Pocket door for modular partition system

Abstract

A pocket door panel for use within a modular partition system is based upon a standard partition panel having vertical end members joined by spaced horizontal C-section members secured to opposite sides of the vertical end members with the mouths of the C-section members facing outwardly. The pocket door panel has one vertical end member replaced by two J-section members secured to the horizontal members and defining an elongated vertical opening between them. A generally rectangular door is adapted to slide horizontally into the opening and the pocket within the panel defined by the horizontal members. Rollers are mounted within the panel above and below the door to engage the top and bottom of the door and guide the horizontal sliding movement of the door. The inner edge of the door includes a leveling device that slidably engages one or more horizontal members to prevent the vertical movement of the inner edge of the door.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A pocket door panel for use in a partitioning system, the partitioning system having a panel frame structure, the pocket door panel comprising: 
 (a) a panel frame arranged in a vertical plane, having a cavity therein, and having an elongated vertical opening at an end perpendicular to said vertical plane, said opening being in communication with said cavity;    (b) a door arranged in said vertical plane, having top, bottom and side frame members, and being adapted to slidably enter said cavity through said opening, said door having a closed position and an open position and being horizontally movable between said closed position and said open position; and    (c) rollers mounted on said panel frame within said cavity and adapted to engage said top and bottom frame members to slidably guide said door between said positions.    
     
     
         2 . A pocket door panel for use in a partitioning system, the partitioning system having a panel frame structure, the pocket door panel comprising: 
 (a) a panel frame arranged in a vertical plane having a vertical end frame member and a vertical pocket end frame member spread apart and arranged perpendicular to said vertical plane, said vertical pocket end frame member defining an elongated vertical opening, and having horizontal frame members arranged parallel to said vertical plane in vertically spaced pairs and secured to said vertical end frame member and said vertical pocket end frame member;    (b) bottom rollers secured between a bottom pair of said horizontal frame members and top rollers secured between a top pair of said horizontal frame members; and    (c) a door comprising a horizontal top, a horizontal bottom, a vertical leading and a vertical trailing door member, said door members being connected to generally define a rectangle in said common plane, said door being adapted to slide horizontally within said opening between an open position and a closed position, and wherein said top door member engages said top rollers and said bottom door member engages said bottom rollers.    
     
     
         3 . The pocket door panel of  claim 2 , wherein said vertical trailing door member is located between said vertical end frame member and said vertical pocket end frame member of said panel frame, the pocket door panel further comprising a leveling device secured to said trailing door member and slidably engaging at least one of said horizontal frame members to prevent vertical movement of said trailing door member when the door is slid between an open and closed position.  
     
     
         4 . The pocket door panel of  claim 2 , wherein each said roller comprises a housing, a wheel support member slidably mounted to said housing, a wheel rotatably mounted upon said wheel support member and an adjustment means and wherein said housing is secured between said horizontal frame members, said wheel support member is slidably operable to adjust the vertical distance between said wheel and said housing so that said wheel may engage said door member, and said adjustment means is operable to fix said wheel support member in place.  
     
     
         5 . The pocket door panel of  claim 4 , wherein said adjustment means is a screw.  
     
     
         6 . The pocket door panel of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of said rollers is tension mounted such that said rollers firmly engage said top and bottom door members.  
     
     
         7 . The pocket door of  claim 2 , wherein said vertical pocket end frame member comprises two vertical j-section members spaced apart, the space therebetween defining said opening.