Cross-member-less sliding gate

Abstract

The invention relates to a sliding gate comprising a post at each of its longitudinal ends, two rollers (9) that cooperate with a rail for the gate's sliding action, and a casing. The gate lacks a bottom rail, and each of the rollers (9) is rotatably mounted at the lower end of one of the gate posts. The post may include a tubular profile (23) to which the casing is attached, and a roller support comprising a cap (21) and a base (22). The roller support provides both a finished look to the post at its lower end and transmits all the gate's loads to the roller. Integrating the rollers into the posts eliminates the need for a bottom rail, resulting in a lighter and more aesthetically pleasing gate with casing extending the full height of the gate, without any height restrictions for the rollers.

Description

[0001] This application concerns the technical field of sliding gates. PREVIOUS ART

[0002] A gate generally comprises a frame which ensures its support and mechanical resistance, a covering whose function is essentially aesthetic, the covering having no mechanical function, and at least two rollers on which the gate rests and which cooperate with a ground rail to allow the gate to slide along said rail, in the plane of the gate. All the load of the gate is taken by these rollers.

[0003] The cladding may include a solid or openwork plate and / or vertical or horizontal or inclined, joined or spaced slats, various decorations, etc.

[0004] The frame consists of two uprights extending vertically and delimiting the axial ends of the gate. It also generally includes crosspieces, the term "crosspiece" designating a horizontal structural profile which contributes to the mechanical resistance of the gate, receives the slats or other gate cladding as well as accessories such as rollers or the motorization rack (in the case of a motorized gate).

[0005] In particular, the frame of known gates includes at least one lower crosspiece in which the rollers are integrated. The lower crosspiece is a structural element of the gate which extends in the lower part of the gate over its entire length, and which is sized to support the entire weight of the gate and to absorb all the forces to which it is subjected, which forces are then transmitted to the rollers.

[0006] These rollers are positioned proportionally to the length of the gate to distribute the load and ensure proper operation. They are generally fitted with covers to enhance their appearance as much as possible. The rollers are not painted in the same color as the gate and therefore represent an aesthetic degradation. Adding covers or trims painted in the same color as the gate makes them less visible. However, there is always a volume at the location of the rollers which cuts the aesthetic line of the gate. Note that the covers also serve as a safety feature against the risk of crushing.

[0007] Using a non-structural cladding inside the frame reduces the amount of material used, and therefore the manufacturing cost of the gate as well as its weight, which also limits the mechanical requirements that the rollers must meet. Thus, the cladding is by definition less thick and less resistant than the crosspieces.

[0008] For aesthetic or other reasons, it may be desirable to remove the gate crosspieces. The gate cladding then extends over the entire height of the gate and its entire length between the two uprights (in this case, we will no longer speak of a frame). This is of course only possible if the cladding has a certain rigidity that limits its bending in the plane of the gate under the effect of weight, as well as its bending orthogonally to the plane of the gate.

[0009] Such a gate without a crossbar seems at first sight unsuitable for installation as a sliding gate. Indeed, the problem then arises of being able to accommodate the rollers in the lower part of the cladding, the latter generally having insufficient thickness and mechanical resistance to be able to integrate a roller and its fixing device and to be able to transmit to the rollers the entire weight of the gate and all the forces to which it is subjected.

[0010] To solve this problem, one might be tempted to add a reinforcement profile to the rear of the cladding, configured to house the rollers and support the forces. But such a profile would have a significant aesthetic impact, the absence of a lower crosspiece in the gate then losing its main interest. In addition, this profile would create additional material costs, additional machining, etc. In addition, the rollers would then no longer be located in the plane of the gate, which induces a mechanical torque.

[0011] Alternatively, in the case of a cladding made up of horizontal slats, one might be tempted to provide a lower slat that is wider than the others in order to accommodate the rollers. Such a widened slat would resemble a crosspiece aesthetically; replacing the lower crosspiece with a cladding slat would therefore have very limited interest. In addition, a cladding slat, even widened, is not strong enough to take the weight of the gate; it is even less so once machined (and therefore weakened) to receive a roller. A reinforcement profile (inside or at the rear of the slat) would therefore, again, be necessary.

[0012] Furthermore, in the case of a sliding gate aligned with a gate or fencing modules, the slats, and more generally the gate cladding, must be aligned with the slats or the gate or fencing cladding, so that the result is aesthetically pleasing. The optimal layout for manufacturing, design and aesthetic rendering therefore depends on the constraints of the terrain, customer requests, etc. This leads to a variable height of the lower slat of the gate, or more generally the height (relative to the ground) of the lower edge of the cladding. Fixing the rollers on this lower slat or in the lower edge of the cladding would prevent these height variations from being accepted or would require the specific development and manufacture of rollers or roller housings for each gate depending on the available height, which is not feasible industrially. STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The invention aims to solve at least one of the aforementioned problems, in order to be able to propose a sliding gate without a lower crosspiece which can be mass-produced and at no additional cost compared to a sliding gate with a lower crosspiece.

[0014] To do this, the invention relates to a sliding gate comprising: an upright at each of its longitudinal ends, it being recalled that the term "upright" designates a structural element (see above), two rollers intended to cooperate with a rail for the sliding of the gate, and a covering, characterized in that the gate has no lower crosspiece and in that each of the rollers is rotatably mounted at a lower end of one of the uprights of the gate.

[0015] Thanks to the invention, the rollers are decoupled from the cladding. It therefore becomes possible to apply any layout to the blades (or other cladding) without any height constraints. Since the cladding (for example formed of blades) is not machined, no fragility is induced on it.

[0016] In addition, the rollers are particularly discreet since they appear as an extension of the uprights, which considerably improves the aesthetics of the gate. When the gate is in the closed position, the rollers can even be completely invisible because they are hidden by the posts that frame the gate.

[0017] The skilled person was, however, dissuaded from integrating the rollers into the gate uprights because the distribution of the gate load at the ends of the gate is mechanically nonsensical. In addition, this also increases the bending forces that the cladding undergoes under the effect of its own weight in the plane of the gate, particularly for a large gate. Since it is only held at its longitudinal ends, the cladding must now be sized so as to be self-supporting and have sufficient inertia so as not to deform or have negligible deflection regardless of its total length (including for long lengths, greater than 5 meters for example). The positioning of the rollers at the ends of the gate also requires the rail on which the gate is mounted to slide to be extended, another reason why the skilled person would not, a priori, have considered a gate according to the invention.However, it turns out that the various disadvantages mentioned above are largely offset by the advantages provided by the invention.

[0018] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, each of the uprights of the gate comprises: a structural tubular profile having an open lower end, and a roller support having an upper part, hereinafter called the cap, configured to fit into the open lower end of the upright and close said end, which cap has a central opening, called the upper opening, for the passage of an upper portion of one of the rollers, upper opening on either side of which are formed two upper half-bearings receiving an axis of rotation of the roller, a lower part, hereinafter called the base, fixed to the cap by screws, which base has a central opening, called the lower opening, for the passage of a lower portion of the roller, lower opening on either side of which are formed two lower half-bearings receiving and supporting the axis of rotation of the roller.

[0019] In addition to its usual functions of receiving the roller and transferring loads from the gate to said roller, the roller support according to the invention therefore also has a finishing function consisting of closing the lower end of the tubular profile.

[0020] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the cap comprises two alveovis in which the fixing screws of the base are anchored.

[0021] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, for each of the rollers, the sliding gate further comprises two spacers, each arranged on the axis of rotation of said roller between the roller and one of the two lower half-bearings which support the axis of said roller. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The invention, according to an exemplary embodiment, will be well understood and its advantages will appear better on reading the detailed description which follows, given for information purposes and in no way limiting, with reference to the appended drawings in which: [ Fig. 1 ] there figure 1 is a front view, from the exterior side, of a prior art sliding gate provided with a low crosspiece; [ Fig. 2 ] there figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a detail of the portal of the figure 1 , showing a roller integrated into the lower crosspiece of the gate; [ Fig. 3 ] there figure 3 is a front view, from the outside, of an example of a sliding gate according to the invention; [ Fig. 4 ] there figure 4 is a front view, from the inside, of another example of a sliding gate according to the invention, once installed and in the closed position; [ Fig. 5 ] there Figure 5is a longitudinal sectional view of a detail of a gate according to the invention representing the lower end of an upright of said gate, fitted with a roller; [ Fig. 6 ] there figure 6 is a perspective view of the detail shown in the Figure 5 , [ Fig. 7 ] there figure 7 includes the various elements represented on the Figures 5 and 6 , seen in exploded perspective. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] Identical elements shown in the above figures are identified by identical reference numerals.

[0024] THE Figures 1 and 2 represents a motorized sliding gate not forming part of the invention. This prior gate comprises: a frame, comprising two uprights 101 and 102 which define the two longitudinal ends of the gate, as well as a lower crosspiece 103 and an upper crosspiece 104, a covering 105 formed here of horizontal blades 106, here arranged in a contiguous or almost contiguous manner, an upper guide bar 107, fixed on the upper crosspiece 104 on the inner side of the gate, which guide bar 107 is intended to slide inside a stirrup fixed in cantilever on a post or a wall (not shown), in order to maintain the gate in a vertical plane, a lower drive bar 108, provided with a rack (not visible in the drawings) intended to cooperate with a toothed wheel (not shown) driven by a motor (not shown), two rollers 109, integrated in the lower crosspiece 103, which rollers cooperate with a rail (not shown), fixed on a concrete beam (not shown) formed on the ground.The rollers are positioned to optimize the distribution of loads on each of them.

[0025] Such a pebble 109 can be observed at the figure 2 . It is housed in a roller support 110 which carries the axis of rotation of the roller, said roller support 110 being integrated and fixed in the crosspiece 103 which is machined for this purpose. This roller support may have lateral cheeks which fall on either side of the roller in order to hide it. In this case it is painted the same color as the gate. Otherwise, trim pieces can be fixed, for example by clipping, on the roller support.

[0026] THE figures 3 to 7 illustrate an example of an embodiment of a sliding gate according to the invention.

[0027] Like the known portal previously described, the portal according to the invention of figures 3 to 7 includes two uprights 1 and 2 which define the longitudinal ends of the gate, as well as a covering 5.

[0028] On the example of the figure 3 , the cladding 5 is composed of a succession of horizontal slats 6a, 6b. Two models of slats are used here, having different heights: slats of greater height 6b form a base above which slats 6a of lesser height are arranged. This is only one example among many others. It would of course be possible to provide identical slats 6 over the entire height of the gate as is the case in the example of the figure 4 , or provide for example a base formed from a solid or openwork plate or formed from horizontal blades, topped with vertical or inclined blades, etc.

[0029] Unlike the previous portal of the Figure 1 and 2, the gate according to the invention is without a lower crosspiece. In the examples illustrated, it is also without a top crosspiece, so that the cladding 5 extends over the entire height of the gate. A gate comprising a top crosspiece, which reinforces its rigidity in the plane, would however be in accordance with the invention.

[0030] As is known, the uprights 1, 2 are structural elements of the gate which contribute to its strength and mechanical rigidity, and which are mainly made up of a tubular profile 23 (cf. Fig. 5 to 7 )

[0031] Each blade 6, 6a, 6b (or more generally the cladding 5) is embedded at its axial ends in the uprights 1, 2. The tubular profile 23 of the uprights has openings 25 for this purpose ( Fig. 7 ) through which the axial ends of the blades are inserted, as well as an internal wing 24 (cf. Fig. 5 And 7 ) against which said axial ends are wedged.

[0032] The gate further comprises two rollers 9 which, according to the invention, are each integrated into one of the uprights 1, 2 of the gate, preferably as described below. The rollers 9 are intended to cooperate with a rail 15 usually fixed to a concrete beam (not shown) formed in the ground.

[0033] Each of the rollers 9 is mounted in a roller support 10, consisting of a cap 21 and a base 22. The cap 21 is arranged at the lower end of the upright 1, 2.

[0034] The roller 9 is carried by an axis 20 around which it is rotatably mounted. At each of its ends, the rotation axis 20 is embedded in a bearing consisting of an upper half-bearing 28 formed in the plug 21 and a lower half-bearing 29 formed in the base 22.

[0035] Two spacers 27 are provided between the roller 9 and said bearings. Each spacer is housed at least partially in a recess 35 of the roller. The spacers ensure correct centering of the roller, opposite the rail 15, and contribute to maintaining it in a vertical plane.

[0036] The plug 21 is inserted and guided into the lower end of the tubular profile 23 by means of fins 31 which come against the internal face of the front walls of the tubular profile and by protrusions 34 which are housed in angles at the intersection between transverse internal wings and longitudinal internal wings (not visible in the figures) of the profile. The lower end of the tubular profile 23 then rests on a base 36 of the plug.

[0037] The base 22 is arranged under the cap 21 by means of a tab 32 which is inserted into a housing 33 of complementary shape, formed in the internal face of the bottom 36 of the cap. The roller support is rigidly fixed to the cap by two fixing screws which are anchored in sockets 30 of the cap.

[0038] In the examples illustrated, the weight of the gate is transmitted to the rollers via the tubular profile 23 of the uprights, the bottom and the alveovis 30 of the cap 21, the fixing screws 26, the base 22 and finally the rotation axis 20. The specifications (dimensions, materials, etc.) of the various elements through which the loads pass, in particular the cap 21 and the base 22, are chosen accordingly.

[0039] Alternatively, it would be possible to envisage fixing the base 22 directly to the tubular profile 23, by providing holes in the bottom of the plug for the passage of fixing screws and sockets in the tubular profile for anchoring said screws. At least part of the gate loads would then pass directly from the tubular profile to the base via said screws.

[0040] Furthermore, the portal of figures 3 to 7 also includes an upper guide bar 7 on the inside of the gate, which bar is fixed to - and carried by - the uprights 1 and 2. The upper guide bar 7 cooperates with a stirrup 11 fixed to a post 12 (cf. Fig. 4 ) in order to keep the gate in a vertical plane.

[0041] Still on the interior side, the gate further comprises a lower drive bar 8 provided with a rack 16 intended to cooperate with a toothed wheel (not shown) of a motor unit (not shown) for driving the gate in translation.

[0042] In the closed position, it may be provided that the upright 1 of the gate comes into abutment against stops 14, which may be fixed to a post 13.

[0043] The gate according to the invention may be subject to variations compared to the examples illustrated, provided that it does not have a lower crosspiece and that its rollers are arranged at the lower end of the uprights.

[0044] The integration of the rollers into the uprights allows any layout for the cladding slats, and in particular allows the lower slat to be positioned at the desired height depending on the environment of the gate (for alignment with a neighboring gate, for example). In general, the invention allows greater freedom in the design of the cladding. Furthermore, the rollers according to the invention are particularly discreet because they appear as an extension of the uprights, which improves the aesthetics of the gate. In addition, the sliding gate without crosspiece according to the invention can be manufactured industrially and rationally at a lower cost.

Claims

1. Sliding gate comprising an upright (1, 2) at each of its longitudinal ends, two rollers (9) intended to cooperate with a rail for sliding the gate, and a covering (5), characterized in that the gate has no lower crosspiece and in that each of the rollers (9) is rotatably mounted at a lower end of one of the uprights (1, 2) of the gate.

2. Sliding gate according to claim 1, wherein each of the uprights (1, 2) comprises on the one hand a structural tubular profile (23) which has an open lower end, and on the other hand a roller support (10) which comprises - an upper part (21), hereinafter called a plug, configured to be inserted into the open lower end of the upright and close said end, which plug has a central opening (37), called the upper opening, for the passage of an upper portion of one of the rollers (9), upper opening on either side of which are formed two upper half-bearings (28) receiving an axis of rotation (20) of the roller, - a lower part (22), hereinafter called a base, fixed to the plug by screws (26), which base has a central opening (38), called the lower opening, for the passage of a lower portion of the roller (9),lower opening on either side of which are formed two lower half-bearings (29) receiving and supporting the rotation axis (20) of the roller., 3. Sliding gate according to claim 2, in which the plug (22) comprises two alveovis (30) in which the fixing screws (26) of the base are anchored.

4. Sliding gate according to one of claims 2 or 3, further comprising, for each of the rollers (9), two spacers (27) each arranged on the axis of rotation (20) of said roller between the roller and one of the two lower half-bearings (28) which support the axis of said roller.

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