Vertical slat connected to form flexible sliding door mounted on hidden track

Abstract

A door mechanism includes: a rail including a flange; and a door mounted on the track, the door comprising a first slat and a second slat, where the first slat comprises a first tab and the second slat comprises a second tab, and where the door is mounted on the track using the first tab and the second tab.

Description

Background Technology

[0001] Some devices are typically capable of performing certain functions, while others are not configured to perform or are unable to perform those functions. In such cases, it may be desirable to modify one or more systems to enhance the functionality of those devices that are unable to perform those functions. Attached Figure Description

[0002] These accompanying drawings illustrate certain aspects of some examples of this disclosure and should not be used to limit or define this disclosure.

[0003] Figure 1A This is a schematic diagram of a closed storage unit.

[0004] Figure 1B This is a schematic diagram of a partially opened storage unit.

[0005] Figure 1C This is a schematic diagram of an open storage unit.

[0006] Figure 2A This is a schematic diagram of a standard slat.

[0007] Figure 2B This is a schematic diagram of the end strip.

[0008] Figure 2C This is a schematic diagram of the cuts on a standard slat.

[0009] Figure 2D This is a schematic diagram of the cut on the end strip.

[0010] Figure 2E This is a schematic diagram of an example slat.

[0011] Figure 3A This is a schematic diagram of the track segment.

[0012] Figure 3B This is a schematic diagram of a track with a curved section.

[0013] Figure 3C It is a schematic diagram of the track broken down into smaller components.

[0014] Figure 4A This is a schematic diagram of the slats on the track as viewed from the front.

[0015] Figure 4B This is a schematic diagram of the slats on the track as viewed from the rear.

[0016] Figure 4C This is a schematic diagram of the slats on the track as viewed from the side.

[0017] Figure 4D This is a schematic diagram of the end strip at the bend of the track.

[0018] Figure 4E It is a schematic diagram of multiple slats that move around the curved part of the track.

[0019] Figure 4F This is a top view of the protrusions on the curved part of the track.

[0020] Figure 5A It is a schematic diagram of three closed storage cells arranged side by side.

[0021] Figure 5B This is a schematic diagram of three storage units arranged side by side.

[0022] Figure 5C This is a schematic diagram of a storage cell, showing a visually uniform door surface. Detailed Implementation — Overview and Advantages —

[0023] In summary, this application discloses one or more embodiments of a system for a flexible door mounted on a concealed track. When closed, the flexible door described herein allows the contents of the storage unit, the track, and the exterior of the storage unit to be concealed and invisible. Furthermore, when opened, the flexible door allows unobstructed access to the storage unit without the door protruding outwards.

[0024] In traditional cabinets, doors are made of hinged panels that open and close by swinging. If the doors are made of opaque material, the contents of the cabinet cannot be seen without opening them. Therefore, the cabinet doors must remain open if the user wants to see the contents. However, when the doors are open, they protrude into the living space around the cabinet. This arrangement is not ideal when living space is limited, as the volume around the cabinet is encroached upon, and passageways are blocked. Furthermore, open cabinet doors create dangerous obstacles that can cause injury upon accidental contact (e.g., head injuries from upper cabinet doors, leg / knee injuries from lower cabinet doors, etc.).

[0025] One potential solution is to make the cabinet doors (at least partially) of a transparent material (such as glass), or to remove the doors entirely. However, this solution has drawbacks. With glass doors (or no doors), the contents of the cabinet cannot be hidden from view. That is, with opaque doors, the user can choose whether the contents are visible (when open) or hidden (when closed). But with transparent doors (or no doors), this option is not available.

[0026] Another potential solution is to use hingeless roller shutter doors. Similar to a rolltop desk (which opens to the side), individual wooden slats can be flexibly joined to form a larger door, with the top and bottom inserting into opposing grooves that allow the door to slide open and close. The grooves can be positioned so that when open, the door rolls into the volume inside the cabinet. Therefore, when the door is "open," it does not encroach on surrounding space (reducing the chance of accidental contact).

[0027] However, traditional roller shutter doors have several drawbacks. The top and bottom slats are inserted into recesses that embed within the cabinet—taking up space around the cabinet's perimeter. Furthermore, the front edges of the top and bottom surfaces of the cabinet remain visible, offering a potentially less-than-ideal (or harder-to-conceal) "functional" aesthetic. Debris can accumulate in the lower recesses—causing the door to jam—requiring regular inspection and maintenance to remove unwanted particles. A considerable amount of space must be reserved inside the cabinet to accommodate the roller shutter door (when open). For the door to move smoothly enough, the radius of the bend in the recess must be large enough to accommodate the widest insert slats. Therefore, roller shutter doors require either (i) recesses with large radii of bends (making cabinet corners unusable) or (ii) insert slats that must be thinner and more numerous to allow for smaller radii of bends (increasing manufacturing complexity, time, and cost).

[0028] As disclosed in one or more embodiments herein, a hingeless flexible door is described, which is made of one or more slats and runs on a track mounted externally to a storage unit. That is, unlike conventional roller shutters, the slats are not inserted into recesses and are therefore not limited by the geometry of such recesses. Instead, each slat includes a notch on its back with a protruding tab that runs on the externally mounted track. Because the track is external to the storage unit, the door does not occupy any available volume of the storage unit when opened or closed. This design allows for smaller radius bends in the track (e.g., allowing for sharper turns) without requiring a reduction in the width of the slats. Furthermore, because the slats are not inserted into recesses, they can be made to any height to extend above and below the storage unit. Therefore, when closed, the door may be the only visible part of the storage unit, providing a cleaner and more refined aesthetic.

[0029] Additionally, multiple individual components of the system (disclosed in one or more embodiments herein) can be manufactured to simplify the assembly of a larger system. As a non-limiting example, each standard slat can be made to be similar in shape to each other. Therefore, the specific order of the multiple individual standard slats is irrelevant when assembling a hingeless flexible door, allowing any standard slat to be interchanged with any other standard slat. As another non-limiting example, tracks (and / or smaller components of tracks) can be formed to have geometric similarity to other tracks (and / or smaller components of tracks). Thus, a track mounted on the front of the storage unit can be similar to a track mounted on one or both sides of the storage unit. Similarly, any track mounted on the upper part of the storage unit can be geometrically similar to a track mounted on the lower part of the storage unit (although fixed in a different orientation).

[0030] To further simplify assembly, multiple individual components can be oriented in several “correct” positions. That is, multiple components can be formed to have geometric symmetry across one or more planes (e.g., mirror image on one or more centerlines). As disclosed herein, a standard slat can be manufactured with an “upper side” that is mirror image of the “lower side”, such that an inverted (e.g., “upside down”) standard slat is geometrically similar to a standard slat oriented “right side up” (more precisely, “correct side up” or “upside up”). Thus, the standard slat can be installed “upside down” without consequences (since either end can be accurately described as “upside up”). Therefore, correct assembly of the system can become easier because (i) several components can be interchanged with components of similar shape, and (ii) multiple individual components can be rotated to multiple “correct” orientations.

[0031] Therefore, as disclosed herein, a storage unit is described that, when open, allows viewing of its contents—without the door protruding outwards into the surrounding living space. Furthermore, when closed, the door completely covers the front of the storage unit, providing a more aesthetically pleasing and functional effect. Moreover, regardless of its position (open or closed), the door does not occupy any usable internal volume of the storage unit because an external track system is used to mount the flexible door. This system can be added to storage units of any size (e.g., standard-sized cabinets, custom-sized cabinets, floor-to-ceiling wardrobes, etc.) and can be subsequently added to replace existing doors. — Figures 1A-1C —

[0032] Figure 1A This is a schematic diagram of a closed storage unit. Figure 1B This is a schematic diagram of a partially opened storage unit. Figure 1C This is a schematic diagram of an open storage unit.

[0033] Storage unit 100 is typically configured as a container for storing one or more physical objects (not shown). Storage unit 100 may include a housing 102, one or more tracks 104, and one or more doors 106. To place physical objects into storage unit 100, one or more sides of housing 102 may have openings to allow these objects to be placed inside housing 102. One or more doors 106 may be used to close or open storage unit 100 (e.g., by blocking or not blocking the opening, respectively). Non-limiting examples of storage unit 100 include cabinets, dressing tables, wardrobes, and closets.

[0034] Closed storage cell 100C (see Figure 1A A partially open storage cell 100 is one whose opening is largely obscured by one or more doors 106, thus preventing the addition or removal of physical objects. A partially open storage cell 100P (see...) Figure 1B The storage cell 100 is an opening partially obscured by one or more doors 106. As a non-limiting example, when the doors 106 move (under door movement 110), the doors 106 may partially block the opening of the storage cell 100. The open storage cell 100O (see...) Figure 1C A storage unit 100 is an opening that is not largely obscured by one or more doors 106, thereby allowing physical objects to be added to or removed from the enclosure 102I.

[0035] The enclosure 102 is the main body of the storage unit 100, forming a cavity in which objects can be placed. The enclosure 102 can be constructed from any suitable material, including but not limited to wood, plastic, metal, drywall, and / or any combination thereof (e.g., composite materials). The enclosure 102 can be any shape suitable for the desired application (e.g., a uniform rectangular area at the depth of a standard cabinet, rounded corners for style and / or accessibility, etc.). The height of the enclosure 102 (i.e., as shown in the figure)... Figure 1A , Figure 1B and Figure 1C The vertical length depicted in the figure can be referred to as the "box height".

[0036] The various outer surfaces of the housing 102 can be named according to the orientation of the surface most directly observed. The outer front surface 102F is the surface of the housing 102 with an opening (exposing the housing interior 102I). The outer top surface 102T is the top surface of the housing 102. Multiple outer side surfaces 102S are the surfaces of the housing 102 with tracks 104 that partially span the depth (i.e., having edges shared with the outer front surface 102F and the outer top surface 102T). The housing interior 102I is a combination of surfaces and / or faces of the housing 102 that form the recessed interior of the housing 102. Objects stored in the storage unit 100 are stored in the housing interior 102I.

[0037] Track 104 is a structure fixed to housing 102, which allows doors(s) 106 to move 110. More details about track 104 can be found in... Figure 3A and Figure 3B It was found in the description.

[0038] Door 106 is slidably fixed to housing 102 via one or more tracks 104. Door 106 is constructed using one or more slats 108. The slats 108 can be joined together using some flexible material (e.g., fabric, paper, elastic material, etc.) (not shown) to allow door 106 to move flexibly, pivotally, and / or bending. In the closed storage unit 100C (see...) Figure 1A On the open memory cell 100O (see...), gate 106 can be considered to be in the "closed position". Figure 1C On the door 106, it can be considered to be in the "open position".

[0039] Left door 106L is the door 106 installed on the left side of storage unit 100 (when viewed from the side of storage unit 100 on which door 106 is installed). Right door 106R is the door 106 installed on the right side of storage unit 100 (when viewed from the side of storage unit 100 on which door 106 is installed). Although in Figure 1B and Figure 1C The example shows two doors 106 (left door 106L and right door 106R), but those skilled in the art will understand, upon receiving the benefits of this detailed description, that a single door 106 can be installed on the storage unit 100.

[0040] Slat 108 is a narrow structure used alone or in combination with one or more other slats 108 to form the door 106. More details about slat 108 can be found in... Figure 2A , Figure 2B , Figure 2C and Figure 2D It was found in the description.

[0041] Door movement 110 is the movement of door 106 along track 104. Depending on the multiple bends 317 of track 104, door 106 can bend and change direction during door movement 110. Figures 1A-1C As shown in the example, track 104 is curved and straight around the outer front and two outer sides (at least partially) of housing 102. Therefore, during door movement 110, door 106 can travel along the front and sides (partially) of housing 102. Door movement 110 can be caused by applying a lateral force to door 106. As a non-limiting example, a person can apply a lateral force to the door by pushing either side of door 106 and / or grasping and sliding a handle attached to door 106.

[0042] The door mechanism 109 is any combination of one or more tracks 104 and one or more doors 106. — Figures 2A-2E —

[0043] Figure 2A This is a schematic diagram of a standard slat. Figure 2B This is a schematic diagram of the end strip. Figure 2C This is a schematic diagram of the cuts on a standard slat. Figure 2D This is a schematic diagram of the cut on the end strip. Figure 2E This is a schematic diagram of an example slat.

[0044] Slat 108 is a narrow structure used alone or in combination with one or more other slats 108 to form door 106. Slat 108 can be constructed of any suitable material, including but not limited to wood, plastic, metal, and / or any combination thereof (e.g., composite materials). Slat 108 may include one or more cutouts 212 disposed at one (or both) distal ends of slat 108. The height of slat 108 (i.e., its length along its longest dimension, such as...) Figure 2A and Figure 2B The vertical length depicted in the diagram can be referred to as the "slat height".

[0045] Standard slat 108S is a slat 108 that can be used to construct any segment of door 106. End slat 108E is a slat 108 that can be used to construct the lateral ends of door 106 (e.g., a slat 108 provided on the most extreme side of door 106).

[0046] like Figure 2A As shown, the standard slat 108S can be manufactured symmetrically in two of its three dimensions. Therefore, the standard slat 108S can be installed with either of its distal ends in the "upper" (or "lower") position because the two ends are constructed with similar geometry.

[0047] like Figure 2BAs shown, end strip 108E can be used as an end strip on any lateral end of door 106. For example... Figure 2B As shown in the orientation, end slat 108E will be used as the end slat for the left door 106L. However, if inverted along its longest dimension (i.e., rotated "upside down"), the same end slat 108E will be used as the end slat for the right door 106R. Therefore, only a single form of end slat 108E needs to be manufactured, wherein end slat 108E can be inverted to serve as the end slat for either side of the door 106. End slat 108E may also have rounded (e.g., filled) edges along its longest dimension between its front and exposed sides. When end slat 108E is mounted close to an adjacent end slat 108E on another closed storage unit 100C (e.g., see...),... Figure 5A and Figure 5B Rounded edges allow the end slats 108E to move the door 110 more easily.

[0048] Cutout 212 is a recessed volume in slat 108, where no material is present to construct slat 108. Cutout 212 can be shaped to complement the geometry of track 104. Therefore, the size of cutout 212 can be larger than the corresponding size of track 104, allowing track 104 to be accommodated within cutout 212. Upper cutout 212U is cutout 212 mounted on upper track 104U. Lower cutout 212L is cutout 212 mounted on lower track 104L.

[0049] The tab 214 is a protrusion of the slat 108 extending into the notch 212. The tab 214 can be shaped to complement the geometry of the flange 316 (on the track 104), thereby restricting movement of the slat 108 (as a whole) away from the track 104. Figure 2C and Figure 2D As shown, the tab 214 may have a rounded outward-facing surface (i.e., the side facing away from the housing 102) to facilitate door movement 110 around the bend 317 of the track 104. The upper tab 214U is a tab 214 disposed in the upper cutout 212U. In one or more embodiments, the lower side of the upper tab 214U may rest (and slide) along the upper side of the upper guide rail 318U. The lower tab 214L is a tab 214 disposed in the lower cutout 212L.

[0050] like Figure 2E As shown, an example slat 108 with a single cut 212 is depicted. Figure 2E In the example, the cut 212 extends upward across the middle portion of the strip 108 to the upper tab 214U and downward to the lower tab 214L. — Figures 3A-3C —

[0051] Figure 3A This is a schematic diagram of the track segment. Figure 3B This is a schematic diagram of a track with a curved section. Figure 3C It is a schematic diagram of the track broken down into smaller components.

[0052] Track 104 is a structure that allows door(s) 106 (and their(s) slats 108) to move 110. Track 104 can be constructed of any suitable material, including but not limited to wood, plastic, metal, and / or any combination thereof (e.g., composite materials). The portion of track 104 in contact with the slats 108 can be smooth (e.g., made of a smooth material, made smooth by processing, etc.) to reduce friction between track 104 and slats 108. Track 104 can be shaped (i.e., has a geometry) to interlock with one or more slats 108 to prevent the slats 108 from disengaging outward from track 104. Track 104 can be secured to housing 102 by any suitable means (e.g., screws, nails, glue, tape, magnets, etc.). Track 104 may include guide rails 318 and flanges 316.

[0053] Track 104 may include multiple bends 317 that allow multiple slats 108 (and multiple doors 106) to change direction during door movement 110. Due to the geometry of the slats 108 and track 104, the radius of the multiple bends 317 can be made arbitrarily small, provided that the width of the tabs 214 (and / or the depth of the cuts 212) is configured to allow the slats 108 (during door movement 110) to pass through the bends 317.

[0054] The upper rail 104U is a rail 104 installed on the upper part of the housing 102 (e.g., vertically above the lower rail 104L). The lower rail 104L is a rail 104 installed on the lower part of the housing 102 (e.g., vertically below the upper rail 104U).

[0055] Flange 316 is a structure that protrudes from the main body of track 104. Flange 316 can be shaped to interlock with tab 214, preventing the slat 108 from moving away from track 104 (and housing 102). Upper flange 316U is a structure of upper track 104U. As shown in the example figure, when mounted on upper track 104U, upper flange 316U protrudes upward. Lower flange 316L is a structure of lower track 104L. As shown in the example figure, when mounted on lower track 104L, lower flange 316L protrudes downward.

[0056] Guide rail 318 is the structure constituting the main body of track 104. The tab 214 (of slat 108) can contact one or more surfaces of guide rail 318 and slide along one or more surfaces of guide rail 318 during door movement 110. Upper guide rail 318U is the structure of upper track 104U. Upper tab 214U can contact upper guide rail 318U and slide on upper guide rail 318U. Lower guide rail 318L is the structure of lower track 104L.

[0057] exist Figure 3B The image shows an example track 104, which can be manufactured for mounting on a housing 102. That is, track 104 can be manufactured as a single piece and sized to fit the known dimensions of housing 102.

[0058] exist Figure 3C The diagram shows an example track 104, which can be manufactured in parts for assembly onto a housing 102. Track 104 can be assembled from multiple straight members 330 and multiple bends 332 on a housing of any size, and track 104 does not need to be manufactured to the known dimensions of housing 102. As a non-limiting example, the multiple straight members 330 can be manufactured in various lengths, which the end user can cut to size and install onto housing 102. Furthermore, the multiple bends 332 can be manufactured with various interior angles (e.g., 45°, 70°, 90° (shown), 120°, etc.) to accommodate different bends 317 required for various shapes of housing 102 (e.g., a regular hexagonal housing requires multiple bends 332 with a 120° angle).

[0059] Typically, the doors 106 (and their slats 108) can be mounted on the tracks 104 by loading the slats 108 onto the tracks 104 in the direction of door movement 110. That is, during assembly, one or both ends of the tracks 104 can be open, allowing the slats 108 to slide freely on (and off) the tracks 104 for installation. After installation, the ends of the tracks 104 can be modified to prevent the doors 106 from being removed (e.g., by adding caps and / or stops to the ends of the tracks 104). — Figures 4A-4F —

[0060] Figure 4A This is a schematic diagram of the slats on the track as viewed from the front. Figure 4B This is a schematic diagram of the slats on the track as viewed from the rear. Figure 4C This is a schematic diagram of the slats on the track as viewed from the side. Figure 4D This is a schematic diagram of the end strip at the bend of the track. Figure 4EIt is a schematic diagram showing multiple slats moving around the curved section of the track. Figure 4F This is a top view of the protrusion on the curved part of the track.

[0061] exist Figure 4A and Figure 4B In the example shown, the upper part of the standard slat 108S is interlocked with a portion of the upper track 104U. The downward length of the upper tab 214U can be longer than the upward length of the upper flange 316U. Therefore, by gravity, the lower side of the upper tab 214U contacts the upward side of the upper guide rail 318U. To prevent the standard slat 108S from falling off the upper track 104U, the outward side of the upper tab 214U can contact the inward side of the upper flange 316U, and prevent the standard slat 108S from moving away from the upper track 104U. When installed on the upper track 104U, the standard slat 108S can move freely laterally along the upper track 104U in any direction (i.e., in the direction of door movement 110).

[0062] exist Figure 4C The example shown depicts a side view of a slat 108 mounted on the upper rail 104U and the lower rail 104L. Furthermore, the upper rail 104U and the lower rail 104L are attached to the housing 102. To ensure interlocking, the upper flange 316U protrudes upwards, while the upper tab 214U protrudes downwards. Conversely, to ensure interlocking at the lower portion, the lower flange 316L protrudes downwards, while the lower tab 214L protrudes upwards. Therefore, the lower flange 316L further prevents the slat 108 from moving outwards by contacting the lower tab 214L. That is, although the upper flange 316U (alone) can prevent the slat 108 from moving in a purely outward direction (e.g., ... Figure 4C When moving to the left (as shown), the slat 108 moves away from the upper track 104U, but it may still be able to rotate away from the upper track 104U, thus avoiding contact with the upper flange 316U. However, the lower flange 316L and the lower tab 214L work together to prevent the slat 108 from rotating, thereby preventing the slat 108 from disengaging from the track(s) 104.

[0063] The slat 108 may be configured to have a certain height such that the lower tab 214L does not contact the lower guide rail 318L. In this configuration, the slat 108 may only contact the lower guide rail 104L when it passes around the bends 317 of the rail(s) 104 and / or when it moves outward and causes the tab(s) 214 to press against the flange(s) 316.

[0064] exist Figure 4DIn the example shown, when the doors 106 are in the closed position, the end slats 108E can rest in the bends 317 of the upper rail 104U (and the lower rail 104L, not shown). Since the tabs 214 of the end slats 108E do not extend the entire width of the end slats 108E, the forward-facing surface of the end slats 108E can be placed parallel to the forward-facing surfaces of the housing 102 and the rails 104. Therefore, when viewed from the front, the additional width of the end slats 108E (beyond the tabs 214) obstructs the view of multiple portions of the rails 104 mounted on the sides of the housing 102. Thus, the end slats 108E can allow for the formation of uniformly flat doors 106 that can be laterally adjacent to the doors 106 of adjacent storage units 100 without exposing the rails 104 in between (e.g., see...). Figure 5A ).although Figure 4D The end strip 108E shown is used for the right door 106R, but those skilled in the art will understand upon receiving the benefits of this detailed description that a mirrored end strip 108E (or the vertically inverted end strip 108E shown) would function similarly on the left door 106L (not shown).

[0065] exist Figure 4E In the example, multiple slats 108 (and their tabs 214) are shown passing through the bends 317 of the upper track 104U. When the door 106 (made of slats 108) moves 110, each slat 108 is made to pass through the bends 317 of the upper track 104U (and the lower track 104L, not shown). Because the door 106 is able to conform to the bends 317 of the track 104, the door 106 can be considered "flexible" (even if the individual slats 108 are rigid).

[0066] exist Figure 4F The example shows a cross-sectional top view of a tab 214 that moves against a flange 316 at a bend 317. In one or more embodiments, the rounded surface of the tab 214 helps guide the slat 108 through the bend 317 of the track 104 because the smooth, rounded surface of the tab 214 does not have sharp points that could easily get stuck on the bend 317. That is, without the rounded surface of the tab 214, the original square edge (dashed line) of the tab 214 might overly restrict the movement of the slat 108, thereby greatly increasing the friction between the tab 214 and the track 104, requiring greater force to cause the door to move 110. Figure 4FThe outline of tab 214 without a rounded surface is shown as dashed lines. Potential contact 440 is the volume(s) of tab(s) 214 that would interfere with door movement 110 without the rounded surface of tab 214. It is clear from the depiction that the rounded surface of tab 214 allows the tab to move more smoothly as it moves against flange 316. — Figures 5A-5C —

[0067] Figure 5A It is a schematic diagram of three closed storage cells arranged side by side. Figure 5B This is a schematic diagram of three storage units arranged side by side. Figure 5C This is a schematic diagram of a storage cell, showing a visually uniform door surface.

[0068] like Figure 5A As shown in the example, the storage cells 100 can be arranged relative to each other such that when closed, the end strips 108E can contact each other or have minimal spacing between them. Therefore, a more uniformly flat surface can be formed on multiple closed storage cells 100C. Figure 5B As shown in the example, the doors 106 of different memory cells 100 can be opened / closed independently of other memory cells 100. Therefore, a closed memory cell 100C can be adjacent to a partially open memory cell 100P and / or an open memory cell 100O (and / or any combination thereof).

[0069] Furthermore, since the track 104 is located within the cutout 212 behind the door 106, the track 104 can be considered "hidden." The slats 108 can be constructed to any length to extend above and below the top and bottom surfaces of the housing 102 (i.e., making the slat height longer than the housing height), further obscuring the visibility of the housing 102. Therefore, when the door 106 is in the closed position, from a frontal viewpoint, the track 104, the housing 102, any contents of the housing 102, and the cutout 212 (on the back of the slats 108) can be hidden, leaving only the door 106 visible.

[0070] Apart from Figure 5C The doors 106 are depicted as showing the outlines of multiple individual slats 108 (i.e., having numerous vertical lines indicating the edges of each slat 108). However, when assembled, the individual slats 108 may be less visually perceptible, and the doors 106 may appear to have a single continuous surface. Figure 5C As shown, the closed storage cell 100C includes a left door 106L and a right door 106R; the outline of each individual slat 108 is not depicted. Therefore, Figure 5C An example of (multiple) gates 106 can be described more accurately.

[0071] Due to the smooth, uniform surface of the doors(s) 106, one or more solid colors and / or patterns can be printed on the doors(s) 106 to provide any visual aesthetic effect desired by the user. As a non-limiting example, the user may wish to have a plain white cabinet, a wood grain pattern, or use the natural wood grain pattern of the slats 108.

[0072] In addition, due to Figure 5C The depiction is less cluttered, showing multiple handles 520 on doors 106 (one on the left door 106L and one on the right door 106R). A user of storage unit 100 can use one or more handles 520 to apply a lateral force to the doors 106 and cause the doors to move 110. — General Instructions —

[0073] Since disclosing every conceivable embodiment of the technology described herein is impractical, the accompanying drawings, examples, and descriptions provided herein disclose only a limited number of potential embodiments. Furthermore, certain technical details, known to those skilled in the art, may be omitted for brevity and to avoid cluttering the description of novel aspects. Those skilled in the art will understand that any number of potential modifications or variations can be made to the explicitly disclosed embodiments, and that such alternative embodiments still fall within the scope of the broader technology. Therefore, the scope should be limited only by the appended claims. Moreover, machines, structures, compositions, and methods may be described herein using terms such as “comprising,” “including,” or “having” various components or steps. Those machines, structures, compositions, and methods may also “consist of” or “substantially consist of” those same components or steps.

[0074] For further brevity, if a description of a similarly named component exists elsewhere in this application, that description may be omitted. Therefore, any component described with respect to a particular figure may be equivalent to any one or more similarly named components shown or described in any other figure, and each component includes a description of each similarly named component provided in this application (unless explicitly stated otherwise). The description of any component should be interpreted as an alternative embodiment—it may be implemented in addition to, in combination with, or in place of embodiments of similarly named components described for any other figure. — Vocabulary Explanation —

[0075] As used in this article, ordinal adjectives (e.g., first, second, third, etc.) are used to distinguish elements and do not create any order of elements. As an example, "first element" is different from "second element," but "first element" may appear after (or before) "second element" in the order of elements. Therefore, an order of elements exists only when an ordering term (e.g., "before," "between," "after," etc.) or a certain type of "order" (e.g., "in chronological order," "in alphabetical order," "in size," etc.) is explicitly provided. Furthermore, the use of ordinal numbers does not exclude the existence of other elements. As an example, "a table with a first leg and a second leg" is any table with two or more legs (e.g., two legs, five legs, thirteen legs, etc.). A maximum number of elements exists only when explicit language is used to limit the upper limit (e.g., "two or fewer," "exactly five," "nine to twenty," etc.). Similarly, the singular use of ordinal numbers does not imply the existence of another element. As an example, "first threshold" may be the only threshold, so the existence of "second threshold" is not necessarily required. As used herein, the indefinite articles “a” and “an” mean “one or more.” That is, explicitly mentioning “a” element does not exclude the existence of a second element, a third element, etc. Furthermore, the definite articles (e.g., “the”, “the”) mean “any one” (among “one or more” elements) when referring to previously introduced elements. As an example, there may be a “processor,” where such a mention does not exclude the existence of any number of other processors. Furthermore, “the processor receives data, and the processor processes data” means “any one of the one or more processors receives data” and “any one of the one or more processors processes data.” It is not required that the same processor both (i) receives data and (ii) processes data. Instead, each step (“receives” and “processes”) can be performed by different processors.

Claims

1. A door mechanism, the door mechanism comprising: The track includes: Flange; and A door mounted on the track, the door comprising: First slat; and Second strip.

2. The door mechanism according to claim 1, wherein: The first strip includes a first protrusion, and The second strip includes a second protrusion.

3. The door mechanism according to claim 2, wherein, The door is mounted on the track using the first tab and the second tab.

4. The door mechanism according to claim 3, wherein, The flange and the first tab are configured to prevent the door from being removed from the track.

5. The door mechanism according to claim 4, wherein, When a lateral force is applied to the door, the door is configured to move.

6. The door mechanism according to claim 5, wherein: The track includes a curved section, and The door is configured to pass through the bend while remaining mounted on the track.

7. The door mechanism according to claim 6, wherein: The first protrusion includes a first rounded surface, and The second tab includes a second rounded surface.

8. The door mechanism according to claim 7, wherein, When the door passes through the bend, the first rounded surface contacts the flange.

9. A storage unit, the storage unit comprising: The enclosure includes: The exterior front; and External side; The first track is mounted on the outer front and the outer side; and A door mounted on the first track, the door comprising: Multiple slats.

10. The storage unit according to claim 9, wherein, The second track is installed on the front and the sides of the exterior.

11. The storage unit according to claim 10, wherein, The door is installed on the second track.

12. The storage unit according to claim 11, wherein, Each of the plurality of slats includes a first tab and a second tab.

13. The storage unit according to claim 12, wherein, Each of the plurality of slats has a first tab mounted on the first track.

14. The storage unit according to claim 13, wherein, Each of the plurality of slats has a second tab mounted on the second track.

15. The storage unit according to claim 14, wherein, When the door moves, the door remains outside the enclosure.

16. A storage unit, the storage unit comprising: The enclosure includes: External front; The opening in the outer front; An upper track installed on the outer front, above the opening; A lower track mounted on the outer front, located below the opening; and A door installed on the upper track and the lower track, the door comprising: Multiple slats.

17. The storage unit according to claim 16, wherein, The height of the door is greater than the height of the box.

18. The storage unit according to claim 17, wherein, When the door is in the closed position and the storage unit is viewed from the front, the exterior front and the opening are not visible.

19. The storage unit according to claim 18, wherein, When the door is in the closed position and the storage unit is viewed from the front, the upper and lower tracks are not visible.

20. The storage unit according to claim 19, wherein: The enclosure also includes external sides; The plurality of slats includes end slats; and When the door is in the closed position and the storage unit is viewed from the front, the end slats obstruct the view of the external sides.

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