Pivot and guide rod assembly for bi-fold door

Abstract

Pivot and guide rod assembly for bi-fold door includes plastic sleeve for mounting in door channel and supporting a pivot rod. A spring is arranged to urge pivot rod outwardly from sleeve, latch means being provided to retain pivot rod in retracted position during shipping and mounting of door.

We claim: 
     
       1. In a metal door assembly: a door panel comprising a face sheet,   a stiffening channel secured to one surface of said sheet along an edge thereof, said channel having a pair of spaced apart flanges extending outwardly from said surface and a connecting web,   a pivot rod assembly mounted in said channel,   said assembly comprising an elongated plastic sleeve extending through corresponding openings in said flanges,   .Iadd.a collar on said sleeve, .Iaddend.   sleeve retaining means operatively arranged between said sleeve and said channel to retain said sleeve in said channel,   a pivot rod having a shank portion positioned in said sleeve and slidable therein and an enlarged head portion,   a compression spring operatively arranged between said channel and said head portion for urging said head portion away from said channel,   and releasable latch means operatively arranged between said head portion and said sleeve for releasably retaining said head in a retracted position adjacent said collar.   
     
     
       2. A metal door assembly as set forth in claim 1; said sleeve retaining means comprising an arm integral with said sleeve and releasably engaging in a cooperating notch in said channel web. 
     
     
       3. A metal door assembly as set forth in claim 1; said releasable latch means comprising a flange on said head portion formed with a lip on the free end thereof, and a latch element on said sleeve adapted to engage said lip,   said lip and said latch element being resilient whereby sufficient axial force applied to said pivot rod will cause said lip and latch means to deflect and release said pivot rod for movement under the force of said spring.   
     
     
       4. In a metal door assembly; a door panel comprising a face sheet,   a stiffening channel secured to one surface of said sheet along an edge thereof, said channel having a pair of spaced apart flanges extending outwardly from said surface and a connecting web,   a pivot rod assembly mounted in said channel,   said assembly comprising an elongated plastic sleeve extending through corresponding openings in said flanges,   said sleeve having an integral collar formed on one end thereof abutting the outer surface of the flange adjacent said edge,   an integral post extending outwardly from one side of said collar substantially perpendicularly to said sleeve, said post having an integral arm at the outer end thereof extending over said web substantially parallel to said sleeve,   said arm having a finger on the end thereof extending inwardly toward said sleeve and engaging in an opening in said web to retain said sleeve in said channel,   a pivot rod having a shank portion positioned in said sleeve and slidable therein and an enlarged head portion,   a compression spring operatively arranged between said collar and said head portion for urging said head portion away from said collar,   said head portion having a peripheral cupped flange thereon,   and a latch integral with said post extending from said post and adapted releasably to engage said flange when said head is positioned adjacent said collar thereby to retain said head against movement away from said collar, said head being releasable by applying a sharp blow on the end of said shank portion opposite said head thereby to cam said latch from its flange engaging position.