AU2009100785C4 - Integral profiled door jamb - Google Patents

Abstract

An integral profiled door jamb assembly for a cubicle or compartment wherein the closing edge of the door and the edge of the partition or wall upon which the door closes, 5 each have a complementary or mating profile such that there is a partial overlapping of the closing edges. The thickness of the door and the thickness of the partition or wall are the same such that when the door is closed there is a flush surface when viewed both from the outside and the inside of the cubicle or compartment whereby privacy is afforded by the partially overlapping profiles. - 10 -

Description

INNOVATION PATENT APPLICATION INTEGRAL PROFILED DOOR JAMB 5 FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to light weight closure members in particular doors and walls or partitions for lavatory or toilet cubicles which require a flush joining surface for hygiene and aesthetic considerations. 10 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Toilet and lavatory cubicles as public conveniences are well known. These are found in airport lounges, hotels, hospitals, shopping centres and the like. In most cases the walls or partitions of the cubicles are commonly shared and the cubicle doors are raised on 15 pedestals or short stilts according to municipal requirements. In most cases, these doors require a conventional fitting such as door jambs where the door meets the wall of the cubicle. In cases where there is no doorjamb, there is a gap - 1 between the door and the wall which provides no privacy. A door stop is normally fitted to allow the door to be opened in one direction only. In prior art cubicles where the doors and partitions are of the same thickness and panel 5 material, the door jambs are normally a strip of aluminium which seals the gap between the door and the wall to afford some privacy as well as to prevent the door from opening outwards. The necessity of fitting a door jamb requires extra time on behalf of the joiner assembling the cubicles. In most cases the door jambs are butt fixed to the edge of the wall, however in some cases there may also be a rebate cut in order to fit the strip jamb 10 so that a flush fitting is possible. In all these cases, there is extra work which adds to the overall cost of the assembly. Furthermore, it has been found that the addition of aluminium strips or other door jambs harbour unwanted pathogens, especially in the hospital situation, as well providing a 15 cleaning disadvantage wherein time must be spent cleaning the grooves or the rebate, where present to house the jamb in the partition or door member. -2- OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an objective of present invention to seek to ameliorate some of the disadvantages of prior art cubicle door and partition applications or at least to provide the public with a useful choice. 5 STATEMENT OF INVENTION In one aspect therefore the invention resides in an integral profiled door jamb assembly for a cubicle or compartment wherein the closing edge of the door and the edge of the wall or partition upon which the door closes, each have a complementary or mating 0 profile such that there is a partial overlapping of the closing edges, wherein, the thickness of the door and the thickness of the partition are preferably the same such that when the door is closed against the partition there is provided a flush surface between the door and partition when viewed both from the outside and the inside of the 15 cubicle or compartment whereby privacy is afforded by the partially overlapping profiles. -3- Preferably the door and the wall or partition are made of laminated solid polymer wherein the profiles can be simultaneously routed or machined along the closing edges in a single action. 5 Preferably a hinged edge of the door and the partition or wall can also be complementarily profiled wherein the profiling allows the door to be opened in one direction only. Preferably proprietary door fittings including prior art hinges and locks can be used with 10 the present application. Preferably the complimentary profiles of the door and wall or partition are an S-shaped or Z-shaped profile to provide overlapping portions of the jamb assembly. 15 Preferably the edge profiles enable the components to be used as a door or a wall in any other application, for example an aviation or marine cabin application where a flush fitting of the door and the supporting wall or partition is required. -4- BRIEF DESCRIPTION DRAWINGS In order for the invention to be better understood and put into practical effect reference will now be made to the accompanying illustrations, wherein; Figure 1 shows a plan view of a door and partition assembly according to the invention. 5 Figure 2 and Figure 3 show applications of panels used in showers and toilets utilising the invention of Figure 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to Figure 1 there is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention. 10 Figure 1 shows a plan view of a typical preferred wall 10, 11 and door assembly 12. As is shown, the substantially S-shaped profile 14, 16 allows the door to be mated to the wall providing overlapping portions to afford privacy. As is also herein before described, the partitions or walls and doors are of uniform thickness wherein they provide a flush surface for cleaning both on the inside and 15 outside of the compartment. Figure 2 and 3 show various wall combinations utilising the invention of Figure 1 wherein Figure 2 is a toilet cubicle 20 showing individual doors 22, 24 which are flush fitted to -5intermediary walls 26, 28 or partitions having normal hinges 30, 32 and door fittings 34, 36. In this case the partitions and doors are above ground level according to municipal requirements and are typical of toilet cubicles found in airport lounges, hospitals, hotels 5 and other public places. Figure 3 shows a preferred shower cubicle 40 utilising the invention wherein the intermediary walls 42, 44 and doors 46, 48 are also shown above ground level 50 and supported by small feet 52, 54. Again shown in this view, proprietary hinges 56, locks 0 58 and coat hangers 60 are also used. Also herein before described the entire cubicles for both Figure 2 and Figure 3 are made of panels of the same thickness whereby door jamb assemblies are not necessary. - 6- VARIATIONS It will of course be realised that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope 5 and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth. In the specification the terms "comprising" and "containing" shall be understood to have a broad meaning similar to the term "including" and will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of 10 any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. This definition also applies to variations on the terms "comprising" and "containing" such as "comprise", "comprises", "contain" and "contains". 15 20 -7-

Claims (1)

1. An integral profiled door jamb assembly for a cubicle or compartment wherein a closing edge of a door and the edge of a partition or wall upon which the door closes, each have a complementary or mating profile such that there is a partial overlapping of the closing edges, wherein, the thickness of the door and the thickness of the partition or wall being the same such that when the door is closed against the partition or wall provided there is a flush surface between the door and partition or wall when viewed both from the outside and the inside of the cubicle or compartment whereby visual privacy is afforded by the partially overlapping profiles, and wherein the door and the wall profiles are routed or machined along the closing edges to eliminate the requirement of a jamb wherein the complimentary profiles of the door and wall or partition are an S-shaped profile with an oblique intermediate face to provide overlapping portions of the jamb assembly. 8