A sill mountable roller assembly

Abstract

Disclosed is a sill-mountable roller assembly comprising: an outer housing; an inner housing retained within the outer housing; a roller wheel retained within the inner housing and being configured to engage a sliding panel such that the roller wheel is rotatable relative to the inner housing to slide the sliding panel along a length of a sill when a force is applied to the sliding panel; and a first drainage channel in the outer housing configured to allow water to pass through the outer housing in-use. Also disclosed is a sill assembly.

Description

[0001] A SILL MOUNTABLE ROLLER ASSEMBLY

[0002] RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0003] This application claims priority from Australian provisional application no.

[0004] 2025901288, the disclosure of the specification of which is incorporated herein by way of cross-reference in its entirety.

[0005] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0006] The present invention relates to a roller assembly for a sliding panel such as a window or a door.

[0007] The present invention relates particularly, although by no means exclusively, to a roller assembly that is mountable to a sill to allow a panel such as a window or a door to slide along the sill.

[0008] BACKGROUND ART

[0009] Sliding window and door systems are often used in domestic and / or commercial buildings. An example of a popular sliding door system is a panoramic sliding door system. Sliding door systems include at least one sliding door panel and typically include one or more non-sliding door panels. The panels are installed on tracks located on the sill, with the sliding panels slidable thereon, so as to allow the panels to be moved into configurations in which passage through the sliding door system is allowed (e.g., to allow people to move in and out of a room, building, etc.).

[0010] Many sliding doors employ rollers as a way of allowing the sliding panels to slide along the tracks. In panoramic sliding doors, the rollers are typically installed in the sill, rather than on the sliding panel itself, as is often the case for more traditional sliding doors. Such rollers typically comprise a roller and steel axle and must be individually installed / assembled in the sill and along the length of the sill at varying intervals. This can be a time-consuming process.Because the rollers are installed in the sill itself via the axle, the rollers are rigidly mounted thereto, meaning that the height of individual rollers cannot be easily adjusted. Any misalignment of the sill, track or sliding door panel can cause the sliding door panel to impact the edge of the roller. This transmits a feel and, in some cases, an audible sound, to the user (known as the “railroad effect”). This can adversely affect the user’s experience using such a sliding door.

[0011] Sliding door systems must also be provided with drainage. For example, to prevent rain from collecting within the sliding door system. Traditionally, drainage is provided by holes which are added to the sill (e.g., by drilling, milling, machining, etc.) along a length thereof. Such holes can be time-consuming to drill and are often visible, reducing the aesthetic quality of the product.

[0012] It is to be understood that, if any prior art is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the prior art forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

[0013] SUMMARY

[0014] Disclosed herein is a sill mountable roller assembly. The sill mountable roller assembly comprises: an outer housing; an inner housing retained within the outer housing; a roller wheel retained within the inner housing and being configured to engage a sliding panel such that the roller wheel is rotatable relative to the inner housing to slide the sliding panel along a length of a sill when a force is applied to the sliding panel; and a first drainage channel in the outer housing configured to allow water to pass through the outer housing in-use.

[0015] As explained above, drainage of water in existing sill mountable assemblies is typically provided via holes that are added directly into the sill (e.g., by drilling, milling, machining etc.) in which the assembly is installed. To ensure sufficient drainage is provided, a number of holes must be drilled along the length of the sill. The holes are often visible, reducing the aesthetics of the sliding panel assembly. Additionally, drilling the holes is a time-consuming process which can only be conducted when or after the sliding panel assembly is being installed.Advantageously, the roller assembly of the present invention comprises a first drainage channel in the outer housing configured to allow water to pass through the outer housing. This may reduce and / or altogether eliminate the need for drainage holes to be drilled in the length of the sill. This can enhance the aesthetics of the product. It can also reduce the time required for installation. Suitable sliding panel assemblies include sliding door and sliding window assemblies.

[0016] In some embodiments, the first drainage channel may extend between an upper surface of the outer housing and a lower surface of the outer housing. For example, the first drainage channel may extend between an inlet provided on the upper surface of the outer housing and an outlet provided on the lower surface of the outer housing.

[0017] In some embodiments, the first drainage channel may be located in a first end of the outer housing. In some of these embodiments, the roller assembly may further comprise a second drainage channel. The second drainage channel may be located in a second opposing end of the outer housing. The first and second drainage channels may be fluidly connected. Alternatively, the first and second drainage channels may be fluidly isolated.

[0018] In some embodiments, a height of the inner housing within the outer housing may be adjustable. Misalignment of the sill, track or sliding panel can cause the sliding panel to impact the edge of the roller. In many roller assemblies of the prior art, the roller wheel is rigidly retained on an axle which is fixed to the sill itself. As such, the position of the roller wheel cannot be easily adjusted. Advantageously, the present roller assembly is configured so as to allow the height of the inner housing to be adjustable. Accordingly, the height of the inner housing can be adjusted to compensate for misalignment of the sill, track or sliding panel. Such misalignments can occur during assembly and installation of the sill and / or may be inherent in the space in which the sill / roller assembly is being installed (e.g., due to slight misalignments between the top and bottom sills).In some embodiments, the inner housing may be resiliently retained within the outer housing such that the inner housing and the roller wheel are moveable relative to the outer housing. In some of these embodiments, the inner housing may be resiliently retained within the outer housing by one or more springs. For example, the one or more springs may each comprise a coil spring. However, it will be appreciated that the one or more springs may instead comprise other types of springs. A tension of the one or more springs may be adjustable.

[0019] In some embodiments, the outer housing may be configured to be mounted within a recess located along a length of the sill. For example, the outer housing may be configured to be friction-fit within the recess in the sill. By configuring the outer housing to be friction-fit within the recess, the installation of the outer housing within the sill may be relatively simple, for instance, because the need to drill additional holes and screw the outer housing into the sill may be avoided.

[0020] In some embodiments, the roller assembly may comprise a plurality of roller wheels.

[0021] Also disclosed herein is a sill assembly comprising a sill and the roller assembly. The roller assembly may be mounted within a recess located along a length of the sill, such that the sill assembly is configured to receive a sliding panel to rest on the roller wheel. The roller assembly allows the sliding panel to slide along the length of the sill and allows water in the sill assembly to pass through the outer housing in-use. The sill assembly may comprise a plurality of roller assemblies located along a length of the sill. Together, the plurality of roller assemblies may allow the sliding panel to slide along the length of the sill.

[0022] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Embodiments will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which

[0024] Fig. 1 is a side-perspective view of a roller assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention from an elongated side;Fig. 2 is a top-view of the roller assembly from Fig. 1;

[0025] Fig. 3 is a side-perspective view of the roller assembly from Fig. 1 from an end side;

[0026] Fig. 4 is a bottom-perspective view of the roller assembly from Fig. 1;

[0027] Fig. 5 is a schematic of the roller assembly installed in a sill; and

[0028] Fig. 6 is a side-view schematic of the roller assembly installed in a sill.

[0029] Like reference numerals are used to denote like features in all the Figures.

[0030] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] In the following detailed description, reference is made to accompanying drawings which form a part of the detailed description. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, depicted in the drawings and defined in the claims, are not intended to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilised and other changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein and illustrated in the drawings can be arranged, substituted, combined, separated and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are contemplated in this disclosure.

[0032] The following description discloses an embodiment of a sill mountable roller assembly. The sill mountable roller assembly may be suitable for use in a sliding door or window assembly. One particular example is a panoramic sliding door assembly. The sill mountable roller assembly comprises: an outer housing; an inner housing retained within the outer housing; a roller wheel retained within the inner housing and being configured to engage a sliding panel such that the roller wheel is rotatable relative to the inner housing to slide the sliding panel along a length of a sill when a force is applied to the sliding panel; and a first drainagechannel in the outer housing. The first drainage channel is configured to allow water to pass through the outer housing in-use.

[0033] The sill mountable roller assembly has advantages over the prior art in that the presence of the first drainage channel in the outer housing (and, in some embodiments, a second drainage channel in the outer housing) can reduce or eliminate the need to drill drainage holes into the sill. In some embodiments, the presence of the first (and second) drainage channels at least reduces the number of drainage holes that need to be drilled into the sill. As explained above, this can reduce the time required to install the sliding assembly which includes the sill mountable roller assembly (i.e., because the need to drill individual drainage holes in the sill after the sill has been installed is reduced and / or eliminated). By avoiding the need to drill additional drainage holes into the sill, the aesthetics of the final sliding panel assembly can also be enhanced.

[0034] Figs. 1 to 4 are photos of an embodiment of a sill mountable roller assembly 10 according to the present invention. The roller assembly 10 comprises an outer housing 12 and an inner housing 14. A roller wheel 16 is retained within the inner housing 14 and is rotatable relative to the inner housing 14. The roller wheel 16 is retained within the inner housing 14 such that the top portion 18 of the roller wheel 16 protrudes outwardly of the housings 14, 16. In-use, rotation of the roller wheel 16 relative to the inner housing 15 allows a sliding panel to be slidable along the length of the sill when a force is applied to the sliding panel. The outer housing 12 comprises a peripheral flange 42 located around a perimeter of the upper end of the outer housing 20. As will be explained in more detail below, the flange 42 is adapted to allow the assembly 10 to be mounted onto a sill.

[0035] The inner housing 14 is retained within the outer housing 12. In this regard, it will be appreciated that the outer housing 12 is sized to allow it to receive the inner housing 14. In some embodiments, such as in the illustrated embodiment, the inner housing 14 is resiliently retained within the outer housing 12 such that, when a downwards force is applied to the inner housing 14 (e.g., by a slidingpanel), the inner housing 14 moves vertically downwards within the outer housing 16. This is in contrast to many existing roller assemblies in which the rollers are rigidly mounted to the sill via an axle. By resiliently retaining the inner housing 14 within the outer housing 12, it is thought that the risk of the “railroad effect” occurring during use of the roller assemblies may be reduced and / or eliminated. This can advantageously enhance the usability of the roller assemblies.

[0036] The inner housing 14 can be resiliently retained within the outer housing 12 by a spring 20. For instance, the inner housing can be resiliently retained within the outer housing using any type of suitable compression spring. Suitable compression springs will be known to and appreciated by those skilled in the relevant art and can include, but are not limited to, springs such as coil springs, leaf springs, etc. In the illustrated embodiment, the spring 20 comprises a coil spring and there is a single such spring 20 located at a first end 22 of the roller assembly 10. However, in other embodiments, the roller assembly further comprises a second spring (e.g., a second coil spring) located at a second end 24 of the roller assembly.

[0037] The spring 20 is positioned between the inner housing 12 and the outer housing 14 such that the inner housing 12 rests on the spring 20. The spring 20 acts to upwardly bias the inner housing 12. In-use, when a sliding panel is placed on the roller 16 (or as a sliding panel is rolled across roller 16), the downwards force of the sliding panel causes the spring 20 to compress, thereby causing the roller 16, along with the inner housing 14, to move vertically downwards relative to the outer housing 12. As a result, the extent to which the top portion 18 of the roller wheel 16 protrudes from the outer housing 12 is reduced. The extent to which the protrusion of the top portion 18 of the roller wheel 16 varies is dependent on the relative load applied to the roller wheel 16 by the sliding panel and the force required to compress the spring 20. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the tension on the spring 20 must be such that even when the downwards force of the sliding panel is applied to the roller wheel 16, the top portion 18 of the roller wheel 16 must sufficiently protrude from the outer housing 12 so as to allowmovement of the sliding panel thereover. Once the sliding panel is rolled over the assembly 10, such that there is no longer a downwards force on the assembly due to the weight of the sliding panel, the spring 20 causes the inner housing 14 to move upwards, back to its original position (i.e., because the spring 20 upwardly biases the inner housing 14).

[0038] The outer housing 12 comprises a first drainage channel 26 located in the first end 22 of the outer housing 12. The first drainage channel is configured to allow water to pass through the outer housing 12 in-use. Advantageously, this can reduce and / or eliminate the need to drill drainage holes into the sill in which the assembly 10 is mounted. In the illustrated embodiment, the outer housing 12 further comprises a second drainage channel 28 located in the second end 24 of the outer housing 12.

[0039] As can be more clearly seen in Figs. 3 and 4, each of the first and second drainage channels 28 extends between an upper surface 30 of the outer housing 12 and a lower surface 32 of the outer housing 12. This allows water (e.g., rainwater) to flow out of the outer housing 12 and out from the sill. In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second drainage channels 26, 28 are in fluid communication with each other. The first and second drainage channels 26, 28 are also in fluid communication with a further aperture 34 located in a base 36 of the outer housing 12. This further aperture 34 can provide another pathway for water to flow out of the outer housing 12.

[0040] Located at the second end 24 of the assembly 10 is a height adjustment mechanism. The height adjustment mechanism allows the height of the inner housing 14 (and thus the roller wheel 16) within the outer housing 12 to be adjusted. Advantageously, this can allow the height of the inner housing 14 of the assembly 10 to be adjusted to compensate for minor misalignments in the sill and sliding panel. For instance, there can be small variations in the height of the sliding panel, e.g., due to variability during manufacturing. Misalignments can also occur during assembly and installation of the sill and / or may be inherent inthe space in which the sill / roller assembly is being installed (e.g., due to slight misalignments between the top and bottom sills). In many roller assemblies of the prior art, the rollers are rigidly mounted to the sill via an axle. As such, the position of the roller wheel cannot be easily adjusted. Advantageously, the present roller assembly is configured so as to allow the height of the inner housing to be adjustable. Accordingly, the height of the inner housing can be adjusted to compensate for misalignment of the sill, track or sliding door panel.

[0041] In the illustrated embodiment, the height adjustment mechanism is in the form of a cap screw 38 and bar 40. The cap screw 38 extends vertically through the height of the inner housing 14 and into the outer housing 12. The bar 40 extends horizontally across a width of the inner housing 14. The bar 40 is coupled to the inner housing 14 such that a vertical movement of the bar causes corresponding vertical movement of the inner housing 14. The cap screw 38 and bar 40 are configured such that, as the cap screw 38 is turned, the bar 40 is raised or lowered, thereby causing the inner housing 14 to be raised or lowered relative to the outer housing 12.

[0042] Fig. 5 is a schematic showing assemblies 10 mounted into a sill 44. The sill 44 comprises two tracks 46, 48. The tracks 46, 48 of the sill 44 comprise apertures configured to receive the roller assemblies 10. The apertures are spaced along a length of the sill. To install the roller assemblies 10 within the sill 44, the roller assemblies are placed within the apertures of the tracks 46, 48. The apertures are configured such that the roller assemblies 10 can be friction fit therewithin, with the flange 42 of the outer housing 12 abutting the upper surface of the tracks 46, 48. Advantageously, by friction fitting the roller assemblies 10 within the tracks 46, 48, the need to drill the assemblies 10 into the sill can be avoided. This can reduce the time required to install the assemblies 10. It can also make it easier to replace and / or fix the assemblies 10 (i.e., because the assemblies 10 can be more readily removed from the sill 44). Once the assemblies 10 have been placed within the spaced apart apertures along the length of the sill 44, the sliding panel(s) 50 can then be placed on some or all of the assemblies 10.As can be seen, when the assemblies 10 are mounted into the sill 44, the first and second drainage channels allow water to pass through the outer housing and into the tracks 46, 48. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the tracks 46, 48 can comprise weep holes configured to then allow the water to pass to an outside environment.

[0043] Variations and modifications may be made to the parts previously described without departing from the spirit or ambit of the disclosure. For example, each roller assembly can comprise a plurality of roller wheels.

[0044] In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A sill-mountable roller assembly comprising:an outer housing;an inner housing retained within the outer housing;a roller wheel retained within the inner housing and being configured to engage a sliding panel such that the roller wheel is rotatable relative to the inner housing to slide the sliding panel along a length of a sill when a force is applied to the sliding panel; anda first drainage channel in the outer housing configured to allow water to pass through the outer housing in-use.

2. A roller assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first drainage channel extends between an upper surface of the outer housing and a lower portion of the outer housing.

3. A roller assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first drainage channel extends between an inlet provided on the upper surface of the outer housing and an outlet provided on the lower portion of the outer housing.

4. A roller assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first drainage channel is located in a first end of the outer housing.

5. A roller assembly as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a second drainage channel located in a second opposing end of the outer housing.

6. A roller assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first and second drainage channels are fluidly connected.

7. A roller assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a height of the inner housing within the outer housing is adjustable.

8. A roller assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inner housing is resiliently retained within the outer housing such that the inner housing and the roller wheel are moveable relative to the outer housing.

9. A roller assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the inner housing is resiliently retained within the outer housing by one or more springs.

10. A roller assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein the one or more springs each comprise a coil spring.

11. A roller assembly as claimed in claim 9 or 10, wherein a tension of the one or more springs is adjustable12. A roller assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer housing is configured to be mounted within a recess located along a length of the sill.

13. A roller assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein the outer housing is configured to be friction-fit within the recess in the sill.

14. A roller assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising a plurality of roller wheels.

15. A sill assembly comprising a sill and the roller assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the roller assembly being mounted within a recess located along a length of the sill, such that the sill assembly is configured to receive a sliding panel to rest on the roller wheel, wherein the roller assembly allows the sliding panel to slide along the length of the sill and allows water in the sill assembly to pass through the outer housing in-use.

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