DOOR ASSEMBLY WITH IMPROVED PIVOT CONNECTION

摘要

The present invention provides a sliding door assembly that comprises a frame assembly, a sliding panel carrier, and a sliding panel mounted to the sliding panel carrier. The sliding panel carrier is mounted to the frame assembly for generally rectilinear movement to enable movement of the sliding panel between a closed position and an open position. The sliding panel carrier provides a pivot pin receiving opening. A power-operated door controlling unit is operatively connected to the sliding panel carrier and moves the same in a generally rectilinear manner between the open and closed positions. The sliding panel has a mounting bracket mounted to the top rail thereof. The bracket provides a pivot pin that moves between an extended and retracted position. The sliding panel is mounted to the sliding panel carrier by inserting the pivot pin into the pivot pin receiving opening. As a result, the sliding panel can swing relative to the frame assembly though a breakout movement under an application of manual force from (1) a normal, non-breakout position to (2) a breakout position. The term 'bracket' is intended to generically encompass any structure suitable for mounting the pivot pin to the top rail of the panel. The bracket, the pivot pin, and the pivot pin receiving opening are constructed and arranged such that, when the door assembly is installed and the sliding panel is moved in a swinging manner to the breakout position thereof, a load applied to the sliding panel that tends to pivot the sliding panel about a point spaced radially the pivot pin creates a reaction force that is applied to the pivot pin which reaction force is transmitted to the top rail of the sliding panel as a result of the mounting bracket being mounted thereon and the pivot pin being received in the pivot pin receiving opening.