The present invention relates to cabinet doors. In particular, it relates to cabinet doors for use in a retail display environment.

In recent times there has been a drive for government bodies to restrict the display of certain products in a retail environment whilst still allowing for their sale to a consumer. For example, certain governments are placing limitations on the ability for retailers to display tobacco products.

Introduction of such restrictions can cause difficulties for retailers.

Firstly, many have invested heavily in display cabinets for displaying such products and face the potential need to replace such display cabinets in order to meet the requirements of such restrictions.

In addition, restrictions on display can prevent a retailer from being able to make a consumer aware of new or improved products.

Furthermore, without appropriate cabinet structures in place for the holding of such products, it can be difficult for the retailer to ensure that display of the products is prevented at all times except for when a product is being obtained for sale to a customer, leaving the retailer at risk of contravening the restrictions.

The present invention seeks to address the above and other problems. US 2,584,874 discloses a door unit for a display cabinet with a frame holding two sliding doors and comprising disengageable linking means between two adjacent doors.

According to the present invention there is provided a door unit for a display cabinet, the door unit comprising:

• a frame holding at least two sliding doors such that the doors can be slid between open and closed positions and the doors close different openings in the frame, the doors being offset from one another in a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction of the doors; and linking means for selectively linking the two doors such that when a first one of the doors is opened the linking means engages with the second one of the doors to pull it open also and when the second one of the doors is opened the linking means disengages such that the first door remains closed, and wherein the doors comprise an upper and lower door.

The doors may be positioned adjacent to one another and arranged such that they slide in the same direction. The linking means may be a tooth and notch arrangement which enables the two doors to engage with one another where the first door is opened and disengage with one another when the second door is opened.

The frame may be arranged such that it can be fitted retroactively over a standard display cabinet.

The unit may further be provided with one or more door closing mechanisms to enable automatic closing of the one or more doors. The closing mechanism may comprise one or more of an hydraulic closing mechanism, biased weight closing mechanism, weighted pulley, spring and ratchet, or coiled spring-driven mechanism.

Preferably the doors are formed from an opaque material.

The unit and/or the frame and/or the doors may be arranged such that advertising or display orientated material can readily be fixed thereto.

With the unit of the present invention it is possible for a retailer to selectively display alternative products to a user on an automatic basis while obtaining the product requested by the consumer. In addition, it is possible for the retailer to meet display restriction requirements without having to install completely new cabinets through the retro-fitting of a unit of the present invention.

It is also possible for the retailer to ensure that, through the automatic closing of the doors, the product is only displayed when being accessed, such that no door can inadvertently be left open and products left on continuous display.

Examples of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 is a front view of a unit according to the present invention;
• Figures 2A and 2B show opening positions of the unit of figure 1;
• Figure 3 shows an alternative configuration of the present invention in which four sliding doors are provided;
• Figures 4A to 4F show various alternative optional automatic closing mechanisms that may be employed as part of the present invention;
• Figure 5 shows an alternative frame configuration with concealed linking means; and
• Figure 6 is a detailed cross-sectional view of a further configuration with concealed linking means.

Referring to figure 1, a unit according to the present invention is formed from a frame especially formed from top and bottom members 6 and side members 8. The members 6 and 8 may be attached, in use, to a cabinet frame which is shipped as a unit or may alternatively, be configured to be retro-fitted around an existing display cabinet which has already been installed. In this example the frame members 6 and 8 support fixed doors 1, 4, which are formed from an opaque material. They also support rails 7 and sliding doors 2, 3. The sliding doors 2, 3 slide on the rails 7 between closed positions, as shown in figure 1, and open positions shown in figures 2a and 2b. Again, the doors 2, 3 are formed from an opaque material. When in the closed position and when the unit has been fitted, contents of the cabinet to which the frame members 6, 8 are attached are not visible to a consumer.

A linking arrangement 5 is formed on the edges of the doors 2, 3 that are adjacent to one another. In the example of figure 1, the tooth and notch arrangement is configured such that, in use, when the upper door 2 is slid towards an open position, the tooth and notch arrangement disengages and only the upper door 2 opens. However, it is also configured such that when the lower door 3 is opened the tooth and notch arrangement engages and the upper door 2 is drawn open as the lower door 3 is opened. This configuration ensures that a retailer can position products in the most appropriate and consistent manner for gantry and stock management by being able to see when content anywhere in the cabinet needs replacing.

Of course, it will be appreciated that alternative tooth and notch arrangements can be provided. For example, a simple step configuration is shown in figures 1, 2A and 2B, but the notch may have a triangular shape. It will also be appreciated that more complex engaging mechanism can be provided to give the same functionality.

What should also be appreciated is that the link between the two doors may be configured in an alternative arrangement such that the lower door always opens, even when the upper door is opened.

Figure 3 shows an alternative arrangement in which, rather than fixed doors 1, 4, a second set of sliding doors is provided and an appropriate tooth and notch arrangement provided between those doors. In this case this second set of doors can slide behind the first set of opening doors to allow access to a further region of the cabinet and with the same functionality as in the first example.

As mentioned above, means may be provided on one or more of the sliding doors to ensure that the doors close automatically when not being accessed. Figures 4A to 4F show various example arrangements that could be used to achieve this.

For example, figure 4A shows provision of a hydraulic piston 10 arranged by a sliding door in a closed position. Figure 4B shows a pivoting weight configuration 11 which, again, biases the sliding door towards a closed position. Figure 4C shows a spring and ratchet configuration 12 and figure 4D a weight and pulley configuration 13. Figure 4E shows a sprung extending coil 14 which provides the same purposes. An alternative, slightly more complex, configuration is shown in figure 4F whereby an inclined rail 7 is provided for the door such that it is biased into its closed position by its own weight.

In the arrangement of figure 1, the linking arrangement 5 is clearly visible.

Figure 5 shows an alternative frame arrangement which enables the linking arrangement 5 to be concealed. Components that correspond to those in figure 1 are numbered identically. As can be seen from the expanded views of figure 5, the middle rail 7 has a space 20 defined by two opposing bars 21 and 22. The space 20 then enables the second pair of doors 1, 4 to have a linking means 5 that is positioned within the space 20 and as such is concealed by one bar 22 of the middle rail 7.

Figure 6 shows an alternative arrangement in which the middle rail 7 supports the second pair of doors 1, 4 and has a linking means 5 which extends to the rear of the middle rail 7 and as such is concealed.

It will be appreciated that either of the example constructions in figures 5 or 6 could be applied to any of the earlier examples to enable concealment of the linking means 5.

As will be appreciated from the above description, the present invention provides a set of cabinet doors that enables a retailer to simply and effectively meet changing legislation in respect of the display of certain products. It also enables a retailer to position products in the most appropriate and consistent manner for gantry and stock management and enables the retailer to monitor the content throughout the cabinet.