US4027715A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Door
Assignee: TOHMA KOHAN KK
•
Filing: 1975-11-21
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Granted: 1977-06-07
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Expires: 1995-11-21
Abstract
Abstract A flexible door comprising a tough, nonelastic flexible sheet and a plurality of straight, plate-like unit blocks, each having a rectangular section and each being adhered to the sheet, the blocks being arranged side-by-side in contact with each other. The door is fixed to a post at one end and has a handle at the other end. When one side of the door formed by the unit blocks is pressed on, the side surfaces of adjacent unit blocks intimately contact each other, permitting the nonelastic sheet to keep the door planar in a closed position. When the handle on the other side, namely, on the sheet side, is pulled, the door flexes to an open position within a narrow space. The door can be installed in the same manner as a swing door without the necessity of providing a special guide and fixture on the lintel, floor, sill, etc.
Inventors
- 👤 Tsuyoshi Tohma
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 05:57
CPC Classifications
E; E06; E06B; E06B3/00; E06B3/70; E06B3/80
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
359 words
A door assembly comprising: a. a pair of spaced, parallel, vertical posts; b. a horizontal lintel and a spaced, parallel horizontal floor defining portion both of which extend between said posts; said lintel, said floor defining portion of said posts defining a door opening; c. a door in said opening, said door including a tough, flexible, substantially non-elastic sheet and a plurality of vertical unit blocks fixed to one surface of said sheet and arranged in side-by-side relationship with each other, each of the unit blocks having a thickness substantially greater than the thickness of the flexible sheet: d. said door having a first vertical door side closely adjacent to and parallel with one of said vertical posts and a second vertical door side closely adjacent to and parallel with the other of said vertical posts; e. each of said unit blocks having vertical side surfaces the entireties of which are of a flat planar configuration, the side surfaces of adjacent unit blocks fully contacting each other when said door is in said closed position; f. said unit blocks being arranged in a series, all of said unit blocks extending substantially the entire vertical length of said posts in parallel relationship therewith, a first unit block of said series being disposed immediately adjacent said one vertical post, one of said vertical side surfaces of said first unit block facing said one post and defining said first vertical door side, said door being fixedly connected with said one vertical post by connecting means, said connecting means being coupled with said door in the region of said first vertical door side; g. said door being unconnected with said lintel and floor defining portion and being free to swing away therefrom during opening; h. whereby said door may flex sideways toward said sheet to an open position while permitting each of the unit blocks to move out of contact with the side surface of each adjacent unit block, the door being retainable in its closed position by each of the unit blocks coming into intimate fitting contact with the side surface of each adjacent unit block to prevent the door from warping.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
359 words
A door assembly comprising: a. a pair of spaced, parallel, vertical posts; b. a horizontal lintel and a spaced, parallel horizontal floor defining portion both of which extend between said posts; said lintel, said floor defining portion of said posts defining a door opening; c. a door in said opening, said door including a tough, flexible, substantially non-elastic sheet and a plurality of vertical unit blocks fixed to one surface of said sheet and arranged in side-by-side relationship with each other, each of the unit blocks having a thickness substantially greater than the thickness of the flexible sheet: d. said door having a first vertical door side closely adjacent to and parallel with one of said vertical posts and a second vertical door side closely adjacent to and parallel with the other of said vertical posts; e. each of said unit blocks having vertical side surfaces the entireties of which are of a flat planar configuration, the side surfaces of adjacent unit blocks fully contacting each other when said door is in said closed position; f. said unit blocks being arranged in a series, all of said unit blocks extending substantially the entire vertical length of said posts in parallel relationship therewith, a first unit block of said series being disposed immediately adjacent said one vertical post, one of said vertical side surfaces of said first unit block facing said one post and defining said first vertical door side, said door being fixedly connected with said one vertical post by connecting means, said connecting means being coupled with said door in the region of said first vertical door side; g. said door being unconnected with said lintel and floor defining portion and being free to swing away therefrom during opening; h. whereby said door may flex sideways toward said sheet to an open position while permitting each of the unit blocks to move out of contact with the side surface of each adjacent unit block, the door being retainable in its closed position by each of the unit blocks coming into intimate fitting contact with the side surface of each adjacent unit block to prevent the door from warping.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A door as defined in claim 1 wherein the side surfaces of each of the unit blocks are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the flexible sheet, and wherein the door and sheet are substantially planar when the door is closed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A door as defined in claim 1 wherein the side surfaces of each of the unit blocks are inclined with respect to the flexible sheet and the door has a curved configuration when closed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A door as defined in claim 1 wherein the unit blocks are each in the form of a hollow tube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A door as defined in claim 4 wherein the unit blocks are each filled with a synthetic resin in the interior of each hollow tube.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A door as defined in claim 1 including elastic means extending transversely through the unit blocks and connecting the unit blocks together to impart a restoring force to the door.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A door as defined in claim 1 including straight, strip-like backing plates having a width not greater than the width of the unit blocks, said backing plates being adhered to the other surface of the flexible sheet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A door as defined in claim 1, including a last unit block of said series, said last unit block being provided with a latch and a handle.
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Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-06-06 | 1980-12-06 | 1981-06-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-06-06 | 1984-12-06 | 1985-06-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-06-06 | 1988-12-06 | 1989-06-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |