Movable or removable closures – Mounted for optional movements – Movable or removable guide
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-16
2001-01-09
Redman, Jerry (Department: 3634)
Movable or removable closures
Mounted for optional movements
Movable or removable guide
C049S141000, C049S409000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06170195
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a door and door assembly. The invention has been developed especially, but not exclusively for internal access doors for residential or commercial use and the invention is herein described in that context. However it is to be appreciated that the invention has broader application and is not limited to that particular use.
Throughout the specification the term “door” is used to describe any structure that is operable to cover an opening and includes gates, shutters covers and the like. Moreover, throughout the specification the invention is described with reference to the orientation for use in internal access doors where the plane of the door is generally vertical. This however should not be construed as limiting the invention to that orientation, as the door may be used in other orientations. Accordingly, reference to a particular orientation is to be construed to encompass these other orientations.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
In the design and construction of buildings, there is a continuing trend to maximise or increase the useable space. As a result, there is a continuing need for products which can allow savings in space, or be used in confined spaces. An aim of the present invention is to provide a door assembly which addresses this need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention provides a door assembly for use in a door frame defining an opening, the assembly including:
a door including a first generally planar panel arranged to be pivotally mounted to the door frame and movable between an open and a closed position, and a second panel which is connected to, and rotatable with, the first panel, the second panel being disposed generally parallel to, or co-planar with, the first panel, and movable thereto in the plane of the panels, such that the second panel is movable relative to the first panel between a retracted position wherein the second panel is generally laterally adjacent to the first panel, to an extended position wherein the second panel is spaced from the first panel in the direction of the plane of the panels;
a latching device operative to couple the first and second panels together so as to maintain the second panel in its retracted position;
a retaining device operable to couple the first panel to the door frame so as to retain the first panel in its closed position; and
a track assembly interconnecting the first and second panels, the door assembly being operative to cover the opening defined by the door frame when in a fully closed position where the first panel is in its closed position and the second panel is in its extended position, and to allow passage through the opening when in a fully opened position where the first panel is in its open position and the second panel is in its retracted position;
characterised in that the track assembly being operative to prevent movement of the first panel from its closed position unless the second panel is in its retracted position, the latching device, when the second panel is in its retracted position, being operative to automatically couple the first and second panels together when the first panel is moved from its closed position, the latching device including a release mechanism operative to automatically release the second panel on rotation of the first panel to its closed position, and the retaining device being operative to be released on application of manual pressure to the first panel to rotate the door from its closed position, such that the door is manually operable to be moved between As fully opened position to its fully closed position solely by sequential movement of the first panel between its open and its closed position, and movement of the second panel between its retracted and its extended position.
A main advantage of the door according to the present invention is that the space required to allow the door to swing between an open and a closed position where the door covers an opening is substantially reduced as compared to conventional hinge doors for an opening of comparable size. This advantage comes about as the door can be rotated whilst the second panel is in the retracted position and then moved to an extended position once the door has rotated to its closed position. A further advantage of the present invention is that the door is easy to use, only requiring a simple two step process to move between its fully open to its fully closed position.
The panels of the door may be of any suitable shape though in most applications it is envisaged that they will be generally planar and have a rectangular profile which includes opposite ends which are spaced apart and interconnected by opposite sides. In this arrangement. preferably the first panel is adapted to be rotatably mounted to the support structure about an axis which extends generally in the direction of the opposite sides of the first panel and preferably the second panel is moveable relative to the first panel in a direction transverse to this axis.
Typically in the above arrangement, the door includes a hinge or similar linkage which allows the door to pivot about one of its sides and in a preferred form, the sides of the first panel are generally parallel to the sides of the second panel.
In a preferred form, the release mechanism of the latching device is adapted to the operatively associated with the support structure such as door jamb or the like so as to automatically release the second panel on rotation of the first panel to a predetermined position relative to the support structure.
In one form, the latching device includes a bar which is moveable between an engaged position wherein it interconnects the first and second panels to inhibit relative movement of the panels, to a release position where the bar is remote from the second panel. Preferably the latching device further includes a biasing spring to bias the bar into its engaged position.
In one form, the retaining device includes a biasing spring clip which is operable to be released on application of manual pressure to the first panel in a direction to rotate the door about the support structure from its predetermined position. This arrangement has the advantage that it facilitates easy release and engagement of the retaining device, without the need for separate manual activation of the retaining device to release the door to enable it to be rotated.
Preferably the first and second panels are interconnected by at least one track assembly which includes a track, and a runner which is captured within the track and slidable therein. In this arrangement the track is fixed to one of the first or second panels and the runner is connected to the other of the second panels.
In a preferred form, the door includes a pair of track assemblies, a respective one disposed at each of the opposite ends of the panels.
An advantage of a preferred form of the present invention is that the door is easy to operate. In particular, the second panel is adapted to be retained in its retracted position by the latching device when the door is other than in its closed position. Furthermore when the door is moved to its closed position it is retained in that position to thereby facilitate alignment of the track on the first panel with the track located on the door frame, thereby enabling easy movement of the second panel from Its retracted to its extended position.
Furthermore by having a track assembly located at the lower end of the panels ensure, that the panels remain generally in their parallel alignment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
It will be convenient to hereinafter describe an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is to be appreciated that the particularity of this description is not to be understood as superseding the generality of the preceding broad description of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 704887 (1902-07-01), Low
patent: 4305227 (1981-12-01), Georgelin
patent: 4619074 (1986-10-01), Lueng
patent: 4635699 (1987-01-01), Kauff
Abelman ,Frayne & Schwab
Cohen Curtis A.
Redman Jerry
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