Sliding doors and storage devices

Abstract

To realize a structure in which sliding doors move relative to one another without rattling in a front-rear direction, including during operation.SOLUTION: In a sliding door B in which sliding doors 1-3 can move relative to one another between an open state B(1) where they substantially overlap one another and a closed state B(2) where the overlap is almost dissolved in a width direction, over most an operation area from the opening state B(1) to the closed state B(2), regulation means 7 is provided that regulates the adjacent sliding doors 1, 2 and the adjacent sliding doors 2, 3 together in a front-rear direction while allowing the relative movement in the width direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a sliding door and a storage device that enable the sliding doors to relatively move in the front-rear direction without rattling.

Background Art

[0002] As this type of sliding door, for example, the one shown in Patent Document 1 etc. is known. This one is configured such that a plurality of sliding doors can relatively move in the width direction between an open state where they substantially overlap each other and a closed state where the overlap is substantially eliminated.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, although the sliding doors are supported by upper and lower rails, a gap between the sliding doors is particularly noticeable when in the closed state. Therefore, in a conventional sliding door, as shown in FIG. 10, when the sliding doors 101 and 102 are brought from the state of FIG. 10(a) to the closed state as shown in FIG. 10(b), a locking portion 107 for engaging one sliding door 101 with the other sliding door 102 in the width direction is provided.

[0005] However, in this structure, the engagement between the sliding doors 101 and 102 is shallow, and the locking position between the sliding doors 101 and 102 is limited to the closed position shown in Figure 11(a), and it does not function in any position other than the closed position shown in Figure 11(b). As a result, the rattling of the sliding doors 101 and 102 in positions other than the closed position can easily lead to an improper relationship between them and the upper and lower rails on the storage device body, which can result in problems such as incomplete opening, closing, and locking when closed, as well as the doors being easily dislodged by external forces during assembly and transportation.

[0006] In particular, with sliding doors 101 and 102 of a sliding door system that are narrow in width, tall in height, and thin in thickness, such as the so-called high-type doors, warping and bending are more likely to occur in the middle section in the vertical direction, making the above-mentioned problems more pronounced.

[0007] This invention focuses on these problems and aims to solve the aforementioned problems by realizing a structure in which sliding doors move relative to each other without rattling in the front-to-back direction, including during operation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To achieve this objective, the present invention employs the following means.

[0009] In other words, the sliding doors according to the present invention are configured such that a plurality of sliding doors can move relative to each other in the width direction between an open state in which they substantially overlap and a closed state in which the overlap is almost eliminated, A restricting mechanism is provided that restricts the movement of adjacent sliding doors in the front-to-back direction while allowing relative movement in the width direction, across most of the operating range from the open state to the closed state. The regulating means is configured to include an engaged portion provided on one of the adjacent sliding doors and an engaging portion provided on the other of the adjacent sliding doors that engages with the engaged portion in the front-rear direction, and an L-shaped rail member with the engaged portion provided is provided along the width direction on the back surface of one of the adjacent sliding doors.

[0010] In this way, the sliding doors restrict each other's movement even at intermediate positions during opening and closing, suppressing rattling, warping, and bending of the sliding doors themselves, and enabling proper operation from the closed state to the open state.

[0012] In the sliding doors according to the present invention, the rail member is provided on the back surface of the vertically intermediate portion of one of the adjacent sliding doors. In the sliding door according to the present invention, the rail member has a vertical piece and a horizontal piece, and the vertical piece functions as a mounting portion to the sliding door.

[0013] The sliding doors according to the present invention are configured such that a plurality of sliding doors can move relative to each other in the width direction between an open state in which they substantially overlap and a closed state in which the overlap is substantially eliminated, and a restricting means is provided over most of the operating range from the open state to the closed state that restricts adjacent sliding doors from moving in the front-rear direction while allowing relative movement in the width direction, and the restricting means is configured to include an engaged portion provided on one of the adjacent sliding doors and an engaging portion provided on the other of the adjacent sliding doors that engages with the engaged portion in the front-rear direction, and the engaged portion has a notch that receives the engaging portion when the sliding doors substantially overlap in the front-rear direction, and the engaging portion engages with the engaged portion by moving the sliding doors relative to each other in the width direction in a direction that eliminates the overlap from a position in which they substantially overlap in the front-rear direction. In this way, the sliding doors restrict each other's movement even at intermediate positions during opening and closing, suppressing rattling, warping, and bending of the sliding doors themselves, and enabling proper operation from the closed state to the open state. This is preferable for easily assembling the restricting mechanism.

[0014] In order to maintain the assembled state, it is desirable to provide a second restricting means that restricts the engaging portion from disengaging from the engaged portion after it has engaged with the engaged portion.

[0015] A convenient second regulating means is preferably a closing member that closes the notch in the engaging portion.

[0016] To make the regulation simple and reliable, it is desirable that the engaging portion be a vertical piece.

[0017] To make the regulation simple and reliable, it is desirable that the engaging portion be a groove in a protruding member provided on one of the adjacent sliding doors, extending from the other to the other.

[0018] In that case, in order to avoid interference between the restricting means, it is desirable to make the height positions of the restricting means provided between the respective pairs of sliding doors different from each other.

[0019] When adopting a configuration in which an interlocking mechanism for interlocking each sliding door at the position where the engaging portion engages with the engaged portion is attached, it is desirable to assemble the interlocking mechanism so that it functions as a second restricting means for restricting the engaging portion from releasing the engagement with the engaged portion again.

[0020] If the sliding doors of the present invention are engaged with rails provided at the upper and lower edges of the opening of the storage device main body to constitute the storage device, the rails themselves also serve as restricting means for restricting the sliding doors in the front-rear direction, and the sliding doors can appropriately maintain the relationship with the rails during the opening and closing operation of the sliding doors. As a result, it is possible to effectively solve problems such as the problem that the open state, the closed state, and the locked state at the time of closing become incomplete, and the problem that it is easily detached when an external force is applied during assembly and transportation.

[0021]

Advantages of the Invention

[0022] Through the configuration described above, the sliding doors of the present invention restrict each other's movement forward and backward even at intermediate positions during opening and closing. This suppresses rattling, warping, and bending of the sliding doors, and enables proper operation from the closed state to the open state. This provides a sliding door and storage device that achieves this. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0023] [Figure 1] A diagonal front perspective view of a storage device using sliding doors according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] A schematic plan view showing the open, closed, and intermediate states of the sliding door. [Figure 3] Rear view of the sliding door. [Figure 4] Partially enlarged perspective view of Figure 4. [Figure 5] A partially exploded perspective view of the regulatory means according to the same embodiment. [Figure 6] A partially enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the regulatory device. [Figure 7] A diagram showing the assembly procedure for the regulatory device. [Figure 8] A diagram showing the assembly procedure for the interlocking member in the same embodiment. [Figure 9] A diagram showing the operating state of the assembled regulatory device. [Figure 10] This figure corresponds to Figure 7, which shows a conventional example. [Figure 11] This figure corresponds to Figure 2, which shows a conventional example. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0024] Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0025] The storage device A shown in Figure 1 applies the sliding door B of this embodiment to a three-panel sliding door, with sliding doors 1 to 3 positioned to close the opening of the storage device body 4. This storage device is a so-called high-type, with each sliding door being narrow in width, tall in height, and relatively thin in thickness.

[0026] Sliding doors 1 to 3 are arranged to slide across each other as shown in Figures 2(a) to (c), engaging with upper and lower rails R provided in the opening of the storage device body 4. When closed, there is a slight overlap between sliding door 1 (the sliding door on the right side when viewed from the front) and the intermediate sliding door 2, and between the intermediate sliding door 2 and sliding door 3 (the sliding door on the left side when viewed from the front). Hereinafter, the sliding door on the right side when viewed from the front will be referred to as the first sliding door 1, the intermediate sliding door as the second sliding door 2, and the sliding door on the left side when viewed from the front as the third sliding door 3.

[0027] The first sliding door 1 and the third sliding door 3 have latches 1r and 3r as shown in Figure 2, and these latches 1r and 3r are configured to be locked to the inner surface of the side plate 41 of the corresponding storage device body 4 when closed. Handles 13 and 33, as shown in Figure 1, are provided near the edges 11 and 32 of the first sliding door 1 and the third sliding door 3 that are furthest from the second sliding door 2, and these handles 13 and 33 allow the latches 1r and 3r to be released.

[0028] Figure 3 shows the sliding door B from the rear side. The three sliding doors 1 to 3 that make up the sliding door B are linked together by an interlocking mechanism 5.

[0029] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the interlocking mechanism 5 is composed of guide rails 24 and 34 extending vertically on the back surfaces of the second sliding door 2 and the third sliding door 3, a long interlocking member 51 with one end 51a attached to the back surface of the first sliding door 1 around a pivot m1, and rollers 52 and 53 attached to the middle and other ends of the interlocking member 51 via pivots m2 and m3, which engage with the guide rails 24 and 34 so as to be vertically slidable. The mounting position of one end 51a of the interlocking member 51 is from the edge 11 of the first sliding door 1 opposite to the edge 12 adjacent to the second sliding door 2, and the positions of the guide rails 24 and 34 are set from the edge 21 on the first sliding door 1 side of the second sliding door 2 and from the edge 31 on the second sliding door side of the third sliding door 3, respectively.

[0030] When the interlocking member 51 rotates from the approximately horizontal position 51(P) shown in Figure 3 to the upright position 51(Q) with one end 51a as the pivot point, the rollers 52 and 53 move upward within the guide rails 24 and 34, and the second sliding door 2 and the third sliding door 3 move in conjunction in the direction of overlapping the first sliding door 1 along the leftward-pointing arrow in Figure 3, reaching the open state (see Figure 2(c)) in which the opening of the storage device A is opened. Also, when the interlocking member 51 rotates from the upright position 51(Q) to the approximately horizontal position 51(P) with one end 51a as the pivot point, the rollers 52 and 53 move downward within the guide rails 4 and 34, and the second sliding door 2 and the third sliding door 3 move in conjunction in the direction of moving away from the first sliding door 1 along the rightward-pointing arrow in Figure 3, reaching the closed state (see Figure 2(a)) in which the storage device is closed.

[0031] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the interlocking member 51 has a U-shaped cross-section that opens in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. By receiving the second sliding door 2 and the third sliding door 3 inside the U-shaped section in the upright position 51(Q), the edges 21 and 31 of the second and third sliding doors can be positioned as close as possible to the edge 11 of the first sliding door, as shown in Figure 2(c).

[0032] The interlocking mechanism 5 is configured such that its interlocking is constrained by the locking mechanism 6 shown in Figure 4. The locking mechanism 6 consists of a locking section 61 having a deadbolt 61a attached to the faceplate of the third sliding door 3, and a transmission shaft 62 arranged such that a bent portion 62a at one end engages with the deadbolt 61a of the locking section 61, and a bent portion 62b at the other end can engage with and disengage from a hole 51b provided at the other end of the interlocking member 51.

[0033] When the deadbolt 61a moves up or down due to the rotation of the locking part 61, the bent part 62a at one end of the transmission shaft 62 is biased accordingly, causing the transmission shaft 62 to rotate. The bent part 62b at the other end of the transmission shaft 62 moves toward the front of the paper and engages with the hole 51b at the other end of the interlocking member 51(P), which is in a nearly horizontal position in the closed state shown in Figure 3, thereby locking the sliding door B. When the locking part 61 is operated in the reverse direction, the bent part 62b moves toward the back of the paper shown in Figure 3 and disengages from the hole 51b, releasing the interlocking member 51 from its locked state and allowing it to operate upward.

[0034] As shown in Figure 2(c), although the edges 12 of the first sliding door 1 and the edges 22 of the second sliding door 2 are almost aligned when the doors are opened, if the edges 22 of the second sliding door 2 and the edges 32 of the third sliding door 3 are completely overlapped, it becomes impossible to operate the handle 33 of the rear sliding door 3. Therefore, the rear sliding door 3 is provided with the necessary remaining opening distance d.

[0035] In the above configuration, in this embodiment, a restricting means 7 is provided that restricts the movement of adjacent first and second sliding doors 1 and 2, and adjacent second and third sliding doors 2 and 3, in the front-to-back direction while allowing relative movement in the width direction, over most of the operating range from the open state B(1) of the sliding door B shown in Figure 2(c) to the closed state B(2) of the sliding door B shown in Figure 2(a).

[0036] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the restricting means 7 is composed of a vertical piece 71c, which is an engaged portion, provided on the rail member 71, and a groove 72a, which is an engaged portion, provided on the protruding member 72. The rail member 71 is made by bending a sheet metal material into an L-shape to form a vertical piece 71a and a horizontal piece 71b, and then folding the tip of the horizontal piece 71b back to form the vertical piece 71c. The vertical piece 71a functions as an attachment portion to the sliding door 1(2), and the vertical piece 71c has its upper end open and functions as an engaged portion, which is the engagement point of the engaging portion 72a on the sliding door 2(3) side.

[0037] The protruding member 72 is made of a resin material molded into a block shape and is positioned opposite the rail member 71. It has a downward-facing groove 72a which is an engaging portion that engages with the vertical piece 71c of the rail member 71. This groove 72a is composed of vertical pieces 72a1 and 72a2 that sandwich the upright piece 71c from the front and rear directions, and a horizontal piece 72a3 that connects the vertical pieces 72a1 and 72a2.

[0038] Looking at the relationship between the first sliding door 1 and the second sliding door 2, as shown in Figures 2 and 4, the rail member 71 is provided over substantially the entire widthwise area on the back surface of the first sliding door 1, and a notch 71d is provided on one end of the vertical piece 71c in the widthwise direction.

[0039] On the other hand, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the protruding member 72 has mounting pieces 72f and 72g that are inserted into windows f and g provided on one end edge of the second sliding door 2. These mounting pieces 72f and 72g and the groove 72a which serves as the engagement portion are integrally molded, and a protruding portion 72b is provided on the inside of the groove 72a to limit contact with the vertical piece 71c.

[0040] In the position shown in Figure 2(c), where the first and second sliding doors 1 and 2 are substantially overlapped, the notch 71d provided in the vertical piece 71c, as shown in Figure 7(a), faces the protruding member 72 and is in a position where the groove 72a, which is the engaging portion of the protruding member 72, can be received within the rail member 71. Then, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 7(b), the groove 72a, which is the engaging portion of the protruding member 72, is received within the rail member 71, and by moving the second sliding door 2 from that position in a direction that eliminates the overlap with the first sliding door 1, the groove 72a, which is the engaging portion of the engaging member 72, engages with the vertical piece 71c, thereby restricting the second sliding door 2 in the front-rear direction relative to the first sliding door 1.

[0041] The relationship between the second sliding door 2 and the third sliding door 3 is similar, as shown in Figures 2 and 4. The rail member 71 is provided over substantially the entire widthwise area on the back surface of the second sliding door 2, and a notch 71d is provided on one end of the vertical piece 71c in the widthwise direction.

[0042] On the other hand, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the protruding member 72 has mounting pieces 72f and 72g that are inserted into windows f and g provided on one end edge of the third sliding door 3. These mounting pieces 72f and 72g and the groove 72a, which is the aforementioned engaging part, are integrally molded, and a protruding portion 72b is provided on the inside of the groove 72a to limit contact with the vertical piece 71c.

[0043] In the position shown in Figure 2(c), where the second and third sliding doors 2 and 3 are substantially overlapped, the notch 71d provided in the vertical piece 71c, as shown in Figure 7(a), faces the protruding member 72 and is in a position to receive the groove 72a, which is the engaging portion of the protruding member 72, into the rail member 71. Then, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 7(b), the groove 72a, which is the engaging portion of the protruding member 72, is received into the rail member 71, and by moving the third sliding door 3 from that position in a direction that eliminates the overlap with the second sliding door 2, the groove 72a, which is the engaging portion of the engaging member 72, engages with the vertical piece 71c, thereby restricting the third sliding door 3 in the front-rear direction relative to the second sliding door 2.

[0044] Such restricting means 7 are incorporated when the sliding doors 1 to 3 are attached to the storage device body 4. That is, the first sliding door 1 is first engaged with the upper and lower rails R, and then the second sliding door 2 is engaged with the upper and lower rails R in a substantially overlapping position, at which point the engaging portion 72a is received within the rail member 71 via the notch 71d. At this position, the engaging portion 72a will not immediately disengage from the notch 71 unless the second sliding door 2 is removed from the rails R. Subsequently, by moving the second sliding door 2 in the closing direction relative to the first sliding door 1, the engagement of the groove 72a, which is the engaging portion, with the vertical piece 71c is completed.

[0045] Similarly, if the second sliding door 2 is first engaged with the upper and lower rails R, and then the third sliding door 3 is engaged with the upper and lower rails R in a nearly overlapping position, the engaging portion 72a is received within the rail member 71 via the notch 71d at that position. At this position, the engaging portion 72a will not immediately disengage from the notch 71 unless the third sliding door 3 is removed from the rails R. Subsequently, by moving the third sliding door 3 in the closing direction relative to the second sliding door 2, the engagement of the groove 72a, which is the engaging portion, with the vertical piece 71c is completed.

[0046] As shown in Figure 3, sliding doors 1 to 3 engage with the upper and lower rails R via active members s and t, such as wheels or sliders, located at the top and bottom. When attaching sliding doors 1 to 3 to the rails R, the lower active member s is first engaged with the lower rail R in a vertical position, and then the upper active member t is extended upward from its retracted position and clicked into place, thereby engaging the active member t with the upper rail R.

[0047] In this embodiment, the interlocking member 51 is installed with the sliding doors 1 to 3 substantially overlapped and attached to the rail member R. As mentioned above, the position where the sliding doors 1 to 3 are substantially overlapped is a position where the groove 72a, which is the engaging part, can be inserted into the notch 71d, and conversely, a position where it can be detached. At this position, the rollers 52 and 53 of the interlocking member 51 shown in Figure 8 are dropped from above onto the guide rails 24 and 34 of the second and third sliding doors 2 and 3 and engaged, and the base end 51a of the interlocking member 51 is attached to the back surface of the first sliding door 1 around the support shaft m1 at the engaged position. As a result, the sliding doors 1 to 3 are connected by the interlocking member 51, and their interlocking begins, and the sliding doors 1 to 3 as a whole become a restrained chain state, making it difficult for them to come off the upper and lower rails R. Furthermore, as long as the base end 51a of the interlocking member 51 is not removed from the support shaft m, the restraining chain of the sliding doors 1 to 3 is not released, the sliding doors 1 to 3 are difficult to remove from the rail R, and the groove 72a, which is the engaging part, is difficult to disengage from the notch 71d, and the interlocking mechanism 5 functions as the second restraining means of the present invention.

[0048] As described above, the assembly is completed with the sliding doors 1-2 and 2-3 restricted in the front-to-back direction by the restricting means 7, and as shown in Figure 9, sliding doors 1-3 slide while being restricted by the restricting means 7 throughout almost the entire range of operation. The restricting means 7(1) installed between sliding doors 1 and 2 and the restricting means 7(2) installed between sliding doors 2 and 3 are at different height positions.

[0049] As described above, the sliding doors B of this embodiment allow a plurality of sliding doors 1 to 3 to move relative to each other in the width direction between an open state B(1) where they substantially overlap each other and a closed state B(2) where the overlap is almost eliminated. Restricting means 7(1) and 7(2) are provided over most of the operating range from the open state B(1) to the closed state B(2) to restrict the movement of adjacent sliding doors 1 and 2, and sliding doors 2 and 3, in the front-to-back direction while allowing relative movement in the width direction.

[0050] In this way, even at intermediate positions in the opening and closing of sliding doors 1 to 3, sliding doors 1 and 2, and sliding doors 2 and 3, restrict each other's movement in the front and back directions. This suppresses rattling, warping, and bending of sliding doors 1 to 3, and allows for proper operation from the closed state B(2) to the open state B(1).

[0051] Specifically, the regulating means 7 is configured to include an engaged portion 71c provided on one of the adjacent sliding doors 1, 2 (2, 3), and an engaging portion 72a provided on the other adjacent sliding door 1, 2 (2, 3) that engages with the engaged portion 71c in the front-rear direction.

[0052] In this way, since the engagement is in the vertical direction, the restriction in the front-to-back direction can be maintained even while the sliding doors 1 to 3 are operating, and the front-to-back restriction can also be appropriately set through the positional relationship between the engaged portion 71c and the engaging portion 72a.

[0053] Furthermore, because the engaged portion 71c is a vertical piece, the forward and backward movement can be easily and appropriately restricted.

[0054] Furthermore, the engaging portion 72a is a groove in a protruding member 72 provided on the sliding doors 1 and 2 (2 and 3) from one side toward the other, and by fixing the protruding member 72 to the sliding doors 1 and 2, the strength of the groove 72a and, consequently, the strength of the restraint can be ensured.

[0055] On the other hand, the vertical piece 71c, which is the engaged part, has a notch 71d that receives the engaging part 72a when sliding doors 1 and 2 and sliding doors 2 and 3 are substantially overlapped in the front-rear direction, and the engaging part 72a engages with the vertical piece 71c, which is the engaged part, by moving the sliding doors 1 and 2 and sliding doors 2 and 3 relative to each other in the width direction from the overlapping position in a direction that eliminates the overlap, so that the regulating means 7 can be assembled very easily.

[0056] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a second restricting means 51 is provided that prevents the groove 72a, which is the engaging part, from disengaging from the vertical piece 71c, which is the engaged part, after it has engaged with the vertical piece 71c, which is the engaged part. Therefore, even when sliding doors 1 and 2 and sliding doors 2 and 3 are in an open state B(1) where they are substantially overlapping, it is possible to prevent the restriction between sliding doors 1 and 2 and sliding doors 2 and 3 from being released.

[0057] In particular, in this embodiment, the sliding door A is composed of three sliding doors 1 to 3, and regulating means 7(1) and 7(2) are provided between adjacent pairs of sliding doors 1 and 2, and between sliding doors 2 and 3, so that even if the number of sliding doors increases, the accumulation of rattling and other issues can be suppressed.

[0058] In this case, the height positions of the restricting means 7(1) and 7(2) installed between sliding doors 1 and 2, and between sliding doors 2 and 3, are different, so that interference between the restricting means 7(1) and 7(2) can be avoided even when sliding doors 1 to 3 are in a position where they are roughly overlapping.

[0059] In particular, an interlocking mechanism 5 is installed that interlocks each of the sliding doors 1 to 3 when the engaging portion 72a is engaged with the engaged portion 71c. Since the interlocking mechanism 5 functions as a second restricting means that prevents the engaging portion 72a from disengaging from the engaged portion 71c again, the second restricting means can be constructed using only the necessary component parts.

[0060] Furthermore, since the sliding doors B configured in this way are engaged with rails R provided on the upper and lower edges of the opening of the storage device body 4 to constitute the storage device A, the rails R themselves also serve as a restricting means that restricts sliding doors 1 and 2 from each other and sliding doors 2 and 3 from each other in the front-to-back direction. As a result, the sliding doors B can maintain an appropriate relationship with the rails R during the opening and closing operation of sliding doors 1 to 3. Consequently, problems such as incomplete opening (B(1)), closing (B(2)), and locking when closed, as well as the problem of the doors easily coming loose when external force is applied during assembly and transportation, can be effectively resolved.

[0061] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the specific configuration of each part is not limited to the embodiment described above.

[0062] For example, in terms of forming a restricting mechanism by inserting an engaging part through a notch, the engaging part may be a roller or slider that engages between vertical pieces, in addition to a groove that engages with a vertical piece.

[0063] Furthermore, from the perspective of constructing a regulating mechanism by engaging a groove with a vertical piece, an installation procedure may be adopted in which the engaging portion of one sliding door is dropped from above and engaged with the vertical piece of the other sliding door.

[0064] Furthermore, the engaged portion is not limited to the form of a vertical piece, as long as it can be engaged in the front-to-back direction.

[0065] Sliding doors can, of course, consist of two or four or more sliding doors.

[0066] In the above embodiment, the interlocking member was used as the second restricting means. However, in cases such as when a sliding door consists of two sliding doors, the engaging portion can be engaged and then closed with a closing member to fill the notch in the vertical piece, thereby also serving as the second restricting means.

[0067] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, a vertical piece is provided on the sliding door 1(2) side and an engaging portion is provided on the sliding door 2(3) side, but of course, the engaging portion may be provided on the sliding door 1(2) side and the vertical piece on the sliding door 2(3) side.

[0068] Other configurations can also be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0069] 1… Sliding door 2… Sliding door 3… Sliding door 7… Regulatory measures 7(1) ... Regulatory measures 7(2) ... Regulatory measures 51... Interlocking member (regulating means) 71c...Engaged part (vertical piece) 71d... Notch 72…Protruding member 72a…Engagement part (groove) A... Storage device B... Sliding door B(1)...Kaisei state B(2)... Closed state R... Rail

Claims

1. In a system in which multiple sliding doors are capable of relative movement in the width direction between an open state where they are roughly overlapping and a closed state where the overlap is almost eliminated, Over most of the operating range from the open state to the closed state, a restricting means is provided that restricts adjacent sliding doors in the front-to-back direction while allowing relative movement in the width direction. The regulating means is configured to include an engaged portion provided on one of the adjacent sliding doors and an engaging portion provided on the other of the adjacent sliding doors that engages with the engaged portion in the front-rear direction. A sliding door in which an L-shaped rail member with the aforementioned engaging portion is provided along the width direction on the back surface of one of the adjacent sliding doors.

2. The sliding door according to Claim 1, wherein the rail member is provided on the back surface of the vertically intermediate portion of one of the adjacent sliding doors.

3. The sliding door according to claim 1, wherein the rail member has a vertical piece and a horizontal piece, and the vertical piece functions as a mounting part for the sliding door.

4. In a system in which multiple sliding doors are capable of relative movement in the width direction between an open state where they are roughly overlapping and a closed state where the overlap is almost eliminated, Over most of the operating range from the open state to the closed state, a restricting means is provided that restricts adjacent sliding doors in the front-to-back direction while allowing relative movement in the width direction. The regulating means is configured to include an engaged portion provided on one of the adjacent sliding doors and an engaging portion provided on the other of the adjacent sliding doors that engages with the engaged portion in the front-rear direction. The engaging portion has a notch that receives the engaging portion when the sliding doors are substantially overlapped in the front-to-back direction, and the engaging portion engages with the engaging portion when the sliding doors are moved relative to each other in the width direction from a position where they are substantially overlapped in the front-to-back direction.

5. A sliding door according to claim 4, further comprising a second restricting means for restricting the engagement of the engaging portion from disengaging from the engaged portion after it has engaged with the engaged portion.

6. The sliding door according to claim 5, wherein the second restricting means is a closing member that closes the notch in the engaging portion.

7. The sliding door according to claim 1 or 4, wherein the engaged portion is a vertical piece.

8. The sliding door according to claim 1 to 4, wherein the engaging portion is a groove of a protruding member provided from one adjacent sliding door toward the other.

9. Equipped with three or more sliding doors, and adjacent sets of sliding doors A sliding door according to claim 1 or 4, wherein the aforementioned restricting means is provided between them.

10. The sliding door according to claim 9, wherein the height positions of the restricting means provided between each set of sliding doors are different.

11. A sliding door according to claim 1 or 4, wherein an interlocking mechanism is installed to interlock each sliding door at the position in which the engaging portion is engaged with the engaged portion, and the interlocking mechanism functions as a second restricting means to restrict the engaging portion from disengaging from the engaged portion again.

12. A storage device characterized in that a sliding door according to any one of claims 1 to 11 is engaged with rails provided on the upper and lower edges of the opening of the storage device body.

Images