Some sliding doors are designed, when closed, to recess completely into a frame that is installed within a wall between two opposing wall surfaces. Such doors are commonly referred to as “pocket” doors. Pocket doors provide the functionality of a hinge-mounted door with the additional advantage of space-savings. They have become increasingly popular, for example in small homes and in offices where square-footage is expensive.
Referring to FIG. 1, a pocket door 5 is shown with an example of prior art hardware 20 that allows the user to manipulate the door, e.g. open, close, lock and unlock. Pocket doors 5 feature two broad surfaces 10 and an end surface 12. When the pocket door is in the open position, it is typically fully recessed in a frame contained in a wall (not shown). Pocket door hardware 20 can have a recessed area 30. The recessed area 30 allows easier manipulation of the door 5, e.g. as when opening or closing the door. Some versions of the hardware 20 feature a locking mechanism 35. Mounting screws 40 secure the door hardware 20 to the door 5.
Doors with this type of hardware may in some cases be difficult to open from a fully closed, recessed position, particularly if the user's hands are full or the user has difficulty grasping objects.