The present invention relates to doors which have means to allow unlocking and opening in an emergency ln particular, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to cubicles having a door which allows unlocking and outward opening in an emergency. ln public and commercial buildings, toilets cubicles are typically provided with inwardly opening doors (the door pivots into the cubicle space). However, in a medical emergency, a cubicle occupant may collapse, become immobile and/or lose

consciousness. A person responding to the emergency may find, even if they are able on unlock the door from the outside, that the occupant is an obstacle to the door opening inwards lt may even be necessary to break through or remove the door. This can significantly increase the time that elapses before the responder can commence treatment.

Many countries have building regulations or guidelines which stipulate that the cubicle door must be designed to mitigate this ln the UK, document M, volume 11 of the

Building Regulations 2010, 'Access to and use of buildings’ states that“doors to cubicles should be capable of being opened if a person has collapsed against them while inside the cubicle” (S5.3). lt is also stated that“WC compartment doors, and doors to wheelchair-accessible unisex toilets, changing rooms or shower rooms have an emergency release mechanism so that they are capable of being opened outwards, in case of emergency” (S5.4e).

Conventionally, the door lock is configured so that it can be unlocked from the outside using a coin, screwdriver or the like. The door itself is configured so that it can be detached, using a tool, from the cubicle frame. The first responder (e.g. a staff worker or fellow office worker) may not have the necessary tools. Also, it may be necessary to support the weight of the door while detaching it but a single person may be physically unable to support the door from below while detaching it. Emergency responders may have specialised suction pads for attaching to and supporting the door but the first responder will not have this equipment available. The cubicle could be configured so that the door can be unlocked and removed from the outside without using any tools. However, the door could then be maliciously unlocked and/or removed by any person. Property owners must strike a balance between providing a tamper-proof door and a door which provides easy access in an emergency.

GB2543255 describes a cubicle door having a hinge arrangement configured to allow removal of the door. ln many commercial applications, property owners desire an aesthetic design for a series of cubicles in which the doors and cubicle panels are all flush. Also, preferably no hinges or the like are visible. This places a design restraint on how a door with emergency access can be achieved. lt is desirable to provide a cubicle which provides easy access in the event of an emergency lt is desirable to provide a cubicle door which is tamper-proof but which requires fewer or no tools to effect access in the event of an emergency lt is desirable to provide an arrangement of cubicles in which the doors and cubicle panels are all flush but which still provides emergency access.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a cubicle comprising:

a structural frame; and

a door which is pivotably attached to the frame,

wherein the door includes a stop member which is movable between a normal use configuration in which the door is prevented from pivoting outwards from a closed position and an emergency use configuration in which the door is free to pivot outwards from the closed position. Optionally, the cubicle includes a pilaster. Optionally, the stop member abuts the pilaster when at the normal use configuration and when the door is closed. Optionally, the stop member is pivotably connected to the door. Optionally, the stop member is pivotably connected to the door via a first biasing means which biases the stop member towards the normal use configuration. Optionally, the stop member is arranged to block a line of sight between the door and the pilaster.

Optionally, the stop member extends vertically substantially the full height of the door. Optionally, the cubicle includes a lever arm for rotating the stop member. Optionally, a handle of the lever arm is located at a bottom surface of the door. Optionally, the handle is not visible to a standing or sitting person in normal use.

Optionally, the door includes a recess. Optionally, the recess is provided at a vertical edge of the door. Optionally, the stop member is movable into the recess when the lever arm is operated.

Optionally, the cubicle includes a lock mounted to the door. Optionally, the lock includes a locking member which is operable from within the cubicle.

Optionally, the lock is adapted such that the locking member is also operable from outside the cubicle. Optionally, the locking member includes an external slot, recess or the like to allow the locking member to be operated from outside the cubicle using a tool, coin or the like.

Optionally, the cubicle includes one or more side panels. The cubicle may include one or more walls of the building in which the cubicle is situated.

Optionally, the cubicle door is flush with the or each adjacent pilaster.

Optionally, the door is mounted to the structural frame using at least one pivot hinge which provides around 180 degrees of rotation. Optionally, the pivot hinge includes second biasing means which biases the door towards the closed position.

Optionally, the vertical edge of the door at the hinge side is convex. Optionally, the vertical edge of the pilaster adjacent to the vertical edge of the door at the hinge side is concave. This arrangement removes a line of sight between the door and pilaster at the hinge side of the door.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of providing a cubicle which is accessible in an emergency, the method comprising:

providing a structural frame and a door which is pivotably attached to the frame; providing the door with a stop member which is movable between a normal use configuration in which the door is prevented from pivoting outwards from a closed position and an emergency use configuration in which the door is free to pivot outwards from the closed position.

Optionally, the method includes movably connecting the stop member to the door. Optionally, the method includes pivotably connecting the stop member to the door using a lever arm.

Optionally, the method includes pivotably connecting the stop member to the door via a first biasing means which biases the stop member towards the normal use

configuration. Optionally, a handle of the lever arm is located at a bottom surface of the door.

Optionally, the method includes providing the door with a recess. Optionally, the recess is provided at a vertical edge of the door. Optionally, the method includes adapting the stop member such that it is movable into the recess when the lever arm is operated.

Optionally, the cubicle includes a lock mounted to the door. Optionally, the method includes adapting the lock such that it is unlockable from outside the cubicle. Optionally, the method includes unlocking the lock from outside the cubicle using a tool, coin or the like.

Optionally, the method includes mounting the door to the structural frame using at least one pivot hinge which provides around 180 degrees of rotation.

Optionally, the pivot hinge includes second biasing means which biases the door towards the closed position. Optionally, the method includes profiling a vertical edge of the door at the hinge side so that it is convex. Optionally, the method includes profiling the vertical edge of the pilaster adjacent to the vertical edge of the door at the hinge side so that it is concave.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a door system comprising:

a door which is pivotably attached to a structural frame;

a stop member coupled to the door and which is movable between a normal use configuration in which the door is prevented from pivoting outwards from a closed position and an emergency use configuration in which the door is free to pivot outwards from the closed position.

Optionally, the stop member extends substantially the full height of the door.

Optionally, the stop member is movably connected to the door. Optionally, the stop member is pivotably connected to the door using a lever arm.

Optionally, the stop member is pivotably connected to the door via a first biasing means which biases the stop member towards the normal use configuration. Optionally, a handle of the lever arm is located at a bottom surface of the door.

Optionally, the handle is not visible to a standing or sitting person in normal use. Optionally, the door includes a recess. Optionally, the stop member is movable into the recess when the lever arm is operated.

Optionally, the door system includes a lock mounted to the door. Optionally, the lock includes a locking member which is operable from a first side of the door.

Optionally, the lock is adapted such that the locking member is also operable from a second side of the door. Optionally, the locking member includes an external slot, recess or the like to allow the locking member to be operated from the second side using a tool, coin or the like.

Optionally, the door is mounted to the structural frame using at least one pivot hinge which provides around 180 degrees of rotation. Optionally, the pivot hinge includes second biasing means which biases the door towards the closed position.

The invention will be described below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top view of a portion of a cubicle;

Figure 2 is a perspective exploded view of a door of the cubicle of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a top view of a stop member and lever arm of the cubicle of Figure 1 in a normal use configuration; and

Figure 4 is a top view of a stop member and lever arm of the cubicle of Figure 1 in an emergency configuration.

Figure 1 shows some components of a cubicle 10. Other components have been omitted for clarity. The cubicle 10 includes side panels 12 which, along with an existing wall (not shown) of the building, provide three surfaces of the cubicle 10. When the fourth surface is in position, the surfaces define the cubicle space. A toilet unit (not shown) is provided within each cubicle 10.

To form the fourth surface, each cubicle 10 has a vertical structural component or pilaster 20. A door 30 is pivotably mounted to one pilaster and extends to the next pilaster 20 when in the closed position.

The door 30 is pivotably mounted to a pilaster 20 at one vertical side using a pivot hinge 32. This type of hinge is well known and allows 180 degrees of rotation. Therefore, the door 30 can rotate 180 degrees from a position inside the cubicle 10 and normal to the major plane of the pilaster 20 to a position outside the cubicle 10 and again normal to the major plane of the pilaster 20.

The pivot hinge 32 can also be provided with biasing means which biases the door towards a closed position.

At the hinge side of the door 30, the vertical edge of the door is profiled to be convex. The adjacent pilaster 20 has a vertical edge close to the door 30 and this is profiled to be concave in a complementary manner. This arrangement removes a line of sight between the pilaster 20 and door 30 regardless of the rotational position of the door 30 relative to the pilaster 20.

At the opposite vertical edge of the door 30, a recess 34 is provided in the door 30. A U shaped column 36 is fixed within this recess 34. Pivotably connected to the column 36 (and thus the door 30) is a stop member 40.

As best seen in Figure 3, the stop member 40 is substantially L shaped. The stop member 40 is pivotably connected to the column 36 at a pivot point 42 which is located at an end of one of the legs of the L profile. The other leg of the L profile extends laterally outwards from the door 30. As can be seen in Figure 1, this leg abuts against a face of the adjacent pilaster 20 when the door is closed and prevents the door 30 from being swung outwards. First biasing means in the form of a spring (not shown) is provided at the pivot point 42. This biases the stop member 40 towards the normal use configuration.

A lever arm 44 is also pivotably connected to the column 36 at the pivot point 42. The lever arm 44 is fixed to the stop member 40 such that rotation of the lever arm 44 causes rotation of the stop member 40. When the lever arm 44 is rotated anticlockwise in Figure 3, the stop member 40 is also rotated anticlockwise and thus moves into the recess 34. ln this position, the leg no longer abuts against a face of the pilaster 20 and the door 30 is free to rotate outwards. This is shown in Figure 4.

Therefore, the door includes a stop member 40 which is movable between a normal use configuration in which the door is prevented from pivoting outwards from a closed position and an emergency use configuration in which the door is free to pivot outwards from the closed position.

The handle of the lever arm 44 can be located at a bottom surface of the door so that the handle is not visible to a standing or sitting person in normal use.

The stop member 40 extends vertically for most of the length of the door 30. This blocks a line of sight between the door 30 and the adjacent pilaster at the lock side of the door. However, there is a gap in a region adjacent to a lock 50 which is mounted to the door 50. This avoids any interference between the stop member 40 and a latch of the lock 50 which extends laterally outwards from the door 30 when the lock 50 is locked.

The lock 50 includes an operating member which is operable from within the cubicle 10. However, the locking member is also operable from outside the cubicle 10. The locking member includes an external slot which allows the locking member to be operated from outside the cubicle 10 using a coin 102 or the like. ln normal use, the stop member 40 is in its normal position such that the door 30 can only be opened inwardly ln an emergency, it may be necessary to open the door 50 from outside the cubicle 10. A first responder, such as a member of staff, can unlock the lock 52 using a coin. The first responder can then operate the concealed lever arm to rotate the stop member 40. The door 50 is now free to pivot outwards.

The present invention provides a cubicle 10 and door assembly which provides easy access in the event of an emergency. No specialist tools are required. The door 30 itself does not need to be detached from the cubicle frame. However, the cubicle door 30 is tamper-proof as it is not apparent how to configure the door 30 so that it can moved outwards. The handle of the lever arm is hidden from view. First responders such as trusted staff can keep this knowledge secret.

Because the stop member 40 is mounted to the door 30, the pilaster 20 and door 30 can be arranged to be flush with each other to provide a pleasing aesthetic look. Also, this allows easier concealment of the lever arm. ln contrast, a cubicle leg is typically provided underneath the pilaster 20, making it difficult to conceal the lever arm if the stop member 40 were provided at the pilaster 20. Furthermore, providing the stop member 40 at the door 30 provides greater design versatility.

There are no lines of sight between the door 30 and either pilaster 20. Also, with the selection of a pivot hinge 32, there are no visible hinges. These features contribute to the aesthetic look.

Various modifications and improvements can be made to the above without departing from the scope of the invention.