Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05D—HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS
  • E05D15/00—Suspension arrangements for wings
  • E05D15/06—Suspension arrangements for wings for wings sliding horizontally more or less in their own plane
  • E05D15/08—Suspension arrangements for wings for wings sliding horizontally more or less in their own plane consisting of two or more independent parts movable each in its own guides
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E06—DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; LADDERS
  • E06B—FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES
  • E06B3/00—Window sashes, door leaves, or like elements for closing wall or like openings; Layout of fixed or moving closures, e.g. windows in wall or like openings; Features of rigidly-mounted outer frames relating to the mounting of wing frames
  • E06B3/32—Arrangements of wings characterised by the manner of movement; Arrangements of movable wings in openings; Features of wings or frames relating solely to the manner of movement of the wing
  • E06B3/34—Arrangements of wings characterised by the manner of movement; Arrangements of movable wings in openings; Features of wings or frames relating solely to the manner of movement of the wing with only one kind of movement
  • E06B3/42—Sliding wings; Details of frames with respect to guiding
  • E06B3/46—Horizontally-sliding wings
  • E06B3/4663—Horizontally-sliding wings specially adapted for furniture
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05F—DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
  • E05F17/00—Special devices for shifting a plurality of wings operated simultaneously
  • E05F2017/005—Special devices for shifting a plurality of wings operated simultaneously for sliding wings
  • E05F2017/007—Special devices for shifting a plurality of wings operated simultaneously for sliding wings with means for interlocking the wings
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF
  • E05Y2900/00—Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF
  • E05Y2900/00—Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof
  • E05Y2900/20—Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof for furniture, e.g. cabinets
  • E05Y2900/202—Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof for furniture, e.g. cabinets for display cabinets, e.g. for refrigerated cabinets

Definitions

• the present invention relates to cabinet doors.
• it relates to cabinet doors for use in a retail display environment.
• restrictions on display can prevent a retailer from being able to make a consumer aware of new or improved products.
• the present invention seeks to address the above and other problems.
• a door unit for a display cabinet comprising:
• a frame holding at least two sliding doors such that the doors can be slid between open and closed positions and the doors close different openings in the frame, the doors being offset from one another in a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction of at least one of the doors; and linking means for selectively linking the two doors such that when a first one of the doors is opened the linking means engages with the second one of the doors to pull it open also and when the second one of the doors is opened the linking means disengages such that the first door remains closed.
• the doors may be positioned adjacent to one another and arranged such that they slide in the same direction.
• the linking means may be a tooth and notch arrangement which enables the two doors to engage with one another where the first door is opened and disengage with one another when the second door is opened.
• the frame may be arranged such that it can be fitted retroactively over a standard display cabinet.
• the unit may further be provided with one or more door closing mechanisms to enable automatic closing of the one or more doors.
• the closing mechanism may comprise one or more of an hydraulic closing mechanism, biased weight closing mechanism, weighted pulley, spring and ratchet, or coiled spring-driven mechanism.
• the doors are formed from an opaque material.
• the unit and/or the frame and/or the doors may be arranged such that advertising or display orientated material can readily be fixed thereto.
• the unit of the present invention it is possible for a retailer to selectively display alternative products to a user on an automatic basis while obtaining the product requested by the consumer.
• the retailer it is possible for the retailer to meet display restriction requirements without having to install completely new cabinets through the retro-fitting of a unit of the present invention.
• Figure 1 is a front view of a unit according to the present invention.
• Figures 2A and 2B show opening positions of the unit of figure 1 ;
• FIG. 3 shows an alternative configuration of the present invention in which four sliding doors are provided
• FIGS. 4A to 4F show various alternative optional automatic closing mechanisms that may be employed as part of the present invention
• Figure 5 shows an alternative frame configuration with concealed linking means
• Figure 6 is a detailed cross-sectional view of a further configuration with concealed linking means.
• a unit according to the present invention is formed from a frame formed from top and bottom members 6 and side members 8.
• the members 6 and 8 may be attached, in use, to a cabinet frame which is shipped as a unit or may alternatively, be configured to be retro-fitted around an existing display cabinet which has already been installed.
• the frame members 6 and 8 support fixed doors 1 , 4, which are formed from an opaque material. They also support rails 7 and sliding doors 2, 3.
• the sliding doors 2, 3 slide on the rails 7 between closed positions, as shown in figure 1 , and open positions shown in figures 2a and 2b. Again, the doors 2, 3 are formed from an opaque material.
• contents of the cabinet to which the frame members 6, 8 are attached are not visible to a consumer.
• a linking arrangement 5 is formed on the edges of the doors 2, 3 that are adjacent to one another.
• the upper 2 and lower doors 3 close different openings in the frame, the doors 2,3 being offset from one another in a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction of the doors.
• a tooth and notch arrangement is configured such that, in use, when the upper door 2 is slid towards an open position, the tooth and notch arrangement disengages and only the upper door 2 opens.
• it is also configured such that when the lower door 3 is opened the tooth and notch arrangement engages and the upper door 2 is drawn open as the lower door 3 is opened. This configuration ensures that a retailer can position products in the most appropriate and consistent manner for gantry and stock management by being able to see when content anywhere in the cabinet needs replacing.
• tooth and notch arrangements can be provided.
• a simple step configuration is shown in figures 1 , 2A and 2B, but the notch may have a triangular shape.
• more complex engaging mechanism can be provided to give the same functionality.
• the link between the two doors may be configured in an alternative arrangement such that the lower door always opens, even when the upper door is opened.
• Figure 3 shows an alternative arrangement in which, rather than fixed doors 1 , 4, a second set of sliding doors is provided and an appropriate tooth and notch arrangement provided between those doors.
• this second set of doors can slide behind the first set of opening doors to allow access to a further region of the cabinet and with the same functionality as in the first example.
• figure 4A shows provision of a hydraulic piston 10 arranged by a sliding door in a closed position.
• Figure 4B shows a pivoting weight configuration 11 which, again, biases the sliding door towards a closed position.
• Figure 4C shows a spring and ratchet configuration 12 and figure 4D a weight and pulley configuration 13.
• Figure 4E shows a sprung extending coil 14 which provides the same purposes.
• An alternative, slightly more complex, configuration is shown in figure 4F whereby an inclined rail 7 is provided for the door such that it is biased into its closed position by its own weight.
• FIG. 1 shows an alternative frame arrangement which enables the linking arrangement 5 to be concealed.
• Components that correspond to those in figure 1 are numbered identically.
• the middle rail 7 has a space 20 defined by two opposing bars 21 and 22. The space 20 then enables the second pair of doors 1 , 4 to have a linking means 5 that is positioned within the space 20 and as such is concealed by one bar 22 of the middle rail 7.
• Figure 6 shows an alternative arrangement in which the middle rail 7 supports the second pair of doors 1 , 4 and has a linking means 5 which extends to the rear of the middle rail 7 and as such is concealed. It will be appreciated that either of the example constructions in figures 5 or 6 could be applied to any of the earlier examples to enable concealment of the linking means 5.
• the present invention provides a set of cabinet doors that enables a retailer to simply and effectively meet changing legislation in respect of the display of certain products. It also enables a retailer to position products in the most appropriate and consistent manner for gantry and stock management and enables the retailer to monitor the content throughout the cabinet.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Freezers Or Refrigerated Showcases (AREA)
• Wing Frames And Configurations (AREA)
• Display Racks (AREA)
• Refrigerator Housings (AREA)
• Specific Sealing Or Ventilating Devices For Doors And Windows (AREA)

Priority Applications (8)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=46690507

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (15)

Families Citing this family (3)

Citations (3)

Family Cites Families (14)

• 2011
  • 2011-08-31 ES ES11179486.3T patent/ES2519594T3/es active Active
  • 2011-08-31 PT PT111794863T patent/PT2565356E/pt unknown
  • 2011-08-31 DK DK11179486.3T patent/DK2565356T3/da active
  • 2011-08-31 EP EP11179486.3A patent/EP2565356B1/en active Active
• 2012
  • 2012-08-15 EA EA201490261A patent/EA024231B1/ru not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2012-08-15 EP EP12748209.9A patent/EP2751363A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2012-08-15 RU RU2014105117/12U patent/RU150792U1/ru active
  • 2012-08-15 KR KR1020147008431A patent/KR101587749B1/ko active IP Right Grant
  • 2012-08-15 CN CN201280042204.0A patent/CN103781983B/zh active Active
  • 2012-08-15 MY MYPI2014700445A patent/MY168724A/en unknown
  • 2012-08-15 CA CA2845655A patent/CA2845655C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2012-08-15 UA UAA201402088A patent/UA109824C2/ru unknown
  • 2012-08-15 WO PCT/EP2012/065945 patent/WO2013029995A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2012-08-15 JP JP2014527580A patent/JP6133867B2/ja active Active
  • 2012-08-21 TW TW101130306A patent/TWI473585B/zh not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2014
  • 2014-10-22 HR HRP20141017AT patent/HRP20141017T1/hr unknown

Patent Citations (3)

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