Sliding Door Systems, Apparatus and Methods

Abstract

The present invention relates to sliding door systems, apparatus and methods of using and making the same. Specifically, the present invention relates to systems for opening horizontally sliding doors on a structure, such as, for example, a barn, warehouse, hangar, or other building or structure. Moreover, the present invention relates to apparatuses for guiding horizontally-sliding doors over an opening. In addition, systems and methods of making and using the same are provided.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A door guide for guiding a horizontally-sliding door over an opening of a structure, the door guide comprising:
 a base comprising a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the first side having a flat surface for contacting a surface of a horizontally-sliding door,   wherein the base further comprises a bottom surface and a top surface,   wherein the bottom surface is configured to lay flat on a floor, and   further wherein the top surface is angled upwardly from the second side to the first side such that the first side is higher than the second side when the base lays flat on the floor.   
     
     
         2 . The door guide of  claim 1  further comprising:
 at least one slot disposed through the base from the top surface to the bottom surface for an attaching means to be disposed therethrough to attach the door guide to the floor. 
 
     
     
         3 . The door guide of  claim 2  wherein the slot has a length between the first side and the second side. 
     
     
         4 . The door guide of  claim 2  further comprising:
 an attaching means disposed through the slot for attaching the door guide to the floor. 
 
     
     
         5 . The door guide of  claim 4  wherein the attaching means is a bolt. 
     
     
         6 . The door guide of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a spacer disposed beneath the base for raising the base when the base lays flat on a floor. 
 
     
     
         7 . The door guide of  claim 6  wherein the spacer has a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface lays flat on a floor when disposed on a floor, and the top surface has the same shape as the bottom surface of the base. 
     
     
         8 . A system of aligning a horizontally-sliding door comprising:
 a structure having an opening, and a horizontally-sliding door disposed over the opening for opening and closing over the opening;   a floor at the opening of the structure, wherein the horizontally-sliding door slides above the floor when opening and closing over the opening; and   a first door guide rigidly attached to the floor, the first door guide comprising a base comprising a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the first side having a flat surface for contacting a surface of a horizontally-sliding door, wherein the base further comprises a bottom surface and a top surface, wherein the bottom surface is configured to lay flat on a floor, and further wherein the top surface is angled upwardly from the second side to the first side such that the first side is higher than the second side when the base lays flat on the floor.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the first door guide comprises at least one slot disposed through the base from the top surface to the bottom surface and an attaching means disposed through the slot and into the floor to attach the first door guide to the floor. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the slot has a length between the first side and the second side, wherein the length of the slot allows the first door guide to move with respect to the attaching means. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the attaching means is a bolt. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a spacer disposed beneath the base of the first door guide. 
 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the spacer has a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface lays flat on a floor when disposed on a floor, and the top surface has the same shape as the bottom surface of the base. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the first side of the first door guide contacts a first surface of the horizontally-sliding door when the door slides open and closed over the opening. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  further comprising:
 a restricting means on the floor wherein the restricting means is disposed adjacent a second surface of the horizontally-sliding door when the door slides open and closed over the opening. 
 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14  further comprising:
 a second door guide disposed adjacent a second surface of the horizontally-sliding door when the door slides open and closed over the opening. 
 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the second door guide comprises a base comprising a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the first side having a flat surface for contacting a surface of a horizontally-sliding door, wherein the base further comprises a bottom surface and a top surface, wherein the bottom surface is configured to lay flat on a floor, and further wherein the top surface is angled upwardly from the second side to the first side such that the first side is higher than the second side when the base lays flat on the floor. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the first door guide and the second door guide form a channel for the passage of the horizontally-sliding door. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a second door guide rigidly attached to the floor wherein the first door guide and the second door guide are each adjacent a first surface of the horizontally-sliding door when the door slides open and closed over the opening. 
 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the second door guide comprises a base comprising a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the first side having a flat surface for contacting a surface of a horizontally-sliding door, wherein the base further comprises a bottom surface and a top surface, wherein the bottom surface is configured to lay flat on a floor, and further wherein the top surface is angled upwardly from the second side to the first side such that the first side is higher than the second side when the base lays flat on the floor.