U.S. patent application number 12/072024 was filed with the patent office on 2009-08-27 for undermount slide drawer adjustment and securing apparatus.
Invention is credited to Frank J. Clausen, Gus Frousiakis.
Application Number | 20090212679 12/072024 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40997609 |
Filed Date | 2009-08-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090212679 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Frousiakis; Gus ; et
al. |
August 27, 2009 |
Undermount slide drawer adjustment and securing apparatus
Abstract
The present invention may be used for positioning and securing a
drawer on a drawer slide member of a cabinet. There may be a
positioning pin retained on a side wall of the drawer slide
element. The positioning pin may have a pin attached to a springy
projecting arm for positioning the pin in a hole in the bottom of
the drawer. There may be a securing pin attached interior to the
drawer slide member that may be rotated about a rotating end of a
housing to position a slot pin through a pin slot in a side wall of
the drawer slide member. The slot pin may engage an elongated
aperture formed in the drawer to inhibit removal of the drawer from
the drawer slide member. There may also be an adjustment cam
rotatably retained in an adjustment bracket attached interior to
the drawer slide member. The adjustment cam may have a protruding
portion that may be rotated upwardly through a cam aperture in the
top wall of the drawer slide member to raise the drawer height.
Inventors: |
Frousiakis; Gus; (Huntington
Beach, CA) ; Clausen; Frank J.; (Brabrand,
DK) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DENNIS W. BEECH (LAW OFFICE OF DENNIS W. BEECH)
P.O. BOX 519
MURRIETA
CA
92564-0519
US
|
Family ID: |
40997609 |
Appl. No.: |
12/072024 |
Filed: |
February 23, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/334.1 ;
312/352 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 88/427
20170101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/334.1 ;
312/352 |
International
Class: |
A47B 88/04 20060101
A47B088/04 |
Claims
1. An apparatus to position and secure a drawer element on a drawer
slide member comprising: a positioning pin retained on a
positioning bracket attached to a side wall of a drawer slide
member wherein a pin of said positioning pin is oriented upwardly;
a base plate of said positioning pin has a generally rectangular
open portion with a projecting arm that is springy attached at a
first end to an edge of said generally rectangular open portion;
and said projecting arm is shaped to pass through a slot in said
positioning bracket to position said pin attached at a second end
of said projecting arm through said positioning bracket having an
aperture therein.
2. The apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising: a securing pin
rotatably retained on a securing bracket attached interior to said
drawer slide member on said side wall; a housing of said securing
pin has a fastening pin slidable disposed therein adjacent a
rotating end with said securing pin spring biased axially wherein
said fastening pin has a bottom end disposed in a slot of said
securing bracket and a top end disposed in said drawer slide member
having a fastening aperture in a top wall thereof; a locating pin
is slidably disposed in said housing adjacent a securing end with
said securing pin spring biased axially; a slot pin attached
adjacent said rotating end positioned to protrude generally
horizontally and outwardly through said side wall having a pin slot
therein when said securing end is rotated adjacent to said side
wall; and said top wall having a locating aperture therein for
receipt of said locating pin when said securing end is rotated
adjacent to said side wall.
3. The apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising: an adjustment
cam rotatably retained in an adjustment bracket attached interior
to said drawer slide member on said side wall; said adjustment cam
has a cam body that is generally cylindrical shaped with a raised
portion relative to the circular surface of said cam body; a
mounting pin attached at each end of said cam body and a toothed
gear attached to one of said mounting pins; said adjustment bracket
having two opposed slots with a ratchet arm attached adjacent one
of said opposed slots to engage said toothed gear when said
mounting pins are disposed in said opposed slots; and said top wall
having a cam aperture therein for said raised portion to pass
therethrough when said cam body is rotated.
4. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said projecting arm has a
tab attached adjacent said second end.
5. The apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said housing has a finger
tab attached adjacent to said securing end.
6. The apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said adjustment bracket is
attached adjacent said positioning bracket.
7. The apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said cam body has a cam tab
attached.
8. The apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said adjustment bracket is
attached adjacent said positioning bracket.
9. An apparatus to position and secure a drawer element on a drawer
slide member comprising: a securing pin rotatably retained on a
securing bracket attached interior to a drawer slide member on a
side wall; a housing of said securing pin has a fastening pin
slidable disposed therein adjacent a rotating end with said
securing pin spring biased axially wherein said fastening pin has a
bottom end disposed in a slot of said securing bracket and a top
end disposed in said drawer slide member having a fastening
aperture in a top wall thereof; a locating pin is slidably disposed
in said housing adjacent a securing end with said locating pin
spring biased axially; a slot pin attached adjacent said rotating
end positioned to protrude generally horizontally and outwardly
through said side wall having a pin slot therein when said securing
end is rotated adjacent to said side wall; and said top wall having
a locating aperture therein for receipt of said locating pin when
said securing end is rotated adjacent to said side wall.
10. An apparatus to position a drawer element on a drawer slide
member comprising: an adjustment cam rotatably retained in an
adjustment bracket attached interior to a drawer slide member on a
side wall; said adjustment cam has a cam body that is generally
cylindrical shaped with a raised portion relative to the circular
surface of said cam body; a mounting pin attached at each end of
said cam body and a toothed gear attached to one of said mounting
pins; said adjustment bracket having two opposed slots with a
ratchet arm attached adjacent one of said opposed slots to engage
said toothed gear when said mounting pins are disposed in said
opposed slots; and a top wall having a cam aperture therein for
said raised portion to pass therethrough when said cam body is
rotated.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to devices used to position and
secure a drawer element that may be an open top drawer box on an
undermount drawer slide member. The new apparatus may have a spring
biased positioning pin, a rotating height adjustment cam and a
drawer securing pin to position and secure a drawer to a drawer
slide.
[0002] Drawer positioning pins that may be rigidly attached to a
drawer slide element to engage a hole or bore in a drawer box may
be known for use in retaining a drawer box on a slide. Screw type
positioning bolts may currently be used to elevate a drawer box
relative to a drawer slide element to position a drawer box on a
drawer slide. A drawer box may be positioned on a pair of cabinet
drawer slides for positioning holes in the drawer on the rigidly
attached pins. This type of positioning can be difficult due to the
necessity to position the holes over a protruding pin. Using a
threaded type bolt or screw to adjust a drawer height can also be a
tedious procedure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention is directed to devices and apparatus
for use in positioning and securing a drawer on a drawer slide
member of a cabinet. There may be a positioning pin retained on a
side wall of the drawer slide element. The positioning pin may have
a pin attached to a springy projecting arm for positioning the pin
in a hole in the bottom of the drawer. There may be a securing pin
attached interior to the drawer slide member that may be rotated
about a rotating end of a housing to position a slot pin through a
pin slot in a side wall of the drawer slide member. The slot pin
may engage an elongated aperture formed in the drawer to inhibit
removal of the drawer from the drawer slide member. There may also
be an adjustment cam rotatably retained in an adjustment bracket
attached interior to the drawer slide member. The adjustment cam
may have a protruding portion that may be rotated upwardly through
a cam aperture in the top wall of the drawer slide member to raise
the drawer height.
[0004] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the
present invention will become better understood with reference to
the following drawings, description and claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an end portion of a
drawer slide element with an apparatus having a positioning pin, an
adjustment cam and a securing pin according to an embodiment of the
invention;
[0006] FIG. 2 illustrates a side elevation view of an apparatus
according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0007] FIG. 3 illustrates an end elevation view of an apparatus
according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0008] FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of an apparatus according to
an embodiment of the invention;
[0009] FIG. 5 illustrates a top perspective view of an end portion
of a right hand drawer slide member with attached apparatus
brackets according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0010] FIG. 6 illustrates a bottom perspective view of an end
portion of a right hand drawer slide member with attached apparatus
brackets according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0011] FIG. 7 illustrates a top perspective view of a portion of an
apparatus with a securing pin retracted into a slide element
according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0012] FIG. 8 illustrates a top perspective and end elevation view
of a portion of an apparatus with adjustment cam positions
according to an embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] The following detailed description represents the best
currently contemplated modes for carrying out the invention. The
description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made
merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of
the invention.
[0014] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 6, an undermount slide drawer
adjustment and securing apparatus 10 may have a positioning pin 12,
a securing pin 14 and an adjustment cam 16 attached to drawer slide
member 100 positioned to engage a drawer 102. The drawer 102 may be
a box with open top drawer type. The drawer slide member 100 may
have a "U" channel shape with two side walls 104 and a top wall
106. The drawer slide member 100 may be shaped to operate as a part
of an underdrawer slide assembly with the drawer slide member 100
being the element on which a drawer 102 is positioned.
[0015] The positioning pin 12 may be retained on a positioning
bracket 20 attached adjacent a proximal end 108 of a drawer slide
member 100. The positioning bracket 20 may be attached to a side
wall 104 to position a pin 22 of the positioning pin 12 to engage a
hole or bore in a bottom side of a drawer 102. The position pin 12
may have a base plate 24 for attachment to the positioning bracket
20. The base plate 24 may have a generally rectangular open portion
26 with a flexible, resilient, projecting arm 28 attached at a
first end 30 to an edge 40 of the open portion 26. The projecting
arm 28 may be shaped to pass through a slot 32 in the positioning
bracket 20 to position the pin 22 attached at a free or second end
34 through an aperture 36 in the positioning bracket 20 for the pin
22 to project upwardly to engage a drawer 102. The base plate 24
and positioning bracket 20 may have apertures 42 or protruding pegs
44 to be used to retain the positioning pin 12 on the positioning
bracket 20. Screws may be used to fasten the base plate 24 to the
positioning bracket 20.
[0016] The pin 22 and second end 34 may be forced downwardly
against the spring force of the projecting arm 28, for example,
when a drawer 102 may be placed on the drawer slide member 100.
When a drawer 102 that may have a hole in a bottom has the hole
positioned over the pin 22 the projecting arm 28 may move the pin
22 upwardly into the hole. The projecting arm 28 adjacent the
second end 34 may have a tab 38 for gripping and pulling the
projecting arm 28 downwardly to retract the pin 22 from a drawer
102 hole for ease in removing a drawer 102 from a drawer slide
member 100.
[0017] The securing pin 14 may be retained on a securing bracket 50
that may be attached interior to the drawer slide member 100 on a
side wall 104. The securing bracket 50 may be positioned adjacent
to the positioning bracket 20. The securing pin 14 may have a
housing 52 of generally rectangular box form with a spring biased
fastening pin 54 slidably disposed in and adjacent to a rotating
end 56 and a spring biased locating pin 58 slidably disposed in and
adjacent to a securing end 60.
[0018] The pins 54, 58 may be oriented generally vertically when
the securing pin 12 may be positioned on the securing bracket 50.
The securing bracket 50 may have a slot 62 for receipt of a bottom
end 64 of fastening pin 54 that may have a top end 66 inserted
through a fastening aperture 68 in the top wall 106 of the drawer
slide member 100. The locating pin 58 may be positioned in a
locating aperture 70 in the top wall 106 when the housing 52 is
rotated to position a generally horizontally oriented slot pin 72
attached adjacent the securing end 60 through a pin slot 74 in the
side wall 104.
[0019] In operation the securing pin 14 may have the securing end
52 rotated away from the side wall 104 to retract the slot pin 72
interior to the drawer slide member 100, as best viewed in FIG. 7.
When a drawer 102 that may have an elongated aperture 110 formed
therein is properly positioned on the drawer slide member 100, the
housing 52 may be rotated about fastening pin 54 to cause the slot
pin 72 to pass through pin slot 74 to engage the elongated aperture
110 in the drawer 102. Positioning the slot pin 72 may inhibit
removal of the drawer 102 from the drawer slide member 100. There
may be a finger tab 76 on the housing 52 to aid in rotating the
housing 52.
[0020] The adjustment cam 16 may be retained on an adjustment
bracket 80 that may be attached interior to the drawer slide member
100 on a side wall 104. The adjustment bracket 80 may be positioned
adjacent the positioning bracket 20 or the securing bracket 50. The
adjustment cam 16 may have a generally cylindrical shape cam body
82 with a raised portion 84 relative to the circular surface of the
cam body 82. The cam body 82 may have mounting pins 86 attached at
each end and a toothed gear 88 may be attached to one of the
mounting pins 86.
[0021] The adjustment cam 16 may be rotatably inserted in opposed
slots 90 of the securing bracket 80 with the raised portion 84
oriented upwardly to abut a drawer 102 that may be positioned on
the drawer slide member 100. There may be a cam aperture 92 in the
top wall 106 with an opening to allow rotating the raised portion
84 upwardly and outwardly against a drawer 102 bottom. There may be
a ratchet arm 94 that engages the teeth of the gear 88 to retain
the cam body 82 in a particular position. The adjustment cam 16 may
be structured to allow elevation of a drawer 102 portion between 0
mm and 3 mm in height, as best viewed in FIG. 8. A cam tab 96 may
be attached to the cam body 82 to aid in rotating the cam body
82.
[0022] While the apparatus 10 has been described with three devices
in combination for adjusting and securing a drawer 102 on a drawer
slide member 100, the device 12, 14, 16 may be also used singly or
in combinations of two.
[0023] While the invention has been particularly shown and
described with respect to the illustrated embodiments thereof, it
will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing
and other changes in form and details may be made therein without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
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