Container with combination slide and pivot door

Abstract

A container structure has an internal storage compartment and an opening for accessing the storage compartment. A sliding panel and a pivoting panel are operable to cover and uncover the opening. The pivoting panel is pivotable between a closed position covering a first portion of the opening and an open position. The sliding panel is slidable between a closed position covering a second portion of the opening adjacent the first portion and an intermediate open position disposed in lapped relation with the pivoting panel when the pivoting panel is in the closed position thereof so as to provide access to the compartment through the second portion. The sliding panel is pivotable, when in the intermediate open position thereof, together with the pivoting panel into a fully open position to provide access to both the first and second portions of the opening.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A container, comprising: 
 a container structure having an internal storage compartment and an opening for accessing said storage compartment; and    a sliding panel and a pivoting panel operable to cover and uncover the opening, said pivoting panel being pivotable between a closed position covering a first portion of the opening and an open position, said sliding panel being slidable between a closed position covering a second portion of said opening adjacent said first portion and an intermediate open position disposed in lapped relation with said pivoting panel when said pivoting panel is in the closed position thereof so as to provide access to said compartment through said second portion,    said sliding panel being pivotable, when in said intermediate open position thereof, together with said pivoting panel into a fully open position to provide access to both the first and second portions of the opening.    
     
     
         2 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein said pivoting panel is prevented from pivoting from its closed position towards its open position when the sliding panel is not in its intermediate open position.  
     
     
         3 . A container according to  claim 2 , wherein portions of said sliding panel comprise structure constructed and arranged to prevent the pivoting panel from pivoting when said sliding panel is not in its intermediate open position.  
     
     
         4 . A container according to  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of door track structures mounted on the container structure and a pair of door track structures mounted on the pivoting panel, the pairs of door track structures being constructed and arranged such that when the pivoting panel is in its closed position, the pairs of door track structures are aligned with one another and extend transversely across the opening to provide a travel path for the sliding panel between the closed and intermediate open positions thereof.  
     
     
         5 . A container according to  claim 4 , wherein said container is further constructed and arranged such that (a) when said sliding panel is positioned in its closed position or in any position between its closed position and its intermediate open position the sliding panel is interengaged with both pairs of said track structures and (b) such that when said sliding panel is in its intermediate open position, it is disengaged from the pair of door track structures on said container structure.  
     
     
         6 . A container according to  claim 1 , further comprising locking structure constructed and arranged to releasably lock said sliding panel and said pivoting panel to one another when the sliding panel moves into its intermediate open position.  
     
     
         7 . A container according to  claim 6 , wherein said locking structure is further constructed and arranged to release said sliding panel and said pivoting panel from locking engagement with one another when the pivoting panel moves into its closed position.  
     
     
         8 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the opening is a side opening.  
     
     
         9 . A container according to  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of wheels mounted on the container structure such that (a) when the container structure is in an upright position on a level surface the wheels are spaced from the ground and such that (b) the container structure can be positioned so that the wheels engage the ground and the container structure  11  is supported on the wheels.  
     
     
         10 . A container according to  claim 9 , further comprising a transport handle mounted on the container structure constructed and arranged such that when the container structure is supported on said wheels, pushing or pulling in the transport handle causes the container structure to roll on said wheel.  
     
     
         11 . A container according to  claim 1 , further comprising a carrying handle mounted on said container structure to enable the container structure to be carried.