AU2020220190B2 - Adjustable roller assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

18 A roller wheel assembly (10) for use with sliding panels is provided which includes an outer housing (11), a height adjustment mechanism including a screw (20) and an insert (30), an inner housing 60, and a carriage including a carriage housing 40 and a roller wheel 50. The carriage (40) is removably retained within the outer housing (11) and is insertable into the outer housing (60) in at least three orientations. Each of the orientations of the carriage (40) provides a distinct alignment of an outer end (51) of the roller wheel (50) relative to the outer housing (11). In this arrangement the roller wheel (50) can be offset by an amount in either lateral direction easily and without the need to remove the entire outer housing of the roller assembly. This reduces the time required to adjust the offset of a roller wheel and prevent damage to the roller assembly or sliding panel structure. 18

Description

2020220190 21 Aug 2020

3/6

30 19 10 21 2020220190

13

FIG. 4 48

10 17 33 20 22 32 = 7 34 25. HS 12

63 62 69 19 68

65 65 14 14 13 13

66 46 66 46 42 42 16 55 51 54 FIG. 5 FIG.5 5

ADJUSTABLE ROLLER ASSEMBLY FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a roller wheel assembly for use with sliding panels, in particular for use on security screen panels, and more 2020220190

particularly including an adjustable offset assembly which allows a wheel alignment to be easily modified.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0002] Conventional sliding panel systems have roller wheel assemblies that are located within the cavity of the sliding panel. Depending on the weight, size, type and usage of the panel, the number of roller assemblies will be selected to suit these requirements. Typically, each such sliding panel will house at least two roller wheel assemblies.

[0003] Sliding screen door systems are manufactured with varying seal systems, offsets and tolerances. The cavities of the panel in which the roller wheel assemblies are housed are generally standard in size. Misalignment of one or more roller assembly wheels and the track on which the wheels are intended to roll may therefore occur, particularly where misalignment of a screen door frame is present through uneven floors, tracks or where components of different manufacturers are used. This problem may result in roller doors that do not slide smoothly, are difficult to operate or that may stick in one position or another.

[0004] Australian patent no. 782417 relates to an adjustable roller. The height of a roller assembly can be adjusted by rotating a screw. This height adjustment mechanism is counter intuitive because it does not have an end stop and continually rotating the screw in one direction will adjust the height both up and down. The patent also provides an offset adjustment which involves removing

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only the wheel with axle from the roller assembly and replacing the wheel the opposite way around to give an offset in one direction. In order to provide an offset in the opposite direction the entire roller assembly, including outer housing, must be removed from a panel and rotated in the opposite direction. This removal, rotation and replacement of the entire roller assembly housing requires the use of tools such as in the removal of screws, is difficult and time consuming, 2020220190

and can result in damage to one or both of the sliding door and roller assembly. An improved and/or simplified manner of adjusting the offset would be desirable.

[0005] It would be desirable to prove an improved roller assembly for a sliding panel which overcomes one or more of the problems associated with existing roller assemblies and/or that provides consumers with a useful choice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] An aspect of the present invention provides an adjustable roller assembly comprising: an outer housing; and a carriage including a roller wheel, the carriage being removably retained within the outer housing, wherein the carriage is insertable into the outer housing in at least three orientations, each of the orientations of the carriage providing a distinct alignment of an outer end of the roller wheel relative to the outer housing and wherein the carriage is removable from one of the at least three orientations and insertable into another of the at least three orientations to facilitate adjustment of the alignment of the roller assembly.

[0007] The at least three orientations may comprise: a first orientation where an outer end of the roller wheel is oriented substantially centrally relative to the outer housing; a second orientation where the outer end of the roller wheel is oriented substantially to a first side relative to the outer housing; and a third orientation where the outer end of the roller wheel is oriented substantially to a second side opposite to the first side relative to the outer housing.

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[0008] According to the present invention, the roller wheel can be offset by an amount in either lateral direction easily and without the need to remove the entire outer housing of the roller assembly. This arrangement is therefore beneficial and can reduce time required to adjust the offset of a roller wheel and prevent damage to roller assembly or panel structures. 2020220190

[0009] According to a preferred embodiment of the adjustable roller assembly, the roller wheel is retained in the carriage at an angle to a longitudinal axis of the carriage. According to embodiments, a central axis of the roller wheel is at an angle of from about 80 to about 89.9 to the longitudinal axis of the carriage. Optionally, the central axis of the roller wheel is at an angle of from about 85 to about 89 to the longitudinal axis of the carriage. Alternatively, the central axis of the roller wheel is at an angle of about 88 to the longitudinal axis of the carriage. For example, the central axis may be at an angle of 88.1 relative to the longitudinal axis of the carriage.

[0010] According to embodiments, the carriage may be rotated and/or inverted while outside of the outer housing to alternate between the orientations. For example, rotating the carriage may alternate between the second orientation and third orientation. Inverting the carriage from either of the first or second orientations may change the alignment of the outer end of the roller wheel to the first orientation. Rotating the carriage may maintain the first orientation according to embodiments where the carriage is in the first orientation.

[0011] According to embodiments, the carriage includes at least one indicator to indicate to a user which orientation the carriage is in. Preferably, an indicator is outwardly visible to the user when the carriage is within the outer housing.

[0012] According to preferred embodiments, the adjustable roller wheel assembly further comprises an inner housing adapted to be retained within the outer housing. The carriage may removably connect to the inner housing to be

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removably retained within the outer housing. One of the inner housing and the carriage may comprise at least one connection member and the other of the inner housing and the carriage may comprise at least one aperture, and the connection member releasably engages with the aperture to connect the carriage to the inner housing. 2020220190

[0013] According to embodiments, a protrusion of the carriage from the outer housing when in use is adjustable. In other words, when in use, the carriage will protrude from the outer housing and the amount of protrusion of the carriage outwardly from the outer housing is adjustable. The adjustable roller wheel assembly may further comprise an adjustment ramp, and the inner housing may include an engagement surface. The adjustment ramp is preferably movable within the outer housing and adapted to engage the engagement surface to adjust the protrusion of the carriage from the outer housing when in use.

[0014] The adjustable roller wheel assembly preferably comprises a user operable adjustment means adapted to control movement of the adjustment ramp such that a user can select a desired in use protrusion of the carriage from the outer housing. The user operable adjustment means may be in the form of a screw mechanism which is adapted to translate a rotational input from the user to a lateral movement of the adjustment ramp.

[0015] According to embodiments, the adjustable roller wheel assembly further comprises at least one spring member within the housing, the spring member being adapted to bias the carriage such that, when the roller wheel assembly is in use, the roller wheel is biased towards a corresponding track.

[0016] According to another embodiment, there is provided a system of roller assemblies for use in a sliding panel assembly, the system comprising a plurality of the adjustable roller wheel as described above, wherein each of the roller wheel assemblies is mounted within a respective recess in an outer surface of a sliding panel, and wherein the roller assemblies are configured to cooperate with

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a corresponding track, each of the carriages of the roller assemblies being in a respective one of the orientations within its respective outer housing such that each roller wheel is aligned with the track such that the sliding panel is slidable on the track.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 2020220190

[0017] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0018] Figure 1 shows a side view of a roller wheel assembly according to an embodiment;

[0019] Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view through the centre of the roller wheel assembly of figure 1;

[0020] Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view through line A-A of figure 1;

[0021] Figure 4 shows a side view of the roller wheel assembly according to the embodiment shown in figure 1 with the height adjusted;

[0022] Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view through the centre of the roller wheel assembly of figure 4;

[0023] Figure 6 shows a side view of the roller wheel assembly of figure 4 with the carriage in a first orientation;

[0024] Figure 7 shows a side view of the roller wheel assembly of figure 4 with the carriage in a second orientation;

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[0025] Figure 8 shows a side view of the roller wheel assembly of figure 4 with the carriage in a third orientation;

[0026] Figure 9 shows a top view of an inner housing of an embodiment;

[0027] Figure 10 shows a side view of the inner housing of the embodiment; 2020220190

[0028] Figure 11 shows a cross-sectional view through line B-B of figure 10;

[0029] Figure 12 shows a top view of a carriage without a roller wheel according to an embodiment;

[0030] Figure 13 shows a side view of the carriage without a roller wheel according to the embodiment;

[0031] Figure 14 shows a cross-sectional view through line C-C of figure 13

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0032] An embodiment of a roller assembly 10 according to the present invention and individual parts thereof are shown in figures 1 to 14. The roller assembly includes an outer housing 11, a height adjustment mechanism including a screw 20 and an insert 30, an inner housing 60, and a carriage including a carriage housing 40 and a roller wheel 50.

[0033] The walls of the outer housing 11 define an inner cavity 16 in which the other parts of the roller assembly 10 are retained. The lower end 15 of the outer housing 11 includes flanges 13 at each end. The flanges 13 are adapted to be utilised in the mounting of the roller assembly 10 into a panel, for example through screws passing through the flanges 13 into the panel to affix the two. Above the flanges 13 on the lower part of the end walls of the outer housing 11

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are flaps 14. The flaps 14 include barbs which act in one direction such that the barbs of the flaps 14 do not provide a significant hindrance during insertion of the roller assembly 10 into a cavity of a panel. However, the barbs of the flaps 14 would engage corresponding surfaces of the cavity walls within the panel when fully inserted to provide a hindrance to removal of the roller wheel assembly 10 form the panel. 2020220190

[0034] A side wall 19 of the outer housing 11 has a circular aperture 18. A screw 20 is retained in the aperture 18 and within the inner cavity 16 of the outer housing 11. The screw includes a drive 21 which is adapted to be rotated through engagement with a screwdriver head. The screw 20 includes a cylindrical shaft having elongate teeth 22 on the outer wall of the cylindrical shaft along a longitudinal axis thereof.

[0035] An insert 30, shown in figures 2 and 5, is adapted to be engage with and be moved by the screw 20, as part of the height adjustment mechanism. As seen in figures 1 and 4, the outer housing 11 includes an L-shaped slot 12. The insert 30 has an elongate protrusion 31 and the protrusion 31 is adapted to engage a horizontal part of the slot 12. Preferably, the outer housing 11 includes a second L-shaped slot 12 in the opposite side of the outer housing and which is a mirror image of the first L-shaped slot 12. Additionally, the insert 30 preferably includes a second elongate protrusion 31 which is adapted to engage a horizontal part of the second L-shaped slot (not shown). An end portion of the insert 30 includes a tongue 34 which acts to prevent movement of the insert 30 past a predetermined point as shown in figure 2. An upper edge of the insert 30 has teeth 32 which are adapted to engage with the teeth 22 of the screw 20. When the screw 20 is rotated, such as by a screwdriver rotating the drive 21, the rotational movement of the teeth 22 is translated to a lateral / horizontal movement of the insert 30. The teeth 32, 22 of the insert 30 and screw 20 cooperate as a rack and pinion. The engagement of the elongate protrusions 31 of the insert 30 with the horizontal section of the L-shaped slot 12 acts to guide the horizontal / linear movement of the insert 30.

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[0036] An inner housing 60 is retained in the outer housing 11. The inner housing 60 has pegs 64 which engage and are retained in the vertical portion of the L-shaped slots 12 on either side of the outer housing 11. The engagement of the pegs 64 in the L-shaped slot 12 acts to prevent unwanted removal of the inner housing 60 from the outer housing 11. 2020220190

[0037] The inner housing 60 is shown in figures 9 to 11. The inner housing 60 has a central body 61 which runs horizontally along its length between a first end column 62 and a second end column 63. The central body 61 adds rigidity and strength to the inner housing 60. The end columns 62 and 63 fit closely within the inner end walls of the outer housing 11 to ensure that when the inner housing 60 is inserted into the outer housing 11 the desired alignment of the two is maintained.

[0038] The second end column 63 includes a well 67 in the form of a circular hole and internal cavity in its upper surface. The lower end of the well 67 has a stop surface 68. The outer housing 11 includes a pin 17 which protrudes from an upper inner surface within its cavity. The location of the pin 17 corresponds to the location of the well 67 in the inner housing 60 such that when the inner housing 60 is inserted into the outer housing sufficiently, the pin 17 will enter the well 67. A spring 25 is positioned between the pin and the well 67. One end of the spring 25 engages the inner surface of the outer housing 11 surrounding the pin 17 and the other end of the spring 25 engages the stop surface 68 within the well 67. When the inner and outer housings 60, 11 are fully brought into alignment such that the pegs 64 engage within the L-shaped slot 12, the spring 25 will be compressed at least partially. The spring 25 acts to bias the inner housing 60 outwardly of the inner cavity 16 of the outer housing 11 while allowing movement of the inner housing 60 inwardly of the outer housing 11. The spring 25 acts to ensure that the wheel 50 will remain in contact with the track. When the roller assembly 10 is mounted at the top of a panel, the spring 25 will act against gravity to ensure that the wheel 50 contacts a track above the panel.

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[0039] Each side of the inner housing 60 has an upper angled section 69. The insert 30 has matching lower ramps or angled wedge sections 33 on each side. The angled sections 69 of the inner housing 60 and the wedge sections 33 of the insert 30 each have a textured or toothed surface such that when the two are brought together there is an engagement without slipping. The teeth on the underside of the ramps or angled wedge sections 33 and on the angled sections 2020220190

69 have a ratchet function. The spring 25 biases the inner housing 60 away from the insert 30 such that when the roller assembly is not in use in a sliding panel engaging a track, the angled sections 33, 69 of the insert 30 and inner housing 60 will not contact one another. When a load is applied, such as when the roller assembly is in use, the angled sections 33, 69 will engage each other. Therefore, by rotating the screw 20, the position of the ramp or angled wedge section 33 of the insert 30 can be moved between one end and the other of the inner cavity 16. The position of the ramp or angled wedge section 33 therefore defines the height of the roller assembly 10 when in use. For example, when the insert 30 is at one end of the inner cavity 16, as shown in figure 2, the protrusion of a roller wheel 50 from the outer housing 11 is at a minimum in use height. Alternatively, when the insert 30 is located at the opposite end of the inner cavity 16, as shown in figure 5, the protrusion of the roller wheel 50 from the outer housing is at a maximum in use height. The screw 20 can be manually adjusted such that insert 30 can be positioned at any point between these two extremes to provide a desired in use height of the roller assembly 10 to suit the requirements of a given panel assembly.

[0040] The roller assembly 10 includes a carriage 40, shown in figures 12 to 14. The carriage 40 has opposed end walls 42 and side walls 43 which together define an inner cavity 41. The side walls 43 include a respective aperture 44, 45. The roller assembly 10 includes the roller wheel 50 which is held by the carriage 40 at least partially within its inner cavity 41. The roller wheel 50 includes an outer wheel surface 51 which is adapted to engage a track when in use. The roller wheel 50 includes a central axle 52. The axle 52 will engage with the apertures 44, 45 of the carriage housing 40 to retain the roller wheel 50 at least

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partially within the inner cavity 41 of carriage housing 40. The roller wheel 50, as shown in figures 2 and 5 in cross-section, includes a plurality of internal bearings 54. The bearings 54 may reduce rotational friction when the wheel is in use and can help the wheel to support radial and axial loads. Other types of roller wheels can be utilised in roller assemblies used for sliding panel purposes depending on the nature of use and load to be carried by each roller wheel. 2020220190

[0041] The apertures 44, 45 are offset. The side walls 43 include a vertical axis. The apertures 44, 45 include an axis Z through their centres. As shown in figure 14, the axis Z is not perpendicular to the vertical axis of the side walls 43. The angle X in figure 14 is about 88.1. However, the angle X can be manufactured to suit the offset requirements and size of roller wheel etc. The inner surface of a first wall 43 surrounding the aperture 44 is angled to correspond to the angle X. Similarly, the inner surface of the second side wall 43 surrounding the aperture 45 may be angled or structured to correspond to the offset angle X. The angle X is such that when the roller wheel 50 is inserted into the carriage 40 and the axle 52 engages the apertures 44, 45, the roller wheel 50 is at an angle to the horizontal. The angled alignment of the roller wheel 50 is depicted in figure 3, in which the carriage 40 and roller wheel 50 are inserted into the outer housing 11 to form the assembled roller assembly 10.

[0042] The inner housing 60 includes legs 65 which project downwardly from each of the end columns 62, 63. Each leg includes an outwardly projecting knob 66. The end walls 42 of the carriage 40 each have slots 46 in the form of apertures. The location of the slots 46 on the end walls 42 corresponds to the location of the knobs 66 on the legs 65 of the inner housing 60. The legs 65 of the inner housing 60 are configured to be received inside the end walls 42 of the carriage 40 when brought together. When the carriage 40 is pushed towards the inner housing 60, the legs 65 and knobs 66 will slide along the inner surface of the end walls 42 until the knobs 66 are received in the slots 46. At this point the inner housing 60 is engaged with the carriage 40. When the inner housing 60 is located within the outer housing 11 and the rest of the roller assembly 10 is

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assembled, inserting the carriage 40 into the inner cavity 16 of the outer housing 11 to be retained by the inner housing 60 will complete the roller assembly 10.

[0043] The knobs 66 have a trapezoidal appearance from the side, as shown in figure 10. This shape of the knobs 66 corresponds to the shape and size of the slots 46. The shape of the knobs 66 is selected such that the engagement of the 2020220190

knobs 66 and slots 46 is not rigid and the carriage 40 can be removed from the inner housing 60 by exerting a predetermined force to pull the two apart. This arrangement of being able to remove the carriage 60 from the outer housing 11 of the roller assembly 10 is important to allow the alignment of the roller wheel 50 to be adjusted from central to an offset in either direction.

[0044] Due to the angle of the roller wheel 50 to the central axis M of the roller assembly 10 when the carriage 40 is removed from the outer housing 11, inverted and then replaced within the housing, the central point 55 of the lower side of the roller wheel 50 can be either substantially on the central axis M or offset to one side. For example, figures 3 and 6 show the central point 55 of the wheel aligned on the central axis M of the roller assembly 10. The distances F and G in figure 3 are the distances between the central point 55 of a lower edge of the outer wheel circumference 51 and a corresponding outer side of the side walls 19. Distances F and G are preferably equal or substantially the same. In the example shown in figure 3, the distances F and G are each about 7.8mm for a roller assembly 10 of a standard size.

[0045] Figure 7 shows the arrangement of the roller assembly 10 when the carriage 40 is removed and inverted from the previous orientation of figure 6. As seen in figure 7, the centre point 55 of the lower end of the roller wheel 50 is offset to one side such that a vertical axis P through centre point 55 is spaced from central axis M of the roller assembly 10. The offset of the axis P in figure 7 is equivalent to the offset demonstrated by the central point 56 of the upper end of the roller wheel 50 seen in figure 3. The distances H and I show this offset distance. In the embodiment shown, the distance H is about 6.8mm and the

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distance I is about 8.8mm. Hence, the axis P is offset by 1mm to the side of central axis M of the roller assembly 10, shown in figure 7. If the carriage 40 is removed and then rotated such that the position of the ends 42 of the carriage 40 are swapped around within the outer housing 11, the offset shown by the centre point 55 is switched to the other side. For example, Figure 8 shows such an arrangement where the vertical axis Q through point 55 is offset from the central 2020220190

axis M of the roller assembly 10, but to the other side from the offset that is shown in figure 7. The offset distance in figure 8 is 1mm to the side of the central axis M.

[0046] According to the embodiments described above, therefore, the same components of the roller assembly 10 can be utilised to give a roller assembly 10 where the lower central edge 55 of the roller wheel 50 is either central or offset to either side depending on the orientation of the carriage 40 within the housing 11. This arrangement is easy to alter between these orientations by simply removing the carriage 40 and inverting and/or rotating the carriage 40 before reinserting it.

[0047] The offsets provided by the roller assembly 10 may be relatively small, for example about 1mm to either side or any other value desired by the manufacturer. The offset could be selected at the time of manufacture by manufacturing the carriage 40 with a desired lean angle X, shown in figure 14, and relative alignment between the carriage 40 and the wheel 50. The lean angle X and relative position of the wheel 50 in the carriage leads to the offset distance, i.e. distance from axis M to axis P or axis Q.

[0048] As shown in figures 1, 4 and 13, the carriage 40 includes a number of indicators 47, 48, 49. The indicators 47, 48, 49 enable the user of the roller assembly 10 to know which orientation the carriage 50 is in within the roller assembly 10. The lower end 15 of the outer housing 11 includes a U-shaped indentation which permits the relevant indicator 47, 48, 49 to be displayed to the user. For example, figure 1 displays the first indicator 47 to a user. Removal of the carriage 40 from the housing 11 and inverting and re-inserting it will display

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either the second indicator 48 or the third indicator 49, depending on whether the carriage 40 is rotated after inversion or not.

[0049] The first indicator 47 relates to the wheel 50 being positioned within the housing 11 with no offset from the central axis M, such as shown in figure 6. In this embodiment, the indicator 47 is the digit 0, although any appropriate 2020220190

indication may be used. The indicator 47 is provided on both sides 43 of the carriage 40 at mirrored locations.

[0050] The second indicator 48 relates to the wheel being positioned within the housing 11 with an offset from the central axis in a first direction as shown in figure 8. The second indicator 48 in the present embodiment is the digit -1, but an alternative indicator could be used as desired. The mirror opposite side of the carriage 40 has the third indicator 49, which in this embodiment is the digit +1. Removal and rotation of the carriage 40 by 180 and re-insertion into the housing 11 will lead to the arrangement shown in figure 7.

[0051] In the embodiments described herein, there are three possible position offsets: a first position where the central lower point 55 of the roller wheel 50 is aligned with the central axis M; a second position where the central lower point 55 is offset from the central axis M in a first direction; and a third position where the central lower point 55 is offset from the central axis M in a second direction. It is conceived that within the scope of the present invention, embodiments are conceived where more than three orientations of the central lower point 55 are possible. For example, according to one embodiment (not shown), the carriage permits the same second and third orientations and offsets, but the first position is itself also offset from the centre by either more or less than the second and third orientations. Therefore, in that arrangement, rotation of the carriage in that conceived first position would result in an offset in the opposite direction by the same amount. Thus, in that embodiment four possible offset positions are possible.

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[0052] The preceding description relates to features of preferred embodiments of the roller assembly according to the present disclosure. It is contemplated that one or more features may be replaced with equivalent or alternative features. The invention according to the following claims in its broadest sense is not to be limited to the specific features as shown in the accompanying figures or described in the present description. 2020220190

[0053] Comprises/comprising and grammatical variations thereof when used in this specification are to be taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components or groups thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

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Claims (15)

CLAIMS:

1. An adjustable roller assembly comprising: an outer housing; and a carriage including a roller wheel, the carriage being removably 2020220190

retained within the outer housing, wherein the carriage is insertable into the outer housing in at least three orientations, each of the orientations of the carriage providing a distinct alignment of an outer end of the roller wheel relative to the outer housing, wherein the carriage is removable from one of the at least three orientations and insertable into another of the at least three orientations to facilitate adjustment of the alignment of the roller assembly.

2. The adjustable roller assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least three orientations comprise: a first orientation where an outer end of the roller wheel is oriented substantially centrally relative to the outer housing; a second orientation where the outer end of the roller wheel is oriented substantially to a first side relative to the outer housing; and a third orientation where the outer end of the roller wheel is oriented substantially to a second side opposite to the first side relative to the outer housing.

3. The adjustable roller assembly of claim 1 or 2, wherein the roller wheel is retained in the carriage at an angle to a longitudinal axis of the carriage.

4. The adjustable roller wheel assembly of claim 3, wherein a central axis of the roller wheel is at an angle of from about 80 to about 89.9 to the longitudinal axis of the carriage, preferably wherein the central axis of the roller wheel is at an angle of from about 85 to about 89 to the longitudinal axis of the carriage, more

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preferably where the central axis of the roller wheel is at an angle of about 88 to the longitudinal axis of the carriage.

5. The adjustable roller wheel assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the carriage may be rotated and/or inverted while outside of the outer housing to alternate between the orientations. 2020220190

6. The adjustable roller wheel assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the carriage includes at least one indicator to indicate to a user which orientation the carriage is in, wherein the indicator is outwardly visible to the user when the carriage is within the outer housing.

7. The adjustable roller wheel assembly of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an inner housing adapted to be retained within the outer housing.

8. The adjustable roller wheel assembly of claim 7, wherein the carriage removably connects to the inner housing to be removably retained within the outer housing.

9. The adjustable roller wheel assembly of claim 8, wherein one of the inner housing and the carriage comprises at least one connection member and the other of the inner housing and the carriage comprises at least one aperture, and wherein the connection member releasably engages with the aperture to connect the carriage to the inner housing.

10. The adjustable roller wheel assembly of any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein a protrusion of the carriage from the outer housing when in use is adjustable.

11. The adjustable roller wheel assembly of claim 10, further comprising an adjustment ramp, and the inner housing including an engagement surface,

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wherein the adjustment ramp is movable within the outer housing and adapted to engage the engagement surface to adjust the protrusion of the carriage from the outer housing when in use.

12. The adjustable roller wheel assembly of claim 11, further comprising a user operable adjustment means that is configured to control movement of the 2020220190

adjustment ramp such that a user can select a desired in use protrusion of the carriage from the outer housing.

13. The adjustable roller wheel assembly of claim 12, wherein the user operable adjustment means is a screw mechanism which is configured to translate a rotational input from the user to a lateral movement of the adjustment ramp.

14. The adjustable roller wheel assembly of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one spring member within the housing, the spring member being adapted to bias the carriage such that, when the roller wheel assembly is in use, the roller wheel is biased towards a corresponding track.

15. A system of roller assemblies for use in a sliding panel assembly, comprising a plurality of the adjustable roller wheel assemblies according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the roller wheel assemblies is mounted within a respective recess in an outer surface of a sliding panel, and wherein the roller assemblies are configured to cooperate with a corresponding track, each of the carriages of the roller assemblies being in a respective one of the orientations within its respective outer housing such that each roller wheel is aligned with the track such that the sliding panel is slidable on the track.

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