Bi-fold door module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9428259-B2
Application number	US-201615067097-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 10, 2016
Priority date	Mar 27, 2014
Publication date	Aug 30, 2016
Grant date	Aug 30, 2016

Abstract

A door module for a vehicle lavatory that includes a bi-fold door having a first panel and a second panel each having an inner surface and an outer surface. The first and second panels are pivotably connected together by a living hinge. The living hinge includes a hinge member that extends between first and second securing members, wherein the first securing member extends along and is attached to an inner edge of the first panel and the second securing member extends along and is attached to an inner edge of the second panel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A door module for a vehicle lavatory, the door module comprising:
a bi-fold door that includes a first panel and a second panel each having an inner surface and an outer surface and pivotably connected together by a living hinge, wherein the living hinge includes a hinge member that extends between first and second securing members, wherein the first securing member extends along and is attached to an inner edge of the first panel and the second securing member extends along and is attached to an inner edge of the second panel, wherein the bi-fold door is movable between a closed and an open position, wherein the hinge member bends when the bi-fold door moves from the closed position to the open position, wherein the living hinge includes a fixed hinge at a top thereof that secures the top of the living hinge.

2. The door module of claim 1 wherein an outer edge of the second panel includes an edge cap secured thereto, wherein the edge cap includes a tunnel extending therethrough, wherein an upper hinge member is positioned in the tunnel such that an upper hinge pin extends above the edge cap, and wherein a lower hinge member is positioned in the tunnel such that a lower hinge pin extends below the edge cap.

3. The door module of claim 1 wherein the bi-fold door includes upper trim, and wherein the fixed hinge is a part of the upper trim.

4. The door module of claim 3 wherein the living hinge includes first and second magnets on opposite sides thereof.

5. A door module for a vehicle lavatory, the door module comprising:
a bi-fold door that includes a first panel and a second panel each having an inner surface and an outer surface and pivotably connected together by a living hinge, wherein the living hinge includes a hinge member that extends between first and second securing members, wherein the first securing member extends along and is attached to an inner edge of the first panel and the second securing member extends along and is attached to an inner edge of the second panel, and
a latching assembly positioned in the first panel, wherein the latching assembly operates an elongated locking bolt, wherein the first securing member includes a first tunnel defined therein, and wherein the locking bolt extends through and above the first tunnel.

6. The door module of claim 5 , wherein the first securing member includes a latch opening defined therein that is communication with the first tunnel, and wherein a portion of the latching assembly extends through the latch opening and into the first tunnel.

7. A door module for a vehicle lavatory, the door module comprising:
a bi-fold door that includes a first panel and a second panel each having an inner surface and an outer surface and pivotably connected together by a central hinge, wherein the bi-fold door is positioned in a door opening that is defined in a wall and is moveable between a closed position and an open position, wherein an outer edge of the first panel includes a first nesting member thereon, wherein an inner edge of the wall adjacent the outer edge of the first panel includes a second nesting member thereon, and wherein at least a portion of the first and second nesting members overlap in a transverse direction when the bi-fold door is in the closed position, wherein the first nesting member includes an inner wall and an outer wall, and wherein the inner wall extends further from the first panel than the outer wall does.

8. The door module of claim 7 wherein the first nesting member includes a non-engagement portion and an engagement portion, wherein the second nesting member includes a non-engagement portion and an engagement portion, whereby when a force is placed on the inner surface of the first panel, the engagement portion of the first nesting member contacts the engagement portion of the second nesting member to prevent the bi-fold door from opening.

9. The door module of claim 7 wherein the non-engagement portion of the first nesting member is generally parallel to the outer edge of the first panel, and wherein the non-engagement portion of the second nesting member is generally parallel to the inner edge of the wall.

10. A door module for a vehicle lavatory, the door module comprising:
a bi-fold door that includes a first panel and a second panel each having an inner surface and an outer surface and pivotably connected together by a central hinge, wherein the bi-fold door is positioned in a door opening that is defined in a wall and is moveable between a closed position and an open position, wherein an outer paddle handle is secured to and extends outwardly from the first panel such that it overlaps at least a portion of the wall, wherein the outer paddle handle has an inner surface that is in communication with an exterior of the wall when the bi-fold door is in a closed position such that a user can grasp the inner surface.

11. The door module of claim 10 wherein an inner paddle handle is secured to the second panel and overlaps at least a portion of the first panel.

12. The door module of claim 10 wherein the wall includes a handle indentation defined therein, wherein the outer paddle handle overlaps and cooperates with the handle indentation to define an opening space, wherein the opening space is defined between an outer surface of the handle indentation and the opposing inner surface of the outer paddle handle.

13. The door module of claim 12 wherein an insert is positioned in the handle indentation, and wherein the insert includes a ramp portion leading into and partially defining the opening space.

14. A door module for a vehicle lavatory, the door module comprising:
a wall that includes a door opening defined therein,
a bi-fold door positioned in the door opening and moveable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the bi-fold door includes a first panel and a second panel each having an inner surface and an outer surface and pivotably connected together by a living hinge, wherein the living hinge includes a hinge member that extends between first and second securing members, wherein the first securing member extends along and is attached to an inner edge of the first panel and the second securing member extends along and is attached to an inner edge of the second panel, wherein the hinge member includes opposite edges, wherein the first and second securing members each include an elongated groove defined therein, wherein the elongated grooves capture the opposite edges of the hinge member, wherein an outer paddle handle is secured to and extends outwardly from the first panel such that it overlaps at least a portion of the wall, wherein the outer paddle handle has an inner surface that is in communication with an exterior of the wall when the bi-fold door is in a closed position such that a user can grasp the inner surface, and wherein an inner paddle handle is secured to the second panel and overlaps at least a portion of the first panel.

15. The door module of claim 14 wherein the wall includes a handle indentation defined therein, and wherein the outer paddle handle overlaps and cooperates with the handle indentation to define an opening space.

16. The door module of claim 14 further comprising a latching assembly positioned in the first panel, wherein the latching assembly operates an elongated locking bolt, wherein the first securing member includes a first tunnel defined therein, and wherein the locking bolt extends through and above the first tunnel.

17. The door module of claim 14 wherein an outer edge of the second panel includes an edge cap secured there

Assignees

• C&D Zodiac Inc

Inventors

• Savian Scott
• Long Eric
• Scoley Ian Geoffrey
• Noda Glen
• Young William
• Mcclure Richard

Classifications

• B64C1/1407 Primary

  Doors; surrounding frames · CPC title

• E06B3/805

  folding sideways (doors of the bellows type E06B3/94) · CPC title

• B64C1/1461

  Structures of doors or surrounding frames · CPC title

• E06B5/00

  Doors, windows, or like closures for special purposes {(insulated compound frames specially adapted for sliding doors or windows E06B3/26347)}; Border constructions therefor · CPC title

• E06B3/4636

  for doors (E06B3/4609 and E06B3/4654 - E06B3/4681 take precedence; sliding shower doors A47K3/34) · CPC title