GB2403232A

GB2403232A - Cubicle

Info

Publication number: GB2403232A
Application number: GB0315150A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Gregory; George Bocking
Original assignee: W B Bawn & Co Ltd
Current assignee: W B Bawn & Co Ltd
Priority date: 2003-06-28
Filing date: 2003-06-28
Publication date: 2004-12-29
Anticipated expiration: 2023-06-28
Also published as: GB2403232B; GB0315150D0

Abstract

The present invention provides a cubicle having two opposed doors, each having a locking mechanism. The locking mechanisms have a connection such that if one of the doors is locked, so is the other. Similarly, if one of the doors is unlocked, so is the other.

Description

CUBICLE

The present invention relates to cubicles and in particular to cubicles for use in changing rooms.

Cubicles for changing are commonly found in leisure facilities such as sports centres, gymnasiums, swimming pools, etc.. Commonly the cubicles have a single door such that when arriving at a leisure facility users will enter the cubicle in their outdoor clothing and then leave the door in the sports apparel. After they have concluded their leisure activity they will return to the cubicle in their sports apparel, change back into their outdoor clothing and leave the cubicle. One consequence of this is that facility users wearing outdoor clothing and those wearing sports apparel will be mixing in the same areas, which may be disadvantageous with regard to cleanliness and hygiene.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a cubicle comprising two opposing walls, one of the walls comprising a first door and the other wall comprising a second door, the first door comprising a first lock and the second door comprising a second lock, wherein the first lock is mechanically coupled to the second lock. Preferably, if the first lock, in use, is activated then the second lock will be activated.

Conversely, if the second lock is activated then the first lock will be activated. Preferably, the deactivation of the first lock, in use, will deactivate the second lock, and vice versa.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following Figures in which: Figure 1 shows a plan view of a schematic depiction of two cubicles according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows a first perspective view of the interior of a cubicle according to the present invention; Figure 3 shows a second perspective view of the interior of a cubicle according to the present invention; and Figure 4 shows a third perspective view of the interior of a cubicle according to the present invention.

Figure 1 shows a schematic depiction of two cubicles lOOa, lOOb according to the present invention. Each cubicle lOOa, lOOb comprises a front wall llOa, llOb and a back wall 120a, 120b, with a seat 130a, 130b being provided in each cubicle. Figure shows the seat 130a, 130b being adjacent to the front wall llOa, llOb of the cubicle but it will be understood that the seat may be adjacent to the rear wall of the cubicle. The walls are secured to the ground using fixings 160 and the end cubicle in a row of cubicles, such as cubicle lOOb will be secured using corner fixings 170. The corner fixings 170 provide the main structural support from floor to ceiling thus allowing the supporting legs 160 to be set back away from panels 140b, enabling heavy floor cleaning machinery to clean beneath the panels 140b, and the doors, without constantly banging into the legs with the machine.

Additional fixings 170 may be fixed to the side walls at periodic intervals along a row of cubicles, for example every 3m, to secure the cubicles.

When cubicles are adjacent, the front wall of one cubicle and the back wall of an adjacent cubicle will be adjacent and may be formed from the same Each cubicle has two side walls, with each side wall comprising a fixed portion 140, 145 and a door portion 150, 155. This arrangement enables a user to enter a cubicle through one door, for example door 155a, change their clothes and exit through door 150a (the path taken by the free edge of the door when opened is shown using dashed lines in Figure 1). This enables users to only wear their outdoor clothing on the external side of the cubicle and to only wear sports apparel or swim wear on the internal side of the cubicle. This enables the internal and external regions of the leisure facility to be effectively segregated and reduces the amount of dirt that is brought into the internal region of the facility.

Each of the doors is provided with a locking mechanism and the locking mechanism for both doors are interconnected, such that is the locking mechanism of one of the doors is activated, the other door will be locked as well.

Furthermore, when one door is unlocked, the other door - 4 - will be unlocked as well.

Figure 2 shows a first perspective view of the interior of a cubicle according to the present invention, showing lock 200, first vertical linkage 210, first coupling means 220, second coupling means 230 and horizontal linkage 240.

Lock 200, first coupling means 220 and second coupling means 230 are all received on the interior of wall 145 and horizontal linkage 240 passes underneath seat supports 132, the seat supports being connected to front wall 110.

The seat 130 will be connected to the seat supports 132 (see Figure 4 and text below).

Lock 200 is shown in the open position. When a user rotates lock 200 in an anti-clockwise direction, a lock projection will act to secure the door 155 in the closed position (see Figure 4 and text below). The movement of the lock 200 acts on the first coupling means 220 and the first vertical linkage 210, causing the first vertical linkage to rotate. The movement of the first vertical linkage acts on the second coupling means 230 and causes the horizontal linkage 240 to move. The horizontal linkage 240 is linked to a third coupling means (not shown) which causes a second vertical linkage (not shown) to act upon a fourth coupling means (not shown), moving a second lock (not shown) into the closed position, securing the door 150 (not shown) in a closed position. Thus, by operating one of the locks, the other lock in the cubicle is moved to the same position. - 5

This provides a further advantage in that when a user leaves a cubicle from one side, it is not possible for the door on the other side to be inadvertently left in the locked position, preventing other users from accessing the cubicle.

Figure 3 shows a second perspective view of the interior of a cubicle according to the present invention in which plate 147 has been fixed to wall 145 to protect the first vertical linkage 210, the first coupling means 220 and the second coupling means 230. A similar plate will be applied to wall 155 to protect the second vertical linkage, third coupling means and the fourth coupling means (not shown).

Figure 4 shows a third perspective view of the interior of a cubicle according to the present invention in which seat has been secured to the seat supports 132, thus obscuring the horizontal linkage 240, and the lock 200 has been moved to the closed position to hold the door 155 closed.

The coupling means may preferably be biased so as to provide a positive action when the lock 200 is moved in either direction. The doors may also be biased such that if a door is left in an open position it will be urged into the closed position. This assists the user in locking both doors without needing to close both of the doors.

It will be readily understood that the cubicles can be manufactured using conventional techniques and materials in order to meet the requirements of cubicles for use in leisure facilities, for example 12mm thick solid grade laminate materials for the wall panels, heavy duty extruded aluminium for the framework, etc. It will also be understood that the cubicle may be used in other environments other than leisure facilities, for example changing areas in industrial facilities, factories, etc..

Claims

1. A cubicle comprising two opposing walls, one of the walls comprising a first door and the other wall comprising a second door, the first door comprising a first lock and the second door comprising a second lock, wherein the first lock is mechanically coupled to the second lock.

2. A cubicle according to claim 1, wherein if the first lock, in use, is activated then the second lock will be activated.

3. A cubicle according to claim 1 or clam 2, wherein if the second lock, in use, is activated then the first lock will be activated.

4. A cubicle according to any preceding claim, wherein if the first lock, in use, is deactivated then the second lock will be deactivated.

5. A cubicle according to any preceding claim, wherein if the second lock, in use, is deactivated then the first lock will be deactivated.

6. A cubicle substantially as described hereinbefore and with reference to the Figures.