U.S. patent application number 16/416315 was filed with the patent office on 2020-11-26 for securing mechanism for a drawer slide in a domestic home appliance.
The applicant listed for this patent is BSH Hausgerate GmbH, BSH Home Appliances Corporation. Invention is credited to Nicholas Ciampi, William Daniels, Norman Sewell, Troy Wilson.
Application Number | 20200367648 16/416315 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000004122243 |
Filed Date | 2020-11-26 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200367648 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ciampi; Nicholas ; et
al. |
November 26, 2020 |
SECURING MECHANISM FOR A DRAWER SLIDE IN A DOMESTIC HOME
APPLIANCE
Abstract
A drawer slide assembly for use with a domestic home appliance
having a main body and a drawer. The assembly includes a slide
bracket configured to be non-movably attached to the main body, the
slide bracket having a first engagement portion; a slide having a
first part having a second engagement portion, the first part being
attached to the slide bracket by the second engagement portion
slidably engaging the first engagement portion, and a second part
configured to be non-movably attached to the drawer such that the
second part is positionally fixed relative to the drawer; and a
slide retainer attached to the slide bracket and preventing the
second part of the slide from moving.
Inventors: |
Ciampi; Nicholas; (Cove
City, NC) ; Daniels; William; (New Bern, NC) ;
Sewell; Norman; (New Bern, NC) ; Wilson; Troy;
(Cove City, NC) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
BSH Home Appliances Corporation
BSH Hausgerate GmbH |
Irvine
Munich |
CA |
US
DE |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000004122243 |
Appl. No.: |
16/416315 |
Filed: |
May 20, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24C 15/18 20130101;
A47B 2088/4274 20170101; A47B 88/473 20170101; A47B 88/407
20170101; A47B 88/43 20170101; A47B 88/423 20170101; F24C 15/168
20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47B 88/427 20060101
A47B088/427; F24C 15/16 20060101 F24C015/16; A47B 88/483 20060101
A47B088/483; A47B 88/407 20060101 A47B088/407 |
Claims
1. A domestic home appliance, comprising: a main body; a drawer
that slides relative to the main body between an open position and
a closed position; a slide bracket that is non-movably attached to
the main body such that the slide bracket is positionally fixed
relative to the main body when the slide bracket is in an operating
position, the slide bracket having a first engagement portion; a
slide having a first part having a second engagement portion, the
first part being attached to the slide bracket by the second
engagement portion slidably engaging the first engagement portion
as the first part is moved in a first direction relative to slide
bracket, and a second part that is non-movably attached to the
drawer such that the second part is positionally fixed relative to
the drawer when the second part is in an operating position, the
second part moving in the first direction relative to the first
part as the drawer slides from the closed position to the open
position; and a slide retainer attached to the slide bracket and
preventing the second part of the slide from moving in a second
direction opposite to the first direction.
2. The domestic home appliance of claim 1, wherein the slide
retainer is non-destructively removably attached to the slide
bracket.
3. The domestic home appliance of claim 1, wherein a back end of
the second part of the slide contacts the slide retainer to prevent
the second part of the slide from moving in the second
direction.
4. The domestic home appliance of claim 3, wherein the slide
retainer comprises a plate-like portion, and the back end of the
second part of the slide contacts the plate-like portion to prevent
the second part of the slide from moving in the second
direction.
5. The domestic home appliance of claim 3, further comprising a
slide stop at a front end of the second part of the slide, the
front end being located opposite the back end.
6. The domestic home appliance of claim 5, wherein contact between
the slide stop and the first part of the slide is prevented by the
back end of the second part of the slide contacting the slide
retainer.
7. The domestic home appliance of claim 5, wherein the slide stop
prevents movement in the second direction of the second part of the
slide relative to the first part of the slide by the slide stop
contacting the first part of the slide.
8. The domestic home appliance of claim 7, wherein the slide stop
contacts the first part of the slide simultaneously with the back
end of the second part of the slide contacting the slide
retainer.
9. The domestic home appliance of claim 1, wherein the slide
retainer comprises a plate-like portion, and the second part of the
slide contacts the plate-like portion to prevent the second part of
the slide from moving in the second direction.
10. The domestic home appliance of claim 1, wherein the first part
of the slide is removable from the slide bracket by moving the
first part of the slide in the second direction relative to the
slide bracket when the slide retainer is detached from the slide
bracket.
11. The domestic home appliance of claim 1, further comprising a
second one of the slide.
12. A drawer slide assembly for use with a domestic home appliance
having a main body and a drawer that slides relative to the main
body between an open position and a closed position, the assembly
comprising: a slide bracket configured to be non-movably attached
to the main body such that the slide bracket is positionally fixed
relative to the main body when the slide bracket is in an operating
position, the slide bracket having a first engagement portion; a
slide having a first part having a second engagement portion, the
first part being attached to the slide bracket by the second
engagement portion slidably engaging the first engagement portion
as the first part is moved in a first direction relative to slide
bracket, and a second part configured to be non-movably attached to
the drawer such that the second part is positionally fixed relative
to the drawer when the second part is in an operating position, the
second part moving in the first direction relative to the first
part; and a slide retainer attached to the slide bracket and
preventing the second part of the slide from moving in a second
direction opposite to the first direction.
13. The drawer slide assembly of claim 12, wherein the slide
retainer is non-destructively removably attached to the slide
bracket.
14. The drawer slide assembly of claim 12, wherein a back end of
the second part of the slide contacts the slide retainer to prevent
the second part of the slide from moving in the second
direction.
15. The drawer slide assembly of claim 14, wherein the slide
retainer comprises a plate-like portion, and the back end of the
second part of the slide contacts the plate-like portion to prevent
the second part of the slide from moving in the second
direction.
16. The drawer slide assembly of claim 14, further comprising a
slide stop at a front end of the second part of the slide, the
front end being located opposite the back end, wherein the slide
stop contacts the first part of the slide simultaneously with the
back end of the second part of the slide contacting the slide
retainer.
17. The drawer slide assembly of claim 14, further comprising a
slide stop at a front end of the second part of the slide, the
front end being located opposite the back end, wherein contact
between the slide stop and the first part of the slide is prevented
by the back end of the second part of the slide contacting the
slide retainer.
18. The drawer slide assembly of claim 12, wherein the slide
retainer comprises a plate-like portion, and the second part of the
slide contacts the plate-like portion to prevent the second part of
the slide from moving in the second direction.
19. The drawer slide assembly of claim 12, wherein the first part
of the slide is removable from the slide bracket by moving the
first part of the slide in the second direction relative to the
slide bracket when the slide retainer is unattached to the slide
bracket.
20. The drawer slide assembly of claim 12, further comprising a
second one of the slide.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention is directed to a domestic home appliance. More
particularly, embodiments of the invention are directed to a
securing mechanism that prevents disassociation of a drawer slide
from a slide bracket in a domestic home appliance.
[0002] An example of an application for the invention is a domestic
kitchen oven having a drawer that slides between an open position
and a closed position.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Some modern domestic kitchens include cooking appliances
such as ovens and ranges that have one or more drawers such as, for
example, a warming drawer. The drawers are often mounted to the
appliances by way of one or more slide mechanisms. The slide
mechanisms allow the draw to move in and out of a space in the
appliance. The slide mechanisms can become worn and/or their
operation can be adversely affected by food or other debris
becoming lodged in the mechanisms. As a result, non-destructive
removal of the slide mechanisms for cleaning or replacement is
advantageous.
[0004] Applicants recognized an improvement to the above
arrangement and implement that improvement in embodiments of the
invention.
SUMMARY
[0005] The invention achieves the benefit of providing
non-destructive removal of the slide mechanisms for cleaning or
replacement while also providing secure mounting of the slide of
the mechanism to the slide bracket of the mechanism. Some slides
are removably attached to the slide bracket by one or more
engagement portions on the slide that slidably engage one or more
engagement portions on the slide bracket. With this type of
attachment, the slide can undesirably detach from the slide bracket
during, for example, shipping or due to some other jarring or
outside force. For example, a drawer of a domestic home appliance
can become dislodged from the main body of the appliance during
shipping of the appliance due to the slide detaching from the slide
bracket.
[0006] Embodiments of the invention address the above problem by
providing a slide retainer on the slide bracket. The slide retainer
prevents movement of a portion of the slide relative to the slide
bracket, or at least limits movement of a portion of the slide
relative to the slide bracket so that the slide cannot detach from
the slide bracket.
[0007] Particular embodiments of the invention are directed to a
domestic home appliance having a main body; a drawer that slides
relative to the main body between an open position and a closed
position; a slide bracket that is non-movably attached to the main
body such that the slide bracket is positionally fixed relative to
the main body when the slide bracket is in an operating position,
the slide bracket having a first engagement portion; a slide having
a first part having a second engagement portion, the first part
being attached to the slide bracket by the second engagement
portion slidably engaging the first engagement portion as the first
part is moved in a first direction relative to slide bracket, and a
second part that is non-movably attached to the drawer such that
the second part is positionally fixed relative to the drawer when
the second part is in an operating position, the second part moving
in the first direction relative to the first part as the drawer
slides from the closed position to the open position; and a slide
retainer attached to the slide bracket and preventing the second
part of the slide from moving in a second direction opposite to the
first direction.
[0008] In some embodiments, the slide retainer comprises a
plate-like portion, and the second part of the slide contacts the
plate-like portion to prevent the second part of the slide from
moving in the second direction.
[0009] In some embodiments, the first part of the slide is
removable from the slide bracket by moving the first part of the
slide in the second direction relative to the slide bracket when
the slide retainer is detached from the slide bracket.
[0010] Other embodiments of the invention are directed to a drawer
slide assembly for use with a domestic home appliance having a main
body and a drawer that slides relative to the main body between an
open position and a closed position. The assembly includes a slide
bracket configured to be non-movably attached to the main body such
that the slide bracket is positionally fixed relative to the main
body when the slide bracket is in an operating position, the slide
bracket having a first engagement portion; a slide having a first
part having a second engagement portion, the first part being
attached to the slide bracket by the second engagement portion
slidably engaging the first engagement portion as the first part is
moved in a first direction relative to slide bracket, and a second
part configured to be non-movably attached to the drawer such that
the second part is positionally fixed relative to the drawer when
the second part is in an operating position, the second part moving
in the first direction relative to the first part; and a slide
retainer attached to the slide bracket and preventing the second
part of the slide from moving in a second direction opposite to the
first direction.
[0011] Some embodiments further comprise a slide stop at a front
end of the second part of the slide, the front end being located
opposite the back end, and the slide stop contacts the first part
of the slide simultaneously with the back end of the second part of
the slide contacting the slide retainer.
[0012] Some embodiments further comprise a slide stop at a front
end of the second part of the slide, the front end being located
opposite the back end, and contact between the slide stop and the
first part of the slide is prevented by the back end of the second
part of the slide contacting the slide retainer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The following figures form part of the present specification
and are included to further demonstrate certain aspects of the
disclosed features and functions, and should not be used to limit
or define the disclosed features and functions. Consequently, a
more complete understanding of the exemplary embodiments and
further features and advantages thereof may be acquired by
referring to the following description taken in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective schematic view of an exemplary
appliance in accordance with embodiments of the invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary slide assembly
in accordance with embodiments of the invention;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the exemplary slide assembly
shown in FIG. 2;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the exemplary slide assembly
shown in FIG. 2 in a partially disassembled state;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a side view of the exemplary slide assembly shown
in FIG. 2 with the slide in a retracted state;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the exemplary slide assembly
shown in FIG. 2; and
[0020] FIG. 7 is side view of the exemplary slide assembly shown in
FIG. 5 with the slide in an extended state.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] The invention is described herein with reference to the
accompanying drawings in which exemplary embodiments of the
invention are shown. The invention may, however, be embodied in
many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the
embodiments set forth herein.
[0022] As explained above, embodiments of the invention provide an
improvement to a domestic oven or other domestic home
appliance.
[0023] FIG. 1 shows an example of a domestic home appliance 10, in
this example a range, in accordance with embodiments of the
invention. Appliance 10 has a door 20 that provides access to a
cooking compartment, and a drawer 30 that is, in this example, a
warming drawer. In this example, drawer 30 slides relative to
appliance 10 between a closed position and an open position by way
of two slide assemblies. While two slide assemblies are used in
this example, other embodiments use one, three, or more slide
assemblies. Embodiments of the invention are directed to the slide
assemblies used to attach drawer 30 to appliance 10, and to
appliances that use the slide assemblies.
[0024] As stated above, the slide assemblies can become worn and/or
their operation can be adversely affected by food or other debris
becoming lodged in the assemblies. As a result, non-destructive
removal of the slide assemblies, or a portion thereof, for cleaning
or replacement is advantageous.
[0025] In some cases, a drawer can become dislodged from an
appliance during shipping of the appliance. This can be due to a
slide separating from a slide bracket. Such separating during
shipping, or during use, can result in a service call from the end
user. Embodiments of the invention help limit or prevent such
service calls.
[0026] FIGS. 2 and 3 show an example of a slide assembly 100 in
accordance with embodiments of the invention. Slide assembly 100
includes, in this example, a slide bracket 200 and a slide 300.
Slide bracket 200 is attached to a main body of appliance 10 and is
positionally fixed relative to the main body of appliance 10. Slide
300 has two main portions (explained in more detail below): a first
portion that is attached to slide bracket 200; and a second portion
that moves relative to the first portion. Also shown in FIGS. 2 and
3 is a slide retainer 400 that is removably attached to slide
bracket 200.
[0027] FIG. 4 shows a partially disassembled view of slide assembly
100. In FIG. 4, slide 300 is shown removed from slide bracket 200
and slide retainer 400 is shown removed from slide bracket 200. In
this example, slide bracket 200 has a body 210 that includes a
planar base portion and two upturned side portions that form right
angles with the planar base portion. One purpose of the upturned
side portions is to add strength and rigidity to slide bracket 200.
Slide bracket 200 also has, in this example, a downturned end
portion that has two holes (better seen in FIG. 2) used to
removably fasten slide bracket 200 to the main body of appliance
10. Other and/or additional features and methods can be used to
attached slide bracket 200 to the main body of appliance 10 such
as, for example, screws, rivets, adhesive, friction fit
attachments, slots and lances, welding, or any other attachment. In
this example, slide bracket 200 is positionally fixed relative to
the main body of appliance 10 when slide bracket 200 is in the
operating position, and is removable.
[0028] FIG. 4 shows slide 300 removed from slide bracket 200. In
this example, slide 300 is attached to slide bracket 200 by four
sets of engagement devices. Slide bracket 200 has four openings 220
in its planar base portion. Openings 220 are of an appropriate size
and shape to receive respective lances 340 on slide 300. In this
example, the four openings 220 are larger at one end than the other
end (see FIG. 6) to facilitate the insertion of lances 340 into
openings 220. To attach slide 300 to slide bracket 200, slide 300
is lowered onto slide bracket 300 such that each lance 340 enters
one opening 220, and then slide 300 is moved in direction A shown
in FIG. 4. This movement cases lances 340 to engage the planar base
portion of slide bracket 200 and pinch the planar base portion of
slide bracket 200 between lances 340 and a bottom surface of slide
300. FIG. 6 shows lances 340 engaged with openings 220.
[0029] FIG. 4 shows slide 300 as having a first part 320 and a
second part 310. In this example, lances 340 are integrally formed
in a lower side of a body portion 330 of first part 320 of slide
300. When lances 340 are engaged with openings 220 (as described
above), first part 320 of slide 300 is positionally fixed relative
to slide bracket 200 and, therefore, positionally fixed relative to
the main body of appliance 10. Second part 310 of slide 300 is
attached to first part 320 of slide 300 such that second part 310
slides relative to first part 320. Second part 310 is configured to
attach to drawer 30 such that second part 310 is positionally fixed
relative to drawer 30 and moves with drawer 30. Due to slide 300
being attached to drawer 30 and the main body of appliance 10 as
described above, drawer 30 is attached to the main body of
appliance 10 in a manner that drawer 30 can move relative to the
main body of appliance 10 between a closed position and at least
one open position.
[0030] When drawer 30 is moved to a fully open position (in
direction A), force can be transmitted in direction A from second
part 310 to first part 320. This force will tend to push lances 340
more tightly into openings 220 and, therefore, keep first part 320
securely attached to slide bracket 200. An opposite force can be
applied to the connection between lances 340 and openings 220 when
drawer 30 is moved from an open position to the closed position (in
direction B).
[0031] When drawer 30 is moved from an open position to the closed
position and/or when drawer 30 is jarred (during shipping of
appliance 10, for example), force can be transmitted in direction B
from second part 310 to first part 320. Without features of the
invention, this force could tend to push lances 340 out of
engagement with openings 220 and, therefore, result in first part
320 becoming dislodged from slide bracket 200. To prevent this
undesirable disassociation of first part 320 and slide bracket 200,
slide retainer 400 is provided as a stop to limit the movement of
second part 310 of slide 300 in direction B.
[0032] When drawer 30 is moved to the closed position and/or when
drawer 30 is jarred, an end 350 of second part 310 contacts a
plate-like portion (in this example) of slide retainer 400 and
limits the movement of second part 310 in direction B. By limiting
the movement of second part 310 in direction B, little or no force
in direction B is transmitted to first part 300 and, as a result,
little or no force in direction B is transmitted to lances 340. In
this manner, slide retainer 400 prevents, or at least greatly
reduces the chance of, slide 300 being dislodged from slide bracket
200.
[0033] In order to allow the assembly of lances 340 into openings
220 discussed above, slide retainer 400 is removably attached to
slide bracket 200 with, in this example, a screw 440. During
attachment of slide retainer 400 to slide bracket 200, a front
flange 430 is inserted into a slot in slide bracket 200 and screw
440 is inserted though a hole in slide bracket 200 and threaded
into front flange 430. By locating front flange 430 below slide
bracket 200, front flange 430 is less likely to be separated from
slide bracket 200 by force in direction B. In this example, two
rear flanges 420 extend from plate-like portion 410 and rest on
slide bracket 200 to provide additional resistance to plate-like
portion 410 bending under forces in direction B.
[0034] Slide 300 is assembled to slide bracket 200 before slide
retainer 400 is attached to slide bracket 200. This allows slide
300 to be positioned above slide bracket 200 and moved in direction
A to engage lances 340 in openings 220. After lances 340 are fully
engaged in openings 220, slide retainer 400 is attached to slide
bracket 200 and movement of second part 310 of slide 300 in
direction B is prevented.
[0035] FIG. 5 shows a side view of slide 300 assembled on slide
bracket 200 with slide retainer 400 in position. In this view,
slide 300 is in the fully retracted position (drawer 30 in the
closed position). In this example, a slide stop 365 is provided at
a front end 360 of second part 310 of slide 300. A rear face of
slide stop 365 is shown contacting an end of first part 320 of
slide 300. Slide stop 365 limits the travel of second part 310
relative to first part 320 in direction B. In some embodiments,
this movement-limiting feature of slide stop 365 is only beneficial
before slide 300 is attached to slide bracket 200 and before slide
retainer 400 is in position. At such times, slide stop 365 prevents
second part 310 from travelling in direction B to a position that
might cause damage to slide 300 or cause second part 310 to become
separated from first part 320.
[0036] In some embodiments, slide stop 365 is prevented from
contacting first part 320 by end 350 of second part 310 contacting
slide retainer 400. In such embodiments, slide retainer 400
prevents any force in direction B from being directly transmitted
from slide stop 365 to first part 320. Such a transmission of force
could be undesirable because it could cause lances 340 to become
dislodged from openings 220.
[0037] In some embodiments, slide stop 365 contacts first part 320
simultaneously with end 350 of second part 310 contacting slide
retainer 400. In such embodiments, slide retainer 400 prevents any
movement in direction B of first part 320 by slide stop 365.
[0038] FIG. 6 shows a bottom view of slide bracket 200 with slide
300 and slide retainer 400 attached to slide bracket 200. Lances
340 can be seen engaged with openings 220, and front flange 430 can
be seen below slide bracket 200.
[0039] FIG. 7 is similar to FIG. 5 except that FIG. 7 shows second
part 310 in an extended position (drawer 30 in an open position).
This example shows a telescoping configuration of slide 300. It is
noted that telescoping configurations having more or few parts, or
other sliding configurations can be used. Various type of slide
assemblies can be a part of embodiments of the invention including,
but not limited to, soft-close slides and other slides.
[0040] The Figs. show various protrusions, clips, and fastener
holes for attaching drawer 30 to second part 310 of slide 300. It
is noted that more or fewer of these, and/or other, attachment
features can be used.
[0041] It will be appreciated that variants of the above-disclosed
and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be
combined into many other different systems or applications. Any of
the features described above can be combined with any other feature
described above as long as the combined features are not mutually
exclusive. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated
alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may
be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also
intended to be encompassed by the invention.
* * * * *