Sliding door gear

17:

• A sliding door gear, comprising:
• at least one door mount configured to mount at least one sliding door to a stationary structure;
• a sliding guide including a first guide rail including a movable guide segment and at least one stationary guide segment, the first guide rail being configured to receive a first guide element of the at least one door mount;
• and
• an extension/retraction guide coupled to the movable guide segment to enable movement of the movable guide segment in a first opening direction wherein the at least one door mount moves from a closed position to an intermediate position;
• wherein the sliding guide is configured such that the at least one door mount can be moved from the intermediate position to an open position in a second opening direction transverse to the first opening direction.

18:

• The sliding door gear of claim 17, wherein:
• in the closed position the movable guide segment is retracted relative to the stationary guide segment against the first opening direction;
• and
• in the intermediate position the movable guide segment is aligned with the stationary guide segment.

21:

• The sliding door gear of claim 20, wherein:
• the extension/retraction guide includes at least one bearing block;
• and
• the at least one bearing rod or the at least one bushing of the linear guide is secured to the at least one bearing block.

22:

• The sliding door gear of claim 17, wherein:
• the extension/retraction guide includes a stationary assembly configured to be attached to the stationary structure and a movable assembly configured to be movable relative to the stationary structure in and/or against the first opening direction;
• and
• the movable guide segment is secured to the movable assembly.

23:

• The sliding door gear of claim 22, wherein:
• the stationary assembly includes a cabinet mount configured to be fixedly mounted on the stationary structure;
• the stationary assembly further includes at least one bearing rod secured to the cabinet mount;
• and
• the movable assembly includes at least two bearing blocks secured to the movable guide segment, the at least two bearing blocks being connected to one another by a connecting plate.

24:

• The sliding door gear of claim 22, wherein:
• the stationary assembly includes at least one bearing block configured to be fixedly mounted on the stationary structure;
• and
• the movable assembly further includes at least two bearing rods secured to the movable guide segment, the at least two bearing rods being connected to one another by a connecting plate.

25:

• The sliding door gear of claim 17, further comprising:
• a pull-in device configured to provide a force on the door mount against the second opening direction along at least a part of a movement between the open position and the intermediate position, the pull-in device including a housing and a claw displaceable relative to the housing in and/or against the second opening direction;
• wherein the at least one door mount includes a driver;
• and
• wherein the claw is configured to engage with the driver.

28:

• The sliding door gear of claim 27, wherein:
• the extension/retraction guide includes a stationary assembly configured to be attached to the stationary structure and a movable assembly configured to be movable relative to the stationary structure in and/or against the first opening direction;
• the movable guide segment is secured to the movable assembly;
• the resilient latch includes a guide cam, a tappet and a spring biasing the tappet in a direction transverse to the first opening direction;
• one of the guide cam and the tappet is mounted on the stationary assembly in a stationary manner with respect to the first opening direction;
• the other of the guide cam and the tappet is mounted on the movable assembly so as to move together with the movable assembly in the first opening direction;
• and
• during at least part of a movement of the at least one door mount between the closed position and the intermediate position the tappet is in contact with the guide cam.

29:

• The sliding door gear of claim 17, further comprising:
• at least one second door mount configured to mount at least one second sliding door to the stationary structure;
• wherein the sliding guide includes a second guide rail configured to receive a second guide element of the at least one second door mount;
• and
• wherein the at least one second door mount is movable between a second closed position and a second open position along the second opening direction.

32:

• The sliding door gear of claim 31, wherein:
• the sliding guide and the extension/retraction guide of the first sliding door gear are arranged in the upper region of the stationary structure;
• the second sliding door gear includes a second sliding guide and a second extension/retraction guide arranged in the lower region of the stationary structure;
• and
• further including a synchronizer configured to synchronize movement of the extension/retraction guides of the first and second sliding door gears with each other.

33:

• A method of opening and/or closing a sliding door using a sliding door gear, the sliding door gear including:
• at least one door mount mounting the sliding door to a stationary structure;
• a sliding guide including a first guide rail including a movable guide segment and at least one stationary guide segment, the first guide rail receiving a first guide element of the at least one door mount;
• and
• an extension/retraction guide coupled to the movable guide segment to enable movement of the movable guide segment in a first opening direction wherein the at least one door mount and the sliding door moves from a closed position to an intermediate position;
• the method comprising:
• moving the sliding door from the closed position to the intermediate position by moving the movable guide segment in the first opening direction, thereby aligning the movable guide segment with the stationary guide segment;
• and
• moving the sliding door from the intermediate position to an open position along a second opening direction transverse to the first opening direction thereby transitioning the first guide element from the movable guide segment to the stationary guide segment.

34:

• The method of claim 33, further comprising:
• moving the sliding door from the open position to the intermediate position against the second opening direction thereby transitioning the first guide element from the stationary guide segment to the movable guide segment;
• and
• moving the sliding door from the intermediate position by moving the movable guide segment against the first opening direction thereby retracting the movable guide segment from the stationary guide segment.