U.S. patent application number 17/148044 was filed with the patent office on 2021-05-06 for drawer slide.
The applicant listed for this patent is Actron Manufacturing, Inc.. Invention is credited to Frank H. Rechberg, Jason A. Rechberg.
Application Number | 20210127830 17/148044 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005331886 |
Filed Date | 2021-05-06 |
![](/patent/app/20210127830/US20210127830A1-20210506\US20210127830A1-2021050)
United States Patent
Application |
20210127830 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rechberg; Frank H. ; et
al. |
May 6, 2021 |
DRAWER SLIDE
Abstract
A drawer slide, having a plurality of slide members is provided.
The slide members have a first elongate linear member and a second
elongate linear member to slide within a channel defined by an
interior surface of the first slide member. The first and second
slide members each have a first end portion, a second end portion,
and the interior surface defining the first and second channels,
respectively. The first slide member is milled from a single piece
of material and includes a wall located transversely across the
second end portion. Preferably, the interior side edges of the
first linear member and the exterior side edges of the immediate
linear member further define a first pair of raceways within which
a plurality of ball bearings and bearing spacers are alternately
disposed to provide a smooth slide motion of the second slide
member. The noise damper is a noise-absorbing cushion mounted to
the interior surface of the second linear member at the second end
portion thereof.
Inventors: |
Rechberg; Frank H.; (Corona,
CA) ; Rechberg; Jason A.; (Corona, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Actron Manufacturing, Inc. |
Corona |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005331886 |
Appl. No.: |
17/148044 |
Filed: |
January 13, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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16128826 |
Sep 12, 2018 |
|
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17148044 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 2210/0091 20130101;
A47B 2210/0059 20130101; A47B 2210/0032 20130101; A47B 88/493
20170101; A47B 88/43 20170101 |
International
Class: |
A47B 88/493 20060101
A47B088/493; A47B 88/43 20060101 A47B088/43 |
Claims
1. A drawer slide, comprising: a first elongate linear member
milled from a single piece of material, the first elongate linear
member having a first end portion including a first edge, a second
end portion including a wall, and an interior surface defining a
first channel extending between the first end portion and the
second end portion, the wall extending transversely across the
first channel at the second end portion; a second elongate linear
member slidably located within the first channel, the second linear
member having a first end portion including a first edge, a second
end portion including a second edge, and an interior surface
defining a second channel extending between the first end portion
and the second end portion thereof, wherein interior side edges of
the first elongate linear member and exterior side edges of the
second elongate linear member further define a first pair of
raceways; and a plurality of ball bearings and bearing spacers
alternately disposed within each of the first raceways.
2. The drawer slide of claim 1, wherein the first elongate linear
member is perforated with a plurality of holes to reduce the weight
of the slide drawer.
3. The drawer slide of claim 1, wherein the first elongate linear
member is perforated with at least one mounting hole.
4. The drawer slide of claim 1, wherein the first elongate linear
member includes a resilient material located on an interior side of
the wall.
5. The drawer slide of claim 1, wherein the wall extends partially
through the depth of the first channel.
6. The drawer slide of claim 1, wherein the first elongate linear
member includes a pair of pins extending towards the first channel
at the first end portion thereof.
7. The drawer slide of claim 1, wherein the second elongate linear
member is perforated with a plurality of holes.
8. The drawer slide of claim 1, wherein the second elongate linear
member includes a pair of roll pins extending towards the first
channel at the second end portion thereof, and the first elongate
linear member includes a pair of roll pins extending into the first
channel from the first end portion thereof to confine the bearings
and bearing spacers within the first bearing raceways.
9. The drawer slide of claim 1, wherein the wall extends through an
entire depth of the first channel.
10. The drawer slide of claim 1, wherein the bearing spacers are
fabricated by noise-absorbing plastic material.
11. The drawer slide of claim 1, wherein the first end portion of
the first elongate linear member includes a first alignment
notch.
12. The drawer slide of claim 11, wherein the first end portion of
the second elongate linear member includes second alignment
notch.
13. The drawer slide of claim 1, further comprising a third linear
member to slide within the second channel, the third elongate
linear member having a first end portion and a second end
portion.
14. The drawer slide of claim 13, wherein exterior side edges of
the third elongate linear member and interior side edges of the
second elongate linear member defines a pair of second bearing
raceways.
15. The drawer slide of claim 14, further comprising a plurality of
bearings and bearing spacers alternatively disposed within each of
the second bearing raceways.
16. The drawer slide of claim 15, wherein the third elongate linear
member includes a pair of roll pins extending into the second
channel at the second end portion thereof, and the second elongate
linear member includes a pair of roll pins extending into the
second channel from the first end portion thereof to confine the
bearings and bearing spacers within the second bearing
raceways.
17. The drawer slide of claim 15, wherein the third elongate linear
member has an interior surface defining a third channel.
18. The drawer slide of claim 17, further comprising a fourth
elongate linear member fitted within the third channel, the fourth
elongate linear member having a first end portion aligned with the
first end portion of the third elongate linear member and a second
end portion positioned between the first and second end portions of
the third elongate linear member.
19. The drawer slide of claim 17, wherein the third elongate linear
member includes a stopper protruding into the third channel at the
second end portion of the fourth elongate linear member.
20. A drawer slide, comprising: an outermost linear member milled
from a single piece of material, the outermost linear member having
a first end portion, a second end portion, a wall and an interior
side surface defining a first channel, the wall extending
transversely across the first channel at the second end portion; at
least one intermediate slide member to slide within the first
channel, the intermediate slide member having a first end portion,
a second end portion including a second edge, and an interior
surface defining a second channel, wherein the first end portion of
the intermediate slide member is aligned with the first end portion
of the outermost linear member when the intermediate slide member
slides to a fully retracted position; and an innermost linear
member fitted to the intermediate slide member within the second
channel, wherein the innermost linear member has a first end
portion aligned with the first end portion of the intermediate
slide member when the innermost slide member slides to a fully
retracted position.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 16/128,826 filed on Sep. 12, 2018, the entire
content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable
BACKGROUND
[0003] The present invention relates in general to a drawer slide,
and more particularly, to a multi-member drawer slide with at least
one element milled from a single piece of material.
[0004] Drawer slides that include multiple, substantially linear,
metal slides each sliding within the interior channel of the next
successively larger member have been known in the art. By a
succession of such metal members, a drawer or an object supported
by such members may slide between a first position when the metal
members are fully extended from each other and a second position
when the metal members are fully retracted. Because of this basic
structure of metal slides sliding within the interior channel of
the next successively larger member, it is possible for any single
metal slide to slide through an end portion of the successively
larger member. To this end, past slides have incorporated a pin
placed transversely across the interior channel of the largest
metal slides. However, repeated impacts of closing the drawer can
create metal fatigue in the pin, leading to structural failure of
the pin, and the slide breaking by sliding through the rear of the
interior channel of the largest member.
[0005] The prior art drawer members make certain accommodations to
their sliding and suspension function. They may be made of light
alloy metals and incorporate relieved areas to reduce weight. The
drawer members may be extruded or stamped. The suspension between
members may be by ball or roller bearings. A final one of the
sliding members which attaches to a drawer, or other object, may be
releasable and detachable from the other members so that the drawer
may be completely extracted from its sliding suspension within a
cabinet. The drawer may be latched in both the extended and
retracted positions in a manner prohibiting all movement among and
between the members.
[0006] To perform the desired functions as described above, the
sliding members of the drawer slide are typically made of strong
and durable metal material. When the drawer supported by the drawer
members slides to the second position, noise and impact are
inevitable when the inner ends of the strong metal slides reach the
fully retracted position.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0007] A drawer slide including a plurality of slide members and a
noise damper is provided. The slide members include at least a
first elongate linear member and a second elongate linear member.
The first elongate linear member is milled from a single piece of
material and includes a first end portion, a second end portion,
which includes a wall, and an interior surface defining a first
elongate channel extending between the first and second end. The
second elongate linear member is configured to slide within the
first channel. The second elongate linear member also has a first
end, a second end, and an interior surface defining a second
elongate channel extending between the first end and the second end
thereof. Preferably, the interior side edges of the first elongate
linear member and the exterior side edges of the second elongate
linear member further define a first pair of raceways within which
a plurality of ball bearings and bearing spacers are alternately
disposed to provide a smooth slide motion of the second slide
member.
[0008] The first elongate linear member is perforated with a
plurality of holes to reduce the overall weight of the drawer
slide. The first elongate linear member also includes at least one
mounting hole for mounting the drawer slide to a cabinet or a wall
to which a drawer is supported by the drawer slide. The first
elongate linear member further includes a solid portion extending
partially through a depth of the first channel at the second end
thereof to prevent the second elongate linear member from sliding
through. Alternately, the first elongate linear member further
includes a wall extending completely through a depth of the first
channel at the second end thereof to prevent the second elongate
linear member from sliding through. The first elongate linear
member may include an alignment notch on a first end portion.
Preferably, the bearings and bearing spacers are confined by a pair
of pins extending from the first end of the first elongate linear
member towards the first channel and a pair of pins extending from
the second end of the second elongate linear member towards the
first channel. Therefore, when the second elongate linear member
slides to a fully extended position, the bearings and bearing
spacers fit tightly between the first end of the first elongate
linear member and the second end of the second elongate linear
member.
[0009] The second elongate linear member is also perforated with a
plurality of holes to reduce the overall weight of the drawer
slide. The second elongate linear member may also include an
alignment notch on the first end portion. The noise-absorbing
cushion is preferably fitted to the second elongate linear member
by a pair of rivets and extends beyond the second end of the
intermediate linear slide member in one direction, and into the
second elongate channel in the other direction.
[0010] The drawer slide may further include a third elongate linear
member to slide within the second channel. The third linear member
also has a first end and a second end, and the exterior side edges
of the third linear member and interior side edges of the second
elongate linear member define a pair of second bearing raceways for
accommodating a plurality of bearings and bearing spacers. The
bearings and the bearing spacers are confined by a pair of pins
extending into the second channel from the second end of the third
elongate linear member and a pair of pins extending into the second
channel from the first end of the second elongate linear
member.
[0011] The third elongate linear member has an interior surface
defining a third channel, in which a fourth elongate linear member
is fitted. The fourth elongate linear member has a first end
aligned with the first end of the third elongate linear member and
a second end between the first and second ends of the third
elongate linear member. In one embodiment, the third elongate
linear member includes a stopper protruding into the second channel
at the second end of the fourth elongate linear member.
[0012] A drawer slide comprising an outermost linear member, at
least one intermediate slide member, and an innermost linear member
is also provided. The outermost linear member is milled from a
single piece of material and has a first end, a second end, a wall,
and an interior side surface defining a first channel. The wall may
extend transversely across the first channel at the second end
portion. The intermediate slide member is configured to slide
within the first channel and has a first end, a second end, and an
interior surface defining a second channel. The first end of the
intermediate slide member is aligned with the first end of the
first linear member when the second intermediate slide member
slides to a fully unextended position. The innermost linear member
is configured to slide within the second channel. The innermost
linear member has a first end aligned with the first end of the
intermediate slide member and a second end between the first and
second end of the intermediate member. The drawer slide also
includes noise damper mounted to the second end of the intermediate
slide member.
[0013] The noise damper includes a rubber cushion extending beyond
the second end of the intermediate slide member. In the case that
the drawer slide comprises a plurality of intermediate slide
members, the noise damper includes at least one rubber cushion
mounted to the interior surface of the intermediate slide member
extends beyond the second end of the intermediate linear slide
member in one direction, and into the second elongate channel in
the other direction. The interior side edges of the outermost
linear member and exterior side edges of the intermediate slide
member define a pair of raceways in which a plurality of bearings
and bearing spacers are disposed. The bearing spacers are
preferably fabricated from noise absorbing plastic material. The
outermost linear member further includes a pin extending across the
first channel at the second end thereof to prevent the intermediate
slide member to slide out of the outermost linear member. To
further suppress the noise caused by relative slide motion of the
outermost linear member and intermediate slide member, the pin is
covered with a noise absorbing sheet.
[0014] The present invention further provides a noise damper for
reducing noise caused by sliding motions of a drawer slide having a
plurality of linear slide members. The noise damper includes a
rubber cushion mounted at one end of at least an intermediate one
of the linear slide members and extends beyond the end of the
intermediate linear slide member in one direction, and into the
second elongate channel in the other direction. Thereby, when the
intermediate slide member slides towards its immediately adjacent
slide member, the noise caused by such slide motion can be
effectively suppressed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] These and other features and advantages of the various
embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect
to the following description and drawings, in which like numbers
refer to like parts throughout, and in which:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the exterior side of a
drawer slide at its fully extended position;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the interior side of
the drawer slide at its fully extended position;
[0018] FIG. 2A is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the
first linear member of the drawer slide of FIG. 2.
[0019] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the drawer slide showing the
interior side of slide members;
[0020] FIG. 4 is a side view of a portion of the drawer slide
showing the interior side of the slide members; and
[0021] FIG. 5 is a top cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 in
FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] A drawer slide including a plurality of sliding members is
provided and shown in FIGS. 1-7. In application, two sets of the
sliding members with mirror image orientations will be mounted at
two opposing sides (left and right, for example) of the drawer for
providing the slide motion of the drawer. It will be appreciated
that, although FIGS. 1-5 illustrate a drawer slide including four
linear members, the number and length of the slide members may be
altered according to the dimension of the specific drawer supported
thereby or other specific requirement without departing from the
scope of present invention.
[0023] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the drawer slide may include a
first, outermost, elongate linear member 10, a second,
intermediate, elongate linear member 20, a third, intermediate,
elongate linear member 30, and a fourth, innermost, elongate linear
member 40. The first linear member 10 may include a first interior
channel 11. The first linear member may be formed from a single
piece of material, for example, a lightweight metal such as
aluminum or titanium. The first linear member 10 may be formed by
machining the first linear member from a single piece of material.
Alternatively, the first linear member 10 may be formed by forging
it from a single piece of material. Or, the first linear member 10
may be cast, or formed by any other method which allows the first
linear member to be formed from a single piece of material with
sufficient strength for operation. Because the first linear member
may be, for example, milled or forged from a single piece of
material, it may include fewer weak points created by the
connection of various moving and non-moving parts. Thus, when the
first elongate linear member 10 is milled from a single piece of
material, the first linear member 10 is less subject to being
deformed by twisting or bending due to the additional rigidity
provided by the milling of the first elongate linear member 10.
[0024] The second linear member 20 has a second interior channel
21. The second interior channel 21 may allow the second and third
linear members 20 and 30 to slide between a fully extended position
and a fully retracted position. The third linear member 30 also
includes a third interior channel 31 in which the fourth linear
member 40 is located. The second linear member 20, the third linear
member 30, and the fourth linear member 40 may be made from
extruded material, stamped material, or milled material. The
material may be a lightweight metal, for example aluminum.
[0025] Each of the first, second, third, and fourth linear members
10, 20, 30, and 40 may be skeletonized. That is, portions of each
of the first, second, third, and fourth linear members 10, 20, 30,
and 40 may have material cut away or relieved to reduce weight
without negatively impacting the strength of the linear member 10,
20, 30 and 40 in operation. As shown in the Figures, the material
may be cut away in the shape of a circle. Alternatively, the
material may also be cut away in the shape of the square,
rectangle, oval, trapezoidal, or any other shape which removes the
desired amount of material in the desired location.
[0026] Each of the first, second, third, and fourth linear members
10, 20, 30, and 40 has a first (outer) end portion and a second
(inner) end portion; for example, the first and second end portions
12 and 13 of the first linear member 10, the first and second end
portions 22 and 23 of the second linear member 20, the first and
second end portions 32 and 33 of the third linear member 30, and
the first and second end portions of 42 and 43 of the fourth linear
member 40. The first and second end portions 12 and 13 of the first
linear member 10 include first and second edges 62 and 63,
respectively. The first end portion 12 may further include an
alignment notch 100. Likewise, the first and second end portions 22
and 23 of the second linear member 20 also include first and second
edges 72 and 73, respectively.
[0027] The first end portion 22 of the second linear member 20 may
also include a second alignment notch 102, which aligns with the
first alignment notch 100 to form a common notch when the first and
second linear members 10, 20 are in the fully retracted position.
Alternatively, the first end portion 22 of the second linear member
20 may also include an alignment boss 104 which rests inside the
first alignment notch 100 when the first and second linear members
are in the fully retracted position.
[0028] The first and second end portions 32 and 33 of the third
linear member 30 includes first and second edges 82 and 83,
respectively, and the first and second end portions 42 and 43 of
the fourth linear member 40 includes first and second edges 92 and
93, respectively. The first end portion 32 of the third linear
member 30 may further include an alignment boss 104 which may rest
in the common notch formed by the first alignment notch 100 and
second alignment notch 102 when the first, second, and third linear
members 10, 20, 30 are in the fully retracted position.
[0029] When the first, second and third linear members 10, 20 and
30 are disposed at their extended positions as illustrated in FIGS.
1 and 2, the first edge 72 of the second linear member 20 extends
beyond the first edge 62 of the first linear member 10, and the
first edge 82 of the third linear member 30 extends beyond the
first edge 72 of the second linear member 20. When the first,
second and third linear members 10, 20 and 30 are disposed at their
fully retracted positions, the first edges 62, 72 and 82 of the
first, second and third linear members 10, 20, and 30 may be
aligned and proximate to each other as shown in FIG. 7.
[0030] As can best be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, when the fourth linear
member 40 is fitted within the third channel 31, the relative
position of the fourth linear member 40 to the third member 30
remains unchanged. Therefore, the first edge 92 of the fourth
linear member 40 is maintained aligned and approximate to the first
edge 82 of the third linear member 30, while the second edge 93 of
the fourth linear member 40, in the embodiment as shown in FIG. 2,
is fixed position between the first and second edges 82 and 83
within the channel 31 of the third linear member 30.
[0031] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first linear member 10 may
include a plurality of countersunk or mounting holes 15 which may
be used for mounting the first linear member 10 to the interior
wall of a cabinet by mounting screws or bolts in a manner which
allows the second linear member 20 to slide through without
obstruction within the first channel 11 thereof.
[0032] The first linear member 10 may include a wall 17 of the
first linear member extending across the first channel 11 at the
second end portion 13 thereof. The wall 17 may extend through an
entire depth of the first channel 11. Alternatively, the wall 17
may only extend partially of the depth of the first channel 11. The
depth of the first channel 11 being defined as width of the
interior side edges of the first channel 11. The wall 17 may
prevent the second linear member 20 from sliding through the second
end portion 13 of the first linear member 10. Because the wall 17
is milled and part of the same piece from which the entirety of the
first linear member 10 is milled, the wall 17 may not be dislodged
from the impact of the second linear member 20 when the second
linear member 20 is moved to the fully retracted position in the
way that a separate piece extending across the first channel 11
might be.
[0033] The interior side edges of the first channel 11 and the
exterior side edges of the second linear member 20 define bearing
raceways within which steel ball bearings 50 and bearing spacers 51
(as shown in the exploded view of FIG. 3) may be alternately
disposed. The bearings 50 and the bearing spacers 51 may be
confined longitudinally by a pair of roll pins 16 extending from
the first linear member 10 into the first channel 11 at the first
end portion 12 thereof and a pair of roll pins 27 extending from
the second linear member 20 into the first channel 11 at the second
end portion 23 thereof. Therefore, when the second linear member 20
slides to fully retracted position where the second edge 73 of the
second linear member 20 is aligned with the second edge 63 of the
first linear member 10, the bearings 50 and the bearing spacers 51
may be free to move within the entire first channel 11.
[0034] When the second linear member 20 slides to a fully extended
position, the bearings 50 and the bearing spacers 51 may fit
tightly within the bearing raceways between the first edge 62 of
the first linear member 10 and the second edge 73 of the second
linear member 20 as shown in FIG. 2. A pair of spacer pins 18 may
also extend from the first linear member 10 into the first channel
11. The spacer pins 18 are interposed between the roll pins 16 and
the first edge 62 of the first linear member 10. Preferably, a
bearing spacer 51 may be disposed between each roll pin 16 and each
spacer pin 18. In this regard, the bearing spacer 51 disposed
between the roll pin 16 and the spacer pin 18 may not travel along
the bearing raceway. Rather, the bearing spacer 51 is maintained in
its position by the roll pin 16 and the spacer pin 18.
[0035] The interior side edges of the second channel 21 and the
exterior side edges of the third linear member 30 jointly define
bearing raceways in each of which a plurality of bearings 50 and a
plurality of bearing spacers 51 may be alternately disposed. The
bearings 50 and bearing spacers 51 disposed within the second
channel 21 may be confined by a pair of pins 26 extending in to the
second channel 21 from the first end 22 of the second linear member
20 and a pair of pins 37 extending into the second channel 21 from
the second end 33 of the third linear member 30. Therefore, when
the third linear member 30 slides to the fully retracted position
where the second end 33 of the third linear member 30 is aligned
with the second end 23 of the second linear member 20, the bearings
50 and the bearing spacers 50 may be free to move within the entire
second channel 21. When the third linear member 30 slides to a
fully extended position, the bearings 50 and the bearing spacers 51
may fit tightly within the bearing raceways between the first edge
72 of the second linear member 20 and the second edge 83 of the
third linear member 30 as shown in FIG. 2.
[0036] Instead of being slidable within the third channel 31, the
fourth linear member 40 may be fitted to the third channel 31
between the first edge 82 of the third member 30 and a stopping
member 47 protruding from an interior surface of the third member
30 into the third channel 31. As shown in FIG. 2, the fourth linear
member 40 may include an interior linear portion received within
the channel 31 and an exterior linear portion extending over the
channel 31. Preferably but optionally, the fourth linear member 40
may also include the skeletonization, including relieved areas such
as holes 44 perforated therethrough to reduce the overall weight of
the drawer slide. In one embodiment, the first, second, and fourth
members 10, 20, and 40 may include as many holes 14, 24 and 44 as
possible to reduce the overall weight of the drawer slide while the
drawer slide is still operative to support a drawer or an object up
to 100 pounds.
[0037] Referring to FIG. 3, the third linear member 30 may include
a cavity 35 in which a latch 36 is installed. Preferably, the
cavity 35 may be located at the portion where the third linear
member 30 is overlapped with the fourth linear member 40. The latch
36 operates by a spring-loaded wedge which is pin mounted to the
third linear member 30. The wedging surface of the spring-loaded
wedge is substantially a flat chisel surface, and the cavity 35 is
preferably square or rectangle in shape presenting a flat opposing
wall to the chisel surface.
[0038] As can be most easily seen in FIGS. 2, 2A, 4, and 5, to
essentially eliminate the instances of the second linear member 20
sliding through the second end portion 13 of the first linear
member 10, the first linear member 10 includes a wall 17. For
example, as shown in FIG. 2, when the second and third linear
members 20 and 30 slide to the fully retracted position, the second
edges 63, 73 of the second and third linear members 20 and 30 may
be brought in direct contact with the wall 17. Depending on the
speed with which a user may choose to close the drawer, the second
and third linear members may impact the wall 17 with increasing
force. The wall 17 may thus be coated with an impact and noise
absorbing material to lessen the impact and noise of contact.
[0039] Alternately, or in addition, a rubber cushion 28 may be
mounted to the second linear member 20 at the second end portion 23
thereof. The rubber cushion 28 may be attached to the second linear
member 20 via two rivets 29 extending through the second linear
member 20. As shown in FIG. 3, the pins 27 extending towards the
channel 11 may also extend towards the rubber cushion 28 through
the side edge of the second linear member 20. Preferably, the
rubber cushion 28 may extend beyond the second edge 73 of the
second linear member 20 in one direction and into the second
channel 21 in the other direction. Therefore, when the second
linear member 20 slides to the fully retracted position, the rubber
cushion 28 may be the first member or object in direct contact with
the wall 17 of the first linear member 10. As the rubber cushion 28
is preferably fabricated from resilient material that is configured
to temporarily deform upon impact in order to consequently absorb
the impact, the mechanical fatigue and noise caused by the contact
between the first and second linear members 10 and 20 may be
effectively suppressed. Similarly, when the third linear member 30
slides to the fully retracted position, the second edge of the
third linear member 83 will be brought in direct contact with the
rubber cushion 28 before reaching the pins 27. Thereby, the noise
and impact caused by the contact between the second and third
linear members 20 and 30 may be suppressed.
[0040] The above description is given by way of example, and not
limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art
could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the
invention disclosed herein. Further, the various features of the
embodiments disclosed herein can be used alone, or in varying
combinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to
the specific combination described herein. Thus, the scope of the
claims is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments.
* * * * *