US-20260125948-A1 - SLIDING DOOR SEAL

US20260125948A1US 20260125948 A1US20260125948 A1US 20260125948A1US-20260125948-A1

Abstract

Certain embodiments of the present application relate to a sliding door system. An example sliding door system includes a frame, a sliding door, and a drop seal mechanism. The sliding door is mounted in the frame for sliding movement between an open position and a closed position. The drop seal mechanism is mounted within the sliding door, and has a deployed state in which the drop seal mechanism forms a seal with the frame, and a retracted state in which the drop seal mechanism does not form a seal with the frame. The frame comprises a projection configured to drive the drop seal mechanism from the retracted state to the deployed state as the sliding door slides from the open position to the closed position.

Inventors

K. James Harrell

Assignees

SCHLAGE LOCK COMPANY LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251230

Claims (19)

1 . A seal mechanism for a sliding door, the seal mechanism comprising: a channel member configured for mounting to the sliding door; a seal member movably mounted in the channel member for movement between a withdrawn position and a deployed position; an actuation lever pivotably mounted in the channel member for movement between an unactuated position and an actuated position; and a transmission configured to move the seal member between the withdrawn position and the deployed position in response to movement of the actuation lever between the unactuated position and the actuated position.
2 . The seal mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the actuation lever is configured to translate an input force on the actuation lever to an output force on the transmission; and wherein the actuation lever is configured to provide a mechanical force advantage such that the output force is greater than the input force.
3 . The seal mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the transmission comprises a leaf spring.
4 . The seal mechanism of claim 3 , wherein the leaf spring comprises a curved portion; wherein the curved portion is configured to drive the seal member toward the deployed position in response to a reduction in an effective longitudinal length of the leaf spring; and wherein the curved portion is configured to drive the seal member toward the withdrawn position in response to an increase in the effective longitudinal length of the leaf spring.
5 . The seal mechanism of claim 4 , wherein the curved portion comprises a valley that is received in a channel of the seal member; and wherein the seal member comprises a pin received in the valley.
6 . The seal mechanism of claim 3 , wherein the transmission further comprises: a sliding block slidably mounted in the channel member and engaged between the actuation lever and a first end of the leaf spring; and a fixed block secured within the channel member and coupled with a second end of the leaf spring opposite the first end of the leaf spring.
7 . The seal mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the channel member extends in a longitudinal direction; wherein the withdrawn position and the deployed position are offset from one another in a lateral direction transverse to the longitudinal direction; and wherein the transmission is configured to translate a longitudinal force exerted by the actuation lever to a lateral force on the seal member.
8 . The seal mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the actuation lever comprises a jog that partially defines a void; and wherein a portion of the seal member extends through the void.
9 . A sliding door system, comprising: a frame; a sliding door mounted in the frame for sliding movement between an open position and a closed position; and a drop seal mechanism mounted within the sliding door, the drop seal mechanism having a deployed state in which the drop seal mechanism forms a seal with the frame, the drop seal mechanism having a retracted state in which the drop seal mechanism does not form a seal with the frame; wherein the frame comprises a projection configured to drive the drop seal mechanism from the retracted state to the deployed state as the sliding door slides from the open position to the closed position.
10 . The sliding door system of claim 9 , wherein the drop seal mechanism is concealed within the sliding door.
11 . The sliding door system of claim 9 , wherein the drop seal mechanism comprises an actuation lever pivotably mounted in the sliding door; and wherein the actuation lever is wholly concealed within the sliding door.
12 . The sliding door system of claim 9 , wherein the drop seal mechanism comprises: an actuation lever pivotably mounted in the sliding door for movement between an unactuated position and an actuated position; and a rod pivotably connected with the actuation lever.
13 . The sliding door system of claim 12 , wherein the actuation lever is configured to provide a mechanical force advantage such that a lesser input force exerted by the projection on the actuation lever results in a greater output force exerted by the actuation lever on the rod.
14 . The sliding door system of claim 12 , wherein the drop seal mechanism further comprises: a seal member mounted for movement between a withdrawn position and a deployed position; and a transmission configured to move the seal member between the withdrawn position and the deployed position in response to movement of the actuation lever between the unactuated position and the actuated position; wherein the transmission comprises the rod.
15 . The sliding door system of claim 14 , wherein the transmission further comprises a leaf spring extending in a longitudinal direction; wherein the leaf spring comprises a curved portion extending at least partially in a lateral direction transverse to the longitudinal direction; and wherein contraction of the leaf spring in the longitudinal direction causes expansion of the leaf spring in the lateral direction to thereby urge the seal member from the withdrawn position to the deployed position.
16 . A method of forming a seal between a sliding door and a frame, the method comprising: during sliding movement of the sliding door from an open position to a closed position, causing a portion of the frame to exert a first force on an actuation lever pivotably mounted within the sliding door; in response to the first force on the actuation lever, causing the actuation lever to exert a second force on a transmission, thereby causing the transmission to drive a seal member from a withdrawn position, in which the seal member does not form the seal between the sliding door and the frame, to a deployed position, in which the seal member forms the seal between the sliding door and the frame.
17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising providing a mechanical force advantage with the actuation lever such that the second force is greater than the first force.
18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the transmission comprises a leaf spring including a curved portion; and wherein causing the transmission to drive the seal member from the withdrawn position to the deployed position comprises reducing an effective longitudinal length of the leaf spring to thereby cause the curved portion to urge the seal member toward the deployed position.
19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the actuation lever comprises a void; and wherein a portion of the seal member travels within the void as the seal member moves between the withdrawn position and the deployed position.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure generally relates to seals for sliding doors, and more particularly but not exclusively relates to automatic drop seals for sliding doors. BACKGROUND Automatic drop seals are occasionally provided to doors to aid in generating a seal when the door is in the closed position. While automatic drop seals have been utilized in swing doors, these mechanisms often rely upon the large mechanical advantage provided at the hinge edge of the closure in order to effect the dropping of the seal. However, those skilled in the art will readily recognize that this mechanical advantage is not available in sliding doors, which has thus far hindered the advancement of drop seals in sliding doors. For these reasons among others, there remains a need for further improvements in this technological field. SUMMARY Certain embodiments of the present application relate to a sliding door system, comprising a frame, a sliding door, and a drop seal mechanism. The sliding door is mounted in the frame for sliding movement between an open position and a closed position. The drop seal mechanism is mounted within the sliding door, and has a deployed state in which the drop seal mechanism forms a seal with the frame, and a retracted state in which the drop seal mechanism does not form a seal with the frame. The frame comprises a projection configured to drive the drop seal mechanism from the retracted state to the deployed state as the sliding door slides from the open position to the closed position. Further embodiments, forms, features, and aspects of the present application shall become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of a closure assembly according to certain embodiments in an open state. FIG. 2 is a perspective illustration of the closure assembly in a closed state. FIG. 3 is a partially exploded view of a drop seal mechanism according to certain embodiments. FIG. 4 is an end view of the drop seal mechanism. FIG. 5 is an end view of the drop seal mechanism in an withdrawn state. FIG. 6 is an end view of the drop seal mechanism in a deployed state. FIG. 7 is a perspective illustration of a portion of the drop seal mechanism. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the drop seal mechanism in the withdrawn state. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the drop seal mechanism in the deployed state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS Although the concepts of the present disclosure are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described herein in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit the concepts of the present disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives consistent with the present disclosure and the appended claims. References in the specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an illustrative embodiment,” etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may or may not necessarily include that particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. It should further be appreciated that although reference to a “preferred” component or feature may indicate the desirability of a particular component or feature with respect to an embodiment, the disclosure is not so limiting with respect to other embodiments, which may omit such a component or feature. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to implement such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described. As used herein, the terms “longitudinal,” “lateral,” and “transverse” may be used to denote motion or spacing along three mutually perpendicular axes, wherein each of the axes defines two opposite directions. In the coordinate system illustrated in FIG. 3, the X-axis defines first and second longitudinal directions, the Y-axis defines first and second lateral directions, and the Z-axis defines first and second transverse directions. These terms are used for ease and convenience of description, and are without regard to the orientation of the system with respect to the environment. For example, descriptions that reference a longitudinal direction may be equally applicable to a vertical direction, a horizontal direction, or an off-axis orientation with respect to the environment. Furthermore, motion or spacing along a direction defined by one of the axes need not preclude motion or spacing along a direction defined by another of the axes. For example, element