U.S. patent application number 10/998326 was filed with the patent office on 2006-05-25 for device for locking retracted drawer slide.
Invention is credited to Shon Mao-Chin.
Application Number | 20060108901 10/998326 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34225717 |
Filed Date | 2006-05-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060108901 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mao-Chin; Shon |
May 25, 2006 |
DEVICE FOR LOCKING RETRACTED DRAWER SLIDE
Abstract
Provided is a locking device at a rear of an outer slide member
of a drawer. The device comprises a groove including an
intermediate shoulder and a spring loaded sliding member in the
groove, the sliding member including a bottom stop surface, a top
notch, and a front hook. In a retracting operation pushing an inner
slide member will cause a projected lock pin thereof to contact the
notch and retain therein; move the stop surface upwardly to
disengage from a front end of the groove due to an upward pivot of
the sliding member with respect to the lock pin; cause the inner
slide member to continue its rearward pushing along the groove due
to a compression of the spring; and end the retraction after the
sliding member is stopped by the shoulder. The device can lock a
retracted drawer slide.
Inventors: |
Mao-Chin; Shon; (Taichung,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LAW OFFICE OF LIAUH & ASSOC.
4224 WAIALAE AVE
STE 5-388
HONOLULU
HI
96816
US
|
Family ID: |
34225717 |
Appl. No.: |
10/998326 |
Filed: |
November 23, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/334.44 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 88/467
20170101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/334.44 |
International
Class: |
A47B 88/00 20060101
A47B088/00 |
Claims
1. A telescoping slide assembly for supporting a movable drawer in
a cabinet, the slide assembly comprising: an inner slide member
affixed to a wall of the drawer, the inner slide member comprising
a lengthwise channel including an outwardly projected lock pin; an
outer slide member affixed to a wall of the cabinet, the outer
slide member being smaller in cross-sectional area than the inner
slide member such that the outer slide member can be received
inside the inner slide member to allow a telescopic motion
therebetween; a ball bearing retainer disposed between the outer
and inner slide members for facilitating sliding of the inner slide
member with respect to the outer slide member; and locking means
disposed in a rear portion of the outer slide member and adopted to
be received inside the inner slide member, the locking means
comprising an elongate plate, a groove disposed on an inner surface
of the plate, the groove including a shoulder at its an
intermediate narrow neck portion, a resilient member having one end
affixed to a rear end of the groove, and an elongate sliding member
having its a rear end secured to the other end of the resilient
member, the sliding member being; slidable inside the groove and
including a bottom stop surface, a top notch, and a front hook;
wherein the sliding member and the front hook are constructed such
that the rear end of the sliding member urges against the shoulder
due to a compression of the resilient member, and the lock pin is
retained by the front hook when the inner slide member is in a
retracted position, the sliding member having a slanted rear
portion which ends at the bottom stop surface, the sliding member
further having a slanted front portion which pivots downward when
the bottom stop surface of the sliding member is being pulled out
of a mouth of the groove, causing the lock pin to be freed from the
front hook and the bottom stop surface to abut the mouth of the
groove, the top notch is disposed behind the front hook and is
constructed to receive the lock pin and cause the slanted front
portion to pivot upward and be received inside the groove when the
inner slide member is being retracted, the top notch is further
constructed such that it can retain the lock pin and cause the
sliding member to be in motion with the lock pin when the inner
sliding member is being pulled until the slanted front portion
pivots downward thus releasing the lock pin from the top notch.
2. The slide assembly of claim 1, wherein the resilient member is a
spring.
3. The slide assembly of claim 1, wherein the slide member further
comprises a recessed portion behind the front hook for positioning
the lock pin therein.
4. The slide assembly of claim 1, wherein the front hook has an
open end in its rear.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to drawer slide locking
hardware and more particularly to a device mounted in either inner
slide member for locking the inner slide member after fully
retracting a drawer.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A conventional drawer slide assembly 10 is shown in FIGS. 1
and 2 and comprises an inner slide member 11 affixed to the wall of
drawer (not shown), an outer slide member 13 affixed to the wall of
cabinet (not shown), and a ball bearing retainer 12 provided
between the inner slide member 11 and the outer slide member 13.
The ball bearing retainer 12 comprises two rows of ball bearings
121 in which each row rolls against opposite grooves along either
one of two lengthwise edge portions of the inner slide member 11
and the outer slide member 13. The provision of ball bearings 121
can reduce friction when the inner slide member 11 slides with
respect to the outer slide member 13, i.e., facilitating retracting
or extending operation of the drawer. However, the prior art
suffered from several disadvantages. For example, the drawer tends
to slide out of the cabinet when the cabinet is disposed in an
inclined supporting surface. This is because there is no provision
of a device in the slid assembly 10 for locking the retracted
drawer.
[0003] Another conventional drawer slide assembly 20 for overcoming
the above problem is shown in FIG. 3 and comprises an elongated
groove-shaped outer slide member 21, and an inner slide member 22
slidably received in the groove of the outer slide member 21 by
means of a ball bearing retainer 23 having two rows of ball
bearings each rolling either between a top wall of the inner slide
member 22 and an upper inner groove of an inner section 211 or
between a bottom wall of the inner slide member 22 and a lower
inner groove of the inner section 211. A large space 213 is formed
between the inner slide member 22 and an outer section 212 so as to
mount a device for locking retracted drawer slide 24 in a rear
portion of the space 213.
[0004] The device for locking retracted drawer slide 24, as
illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, is affixed to a seat 241 on an inner
surface of the inner section 211 by means of a spring 242. The
spring 242 has one end secured to the seat 241 and the other end
secured to a hook 2431 of a sliding member 243. The sliding member
243 further comprises a pin 2432 slidable along an elongate
L-shaped groove 2411 on the seat 241, and a notch 2433 adapted to
receive a lock pin 221 on the inner slide member 22. In an
extending operation of drawer, the sliding member 243 moves by
sliding the inner slide member 22 forwardly in response to
receiving the lock pin 221 in the notch 2433. The pin 2432 will
change its moving direction after reaching a turning point of the
L-shaped groove 2411, i.e., the sliding member 243 turns.
Thereafter, the lock pin 221 disengages from the notch 2433 for
permitting a further movement of the inner slide member 22. In a
retracting operation of the drawer, slide the inner slide member 22
inwardly until the lock pin 221 enters the notch 2433 and is
retained therein. And in turn, the sliding member 243 turns to move
the pin 2432 to pass the turning point. Once the pin 2432 passes
the turning point, the sliding member 243 and thus the inner slide
member 22 automatically move inwardly along the groove 2411 due to
the compression of the spring 242. The second prior art is able to
position the retracted drawer. But this is still unsatisfactory for
the purpose for which the invention is concerned for the following
reasons: The second prior assembly is relatively complex in
constructions, relatively large, costly to manufacture,
trouble-prone, and unreliable in use and thus has not found wide
acceptance. Thus, the need for improvement still exists.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
simple, compact, and cost effective device disposed in a rear
portion of an outer slide member for locking a retracted drawer
slide.
[0006] To achieve the above and other objects, the present
invention provides a telescoping slide assembly for supporting a
movable drawer in a cabinet, the slide assembly comprising an outer
slide member affixed to a wall of the cabinet; an inner slide
member affixed to the wall of drawer, the inner slide member
comprising a lengthwise channel including an outwardly projected
lock pin; a ball bearing retainer provided between the outer and
inner slide members for facilitating sliding of the inner slide
member with respect to the outer slide member; and locking means
disposed in a rear portion of the outer slide member, the locking
means comprising an elongate plate, a groove provided on an inner
surface of the plate, the groove including a shoulder at its
intermediate narrow neck portion, a resilient member having one end
affixed to a rear end of the groove, and an elongate sliding member
having its rear end secured to the other end of the resilient
member, the sliding member including a bottom stop surface, a top
notch, and a front hook wherein the rear end of the sliding member
urges against the shoulder due to a compression of the resilient
member and the lock pin is retained by the hook when the inner
slide member is in a retracted position, whereby in an initial
extending operation of the inner slide member pulling the inner
slide member will: pull the sliding member forward along the groove
and expand the resilient member; drop a forward portion of the
sliding member due to no support thereunder after passing a front
end of the groove; cause the lock pin to clear the hook after the
stop surface abuts a mouth of the front end of the groove; and
cause the inner slide member to continues its forward pulling; in a
subsequent retracting operation of the inner slide member pushing
the inner slide member will: cause the lock pin to contact the
notch and retain therein; move the stop surface upwardly to
disengage from the mouth of the front end of the groove due to an
upward pivot of the sliding member with respect to the lock pin;
cause the inner slide member to continue its rearward pushing along
the groove due to a compression of the resilient member; and end
the retracting operation after the rear end of the sliding member
is stopped by the shoulder; and in a subsequent extending operation
of the inner slide member pulling the inner slide member will: pull
the sliding member forward along the groove and expand the
resilient member; drop a forward portion of the sliding member due
to no support thereunder after passing the front end of the groove;
cause the lock pin to clear the notch after the stop surface abuts
the mouth of the front end of the groove; and cause the inner slide
member to continues its forward pulling.
[0007] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the
present invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description taken with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional drawer slide
assembly with a portion of inner slide member removed for
illustrating purpose;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the assembly of FIG. 1;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second conventional drawer
slide assembly;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a side view schematically depicting a device for
locking retracted drawer slide of FIG. 3;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 where the inner slide
member is still extending after disengaging the device for locking
retracted drawer slide;
[0013] FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a drawer slide
assembly incorporating a device for locking retracted drawer slide
according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;
[0014] FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the device for locking
retracted drawer slide of FIG. 6;
[0015] FIG. 8 is a schematic side view of the assembled device for
locking retracted drawer slide;
[0016] FIGS. 9 and 10 are views similar to FIG. 8 for illustrating
two stages of an initial operation of the device for locking
retracted drawer slide when the assembly is extending;
[0017] FIGS. 11, 12, and 13 are views similar to FIG. 8 for
illustrating three stages of an initial operation of the device for
locking retracted drawer slide when the assembly is retracting;
and
[0018] FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 8 for illustrating a
subsequent operation of the device for locking retracted drawer
slide other than the initial operation thereof when the assembly is
extending.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0019] Referring to FIG. 6, there is shown a drawer slide assembly
30 incorporating a device for locking retracted drawer slide 34 in
accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. The
assembly 30 comprises an outer slide member 31, an inner slide
member 32, and a ball bearing retainer 33 provided between the
outer slide member 31 and the inner slide member 32. The ball
bearing retainer 33 comprises two rows of ball bearings 331 in
which each row rolls against opposite grooves along either one of
two lengthwise edge portions of the outer slide member 31 and the
inner slide member 32. The provision of ball bearings 331 can
reduce friction when the inner slide member 32 slides with respect
to the outer slide member 31, i.e., facilitating retracting or
extending operation of the drawer. The outer slide member 31
comprises a plurality of apertures (one is shown) 312 on its
lengthwise channel 311 for permitting a plurality of fasteners
(e.g., screws) to drive therethrough for fastening the outer slide
member 31 at the wall of a cabinet 40. On a lengthwise channel 321
of the inner slide member 32 there are provided an outwardly
projected lock pin 323 and two lanced out tabs 322 threadedly
secured to the wall of a drawer 50. The configuration permits the
drawer 50 to either extend out of the cabinet 40 by pulling the
inner slide member 32 with respect to the outer slide member 31 or
retract into the cabinet 40 by pushing the inner slide member 32
with respect to the outer slide member 31. This is known in the
art. The subject of the invention is the device for locking
retracted drawer slide 34 mounted in a rear portion of the outer
slide member 31 as detailed below.
[0020] Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the device for locking retracted
drawer slide 34 comprises an elongate, rectangular member 341, a
groove 3411 provided on an inner surface of the member 341, a
spring 342 having one end affixed to a rear end of the groove 3411,
and an elongate sliding member 343 having its rear end secured to
the other end of the spring 342, the sliding member 343 including
an intermediate bottom stop surface 3431, an intermediate top notch
3433, and a front hook 3432. As shown in FIG. 8, in an assembled
state of the device for locking retracted drawer slide 34, the rear
end of the sliding member 343 urges against a shoulder 3412 of an
intermediate narrow neck portion of the groove 3411 due to the
compression of the spring 342. The lock pin 323 is retained in a
recessed portion behind the end of the hook 3432. At this position,
the inner slide member 32 and thus the drawer are in a retracted
position.
[0021] Referring to FIG. 9, in an initial extending operation of
the drawer (i.e., the inner slide member 32) the pulling of the
inner slide member 32 and thus the lock pin 323 will pull the hook
3432 (i.e., the sliding member 343) forward. The forward sliding of
the sliding member 343 along the groove 3411 will expand the spring
342.
[0022] Referring to FIG. 10, as a continuation of the movement
shown in FIG. 9, the forward portion of the sliding member 343 will
drop due to no support thereunder after passing the front end of
the groove 3411. The lock pin 323 clears the notch 3433 after the
stop surface 3431 abuts the mouth of the front end of the groove
3411. As a result, the inner slide member 32 continues its forward
movement until the drawer is withdrawn (i.e., open).
[0023] Referring to FIG. 11, in a retracting operation of the
drawer (i.e., the inner slide member 32) the pushing of the inner
slide member 32 and thus the lock pin 323 continues until the lock
pin 323 contacts the notch 3433. The lock pin 323 is then retained
therein.
[0024] Referring to FIG. 12, as a continuation of the movement
shown in FIG. 11, the stop surface 3431 moves upwardly to disengage
from the mouth of the front end of the groove 3411 due to an upward
pivot of the sliding member 343 with respect to the lock pin 323.
The retracting operation of the inner slide member 32 then
continues with the sliding member 343 sliding rearward along the
groove 3411 due to the compression of the spring 342.
[0025] Referring to FIG. 13 in conjunction with FIG. 7 as a
continuation of the movement shown in FIG. 12, the retracting
operation ends after the rear end of the sliding member 343 is
stopped by the shoulder 3412. Components shown in FIG. 13 are in
positions the same as that shown in FIG. 8 except that the lock pin
323 is retained in the notch 3433 rather than in the recessed
portion behind the hook 3432. That is, the lock pin 323 is always
retained (i.e., locked) in the notch 3433 in a retracted state of
the drawer slide after the initial extending operation.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 14, in a subsequent extending operation of
the drawer (i.e., the inner slide member 32) the pulling of the
inner slide member 32 and thus the lock pin 323 will pull the notch
3433 (i.e., the sliding member 343) forward. The forward sliding of
the sliding member 343 along the groove 3411 will expand the spring
342. Subsequent stages of the extending operation are the same
illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12. Thus, a detailed description
thereof is omitted herein for the sake of brevity.
[0027] While the invention herein disclosed has been described by
means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and
variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art
without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set
forth in the claims.
* * * * *