Device for mitigating the effects of structure deflection on sliding doors and windows

摘要

A method and apparatus is provided for maintaining functionality of at least one sliding panel of a sliding unit when a building structure to which the device is attached is subject to upward or downward movement. The method includes attaching a fixed guiding portion to the building and locating a variable panel track inside the fixed guiding portion, the variable panel track allowing a specified range of vertical movement of the sliding unit inside the fixed guiding portion in order to compensate for vertical movement of the building structure such that the at least one sliding panel is retained within the fixed guiding portion during the specified range of vertical movement, where either the fixed guiding portion is a fixed header and the variable panel track is a variable header track or the fixed guiding portion is a fixed floor channel and the variable panel track is a variable floor track.

主权项

1. A device for maintaining functionality of at least one sliding panel of a sliding unit when a building to which the device is attached is subject to upward or downward movement, the device comprising:
a fixed header attached to a building structure; a variable header track located inside the fixed header and configured to allow for a specified range of vertical movement inside the fixed header in order to compensate for vertical movement of the building structure such that the at least one sliding panel is retained within the sliding unit and remains operable during the specified range of vertical movement, and at least one compression spring placed between the fixed header and the variable header track, the at least one compression spring configured to allow movement of the variable header track in response to forces generated by the at least one sliding panel such that the variable header track is retained within the fixed header.