Patent ID: 6253826
Filing Date: 2001-07-03
Classification: E05Y,E06B,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A folding door for an office cubicle comprising:a configuration of vertical office partitions subdividing an open space into office cubicles, each cubicle having an entryway permitting user passage, each entryway defined as the open space between a first partition having a first partition jamb and a second partition having a second partition jamb;a folding door panel, fabricated from a generally rectangular sheet of lightweight, semi-rigid material which substantially covers said entryway when positioned as a vertical plane between said first partition jamb and said second partition jamb; said folding door panel having a first longitudinal edge parallel to a second longitudinal edge and a first latitudinal edge parallel to a second latitudinal edge, including a plurality of foldable joint lines, extending from said first latitudinal edge to said second latitudinal edge and parallel to the longitudinal edges such that said plurality of foldable joint lines partition said folding door panel into a plurality of contiguous, rectangular panel elements;wherein said folding door panel is foldable, in according style, along said plurality of foldable joint lines such that collapsing and urging compression of said folding door panel along said foldable joint lines disposes said rectangular panel elements in a compressed stacked relation;a vertical hinge means for providing vertically supported pivotal movement of said folding door panel about a vertical axis established adjacent to said first partition jamb, including a fastener and attaching said first longitudinal edge to said first partition jamb;a retaining means for releasably securing said rectangular panel elements in the compressed stacked relation thereby maintaining an open entryway position; a latching member comprising two intersecting perpendicular planar members terminating at intersection, having a first planar member integrally attached to surface of said folding door panel along said second longitudinal edge, and a second planar member disposed perpendicular to the surface said folding door panel; said second planar member having first planar surface facing said first partition jamb, and a second planar surface facing said second partition jamb, said second surface including an integrally attached reusable, detachable-attachable fastener,wherein detachably-attaching said second planar surface of said second planar member to said second partition jamb secures said rectangular panel elements in a generally coplanar arrangement disposed vertically perpendicular to said second partition jamb, thereby maintaining a closed entryway position.