sash 35 that are hinged adjacent to each other.
[0037] Specifically, in this embodiment, refer to Figure 12 As shown, multiple pulleys 2 are slidably disposed within the upper track 1. (See reference) Figure 2 ,14 As shown, each of the aforementioned door and window sashes has a horizontal frame 3, within which are provided mounting grooves 31 extending along their own length and two side grooves, specifically a first side groove 32 and a second side groove 33. The door and window sashes are connected by hinge assemblies 4, with the two side grooves located on either side of the mounting groove 31. This three-groove structure design, combining the mounting groove and the two side grooves, allows the hanging box 5 to be installed in the mounting groove 31, while the hinge assembly 4 is installed in the side grooves, achieving complete spatial separation between the two and avoiding mutual interference.
[0038] For better explanation, please refer to Figure 1-6 As shown, any two adjacent door / window sashes are referred to as the first door / window sash 34 and the second door / window sash 35. One end of the hinge assembly 4 is connected to the first side groove 32 of the first door / window sash 34, and the other end is connected to the first side groove 32 of the second door / window sash 35. When the door / window sashes are closed, the first side groove 32 of the first door / window sash 34 and the first side groove 32 of the second door / window sash 35 are collinear, and the second side groove 33 of the first door / window sash 34 and the second side groove 33 of the second door / window sash 35 are collinear. Guided by the hinge assembly 4, all the door / window sashes can be in the unfolded position (i.e., the closed state, such as...). Figure 2 (as shown) and folding position (open state, as shown) Figure 1 , Figure 3 Move between (as shown).
[0039] The hanging box 5 is disposed at the end of the mounting groove 31 of each door / window sash and connected to the corresponding pulley 2. This end-mounting method allows the hanging box 5 to move as close to the end as possible when the door sash is folded, thereby achieving a larger folding opening.
[0040] The automatic closing mechanism 6 helps solve the problem of the difficulty in closing folding doors. For example... Figure 7 As shown, it includes a housing 61, a sliding member 62, an elastic member 63, and a pull rope 64. The housing 61 is fixed in the second side groove 33 of the first door / window sash 34. The housing 61 is provided with a slide rail 611, and the sliding member 62 slides in the slide rail 611. The elastic member 63 is provided in the housing 61 and is used to provide a restoring force to the sliding member 62. The elastic member 63 is preferably a tension spring or a compression spring. One end of the pull rope 64 is connected to the sliding member 62, and the other end is fixed in the second side groove 33 of the second door / window sash 35. The fixing method includes, but is not limited to, screw connection or snap connection. In this embodiment, the pull rope 64 is provided with locking blocks at both ends. The assembly is completed by locking and fixing with the locking slots on the sliding member 62 and the locking slots on the second side groove 33 of the second door / window sash 35.
[0041] It should be noted that the fixing point of the pull rope 64 on the second door / window sash 35, the rotation axis of the hinge assembly 4, and the sliding path of the slider 62 are configured such that when the user pushes open the door / window sash from the indoor side, the folding door / window... Figure 2 The closed state shown Figure 3 When rotated in the open state, the first door / window sash 34 and the second door / window sash 35 rotate relative to each other around the rotation axis of the hinge assembly 4. As the rotation angle increases, the spatial distance between the fixed point on the two doors, i.e., the connection point of the second door / window sash 35, and the first door / window sash 34 where the automatic closing mechanism 6 is located, changes, and the pull rope 64 is gradually tensioned. The tensioned pull rope 64 pulls the sliding member 62 to move within the slide rail 611, overcoming the elastic force of the elastic member 63, thereby compressing the spring to store energy.
[0042] When the user needs to close the doors and windows, from Figure 3 The shown open state Figure 2 When the door / window is rotated in the closed state, the elastic element 63 releases the previously stored energy, driving the sliding element 62 to move in the opposite direction within the slide rail 611. The movement of the sliding element 62 is converted into a pulling force on the second door / window sash 35 via the pull rope 64. This pulling force is in the same direction as the door's closing movement, thus assisting in the automatic closing of the door and greatly reducing the force required by the user during the final stage of closing. When the door / window sash is in the closed state, as shown... Figure 6 As shown, the initial positions of the pull rope fixing point on the second door / window sash 35 and the slider 62 are collinear or in a state of minimum lever arm. As the door / window sash opens to the folded position, due to the presence of the rotation axis of the hinge assembly 4, the fixing point on the second door / window sash 35 moves in an arc around the rotation axis, and the linear distance between the fixing point and the slider 62 gradually increases, thereby forcing the pull rope (64) to tighten and pull the slider 62 to move. When the door / window sash is opened to the maximum angle, this distance reaches its maximum, and the energy stored in the elastic element 63 also reaches its maximum. Conversely, during the closing process, this distance gradually decreases, the elastic element 63 releases energy, and provides an auxiliary pulling force consistent with the closing direction through the pull rope 64. Therefore, by adjusting the relative position of the fixing point and the rotation axis and the direction of the sliding path, the magnitude and stroke of the auxiliary force can be precisely controlled.
[0043] In this way, energy is cleverly stored during the door opening process and released when closing, achieving automatic closing assistance without the need for complex electronic or hydraulic control structures, directly solving the problem of laborious closing mentioned in the background technology. At the same time, the three-slot structure design of the horizontal frame 3 allows the hanging box 5, hinge assembly 4, and automatic closing mechanism 6 to perform their respective functions without interference. During installation, the hanging box 5 can be directly installed into the mounting slot 31 and connected to the pulley 2, and the hinge assembly 4 and automatic closing mechanism 6 can also be installed into different side slots, eliminating the need for pre-assembly, greatly simplifying the assembly process, improving efficiency, and solving the problem of complex assembly.
[0044] In one specific embodiment, such as Figure 4-5 As shown, when all the door and window sashes are in the folded position (i.e., open state), the hinge assembly 4 is disposed between the relatively close side grooves of two adjacent door and window sashes, that is... Figure 5 The first door / window sash 34 and the second door / window sash 35 are located within their respective side grooves 32. Simultaneously, the two ends of the pull rope 64 of the automatic closing mechanism 6 are respectively positioned in the relatively distant side grooves of the two adjacent door / window sashes. Specifically, the housing 61 of the automatic closing mechanism 6 is located in the outer side groove of the first door / window sash 34, away from the second door / window sash 35 (i.e., the second side groove 33 of the first door / window sash 34), and the fixing point of the pull rope 64 is located in the outer side groove of the second door / window sash 35, away from the first door / window sash 34 (i.e., the second side groove 33 of the second door / window sash 35). This optimizes the spatial layout and movement trajectory. By placing the hinge assembly 4 in adjacent inner side grooves, the door sashes achieve a compact structure and neat appearance when folded. By setting the fixing points of the automatic closing mechanism 6 and its pull rope 64 in relatively far side grooves, the maximum change in distance between the outer side grooves during the opening and closing of the two doors is fully utilized, providing sufficient and effective travel for the pull rope 64. This ensures that the automatic closing mechanism 6 can work stably and efficiently, further improving the space utilization rate of folding doors and windows and the operational reliability of the mechanism.
[0045] To address the issues of friction and jamming during rope movement, in some embodiments, such as... Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the automatic closing mechanism 6 further includes a first guide member 66 fixed within the second side groove 33 of the first door / window sash 34, and the first guide member 66 is equipped with a first guide wheel 661. After one end of the pull rope 64 is connected to the sliding member 62, it first passes around the first guide wheel 661, and then changes direction to extend into the side groove of the second door / window sash 35 for fixation. By setting the first guide member 66 with the first guide wheel 661, the sliding friction of the pull rope 64 is changed to rolling friction, which greatly reduces wear and extends the service life of the pull rope 64. At the same time, the first guide wheel 661 plays a precise guiding role, ensuring that the pull rope 64 moves along a predetermined trajectory, avoiding entanglement in the narrow side groove or unnecessary friction with the inner wall of the side groove, thus ensuring the smoothness and reliability of the automatic closing process.
[0046] like Figure 7-8As shown, to address the issue of the inability to adjust the force of the automatic closing mechanism under different weights or usage environments, the automatic closing mechanism 6 further includes an adjustment mechanism 67 for adjusting the initial preload of the elastic element 63. The adjustment mechanism 67 includes an adjustment housing 671 and an adjustment rod 672. The first guide member 66 is disposed on the adjustment housing 671, and the two can be embedded, integrally welded, or integrally formed. One end of the adjustment rod 672 is rotatably connected to the housing 61, and the other end is threadedly connected to the adjustment housing 671. The operator can rotate the adjustment rod 672 using a tool. Due to the thread, the rotational motion is converted into linear motion, thereby driving the housing 6 to move along the length of the side groove to adjust the distance between the housing 6 and the adjustment housing 111. When the first guide member 66 moves away from the housing 61, it changes the effective length of the pull rope 64 connected to the sliding member 62 extending out of the housing 61. Since the total length of the pull rope 64 remains unchanged, it forces the sliding member 62 to move within the slide rail 611, thereby compressing or stretching the elastic element 63, and thus changing the preload. This is equivalent to compressing or stretching the elastic element 63 in its initial state, thereby adjusting its initial preload. For example, for heavier door panels, the preload can be increased to provide stronger closing assistance force; for lighter door panels, the preload can be decreased to prevent excessive closing impact. This adjustment mechanism 67 enables the folding doors and windows of the present invention to adapt to door panels of different sizes and weights, greatly improving the applicability of the product and the user experience.
[0047] like Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the folding door and window also includes a closing damping assembly 7 and / or a locking tongue assembly 8 to address the problems of existing folding doors and windows having limited functionality, lacking buffer protection, and not being able to lock effectively.
[0048] Specifically, the closing damping component 7 is disposed on one end of the mounting groove 31 of any of the door or window sashes, for example, the first door or window sash 34, away from the hanging box 5.
[0049] The latch assembly 8 includes a mounting housing 82 and a latch 83 disposed at the end of the other door / window sash away from the mounting box 5, such as the mounting groove 31 of the second door / window sash 35. The latch 83 is movable up and down relative to the mounting housing 82 and can be driven by a spring so that when the door / window sash is in the open position, i.e., the closed state, the latch 83 extends and engages with the lock box to achieve locking.
[0050] By adding a closing damping component 7, a buffer is provided in the final stage of door closing, preventing violent impact between the door and the horizontal frame 3 or adjacent door panels, thus achieving the functions of noise reduction and protecting the door and window structure. Adding a latch component 8 ensures reliable locking after the door is closed, enhancing anti-theft performance. These functional components are cleverly installed within the mounting groove 31, making full use of the structural space of the horizontal frame 3 and solving the problem of limited functional expansion. When both the closing damping component 7 and the latch component 8 are present, it is preferable to place them on the adjacent first door / window panel 34 and the second door / window panel 35, respectively. In folding doors and windows, the two adjacent door panels move relative to each other. Placing the closing damping component 7 and the latch component 8 on the two adjacent door panels allows them to operate in their respective independent spaces. When the doors and windows are closed, the closing damping component 7, located on the first door / window sash 34, first contacts the horizontal frame or the other door sash to provide a buffer; simultaneously, the locking tongue 83, located on the second door / window sash 35, can align and engage with the lock box on the upper track 1 without interference, thus locking the door. The two components work together without interfering with each other, making the functional layout of the folding doors and windows more rational and compact.
[0051] like Figure 13 As shown, in some embodiments, the door closing damping assembly 7 includes a connecting shell 71 and a damping tube 72. The connecting shell 71 is disposed at the end of the mounting groove 31, and the damping tube 72 is disposed at the connecting shell 71. When all the door and window sashes are in the folded position, the movable end of the damping tube 72 extends beyond the end of the mounting groove 31 along its length. When the door and window sashes are in the unfolded state, the damping tube 72 between the first door and window sash 34 and the second door and window sash 35 is damped by compressive force. By setting the movable end of the damping tube 72 to extend beyond the mounting groove 31 in the folded state, the movable end of the damping tube 72 can contact the collision object earlier than other components, such as the frame or crossbeam 3 of the second door and window sash 35, when the door and window move from the folded state to the closed state. This greatly advances the timing of buffer intervention, increases the effective buffer stroke, and makes the door closing process smoother and gentler, significantly improving the buffering and noise reduction effect.
[0052] like Figure 10-11 As shown, in some embodiments, the latch assembly 8 further includes a cover 84, slidably disposed on the mounting housing 82, and movable relative to the latch 83 between a first position and a second position. When all the door and window sashes are in the folded position, the cover 84 is in the first position, as shown in the diagram. Figure 10As shown, the cover 84 extends, its opening misaligned with the latch 83, thereby blocking the latch 83 from extending. When all the door and window sashes are in the open position (i.e., closed state), the door and window sash opposite the cover 84 (i.e., the adjacent door sash) will push the cover 84 to a second position, as shown in the diagram. Figure 11 As shown, the cover 84 retracts, its opening aligning with the latch, thus releasing the obstruction of the latch 83 and allowing it to extend normally under spring pressure and engage with the lock box. If the latch accidentally extends during door / window folding and storage, it may collide with and damage other components, and also affect the smoothness of folding. By adding a cover 84 that can be triggered by adjacent door panels, the automatic concealment and exposure of the latch 83 is achieved—a purely mechanical design to prevent accidental operation. The cover 84 is only pushed open when the door is fully unfolded (i.e., ready to close), allowing the latch 83 to operate, which greatly improves the safety and reliability of the latch assembly 8. It should be noted that the automatic retraction of the cover 84, i.e., its reset to conceal the latch 83, can be achieved using a spring or tension spring, or other elastic reset structures. By providing continuous elastic force to the cover 84, it ensures that the opening on the cover 81 is misaligned with the latch 83 in its natural state, thus preventing the latch from extending.
[0053] It should be noted that, Figure 5 In the middle, the first door and window sash 34 and the second door and window sash 35 are in the folded open state. At this time, since the cover 84 is not triggered to retract, the latch 83 will not extend. The extended state of the latch 83 in the figure is only used to show its installation position with the door closing damping component 7.
[0054] Figure 6 With the first door / window sash 34 and the second door / window sash 35 in the open / closed state, the cover 84 retracts and the latch 83 extends to achieve relative locking with the upper track 1. Locking between the latch 83 and the upper track 1 can be achieved by installing a lock box inside the upper track 1, or by directly engaging with the groove wall of the upper track 1. In this embodiment, as shown in 15-16, a locking member 10 is embedded on one side of the bottom of the upper track 1. The latch 83 can engage with it after extending, preventing accidental opening. Actual opening and unlocking can be achieved by operating the handle 36 on the door / window sash to control the latch 83. Furthermore, the locking member 10 can also act as a buffer; that is, an abutment 11 is provided on the back side where the locking member 10 engages with the latch 83. This abutment 11 is specifically installed in the side groove of the horizontal frame 3, and the position of this side groove is on the same side as the position where the locking member 10 is installed. Figure 16 As shown.
[0055] When the door and window sash is opened and closed, the locking part 10 can abut against the abutting part 11 to prevent the hinge assembly 4 of the door and window sash from continuing to rush over the upper track 1 due to inertial displacement, which would cause the hinge assembly 4 to be damaged by inertial force. The locking part 10 acts as a buffer to ensure the life and safety of the hinge assembly 4 itself.
[0056] like Figure 9 As shown, in some embodiments, to address the problem of unstable door panel positioning and easy wobbling in the folded state, the hinge assembly 4 is optimized. Specifically, the hinge assembly 4 includes a first hinge arm 41 and a second hinge arm 42 hinged together by a hinge shaft 43. The first hinge arm 41 is connected to the end of the side groove of the first door / window panel 34 and has a first limiting wall 411 thereon. The second hinge arm 42 is connected to the end of the side groove of the second door / window panel 35 and has a second limiting wall 421 thereon. When all the door / window panels are in the folded position, the first limiting wall 411 and the second limiting wall 421 abut against each other, thereby restricting the continued rotation of the first hinge arm 41 and the second hinge arm 42, keeping them parallel. By providing mutually cooperating limiting walls on the first hinge arm 41 and the second hinge arm 42, when the door panel is folded into place, the two limiting walls abut against each other, forming a rigid limiting structure. This effectively prevents the hinge assembly from rotating excessively or swinging freely under external force, ensuring that the folded door panels remain parallel and structurally stable, thus enhancing the overall quality of the product. Preferably, the first limiting wall 411 and the second limiting wall 421 are perpendicular to each other.
[0057] like Figure 3 As shown, in some embodiments, when all the door and window sashes are in the folded position, the ends of the pulleys 2 on adjacent door and window sashes abut against each other, or the adjacent door and window sashes are parallel to each other. By designing the installation position and length of the pulleys 2, the ends of the two pulleys 2 on adjacent door sashes are precisely abutted together when the door sash is folded to its maximum opening. This abutting pulley design can serve as a physical limit for the folded position, while the two pulleys 2 support each other, enhancing the stability of the entire pulley system within the upper track 1. Alternatively, the hinge assembly 4 or other limiting structures can be used to ensure that the door sashes are parallel to each other after folding. This not only results in a neat and aesthetically pleasing appearance, but also ensures smooth opening because the initial posture of the door sashes is consistent, preventing jamming or misalignment. Both of these approaches aim to improve the stability of the folded state and the convenience of use.
[0058] In some embodiments, participate Figure 12As shown, an opening damping assembly 9 can also be added. This assembly includes a damping element 91 and a toggle element 92, which abut against each other to trigger damping when the folding door / window moves in the opening direction. Specifically, the damping element 91 is a one-way damping tube with a toggle, as found in conventional doors and windows. The toggle element 92 is a protrusion integrally connected to the pulley 2, which abuts against the toggle of the damping element 91 during the sliding opening process, thereby driving the damping element 91 to trigger damping. This allows the opening damping assembly 9 to effectively buffer the door / window when it is opened, reducing impact and noise and protecting the door / window structure.
[0059] The technical means disclosed in this invention are not limited to those disclosed in the above embodiments, but also include technical solutions composed of any combination of the above technical features. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various improvements and modifications without departing from the principles of this invention, and these improvements and modifications are also considered within the scope of protection of this invention.
Claims
1. A folding door / window, characterized in that, include: Upper track (1); Multiple pulleys (2) are arranged inside the upper track (1); At least two door and window sashes, including a first door and window sash (34) and a second door and window sash (35) connected adjacent to each other by a hinge assembly (4), each of the door and window sashes having a horizontal frame (3), wherein the horizontal frame (3) is provided with a mounting groove (31) extending along its own length direction and two side grooves, the two side grooves being located on both sides of the mounting groove (31); The hinge assembly (4) has one end connected to the side groove of the first door / window sash (34) and the other end connected to the side groove of the second door / window sash (35); under the guidance of the hinge assembly (4), all the door / window sashes can move between the unfolded position and the folded position. A hanging box (5) is provided at the end of the mounting groove (31) of each of the door and window sashes and is connected to the corresponding pulley (2); as well as Automatic closing mechanism (6), including: The housing (61) is fixed in the side groove of the first door and window sash (34), and the housing (61) is provided with a slide (611); The slider (62) is slidably placed in the slide rail (611); An elastic element (63) is disposed within the housing (61) and is used to provide a restoring elastic force to the sliding element (62); A pull rope (64) is connected at one end to the sliding member (62) and at the other end to the side groove of the second door / window sash (35); The fixing point of the pull rope (64) on the second door / window sash (35), the rotation axis of the hinge assembly (4), and the sliding path of the sliding member (62) are configured such that: when the folding door / window rotates from the closed state to the open state, the pull rope (64) is tensioned and pulls the sliding member (62) to overcome the elastic force of the elastic member (63) to move and store energy; when the folding door / window rotates from the open state to the closed state, the elastic member (63) releases energy to drive the sliding member (62) to move in the opposite direction, and the pull rope (64) assists in closing the door sash.
2. A folding door and window according to claim 1, characterized in that, When all the door and window sashes are in the folded position, the hinge assembly (4) is located between the relatively close side grooves of two adjacent door and window sashes; the two ends of the pull rope (64) of the automatic closing mechanism (6) are respectively located in the relatively far side grooves of two adjacent door and window sashes.
3. A folding door and window according to claim 2, characterized in that, The automatic closing mechanism (6) further includes a first guide member (66) fixed in the side groove of the first door / window sash (34), and the first guide member (66) is provided with a first guide wheel (661); the pull rope (64) extends to the side groove of the second door / window sash (35) after passing around the first guide wheel (661).
4. A folding door and window according to claim 3, characterized in that, The automatic closing mechanism (6) further includes an adjusting mechanism (67) for adjusting the initial preload of the elastic element (63); the adjusting mechanism (67) includes an adjusting housing (671) and an adjusting rod (672); the first guide element (66) is disposed on the adjusting housing (671); one end of the adjusting rod (672) is rotatably connected to the housing (61), and the other end is threadedly connected to the adjusting housing (671); rotating the adjusting rod (672) can adjust the gap between the housing (61) and the adjusting housing (671).
5. A folding door and window according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a door closing damping assembly (7) and / or a latch assembly (8); The closing damping component (7) is disposed at the end of the mounting groove (31) of any of the door and window sashes away from the hanging box (5); The latch assembly (8) includes a mounting shell (82) and a latch (83) disposed at one end of the mounting groove (31) of another door / window sash away from the hanging box (5). The latch (83) is movable up and down relative to the mounting shell (82) to lock relative to the upper track (1) when the door / window sash is in the unfolded position. When the closing damping assembly (7) and the latch assembly (8) are present at the same time, the closing damping assembly (7) and the latch assembly (8) are respectively disposed on the adjacent first door / window sash (34) and second door / window sash (35).
6. A folding door and window according to claim 1, characterized in that, The closing damping assembly also includes an opening damping assembly (9), which includes a damping element (91) and a toggle element (92) for abutting each other to trigger damping when the folding door / window is displaced in the opening direction.
7. A folding door and window according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that, The door closing damping assembly (7) includes a connecting shell (71) and a damping tube (72). The connecting shell (71) is disposed at the end of the mounting groove (31), and the damping tube (72) is disposed on the connecting shell (71). When all the door and window sashes are in the folded position, the movable end of the damping tube (72) extends beyond the mounting groove (31) along the length direction of the mounting groove (31).
8. A folding door and window according to claim 5, characterized in that, The latch assembly (8) also includes a cover (84) which is slidably disposed on the mounting housing (82) and is movable relative to the latch (83) between a first position and a second position; When all the door and window sashes are in the folded position, the cover (84) is in the first position and prevents the latch (83) from extending; When all the door and window sashes are in the unfolded position, the door and window sash opposite to the cover (84) pushes the cover (84) to the second position, releasing the obstruction of the latch (83).
9. A folding door and window according to claim 1, characterized in that, The hinge assembly (4) includes a first hinge arm (41) and a second hinge arm (42) that are hinged to each other; the first hinge arm (41) is connected to the end of the side groove of the first door / window sash (34) and has a first limiting wall (411) thereon; the second hinge arm (42) is connected to the end of the side groove of the second door / window sash (35) and has a second limiting wall (421) thereon; when all the door / window sashes are in the folded position, the first limiting wall (411) and the second limiting wall (421) abut against each other so that the first hinge arm (41) and the second hinge arm (42) remain parallel.
10. A folding door and window according to claim 1, characterized in that, When all the door and window sashes are in the folded position, the ends of the pulleys (2) on two adjacent door and window sashes abut against each other, or the door and window sashes are parallel to each other.