U.S. patent application number 15/064327 was filed with the patent office on 2017-09-14 for cabinet slide system.
The applicant listed for this patent is Rev-A-Shelf Company, LLC. Invention is credited to Kenneth R. Rowland.
Application Number | 20170258226 15/064327 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 59758551 |
Filed Date | 2017-09-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170258226 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rowland; Kenneth R. |
September 14, 2017 |
CABINET SLIDE SYSTEM
Abstract
A cabinet slide system includes a drawer or shelf and a
telescoping slide member. The telescoping slide member can include
a fixed base portion and a slidable portion. The slidable portion
can be slidably engaged with the fixed base portion. The slidable
portion can be coupled with the drawer or shelf so the combination
of the drawer or shelf and the slidable portion is movable to
extend away from the fixed base portion. The cabinet slide system
can also include a rigid bracket and a support. The rigid bracket
can be formed with a vertical section and a horizontal section
perpendicular to the vertical section. The fixed base portion can
be coupled with the vertical section. The support can be included
in the horizontal section. The fixed base portion can be
contiguously and detachedly rested on the support to arrest
rotational torque of the telescoping slide member upon being placed
under load.
Inventors: |
Rowland; Kenneth R.;
(Louisville, KY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Rev-A-Shelf Company, LLC |
Louisville |
KY |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
59758551 |
Appl. No.: |
15/064327 |
Filed: |
March 8, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 88/483 20170101;
A47B 88/40 20170101; A47B 88/43 20170101; A47B 88/427 20170101 |
International
Class: |
A47B 88/12 20060101
A47B088/12; A47B 88/04 20060101 A47B088/04 |
Claims
1. A cabinet slide system comprising: a drawer or shelf; a
telescoping slide member comprising a fixed base portion and a
slidable portion slidably engaged with the fixed base portion, the
slidable portion coupled with the drawer or shelf so a combination
of the drawer or shelf and the slidable portion is movable to
extend away from the fixed base portion; a rigid bracket formed
with a vertical section and a horizontal section perpendicular to
the vertical section, the fixed base portion coupled with the
vertical section so that the fixed base section is suspended away
from the horizontal section of the rigid bracket; and a support
included in the horizontal section, the support integrally formed
by slot material from a slot formed in the horizontal section, the
slot material being pressed away from the horizontal section to
form the slot and a raised platform spaced away from the horizontal
section by only two sidewalls integrally formed from the slot
material at opposing ends of the slot, the fixed base portion being
contiguously and detachedly rested on the raised platform to arrest
rotational torque of the telescoping slide member upon being placed
under load.
2. The cabinet slide system of claim 1, wherein the rigid bracket
is a unitary single piece structure, and the support is formed as
an integral part of the horizontal section, and the raised platform
is raised above a planar horizontal surface of the horizontal
section.
3. The cabinet slide system of claim 1, wherein the rigid bracket
is a plurality of brackets comprising a front bracket and a rear
bracket, and the fixed base portion extends rigidly between the
front bracket and the rear bracket and is fixedly coupled
thereto.
4. The cabinet slide system of claim 1, wherein the rigid bracket
includes a left vertical section and a right vertical section
fixedly coupled at opposite ends of the horizontal section such
that the horizontal section longitudinally extends between the
opposing left and right vertical sections, the horizontal section
including a first support near the left vertical section upon which
a first fixed base section of a first telescoping sliding member is
supported, and a second support near the right vertical section
upon which a second fixed base section of a second telescoping
sliding member is supported.
5. The cabinet slide system of claim 4, wherein the horizontal
section is formed to include a plurality of coupling apertures and
a planar bottom surface formed to contiguously align with a floor
of an enclosure such that the rigid bracket can be fixedly coupled
to the floor of the enclosure via fasteners extending through the
apertures to fixedly engage the rigid bracket and the floor.
6. The cabinet slide system of claim 1, wherein the fixed base
portion comprises a frame and a carriage, and wherein the frame is
coupled with the vertical section of the rigid bracket so that the
carriage is spaced away from the horizontal section of the rigid
bracket, and the support extends above the horizontal section of
the rigid bracket to be spaced away from a bottom surface of the
carriage, the carriage configured to be contiguously supported by
the support by contact between the bottom surface of the carriage
and the raised platform of the support upon the telescoping slide
member being placed under load.
7. The cabinet slide system of claim 1, wherein the fixed base
portion comprises a frame and a carriage, and wherein a planar
surface of the carriage is maintained in a predetermined
substantially parallel relationship with the horizontal section of
the rigid bracket by cooperative operation of the vertical section
and the support to constrain the carriage from twisting with
respect to the frame.
8. The cabinet slide system of claim 1, wherein the support is
formed to include a platform and sidewalls, the platform being a
flat planar area of predetermined size that is rigidly held at a
fixed predetermined distance above a planar surface of the
horizontal section by the sidewalls, and spaced away a
predetermined distance from the vertical section.
9. The cabinet slide system of claim 1, wherein the vertical
section is a first planar member, and the fixed base portion
includes a second planar member aligned in parallel with the
vertical section.
10. A cabinet slide system comprising: a rigid bracket formed to
include a planar coupling section and a planar support section, the
planar support section formed to perpendicularly intersect the
planar coupling section and configured to couple with a floor of a
cabinet; a telescoping slide member coupled with the planar
coupling section so as to be fixedly held suspended away from the
planar support section; a drawer or shelf fixedly coupled with a
slidable portion of the telescoping slide member so that the drawer
and the slidable portion are slidable away from a fixed base
portion of the telescoping slide member; and a support member
included in the planar support section and configured to abut a
fixed base portion of the telescoping slide member to maintain a
carriage included in the fixed base portion substantially parallel
to the planar support section.
11. The cabinet slide system of claim 10, wherein the planar
support section and a transition between the planar support section
and the planar coupling section include a rib continuously
extending along the planar support section and the planar coupling
section.
12. The cabinet slide system of claim 11, wherein the rib is formed
to continuously extend through the transition between the planar
support section and the planar coupling section.
13. The cabinet slide system of claim 12, wherein the rib is
integrally formed as a raised track on one surface of the planar
support section and the planar coupling section, and as a
corresponding slot integrally formed on an opposing surface of the
planar support section and the planar coupling section by
displacement of a portion of the planar support section and the
planar coupling section.
14. The cabinet slide system of claim 10, wherein the fixed base
portion includes a frame that is vertically aligned in parallel
with the planar coupling section, the frame and the carriage formed
as a single unitary structure such that the frame resides in a
vertical plane that is normal to a horizontal plane in which the
carriage resides.
15. A cabinet slide system comprising: a telescoping slide member
that includes a frame integrally formed with a carriage and a
slidable portion moveably coupled with the carriage, the frame
comprising a rigid planar structure; a rigid bracket comprising a
horizontal section integrally formed with a vertical section, the
horizontal section being a planar member and including a plurality
of apertures to fixedly couple the horizontal section to a
horizontal surface of a cabinet, and the vertical section formed to
extend perpendicularly away from the horizontal section; the frame
being contiguously coupled with the vertical section such that the
carriage is spaced away and suspended above the horizontal section
in a plane substantially parallel with the horizontal section; and
a support included on the rigid bracket, the support comprising a
platform that is separated away from the horizontal section, and
the carriage is positioned to contiguously contact the platform to
support and constrain the carriage from twisting in response to a
load placed on the slidable portion.
16. The cabinet slide system of claim 15 wherein the rigid bracket
includes a rib extending from the horizontal section through a
transition to the vertical section, the rib formed to provide
rigidity to the rigid bracket to maintain a relative position of
the vertical section extending perpendicularly to the horizontal
section.
17. The cabinet slide system of claim 16, wherein the rib comprises
a slot formed to include a trench at a base of the slot, and
beveled walls, the slot formed on a first planar surface of the
horizontal section and the transition, and a rail formed on a
second planar surface of the horizontal section and the transition,
the first planar surface being opposite the second planar surface
such that an inward displacement to form the slot is equal to an
outward displacement to form the rail.
18. The cabinet slide system of claim 15, wherein the support
further comprises a sidewall extending between the horizontal
section and the platform to rigidly maintain the platform at a
predetermined distance from the horizontal section.
19. The cabinet slide system of claim 18, wherein the support and
the sidewall are integrally formed with the horizontal section as a
single unitary structure.
20. The cabinet slide system of claim 15, wherein a bottom surface
of the carriage is arranged to contiguously contact a top surface
of the platform absent any attachment between the bottom surface of
the carriage and the top surface of the platform.
21. The cabinet slide system of claim 10, wherein the support
includes a platform and a pair of sidewalls, the platform
positioned by the pair of sidewalls over a slot forming an opening
through the horizontal section, the pair of sidewalls positioned at
opposite ends of the slot.
22. The cabinet slide system of claim 15, wherein the support
extends above the planar support section a predetermined distance
so as to maintains the slideable portion at least 6.35 mm above the
horizontal surface of the cabinet.
Description
FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to a cabinet slide
system for use in a cabinet or other enclosure.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Cabinets such as storage cabinets for kitchens, bathrooms,
closets, offices and other uses can include one or more
receptacles, such as drawers or shelves for storing articles. The
drawers and shelves can be designed to be moved between an open
position and a closed position. While in the open position, a
drawer or shelf may be extended away from the storage cabinet or
other enclosure so as to receive the articles. In the closed
position, the drawer or shelf may be recessed within the storage
cabinet or other enclosure in which the drawer or shelve is
installed. The size and weight of such drawers or shelves can vary.
In addition, the weight and/or number of articles that can be
stored on the drawers or shelves can be quite different in
different applications.
SUMMARY
[0003] Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the
description provided herein. It should be understood that the
description and specific examples are intended for purposes of
illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the
present disclosure.
[0004] An example cabinet slide system can include a rigid bracket,
a telescoping slide member, a drawer or shelf, and a support. The
rigid bracket can be formed to include a planar coupling section
and a planar support section. The planar support section can be
formed to perpendicularly intersect the planar coupling section.
The planar support section can be configured to be coupled with a
floor of a cabinet. The telescoping slide member can be coupled
with the planar coupling section so as to be fixedly held suspended
away from the planar support section. The drawer or shelf can be
fixedly coupled with a slidable portion of the telescoping slide
member so that the drawer and the slidable portion are slidable
away from a fixed base portion of the telescoping slide member. The
support member included in the planar support section and
configured to abut a fixed base portion of the telescoping slide
member to maintain a carriage included in the fixed base portion
substantially parallel to the support section.
[0005] Another example cabinet slide system can include a
telescoping slide member. The telescoping slide member includes a
frame integrally formed with a carriage and a slidable portion
moveably coupled with the carriage. The frame can include a rigid
planar structure. The cabinet slide system can also include a rigid
bracket. The rigid bracket can include a horizontal section
integrally formed with a vertical section. The horizontal section
can be a planar member which includes a plurality of apertures to
fixedly couple the horizontal section to a horizontal surface of an
enclosure. The vertical section of the rigid bracket can be formed
to extend perpendicularly away from the horizontal section. The
frame can be contiguously coupled with the vertical section such
that the carriage is spaced away and suspended above the horizontal
section in a plane substantially parallel with the horizontal
section. The cabinet slide system can also include a support
included on the rigid bracket. The support can include a platform
that is separated away from the horizontal section, and the
carriage can be positioned in contiguous contact with the platform
to support to constrain the carriage from twisting in response to a
load placed on the slidable portion.
[0006] An interesting feature of the cabinet slide system is that
the support includes a sidewall extending between the horizontal
section and the platform to rigidly maintain the platform at a
predetermined distance from the horizontal section. The support and
the sidewall can be integrally formed with the horizontal section
as a single unitary structure. In addition, a bottom surface of the
carriage rests in contact with a top surface of the platform absent
any attachment between the bottom surface and the top surface.
[0007] Another interesting feature of the cabinet slide system
involves a rib included on the rigid bracket. The rib can extend
from the horizontal section through a transition to the vertical
section. The rib can be formed to provide rigidity to the rigid
bracket to maintain the relative position of the vertical section
extending perpendicularly to the horizontal section. The rib can
include a slot formed to include a trench at a base of the slot,
and beveled walls. The slot can be formed on a first planar surface
of the horizontal section and also on the transition. The rib can
also include a rail formed on a second planar surface of the
horizontal section and on the transition. The first planar surface
can be opposite the second planar surface such that a inward
displacement to form the slot is equal to an outward displacement
to form the rail.
[0008] Still another interesting feature of the cabinet slide
system involves cooperative operation of the rigid frame and the
telescoping slide member. A fixed base portion of the telescoping
slide member includes a frame and a carriage. The frame is coupled
with the vertical section of the rigid bracket so that the carriage
is spaced away from the horizontal section of the rigid bracket,
and the support extends above the horizontal section of the rigid
bracket to be spaced away from a bottom surface of the carriage.
The carriage can be configured to be contiguously supported by a
support member included on the rigid bracket by contact between the
bottom surface of the carriage and a top surface of the support
member upon the telescoping slide member being placed under
load.
[0009] Other systems, methods, features and advantages will be, or
will become, apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination
of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended
that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages
be included within this description, be within the scope of the
invention, and the following claims.
DRAWINGS
[0010] The system may be better understood with reference to the
following drawings and description. The components in the figures
are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon
illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the
figures, like referenced numerals designate corresponding parts
throughout the different views.
[0011] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an
example of a cabinet slide system, a receptacle, and an
enclosure.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an example of a rigid
bracket included in the cabinet slide system.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a plan view of an example of a rigid bracket
included in the cabinet slide system.
[0014] FIG. 4 is an elevation view of an example of a rigid bracket
included in the cabinet slide system.
[0015] FIG. 5 is an elevation view of an example of a cabinet slide
system.
[0016] The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes
only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present
disclosure in any way.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] The following description is merely exemplary in nature and
is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or
uses.
[0018] FIG. 1 is an example of a cabinet slide system 100. The
cabinet slide system 100 includes brackets 102 and telescoping
slide members 104. In the illustrated example, there is a front
bracket 102A and a rear bracket 102B, however, in other examples,
there can be one or more middle brackets positioned between the
front bracket 102A and the rear bracket 102B. In addition, there is
a right telescoping slide member 104A and a left telescoping slide
member 104B illustrated.
[0019] The telescoping slide members 104A and 104B each include a
slideable portion 108 and a fixed base portion 110. The slideable
portion 108 is configured to be coupled with a receptacle 114, such
as drawer or shelf, so that the slidable portion 108 and the
receptacle 114 are movable together to be extended away from the
fixed base portion 110. The receptacle 114 illustrated in FIG. 1 is
an example in the form of a housing, such as a drawer, but is not
meant to limit the form and/or shape of receptacles 114 that that
can be used with the cabinet slide system 100. Accordingly, the
receptacle 114 can be formed of any rigid material, such as a rigid
planar material, for example wood, metal or plastic, or another
form of rigid structure or semi-rigid material, such as wire or
mesh, and can be formed in any shape, such as rectangular, square,
oval, triangular, or any other one or more shapes.
[0020] In the illustrated example, the slideable portion 108
includes a planar receiving surface 116 and a latching system 118
such that the receptacle 114 can be received and aligned on the
receiving surface 116 and be fixedly mounted on the slidable
portion 108 with the latching system 118, as generally illustrated
by dotted line arrows in FIG. 1. In other examples, any other form
of fasteners may be used to removable or fixedly couple the
slideable portion 108 to the receptacle 114. The receptacle 114 can
be removably or fixedly coupled to the left telescoping slide
member 104A and the right telescoping slide member 104B such that
the left and right telescoping members 104A and 104B operate in
tandem to reciprocate the receptacle 114 between a closed position
where the left and right telescoping members 104A and 104B are
retracted to be aligned to longitudinally extend along, adjacent
to, and parallel with the fixed base portion 110, and an open
position where the left and right telescoping members 104A and
104B, and the receptacle 114 are extended outwardly away from the
fixed base portion 110.
[0021] The fixed base portion 110 includes a frame 120 and a
carriage 122. In the illustrated example, the frame 120 and
carriage 122 are formed as a single unitary structure such that the
frame 120 resides in a vertical plane that is normal to a
horizontal plane in which the carriage 122 resides. The carriage
122 is in contiguously contact and cooperatively operates with the
slidable portion 108 to provide relatively low friction slidable
movement, such as by using ball bearings, grooves, plastic and/or
other mechanisms to enable slidable operation while rigidly
maintaining the slidable portion 108 in a track formed by the
carriage along which the slidable portion 108 can be reciprocated
between an extended and a retracted position.
[0022] The frame 120 forms a rigid planar structure that extends
between the brackets 102 and is fixedly coupled thereto. In an
example, the frame 120 is integrally formed to receive a fastener
such as a screw or rivet so as to be held contiguously against the
brackets 102. The frame 120 is coupled with the brackets 102 such
that the carriage 122 is cantilevered and carried by the brackets
102 since the carriage 122 is fixedly coupled perpendicular to the
rigid planar surface of the frame 120. In this configuration,
depending on the longitudinal position of the slidable portion 108,
the carriage 122 may be subject to a rotational torque, with the
axis of rotation being the point of coupling/contiguous alignment
of the bracket 102 and the frame 120. For example, in the example
of FIG. 1, when the slidable portion 108 is fully retracted, the
front bracket 102A and the rear bracket 102B can be subject to a
rotational torque that is substantially the same. Since the front
bracket 102A and the rear bracket 102B can be subject to a
rotational torque that is substantially the same the deformation of
the carriage 122 is about the same in the vicinity of the front
bracket 102A as in the vicinity of the rear bracket 102B. When the
slidable portion 108 is extended however, the rear bracket 102B may
be subject to significantly less rotational torque than the front
bracket 102A such that the frame 120 can be subject to twisting.
Such twisting can also occur in the carriage 122, which can impact
the capability of the slidable portion 108 to slide smoothly
without binding due to a track of the carriage 122, with which the
slidable portion 108 is in contact, being compressed, expanded or
otherwise warped or deformed by the difference in rotational
torque.
[0023] The rigid bracket 102 includes a vertical section 126 formed
as a planar member to be rigidly coupled with the frame 120 of the
fixed base portion 104. In FIG. 1, the vertical section 126 is a
planar coupling section of the rigid bracket 126 that is fixedly
coupled in contiguous alignment with a planar surface of the frame
120 by fasteners 128, such as rivets, bolts, or pins. In other
examples, the vertical section 126 and the frame 120 can be rigidly
coupled by welding, snap-fit, or any other form of rigid coupling
mechanism.
[0024] The rigid bracket 102 also includes a horizontal section 130
in the form of a planar support section that intersects with, and
extends in a plane perpendicular to, the vertical section 126. The
horizontal section 130 and the vertical section 126 can be formed
as a single unitary structure of metal, plastic or other rigid
material. The horizontal section 130 can be formed to include one
more coupling apertures 132, which allow the rigid bracket 102 to
be fixedly coupled to an enclosure 134, such as a cabinet, a shelf,
a compartment, a housing or any other surface on which the cabinet
slide system 100 can be mounted. An underside or planar bottom
surface formed in the horizontal section 130 can be contiguously
aligned in parallel with a floor 135 of the enclosure 134 and
fixedly coupled thereto by fasteners, such as screws, rivets,
adhesives, such as glue and/or any other coupling mechanism. In one
example, the fasteners can extend through the coupling apertures
132 to fixedly engage the rigid bracket 102 and the floor 136.
Thus, a planar bottom surface of the horizontal section 130
longitudinally extends upon a planar surface of the floor 135 of
the enclosure 134. The enclosure 134 can be any size and shape, and
the example enclosure 134 depicted in FIG. 1 is an illustrative
example.
[0025] The horizontal section 130 also includes a support 136. The
support 136 is fixedly positioned on the horizontal section 130
between a planar surface of the horizontal section and the carriage
122 so that the carriage 122 rests upon the support 136 when the
vertical section 126 and the frame 120 are rigidly coupled. The
frame 120 is coupled with the vertical section 126 to be spaced
away from the horizontal section 130, and the support 136 extends
above the horizontal section 130 to contiguously support the
carriage 122 upon the telescoping slide member 104 being placed
under load. The carriage 122 can contiguously and detachably rest
on the support 136 to arrest rotational torque of the telescoping
slide member 104, when the telescoping slide member 104 is placed
under load, such as from weight being placed in the receptacle 114.
Thus, the telescoping slide member 104 is constrained and supported
from twisting due to a load when the slidable portion 108 is
positioned in a fully extended position, a fully retracted
position, or anywhere therebetween.
[0026] Accordingly, a planar surface of the carriage 122 is
maintained in a predetermined substantially parallel relationship
with the horizontal section 130 by the cooperative operation of the
vertical section 126 and the support 136 to constrain the carriage
122 from twisting with respect to the frame 110. Also, the support
136 is spaced a predetermined distance above the rigid bracket 102
to allow the slidable portion 108 to fully extend over any lip or
other vertically extending structure of the enclosure 134. For
example, the enclosure 134 may be a cabinet having a front face
trim that extends above the floor 135 of the cabinet a
predetermined distance, such as 6.35 mm (0.25 inches), and the
support 136 can maintain the slidable portion above a top edge of
the front face trim.
[0027] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an example of a rigid
bracket 102. The rigid bracket 102 includes a single unitary
horizontal section 130 longitudinally extending between opposing
vertical sections 126 such that the vertical sections 126 align
with and establish a predetermined distance between left and right
telescoping slide members 104A and 104B. The horizontal section 130
is formed with respective coupling apertures 132 and supports 136
positioned adjacent the opposing vertical sections 126 that are
fixedly coupled at opposite ends of the horizontal section 130.
[0028] In other examples, the rigid bracket 102 can be separately
formed as two rigid brackets 102 each with a separate horizontal
section 130, which include the apertures 132 and supports 136. In
these examples, the rigid brackets 102 can be positioned on the
enclosure 134 in predetermined positions such that the horizontal
sections 130 extend a predetermined distance toward each other, and
the vertical sections 126 are opposing vertical sections 126. In
this example configuration, the positioning of the rigid brackets
102 is adjustable with respect to each other to accommodate
different widths of the receptacle 114.
[0029] The rigid bracket 102 can also include ribs 208. The ribs
208 can be included in both the vertical section 126 and the
horizontal section 130 to act as stiffeners to maintain the
perpendicular alignment of the planar coupling section (the
vertical section 126) with respect to the planar support section
(the horizontal section 130) and to rigidly maintain the planar
coupling section and the planar support section 126 and 130 as flat
surfaces. The ribs 208 can be formed as parallel structures
extending along the planar surfaces of the horizontal section 130
and the vertical section 126. In FIG. 2, the ribs 208 can be formed
by mechanically displacing a portion of the horizontal and vertical
sections 130 and 126 to create parallel slots 212 on a bottom side
of the horizontal section 130 and corresponding raised tracks 214
on the top planar surface of the horizontal section 130.
[0030] For example, a displacement force can be mechanically
applied to a planar surface of the horizontal section 130 and the
vertical section 126 to create the slots 212 and the corresponding
tracks 214 can be created in the opposing surface by deforming the
material from which the horizontal section 130 and the vertical
section 126 are formed. In other examples, the ribs 208 can be
rigid struts mechanically coupled to the horizontal and vertical
sections 130 and 126, and/or can be formed as integral features
within the material from which the horizontal and vertical sections
130 and 126 are formed.
[0031] The ribs 208 can continuously extend to the opposite ends of
the horizontal section 130 where the vertical sections 126 are
perpendicularly coupled. In addition, the ribs 208 can continuously
extend through a transition from the horizontal section 130 to the
vertical section 126. In the example of FIG. 2, where the vertical
section 126 and the horizontal section 130 are a single unitary
flat planar structure that is bent at a ninety degree angle, the
ribs 208 maintain rigidity of the flat planar structures against
warping and bending, and increase the rigidity of the bend by
continuously extending through the transition.
[0032] FIG. 2 includes a close up view of an example of a part of
the slot 212 of a rib 208 formed in a transition area within which
the vertical section 126 transitions to the horizontal section 130.
In FIG. 2, a portion of a planar surface 216 in the transition area
is displaced by a predetermined amount, such as 0.8 mm (0.03
inches) as illustrated by arrows 218. Displacement can be performed
by application of a mechanical force to the planar surfaces. The
slot 212 is formed to include a trough at a base 220 of the slot
212. In an example, the base 220 can have a first predetermined
slot width, such as 1.8 mm (0.07 inches), as illustrated by arrows
222. The slot 212 can also include opposing beveled walls 224 that
widen the slot 212 at a mouth of the slot 212 to a second
predetermined slot width, such as 4.6 mm (0.18 inches) as
illustrated by arrows 226.
[0033] The supports 136 are each formed to include a raised
platform 202 maintained in a fixed predetermined position above a
planar surface of the horizontal section 130 by the side walls 204,
and spaced away from the vertical sections 126 a predetermined
distance. In the illustrated example, the supports 136 are
integrally formed in the fixed predetermined position as part of
the horizontal section 130. Formation of the supports 136 in the
illustrated example may be by cutting a slot 206 in the horizontal
section 130 and mechanically pressing the slot material away from
the planar surface with sufficient force to create the platform 202
and the sidewalls 204. In other examples, the supports 132 can be
separate platforms 202 having side walls 204, which can be fixedly
coupled to the planar surface of the horizontal section 130 in the
predetermined position by fasteners, such as welding, an adhesive,
screws, or any other coupling mechanism. The supports 136 are
formed with the platform 202 of a predetermined area and height
above the horizontal section 130 to abut a fixed base portion of
the telescoping slide member 104 in order to maintain the carriage
122 included in the fixed base portion 110 substantially parallel
to the horizontal section 130 (support section).
[0034] In an example, the fixed base portion of the telescoping
slide member 104 is suspended above the platform 202 such that the
fixed base portion of the telescoping slide member 104 is spaced
away from the platform 202. A predetermined distance between the
platform 202 and the fixed base portion of the telescoping slide
member 104 may form an air space therebetween. As a load, such as a
drawer or shelf provides a downward force on the telescoping slide
member 104, the telescoping slide member 104 may move into a
position to be resting on the platform 202. Alternatively, the
fixed base portion of the telescoping slide member 104 can be
positioned to rest upon the platform 202.
[0035] FIG. 3 is an example of a top plan view of a rigid bracket
102 that includes the opposing vertical sections 126 coupled by a
horizontal section 130. The horizontal section 130 includes the
supports 136 and is formed to include coupling apertures 132. In
FIG. 3, coupling apertures 132A are illustrated as slots to provide
additional flexibility to the positioning of fasteners extending
through the apertures 132A to fixedly engage the rigid bracket and
a floor of an enclosure upon which the rigid bracket 102 is
mounted. The apertures 132 are formed to be accessible even when
the telescoping slide member 104 is coupled with the rigid bracket
102.
[0036] In an example enclosure that is a cabinet (not shown), the
rigid bracket 102 can have a width (W) formed by the horizontal
section 130 such that the opposing vertical sections 126 closely
fit within vertical walls of the enclosure. In this application,
fasteners can be applied from above the rigid bracket 102 to the
slots 132A to fixedly fasten the rigid bracket 102 to a floor
formed as a horizontal planar surface of the cabinet. Due to the
slots 132A being inboard of the telescoping slide members 104,
access to mount and fixedly couple the rigid brackets 102 anywhere
along the floor of the enclosure is available. In addition, since
the rigid brackets 102 include the supports 136, and the ribs 208
to minimize deformation, the positioning of the telescoping members
104 can be rigidly maintained without warping, twisting, or
deformation even though the only coupling of the rigid bracket 102
is with the floor of the enclosure. In other words, because of the
supports 136 and the ribs 208, coupling the rigid bracket 102 with
only the floor of the enclosure provides rigid structural support
to the telescoping slide member 104 that minimizes any twisting or
warping of the carriage 122 and allows the slidable member 108 to
move freely between the open and closed position even with a
significant downward loading force being present.
[0037] FIG. 4 is an example elevation view of a rigid bracket 102.
The rigid bracket 102 of this example includes the opposing
vertical sections 126 formed at the ends of a continuous
longitudinally extending horizontal section 130. In other examples,
as discussed elsewhere, a rigid bracket 102 may only include one
vertical section 126. The horizontal section 130 includes the
supports 136, which can be integrally formed or a separate member.
The supports 136 can include the platform 202 and the sidewalls
204. The horizontal section 130 and a transition 402 to the
vertical section 126 can also include integrally formed ribs 208 as
illustrated.
[0038] The platform 202 is raised above the planar surface of the
horizontal section 130 a predetermined height (H) to be aligned
with a bottom surface of the carriage 122. In addition, the
platform 202 can be positioned a predetermined distance (D) in a
spaced relation from the vertical section 126 to align with a
bottom surface of the carriage 122. Thus, when the telescoping
slide member 104 is fixedly coupled with the vertical section 126,
a bottom surface of the carriage 122 can rest in contiguous contact
with a top surface of the platform 202. Alternatively, a bottom
surface of the carriage 122 can be spaced a predetermined distance
away from a top surface of the platform 202 such that the carriage
122 comes into contiguous contact and rests on the top surface of
the platform 202 when the telescoping slide member 104 is subject
to a load creating a downward force. The carriage 122 is therefore
rigidly maintained in a flat planar configuration substantially
parallel with the planar surface of the horizontal section 130 with
various loading levels and while being selective slid between an
extended and retracted position.
[0039] The vertical sections 126 are rigidly maintained normal to
the horizontal section 130 at a ninety degree angle between the
horizontal section 130 and the vertical sections 126 due to the
ribs 208 in the transition areas 402 strengthening the rigidity of
the intersection of the horizontal section 130 and the vertical
section 126. In addition, any load experienced by the telescoping
sliding members 104 is transferred to the vertical section 126 as a
rotational torque that attempts to decrease the ninety degree angle
by urging the vertical section 126 towards the horizontal section
130. The supports 136, however, arrest such movement, not only by
stopping downward movement of the telescoping member 104, but also
allowing the load experienced by the telescoping sliding members
104 to be distributed between the vertical section 126 and the
supports 136.
[0040] FIG. 5 is an example elevation view of the rigid bracket 102
coupled with the telescoping sliding member 104. The fixed base
portion 110 of the sliding member 104 includes the frame 120 and
the carriage 122 upon which the slidable portion 108 slides to move
a cabinet or drawer between an open and closed position. The
horizontal section 130 includes the ribs 208 and the support
members 136 which extend above the planar horizontal surface of the
horizontal section 130 a predetermined height (H) to a platform
202. The platform 202 is spaced away from the vertical section 126
by predetermined distance (D). The vertical section 126 includes a
first planar member, and the frame 120 includes a second planar
member aligned in parallel and contiguously coupled such that a
planar bottom surface 502 of the carriage 122 is maintained in a
predetermined substantially parallel relationship with the
horizontal section 130 of the rigid bracket 102 by cooperative
operation of the vertical section 126 and the support 136 to
constrain the carriage 122 from twisting or bending with respect to
the frame 120 and/or the planar horizontal surface of the
horizontal section 130.
[0041] The platform 202 of the support 136 can be spaced a
predetermined distance (S) away from the planar surface 502 of the
frame 120 so as to form an airspace therebetween. In an example,
the distance (S) may be between about 0.35 mm (0.014 inches) and
0.40 mm (0.016 inches). In another example, the distance (S) may be
about 0.5 mm (0.020 inches). Accordingly, a load placed on the
sliding member 104 as a downward force, can move the planar surface
502 into contiguous contact with the platform 202 so that the
sliding member 104 is contiguously and detachedly rested and
rotational torque of the telescoping slide member 104 is arrested.
In other examples, the planar surface 502 of the frame 120 can be
positioned in contact with the top surface of the platform 202 such
that a load placing a downward force on the sliding member 104 does
not substantially move the planar surface 502 out of parallelism
with the planar horizontal surface of the horizontal section
130.
[0042] As illustrated in FIG. 5, the planar surface 502 on the
bottom of the carriage 122 is maintained in a substantially
parallel relationship with the horizontal section 130 whether the
planar surface 502 rests on the platform 202, or is spaced away
from the top surface of the platform 202 by the predetermined
distance (S). Accordingly, the planar surface 502 remains
substantially parallel with the horizontal planar surface of the
horizontal section 130 even with movement of up to +/-0.5 mm (0.020
inches) between being spaced away from the platform 202 by the
distance (S) and resting on the platform 202. By the planar surface
502 being maintained in a substantially parallel relationship with
the horizontal planar surface of the horizontal section 130, the
slidable portion 108 is moveable along a receiving surface of the
carriage 122 opposite the planar surface 502 without binding or
otherwise constraining movement.
[0043] It is now apparent that there are many advantages of the
cabinet slide system provided herein. In addition to the advantages
that have been described, it is also possible that there are still
other advantages that are not currently recognized but which may
become apparent at a later time.
[0044] While preferred embodiments of the cabinet slide system have
been described, it should be understood that the disclosure is not
limiting, and modifications may be made without departing from the
features and functionality described. The scope of the disclosure
is defined by the appended claims, and all devices that come within
the meaning of the claims, either literally or by equivalence, are
intended to embrace them.
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