US-12624589-B2 - Locking and height-adjustable pivot rider

Abstract

A sliding and pivoting fenestration unit, such as a sliding door, with screen. Embodiments of the fenestration unit include a locking and height-adjustable pivot rider, a head slide, a screen carrier, and a method of operation.

Inventors

• Paul D. Schroder

Assignees

• PELLA CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20240313

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A rider assembly for supporting a panel on a frame, comprising: a rider configured to slide on the frame; a pivot configured to rotatably couple the rider to the panel, wherein the pivot is configured to be coupled to the panel and to be rotated by the panel between a first position when the panel is in a pivot closed position with respect to the frame and a second position when the panel is in a pivot open position with respect to the frame; and a lock coupled to the rider and the pivot to releasably lock the rider with respect to the frame, wherein rotation of the pivot from the first position to the second position actuates the lock to inhibit the rider from sliding on the frame, and rotation of the pivot from the second position to the first position causes the lock to release and allow the rider to slide on the frame.
2. 2 . The rider assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lock is configured to engage the rider to the frame when actuated, and to disengage the rider from the frame when released.
3. 3 . The rider assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lock includes: one or more lock pins, each lock pin movable within the rider between a retracted position disengaged from the frame, and an extended position engaged to the frame; and an actuator coupling the pivot to each of the one or more lock pins, wherein the actuator causes each of the lock pins to move from the retracted position to the extended position when the panel rotates from the pivot closed position to the pivot open position.
4. 4 . The rider assembly of claim 3 , wherein the lock further includes one or more biasing members for biasing each of the one or more lock pins from the extended position to the retracted position.
5. 5 . The rider assembly of claim 4 , wherein the actuator includes a cam coupling the pivot to each of the one or more lock pins, wherein the cam rotates with the pivot.
6. 6 . The rider assembly of claim 5 , wherein the rider includes: a first end having a conical surface including a central apex region; a second end opposite the first end; one or more bores extending between and through the conical surface of the first end and the second end, and wherein each of the one or more bores receives one of the one or more lock pins; and wherein the cam rotates on the first end of the rider.
7. 7 . The rider assembly of claim 1 , further including a height adjuster to adjust a height of the pivot with respect to the rider.
8. 8 . The rider assembly of claim 7 , wherein the height adjuster includes: a height-adjustable mount coupling the pivot to the rider; and an adjustment mechanism for actuating the height-adjustable mount.
9. 9 . The rider assembly of claim 8 , wherein: the height-adjustable mount includes a threaded shaft coupling the pivot to the rider; and the adjustment mechanism includes a rotating mechanism to rotate the threaded shaft.
10. 10 . The rider assembly of claim 9 , wherein the adjustment mechanism is accessible and operable from an exterior of the panel.
11. 11 . The rider assembly of claim 10 , wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a beveled gear set.
12. 12 . The rider assembly of claim 9 , wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a beveled gear set.
13. 13 . The rider assembly of claim 9 , wherein the pivot includes a bearing plate configured to be mounted to the panel, and wherein the threaded shaft is rotatably coupled to the bearing plate.
14. 14 . The rider assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rider includes: a housing; and a wheel rotatably mounted to the housing.
15. 15 . A rider assembly for supporting a panel on a frame, comprising: a rider configured to slide on the frame; a bearing plate configured to be coupled to the panel; a height-adjustable mount coupling the rider to the bearing plate, wherein the height-adjustable mount includes a threaded shaft having a longitudinal axis extending in a direction between a bottom and a top of the panel; and an adjustment mechanism for actuating the height-adjustable mount and to raise and lower the bearing plate with respect to the rider, wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a rotating mechanism to rotate the treaded shaft.
16. 16 . The rider assembly of claim 15 , wherein the adjustment mechanism is accessible and operable from an exterior of the panel.
17. 17 . The rider assembly of claim 16 , wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a beveled gear set configured to rotate the threaded shaft.
18. 18 . The rider assembly of claim 15 , wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a beveled gear set configured to rotate the threaded shaft.
19. 19 . A panel including the rider assembly of claim 15 , wherein the panel includes an opening providing access the adjustment mechanism.
20. 20 . The rider assembly of claim 15 , wherein the rider includes: a housing; and a wheel rotatably mounted to the housing.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS Reference is hereby made to the following applications filed on even date herewith: 1. application Ser. No. 18/603,320 entitled Pivoting Fenestration System with Pivot Wheel Assembly.2. application Ser. No. 18/603,338 entitled Fenestration System with Head Slide3. application Ser. No. 18/603,345 entitled Fenestration System with Screen Carrier. TECHNICAL FIELD Various aspects of this disclosure relate to fenestration products, such as sliding doors and windows. In some specific examples, the disclosure relates to sliding doors and windows with one or more hinged or pivoting panels, and which may also include a screen. BACKGROUND Sliding doors and windows also capable of hinged or pivotal motion to open positions outside of their frames are generally known, and disclosed, for example, in U.S. Patent Application Publication 2020/0217124 entitled Sliding and Pivot Fenestration Unit, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and for all purposes. There remains a continuing need for improved sliding and pivot fenestration units and components for such units. SUMMARY Various examples of this disclosure relate to fenestration units and systems, such as for example doors and windows, with first and/or second panels mounted with respect to a frame. Some aspects relate to slide and/or pivot capabilities and features of the units and panels. Aspects also relate to components to provide the slide and/or pivot features and/or capabilities of the panels. Yet other aspects relate to methods for sliding and/or pivoting operation of the panels. A first example is a fenestration unit with a locking pivot wheel assembly, The fenestration unit may comprise a frame, a first panel supported by the frame, and a locking pivot rider assembly. In embodiments, the frame defines a frame plane and includes a sill, a head opposite the sill, a first jamb and a second jamb opposite the first jamb. The locking pivot rider assembly couples the first panel to the frame and facilitates slide mode operation and pivot mode operation of the first panel. During the slide mode operation, the first panel is in a slide position generally parallel to the frame plane and can slide within the frame between the first and second jambs. During the pivot mode operation the first panel can pivot outwardly to a pivot open position beyond the frame plane. The locking pivot rider assembly may include a rider coupling the first panel to the frame for the slide mode operation; a pivot rotatably coupling the first panel to the rider for the pivot mode operation; and a lock coupled to the rider and the pivot, to releasably lock the rider with respect to the frame. Rotation of the pivot during the pivot mode operation of the first panel from the slide position to the pivot open position actuates the lock and causes the lock to inhibit sliding movement of the rider on the frame. Rotation of the pivot during the pivot mode operation of the first panel from the pivot open position to the slide position releases the lock and allows sliding movement of the rider on the frame. In some embodiments, the lock is configured to engage the rider to the frame when actuated, and to disengage the rider from the frame when released. In any or all of these embodiments of this first example, the lock may include one or more lock pins, each lock pin movable within the rider between a retracted position disengaged from the frame, and an extended position engaged to the frame; and an actuator coupling the pivot to each of the one or more lock pins, wherein the actuator causes each of the lock pins to move from the retracted position to the extended position when the first panel rotates from the slide position to the pivot open position In any or all of these embodiments of this first example, the lock may further include one or more biasing members for biasing each of the one or more lock pins from the extended position to the retracted position. In any or all of these embodiments of the first example, the actuator may include a cam coupling the pivot to each of the one or more lock pins, wherein the cam rotates with the pivot. In any or all of these embodiments of the first example, the rider may include a first end which for example is shown in the illustrated embodiments as a conical surface including a central apex region; a second end opposite the first end; one or more bores extending between and through the conical or other surface of the first end and the second end, and wherein each of the one or more bores receives one of the one or more lock pins; and wherein the cam rotates on the first end of the rider. Other embodiments of the rider have a first end with other (e.g., not conical) surfaces (not shown) Any or all of these embodiments of the first example may further include a releasable lock to inhibit sliding motion of the first panel during an initial portion of the rotation of the first panel from the pivot ready po