Patent ID: 6170195
Filing Date: 2001-01-09
Classification: E05D,E05Y

Abstract:
A door assembly for use in a door frame defining an opening, the assembly including:a door including a first generally planar panel arranged to be pivotally mounted to the door frame and movable between an open and a closed position, and a second panel which is connected to, and rotatable with, said first panel, the second panel being disposed generally parallel to, or co-planar with, said first panel, and movable thereto in the plane of the panels, such that the second panel is movable relative to the first panel between a retracted position wherein the second panel is generally laterally adjacent to the first panel, and an extended position wherein the second panel is spaced from the first panel in the direction of the plane of the panels;a latching device operative to couple the first and second panels together so as to maintain the second panel in its retracted position;a retaining device operable to couple the first panel to the door frame so as to retain the first panel in its closed position; anda track assembly interconnecting the first and second panels for movement of said second panel between its retracted and extended positions, the door assembly being operative to cover the opening defined by the door frame when in a fully closed position where the first panel is in its closed position and the second panel is in its extended position, and to allow passage through the opening when in a fully opened position where the first panel is in its open position and the second panel is in its retracted position;characterized in that the second panel when moved toward its extended position in the track assembly is disposed for engagement with the door frame to prevent movement of the first panel from its closed position unless the second panel is in its retracted position, the latching device, when the second panel is in its retracted position, being operative to automatically couple the first and second panels together when the first panel is moved from its closed position, the latching device including a release mechanism operative to automatically release the second panel on rotation of the first panel to its closed position, and the retaining device being operative to be released on application of manual pressure to the first panel to rotate the door from its closed position, such that the door is manually operable to be moved between its fully opened position to its fully closed position solely by sequential movement of the first panel between its open and its closed position, and movement of the second panel between its retracted and its extended position.