GB2482529A

GB2482529A - Self closing door assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2482529A
Application number: GB1013192.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Morley; Mark Stratford; Brian Tovey; Sean Walsh
Original assignee: QUADRACO Ltd
Current assignee: QUADRACO Ltd
Priority date: 2010-08-05
Filing date: 2010-08-05
Publication date: 2012-02-08
Also published as: GB201013192D0

Abstract

A self closing door assembly 10 for fronting a cabinet or cupboard and comprising a frame 11 having at least two sliding doors 12, 13 in sliding engagement with upper tracks 14, 16 and lower tracks (15, Fig.2), 17 arranged to hold the two sliding doors in two substantially vertical planes, the lower tracks (15, Fig.2), 17 for the two doors being inclined downwardly towards the opposite side of the frame and oppositely to each other so that the two doors 12,13 are automatically closable under gravity when released to slide downwardly along the respective lower track (15, Fig.2) or 17. The two upper tracks 14, 16 for the two doors may also be inclined so as to be substantially parallel to the two lower tracks (15, Fig.2), 17.

Description

A Display Cabinet and Front therepj

Field

This invention relates to sales display cabinets and in particular but not exclusively to point of sale display cabinets for the sales of tobacco products.

Background of the Invention

Display units are frequently used in retail outlets behind the pay counter, and in order to maxim ise the display area the shelves are as closely stacked one on another as is possible. Modern shelving, especially for display and sale of cigarettes, is typically divided into stock trays provided with spring loaded pack pushers which feed a row of packs towards the front of the tray. In this condition, the packs are easy to access for sale and when the shelves are viewed from the front, the front packs in their respective trays can be easily viewed.

In some countries, the legislature may deem that it is undesirable for cigarette packets to be on permanent view to prospective ustomers. It is therefore necessary to provide a means for easy access to the goods, allow sight of the goods for selection to the sales person and which masks the goods from view at other times.

The present invention provides a door assembly for a cabinet which is a solution to the above problem and which also has the advantage that the assembly can be retro-fitted to existing cabinets.

Statements of Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a self closing door assembly for fronting a cabinet or cupboard and comprising a frame having at least two sliding doors in sliding engagement with respective upper and lower tracks arranged to hold the two sliding doors in two substantially vertical planes, the lower tracks for the two doors being inclined downwardly towards the other side of the frame and oppositely to each other so that the two doors are automatically closable under gravity when released to slide downwardly along the respective lower track.

The closed doors mask the goods displayed within the cabinet and when pushed manually up the respective inclined track facilitate access to goods adjacent the front of the cabinet.

The two upper tracks for the two doors are also inclined so as tQ be substantially parallel to the two lower tracks. Preferably the angle of inclination of the tracks is between 1 to 50 of arc, and preferably. about 3° of arc.

The two doors are each in the form of a parallelogram having opposite vertical sides and opposite inclined sides substantially parallel to the respective upper and lower tracks. The tracks may comprise grooves which may be formed directly in the track or may be formed extruded runners which are recessed into the track.

Each door is mounted on the lower track by at least two spaced apart wheels. The lower tracks may each comprise a groove and the wheels have an outer circumferential surface formed with a larger diameter central portion which engages the respective groove and lesser diameter shoulders which engage surfaces on each side of the groove.

The upper tracks may also comprise a respective groove and upper portion of each door has at least two raised lugs thereon that engage in groove to hold the door in the respective vertical plane. The lugs may be moved vertically upward to engage the track and downwardly to release the doors from the respective track. The lugs may be resiliently biased upwardly.

The tugs and wheels may be provided in housings which are recessed into the doors.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a cabinet or cupboard having a front according to the fiist aspect of the invention.

Detailed Description of the Drawings

The Invention will be described by way of Example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is an isometric view of a self closing door assembly according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is an isometric view of the assembly with doors removed, Fig. 3 is a front view of one door of the assembly, Fig. 4 is a section through a door and upper track on the line IV--lVinFigl, Fig.5 is a section through a door and lower track on the line V-V in Fig 1.

Fig. 6 is a front view of a cabinet according to the present invention with self closing doors, and Fig. 7 is a side view of the cabinet shown in Fig. 6.

Detailed Description of the Present Invention

With reference to Figs 1 to 5, there is shown a self closing door assembly 1 0 in particular for use with a point of sale display cabinet 50 ( see Figs 6 & 7). The door assembly 10 comprising a rectangular frame 11 having at least two sliding doors 12 & 13 in sliding engagement with respective pairs upper and lower tracks 14,15 & 16,17 respectively. The two pairs of tracks 14,15 & 16,17 are arranged to hold the two sliding doors 12 & 13 in two substantially vertical planes, one door 12 being in a vertical plane off-set behind the other door 13.

The lower tracks 1 5 & 1 7 for the two sliding doors 1 2 & 1 3 are inclined downwardly towards the other side of the frame and oppositely to each other so that the two doors 1 2 & 1 3 slide in opposite directions under gravity. The two upper tracks 1 4 & 1 6 for the two doors 1 2 & 1 3 respectively, are also inclined so as to be substantially parallel to their respective lower tracks 1 5 & 1 7. The angle of inclination of the tracks may be any suitable angle to cause the doors to slide automatically under gravity when released.. A suitable angle is between 1 to 5° of arc, and preferably about 3° of arc. The tracks 14,15,16 & 17 are provided with grooves 1 8 which may. be formed directly in the track as in the upper tracks 14 & 16 or grooves 18A which may be formed in extruded runners 1 9 recessed into the respective tracks as shown for the lower tracks 15 & 17.

With reference to Fig 3 there is shown the door 13, The two doors 12 & 13 are mirror images one with the other and therefore only one door 13 will be described in detail. The two doors 12 & 13 are each in the form of parallelograms having opposite long vertical sides 21,22 and opposite short inclined top and bottom sides 23,24. The top and bottom sides 23,24 are substantially parallel to the respective upper and lower tracks 16 & 17. The doors may be formed from any suitable material such as MOF ( medium density fibreboard) which may be covered in a suitable decorative laminate.

Each door 1 2 or 1 3 is mounted on the lower track by at least two spaced apart wheels 25 spaced along the door bottom 24 and which may be rotatably mounted in a housing26 recessed into the door. The wheels 25 each have an outer circumferential surface formed with.a larger diameter central portion 27 which engages within a respective profile and lesser diameter shoulders 28 which engage in the runner 19 on each side of the groove 18A. This arrangement holds the wheel 25 clear of the bottom of the groove 18A so that the doors slide smoothly in the event that dust and dirt particles accumulate in the groove.

The doors 12 & 13 are guided for movement by a respective upper track 14 or 16. Each door has at least two raised tugs 31 spaced along the top 23 of the door and which engage in the groove 1 8 in the upper tack 1 4 or 16 to hold the door in the respective vertical plane. The tugs 18 are mounted in housings 32 which are recessed into the door and the tugs may be moved vertically upwardly to engage the track and can be moved downwardly to release the doors from the respective track.

The tugs 31 may adjusted vertically through a series of vertically spaced pre-set locations e.g spaced notches. Alternatively, the tugs may be resiliently biased upwards and may be pushed downwards against the bias to release the door from the tracking.

With reference to Figs.6 & 7, there is shown a display cabinet or cupboard 50 which may be mounted on castors 51 to facilitate movement. The cabinet may be provided with a plurality of shelving, especially for display and sale of cigarettes and which may be sub divided into stock trays provided with spring loaded pack pushers which feed a row of packs towards the front of the tray. The front of the cabinet is provided with a self-closing door assembly 1 0 in which the d.oors 1 2 & 1 3 are closed under the effect of gravity in which the doors slide in their respective tracks downwardly until arrested by the door frame 11. Each door may be opened manually by upward movement in the respective pairs of tracks to access goods on the shelves and when released slide back to the closed condition under gravity.

Claims

Claims 1. A self closing door assembly for fronting a cabinet or cupboard and comprising a frame having at least two sliding doors in sliding engagement with respective upper and lower tracks arranged to hold the two sliding doors in two substantially vertical planes, the lower tracks for the two doors being inclined downwardly towards the opposite side of the frame and oppositely to each other so that the two doors are automatically closable under gravity when released to slide downwardly along the respective lower track.
2. An assembly as claimed in Claim 1, wheren the two upper tracks for the two doors are also inclined so as to be substantially parallel to the two lower tracks.
3. An Assembly as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the angle of inclination of the tracks is between 1 to 5° of arc, and preferably about 3° of arc. ..*
4. An assembly as claimed in any one ol Claims 1 to 3, wherein the tracks are provided with grooves. . .
5. An assembly as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein the two doors are each in the form of a parallelogram having opposite vertical sides and opposite inclined sides substantially parallel to the respective upper and lower tracks.D6. An assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein each door is mounted on the lower track by at least two spaced apart wheels.7. An assembly as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the lower tracks each comprise a groove and the wheels have an outer circumferential surface formed with a lager diameter central portion which engages within the respective groove and lesser diameter shoulders which engage runners on each side of the groove.8. An assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein each of the doors is guided for movement by a respective upper track; and the upper tracks each comprise a respective groove and upper portion of each door has at least two raised lugs thereon that engage in groove to hold the door in the respective vertical plane. 20. ii9. An assembly as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the lugs are resiliently biased upwardly engage the track and can be moved downwardly against the bias to release the doors from the respective track.10. A self closing front assembly for a cabinet or cupboard and which is substantially as described herein and as shown in the accompanying drawings.11 A cabinet or cupboard having a front thereon as claimed in any one of Claims ito 10.