Door panel and sliding door device equipped with same

Abstract

To provide a door panel on which a guide body can be stably mounted and with which the size of a vertical frame along the door width direction can be reduced, and a sliding door device provided with the same.SOLUTION: A door panel 10A in which a plate-shaped member 11 is provided in a four-circumference frame 13, and is slidably suspended and supported by an upper rail 6 in the door width direction includes a guide body 37 which has a guide part 37a that is inserted into a downward opening guide groove 34 provided to extend in the door width direction at the lower end of a door panel 10B adjacent in the door thickness direction, and a mounted part 39 mounted on the lower end of the first end in the door width direction, and a guide mounting member 36 which is provided to be accommodated inside the first end in the door width direction of a hollow cylindrical lower frame 30, and on which a mounting hole 36f into which the mounted part is inserted via an insertion hole 30f provided on the lower frame.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a door panel and a sliding door device equipped with the same. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Door panels have been known in the past in which a plate-like member such as a light-transmitting member is provided within a frame on all four sides and is suspended and supported by an upper rail. For example, Patent Document 1 below discloses a sliding door device equipped with a first sliding door and a second sliding door having rectangular frames that support the outer edges of the panel boards. This sliding door device is configured such that a guide fixing portion of a guide body that is inserted into a guide recess formed in a lower horizontal frame body of the second sliding door is inserted into the rectangular frame portion of one of the vertical frames of the first sliding door and fixed to the vertical frame body. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Utility Model Registration No. 3190349 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the guide body fixing structure described in Patent Document 1 above, it was necessary to make the dimension of the vertical frame body along the door width direction relatively large so that the guide fixing part could be inserted into the rectangular frame part of the vertical frame body.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned situation, and aims to provide a door panel that can stably attach a guide body while also enabling the dimensions of the vertical frame along the door width direction to be reduced, and a sliding door device equipped with the same. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the door panel of the present invention is a door panel in which plate-like members are provided within frames on all four sides, and which is suspended and supported on an upper rail so as to be able to slide freely in the door width direction, and which is characterized by comprising: a guide body having a guide portion which is inserted into a guide groove with a downward opening provided so as to extend in the door width direction at the lower end of an adjacent door panel adjacent in the door thickness direction, and an attachment portion which is attached to the lower end of the first end in the door width direction; and a guide attachment member which is provided to be housed within the first end in the door width direction of a hollow cylindrical lower frame, and which has an attachment hole into which the attachment portion is inserted through an insertion hole provided in the lower frame.

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the sliding door device of the present invention is characterized by comprising: a first door panel constituting the door panel of the present invention; a second door panel constituting an adjacent door panel adjacent to the first door panel in the door thickness direction, the second door panel being provided at the lower end so that the guide groove of the downward opening into which the guide part of the first door panel is inserted extends in the door width direction; and an upper rail that suspends and supports the first door panel and second door panel so that they can slide freely in the door width direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] The door panel and the sliding door device equipped with the same according to the present invention are configured as described above, so that the guide body can be stably attached while the dimensions of the vertical frame along the door width direction can be reduced. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a partially cutaway schematic front view showing an example of a door panel according to an embodiment of the present invention and an example of a sliding door device equipped with the door panel; [Figure 2] 2(a) and 2(b) are schematic cross-sectional views, partly cut away, taken along the line XX in FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway schematic bottom view corresponding to FIG. 2(b) with some parts omitted. [Figure 4]2(b) is a schematic partially cutaway vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line Y1-Y1 in FIG. 2(b). [Figure 5] (a) is a schematic side view, partially broken away, showing an example of a vertical frame provided on the door panel; (b) is a schematic side view, partially broken away, showing an example of an upper frame provided on the door panel; and (c) is a schematic exploded oblique view, partially broken away, of the same vertical frame and the same upper frame. [Figure 6] (a) is a partially cutaway schematic exploded front view of the door panel, (b) is a partially cutaway schematic front view of the door panel, and (c) is a partially cutaway schematic vertical cross-sectional view of the door panel. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway schematic perspective view of the sliding door device. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway schematic exploded perspective view of the sliding door device. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway schematic exploded perspective view of the sliding door device. [Figure 10] 4(a) is a partially cutaway schematic vertical cross-sectional view corresponding to the view of the Y2-Y2 line arrows in FIG. 3, with a portion omitted, and FIG. 4(b) is a partially cutaway schematic vertical cross-sectional view corresponding to the view of the Y3-Y3 line arrows in FIG. 3, with a portion omitted. [Figure 11] (a) is a partially cutaway schematic front view showing an example of the installation procedure of the sliding door device, (b) is a partially cutaway schematic vertical cross-sectional view showing an example of the installation procedure, [Figure 12] 1(a) and 1(b) are partially cutaway schematic front views showing an example of the construction procedure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In some drawings, some of the detailed reference numerals used in other drawings are omitted. In the following embodiment, directions such as the up-down direction will be described based on the state in which an example of a door panel according to this embodiment and an example of a sliding door device including the door panel are installed. 1 to 12 are diagrams that schematically show an example of a door panel according to this embodiment, an example of a sliding door device including the door panel, and an example of an installation procedure for the sliding door device.

[0011] As shown in FIG. 1, the first door panel 10A constituting the door panel according to this embodiment has a plate-like member 11 mounted within a four-perimeter frame 13. The plate-like member 11 is suspended and supported by an upper rail 6 so as to be slidable in the door width direction (panel width direction). As shown in FIG. 4, the first door panel 10A is provided with a guide body 37 having a guide portion 37a inserted into a downward-opening guide groove 34 extending in the panel width direction at the lower end of the second door panel 10B constituting the adjacent door panel in the door thickness direction (panel thickness direction). The guide body 37 has a mounting portion 39 mounted to the lower end of the first end of the first door panel 10A in the panel width direction. As shown in FIG. 10(b), the first door panel 10A is provided with a guide mounting member 36 mounted to be housed within the first end of the hollow cylindrical lower frame 30 in the panel width direction. The guide mounting member 36 has a mounting hole 36f into which the mounting portion 39 is inserted via an insertion hole 30f provided in the lower frame 30. With this configuration, the mounting portion 39 of the guide body 37 can be inserted into the mounting hole 36f of the guide mounting member 36 housed in the hollow cylindrical lower frame 30, allowing for stable mounting. Also, there is no need to mount the mounting portion 39 of the guide body 37 to the vertical frame 14, which allows for a reduction in the dimension of the vertical frame 14 in the panel width direction. An example of a specific configuration of the guide mounting member 36 and the guide body 37 will be described later.

[0012] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the sliding door device 1 includes an upper rail 6, at least one movable panel suspended and supported by the upper rail 6 so as to be slidable in the panel width direction, and a fixed panel 10C that constitutes a sleeve wall in which the movable panel in the open (fully open) position is housed. The panel body 10 of the movable panel and the panel body 10 of the fixed panel 10C have the same configuration. This configuration allows the panel body 10 of the movable panel and the panel body 10 of the fixed panel 10C to be a common component. The sliding door device 1 according to this embodiment includes a first door panel 10A that constitutes the movable panel and a second door panel 10B that constitutes the movable panel adjacent to the first door panel 10A in the panel thickness direction. In other words, the panel body 10 of the first door panel 10A, the panel body 10 of the second door panel 10B, and the panel body 10 of the fixed panel 10C have the same configuration.

[0013] The first door panel 10A, the second door panel 10B, and the fixed panel 10C are installed in an opening provided in a building. The fixed panel 10C is fixedly installed at one side end in the opening width direction of the opening. The first door panel 10A is slidable between a closed position (see FIG. 2(a)) and an open position (see FIG. 2(b)) on one side in the panel thickness direction of the fixed panel 10C. The second door panel 10B is slidable between a closed position (see FIG. 2(a)) and an open position (see FIG. 2(b)) on one side in the panel thickness direction of the first door panel 10A. When the first door panel 10A and the second door panel 10B are in the open position, an entrance 5 is formed to the side of them. In the illustrated example, in the open position, the first door panel 10A, the second door panel 10B, and the fixed panel 10C do not completely overlap each other when viewed in the panel thickness direction, resulting in a so-called remaining gap. In other words, the first door panel 10A is arranged so that, in the open position, its door-tip side end (doorway 5 side) is closer to the doorway 5 than the doorway 5 side end of the fixed panel 10C. The second door panel 10B is arranged so that, in the open position, its door-tip side end is closer to the doorway 5 than the door-tip side end of the first door panel 10A. A handle member may be attached to both sides in the panel thickness direction of the door-tip side end of this second door panel 10B.

[0014] When the first door panel 10A and the second door panel 10B are in the closed position, the doorway 5 is closed. In the closed position, the end of the first door panel 10A on the door trailing edge and the end of the fixed panel 10C on the doorway 5 side overlap each other when viewed in the panel thickness direction, forming a joint. Also, in the closed position, the end of the second door panel 10B on the door trailing edge and the end of the first door panel 10A on the door leading edge overlap each other when viewed in the panel thickness direction, forming a joint. In the illustrated example, in the closed position, the vertical frames 14, 14 at the joint between the first door panel 10A and the fixed panel 10C are arranged to overlap each other when viewed in the panel thickness direction. Also, in the closed position, the vertical frames 14, 14 at the joint between the second door panel 10B and the first door panel 10A are arranged to overlap each other when viewed in the panel thickness direction.

[0015] In the illustrated example, the opening where the first door panel 10A, second door panel 10B, and fixed panel 10C are installed is provided so as to penetrate the wall. As shown in Figures 2 and 4, this opening is defined above by a ceiling 2, below by a floor 3, and on both sides in the width direction of the opening by the opening-side end faces 4, 4 of the wall. In the illustrated example, both sides in the wall thickness direction and the opening-side end faces 4, 4 of the wall are formed by wall cloth (wallpaper) attached to a wall base board such as gypsum board. In other words, this shows an example in which vertical frame members such as door frames are not exposed on both sides in the width direction of the opening. The illustrated example shows an example in which gap adjustment protrusions 4a, 4a, whose dimension along the opening width direction is larger than the thickness of the baseboard provided at the corner between the opening side end faces 4, 4 of the wall and the floor 3, are provided on both sides in the opening width direction. The gap adjustment protrusions 4a, 4a close the gap between the fixed panel 10C and the second door panel 10B and the opening side end faces 4, 4 so that the fixed panel 10C and the second door panel 10B, which are arranged so as to face each opening side end face 4, 4, do not come into contact with the baseboard and form a gap. These gap adjustment protrusions 4a, 4a are provided so as to extend vertically over the entire height of the opening from the floor 3 to the ceiling 2.

[0016] The dimension (projected dimension) of these gap adjustment protrusions 4a, 4a along the panel thickness direction is smaller than the thickness dimension of the panel main body 10 (projected dimension of the four-perimeter frame 13). The illustrated example shows an example in which the end faces of the wall base boards are butted against each other on both sides of the gap adjustment members constituting the gap adjustment protrusions 4a, 4a in the projection direction. In other words, the gap adjustment protrusions 4a, 4a are protruding portions of the gap adjustment members, which are partially embedded between the wall base boards on both sides in the projection direction, from the wall base boards. The gap adjustment protrusion 4a on one side of the opening width direction is positioned to face the end face of the fixed panel 10C on one side of the panel width direction. The gap adjustment protrusion 4a on the other side of the opening width direction is positioned to face the end face of the door leading side of the second door panel 10B. In other words, the gap adjustment protrusion 4a on one side of the opening width direction and the gap adjustment protrusion 4a on the other side of the opening width direction are positioned offset from each other in the projection direction. This shows an example in which no wallpaper is attached to the visible and visible surfaces of the gap-adjusting protrusions 4a. In other words, this shows an example in which the wallpaper that forms the opening-side end surfaces 4 is attached to the wall base boards on both sides of the gap-adjusting protrusions 4a in the visible direction so that it abuts both sides of the gap-adjusting protrusions 4a in the visible direction. The gap-adjusting members that form these gap-adjusting protrusions 4a may be configured, for example, by applying a decorative sheet or painting to the surface of a core material made of a wood-based material such as MDF. The opening where the first door panel 10A, the second door panel 10B, and the fixed panel 10C are installed is not limited to the configuration described above, and both sides of the opening width direction of the opening may be defined by vertical frame members. Also, the upper side of the opening may be defined by an upper frame, and the lower side of the opening may be defined by a lower frame.

[0017] As described above, the panel bodies 10, 10, 10 of the first door panel 10A, the second door panel 10B and the fixed panel 10C all have the same configuration, so below we will explain an example of a specific configuration using one panel body 10 as an example. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the panel body 10 includes a plate-like member 11 and a four-perimeter frame 13 provided so as to surround the plate-like member 11 on all four sides. The panel body 10 is shaped like a generally rectangular flat plate that is long in the vertical (door height) direction. The door height dimension (length dimension) of this panel body 10 may be a dimension corresponding to the opening height of the doorway 5. In the illustrated example, the length dimension of the panel body 10 is a dimension corresponding to the opening height of the doorway 5 from the floor 3 to the ceiling 2. The length dimension of this panel body 10 may be, for example, approximately 2400 mm to 3000 mm. The width dimension of the panel body 10 may be an appropriate dimension depending on the number of door panels (first door panel 10A and second door panel 10B) that open and close the doorway 5, the presence or absence of a fixed panel 10C, and the opening width of the opening where these are installed, and may be, for example, approximately 600 mm to 1200 mm.

[0018] Like the panel body 10, the plate-shaped member 11 is a generally rectangular flat plate elongated in the vertical direction. The plate-shaped member 11 is formed from a translucent material such as a synthetic resin material, such as acrylic or polycarbonate, or glass, and is a light-transmitting plate. That is, the plate-shaped member 11 constitutes a lighting section. The plate-shaped member 11 may be, for example, laminated glass formed by bonding two glass plates together in the thickness direction. The plate-shaped member 11 is not limited to being substantially colorless and transparent, but may also be colored and transparent or translucent. The plate-shaped member 11 may be, for example, a transparent material to which a colorant is added, or may be colored and transparent by laminating a resin film or the like. The plate-shaped member 11 may be smoked glass or frosted glass, or may be formed by sandwiching a sheet material, such as Japanese paper, between two transparent (translucent) panels. The plate-like member 11 may be a half-mirror, or may have mirrors on both sides in the thickness direction, or may be any other opaque plate body, and is not limited to a configuration in which both sides in the thickness direction are approximately flat, but may have irregularities.

[0019] As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the plate-like member 11 is held by the four-periphery frame 13 with its four peripheral end portions 11a inserted into receiving grooves 14a, 14a, 20a, and 30a provided in the four-periphery frame 13. Each of the four peripheral end portions 11a of the plate-like member 11 is held in the receiving grooves 14a, 14a, 20a, and 30a via a gasket (glazing gasket) 12 into which the end portion 11a is fitted. Such a gasket 12 may be a so-called glazing channel with a substantially C-shaped cross section or a glazing bead separated in the panel thickness direction. The manner in which the end portions 11a of the plate-like member 11 are held by the four-periphery frame 13 is not limited to this, and various other manners may be adopted.

[0020] As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4, the four-perimeter frame 13 comprises a pair of vertical frames 14, 14 that form both ends of the panel width direction of the panel main body 10, an upper frame 20 that forms the upper end of the panel main body 10, and a lower frame 30 that forms the lower end of the panel main body 10. The vertical frames 14, 14 on both sides are elongated in the vertical direction. Receiving grooves 14a, 14a are provided in these vertical frames 14, 14 so that they open toward each other and extend along their respective entire lengths. Since the vertical frames 14, 14 on both sides have the same configuration, the following description will be given using one of them as an example.

[0021] The dimension of the vertical frame 14 along the panel width direction is smaller than the dimension along the panel thickness direction. The dimension of the vertical frame 14 along the panel thickness direction is greater than the thickness of the plate-like member 11. The dimension of the vertical frame 14 along the panel thickness direction may be approximately the same as the thickness of a typical door panel, for example, approximately 30 mm to 40 mm. The dimension of the vertical frame 14 along the panel width direction may be, for example, approximately 10 mm to 30 mm. In the illustrated example, the dimension of the vertical frame 14 along the panel width direction is approximately 1 / 3 of the dimension of the vertical frame 14 along the panel thickness direction. 2 and 5(c), the inner surfaces 14b, 14b of the vertical frame 14 facing inward in the panel width direction (toward the center in the width direction of the panel main body 10) are inclined so as to be inclined toward the center in the panel width direction as they move from both outer sides in the panel thickness direction toward the plate-like member 11. With this configuration, the dimension in the panel width direction of the surface (visible surface) of the vertical frame 14 facing outward in the panel thickness direction can be reduced while ensuring the dimension in the panel width direction of the vertical frame 14 itself, thereby giving a neat impression.

[0022] The inner surfaces 14b, 14b on both sides in the panel thickness direction of this vertical frame 14 are inclined so as to be closer to the center in the panel width direction as they move from both outer edges in the panel thickness direction toward the plate-like member 11 which is closer to the center in the panel thickness direction. These inner surfaces 14b, 14b on both sides in the panel thickness direction are symmetrical with respect to the center line in the panel thickness direction as an axis of symmetry in a cross-sectional view. These inner surfaces 14b, 14b are concavely curved surfaces that are approximately arc-shaped in cross section. The angle and radius of curvature of these inner surfaces 14b, 14b with respect to the surface of the vertical frame 14 facing outward in the panel thickness direction may be set as appropriate from the viewpoint of appearance, etc. In the illustrated example, an example is shown in which the inner surfaces 14b, 14b have a portion at the end portion on the center side in the panel thickness direction that is approximately perpendicular to the surface of the plate-like member 11. In the illustrated example, the dimension along the panel width direction of these inner surfaces 14b, 14b when viewed in the panel thickness direction is approximately the same as the dimension along the panel width direction of the surface facing outward in the panel thickness direction of the vertical frame 14. In other words, the dimension along the panel width direction of the surface facing outward in the panel thickness direction of the vertical frame 14 is approximately half the dimension along the panel width direction of the vertical frame 14 itself.

[0023] The outer surface of the vertical frame 14 in the panel width direction is provided with holding grooves 14c that open outward in the panel width direction and extend over the entire length. The holding grooves 14c hold cushions 17 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) that contact an abutment object on one side of the panel width direction of the panel main body 10. The illustrated example shows two holding grooves 14c, 14c provided at a central portion of the vertical frame 14 in the panel thickness direction, spaced apart in the panel thickness direction. The cushions 17, 17 held in the holding grooves 14c, 14c, are provided so as to protrude outward in the panel width direction from the outer surface of the vertical frame 14 in the panel width direction and extend over the entire length. The dimensions of the cushions 17 in the panel thickness direction and the protruding dimensions in the panel width direction may be set as appropriate, taking into account factors such as preventing gaps with the abutment object and absorbing impact, and may be, for example, approximately 2 mm to 5 mm. In the illustrated example, cushions 17, 17 are provided on the end face on one side of the panel width direction of the fixed panel 10C, which come into contact with the gap adjustment protrusion 4a on one side of the opening width direction opposite to the fixed panel 10C. In the illustrated example, cushions 17, 17 are provided on the end face on the door leading side of the second door panel 10B, which come into contact with the gap adjustment protrusion 4a on the other side of the opening width direction opposite to the fixed panel 10C. In the illustrated example, cushions 17 are not provided on the retaining grooves 14c on the end faces other than the end face on one side of the panel width direction of the fixed panel 10C and the end face on the door leading side of the second door panel 10B, but this is not limited to this example.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 1, the upper frame 20 is elongated in the panel width direction. As shown in FIG. 4, the upper frame 20 has a receiving groove 20a that opens downward and extends along its entire length. As shown in FIGS. 5(b) and 6(c), the upper frame 20 has a smaller dimension in the up-down direction than in the panel thickness direction. The dimension of the upper frame 20 in the panel thickness direction is greater than the thickness of the plate-like member 11. The dimension of the upper frame 20 in the panel thickness direction may be approximately the same as the dimension of the vertical frame 14 in the panel thickness direction. In the illustrated example, the dimension of the upper frame 20 in the panel thickness direction is slightly smaller than the dimension of the vertical frame 14 in the panel thickness direction. The dimension of the upper frame 20 in the up-down direction is greater than the dimension of the vertical frame 14 in the panel width direction. In the illustrated example, the dimension of the upper frame 20 along the vertical direction is approximately 3 / 5 of the dimension of the upper frame 20 along the panel thickness direction.

[0025] As shown in Figures 5(b) and 6(c), the lower side surfaces 20b, 20b facing downward of the upper frame 20 are inclined surfaces that slope toward the center in the panel height direction as they move from both outer sides in the panel thickness direction toward the plate-like member 11. These lower side surfaces 20b, 20b are concavely curved surfaces that are line-symmetrical with respect to the center line in the panel thickness direction as an axis of symmetry in a vertical cross section, similar to the inner side surfaces 14b, 14b of the vertical frame 14. The lower side surfaces 20b, 20b in a vertical cross section and the inner side surfaces 14b, 14b of the vertical frame 14 in a cross section have approximately the same size and shape. The surfaces of the upper frame 20 facing outward in the panel thickness direction, except for the lower end, are vertical surfaces that are approximately parallel to the surfaces of the vertical frames 14 facing outward in the panel thickness direction. The lower end portions of the surfaces of the upper frame 20 facing outward in the panel thickness direction are inclined surfaces that slope outward in the panel thickness direction as they extend downward. The lower end portions of the surfaces of the upper frame 20 facing outward in the panel thickness direction and the lower side surfaces 20b form pointed protrusions when viewed in the longitudinal direction that protrude outward in the panel thickness direction.

[0026] The upper frame 20 and the vertical frame 14 are joined vertically. The longitudinal end face of the upper frame 20 facing outward in the panel width direction (toward the vertical frame 14) is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the upper frame 20. The upper end of the vertical frame 14 is provided with a receiving recess 15 that receives the longitudinal end of the upper frame 20. With this configuration, even when the inner surfaces 14b, 14b of the vertical frame 14 and the lower surfaces 20b, 20b of the upper frame 20 are inclined as described above, the joining can be made to look attractive. For example, it is possible to cut both the upper end of the vertical frame 14 and the longitudinal end of the upper frame 20 diagonally and butt them together in a mitered manner, but in this case, misalignment or gaps tend to occur due to processing errors, etc. On the other hand, according to the above configuration, as shown in Figures 6(a) and (b), the end of the upper frame 20, whose longitudinal end face is made approximately vertical, is received and joined into the receiving recessed step portion 15 of the vertical frame 14, making it less likely that misalignment or gaps will form.

[0027] As shown in Figures 5(a), 5(c), and 6(a), the receiving recessed step 15 is formed by cutting out (removing) a portion that constitutes the inclined inner side surfaces 14b, 14b at the upper end of the vertical frame 14. The receiving recessed step 15 is formed to open toward the inside and upward in the panel width direction. The step bottom surface of the receiving recessed step 15 facing toward the inside in the panel width direction is formed in a substantially vertical plane so that the longitudinal end surface of the upper frame 20 can abut against it. The step wall surfaces 15a, 15a facing upward of the receiving recessed step 15 are shaped to follow the lower side surfaces 20b, 20b of the upper frame 20 when viewed in the panel width direction (the longitudinal direction of the upper frame 20) so that they can abut against the inclined lower side surfaces 20b, 20b of the upper frame 20. As shown in Fig. 5(a), the step wall surfaces 15a of the receiving recessed step 15 are inclined surfaces that slope downward toward the center of the panel thickness direction when viewed in the panel width direction. As shown in Fig. 6(a), the step wall surfaces 15a of the receiving recessed step 15 are inclined surfaces that slope downward toward the inside of the panel width direction when viewed in the panel thickness direction.

[0028] The dimension along the panel thickness direction of the upper portion of this receiving recessed step 15 (the portion above the step wall surfaces 15a, 15a) corresponds to the dimension along the panel thickness direction of the upper frame 20. In the illustrated example, the dimension along the panel thickness direction of the upper portion of the receiving recessed step 15 is approximately the same as the dimension along the panel thickness direction of the tip portion of the protrusion formed by the lower side surface 20b of the upper frame 20 and the lower end portions of the surfaces facing outward on both sides in the panel thickness direction, as described above. As shown in Figures 5(a) and 6(c), the vertical frame 14 is provided with insertion holes 15b that open at the bottom surface of the receiving recessed step 15 and through which fasteners 19 such as screws are inserted from the outside in the panel width direction. The upper frame 20 is provided with fastener portions 20c for the fasteners 19 that are fastened via the insertion holes 15b. With this configuration, the vertical frame 14 and the upper frame 20 can be easily joined together with the fasteners 19.

[0029] The upper frame 20 is provided with two hole-shaped fastening portions 20c, 20c that open at the longitudinal end faces of the solid portions of the receiving groove 20a on both sides in the panel thickness direction. This configuration allows the fastener 19 to be more stably fastened than a configuration in which an open-ring-shaped (approximately C-shaped) fastening portion is provided in the hollow portion. The fastening portions 20c, 20c may be female-threaded holes into which the fastener 19 is screwed, or pilot holes into which the fastener 19 is screwed. The fastening portions 20c, 20c may be provided to extend over the entire length of the upper frame 20. Two insertion holes 15b, 15b are provided in the vertical frame 14 so as to penetrate both sides of the receiving groove 14a in the panel thickness direction in the panel width direction, so as to be positioned to align with the fastening portions 20c, 20c. The insertion holes 15b, 15b have a diameter on the inner side in the panel width direction that corresponds to the shaft of the fastener 19, and a diameter on the outer side in the panel width direction that is larger than that on the inner side in the panel width direction and also corresponds to the head of the fastener 19. Caps 18, 18 (see FIG. 8) may be provided that are attached to cover the head of the fastener 19 placed in the insertion holes 15b, 15b.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 4 , a fixing portion 28 of a runner 25 constituting a guided member guided by the upper rail 6 or an engaging protrusion 29 inserted into the holding groove 7a of the upper-end holding member 7 is fixed to the upper surface of the upper frame 20. The panel main body 10 includes covers 22, 22 detachably attached to both sides of the upper frame 20 in the panel thickness direction to cover the fixing portion 28 or the engaging protrusion 29. With this configuration, even when the dimensions of the vertical frame 14 along the panel width direction and the dimensions of the upper frame 20 along the up-down direction are relatively small, making it difficult to embed the fixing portion 28 therein, the fixing portion 28 fixed to the upper frame 20 can be made less noticeable. Furthermore, with the covers 22, 22 detached, the runner main body 26 of the runner 25 suspended and supported by the upper rail 6 can be connected to the fixing portion 28 fixed to the upper frame 20, improving workability. Furthermore, because these covers 22, 22 are detachable from the upper frame 20, the ease of maintenance of the runner 25 can be improved. Furthermore, while the appearance of the panel body 10 of the fixed panel 10C is similar to that of the movable panel, the engaging protrusions 29 inserted into the holding grooves 7a of the upper end holding member 7 can be made less noticeable. Furthermore, with the covers 22, 22 detached, the engaging protrusions 29 can be inserted into the holding grooves 7a of the upper end holding member 7, making it easy to hold the upper end side of the panel body 10 in the upper end holding member 7. An example of the specific configuration of the upper rail 6, runner 25, upper end holding member 7, and engaging protrusions 29 will be described later.

[0031] On the inner side (opposite side) of these covers 22 in the panel thickness direction, engaging portions 23, 23 that engage with engaged portions 21, 21 provided on the upper frame 20 are provided so as to prevent each cover 22, 22 from moving downward and in the panel thickness direction. With this configuration, the engaging portions 23, 23 of each cover 22, 22 can be engaged with the engaged portions 21, 21 of the upper frame 20 to temporarily hold each cover 22, 22 to the upper frame 20. At the upper end of the vertical frame 14, insertion holes 15c, 15c through which shafts of fasteners 19, 19 that abut against the engaging portions 23, 23 are inserted so as to prevent upward movement of the engaging portions 23, 23 of these covers 22, 22 are provided so as to penetrate in the panel width direction.

[0032] With the above-described configuration, when the fasteners 19 are inserted through the insertion holes 15c from the outer side of the vertical frame 14 in the panel width direction, the shafts of the fasteners 19 prevent the engaging portions 23 of the covers 22 from moving upward. The engagement of the engaging portions 23 with the shafts of the fasteners 19 and the engaged portions 21 prevents the covers 22 from moving up and down and in the panel thickness direction, making it easy to attach the covers 22 to the upper frame 20. Furthermore, when the covers 22 can be detached from the upper frame 20, they can be easily detached by removing the fasteners 19. Furthermore, the appearance can be improved compared to when the screws or the like used to attach the covers 22 are exposed on both sides in the panel thickness direction. The covers 22, 22 on both sides in the panel thickness direction and the upper frame 20 on both sides in the panel thickness direction to which they are attached have the same configuration, so the following description will be given taking one side in the panel thickness direction as an example.

[0033] As shown in Figure 6(c), the cover 22 is disposed along the surface of the upper frame 20 facing outward in the panel thickness direction, and includes a cover body 22a having an extension extending upward beyond the upper end of the upper frame 20. The cover body 22a is generally strip-shaped and disposed so that its thickness direction coincides with the panel thickness direction. The cover body 22a is disposed along the outer edge of the receiving recessed step 15 in the panel thickness direction, with its longitudinal end face abutting against the step bottom surface. As shown in Figure 6(b), this cover main body 22a is formed so that its upper end surface is approximately flush with the upper end surface of the vertical frame 14 when the cover 22 is attached to the upper frame 20. With this configuration, the vertical frame 14 and the upper frame 20 including the cover 22 appear to be joined vertically, improving the appearance even when the cover 22 is provided. In other words, the above-mentioned upper frame 20 is joined to the upper end of the vertical frame 14 so as to be located below the upper end surface of the vertical frame 14, as shown in Figures 6(a) and (c).

[0034] As shown in FIG. 6(c), the lower end surface of the cover body 22a is inclined to abut against the inclined surface at the lower end of the surface of the upper frame 20 facing outward in the panel thickness direction. This configuration makes it possible to obscure the lower end surface of the cover body 22a while also making any gaps or misalignments with the inclined surface that abuts on the upper frame 20 less noticeable. Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6(b), the joint between the cover body 22a and the upper frame 20 is located at the corner of the lower surface 20b, making the joint less noticeable. In other words, the surface of the cover body 22a facing outward in the panel thickness direction can be made to appear as if it constitutes the surface of the upper frame 20 facing outward in the panel thickness direction, thereby making it less likely to feel unnatural even when the cover 22 is installed.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 6(c), the engagement portion 23 includes a protruding piece protruding inward in the panel thickness direction from a vertically intermediate portion of the inner side of the cover body 22a in the panel thickness direction, and a hanging piece hanging downward from the tip of the protruding piece. The protruding piece and hanging piece of the engagement portion 23 and the cover body 22a form an engagement groove 24 that opens downward and extends along the entire length. In the illustrated example, the protruding piece of the engagement portion 23 is located approximately in the vertical center of the cover body 22a. The hanging piece of the engagement portion 23 is formed in an inclined shape so that it slopes inward in the panel thickness direction as it extends downward. The lower end of the hanging piece is formed above the lower end surface of the cover body 22a.

[0036] The engaged portion 21 of the upper frame 20 is shaped like a protruding piece that engages with the engaging groove 24 of the cover 22 so as to fit into the engaging groove 24. The engaged portion 21 is provided so as to protrude upward from the outer edge of the upper frame 20 in the panel thickness direction. The surface of the engaged portion 21 facing outward in the panel thickness direction constitutes the surface of the upper frame 20 facing outward in the panel thickness direction. In other words, the cover 22 is arranged so that its cover main body 22a is aligned along the surface of the engaged portion 21 facing outward in the panel thickness direction. The cover 22 is arranged so that the groove bottom (the lower surface of the protruding piece) of the engaging groove 24 abuts or is close to the upper end surface (the tip surface in the protruding direction) of the engaged portion 21. The cover 22 is arranged so that the groove side surface of the engaging groove 24 facing outward in the panel thickness direction (the groove side surface of the hanging piece) is aligned along the surface of the engaged portion 21 facing inward in the panel thickness direction. The example shown in the figure shows an example in which a receiving groove is provided at the corner between the base end of the engaged portion 21 of the upper frame 20 and the upper surface of the inner part of the panel thickness direction, which opens upward and receives the lower end of the hanging piece portion of the engaging portion 23, extending over the entire length.

[0037] Two insertion holes 15c, 15c are provided at the upper end of the vertical frame 14 so that the shaft portions of the fasteners 19, 19 abut against the corners between the protruding pieces and the hanging pieces of the engaging portions 23, 23 of each cover 22, 22. These insertion holes 15c, 15c are provided to penetrate both sides of the receiving groove 14a of the vertical frame 14 in the panel thickness direction in the panel width direction. These insertion holes 15c, 15c are provided to be positioned approximately directly above the insertion holes 15b, 15b of the fasteners 19, 19 that join the vertical frame 14 and the upper frame 20. As described above, the insertion holes 15c, 15c have a diameter corresponding to the shafts of the fasteners 19 at their inner sides in the panel width direction and a diameter larger than that of the inner sides in the panel width direction and corresponding to the heads of the fasteners 19 at their outer sides in the panel width direction. Caps 18, 18 (see FIG. 8) may be provided to cover the heads of the fasteners 19 accommodated in the insertion holes 15c, 15c. The manner in which the covers 22, 22 are fixed to the upper frame 20 is not limited to the manner described above, and various other manners may be adopted.

[0038] When the covers 22, 22 are attached to the upper frame 20, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6(c), a space is formed between them to accommodate the fixing portion 28 or the engaging protrusion 29 of the runner 25. The runner 25 is fixed to the upper end of each panel body 10 of the first door panel 10A and the second door panel 10B. The runner 25 includes a runner body 26 provided with rolling elements 27 that run on the guide piece portion of the upper rail 6, and a fixed portion 28 connected to the runner body 26 and fixed to the upper frame 20 of the panel body 10. In the illustrated example, the upper rail 6 is provided with a guide groove 6a that opens downward and extends along its entire length. The upper rail 6 includes a fixed piece portion that defines the groove bottom of the guide groove 6a and is fixed to a fixing object such as a ceiling substrate or upper frame on the ceiling 2 side with a fastener such as a screw. The upper rail 6 includes groove side pieces that hang down from both ends of the fixed piece portion in the groove width direction and define both sides of the guide groove 6a in the groove width direction, and guide pieces that protrude from the lower ends of the groove side pieces on both sides in the groove width direction in directions facing each other. In addition, the illustrated example shows an example in which the upper rail 6 that guides the runner 25 of the first door panel 10A and the upper rail 6 that guides the runner 25 of the second door panel 10B are connected by a connecting piece, but this is not limited to this example. In addition, the illustrated example shows an example in which the upper rail 6 is embedded in the ceiling 2, but this is not limited to this example. This upper rail 6 may be an extrusion molded product made of an appropriate metallic material.

[0039] The runner body 26 is arranged so as to be inserted into the guide groove 6a of the upper rail 6, and is configured so as to have rolling elements 27, 27 provided on both sides in the panel thickness direction, which run on the guide pieces on both sides of the upper rail 6. These rolling elements 27, 27 are roller-shaped and can rotate freely around an axis along the panel thickness direction. Two sets of rolling elements 27, 27 may be provided on the runner body 26, spaced apart in the rail longitudinal direction (panel width direction). Runner body 26 is provided with a shaft portion that protrudes downward, and height adjustment operation portion 26a that is provided on this shaft portion and is operated when adjusting the height position of runner body 26 relative to fixed portion 28. The shaft portion may be a male thread portion that screws into a female thread portion provided on runner body 26. The lower end portion of this shaft portion may be connected to fixed portion 28 via an appropriate connecting portion. The fixing portion 28 is fixed so as to fit along the upper surface between the engaged portions 21, 21 on both sides of the upper frame 20 in the panel thickness direction. The fixing portion 28 is fixed to the upper frame 20 by an appropriate fastener.

[0040] The runners 25 configured as described above are provided at both longitudinal ends of the upper frame 20. That is, runners 25, 25 are provided at both widthwise ends of the upper end of the panel main body 10. A buffer mechanism may be provided to be connected to one of the runners 25, 25 on both sides in the panel width direction, and to slow down the movement of the panel main body 10 (first door panel 10A and second door panel 10B) to one or both of the open and closed positions. In this case, an appropriate trigger for activating the buffer mechanism may be provided in the guide groove 6a of the upper rail 6. Instead of or in addition to such a buffer mechanism, appropriate stoppers may be provided to stop the first door panel 10A and second door panel 10B at the open and closed positions, respectively.

[0041] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 12(a), the engaging protrusion 29 is fixed to the upper end of the panel body 10 of the fixed panel 10C. The engaging protrusions 29 are fixed along the upper surface of the upper frame 20 between the engaged portions 21, 21 on both sides in the panel thickness direction, and are provided so as to protrude upward from this upper surface. The engaging protrusions 29 are provided so as to be insertable into the holding grooves 7a of the upper end holding members 7 fixed to the ceiling 2 side. The engaging protrusions 29 are provided so that their upper ends are approximately flush with the upper ends of the vertical frames 14 and the cover 22. In the example shown in the drawing, an example is shown in which the upper ends of the engaging protrusions 29 are positioned slightly above the upper ends of the vertical frames 14 and the cover 22. The upper-end holding member 7 has a holding groove 7a that opens downward and extends along its entire length. The upper-end holding member 7 includes a fixed piece portion that defines the bottom of the holding groove 7a and is fixed to a fixing target such as a ceiling base or upper frame on the ceiling 2 side with fasteners such as screws, and groove side pieces that hang down from both side ends of the fixed piece portion in the groove width direction and define both sides of the holding groove 7a in the groove width direction. In the illustrated example, the fixed piece portion of the upper-end holding member 7 is fixed so as to fit along the ceiling 2, but this is not limited to this example.

[0042] The groove side pieces on both sides of this upper end holding member 7 are arranged so as to abut or be close to both sides of the engaging protrusion 29 in the panel thickness direction, and are also arranged so as to be positioned between the cover bodies 22a, 22a of the covers 22, 22 on both sides attached to the upper frame 20. With this configuration, the upper end holding member 7 and the engaging protrusion 29 can be made less noticeable by the covers 22, 22. The upper end of the fixed panel 10C may be held by inserting the engaging protrusion 29 into the holding groove 7a of the upper end holding member 7, or may be fixed to the ceiling 2 with an appropriate fastener. For example, the engaging protrusion 29 may be fastened to a groove side piece of the upper end holding member 7 with an appropriate fastener to fix the upper end of the fixed panel 10C to the ceiling 2. Furthermore, as will be described in detail later, the end of the upper end holding member 7 on the doorway 5 side has a notch that can accommodate the upper end of one side end of the fixed panel 10C in the panel width direction (in the illustrated example, the vertical frame 14 and the engaging protrusion 29 on one side of the panel width direction). This notch may be formed by removing the groove side pieces on both sides of the end of the upper end holding member 7 on the doorway 5 side. The upper end holding member 7 may be an extrusion molded product made of an appropriate metallic material, and its surface may be made decorative by applying a decorative sheet or applying a coating or other appropriate surface treatment.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 1, the lower frame 30 is elongated in the panel width direction. As shown in FIG. 4, the lower frame 30 has a receiving groove 30a that opens upward and extends along its entire length. The dimension of the lower frame 30 along the panel thickness direction is approximately the same as the dimension of the upper frame 20 along the panel thickness direction. In other words, the dimension of the lower frame 30 along the panel thickness direction is slightly smaller than the dimension of the vertical frames 14 along the panel thickness direction. The dimension of the lower frame 30 along the up-down direction is larger than the dimension of the vertical frames 14 along the panel width direction. In the illustrated example, the dimension of the lower frame 30 along the up-down direction and the dimension of the lower frame 30 along the panel thickness direction are approximately the same, but the present invention is not limited to this example.

[0044] 9 and 10, the upper side surfaces 30b, 30b of the lower frame 30 facing upward are inclined surfaces that slope upward from both outer sides in the panel thickness direction toward the plate-like member 11. Similar to the lower side surfaces 20b, 20b of the upper frame 20, these upper side surfaces 30b, 30b are line-symmetrical with respect to the center line in the panel thickness direction as an axis of symmetry in vertical cross section, and are concavely curved surfaces that are approximately arc-shaped. The upper side surfaces 30b, 30b in vertical cross section and the inner side surfaces 14b, 14b of the vertical frame 14 in cross section have approximately the same size and shape. The surfaces of the lower frame 30 facing outward on both sides in the panel thickness direction are vertical surfaces that are approximately parallel to the surfaces of the vertical frames 14 facing outward on both sides in the panel thickness direction. 8 and 9, the lower frame 30 and the vertical frame 14 are joined in a vertically extending manner, as described above. The longitudinal end face of the lower frame 30 facing outward in the panel width direction (toward the vertical frame 14) is formed into a substantially perpendicular surface relative to the longitudinal direction of the lower frame 30. The lower end of the vertical frame 14 is provided with a receiving recess 16 that receives the longitudinal end of the lower frame 30, as described above.

[0045] Similar to the above, the receiving recessed step 16 is formed by cutting out (removing) a portion constituting the inclined inner surfaces 14b, 14b at the lower end of the vertical frame 14. The receiving recessed step 16 is formed to open toward the inside and downward in the panel width direction. The step bottom surface of the receiving recessed step 16 facing toward the inside in the panel width direction is formed into a substantially vertical surface so that the longitudinal end surface of the lower frame 30 can abut against it. The step wall surfaces 16a, 16a facing downward of the receiving recessed step 16 are shaped to follow the upper surfaces 30b, 30b of the lower frame 30 when viewed in the panel width direction (the longitudinal direction of the lower frame 30) so that they can abut against the inclined upper surfaces 30b, 30b of the lower frame 30. The step wall surfaces 16a, 16a of the receiving recessed step 16 are generally similar to those described above, and are inclined upward as they approach the center of the panel thickness direction when viewed in the panel width direction. The step wall surfaces 16a, 16a of the receiving recessed step 16 are inclined upward as they approach the inner side of the panel width direction when viewed in the panel thickness direction.

[0046] The dimension of the lower portion of this receiving recessed step portion 16 (the portion below the step wall surfaces 16a, 16a) along the panel thickness direction corresponds to the dimension of the lower frame 30 along the panel thickness direction. Generally similar to the above, the vertical frame 14 is provided with an insertion hole 16b that opens at the bottom surface of the receiving recessed step 16 and through which the fastener 19 is inserted from the outside in the panel width direction. The lower frame 30 is provided with a fastening portion 30c for the fastener 19 that is fastened via this insertion hole 16b. The lower frame 30, similar to the upper frame 20 described above, is provided with two fastening portions 30c, 30c that are hole-like and open at the longitudinal end faces of the solid portions of the receiving groove 30a on both sides in the panel thickness direction. These fastening portions 30c, 30c may be female threaded holes or pilot holes, as described above. These fastening portions 30c, 30c may be provided to extend over the entire length of the lower frame 30.

[0047] Two insertion holes 16b, 16b are provided in the vertical frame 14 so as to penetrate both sides of the receiving groove 14a in the panel thickness direction in the panel width direction, so as to be positioned to align with the fastening portions 30c, 30c. As described above, the insertion holes 16b, 16b have a diameter on the inner side in the panel width direction that corresponds to the shaft of the fastener 19, and a diameter on the outer side in the panel width direction that is larger than that on the inner side in the panel width direction and also corresponds to the head of the fastener 19. Caps 18, 18 are provided that are attached to cover the head of the fastener 19 placed in the insertion holes 16b, 16b. The inner surface 14b of the vertical frame 14, the lower surface 20b of the upper frame 20, and the upper surface 30b of the lower frame 30 are not limited to the inclined surface having a substantially arc-shaped concave curved surface as described above, but may be a polygonal inclined surface, a substantially flat inclined surface, or various other inclined surfaces. In this case, the shapes of the receiving recessed steps 15, 16, etc. may be modified appropriately as needed. Furthermore, one or both of the inner surface 14b of the vertical frame 14, the lower surface 20b of the upper frame 20, and the upper surface 30b of the lower frame 30 may be substantially perpendicular to the surface of the plate-like member 11. The joining manner between the lower frame 30 and the vertical frame 14 and the joining manner between the upper frame 20 and the vertical frame 14 are not limited to the manners described above. For example, both or either of the joints between the lower frame 30 and the vertical frame 14 and the joints between the upper frame 20 and the vertical frame 14 may be cut diagonally and joined in a mitered manner, or may be joined using separate joining members. Various other joining manners can be adopted as these joining manners.

[0048] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, a protrusion 31 is provided on the underside of the lower frame 30 at a central portion in the panel thickness direction, protruding downward and extending over the entire length. A guide mounting member 36, which will be described later, is fixed to the lower frame 30 by a fastener 19 that penetrates a portion of the underside of the lower frame 30 that is further outward in the panel thickness direction than the protrusion 31. With this configuration, the heads of the fasteners 19 that secure the guide mounting member 36 are located on the underside of the lower frame 30, making the fasteners 19 less noticeable. Furthermore, since the protrusion 31 is located at the lower end of the panel main body 10, protrusion of the heads of the fasteners 19 from the lower end of the panel main body 10 can be suppressed. Furthermore, since the protrusion 31 is provided at a central portion in the panel thickness direction on the underside of the lower frame 30, the apparent dimension of the lower frame 30 in the up-down direction can be made to appear smaller, giving a neat impression.

[0049] The protrusions 31 are provided at two locations spaced apart in the panel thickness direction so as to form both side walls in the groove width direction on the opening side of the guide groove 34. With this configuration, the groove depth dimension of the guide groove 34 can be ensured while the apparent dimension of the lower frame 30 can be made to appear smaller as described above. The panel main body 10 is accommodated in a downward-opening receiving groove 32 (see Figure 8) provided in the lower frame 30, and is provided with a resin guide groove member 33 that forms both side walls in the groove width direction of the guide groove 34. With this configuration, the guide portion 37a of the first door panel 10A can be relatively moved along the guide groove 34, which is partitioned on both sides in the groove width direction by the guide groove member 33. This makes it possible to suppress the generation of abnormal noise caused by sliding between the metal lower frame 30 and the guide portion 37a of the metal guide body 37.

[0050] Impact absorbing members 35, 35 against which the guide portion 37a abuts are provided at both longitudinal ends of the guide groove 34. With this configuration, it is possible to mitigate the impact that occurs when the guide portion 37a, which moves relatively within the guide groove 34, abuts at both longitudinal ends of the groove, and to suppress damage to the guide portion 37a, generation of abnormal noise, etc. The impact absorbing members 35, 35 are held by guide mounting members 36, 36 housed within both ends of the hollow cylindrical lower frame 30 in the panel width direction, and the lower frame 30. With this configuration, the second door panel 10B and the first door panel 10A can share the same parts, and it is also possible to mount the guide body 37 on the second door panel 10B as needed. In addition, the guide mounting member 36 can be given the function of both mounting the guide body 37 and holding the impact absorbing members 35, which reduces the number of parts.

[0051] Specifically, as shown in Figures 8 and 10, the lower frame 30 has a generally rectangular hollow portion extending along its entire length in the panel width direction in a lower portion below the upper portion where the fastening portions 30c, 30c are provided. The upper side of this hollow portion is defined by the upper portion where the fastening portions 30c, 30c and the receiving groove 30a are provided, and both sides in the panel thickness direction are defined by side pieces that hang down from both side edges of the upper portion in the panel thickness direction. The lower side of the hollow portion is defined by lower pieces that extend from the lower ends of the side pieces in directions facing each other and form the receiving groove 32 between them. The receiving groove 32 is provided to communicate with the hollow portion. This receiving groove 32 opens downward at approximately the center in the panel thickness direction on the underside of the lower frame 30 and extends over the entire length. Both sides of this receiving groove 32 in the groove width direction are defined by a pair of protrusions 31, 31. These protrusions 31, 31 are provided to protrude downward from opposite ends of the lower piece portion that defines the hollow portion of the lower frame 30. The protrusion dimension of these protrusions 31, 31 may be an appropriate dimension, for example, from the perspective of preventing the head of the fastener 19 from coming into contact with the lower end of the panel main body 10 and ensuring the groove depth of the guide groove 34, and may be approximately 3 mm to 10 mm.

[0052] The lower frame 30 is provided with insertion holes 30e for fasteners 19 that secure the guide mounting member 36 to the lower frame 30, opening at the outer portions of these protrusions 31, 31 in the panel thickness direction. In the illustrated example, four insertion holes 30e are provided at each longitudinal end of the lower frame 30 so as to penetrate the lower piece portions on both sides in the panel thickness direction. 4 and 10, a receiving groove 30d is provided on the inner top surface facing downward in the hollow portion of the lower frame 30, the receiving groove 30d opening downward and extending over the entire length to receive the protrusions 33a, 36a provided on the guide groove member 33 and the guide mounting member 36. The receiving groove 30d is provided so as to be located approximately in the center in the panel thickness direction. The lower frame 30, the above-mentioned two vertical frames 14, 14, the upper frame 20, and the two covers 22, 22 may be extrusion molded products made of an appropriate metallic material. The surfaces of these two vertical frames 14, 14, the upper frame 20, the two covers 22, 22, and the lower frame 30 may be made decorative by appropriate surface treatment such as applying a decorative sheet or painting.

[0053] The guide groove member 33 is elongated in the width direction of the panel and may be an extrusion molded product made of an appropriate synthetic resin material. The guide groove member 33 has a groove bottom piece portion that defines the groove bottom of the guide groove 34 and groove side wall portions that define both sides in the groove width direction of the guide groove 34, and is formed into a substantially U-shape (substantially C-shape) that opens downward when viewed in the panel width direction. The protrusion 33a of the guide groove member 33 is provided so as to protrude upward from the upper surface of the groove bottom piece portion. The groove side walls on both sides of this guide groove member 33 are provided so as to abut on or be close to the opposing inner surfaces of the protrusions 31, 31 on both sides. The guide groove member 33 has locking projections 33b, 33b at the vertical midpoint of the outer surfaces of the groove side walls on both sides. These locking projections 33b, 33b project outward in the panel thickness direction, with their downward surfaces abutting the upper surfaces of the lower pieces. The locking projections 33b, 33b are arranged so that the lower ends of the groove side walls on both sides of the guide groove member 33 are approximately flush with the lower ends of the projections 31, 31. In other words, the distance from the downward surfaces of the locking projections 33b, 33b to the lower ends of the groove side walls on both sides of the guide groove member 33 is approximately the same as the distance from the upper surface of the lower piece to the lower ends of the projections 31, 31. The locking projections 33b, 33b may be provided along the entire length of the guide groove member 33, or may be provided at multiple locations spaced apart in the longitudinal direction.

[0054] The guide groove member 33 may be attached to the lower frame 30 by being inserted through an opening on one side of the lower frame 30 in the longitudinal direction. Both longitudinal ends of this guide groove member 33 are inserted into receiving grooves 36b, 36b provided in guide mounting members 36, 36 on both sides in the panel width direction (see Figures 8, 9 and 10(a)). The protrusions 33a on both longitudinal ends of the guide groove member 33 are cut out so as not to interfere with the receiving grooves 36b, 36b of the guide mounting members 36, 36 on both sides in the panel width direction. As shown in FIG. 3 , the length of the guide groove member 33 corresponds to the distance between the shock-absorbing members 35, 35 held by the guide mounting members 36, 36 on both sides of the panel width direction. The longitudinal movement of the guide groove member 33 is restricted by the shock-absorbing members 35, 35 on both sides of the panel width direction, and its movement in the panel thickness direction is restricted by the protrusions 31, 31 on both sides. The vertical movement of the guide groove member 33 is restricted by the protrusion 33a that engages with the receiving groove 30d and the locking protrusions 33b, 33b that lock onto the lower piece portion. The manner in which the guide groove member 33 is fixed to the lower frame 30 is not limited to the above-described configuration, and various other modifications are possible. Alternatively, the guide groove member 33 may be omitted. Alternatively, the lower frame 30 may be omitted from the above-described protrusions 31, 31.

[0055] The guide mounting members 36, 36 on both sides of the panel width direction and the shock absorbing members 35, 35 on both sides of the panel width direction held by these members have the same configuration, so the following description will be given taking one side as an example. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 10(a), the shock absorbing member 35 is provided so as to define the inner end surface of the guide groove 34 in the groove longitudinal direction. As shown in FIGS. 8, 9, and 10(b), the shock absorbing member 35 is inserted (fitted) into a receiving groove 36b provided in the guide mounting member 36. The dimension of the shock absorbing member 35 along the panel thickness direction is larger than the groove width of the guide groove 34. The dimension of the shock absorbing member 35 along the up-down direction is larger than the groove depth of the guide groove 34. The dimension of the shock absorbing member 35 along the panel width direction may be an appropriate dimension from the perspective of shock absorption, etc., and may be, for example, approximately 3 mm to 50 mm, or may be 20 mm or less. The shock absorbing member 35 may be formed from an appropriate synthetic resin material such as rubber or ABS.

[0056] The shock absorbing member 35 is arranged so that its upper surface abuts against or is close to the bottom of the receiving groove 36b, and its both side surfaces in the panel thickness direction abut against or are close to both inner side surfaces in the groove width direction of the receiving groove 36b and the opposing inner surfaces of the protrusions 31, 31 on both sides. Similar to the above-described guide groove member 33, locking projections 35b, 35b that lock onto the corners between the projections 31, 31 and the lower pieces are provided at vertically intermediate positions on both sides of the shock absorbing member 35 in the panel thickness direction. In other words, the upward movement of the shock absorbing member 35 is restricted by the groove bottom of the receiving groove 36b of the guide mounting member 36, and the downward movement is restricted by the lower pieces of the lower frame 30 with which the locking projections 35b, 35b lock. Furthermore, the movement of the shock absorbing member 35 in the panel thickness direction is restricted by both inner surfaces in the groove width direction of the receiving groove 36b of the guide mounting member 36 and the projections 31, 31 on both sides of the lower frame 30. As shown in FIG. 3, the shock absorbing member 35 is prevented from moving outward in the width direction of the panel by the inner end face that defines one side of the receiving groove 36b of the guide mounting member 36 in the longitudinal direction of the groove (outer side in the width direction of the panel), and its movement inward in the width direction of the panel is prevented by the guide groove member 33.

[0057] In the illustrated example, the inner end surface of the receiving groove 36b of the guide mounting member 36 is provided with a concave curved surface portion 36c that is arc-shaped when viewed in the vertical direction. The shock absorbing member 35 is provided on the outer side in the panel width direction with a protrusion 35a that protrudes toward the outer side in the panel width direction and abuts against the concave curved surface portion 36c. When the relative range of movement of the guide pin 9a (described below) within the guide groove 34 is to be increased, the concave curved surface portion 36c can receive a portion of the guide pin 9a by omitting the shock absorbing member 35. A configuration without such concave curved surface portion 36c or protrusion 35a is also possible. The configuration of the shock absorbing member 35 and the configuration for holding the shock absorbing member 35 on the lower frame 30 are not limited to the configuration described above, and various other modifications are possible. Furthermore, a configuration in which such a shock absorbing member 35 is not provided may also be adopted.

[0058] 8 to 10, the guide mounting member 36 has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape corresponding to the shape of the hollow portion of the lower frame 30. This guide mounting member 36 is housed in the hollow portion of the lower frame 30 so that its upper surface, lower surface, and both outer surfaces in the panel thickness direction abut against or are close to the inner top surface, inner bottom surface, and both inner surfaces in the panel thickness direction of the hollow portion of the lower frame 30. The surface of this guide mounting member 36 facing outward in the panel width direction abuts against the step bottom surface of the receiving recessed step 16 of the vertical frame 14 described above. In the example shown, an example is shown in which a protrusion is provided on the surface of the guide mounting member 36 facing outward in the panel width direction, which is fitted into a groove provided in the step bottom surface of the receiving recessed step 16 so as to extend in the vertical direction. The protrusion 36a is provided so as to protrude upward from approximately the center in the panel thickness direction of the upper surface of the guide mounting member 36 and extend across the entire width of the panel. In the example shown, an example is shown in which grooves that open upward and extend across approximately the entire width of the panel are provided on both sides of the protrusion 36a in the panel thickness direction. The receiving groove 36b is provided so as to open downward and toward the inside in the panel width direction. The groove depth and groove width of this receiving groove 36b are greater than the groove depth and groove width of the guide groove 34 so as to be able to receive the guide groove member 33 from which the protrusion 33a has been removed. Downwardly expanding inclined surfaces are provided on both edges of the opening on the lower side of this receiving groove 36b so as to be able to receive the locking protrusions 33b, 33b, 35b, 35b of the guide groove member 33 and the impact absorbing member 35.

[0059] As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the guide mounting member 36 is provided with a lower end cover portion 36d that protrudes outward in the panel width direction beyond the lower frame 30 and covers the lower end surfaces 14d of the vertical frames 14 that are connected to the lower frame 30 in a vertically extending manner. This configuration allows the lower end surfaces 14d of the vertical frames 14 to be covered by the lower end cover portion 36d. This prevents the cut surfaces from being exposed, even when the lower end surfaces 14d of the vertical frames 14 are cut surfaces. The lower end cover portion 36d is provided to cover the lower ends of the side pieces on both sides of the lower frame 30 in the panel thickness direction, the lower pieces on both sides, and the end surfaces of the protrusions 31 on both sides that face outward in the panel width direction. The lower end cover portion 36d protrudes outward in the panel width direction and to both sides in the panel thickness direction from the lower edge of the outer end of the guide mounting member 36 in the panel width direction. A protrusion cover portion is provided at the center of the lower end cover portion 36d in the panel thickness direction, protruding downward and covering the space between the protrusions 31, 31 on both sides and their end faces.

[0060] The lower end cover portion 36d is provided so that the surfaces facing downward in the panel thickness direction of both sides are substantially flush with the lower surfaces of the lower pieces of the lower frame 30, and the surfaces facing outward and downward in the panel thickness direction of the protrusion cover portion are substantially flush with the outer surfaces and lower end surfaces of the protrusions 31, 31, respectively. The lower end cover portion 36d is provided so that the surface facing outward in the panel thickness direction is substantially flush with the surface of the vertical frame 14 facing outward in the panel thickness direction, and the surface facing outward in the panel width direction is substantially flush with the surface of the vertical frame 14 facing outward in the panel width direction. Such a lower end cover portion 36d may not be provided on the panel mounting member 36. In this case, an appropriate cap member may be provided separately to cover the lower end surface 14d of the vertical frame 14. The guide mounting member 36 is provided with fastening portions 36e of the fastener 19 so as to be positioned to align with the insertion holes 30e provided in the lower frame 30. In the illustrated example, four fastening portions 36e are provided at intervals in the panel width direction on both sides of the receiving groove 36b so as to be positioned corresponding to the four insertion holes 30e of the lower frame 30. These fastening portions 36e may be female threaded holes or pilot holes, as described above.

[0061] The insertion hole 30f of the lower frame 30 and the mounting hole 36f of the guide mounting member 36, into which the mounting portion 39 of the guide body 37 is inserted, are provided on both sides in the panel thickness direction of the lower frame 30 and the guide mounting member 36. With this configuration, the guide body 37 can be selectively mounted on either side in the panel thickness direction depending on the arrangement of the first door panel 10A and whether it is pulled to the right or left (left-right pulling specification), etc. The mounting portion 39 is a square pillar-shaped member with its axial direction extending vertically, and the mounting hole 36f is a square hole-shaped member that opens downward. This configuration can prevent the mounting portion 39 from rotating around its axis when the guide body 37 is attached. Furthermore, even if a solid portion is provided in the lower frame 30 to provide a mounting hole, it may be difficult to form a square mounting hole due to molding. According to the above configuration, the guide mounting member 36 is a separate body from the lower frame 30, and can be a cast product, etc., making it easy to form the square mounting hole 36f.

[0062] Specifically, as shown in Figures 3, 8, and 10(b), the insertion holes 30f, 30f of the lower frame 30 are provided so as to penetrate the lower piece portions on both sides in the panel thickness direction at each longitudinal end of the lower frame 30. The insertion holes 30f, 30f on both sides in the panel thickness direction are provided so as to be aligned with each other in the panel width direction. These insertion holes 30f, 30f are rectangular holes with the same diameter as the mounting hole 36f. In the illustrated example, these insertion holes 30f, 30f are substantially square holes. The mounting holes 36f, 36f of the guide mounting member 36 are provided so as to open on the underside of both sides in the panel thickness direction of the outer end of the guide mounting member 36 in the panel width direction. The mounting holes 36f, 36f on both sides in the panel thickness direction are provided so as to be aligned with each other in the panel width direction. These mounting holes 36f, 36f, like the insertion holes 30f, 30f, are generally square holes. The vertical depth of these mounting holes 36f, 36f may be appropriately dimensioned so as to enable stable mounting of the mounting portion 39 of the guide body 37.

[0063] The lower frame 30 and the guide mounting member 36 are provided with insertion holes 30g, 36g through which fasteners 19 are inserted. The fasteners 19 are fastened to the fastening portions 39a of the mounting receiving portions 39 inserted into the mounting holes 36f via the insertion holes 30f. These insertion holes 30g, 36g are provided perpendicular to the mounting holes 36f. The insertion holes 36g of the guide mounting member 36 open on the surface of the guide mounting member 36 facing outward in the panel thickness direction and are provided along the panel thickness direction so as to communicate with the mounting holes 36f. The insertion holes 36g may be provided on both sides in the panel thickness direction so as to communicate with the mounting holes 36f on both sides in the panel thickness direction, or may be provided so as to penetrate the guide mounting member 36 in the panel thickness direction. The insertion holes 30g of the lower frame 30 are provided so as to penetrate each of the side pieces on both sides in the panel thickness direction so as to be aligned with the insertion holes 36g of the guide mounting member 36.

[0064] The guide body 37 is attached to the lower end of the door leading end portion, which serves as the first end portion of the first door panel 10A. The mounting portion 39 of this guide body 37 is provided so that its upper end portion is inserted into the mounting hole 36f via the insertion hole 30f and its lower end portion extends downward from the lower surface of the lower piece of the lower frame 30. The extension dimension of the lower end portion of this mounting portion 39 is set to an appropriate dimension so that the connecting support portion 38 described below does not interfere with the lower end of the protrusion 31 of the adjacent second door panel 10B. The outer diameter (dimension of one side) of this mounting portion 39 is set to a dimension corresponding to the inner diameter (dimension of one side) of the mounting hole 36f. The fastening portion 39a of the mounting portion 39 is positioned to align with the insertion hole 30g of the lower frame 30 and the insertion hole 36g of the guide mounting member 36. In the illustrated example, the fastening portion 39a is a hole-shaped hole that penetrates the mounting portion 39 in the panel thickness direction. As described above, the fastening portion 39a may be a female threaded hole or a pilot hole. Alternatively, the fastening portion 39a may penetrate the mounting portion 39 in the panel width direction. In this case, insertion holes may be formed along the panel width direction in outer portions of the vertical frame 14 and the guide mounting member 36 in the panel width direction so as to communicate with the mounting hole 36f. The manner in which the mounting portion 39 is mounted to the guide mounting member 36 is not limited to the above-described manner. For example, instead of providing a fastening portion 39a on the mounting portion 39, the tip of the fastener 19 that is screwed into a female threaded hole provided in the guide mounting member 36 may be pressed against the mounting portion 39, or various other configurations may be used.

[0065] The guide portion 37a is positioned outside the attached portion 39 in the panel width direction so that the vertical frames 14, 14 at the joint between the first door panel 10A and the second door panel 10B can be positioned so that they overlap each other when viewed in the panel thickness direction when in the closed position. The guide portion 37a is supported by the connecting support portion 38 so that it is positioned outside the attached portion 39 in the panel width direction. With this configuration, the dimension of the vertical frame 14 in the panel width direction of the vertical frame 14 can be reduced and the guide body 37 can be attached to the lower frame 30, but the vertical frames 14, 14 at the joint can be positioned so that they overlap each other when viewed in the panel thickness direction. 3, 7, and 10, the connecting support part 38 includes a first support part 38a extending outward in the panel thickness direction from the lower end of the attached part 39, and a second support part 38b extending outward in the panel width direction from the tip of the first support part 38a in the extending direction. In other words, the connecting support part 38 is substantially L-shaped in a plan view.

[0066] As shown in FIG. 4, the first support portion 38a is provided so that its tip is positioned directly below the guide groove 34 of the second door panel 10B when viewed in the panel width direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the second support portion 38b is provided so as to extend in the panel width direction in parallel with the guide groove 34 of the second door panel 10B. 4 and 7, the guide portion 37a is provided so as to protrude upward from the tip end of the second support portion 38b in the extension direction. The protruding dimension of this guide portion 37a is set to an appropriate dimension so that it can be inserted into the guide groove 34 and does not interfere with the groove bottom of the guide groove 34. The guide portion 37a, the first support portion 38a, and the second support portion 38b are each formed into a square pillar shape with the axial direction being the extension direction (projection direction). The outer diameters (dimension of one side) of the guide portion 37a, the first support portion 38a, and the second support portion 38b are the same diameter (dimension) as the outer diameter (dimension of one side) of the attached portion 39 described above.

[0067] The guide body 37 is not limited to a configuration in which the guide portion 37a, the connecting support portion 38, and the attached portion 39 are each a rectangular prism, and at least the attached portion 39 may be a rectangular prism. Furthermore, the guide body 37 may be a triangular prism or a polygonal prism having five or more sides, or may even be a cylinder. In this case, the attachment hole 36f may be shaped to match the shape of the attached portion 39 of the guide body 37. The connecting support portion 38 is not limited to being approximately L-shaped when viewed in a plane, as described above, but may be configured to extend in a straight line obliquely from the mounting portion 39 outward in the thickness direction of the panel and outward in the width direction of the panel. The guide body 37 and the guide mounting member 36 may be die-cast products made of an appropriate metallic material.

[0068] In the sliding door device 1 configured as above, when the first door panel 10A and the second door panel 10B are in the closed position, as shown in Fig. 2(a), the guide portion 37a is located at the end of the guide groove 34 of the second door panel 10B on the door trailing side (the fixed panel 10C side). In this state, the guide portion 37a is in contact with or close to the impact absorbing member 35 provided at the door trailing side end of the guide groove 34 of the second door panel 10B (see the two-dot chain line in Fig. 3). In addition, the vertical frame 14 on the door leading side of the first door panel 10A and the vertical frame 14 on the door trailing side of the second door panel 10B are positioned to overlap when viewed in the panel thickness direction. When the second door panel 10B is moved from this closed position to the open side, the guide portion 37a of the first door panel 10A moves relatively along the guide groove 34 of the second door panel 10B and comes into contact with the shock absorbing member 35 provided at the door-tip side end of the guide groove 34 of the second door panel 10B. In this state, when the second door panel 10B is further moved to the open side, the guide portion 37a of the first door panel 10A is pushed by the shock absorbing member 35 on the door-tip side of the second door panel 10B, and the first door panel 10A moves in conjunction with the guide portion 37a to the open side, and assumes the open position.

[0069] When the first door panel 10A and the second door panel 10B are in the open position, the guide portion 37a is located at the door-tip side (doorway 5 side) end of the guide groove 34 of the second door panel 10B, as shown in Figures 2(b) and 3. In this state, the guide portion 37a is in contact with or close to the impact absorbing member 35 provided at the door-tip side end of the guide groove 34 of the second door panel 10B. When the second door panel 10B is moved from this open position to the closed side, the guide portion 37a of the first door panel 10A moves relatively along the guide groove 34 of the second door panel 10B and comes into contact with the shock absorbing member 35 provided at the door trailing edge side end of the guide groove 34 of the second door panel 10B. In this state, when the second door panel 10B is further moved to the closed side, the guide portion 37a of the first door panel 10A is pushed by the shock absorbing member 35 on the door trailing edge side of the second door panel 10B, and the first door panel 10A moves in conjunction with the guide portion 37a to the closed side, and assumes the closed position.

[0070] As shown in FIG. 4, the sliding door device 1 includes a guide member 9 fixed to the floor 3 and having a guide pin 9a inserted into a guide groove 34 of the panel body 10 of the first door panel 10A. This configuration allows the guide groove 34 of the panel body 10, which is a common component, to be used as a guide groove into which the guide pin 9a of the guide member 9 fixed to the floor 3 is inserted. Furthermore, it is possible to suppress vibration of the lower end of the first door panel 10A in the panel thickness direction. As shown in FIG. 2, the guide member 9 is provided so that the guide pin 9a can be inserted into the guide groove 34 of the first door panel 10A, which moves between the closed position and the open position. In the illustrated example, the guide member 9 is provided on one side of the fixed panel 10C in the panel thickness direction so that the guide pin 9a is positioned slightly closer to the doorway 5 than the end face of the fixed panel 10C on the doorway 5 side when viewed in the panel thickness direction. The guide member 9 is configured such that a guide pin 9a is fixedly provided so as to protrude upward from the upper surface of a fixed piece portion that is fixed along the floor 3.

[0071] When the first door panel 10A is in the closed position, as shown in Fig. 2(a), the guide pin 9a is located at the end of the guide groove 34 of the first door panel 10A on the door trailing edge side (the fixed panel 10C side). In this state, the guide pin 9a abuts against or is close to the impact absorbing member 35 provided at the door trailing edge side end of the guide groove 34 of the first door panel 10A (see the two-dot chain line in Fig. 3). When the first door panel 10A is in the open position, as shown in Figures 2(b) and 3, the guide pin 9a is located at the door-tip side (doorway 5 side) end of the guide groove 34 of the first door panel 10A. In this state, the guide pin 9a abuts or comes close to the impact absorbing member 35 provided at the door-tip side end of the guide groove 34 of the first door panel 10A. The guide member 9 is not limited to a configuration in which the guide pin 9a is fixedly provided, but may also be a magnetic guide with a guide pin 9a that is embedded in the floor 3 and can be freely extended and retracted upward. In this case, it is sufficient to provide an appropriate ferromagnetic material or the like on the guide groove 34 side to attract the magnet provided in the guide pin 9a.

[0072] As shown in FIG. 4 , the sliding door device 1 is fixed to the floor 3 and includes a lower-end holding member 8 having a protrusion 8a that is inserted into the guide groove 34 of the panel body 10 of the fixed panel 10C. With this configuration, the panel body 10 of the fixed panel 10C has the same appearance as the movable panel, while the lower end of the fixed panel 10C can be held by the lower-end holding member 8. That is, the upper end of the fixed panel 10C is held by the upper-end holding member 7, and the lower end is held by the lower-end holding member 8. The upper-end holding member 7 and the lower-end holding member 8 may be configured to be installed in a buckling manner by inserting the engagement protrusion 29 of the fixed panel 10C into the holding groove 7a of the upper-end holding member 7 and inserting the protrusion 8a of the lower-end holding member 8 into the guide groove 34 at the lower end of the fixed panel 10C. This installation may be performed with the covers 22, 22 of the fixed panel 10C removed.

[0073] As shown in Fig. 3, this lower end holding member 8 is elongated in the panel width direction. The length dimension of this lower end holding member 8 is equal to or less than the width dimension of the fixed panel 10C. The illustrated example shows an example in which a cap is attached to cover the opening at the end of the hollow cylindrical lower end holding member 8 on the entrance / exit 5 side. Also, the illustrated example shows an example in which the end of the lower end holding member 8 on the side other than the end on the entrance / exit 5 side is abutted against the gap adjustment protrusion 4a, but a configuration in which a cap is attached may also be used. As shown in FIG. 4 , the lower-end holding member 8 has a protrusion 8a that protrudes upward from the upper surface of a substantially rectangular main body when viewed in the panel width direction. The protrusion 8a may be provided along substantially the entire length of the lower-end holding member 8 or at multiple locations spaced apart in the longitudinal direction so as to be insertable into the guide groove 34. In the illustrated example, the protrusion 8a is T-shaped when viewed in the panel width direction, but this is not a limitation. The dimension of the protrusion 8a along the panel thickness direction is appropriately determined according to the width of the guide groove 34 so as to allow insertion into the guide groove 34. Furthermore, the protrusion 8a may not be provided at both longitudinal ends of the lower-end holding member 8 so as not to interfere with the shock-absorbing members 35, 35 provided at both ends of the guide groove 34 as described above.

[0074] The dimension of this lower end holding member 8 along the panel thickness direction is smaller than the dimension of the lower frame 30 along the panel thickness direction. With this configuration, the lower end holding member 8 can be made less noticeable. The vertical dimension of this lower end holding member 8 may correspond to the vertical dimension from the lower end of the movable panel suspended and supported by the upper rail 6 to the floor 3 so that the fixed panel 10C is positioned at approximately the same height as the movable panels (first door panel 10A and second door panel 10B). The illustrated example shows an example in which the vertical dimension of the part of the lower end holding member 8 excluding the protrusion 8a and the dimension of the lower end holding member 8 in the panel thickness direction are approximately the same dimension. The lower-end holding member 8 may be fixed to a target object on the floor 3 with a fastener such as a screw. In the illustrated example, a notch is formed on one side of the horizontal piece of the T-shaped protrusion 8a in the panel thickness direction, and a through-hole penetrates a portion of the lower-end holding member 8 that is on one side of the vertical piece of the protrusion 8a in the panel thickness direction, allowing the fastener to be fastened to the target object. The lower-end holding member 8 may be an extrusion molded product made of an appropriate metal material. The surface of the lower-end holding member 8 may be made decorative by applying a decorative sheet or applying a coating or other appropriate surface treatment. The lower-end holding member 8 is not limited to the configuration illustrated in the drawings. For example, the lower-end holding member 8 may include an adjustment mechanism that can adjust the fixed panel 10C so that it is horizontal (the upper and lower end faces are horizontal) or so that it is vertical (both sides in the thickness direction are vertical). In other words, the lower-end holding member 8 may include an unevenness absorption mechanism that can absorb unevenness on the floor 3 side. In this case, the lower end holding member 8 may be configured to include, for example, a base portion fixed to the floor 3, and height adjustment portions that are movable up and down relative to the base portion and are provided at multiple locations spaced apart in the width direction of the panel. The lower end holding member 8 may also have various other configurations.

[0075] When installing the sliding door device 1 configured as above, the upper rail 6 is fixed to a fixed object on the ceiling 2 side, and the guide member 9 is fixed to a fixed object on the floor 3 side. Then, the guide pin 9a of the guide member 9 is engaged with the guide groove 34 of the first door panel 10A, and the runner body 26 of the runner 25 suspended and supported by the upper rail 6 is connected to the fixing part 28 of the first door panel 10A to suspend the first door panel 10A. Then, the guide part 37a of the first door panel 10A may be engaged with the guide groove 34 of the second door panel 10B, and the runner body 26 of the runner 25 suspended and supported by the upper rail 6 may be connected to the fixing part 28 of the second door panel 10B to suspend the second door panel 10B.

[0076] As shown in Figures 11 and 12, the fixed panel 10C may be installed by sliding it in the panel width direction relative to an upper-end holding member 7 fixed to the ceiling 2 side and a lower-end holding member 8 fixed to the floor 3 side. For example, if there is only one movable panel and it is a one-way sliding panel, the opening width of the doorway 5 on the side of the fixed panel 10C may be smaller than the panel width dimension of the fixed panel 10C. In such a case, it may be difficult to slide the fixed panel 10C in the panel width direction from the doorway 5 side, so the following may be done. In this case, a notched recess that can receive the groove side pieces on both sides of the upper-end holding member 7 may be provided at the upper end of the vertical frame 14 that abuts against the gap adjustment protrusion 4a of the fixed panel 10C (see Figure 11(b)). Alternatively, the guide mounting member 36 on the gap adjustment protrusion 4a side of the fixed panel 10C may be omitted, and the lower end of the vertical frame 14 may be shaped to cover the entire end face of the lower frame 30, and this lower end may be provided with a notched recess capable of receiving the protrusion 8a of the lower end holding member 8.

[0077] As shown in Figure 11(a), the upper end holding member 7 having a notched portion at its end on the doorway 5 side as described above is fixed to the ceiling 2 side, and the lower end holding member 8 having a cap attached to its end on the doorway 5 side is fixed to the floor 3 side. The end of the protrusion 8a of this lower end holding member 8 on the doorway 5 side may be cut away so as not to interfere with the shock absorbing member 35 and guide mounting member 36 on the doorway 5 side of the fixed panel 10C. 11(b) and 12(a), the protrusion 8a of the lower-end holding member 8 is fitted into the guide groove 34 at the lower end of the end of the fixed panel 10C on the gap-adjusting protrusion 4a side. The upper end of the end of the fixed panel 10C on the gap-adjusting protrusion 4a side is fitted into the missing portion of the upper-end holding member 7. Then, as shown in FIG. 12(b), the fixed panel 10C is slid in the panel width direction along the upper-end holding member 7 and the lower-end holding member 8 until it abuts against the gap-adjusting protrusion 4a. Then, as shown in FIG. 1, covers 22, 22 may be attached to both sides of the upper frame 20 in the panel thickness direction. The ends of these covers 22, 22 on the gap-adjusting protrusion 4a side may be fixed by fastening fixtures 19 with a gap provided between them and the gap-adjusting protrusion 4a.

[0078] The installation procedure for the fixed panel 10C is not limited to the above-described configuration and may be a buckle-like installation. In this case, a notched recess may not be provided at the upper end of the vertical frame 14 that abuts against the gap adjustment protrusion 4a, and a guide mounting member 36 may be provided on the gap adjustment protrusion 4a side. Furthermore, in this case, the dimensions of the protrusions 8a of the upper end holding member 7 and the lower end holding member 8 along the panel width direction may be appropriately determined so that fingers can be inserted into the gap adjustment protrusion 4a side and the panel can slide toward the gap adjustment protrusion 4a after being set up in a buckle-like configuration. In other words, the dimensions of the protrusions 8a of the upper end holding member 7 and the lower end holding member 8 along the panel width direction may be appropriately determined so that the upper end holding member 7 does not interfere with the vertical frame 14 on the gap adjustment protrusion 4a side and so that the protrusions 8a of the lower end holding member 8 do not interfere with the shock absorbing member 35 or the guide mounting member 36. In this case, if a gap is formed between the gap adjusting protrusions 4a at both the upper and lower ends, an appropriate gap shielding member may be provided to shield the gap. The installation procedure for the sliding door device 1 is not limited to the above-mentioned configuration, and various other configurations can be adopted.

[0079] In the above example, the vertical frame 14 on the door-leading side of the first door panel 10A and the vertical frame 14 on the door-trailing side of the second door panel 10B are overlapped in the panel thickness direction when viewed in the closed position, but they may not overlap. In this case, the connecting support part 38 may be linearly shaped extending in the panel thickness direction so that the guide part 37a of the guide body 37 and the attached part 39 are aligned in the panel width direction. In the above example, the guide body 37 is attached to the door leading end side of the first door panel 10A, but it is also possible to configure the guide body 37 having the guide portion 37a that is inserted into the guide groove 34 of the first door panel 10A to be attached to the door trailing end side of the second door panel 10B. In this case, the configuration may not require the guide member 9 as described above. In the above example, the insertion hole 30f and the mounting hole 36f into which the mounting portion 39 is inserted are provided on both sides of the lower frame 30 and the guide mounting member 36 in the panel thickness direction, but they may also be provided on only one side in the panel thickness direction.

[0080] In the above example, guide mounting members 36, 36 are provided at each end of the lower frame 30 in the panel width direction so that the guide body 37 can be selectively attached to each end of the lower frame 30 in the panel width direction, but it is also possible to configure them to be provided only at the end on one side of the panel width direction. In the above example, the panel bodies 10, 10, 10 of the first door panel 10A, the second door panel 10B and the fixed panel 10C have the same configuration, but they may have different configurations. In the above example, the sleeve wall that houses the first door panel 10A and the second door panel 10B in the open position is constructed from a fixed panel 10C that also has light-transmitting properties, but instead of this, it may be constructed from an opaque wall.

[0081] In the above example, the sliding door device 1 is illustrated as having a second door panel 10B arranged in a two-piece single-sliding configuration and a first door panel 10A that moves in conjunction with the opening and closing of the second door panel 10B. However, this is not limited to this configuration. For example, the sliding door device 1 may be equipped with three or more interlocking door panels. In this case, guide bodies 37 having guide portions 37a that are inserted into the guide grooves 34 of the other door panels may be attached to an appropriate number of door panels. Furthermore, the panel main body 10, which is a common component as described above, is not limited to being installed as a plurality of interlocking door panels, but may be installed as a single panel or in a sliding configuration. The configurations of the door panel (first door panel) 10A according to this embodiment and the components and parts of the sliding door device 1 equipped with the door panel are not limited to the configurations described above, and various other modifications are possible. [Explanation of symbols]

[0082] 1 Sliding door device 6 Upper rail 10A 1st door panel (door panel) 10B 2nd unit panel (adjacent unit panel) 11 Plate-shaped member 13 Four-way frame (four-way frame) 14 Vertical Frame 14d Lower end surface 30 Lower Frame 30f insertion hole 31 protrusion 32 Receiving groove 33 Guide groove member 34 Guide groove 35 Impact absorbing member 36 Guide mounting member 36d Lower end cover 36f mounting hole 37 Guide body 37a Guide part 38 Connection support part 39 Mounting part 19 Fasteners

Claims

1. A door panel is provided with a plate-like member within the frame on all four sides, and is suspended and supported by an upper rail so as to be slidable in the door width direction. The door panel is characterized by comprising: a guide body having a guide portion inserted into a guide groove with a downward opening provided at the lower end of an adjacent door panel adjacent in the door thickness direction so as to extend in the door width direction, and an attachment portion attached to the lower end of the first end in the door width direction; and a guide attachment member provided to be housed within the first end in the door width direction of a hollow cylindrical lower frame, and having an attachment hole into which the attachment portion is inserted through an insertion hole provided in the lower frame.

2. In claim 1, A door panel characterized in that the mounting portion is a square pillar shape with its axial direction in the door height direction, and the mounting hole is a square hole shape that opens downward.

3. In claim 1 or 2, The door panel is characterized in that the guide portion is supported by the connecting support portion so that it is positioned outside the mounting portion in the door width direction, so that in the closed position, the vertical frames at the joint between the door panel and the adjacent door panel can be positioned so that they overlap each other when viewed in the door thickness direction.

4. In any one of claims 1 to 3, The door panel is characterized in that the insertion holes and the mounting holes are provided on both sides of the lower frame and the guide mounting member in the door thickness direction.

5. In any one of claims 1 to 4, The door panel is characterized in that the guide mounting member is arranged to protrude outward in the door width direction beyond the lower frame and has a lower end cover portion that covers the lower end surface of the vertical frame that is connected vertically to the lower frame.

6. In any one of claims 1 to 5, A door panel characterized in that a protrusion that protrudes downward and extends along the entire length is provided in the central portion of the lower surface of the lower frame in the door thickness direction, and the guide mounting member is fixed to the lower frame by a fastener that penetrates a portion of the lower surface of the lower frame that is further outward in the door thickness direction than the protrusion.

7. 7. A sliding door device comprising: a first door panel constituting the door panel according to any one of claims 1 to 6; a second door panel constituting an adjacent door panel adjacent to the first door panel in the door thickness direction, the second door panel having a downward opening guide groove at its lower end so that the guide portion of the first door panel is inserted into the guide groove extending in the door width direction; and an upper rail that suspends and supports the first door panel and the second door panel so that they can slide freely in the door width direction.

8. In claim 7, A sliding door device characterized in that shock absorbing members against which the guide portions abut are provided at both longitudinal end portions of the guide groove of the second door panel.

9. In claim 8, A sliding door device characterized in that a guide mounting member similar to the guide mounting member provided on the first door panel is accommodated within both ends of the hollow cylindrical lower frame of the second door panel in the door width direction, and the impact absorbing member is held by the guide mounting member and the lower frame.

10. In any one of claims 7 to 9, The second door panel is accommodated in a receiving groove of a downward opening provided in the lower frame, and is provided with a resin guide groove member that constitutes both side wall portions in the groove width direction of the guide groove. A sliding door device characterized by the above.

Images