NZ517484A - An improved cubicle having foldable door and panel assembly and method of forming the cubicle - Google Patents

Abstract

A door and panel assembly adapted for use in forming an L-shaped in plan comer assembly for a creating cubicle is disclosed, wherein the door and panel assembly includes: a door and an associated panel which are joined to each other so that the door can pivot from a first position in juxtaposition with the associated panel to a second position generally at right angles to the panel with an edge of the door alongside a first edge of the panel; in use the door and associated panel are mounted at a point near to a comer of a structure in which a cubicle is to be formed, the arrangement and positioning in use of the door and the associated panel relative to the comer is such that when the door and the panel are in their first position they can rest adjacent a first wall of the structure to thereby create free space in the comer and when in their second position the door and the panel are folded to form the L-shaped assembly which with the comer form the cubicle with the panel extending out from the first wall and the door pivoted to be about at right angles to the panel with one edge adjacent the panel and the other against a second wall forming the comer to thereby form the cubicle.

Description

517484 Patents Form No. 5 Our Ref: RL802466 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 Complete After Provisional No. 517484 Filed: 27 February 2002 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION An Improved Cubicle I, WILLIAM JOHN MITCHELL, a citizen of New Zealand of Gladstone Road, Richmond, NELSON, New Zealand hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: PT0563866 100100411 1 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z. 2 5 FEB 2003 RECBIVED AN IMPROVED CUBICLE Field of the Invention The invention relates to cubicles and in particular to a method of forming a cubicle usable for a variety of purposes such as a shower enclosure or changing room and a cubicle formed from a foldaway door and panel assembly.

Background to the Invention At present there are a wide variety of door constructions available for shower cubicles. One such shower cubicle door is that described and claimed in New Zealand patent specification no. 228187 in the name of the present applicant. The shower cubicle door of specification no. 228187 overcomes disadvantages of certain shower cubicle doors and is designed for ease of access to a shower cubicle fitted with the door.

Although the invention of specification no. 228187 has advantages, it was designed for use with a footing or shower tray. Such a footing is a serious disadvantage for disabled or infirm people because of the need to step over the footing or tray in order to gain access to the shower cubicle.

Existing cubicles of the type used as changing rooms in shops are of fixed construction and to allow for their existence extra space is required and this can be an extra overhead in a retail establishment. Extra space is also required for a shower cubicle in a bathroom or ensuite. 3 An object of the present invention is to provide a method of creating a cubicle from a door and panel assembly which method saves space and a cubicle formed by the method which has a variety of uses and allows for a significant saving in space.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only.

Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a door and panel assembly adapted for use in forming an L-shaped in plan corner assembly for a creating cubicle, the door and panel assembly including: a door and an associated panel which are joined to each other so that the door can pivot from a first position in juxtaposition with the associated panel to a second position generally at right angles to the panel with an edge of the door alongside a first edge of the panel; in use the door and associated panel are mounted at a point near to a comer of a structure in which a cubicle is to be formed, the arrangement and positioning in use of the door and the associated panel relative to the corner is such that when the door and the panel are in their first position they can rest adjacent a first wall of the structure to thereby create free space in the comer and when in their second position the door and the panel are folded to form the L shaped assembly which with the comer form the cubicle with the panel extending out from the first wall and the door pivoted to be about at right angles to the panel with one edge adjacent the panel and the other against a second wail forming the corner to thereby form the cubicle.

Preferably the door and panel assembly is mounted relative to the corner structure at a point spaced from the corner about the width of the panel. 2 2 DEC 2003 RECEIVED The mounting for the door and panel assembly is preferably such that the assembly can pivot through about 180 degrees.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided an improved cubicle, the cubicle being formed from adjoining walls and a foldaway door and panel assembly which in one position is in juxtaposition with one of the adjoining walls and in its erected position has a panel section and a door which lie in juxtaposition when against the wall and are folded out to create the cubicle with the panel at rights angles to the wall and the pivotable door at about 90° to the panel and other adjoining wall.

The door and panel assembly can be formed with the door mounted relative to the panel on arms one end of each of which is positioned adjacent an end of the panel one arm at the top and one arm at the bottom of the panel, the other ends of the arms being mounted at the top centre and bottom centre respectively of the door so that the door can be rotated through about 180 degrees relative to the panel.

The end of the panel adjacent to where the arms are mounted can include a return about the width of the door, the return being provided so that the door and panel assembly form a generally compact unit.

The cubicle can be used in association with a tile or the like floor in which a drain outlet is situated or over a bath or in any position where a foldaway cubicle is required or is an advantage.

Further aspects of the invention which should be considered in all its novel aspects will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only.

Description of the Drawings An example of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a plan view of an example of foldaway door and panel assembly mounted in a corner situation as a shower unit; Figure 2 shows the shower unit of Figure 1 with the door and panel assembly folded out to be at right angles to one wall forming the corner; Figures 3, 4 and 5 show the shower unit in Figure 2 with the door progressively folded toward its opened position; Figure 6 shows the shower unit in Figures 2 to 5 with the door in its fully open position; and Figure 7 shows the shower unit in Figures 2 to 6 with the door and panel assembly moved an additional degree to show the further movement which is possible if space permits.

Description of the Preferred Example The example of the invention will be described with reference to a shower cubicle and it is to be appreciated that alternatively the invention can be used in any other situation where a cubicle is required such as in shops as a changing room.

In the example the panel and door assembly generally indicated by arrow 1 in Figure 1 is mounted in a corner of a structure between two walls 2 and 3. Figure 1 shows two positions, 1 and 1', in which the door assembly can be placed for storage and to save space. A mounting 4 for the door and panel assembly 1 allows the assembly to be pivoted through 180° from point A to point B while being able to float vertically to compensate for variations in floor height and wall levels. A support wheel 5 can be attached to the bottom of a leading edge 6 of the panel unit as shown in Figure 1. The support wheel 5 can be a rubber or the like tyred wheel and this creates a floating unit which allows for the provisions as above. A wheel 14 can be provided at leading edge 6 of the door, the wheel 14 can be self aligning so as to allow for any changes in direction of movement of the door's leading edge during opening and closing.

The assembly 1,1' has a panel 7, 7' with a double-pivoted door 8, 8' supported by appropriate arms 9 (not shown in Figure 1) which can be constructed of stainless steel. The connection between the door 8, 8' and panel 7, 7' can include a height compensating mechanism (not shown in detail) in the wall mounting 4 and can include a rubber-tyred support wheel fixed to the bottom of the door.

When the assembly is either of the positions shown in Figures 1 and 2 it allows easy access to the bathroom by a wheelchair with minimal obstruction. When required for use the panel and door assembly is moved to the position shown in Figure 2 from the storage positions shown in Figure 1. This movement can be after a person is standing or sitting at the position X in Figure 2. The person can then move the door 8 as shown in Figures 5 to 6 to create a cubicle. If necessary the door and panel assembly can be moved further, as shown in Figure 7. If need be the movement in the direction of arrow 13 in Figure 7 can be until the panel 7 is against the wall 2.

Figures 2 to 7 show the scope of movement which allows the assembly to be 7 positioned at will during creation and use of a cubicle.

In use the invention can be used in a variety of situations, not only for a shower cubicle, but as a changing room in shops in other situations where such a demountable cubicle 5 may be required. In a shower situation the floor over which the assembly is mounted may be tiled with a drain hole 10. The other wall 3 constitutes the mounting means for a shower rose 11, shower controls 12 and support handle 13 for the aged or infirm (Figure 1).

Advantages of the invention are its ease of operation, for example, in a shower situation there are no steps, upstand or sills and a tall person does not need to stoop when entering or creating the cubicle. The invention also allows for unobstructed entry to a bathroom with no fixings in the floor and allows use of a smaller space.

Where in the foregoing description particular mechanical integers have been described it is envisaged that their mechanical equivalents can be used as if they were described herein.

Thus by the invention there is provided a method of creating a cubicle from a door and 20 panel assembly which saves space and a cubicle formed by the method which has a variety of uses and allows for a significant saving in space.

Particular example of the invention has been described and it is envisaged that improvements and modifications can take place without departing from the scope of the 25 attached claims. 8

Claims (3)

Claims

1. A door and panel assembly adapted for use in forming an L-shaped in plan corner assembly for a creating cubicle, the door and panel assembly including: a door and an associated panel which are joined to each other so that the door can pivot from a first position in juxtaposition with the associated panel to a second position generally at right angles to the panel with an —edge ofThe^door alongside a first^dge of the panel; ~ — in use the door and associated panel are mounted at a point near to a corner of a structure in which a cubicle is to be formed, the arrangement and positioning in use of the door and the associated panel relative to the comer is such that when the door and the panel are in their first position they can rest adjacent a first wall of the structure to thereby create free space in the corner and when in their second position the door and the panel are folded to form the L shaped assembly which with the comer form the cubicle with the panel extending out from the first wall and the door pivoted to be about at right angles to the panel with one edge adjacent the panel and the other against a second wall forming the comer to thereby form the cubicle.

2. A door and panel assembly adapted for use in forming an L in plan comer assembly for a cubicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the door and panel assembly is mounted relative to the comer structure at a point spaced from the comer about the width of the panel.

3. A door and panel assembly adapted for use in forming an L in plan comer assembly for a cubicle as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the mounting INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z 2 2 DEC 2003 RECEIVED for the door and panel assembly is such that the assembly can pivot through about 180 degrees. A door and panel assembly adapted for use in forming an L in plan corner assembly for a cubicle as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. An improved cubicle formed from adjoining walls and a foldaway door and panel assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein in one position the door and panel assembly is in juxtaposition with one of the adjoining walls and in its erected position has a panel section and a door which lie in juxtaposition when against the wall and are folded out to create the cubicle with the panel at rights angles to the wall and the pivotable door at about 90° to the panel and other adjoining wall. A cubicle as claimed in claim 5 wherein the door and panel assembly is formed with the door mounted relative to the panel on arms, one end of each of which is positioned adjacent to an end of the panel, one arm at the top and one arm at the bottom of the panel, the other ends of the arms being mounted at the top centre and bottom centre respectively of the door so that the door can be rotated through about 180 degrees relative to the panel. A cubicle as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the end of the panel adjacent to where the arms are mounted can include a return about the width of the door, the return being provided so that the door and panel assembly form a generally compact unit. A cubicle as claimed in claim 5 substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings. A cubicle as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 8 which is used in association with a tile or the like floor in which a drain outlet is situated or over a bath or in any position where a foldaway cubicle is required or is an advantage.