CN111201360B

CN111201360B - Folding door with door lock

Info

Publication number: CN111201360B
Application number: CN201780089828.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 李祯祥
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-04-24
Filing date: 2017-04-24
Publication date: 2021-07-30
Anticipated expiration: 2037-04-24
Also published as: CN111201360A; WO2018195719A1

Abstract

A folding door with a door lock includes a first plate and a second plate pivotally coupled together, the first plate including a pocket and a mounting hole intersecting the pocket, a driven member slidably mounted in the pocket and including a rack gear in the mounting hole, a first outer cover and a second outer cover mounted on the first plate having a first wall and a second wall, a driving member engaged with the rack gear rotatably disposed between the first and second plates, the folding door enhancing structural strength and reducing manufacturing costs.

Description

Folding door with door lock

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a folding door with a door lock, and more particularly, to a folding door with increased structural strength and reduced manufacturing cost.

Background

A common folding door has two door panels that can pivot relatively, and the two door panels are connected end to end when the folding door is closed, and the two door panels can overlap when the folding door is opened, so that the occupied space when the door is opened can be reduced, and the folding door is suitable for being used in a narrow space (such as a bathroom).

However, because of the problems of insufficient structural strength or material characteristics of the door panel (for example, glass doors), it is usually necessary to combine aluminum or metal frames on four sides of the door panel to reinforce the structural strength of the door panel of the folding door, which results in high manufacturing cost and complicated manufacturing process of the folding door.

In addition, some commercially available folding doors provide a locking function using a latch that is displaced into engagement with a latch hole of a door frame of the pivotally-connected folding door when the folding door is in a closed state, so that the folding door cannot be opened. However, the structure of the operating latch needs to be disposed in one of the metal frames of the door panel, which results in higher manufacturing cost and more complicated manufacturing procedure. Further, the operating lever of the operating latch is usually disposed at a position near the top end of the folding door, which is inconvenient in operation. In addition, the operating latch structure usually needs to be assembled with an additional box body into a latch structure before being further installed with the folding door, which also increases the manufacturing cost of the manufacturer. Also, in order to operate the folding door to open or close, a handle is usually disposed on each of two outer sides of the folding door, which also increases the manufacturing cost of the manufacturer.

Therefore, there is a need for a novel folding door that increases structural strength and reduces manufacturing costs.

Disclosure of Invention

In a first aspect, a folding door having a door lock includes:

a first plate including a first end and a second end spaced from each other along a first axis, and a first wall and a second wall extending between the first and second ends and spaced from each other along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, the first plate further including two first partitions extending between the first and second walls and between the first and second ends, the first and second walls and the two partitions together defining a chamber, the first plate further including a mounting aperture extending from the first wall to the second wall along the second axis and intersecting the chamber, a second plate pivotally coupled to the second end of the first plate, a follower slidably received within the chamber and including a rack received within the mounting aperture, the follower being displaceable between a latched position and an unlatched position along a third axis perpendicular to the first and second axes, the driving member comprises a gear meshed with a rack of the driven member, an operating button movably combined with the driving member and positioned outside the first plate, and the operating button is rotated to cause the driving member to push the driven member to displace between an unlocking position and an unlocking position. A latch is movably coupled with the follower.

In a state where the follower is in the unlatching position, the latch is disengaged from a latch hole of a door frame to which the first and second plates are mounted, and the first and second plates are displaced to the open position relative to the door frame.

When the first and second plates are in the closed position and the follower is in the latched position, the latch is engaged with the latch hole to prevent the first and second plates from being displaced to the open position relative to the door frame.

In yet another embodiment, the folding door further comprises: an indicator movably coupled with the driving member, the indicator including an ear having a first portion and a second portion for indicating an unlatched position and an unlatched position of the latch, respectively, the first cover including an inner side surface and an outer side surface, a window extending from the inner side surface to the outer side surface of the first cover in the second axial direction, the first portion of the ear being aligned with the window in a state where the driven member is in the unlatched position, and the second portion of the ear being aligned with the window in a state where the driven member is in the latched position.

In yet another embodiment, the first cover includes an inner side surface and an outer side surface, a peripheral wall is formed on the inner side surface of the first cover and is received in the mounting hole of the first plate, the first cover further includes a partition extending in the space partitioned by the peripheral wall, the partition includes a first edge adjacent to the first wall of the first plate and a second edge adjacent to the second wall of the first plate, the first cover further includes a first opening extending from the inner side surface to the outer side surface of the first cover in the second axial direction and aligned with the partition, the second cover includes an inner end surface and an outer end surface, a second opening extending from the inner end surface to the outer end surface of the second cover in the second axial direction and aligned with the partition, the partition and the peripheral wall of the first cover partition the mounting hole into a first holding space and a second holding space, the first holding space is positioned close to the first wall of the first plate and communicated with the first opening, and the second holding space is positioned close to the second wall of the first plate and communicated with the second opening.

In yet another embodiment, the first cover further includes a first pivot hole extending from the inner side to the outer side of the first cover along the second axial direction and surrounded by the surrounding wall, the second edge of the partition part is positioned between the first pivot hole and the first edge of the partition part in the first axial direction, the second outer cover further comprises a second pivot hole extending from the inner end surface to the outer end surface of the second outer cover along the second axial direction, the driving member includes a first shaft formed on one end surface of the gear and having a non-circular cross section, the driving member further includes a second shaft formed on the other end surface of the gear, the first shaft of the driving piece is pivotally accommodated in the first pivot hole, the second shaft of the driving piece is pivotally accommodated in the second pivot hole, the indicator comprises a combination part sleeved with the first shaft, and the ear part is formed on the outer periphery of the combination part.

In yet another embodiment, the folding door further comprises: the upper guide sleeve is accommodated in the groove chamber of the first plate and is positioned above the mounting hole along the third axial direction, and the upper guide sleeve comprises an upper guide groove extending along the third axial direction; and the lower guide sleeve is accommodated in the groove chamber of the first plate and is positioned below the mounting hole along the third axial direction, the lower guide sleeve comprises a lower guide groove extending along the third axial direction, the driven piece further comprises a first section and a second section which are mutually separated along the third axial direction, and a middle section positioned between the first section and the second section, the rack is formed on the middle section, the first section and the second section of the driven piece can be slidably accommodated in the groove chamber, the first section of the driven piece can be slidably accommodated in the upper guide groove of the upper guide sleeve, and the second section of the driven piece can be slidably accommodated in the lower guide groove of the lower guide sleeve.

In yet another embodiment, the folding door further comprises: a sliding sleeve received in the slot chamber of the first plate, the first plate further including an upper end, the slot chamber extending to the upper end of the first plate along the third axial direction, the sliding sleeve being located at the upper end of the slot chamber, the sliding sleeve including a sliding slot extending along the third axial direction, and the latch being slidably received in the sliding slot of the sliding sleeve, wherein an end of the latch is located above the upper end of the first plate in a state where the driven member is located at the latched position.

In another embodiment, the first plate further includes a first frame fixed at the second end of the first plate and a first frame fixed at the first end of the first plate, the first frame includes a roller fixed at the top end, the second plate includes a first side and a second side, a second frame is fixed at the first side of the second plate and has an upper end and a lower end, a second frame is fixed at the second side of the second plate, two pivots are respectively fixed at the top end and the bottom end of the second frame for pivotally connecting with the door frame, the roller is suitable for sliding along the door frame, and the first frame and the second frame are pivotally connected together through a pivot frame.

In a second aspect, a folding door having a door lock, includes: a first plate including a first end and a second end spaced from each other in a first axial direction, the first plate further including a mounting hole extending in a second axial direction perpendicular to the first axial direction, the mounting hole being spaced apart from the first end of the first plate in the first axial direction by a distance greater than a distance separating the mounting hole from the second end of the first plate in the first axial direction, the first plate further including a slot chamber extending in a third axial direction perpendicular to the first and second axial directions and intersecting the mounting hole, a second plate pivotally coupled to the second end of the first plate, a first outer cover mounted to the first wall of the first plate and covering the mounting hole, the first outer cover further including an inner side surface and an outer side surface, a peripheral wall formed on the inner side surface of the first outer cover and received in the mounting hole of the first plate, the first outer cover further including a partition extending in a space partitioned by the peripheral wall, the partition includes a first edge adjacent to the first wall of the first plate and a second edge adjacent to the second wall of the first plate, the first cover further includes a first opening extending from the inner side surface of the first cover to the outer side surface along the second axial direction and aligned with the partition, a second cover mounted to the second wall of the first plate and covering the mounting hole, the second cover includes an inner end surface and an outer end surface, a second opening extending from the inner end surface to the outer end surface of the second cover along the second axial direction and aligned with the partition, the partition and the peripheral wall partition the mounting hole of the first cover into a first holding space and a second holding space, the first holding space is located adjacent to the first wall of the first plate and communicated with the first opening, the second holding space is located adjacent to the second wall of the first plate and communicated with the second opening, a latch slidably received in the well of the first plate, and an operating button movably coupled with the latch and located outside the plate, wherein the operating button is operated to move the latch in a third axial direction to engage with a latch hole of a door frame coupled with the folding door or move the latch to disengage from the latch hole of the door frame.

In still another embodiment, a folding door includes: a driven member slidably received in the pocket and including a rack gear received in the mounting hole, the driven member being movably coupled with the latch and displaceable with the latch in a third axial direction between a latched position and an unlatched position, a driving member rotatably received in the mounting hole between the first and second outer covers, the driving member including a gear engaged with the rack gear of the driven member, wherein rotation of the operating knob and the driving member causes displacement of the driven member with the latch between the latched position and the unlatched position, wherein the latch is disengaged from the latch hole of the doorframe in a state where the driven member is in the unlatched position, and wherein the latch is engaged with the latch hole of the doorframe in a state where the driven member is in the latched position.

In yet another embodiment, the folding door further comprises: an indicator member coupled for rotation with the drive member, the indicator member including an ear having a first portion and a second portion indicating unlatched and latched positions, respectively, the first cover further including a window extending along the second axis from the inner side surface to the outer side surface of the first cover, wherein the first portion of the ear is aligned with the window in a condition where the driven member is in the unlatched position, and wherein the second portion of the ear is aligned with the window in a condition where the driven member is in the latched position.

In still another embodiment, the first outer cover further includes a first pivot hole extending from the inner side surface to the outer side surface of the first outer cover along the second axial direction and surrounded by the surrounding wall, the second edge of the partition portion is located between the first pivot hole and the first edge of the partition portion along the first axial direction, the second outer cover further includes a second pivot hole extending from the inner end surface to the outer end surface of the second outer cover along the second axial direction, the driving member includes a first shaft having a non-circular cross-section and formed on one end surface of the gear, the driving member further includes a second shaft formed on the other end surface of the gear, the first shaft of the driving member is pivotally received in the first pivot hole, and the second shaft of the driving member is pivotally received in the second pivot hole.

In yet another embodiment, the folding door further comprises: a sliding sleeve received in the slot chamber of the first plate, the first plate further including an upper end, the slot chamber extending to the upper end of the first plate along the third axial direction, the sliding sleeve being located at the upper end of the slot chamber, the sliding sleeve including a sliding groove extending along the third axial direction, and the latch being slidably received in the sliding groove of the sliding sleeve, wherein an end of the latch is located above the upper end of the first plate in a state where the follower is located at the latched position.

In a third aspect, a folding door having a door lock, includes: a first plate including a first end and a second end spaced apart from each other in a first axial direction, and a first wall and a second wall spaced apart from each other in a second axial direction perpendicular to the first axial direction and extending between the first and second ends, the first plate further including a mounting hole extending from the first wall to the second wall in the second axial direction, and the first plate further including a pocket extending in a third axial direction perpendicular to the first and second axial directions and intersecting the mounting hole, a second plate pivotably coupled to the first plate, the second plate including a first side and a second side spaced apart from each other in the first axial direction, the second end of the first plate being pivotably coupled to the first side of the second plate to form a left-hand door, or the first end of the first plate being pivotably coupled to the second side of the second plate to form a right-hand door, a first cover mounted to the first wall of the first plate and covering the mounting hole, the first outer cover comprises an inner side face and an outer side face which are mutually separated along the second axial direction, the first outer cover further comprises two pin rods which are formed on the inner side face of the first outer cover, the two pin rods are mutually separated along the third axial direction, the inner side face of the first outer cover faces to the first wall of the first plate, the two pin rods are accommodated in the installation hole, the second outer cover is installed on the second wall of the first plate and covers the installation hole, the driven piece is slidably accommodated in the groove chamber and comprises a first wall face, a first edge and a second edge which are positioned on two sides of the first wall face and mutually separated along the second axial direction, the two first tracks are arranged on the first edge of the driven piece and mutually separated along the third axial direction, each first track comprises a first end and a second end which is positioned below the first end along the third axial direction, the two second tracks are arranged on the second edge of the driven piece and mutually separated along the third axial direction, each second track comprises a top end and a bottom end which is positioned below the top end along the third axial direction, the first end of each first track is positioned between the top end and the bottom end of the corresponding second track, the second end of each first track is respectively aligned with the bottom end of the corresponding second track, a rack is formed on the first wall surface, a driving piece is rotatably accommodated in the mounting hole and positioned between the first outer cover and the second outer cover, the driving piece comprises a gear meshed with the rack of the driven piece, and an operating button is movably combined with the driving piece and positioned outside the first plate together, and the driving piece is pivoted by rotating the operating button to enable the driven piece to move between an upper latching position and a unlatching position; a latch movably coupled with the follower member together with the follower member.

When the first and second plates are assembled into a left-hand folding door, the first edge of the driven piece faces the inner side surface of the first outer cover, the two pin rods are respectively and slidably accommodated in the two first tracks, when the driven piece is positioned at the unlocking position, the two pin rods are positioned at the first ends of the two first tracks, and when the driven piece is positioned at the unlocking position, the two pin rods are positioned at the second ends of the two first tracks.

Under the state that first and second board equipment are right-hand folding door, the second limit of follower is towards the medial surface of first enclosing cover, and two pin levers are held respectively in two second tracks moreover, wherein under the state that the follower is located the position of unblanking, two pin levers are located two orbital tops respectively to and under the state that the follower is located the position of latching, two pin levers are located two orbital bottoms respectively.

Wherein the latch is disengaged from a latch hole provided in a door frame coupled to the folding door in a state where the follower is located at the unlatching position, and the latch is engaged with the latch hole of the door frame in a state where the follower is located at the latching position.

In yet another embodiment, the folding door further comprises: an indicator movably coupled with the driving member, the indicator including an ear having a first portion and a second portion respectively indicating unlatched and latched positions of the latch, the first cover further including a window extending along the second axis from the inner side surface to the outer side surface of the first cover, the first portion of the ear being aligned with the window in a state where the driven member is in the unlatched position, and the second portion of the ear being aligned with the window in a state where the driven member is in the latched position.

In yet another embodiment, a peripheral wall is formed on the inner side of the first cover and received in the mounting hole of the first plate, the first cover further includes a partition extending in the space partitioned by the peripheral wall, the partition includes a first edge adjacent to the first wall of the first plate and a second edge adjacent to the second wall of the first plate, the first cover further includes a first opening extending from the inner side to the outer side of the first plate in the second axial direction and aligned with the partition, the second cover includes an inner end surface and an outer end surface, a second opening extending from the inner end surface to the outer end surface of the second cover in the second axial direction and aligned with the partition, the partition and the peripheral wall of the first cover partition the mounting hole into a first holding space and a second holding space, the first holding space is located adjacent to the first wall of the first plate and communicates with the first opening, the second holding space is positioned adjacent to the second wall of the first plate and communicates with the second opening.

In yet another embodiment, the folding door further comprises: the upper guide sleeve is accommodated in the groove chamber of the first plate and is positioned above the mounting hole along the third axial direction, the upper guide sleeve comprises an upper guide groove extending along the third axial direction, and a lower guide sleeve is accommodated in the groove chamber of the first plate and is positioned below the mounting hole along the third axial direction, the lower guide sleeve comprises a lower guide groove extending along the third axial direction, the driven element further comprises a first section and a second section which are mutually separated along the third axial direction, and a middle section positioned between the first section and the second section, the rack is formed on the middle section, the first section and the second section of the driven element can be slidably accommodated in the groove chamber, the first section of the driven element can be slidably accommodated in the upper guide groove of the upper guide sleeve, and the second section of the driven element can be slidably accommodated in the lower guide groove of the lower guide sleeve.

The invention will be further apparent from the following detailed description of specific embodiments thereof, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective assembly view of the folding door of the present invention, and two door panels of the folding door are assembled into a left-hand door.

Fig. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view of the folding door of fig. 1.

Fig. 2A is a perspective view of a follower of the folding door shown in fig. 2.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating installation of the upper and lower guide sleeves, the sliding sleeve, and the first outer cover.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the installation of the follower and the link.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the installation indicator.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating installation of the driving member.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the installation of the second cover and the latch.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the installation of the operation knob and the adjustment of the latch to a position.

Fig. 9 is a front view of the folding door shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 910-10.

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 1011-11.

Fig. 12 is a view similar to fig. 11 and showing a state in which the rotary operation knob operates the follower to be displaced from the unlatching position to the latching position.

Fig. 13 is a sectional view similar to fig. 10 and showing the first and second panels in a folded condition after the folding door has been operated to open.

Fig. 14 is an exploded perspective view of the folding door assembled as a right hand door.

Fig. 15 is a front view illustrating a constituent part of the folding door of fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a longitudinal combined sectional view of fig. 14.

Fig. 17 is a view similar to fig. 16 showing a state after the operating knob has operated the follower to be displaced from the unlatching position to the latching position.

Fig. 18 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the folding door without an aluminum or metal frame.

The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating the basic teachings, and are not intended to limit the number, position, relationship, and dimensions of the components making up the illustrative embodiments to the particular embodiments shown or described, until such time as the following description is read and understood. It is also well within the skill of the art to modify the exact dimensions and dimensional proportions to conform to specific force, weight, strength, and similar requirements after the following description has been read and understood.

The same reference numbers in different drawings identify the same or similar elements; it should also be appreciated that terms such as "top," "bottom," "first," "second," "upper," "lower," "portion," "section," "circumferential," "spacing," "length," "end," "side," "horizontal," "vertical," and the like are used herein only for convenience in reference to the figure construction by the viewer and to merely aid in describing illustrative embodiments.

Detailed Description

Referring to figures 1-13, the folding door 10 of the present invention includes a first panel 20 and a second panel 177 that are assembled into a left-handed folding door, in this embodiment the first panel 20 is injection molded from plastic. The first plate 20 includes a second end 27 and a first end 25 spaced apart along a first axial direction X, and a first wall 26 and a second wall 28 extending between the first and second ends 25, 27 and spaced apart in parallel along a second axial direction Y perpendicular to the first axial direction X, the first plate 20 further includes an upper end 22 and a lower end 24 spaced apart along a third axial direction Z perpendicular to the first and second axial directions X, Y, the first plate 20 further includes two first partitions 30 extending between the first and

second walls

26, 28 and between the first and second ends 25, 27, the first and

second walls

26, 28 and the two first partitions 30 collectively defining a slot chamber 32, the first plate 20 further includes a plurality of second partitions 31 located outside the slot chamber 32 and extending perpendicularly between the first and

second walls

26, 28, the first plate 20 also includes a mounting hole 34 extending from the first wall 26 to the second wall 28 along the second axial direction Y and communicating with the slot chamber 32, four through holes 35 are located outside the mounting holes 34, each through hole 35 extending from the first wall 26 to the second wall 28 in the second axial direction Y.

The folding door 10 further includes a door lock 12 mounted to the first plate 20, the door lock 12 including a sliding sleeve 36 mounted within the pocket 32 of the first plate 20, an upper guide sleeve 38, and a lower guide sleeve 42, wherein the sliding sleeve 36 includes a sliding slot 36A extending along the third axis Z, the upper guide sleeve 38 includes an upper guide slot 40 extending along the third axis Z, and the lower guide sleeve 42 includes a lower guide slot 44 extending along the third axis Z. When the door lock 12 is installed, the lower guide sleeve 42 is first fixed in the slot chamber 32 below the installation hole 34, the upper guide sleeve 38 is fixed in the slot chamber 32 above the installation hole 34, and the sliding sleeve 36 is fixed in the slot chamber 32 at the upper end 22 of the first plate 20, such that the sliding sleeve 36, the upper guide sleeve 38, and the lower guide sleeve 42 are aligned along the third axis Z (as shown in fig. 3).

Door lock 12 further includes a first outer cover 70 secured to first wall 26 of first plate 20, first outer cover 70 including an inner side 72 and an outer side 74 spaced apart along second axial direction Y, and a first opening 76, a first pivot hole 78 and a window 92 extending from inner side 72 to outer side 74 of first outer cover 70 along second axial direction Y, a peripheral wall 80 formed on inner side 72 of first outer cover 70 and located around the outer peripheries of first opening 76, first pivot hole 78 and window 92, peripheral wall 80 including a distal end 82 and a first notch 80A and a second notch 80B located below first notch 80A, first outer cover 70 further including a divider 84 extending within the space divided by peripheral wall 80 and aligned with first opening 76, divider 84 including a first edge 86 extending to first opening 76 and a second edge 88 spaced from first opening 76 along second axial direction Y, second edge 88 is substantially aligned with end 82 of peripheral wall 80, first edge 86 and second edge 88 are spaced apart from each other along first axis X, first edge 86 is adjacent first wall 26 of first panel 20 and second edge 88 is adjacent second wall 28 of first panel 20, four pegs 94 corresponding to four perforations 35 of first panel 20 are formed on inner side 72 and are located outside of peripheral wall 80, and first outer cover 70 further includes two pin members 90 formed on inner side 72 and aligned with first and second notches 80A, 80B.

After the sliding sleeve 36, the upper guide sleeve 38 and the lower guide sleeve 42 are installed, the first outer cover 70 is further installed, in detail, the inner side surface 72 of the first outer cover 70 abuts against the first wall 26 of the first plate 20 and the peripheral wall 80 is received in the installation hole 34, the end 82 of the peripheral wall 80 is substantially aligned with the second wall 28 of the first plate 20, the second edge 88 is close to the second wall 28 of the first plate 20, the first and

second notches

80A and 80B are aligned with the slot chamber 32 of the first plate 20 (as shown in fig. 3), and the posts 94 are respectively received in the corresponding one of the through holes 35, so that the first outer cover 70 is not allowed to rotate relative to the first plate 20.

The door latch 12 further includes a follower 46 slidably received in the pocket 32 of the first plate 20, the follower 46 including a first section 48 and a second section 50 spaced apart along the third axis Z, and an intermediate section 52 extending between the first and

second sections

48, 50, the intermediate section 52 of the follower 46 including a first wall 54, a second wall 56 facing the first wall 54, and a first edge 56A and a second edge 56B disposed on opposite sides of the first wall 54 and spaced apart in parallel along the second axis Y.

Two first rails 59 are disposed on the first side 56A and spaced apart along the third axial direction Z, and an upper one of the two first rails 59 is located between the first section 48 and a lower one of the two first rails 59, and each first rail 59 includes a first end 59A and a second end 59B located below the first end 59A along the third axial direction Z.

Two second tracks 60 are formed on the second edge 56B of the follower 46 and are spaced apart from each other along the third axis Z, an upper one of the two second tracks 60 being located between the first section 48 and a lower one of the two second tracks 60, each second track 60 including a top end 60A and a bottom end 60B located below the top end 60A along the third axis Z.

The first end 59A of each first rail 59 is located between the top end 60A and the bottom end 60B of the corresponding second rail 60, and the second end 59B of each first rail 59 is aligned with the bottom end 60B of the corresponding second rail 60, that is, the lengths of the two first rails 59 in the third axial direction Z are equal, the lengths of the two second rails 60 in the third axial direction Z are equal, and the lengths of the two first rails 59 in the third axial direction Z are smaller than the lengths of the two second rails 60 in the third axial direction Z.

In addition, a rack 58 is formed on the first wall 54 and includes a plurality of teeth, in this embodiment the rack 58 is located between the upper first and

second rails

59, 60 and the lower first and

second rails

59, 60.

After the first cover 70 is installed, the follower 46 is further installed, that is, the follower 46 is slidably received in the slot chamber 32 of the first plate 20, the first edge 56A of the follower 46 faces the first cover 70, the follower 46 extends through the upper and second notches 80A, 80B of the first cover 70, the first section 48 of the follower 46 is slidably received in the upper guide slot 40 of the upper guide sleeve 38, the second section 50 of the follower 46 is slidably received in the lower guide slot 44 of the lower guide sleeve 42, the two pins 90 are respectively received in a corresponding first track 59, the upper and lower guide sleeves 38, 42 support the follower 46 for displacement along the third axis Z, the two pins 90 limit the displacement of the follower 46 only within the length range of the first track 59 along the third axis Z between the unlatching position (as shown in fig. 11) and the latching position (as shown in fig. 12), the rack 58 is generally positioned within the mounting aperture 34 whether the follower 46 is in the latched position or the unlatched position, and the follower 46 is held in the unlatched position during actual assembly, i.e., each pin 90 is positioned within the first end 59A of the corresponding first track 59 during assembly of the follower 46 (as shown in fig. 4 and 11).

After the follower 46 is installed, a connecting rod 62 is sleeved with the follower 46, so that the follower 46 and the connecting rod 62 are displaced together in the third axial direction Z between the latched position and the unlatched position, the connecting rod 62 comprises a first combining end 64 and a second combining end 66 separated from the first combining end 64, the connecting rod 62 is accommodated in the slot chamber 32 of the first plate 20, the second combining end 66 of the connecting rod 62 is sleeved with the first section 48 of the follower 46, and the first combining end 64 of the connecting rod 62 is positioned outside the upper end 22 of the first plate 20 (as shown in fig. 4).

The door lock 12 further includes an indicator 117 received in the mounting hole 34, the indicator 117 includes an annular coupling portion 119, the coupling portion 119 has a non-circular hole at the center thereof, an ear 131 is formed at the outer periphery of the coupling portion 119 and is curved, the ear 131 has a first portion 133 and a second portion 135 spaced apart along the circumferential direction of the coupling portion 119, and the first and

second portions

133, 135 of the ear 131 are respectively used for indicating the unlocking and latching positions of the follower 46.

After the linkage rod 62 is assembled, the indicator 117 is further assembled, the engagement portion 119 of the indicator 117 abuts the inner side 72 of the first cover 70 and the non-circular aperture of the indicator 117 is aligned with the first pivot aperture 78, the ear 131 extends into the gap between the follower 46 and the inner side 72 of the first cover 70, and the first portion 133 of the ear 131 of the indicator 117 is aligned with the window 92 of the first cover 70 to indicate that the follower 46 is in the unlatched position (as shown in fig. 5).

The door lock 12 includes an actuating member 96 pivotally coupled to the first cover 70, the actuating member 96 having a gear 98, and a first shaft 111 and a second shaft 113 respectively formed on both end surfaces of the gear 98, the first shaft 111 having a non-circular cross-section corresponding to a non-circular hole of an indicator 117, a driving hole 115 formed on an end surface of the second shaft 113, the driving hole 115 having a non-circular cross-section.

After the indicator 117 is assembled, the driving member 96 is further assembled, specifically, the first shaft 111 of the driving member 96 is sleeved with the connecting portion 119 of the indicator 117 and pivotally connected to the first pivot hole 78 of the first cover 70, and the gear 98 is engaged with the rack 58 of the driven member 46, so that the driving member 96 rotates to push the driven member 46 to move between the unlatching position (the first portion 133 of the indicator 117 is aligned with the window 92 of the first cover 70) and the latching position (the second portion 135 of the indicator 117 is aligned with the window 92 of the first cover 70), and it is noted that the driven member 46 needs to be maintained at the unlatching position during assembly. In addition, a retaining ring 171 (shown in FIG. 6) is disposed on the second shaft 113.

The door lock 12 further includes a second outer cover 137, the second outer cover 137 includes an inner end surface 139 and an outer end surface 151 parallel to and opposite to the inner end surface 139, and a second opening 153 and a second pivot hole 155 extend from the inner end surface 139 to the outer end surface 151 of the second outer cover 137.

The second cover 137 is assembled after the driving member 96 is assembled, in detail, the second cover 137 is abutted against the second wall 28 of the first plate 20, the second opening 153 is aligned with the partition 84, the driving member 96 is pivoted with the second shaft 113 and the second pivot hole 155 of the second cover 137, the retaining ring 171 is abutted against the inner end surface 139 of the second cover 137 and is locked with the corresponding peg 94 through the second cover 137 by a plurality of screws (as shown in fig. 7), so that the driving member 96 is supported and pivoted between the first and second covers 70, 137, further, the second edge 88 of the partition 84 is abutted against the inner end surface 139 of the second cover 137, the partition 84 of the first cover 70 and the surrounding wall 80 are separated in the mounting hole 34 by a first holding space 156 and a second holding space 158 (as shown in fig. 10), the first holding space 156 is located adjacent to the first wall 26 of the first plate 20 and is communicated with the first opening 76, the second gripping space 158 is located adjacent the second wall 28 of the first panel 20 and communicates with the second opening 153.

Door lock 12 further includes a latch 68 received by link 62, latch 68 includes a positioning mark 69 formed on an outer surface thereof, positioning mark 69 may be a groove or a rib, and in this embodiment, positioning mark 69 is a groove formed on an outer surface of latch 68.

After the second cover 137 is assembled, the latch 68 is further assembled, in detail, the latch 68 is received in the slot chamber 32 and located at the upper end 22 of the first plate 20, the latch 68 is sleeved on the first combining end 64 of the connecting rod 63, when the latch 68 is installed, the follower 46 is required to be kept at the unlocking position, the latch 68 is displaced along the third axial direction Z, so that the positioning mark 69 of the latch 68 is substantially aligned with the upper end 22 of the first plate 20, and thus, the first combining end 64 of a part of the connecting rod 62 penetrates through the outer side (as shown in fig. 7) of the latch 68 and is cut off, so that the first combining end 64 is substantially aligned with the upper end surface (as shown in fig. 8) of the latch 68. As such, when the driver 96 is rotated, the latch 68 is displaced with the follower 46 between the unlatched position (shown in fig. 12) and the unlatched position (shown in fig. 11).

The door latch 12 further includes an operating knob 157 having an actuating rod 159 with a cross-sectional shape conforming to the actuating hole 115 of the actuating member 96. In detail, the driving rod 159 of the operating button 157 is sleeved with the driving hole 115 of the driving member 96, and the operating button 157 is located outside the outer end surface 151 of the second outer cover 137, and the operating button 157 is operated to drive the driving member 96 to pivot, so that the handle held by the hand of the operating button 157 is in a vertical state because the driven member 46 is kept at the unlocking position.

After the door lock 12 is installed, a first frame 173 and a first outer frame 192 may be further installed, the first frame 173 including a connecting edge 175 adjacent to the first wall 28 of the first plate 20, the first frame 173 being fixed to the second end 27 of the first plate 20. The first frame 192 is fixed to the first end 25 of the first plate 20, and a roller 193 is fixed to a top end of the first frame 192.

Folding door 10 further includes a second plate 177, in this embodiment second plate 177 is injection molded from plastic, second plate 177 includes a first side 179 and a second side 191, and two sidewalls 177A extending between first and

second sides

179, 191, second plate 177 further includes a plurality of transverse plates 180 extending between inner surfaces of two sidewalls 177A and spaced apart in parallel.

A second frame 176 is mounted on the first side 179 of the second plate 177, the second frame 176 includes a connecting edge 178 near one of the sidewalls 177A of the second plate 177, a second outer frame 194 is fixed on the second side 191 of the second plate 177, and two pivots 195 are respectively fixed on the top and bottom ends of the second frame 176 for pivotally connecting with a door frame 197.

A pivoting frame 196 is installed between the first and

second rims

173 and 176 to pivotally connect the first and

second plates

20 and 177, and the pivoting frame 196 includes a first pivoting portion 199 pivotally connected to the connecting edge 175 of the first rim 173 and a second pivoting portion 211 pivotally connected to the connecting edge 178 of the second rim 176.

The folding door 10 is mounted inside a door frame 197 secured to the walls of the passageway, the door frame 197 including an upper track beam 197A having a latch opening 198, a pivot 195 pivotally mounted to one side of the door frame 197, and rollers 193 adapted to be slidably received in the upper track guide 197A such that the second plate 177 is pivotable about a pivot axis defined by the center line of the pivot 195, and pivoting the second plate 177 pulls the first plate 20 along with it until the end surfaces of the first and

second plates

20, 177 are aligned (closed state) or until the first and

second plates

20, 177 are folded (open state).

Having described the basic construction of the folding door 10, the operation of the folding door 10, some of its advantages, may be stated and appreciated. For convenience of illustration, it is assumed that the end surfaces of the first and

second panels

20, 177 are aligned with each other (closed state) and the follower 46 is in the unlatched position (shown in fig. 11) such that the latch 68 is aligned with the latch aperture 198 but not engaged with the latch aperture 198, i.e., the folding door 10 is in the unlatched state, allowing the folding door 10 to be manipulated into the overlapping open state (the first and

second panels

20, 177 are at an acute angle to each other) or the fully open state. In detail, a user's hand may penetrate into the first or second holding spaces 156 and 158 (depending on whether the user is located inside or outside the folding door 10), and if the user's hand penetrates into the first holding space 156, the user may push the first cover 70 to pivot the first and

second plates

20 and 177 to open the folding door 10. On the other hand, if the user's hand penetrates the second holding space 158, the user pulls the second outer cover 137 to rotate the first and

second plates

20 and 177 to open the folding door 10. In addition, the first portion 133 of the indicator 117 is aligned with the window 92 of the first outer cover 70 to show that the folding door 10 is in the unlocked state, wherein the grip of the operation knob 157 is substantially vertical.

The operating button 157 can be operated (e.g., counterclockwise as viewed in fig. 12) to cause the follower 46 and the latch 68 to be displaced from the unlatched position to the latched position, in detail, the driving member 96 is pivoted and the gear 98 pushes the follower 46 to be displaced from the unlatched position to the latched position, and the latch 68 is moved to penetrate into the latch hole 198, and in the case that the follower 46 is located at the latched position, the two pins 90 of the first outer cover 70 are respectively located at the second ends 59B of the two first rails 59, and the latch 68 is engaged with the latch hole 198, further resulting in that the first plate 20 cannot be pivoted, and thus the second plate 177 cannot be pivoted, so that the first and

second plates

20 and 177 of the folding door 10 are fixed in the closed state with the end surfaces aligned with the end surfaces. In addition, in the state where the follower 46 is in the latched position, the second portion 135 of the indicator 117 is aligned with the window 92 of the second outer cover 137, and it is displayed to the user that the folding door 10 is in the locked state and the grip of the operation knob 157 is substantially horizontal.

Operating button 157 can be moved back to the vertical position to displace follower 46 and latch 68 to the unlatched position, and latch 68 disengages from latch opening 198 to unlatch folding door 10, allowing first plate 20 and second plate 177 to pivot to the open position.

The first plate 20 utilizes the two first partitions 30 to cooperate with the first and

second walls

26, 28 to define the slot chamber 32 for accommodating the driven member 46 and the latch 68, and further cooperates with the first and second outer covers 70, 137 to support the driving member 96 and the indicating member 117, so that no additional housing is required for accommodating the driven member 46, the latch 68, the driving member 96 and the indicating member 117, thereby effectively reducing the manufacturing cost of the foldable door 10.

The partition 84 of the first outer cover 70 and the second outer cover 137 respectively partition a first holding space 156 on the side of the first plate 20 close to the first wall 26 and a second holding space 158 on the side of the second wall 28 close to the first plate 20, and the first and second holding

spaces

156 and 158 allow a user to operate the folding door 10 to open or close, so that the manufacturing cost of an additional handle of the folding door can be reduced.

In the drawings of fig. 1 to 13, assuming a state in which the left side (second side 191) of the folding door 10 is pivotally connected to the door frame 197 and the folding door 10 can be opened by the first end 25 of the first plate 20, in this case, the mounting hole 34, each of the through holes 35 and the pocket 32 are spaced from the second end 27 of the first plate 20 in the first axial direction X by a shorter distance than the first end 25 of the first plate 20 in the first axial direction X, and further, considering the assembling direction of the first outer cover 70 and the second outer cover 137, the folding door 10 is assembled into a left-hand door suitable for left-hand operation (as shown in fig. 10, the user's left hand is inserted into the first or second holding

space

156, 158 to hold the first or second outer cover 70, 137).

Referring to fig. 14 to 17, in this embodiment, the mounting holes 34, the through holes 35 and the slot chambers 32 are disposed to be spaced apart from the first end 25 of the first plate 20 in the first axial direction X by a longer distance than the mounting holes 34, the through holes 35 and the slot chambers 32 are spaced apart from the second end 27 of the first plate 20 in the first axial direction X, and the folding door 10 is assembled into a right-hand door (as shown in fig. 14) by adjusting the assembling direction of the first and second outer covers 70 and 137 (pivoting by 180 ° in the second axial direction Y), in which case the first outer frame 192 is combined with the second end 27 of the first door 20, the first frame 173 is combined with the first end 25 of the first door 20, the second outer frame 194 is combined with the first side 179 of the second plate 177, the second frame 176 is combined with the second side 191 of the second plate 177, and the pivoting frame 196 is pivoted between the first and

second frames

173 and 176 using the pivoting frame 196.

In the case of assembling the right-hand door, if it is necessary to mount the first cover 70 to the first wall 26 of the first plate 20 and the second cover 137 to the second wall 28 of the first plate 20, the first cover 70 is rotated by 180 ° about the second axial direction Y, thus, the first notch 80A of the first outer cover 70 is positioned below the second notch 80B along the third axis Z, and similarly, the second outer cover 137 is rotated 180 about the second axis Y, the follower 46 needs to be assembled with the second side 56B facing the first cover 70, so that the rack 58 can engage the gear 98 of the driver 96, the two pins 90 of the first cover 70 are thus received in the two second tracks 60, respectively, and in the state in which the follower 46 is in the unlatched position, two pins 90 are located at the top ends 60A of the two second rails 60 (as shown in figure 16), in the state where the follower 46 is in the latched position, the two pin levers 90 are respectively located at the bottom ends 60B of the two second rails 60.

Referring to fig. 18, since the first and

second plates

20 and 177 have sufficient structural strength to form the folding door 10 without the first and

second rims

173 and 176 and the first and second

outer frames

192 and 194, in detail, in the case where the first and

second plates

20 and 177 do not have aluminum side frames, a first coupling groove 27A extending in the third axial direction Z is provided at an end surface of the second end 27 of the first plate 20, and a second coupling groove 179A is provided at the first side 179 of the second plate 177. The coupling member 213 for coupling the first and

second plates

20 and 177 includes a flexible first coupling leg 215 coupled to the first coupling groove 27A and a flexible second coupling leg 217 coupled to the second coupling groove 179A, in addition, the roller 193 is fixed to the first plate 20, and two pivot shafts 195 are respectively fixed to the upper end and the lower end of the second plate 177 and are close to the second side 191 of the second plate 177, so that the first and

second plates

20 and 177 pivot with respect to each other by the flexibility of the first or

second coupling legs

215 and 217.

The first and

second panels

20 and 177 of the folding door 10 are formed by injection molding of plastic material, the two first partitions 30 and the plurality of second partitions 31 make the first panel 20 have sufficient structural strength, and the two side walls 177A of the second panel 177 form the plurality of parallel and spaced transverse plates 180, so that the second panel 177 also has sufficient structural strength, and therefore, it is not always necessary to install aluminum frames (such as the first frame 173 and the second frame 176) for reinforcing the structural strength, thereby saving the manufacturing cost of manufacturers.

The length of each first track 59 of follower 46 is not equal to the length of each second track 60, and the second end 59B of each first track 59 is aligned with the bottom end 60B of each second track 60, so that door lock 12 can be correctly installed on folding door 10 and provide complete and identical functions, regardless of whether folding door 10 is assembled into a left-handed folding door or a right-handed folding door, and further, the cost of stockpiling parts by the operator can be effectively reduced.

In addition, the first and second holding

spaces

156 and 158 for the user to open or close the foldable door 10 are defined by the first and second covers 70 and 137 and the mounting hole 34 of the first plate 20, which results in no protruding handle on the surface of the first or

second wall

26 and 28 of the first plate 20, so that the first and

second plates

20 and 177 form a relatively small acute angle (as shown in fig. 13) after being folded, so that a larger opening for the user to get in and out can be obtained after the foldable door 10 is opened.

While the basic teachings of the present invention have been described, numerous extensions and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the folding door 10 may not include the sliding sleeve 36, the upper guide sleeve 38, and the lower guide sleeve 42, such that the first and

second sections

48, 50 of the follower 46 may be designed to be slightly smaller than the slot chamber 32 of the first plate 20, and the latch 68 may be designed to be slightly smaller than the slot chamber 32 without affecting the movement of the follower 46 and the latch 68 in the third axis direction Z in the slot chamber 32.

As the present invention disclosed in the specification may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or general characteristics thereof, and it is noted that some of these specific forms have been set forth, the embodiments disclosed in the specification should be considered as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims, rather than the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

1. A folding door having a door lock, comprising:

a first plate including a first end and a second end spaced apart from each other along a first axial direction, and a first wall and a second wall extending between the first and second ends and spaced apart from each other along a second axial direction perpendicular to the first axial direction, the first plate further including two first partitions extending between the first and second walls and located between the first and second ends, the first and second walls and the two partitions collectively defining a slot chamber, the first plate further including a mounting hole extending from the first wall to the second wall along the second axial direction and intersecting the slot chamber;

a second plate pivotally coupled to the second end of the first plate;

a follower slidably received in the pocket and including a rack received in the mounting hole, the follower being displaceable between a latched position and an unlatched position in a third axis perpendicular to the first and second axes;

a first cover installed on the first wall of the first plate and covering the installation hole;

a second cover installed on the second wall of the first plate and covering the installation hole;

the driving piece is rotatably accommodated in the mounting hole and is positioned between the first outer cover and the second outer cover, and the driving piece comprises a gear meshed with the rack;

an operating knob movably coupled with the driving member and located outside the first plate, wherein rotating the operating knob causes the driving member to pivot to push the driven member to displace between the latched position and the unlatched position; and

a latch movably coupled with the follower;

in a state where the follower is in the unlatching position, the latch is disengaged from a latch hole of a door frame to which the first and second plates are mounted, and allows the first and second plates to be displaced to the open position with respect to the door frame, and

when the first and second plates are at the closing position and the follower is at the latching position, the latch is engaged with the latch hole to prevent the first and second plates from moving to the opening position relative to the door frame.

2. The folding door with door lock of claim 1, further comprising:

an indicator movably coupled to the driving member, the indicator including an ear having a first portion and a second portion for indicating an unlatched position and an unlatched position of the latch, respectively, the first cover further including an inner side and an outer side, the window extending from the inner side to the outer side of the first cover along the second axial direction;

with the follower in the unlatched position, the first portion of the ear is aligned with the window, an

The second portion of the ear is aligned with the window with the follower in the latched position.

3. The folding door with door lock of claim 2, wherein said first cover further includes an inner side and an outer side, a peripheral wall formed on the inner side of the first cover and received within the mounting aperture of the first panel, said first cover further includes a divider extending within the space divided by the peripheral wall, said divider including a first edge adjacent the first wall of the first panel and a second edge adjacent the second wall of the first panel, said first cover further including a first opening extending from the inner side to the outer side of the first cover in the second axial direction and aligned with the divider, said second cover including an inner end and an outer end, a second opening extending from the inner end to the outer end of the second cover in the second axial direction and aligned with the divider, said divider and peripheral wall of said first cover dividing the mounting aperture into a first gripping space and a second gripping space, the first holding space is positioned close to the first wall of the first plate and communicated with the first opening, and the second holding space is positioned close to the second wall of the first plate and communicated with the second opening.

4. The folding door with door lock according to claim 3, wherein the first outer cover further includes a first pivot hole extending from the inner side surface to the outer side surface of the first outer cover in the second axial direction and surrounded by the surrounding wall, the second edge of the partition is located between the first pivot hole and the first edge of the partition in the first axial direction, the second outer cover further includes a second pivot hole extending from the inner end surface to the outer end surface of the second outer cover in the second axial direction, the driving member includes a first shaft formed at one end surface of the gear and having a non-circular cross-section, the driving member further includes a second shaft formed at the other end surface of the gear, the first shaft of the driving member is pivotably received in the first pivot hole, the second shaft of the driving member is pivotably received in the second pivot hole, the indicating member includes a coupling portion to be coupled to the first shaft, the ear part is formed on the outer periphery of the combining part.

5. The folding door with door lock of claim 1, further comprising:

the upper guide sleeve is accommodated in the groove chamber of the first plate and is positioned above the mounting hole along the third axial direction, and the upper guide sleeve comprises an upper guide groove extending along the third axial direction; and

a lower guide sleeve which is accommodated in the groove chamber of the first plate and is positioned below the mounting hole along the third axial direction, the lower guide sleeve comprises a lower guide groove extending along the third axial direction,

the driven member further includes a first section and a second section spaced apart from each other in a third axial direction, and an intermediate section between the first and second sections, the rack being formed on the intermediate section, the first and second sections of the driven member being slidably received in the chamber, the first section of the driven member being slidably received in the upper guide groove of the upper guide sleeve, and the second section of the driven member being slidably received in the lower guide groove of the lower guide sleeve.

6. The folding door with door lock of claim 1, further comprising:

a sliding sleeve received in the slot chamber of the first plate, the first plate further including an upper end, the slot chamber extending to the upper end of the first plate along the third axial direction, the sliding sleeve being located at the upper end of the slot chamber, the sliding sleeve including a sliding slot extending along the third axial direction, and the latch being slidably received in the sliding slot of the sliding sleeve, wherein an end of the latch is located above the upper end of the first plate in a state where the driven member is located at the latched position.

7. The folding door with door lock of claim 1, wherein the first plate further includes a first frame fixed to the second end of the first plate and a first frame fixed to the first end of the first plate, the first frame including a roller fixed to the top end, the second plate including a first side and a second side, a second frame fixed to the first side of the second plate and having upper and lower ends, a second frame fixed to the second side of the second plate, two pivots fixed to the top and bottom ends of the second frame respectively for pivotally coupling with the door frame, the roller adapted to slide along the door frame, and the first and second frames pivotally coupled together by a pivot frame.

8. A folding door having a door lock, comprising:

a first plate including a first end and a second end spaced apart from each other along a first axial direction, the first plate further including a mounting hole extending along a second axial direction perpendicular to the first axial direction, the mounting hole being spaced apart from the first end of the first plate along the first axial direction by a distance greater than a distance separating the mounting hole from the second end of the first plate along the first axial direction, the first plate further including a pocket extending along a third axial direction perpendicular to the first and second axial directions and intersecting the mounting hole;

a second plate pivotally coupled to the second end of the first plate;

a first cover mounted on the first wall of the first plate and covering the mounting hole, the first cover further including an inner side and an outer side, a peripheral wall formed on the inner side of the first cover and received in the mounting hole of the first plate, the first cover further including a partition extending within the space partitioned by the peripheral wall, the partition including a first edge adjacent to the first wall of the first plate and a second edge adjacent to the second wall of the first plate, the first cover further including a first opening extending from the inner side of the first cover along the second axial direction to the outer side and aligned with the partition;

a second outer cover mounted on the second wall of the first plate and covering the mounting hole, the second outer cover including an inner end surface and an outer end surface, a second opening extending from the inner end surface to the outer end surface of the second outer cover along the second axial direction and aligned with the partition portion, the partition portion and the peripheral wall of the first outer cover partitioning the mounting hole into a first holding space and a second holding space, the first holding space being located close to the first wall of the first plate and communicating with the first opening, the second holding space being located close to the second wall of the first plate and communicating with the second opening;

a latch slidably received in the pocket of the first plate; and

and the operating button is movably combined with the latch and is positioned outside the first plate, and the operating button is operated to drive the latch to move along the third axial direction so as to cause the latch to be embedded into a latch hole of a door frame combined with the folding door or move so as to cause the latch to be separated from the latch hole of the door frame.

9. The folding door with door lock of claim 8, comprising:

a follower slidably received in the pocket and including a rack gear received in the mounting hole, the follower being movably coupled with the latch and displaceable with the latch in a third axial direction between a latched position and an unlatched position;

a driving member rotatably received in the mounting hole and located between the first and second outer covers, the driving member including a gear engaged with a rack of the driven member, wherein rotation of the operating knob and the driving member causes the driven member to be displaced together with the latch between a latched position and an unlatched position;

wherein the latch is disengaged from the latch hole of the door frame in a state where the follower is located at the unlatching position, an

Wherein the latch is fitted to the latch hole of the door frame in a state where the follower is located at the latching position.

10. The folding door with door lock of claim 8, further comprising:

an indicator coupled to the drive member for rotation therewith, the indicator including an ear having a first portion and a second portion indicating unlatched and unlatched positions of the latch, respectively, the first cover further including a window extending from the inner side to the outer side of the first cover in the second axial direction;

wherein in a state in which the follower is in the unlatched position, the first portion of the ear is aligned with the window, an

Wherein the second portion of the ear is aligned with the window in a latched position of the follower.

11. The folding door with door lock of claim 8, wherein the first outer cover further includes a first pivot hole extending from the inner side surface to the outer side surface of the first outer cover and located inside the peripheral wall in the second axial direction, the second edge of the partition is located between the first pivot hole and the first edge of the partition in the first axial direction, the second outer cover further includes a second pivot hole extending from the inner end surface to the outer end surface of the second outer cover in the second axial direction, the driving member includes a first shaft formed at one end surface of the gear and having a non-circular cross-section, the driving member further includes a second shaft formed at the other end surface of the gear, the first shaft of the driving member is pivotally received in the first pivot hole, and the second shaft of the driving member is pivotally received in the second pivot hole.

12. The folding door with door lock of claim 8, further comprising:

a lower guide sleeve accommodated in the groove chamber of the first plate and located below the mounting hole along the third axial direction, the lower guide sleeve including a lower guide groove extending along the third axial direction,

13. The folding door with door lock of claim 8, further comprising:

a sliding sleeve received in the slot chamber of the first plate, the first plate further including an upper end, the slot chamber extending to the upper end of the first plate along the third axial direction, the sliding sleeve being located at the upper end of the slot chamber, the sliding sleeve including a sliding groove extending along the third axial direction, and the latch being slidably received in the sliding groove of the sliding sleeve, wherein an end of the latch is located above the upper end of the first plate in a state where the follower is located at the latched position.

14. A folding door having a door lock, comprising:

a first plate including a first end and a second end spaced apart from each other along a first axial direction, and a first wall and a second wall spaced apart from each other along a second axial direction perpendicular to the first axial direction and extending between the first and second ends, the first plate further including a mounting hole extending from the first wall to the second wall along the second axial direction, and the first plate further including a pocket extending along a third axial direction perpendicular to the first and second axial directions and passing through the mounting hole;

a second plate pivotally coupled to the first plate, the second plate including a first side and a second side spaced apart from each other along a first axis, a second end of the first plate pivotally coupled to the first side of the second plate to form a left-handed folding door, or the first end of the first plate pivotally coupled to the second side of the second plate to form a right-handed door;

the first outer cover is arranged on the first wall of the first plate and covers the mounting hole, the first outer cover comprises an inner side surface and an outer side surface which are mutually separated along the second axial direction, the first outer cover further comprises two pin rods which are formed on the inner side surface of the first outer cover, the two pin rods are mutually separated along the third axial direction, the inner side surface of the first outer cover faces the first wall of the first plate, and the two pin rods are accommodated in the mounting hole;

a driven member slidably received in the chamber, the driven member including a first wall surface and a first side and a second side located on both sides of the first wall surface and spaced apart from each other along a second axis, two first tracks disposed on the first side of the driven member and spaced apart from each other along a third axis, each first track including a first end and a second end located below the first end along the third axis, two second tracks disposed on the second side of the driven member and spaced apart from each other along the third axis, each second track including a top end and a bottom end located below the top end along the third axis, the first end of each first track being located between the top end and the bottom end of the corresponding second track along the third axis, and the second end of each first track being aligned with the bottom end of the corresponding second track, respectively, a rack formed by a plurality of teeth being formed on the first wall surface;

the driving part is rotatably accommodated in the mounting hole and is positioned between the first outer cover and the second outer cover, and the driving part comprises a gear meshed with the rack of the driven part;

an operating knob movably coupled with the driving member and located outside the first plate, wherein rotating the operating knob causes the driving member to pivot to displace the driven member between the latched position and the unlatched position; and

a latch movably coupled with the driven member together with the driven member,

the first edge of the driven piece faces the inner side surface of the first outer cover in a state that the first plate and the second plate are assembled into the left-hand folding door, the two pin rods are respectively and slidably accommodated in the two first tracks, the two pin rods are positioned at the first ends of the two first tracks in a state that the driven piece is positioned at an unlocking position, and the two pin rods are positioned at the second ends of the two first tracks in a state that the driven piece is positioned at an unlocking position,

when the first and second plates are assembled into a right-hand folding door, the second edge of the driven piece faces the inner side surface of the first outer cover, and the two pin rods are respectively accommodated in the two second tracks, wherein when the driven piece is positioned at the unlatching position, the two pin rods are respectively positioned at the top ends of the two second tracks, and when the driven piece is positioned at the latching position, the two pin rods are respectively positioned at the bottom ends of the two second tracks,

wherein the latch is disengaged from and engaged with a latch hole provided in a door frame of the folding door in a state where the follower is located at the unlatching position, and

15. The folding door with door lock of claim 14, further comprising:

an indicator movably coupled with the driving member, the indicator including an ear having a first portion and a second portion indicating unlatched and latched positions of the latch, respectively, the first cover further including a window extending in the second axial direction from the inner side to the outer side of the first cover;

with the follower in the unlatched position, the first portion of the ear is aligned with the window,

16. The folding door with door lock of claim 15, wherein a peripheral wall is formed on the inner side surface of the first outer cover and received in the mounting hole of the first plate, the first outer cover further includes a partition extending in the space partitioned by the peripheral wall, the partition includes a first edge adjacent to the first wall of the first plate and a second edge adjacent to the second wall of the first plate, the first outer cover further includes a first opening extending from the inner side surface to the outer side surface of the first plate in the second axial direction and aligned with the partition, the second outer cover includes an inner end surface and an outer end surface, a second opening extending from the inner end surface to the outer end surface of the second outer cover in the second axial direction and aligned with the partition, the partition and the peripheral wall of the first outer cover partition the mounting hole into a first holding space and a second holding space, the first holding space is located adjacent to the first wall of the first plate and in communication with the first opening, the second holding space is positioned adjacent to the second wall of the first plate and communicates with the second opening.

17. The folding door with door lock of claim 16, wherein the first outer cover further includes a first pivot hole extending from the inner side surface to the outer side surface of the first outer cover in the second axial direction and surrounded by the surrounding wall, the second edge of the partition is located between the first pivot hole and the first edge of the partition in the first axial direction, the second outer cover further includes a second pivot hole extending from the inner end surface to the outer end surface of the second outer cover in the second axial direction, the driving member includes a first shaft formed at one end surface of the gear and having a non-circular cross-section, the driving member further includes a second shaft formed at the other end surface of the gear, the first shaft of the driving member is pivotally received in the first pivot hole, the second shaft of the driving member is pivotally received in the second pivot hole, the indicating member includes a coupling portion to be coupled to the first shaft, the ear part is formed on the outer periphery of the combining part.

18. The folding door with door lock of claim 14, further comprising:

an upper guide sleeve accommodated in the groove chamber of the first plate and located above the mounting hole along the third axial direction, the upper guide sleeve including an upper guide groove extending along the third axial direction, and