Swinging pocket door

Abstract

A dual function door acts as both a pocket door and a hinged swinging door. A first door panel is hingedly attached to a wall for swinging. A first header rail is attached to the top of the first door panel while a second header rail is attached to an appropriate surface at the same height as the first header rail. A second door panel has rollers that slide within the first header rail. The first door panel is positionable so that the first header rail and the second header rail align allowing the second door panel to also slide within the second header rail. The two header rails can be locked in the aligned position.

Claims

1. A dual function door comprising: a first door panel having a first top and an opposing a first bottom, a first side and an opposing second side, a first surface and an opposing second surface, the first door panel adapted to be hingedly attached to a wall surface of an enclosure along the first side of the first door panel; a first header rail having a first end and a second end, the first header rail attached to the first surface of the first door panel, along the first top thereof, a second header rail having a third end and a fourth end, the second header rail adapted to be attached to a surface of the enclosure such that the first header rail and the second header rail are disposed at the same height; a second door panel having a second top, the second door panel having a roller assembly extending upwardly from the second top, the roller assembly having a roller; and wherein the first door panel is rotatable between a first position wherein the second end of the first header rail faces the third end of the second header rail and the first header rail and the second header rail longitudinally align, and a second position wherein the first header rail and the second header rail do not align, and such that when the first door panel is in the first position, the second door panel is able to slide between the first header rail and the second header rail via the roller that rolls within the first header rail and the second header rail.

2. The dual function door as in claim 1 further comprising a lock attached to the first header rail such that the lock locks the first header rail and the second header rail in the longitudinally aligned position whenever the first door panel is in the first position.

3. The dual function door as in claim 1 further comprising a lock attached to the second door panel for holding the second door panel in a non-movable position.

4. The dual function door as in claim 1 further comprising a rail stop disposed within the first header rail proximate the first end thereof such that the roller assembly is not able to roll past the rail stop.

5. The dual function door as in claim 1 further comprising a handle located on the second door panel.

6. A dual function door comprising: a first door panel having a first top and an opposing a first bottom, a first side and an opposing second side, a first surface and an opposing second surface, the first door panel adapted to be hingedly attached to a wall surface of an enclosure along the first side of the first door panel via a hinge that is attached to the wall surface and to the second surface of the first door panel proximate the first side; a first header rail having a first end and a second end, the first header rail attached to the first surface of the first door panel, along the first top thereof, a second header rail having a third end and a fourth end, the second header rail adapted to be attached to a surface of the enclosure such that the first header rail and the second header rail are disposed at the same height; a second door panel having a second top, the second door panel having a roller assembly extending upwardly from the second top, the roller assembly having a roller; and wherein the first door panel is rotatable between a first position wherein the second end of the first header rail faces the third end of the second header rail and the first header rail and the second header rail longitudinally align, and a second position wherein the first header rail and the second header rail do not align, and such that when the first door panel is in the first position, the second door panel is able to slide between the first header rail and the second header rail via the roller that rolls within the first header rail and the second header rail.

7. The dual function door as in claim 6 further comprising a lock attached to the first header rail such that the lock locks the first header rail and the second header rail in the longitudinally aligned position whenever the first door panel is in the first position.

8. The dual function door as in claim 6 further comprising a lock attached to the second door panel for holding the second door panel in a non-movable position.

9. The dual function door as in claim 6 further comprising a rail stop disposed within the first header rail proximate the first end thereof such that the roller assembly is not able to roll past the rail stop.

10. The dual function door as in claim 6 further comprising a handle located on the second door panel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is an environmental view of the swinging pocketed door of the present invention installed within a recreational vehicle, the swinging pocket door being used as a pocket door.

(2) FIG. 2 is an environmental view of the swinging pocketed door installed within a recreational vehicle, the swinging pocket door being used as a swinging door.

(3) FIG. 3 is an end view of a portion of the swinging pocket door illustrating the head rail.

(4) FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the swinging pocket door being used as a pocket door.

(5) FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the swinging pocket door being used as a swinging door, the door partially closed.

(6) FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the swinging pocket door being used as a swinging door, the door fully closed.

(7) Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(8) Referring now to the drawings, it is seen that the swinging pocket door of the present invention, generally denoted by reference numeral 10, is comprised of a first door panel 12 that has a first top 14, a first bottom 16, a first side 18, a second side 20, a first surface 22, and a second surface 24. Attached to the first side 18 of the first door panel 12, along the first top 14 thereof, is a first header rail 26. As seen, the first header rail 26 is an elongate tubular member 28 that has a downwardly facing central slot 30 so that ramps 32 are located on either side of the slot 30. A rail lock 34 is located on an external surface of the tubular member 28 proximate the second side 20 of the first door panel 12. A rail stop 36 may be located within the tubular member 28 proximate first side 18 of the first door panel 12. The tubular member 28 is attached to the first door panel 12 in any appropriate fashion such as via adhesion, welding if the materials are appropriate, screws, rivets, etc.

(9) The first door panel 12 is hingedly attached to an appropriate wall or other appropriate structure W via hinges 38 that are attached in appropriate fashion to the second surface 24 of the first door panel 12 along the first side 18 thereof and to an exterior surface of the wall W.

(10) A second header rail 40 is attached to an appropriate surface of the vehicle, namely the ceiling C, so that the second header rail 40, which is substantially similar in structure to the first header rail 26, other than lacking a rail stop, is at the same height as the first header rail 26.

(11) A second door panel 42 has a second top 44 and a second bottom 46. One or more handles 48 may be located on the second door panel 42. Attached to the second top 44 of the second door panel 42 is one or more roller assemblies 50 (typically two such assemblies 50 are used for standard sized door panels), which include a stem 52 extending upwardly from the second top 44. A transverse head 54 is located on the end of the stem 52 and a pair of rollers 56 are rotatably located on the end of the head 54, on either side thereof. A door lock 58 may be located on the second door panel 42.

(12) In order to use the swinging pocket door 10 of the present invention, the first door panel 12 is hingedly attached to the wall W, as previously described. The second door panel 42 is positioned so that its roller assemblies 50 are positioned so that the head 54 and rollers 56 are disposed within the first header rail 26 attached to the first door panel 12 with the stem passing downwardly through the central slot 30. The rollers 56 sit on the ramps 32 of the tubular member 28 so that the second door panel 42 is suspended from the first header rail 26 in typical pocket door fashion. With the second door panel 42 positioned as far back as possible so as to abut the rail stop 36 (if used), and the second door panel 42 essentially overlays the first door panel 12, the swinging pocket door 10 is capable of swinging about the hinges 38, as best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6. When the swinging pocket door 10 is fully swung closed and partitioning the room B beyond the toilet closet T and shower S, a stop (not illustrated) may be provided to prevent over rotation of the swinging pocket door 10 and the door lock 58 may be engaged with its catch (not illustrated) in order to hold the swinging pocket door 10 in this closed as a swinging door position, as seen in FIG. 6. The second door panel is prevented from exiting the first header rail 26 by the rail stop 36. The room B being partitioned can be accessed or exited by swinging the swinging pocket door 10 open and closed as desired. In order to close off the toilet closet T, the swinging pocket door 10 is swung to its open position as a swinging door. In this position, the first header rail 26 and the second header rail 40 longitudinally align, allowing the second door panel 42 to roll along, via its roller assemblies 50, the first header rail 26 and aligned second header rail 40. In order to maintain the first header rail 26 and the second header rail aligned, the rail lock 34 on the first header rail 26 is slid into its catch 60 located on the second header rail 40. It is expressly recognized that other types of locks can be employed including spring-loaded button locks, magnetic holding of the first header rail 26 to the second header rail 40, etc. When the second door panel 42 is fully extended relative to the first door panel 12 so that the swinging pocket door 10 is closed as a pocket door, the door lock 58 may be inserted into its catch 62 in order to hold the swinging pocket door 10 in this closed as a pocket door position. Of course the door lock 58 may be horizontally disposed and can be any appropriate door lock. Advantageously, the second door panel 42 is dimensioned so that one of its roller assemblies 50 remains within the first header rail 26 whenever the swinging pocket door 10 is fully closed as a pocket door.

(13) The swinging pocket door 10 can also be used in order tight quarters, such as on a boat, an aircraft, etc.

(14) While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to an embodiment thereof it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.