Abstract:
To provide a door opening on both the left and right sides which is easy to manufacture and operate and can be opened and closed accurately from either the left or right side, even in case of occurrence of some manufacturing or execution error, if only that error is kept within the range of tolerance set in advance, the present invention comprised of an inner door mounted in such a way that it covers the open surface of the closet body to be opened/closed through hinges, and an outer door disposed on the outside of this inner door and mounted in such a way as to be opened/closed through hinges against the inner door, and constructed in such a way that the inner and outer doors are opened and closed in different directions.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention concerns a door system opening on both the left and right sides, more specifically a door system opening on both the left and right sides realized in such a way that the door of a closet mounted either above a washstand or on a wall face may be opened and closed from either the left or right side, to facilitate introduction and take-out of the articles to be stored in the closet and to also enable to use mirrors mounted on the door as if they were mirrors mounted on a dressing table.  
           [0002]    Conventionally, as door system opening on both the left and right sides, there is one which is applied to refrigerator door.  
           [0003]    This door system opening on both the left and right sides is constructed by mounting special hinges at the top and the bottom edges on both the left and right sides for connection with the main body side, in a way to be opened and closed from either the left or right side during its use.  
           [0004]    By the way, in said conventional door system opening on both the left and right sides, while the door can be opened and closed from either the left or right side, a manufacturing or execution error is liable to be produced, with a closet mounted above a washstand or formed in a way to be embedded in a wall face, in the case where the main body side of a refrigerator, etc. manufactured with high accuracy is a solid box.  
           [0005]    In such a case, a problem was that, even if the members such as hinges, etc. for doors opening on both the left and right sides are manufactured with high accuracy, it becomes difficult to smoothly open/close the hinges of a door opening on both the left and right sides of which is requested high accuracy, should a manufacturing or execution error be produced on the main body side.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    The objective of the present invention, realized in view of said problem with conventional door systems opening on both the left and right sides, is to provide a door opening on both the left and right sides which is easy to manufacture and operate and which can be opened and closed accurately from either the left or right side, even in cases where manufacturing or execution error occurs, provided that error is kept within a previously set range of tolerance.  
           [0007]    To achieve said objective, the door system opening on both the left and right sides according to the present invention is characterized in that it is comprised of an inner door mounted in such a way that it covers the open surface of the closet body to be opened/closed through hinges, and an outer door disposed on the outside of this inner door and mounted in such a way as to be opened/closed through hinges against the inner door, and constructed in such a way that the inner and outer doors are opened and closed in directions different from each other.  
           [0008]    This door system opening on both the left and right sides can be realized in such a way that one door can be opened on the left side and the other door opened on the right side, and can also be simplified in construction, by disposing a double door comprising an inner door and an outer door, provided in such a way as to cover the open surface of the closet body on different (opposite) sides by dispersing the hinge mounting position of the inner door and the outer door to the left and right. This facilitates execution and makes it possible to provide a door system opening on both the left and right sides fit for general usage that features the smooth opening/closing of the respective doors.  
           [0009]    In such a case, the inner door may be constructed of a sheet material.  
           [0010]    This makes it possible to have a different opening and closing direction for the outer door, and cover the open surface of the closet body with the inner door in a state in which the outer door is open.  
           [0011]    Moreover, the inner door may be constructed with a frame having a window hole at the center.  
           [0012]    This makes it possible to introduce and remove goods from the closet by simply opening the outer door, with improved operability.  
           [0013]    Furthermore, the hinges may be disposed at the top and bottom edges of the inner and outer doors.  
           [0014]    This simplifies the mounting of the inner and outer doors, enabling smooth opening/closing of the doors and providing a better look for the hinge mounting portion.  
           [0015]    Additionally, the inner and outer doors provided on both the left and right sides of the closet body disposed at the center may be constructed in opening/closing directions opposite each other on the left and the right sides.  
           [0016]    This enables the use of the closet body as a dressing table surmounted by mirrors, simply improving the commercial value of the closet. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 is an explanatory drawing of opening/closing motion showing an embodiment of the door system opening on both the left and right sides according to the present invention, (A) being a plan view in closed state, (B) a plan view showing a state in which the outer door is open, and (C) a plan view showing a state in which the inner door is opened along the outer door.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 is a plan view with expanded hinge portion explaining the opening/closing motion, (A) showing a closed state, (B) a state in which the outer door is opened, and (C) a state in which the inner door is opened along the outer door, respectively.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3 indicates the mounted state of hinges, (A) being a front elevation of the bottom part of the inner door, (B) a plan view, (C) a front elevation of the top part of the inner door, (D) a left end face view, and (E) a right end face view.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4 indicates a perspective view of the appearance of hinges, (A) showing (hinges) for mounting inner door, (B) a different embodiment of (hinges) for mounting inner door, and (C) (hinges) for mounting outer door, respectively.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 5 indicates an embodiment in which the washing unit is realized in the form of a dressing table surmounted by mirrors, (A) being a front elevation, and (B) a plan view.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 6 is a front elevation of the state in which the left door in above is open and the right door is closed.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 7 is a plan view showing an example of use with the doors open. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0024]    Embodiments of the door system opening on both the left and right sides according to the present invention will be explained below based on drawings.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 1 to FIG. 6 indicate an embodiment in which the door system opening on both the left and right sides according to the present invention is applied to a closet (washing unit) either formed above a washstand or disposed on a wall face.  
         [0026]    The door system A opening on both the left and right sides according to the present invention is constructed with an inner door  3  mounted in a way to be opened/closed through hinges  2  mounted at the end on either the left or right sides (right end in the embodiment in FIG. 1) of the closet body  1  either formed above a washstand or disposed on a wall face, and an outer door  5  mounted, on this inner door  3 , in a way to be opened/closed through hinges  4  mounted at the end part (left end in the embodiment in FIG. 1) on the side opposite to the mounting position of said hinges  2 .  
         [0027]    In that case, to prevent any unnecessary opening/closing the inner door  3  and the outer door  5 , between the closet body  1  and the inner door  3  and also between the inner door  3  and the outer door  5  are mounted fastening devices respectively, such as magnet type fasteners  6 ,  7  composed of a magnet and an exciter panel, for example, though not particularly restricted to such construction.  
         [0028]    The mounting position of these magnet fasteners  6 ,  7  is not particularly restricted, if only the two fasteners are disposed in positions opposite to each other, as shown in FIG. 3, and the magnet fastener  6  mounted between the closet body  1  and the inner door  3  may be disposed, though not particularly restricted, on the closet body  1  opposite to the hinge  2 , and the magnet fastener  7  mounted between the inner door  3  and the outer door  5  (may be disposed) on the inner door  3  opposite to the hinge  4 , for example.  
         [0029]    Moreover, a permanent magnet will be used for the magnet of these magnet fasteners  6 ,  7 , while an exciting metal sheet piece will be used for the exciter panel (not illustrated) which mutually adsorbs with the magnet, but (this exciter panel) may be omitted in the case where the inner door  3  and the outer door  5  are made of an exciting material at least at the portion facing the magnet.  
         [0030]    The hinge  2  and the hinge  4  will be constructed with one same function, though not particularly restricted to such construction, and the hinge  2  and the hinge  4  shall preferably be disposed at the top and the bottom ends of the inner door  3  and the outer door  5  respectively, to thereby enable the inner door  3  and the outer door  5  to open/close in opposite directions.  
         [0031]    This hinge  2 , having an L-shaped section, as shown in FIG. 4(A), is composed of a mounting piece  21  in which is formed a screw hole  21   h  so that this piece may be screwed to the closet body  1  side, and a hinge piece  22  bent in L shape from the mounting piece  21  and connected to it, and in this hinge piece  22  is formed a shaft hole  23 . This hinge piece  22  is disposed in a way to face each other at the top and the bottom of the inner door  3 , and the screw shaft  24  inserted in this shaft hole  23  is screwed in the top and the bottom end faces of the inner door  3 , so that the inner door  3  may be mounted in a way to open and close on the closet body  1 .  
         [0032]    Furthermore, the hinge  2 A indicated in FIG. 4(B) is a modified example of hinge  2 , realized by disposing bent hinge pieces  22 ,  22  facing each other at the top and the bottom on one side of the mounting piece  21  in which are formed screw holes  21   h ,  21   h , and pierced shaft holes  23 ,  23  in these hinge pieces  22 ,  22  respectively, to be used in a way to hold the frame of the inner door  3  at the top and the bottom.  
         [0033]    Still more, the hinge  4  is constructed by forming, in a flat hinge piece  42  provided in a way to face the top and the bottom faces of the inner door  3 , screw holes  42   h ,  42   h  formed in a way to be fixed by screwing to said inner door  3 , and a shaft hole  43  realized in a way to be supported with a shaft at the top and the bottom faces of the outer door  5 , as shown in FIG. 4 (C), for mounting the outer door  5  on the inner door  3  in a way to open and close, by screwing a screw shaft  44  inserted in this shaft hole  43  at the top and the bottom end faces of the outer door  5 .  
         [0034]    Yet more, the inner door  3  and the outer door  5  shall have a size and shape at least sufficient for covering the entire surface of the opening in the closet body  1  and, while the material of the inner door  3  is not particularly restricted, the outer door  5  may be provided with a mirror on the surface, to be used as a mirror in the same way as the door of a conventional closet provided above a washstand.  
         [0035]    Especially, in the case where (the closet) is disposed on the left and the right from right above the washstand, this door with mirror of the closet disposed above the washstand may be used as a dressing table with mirrors, in combination with the outer doors  5 ,  5  of the closet provided in the transversal direction.  
         [0036]    These inner door  3  and outer door  5  may be constructed in the same way as conventional ones, with no particular restriction, if only they look all right when disposed above a washstand.  
         [0037]    And, by constructing the inner door  3  with a sheet material, in the same way as an ordinary door, it becomes possible to open/close the outer door  5  in different directions or, to be concrete, change the opening/closing direction of the outer door  5  depending if the opening of the closet body  1  is left open or if the door with mirror of the closet is used as a dressing table with mirrors, in combination with the outer doors  5 ,  5  of the closet, and it further becomes possible, in the case where the outer doors  5 ,  5  are used as dressing table with mirrors, to cover the entire surface of the opening in the closet body  1  with the inner door  3 , even if the outer door  5  is left in open state.  
         [0038]    Moreover, the inner door  3  may also be formed in a frame pierced with a window hole  33  at the central part surrounded by a longitudinal frame  31  and a transversal frame  32 , as shown in FIG. 3(A). This makes it possible to introduce and take out goods easily in and from the closet through this window hole  33  in the inner door  3 , in the state in which the outer door  5  is left open, without putting any obstacle to the use (of the closet) because this window hole  33  in the inner door  3  is also closed with closing of the outer door  5 .  
         [0039]    Furthermore, in the case where the outer door  5  is a mirror board, it will be provided with frame materials  51 ,  51  disposed at the top and the bottom ends of the mirror board in a way to hold the mirror in the transversal direction, and a hinge  4  will be mounted at the end of this frame material  51 , as shown in FIG. 3.  
         [0040]    Still more, said hinges  2 ,  4 , for which different constructions are adopted in the embodiment indicated in FIG. 4, may also be constructed in one same way.  
         [0041]    Next, explanation will be made on the motions of this door system opening on both the left and right sides.  
         [0042]    On the closet body  1  is mounted the inner door  3  through the hinge  2  and the shaft  24 , and on this inner door  3  is mounted the outer door  5  through the hinge  4  and the shaft  44  respectively in a way to be opened/closed individually. As a result, the door covering the opening of the closet body  1  becomes a double door comprising an inner door and an outer door.  
         [0043]    When goods are either introduced in the closet body  1  or taken out from it, the opening of the closet body  1  is released, as the inner door  3  is opened through the hinge  2 , enabling to introduce goods in or take them out from inside the closet freely.  
         [0044]    Yet more, when the outer door  5 , on the surface of which is mounted a mirror, is opened, the opening of the outer door  5  is made through the hinge  4  in a way to release the adsorption by the magnet fastener  7 , in the state where the inner door  3  mounted on the closet body  1  is fastened with the magnet fastener  6 . And, the degree of opening of the outer door  5  is adjustable.  
         [0045]    At that time, by forming the inner door  3  with a frame in which is drilled a window hole at the central part, it becomes possible to introduce goods in or take them out from inside the closet by opening the outer door  5 .  
         [0046]    And, if the inner door  3  and the outer door  5  are closed, their closed state is maintained by an adsorptive action of the magnet fasteners  6 ,  7  respectively.  
         [0047]    In the case where (the door system) is used as dressing table with mirrors, a mirror board  8  will be mounted at the central part of this closet body  1 , either fixed or in a way to be opened and closed, and at both the left and right end parts of this closet body  1  will be disposed door systems A, A opening on both the left and the right sides of said construction, as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6.  
         [0048]    In that case, the mounting position of the hinge  2  connecting the closet body  1  and the inner door  3  to each other will be disposed at different positions (symmetrical positions) at the left and right storing areas, for example. [In the embodiment indicated in FIG. 5, while the mounting position of the hinge  2  connecting the closet body  1  and the inner door  3  to each other will be disposed at the outside position of the closet body  1  respectively, the mounting position of the hinge  2  is not particularly restricted to it but may also be disposed on the inside position of the closet body  1  (position on the mirror board  8  side at the central part). The mounting position of the hinge  2  may further be disposed in one same direction at the left and right storing areas (one hinge  2  at the outside position of the closet body  1 , and the other hinge  2  at the inside position of the closet body  1 )]. As a result, as the left and right outer doors  5 ,  5  are opened, the surface side of the left and right outer doors  5 ,  5  mutually turns inside at a certain angle respectively, as shown in FIG. 5(B).  
         [0049]    This makes it possible to use the outer door  5 , on the surface of which is disposed a mirror, as dressing table with mirrors.  
         [0050]    By disposing the mounting position of the hinge  2  connecting the closet body  1  and the inner door  3  to each other at the outside position of the closet body  1  respectively, as shown in the embodiment indicated in FIG. 5, it becomes possible to open the inner door  3  and the outer door  5  up to a position where they become almost linear, as shown in FIG. 7, for example. This enables to make the outer door  5 , on the surface of which is disposed a mirror, protrude to the front face of the closet body  1  in the state in which the mirrors look inward, and the person who stands in the front face of the closet body  1  can use the mirror on the outer door  5  at the closest position, and can perform fitting of contact lenses smoothly, for example.  
         [0051]    Explanation has so far been made on the door system opening on both the left and right sides according to the present invention based on an embodiment applied to a closet (washing unit) disposed above a washstand. However, the present invention is not restricted to the construction indicated in said embodiment, but can also be applied widely to doors of closet formed in a way to be embedded in a wall face, and its construction can be changed as desired within a range not deviating from its purpose, depending on the object of application.