Drawer Slide Construction

Abstract

A self-closing slideable drawer is provided with tracks on each side having a roller vertically offset from its track adjacent its rear, which roller cooperates with a corresponding stationary track on each side of the cabinet, which tracks have a roller vertically offset therefrom adjacent its respective front, and which roller is received within its mating drawer track. One set of rollers on one side of the drawer has a smaller width than the other side, and the tracks have stops for in and out position of the drawer.

Description

This invention relates to a drawer slide structure, and more particularly to a thin drawer slide having good tracking during travel, and which is supported in its fully extended position.

A variety of drawer roller supports are known in the art and are a great improvement over the older slide guide systems because of the general ease with which the drawers can be opened and closed, even through fully loaded, and which avoid the essentially custom-fitting normally required during installation of the slide guides.

While the advantages of drawer slides are apparent, drawer slide assemblies have been used essentially for the more expensive applications, such as electronic component assemblies, expensive furniture, or expensive kitchen cabinets, because of the complicated manufacturing process to produce slides, the space required to install the slides decreases drawer space, and the essentially precision dimensions required to fit the drawer to the cabinet.

The present invention overcomes the disadvantages by providing an inexpensive interfitting, self-closing drawer slide structure, which results in a minimum width dimension required, precision action without requiring precision installation methods, and a small number of components.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a drawer slide structure composed of a minimum number of component parts, which can be manufactured economically.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a drawer slide structure having guided travel, which can be assembled economically without requiring precision interfitting of the track and channel components during installation.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a smooth-acting drawer slide structure having components which can be readily assembled by unskilled help, and which has self-contained limit stops for closed and extended positions.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a relatively heavy-duty drawer slide structure, which is simple, inexpensive, reliable, smooth in operation, and utilizes relatively small side space in the cabinet.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a self-closing drawer slide structure, which will result in the drawer closing automatically after being closed a certain distance regardless of the position of the weight in the drawer, and yet maintain the drawer in substantially level position.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a drawer slide structure, which proper alignment of the structure is achieved relatively easily during installation without special tools, devices or techniques, and which is durable during prolonged use.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparent upon reading the specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein corresponding reference numerals refer to similar components in each of the several views.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one side of one type of a drawer slide structure made in accordance with this invention, connected to a conventional cabinet and drawer;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of an assembled drawer track and cabinet track shown in FIG. 1, in a fully extended position;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the drawer slide structure in partially open position;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged front elevational view of the present invention of the right side of the structure, as viewed in FIG. 1, showing its relationship to a fragment of the drawer and cabinet; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged front elevational view of the left side of the structure, as viewed in FIG. 3, showing its relationship to a fragment of the drawer and cabinet.

The drawer slide structure includes tracks, which are adapted to be secured to each side of the cabinet, and aligned with a drawer opening formed therein, and drawer tracks which are adapted to be secured to the sides of the drawer, which is received in the drawer opening of the cabinet. Each of the drawer tracks and cabinet tracks have vertically offset rollers or wheels, which are positioned so as to be aligned with its corresponding mating track when the drawer is inserted into the cabinet. Each of the drawer tracks and cabinet tracks have only a single roller which is journaled to it. The drawer track has its roller adjacent its rear and the cabinet track has its roller adjacent its front. Heretofore, the drawer opening in the cabinet had to be relatively precisely made so as to accurately position the cabinet tracks at their correct distance apart, so as to receive the rollers mounted on the drawer tracks. This required a relatively high skill of worker and increased the cost of assembling the cabinet and the slide structure. If there were any errors in the width of the opening, then the width of the drawer had to be modified, or else either the drawer tracks or cabinet channels had to be offset or shimmed from their respective bases, which is time-consuming and required a degree of skill. While the term "cabinet" has been used generally, it can be any type of furniture or cabinet, such as a desk, bureau, file cabinet, kitchen cabinet, console, or the like.

Referring to the drawings in detail, cabinet 10 has an opening 12 which receives a drawer 14. The front portion of cabinet 10 is indicated at 16. The drawer, as shown, is of conventional design having a front 18 and sides 20 and 22. The height of the drawer sides 20 and 22 is slightly less than the height of the drawer opening 12, for reasons which will be explained more fully hereinafter.

The drawer slide assembly includes tracks 24 and 26, which are positioned on opposite sides of drawer 14 for movement therewith, and tracks 28 and 30, which are supported by the sidewalls of the opening 12 in cabinet 10, and are stationary with respect thereto. Track 24 cooperates with track 28 and similarly track 26 cooperates with track 30. Tracks 24, 26, 28 and 30 are preferably channel-shaped, as shown best in FIGS. 4 and 5.

Tracks 28 and 30 are connected to the cabinet wall by means of screws or other fasteners 32, extending through holes in depressions or wells 34 in the base of the channel. Depressions or wells 34 allow round or flathead screws to be used in installation, which heads remain below the level of the surface and cannot interfere or bind the drawer slide structure in operation. The openings in wells 34 can be elongated horizontally or vertically to allow for adjustment. Adjacent the front end of track 28 is a vertical extension or flange portion 36, as seen best in FIGS. 1 and 2. Flange portion 36 rotatably supports a wheel or roller 38, which extends outwardly from flange 38 into drawer opening 12. Roller 38 is vertically oriented with respect to track 28 and is matingly received within track 24 on drawer 14.

Track 24 has a generally U-shaped channel cross section and is affixed to sidewall 20 of drawer 14 by means of screws or the like 40, which are located in holes in wells or depressions 42. The rear end of track 24 is provided with a downwardly extending flange 44, which rotatably supports a roller 46. Roller 46 extends outwardly from flange 44 and is vertically aligned with track 24, and is matingly received within track 28. Track 24 is provided with a partially struck-out portion 48 adjacent front panel 18 of drawer 14, which extends generally downwardly towards the rear and also with a downwardly extending struck-out portion 50 adjacent its rear end facing the front. Flange 36 has an outwardly extending finger 52 facing drawer side 20 which is positioned to contact struck-out portions 48 and 50 during travel of slide 24, and which act as inner and outer stops for the slide structure, respectively. As seen best in FIG. 4, rollers 38 and 46 are thinner than the width of the legs 24a and 28a of the channels of tracks 24 and 28, for the reasons which will be explained more fully hereinafter.

On the opposite side of drawer 14, drawer track 26 mates with cabinet track 30 and are identical to corresponding tracks 24 and 28, respectively, described above, with the exception of the width of roller 54, rotatably connected to flange 31 of track 26, and the width of roller 56, rotatably connected to flange 33 of track 30. The remaining elements of tracks 26 and 30 are substantially a mirror image of the corresponding elements of tracks 24 and 28, and hence will not be described in detail, but will be shown with corresponding primed numerals being provided on tracks 26 and 30. Rollers 38 and 46 are of smaller width than the width of the legs 24a and 28a of the channel-shaped tracks 24 and 28, respectively, which allows the width of the cabinet opening to vary up to one-eighth of an inch or more than specified without the use of shims. The reduced width of rollers 38 and 46 allows mating within their respective tracks, even though the centers of the tracks are not precisely aligned with their mating rollers. The opposite set of rollers 54 and 56 have a width substantially equal to the width of legs 26a and 30a of the channel-shaped tracks 26 and 30, respectively, so as to prevent any side-play of the drawer reciprocating within the cabinet opening 12, which provides a smooth, uniform, straight movement, both loaded and unloaded, even through though the cabinet opening is one-eighth of an inch overwidth than the drawer, and rollers 38 and 46 are smaller in width than their respective channels of the corresponding tracks 24 and 28.

Roller 38 preferably has a hub 38a and is journaled on a rivet shaft 39, which is riveted to channel 24. Preferably roller 38 is made of a self-lubricating material, such as nylon or Teflon, surrounding ball bearings, which provides quiet and smooth rolling action. It is also of sufficient size to provide easy operation of the slide units. Rollers 46, 54 and 56 are made similarly.

Tracks 26 and 30 are provided with normally directed shoulders 27 and 31, respectively. Shoulders 27 and 31 are to prevent sideways or transverse movement of rollers 56 and 54, respectively. Also, as shown, tracks 24 and 28 similarly have normally directed shoulders 28 and 27, respectively.

The self-closing feature is achieved by having tracks 28 and 30 inclined slightly downwardly from about 2.degree.to about 4.degree.from the horizontal at a position remote from the front end of the tracks, and similarly, having the front portion of tracks 24 and 26 inclined upwardly from about 2.degree.to about 4.degree.from the horizontal remote from the rear end of tracks 24 and 26, respectively. Advantageously, the angular displacement begins along the corresponding tracks about seven (7) inches away from the front portion 16 of cabinet 10. The downward inclination of tracks 28 and 30 and the equal, but opposite upward inclination of tracks 24 and 26 maintain drawer 14 always in a level position.

Struck-out portions 48 and 48' on tracks 24 and 26, respectively, are positioned so as to engage the finger 52 on flange 36 when the drawer is in its fully closed position. The use of portions 48 and 48' avoids any undue stress or marring of front 18 of drawer 14 hitting the front 16 of cabinet 10 during the closing of the drawer. Previously, drawer front 18 was used as a stop. Oftentime slamming the drawer shut caused the front of the drawer to be forced away from the side panels of the drawer. The self-closing feature similarly maintains the drawer in its closed position without the addition of any added wells, locks, or the like.

When the drawer is reciprocated to its fully opened position, drawer 14 is supported by wheels 38 and 56, respectively and rollers 46 and 54 are in rolling contact with either the upper or lower surfaces of channels 28 and 30, respectively, depending on any given position of the drawer 14, upon whether the center or gravity of drawer 14 and its contents is rearwardly or forwardly of rollers 38 and 56, respectively. When the drawer 14 is in its fully opened position, struck-out portions 50 and 50' engage stops 52 and 52', respectively, thereby providing a double limit stop.

The drawer 14 may be completely removed from cabinet 10 by lifting the front of the drawer upwardly, as seen best in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, so that struck-out portions 50 and 50' clear stops 52 and 52', respectively, and the drawer 14 is moved forwardly and can be completely removed. As seen best in FIGS. 4 and 5, a slight clearance is provided from the top of side panels 20 and 22 of drawer 14 and the top of cabinet opening 12, so as to allow sufficient clearance for struck-out portions 50 and 51' to clear stops 52 and 52', respectively, when drawer 14 is lifted.

Drawer 14 is inserted into drawer cabinet opening 12 by rolling rollers 46 and 54 into their mating tracks 28 and 30, and positioning rollers 38 and 56 in the channels of tracks 24 and 26. Struck-out portions 50 and 50' being tapered in the opposite direction, easily slide over finger 52. Once the center of gravity of drawer 14 passes beyond wheels 38 and 56, respectively, the weight of the drawer will cause drawer 14 to move downwardly towards the rear of the cabinet providing for self-closing. Self-closing takes place regardless of the position of the weight in the drawer due to the gravitational force. Also, once drawer front 18 moves to within seven (7) inches of the front 16 of cabinet 10, the drawer automatically closes by reason of the point of bending along the corresponding tracks.

From the above disclosure it is seen that the drawer slide of this invention is simply constructed. By forming struck-out portions, the tracks can be made by a stamping process and by reducing the width of the wheels on one side of the drawer slide structure only, the cabinet opening can vary about one-quarter of an inch from the specified dimension, without affecting the smooth movement of the drawer. The structure disclosed has a self-closing feature and has both in and out stops to save the drawer front and prevent the drawers from falling out accidentally. The stamping operation also allows the tracks to provide simple means for recessing the heads of fasteners and simultaneously form bosses, and the offsetting of wheels mounted on flanges offset from the tracks allows for a thinner slide assembly, thereby increasing the drawer space.

While a preferred embodiment of this invention has been described, it will be understood that modifications and improvements may be made thereto. Such of these modifications and improvements as incorporate the principles of this invention are to be considered as included in the appended claims, unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.

Claims

We claim:

1. A drawer slide assembly for reciprocally supporting a drawer for movement into and out of an opening in a cabinet, comprising first and second tracks on each side of the cabinet and aligned with the drawer opening formed therein, said first and second tracks being parallel and vertically offset, said first tracks adapted to be secured to said cabinet and said second tracks adapted to be secured to said drawer, each of said first tracks having a vertically offset flange adjacent its forward end and adjacent the drawer opening, each of said second tracks having a vertically offset flange adjacent its end disposed most remotely from said drawer opening, and rollers journaled on each of said flanges, the rollers journaled on said first tracks flanges being in rolling contact with said second tracks and the rollers journaled on the flanges of the second tracks being in rolling engagement with said first tracks, said drawer and said second tracks being movable with respect to said first tracks, the rollers on one side of said drawer opening having a width less than the width of their mating tracks.

2. A drawer slide structure, as in claim 1, wherein the rearward portions of said first tracks are downwardly inclined from a point intermediate of their ends.

3. A drawer slide structure in accordance with claim 2, further including the forward portions of said second tracks being upwardly inclined from the horizontal from a point intermediate from their ends.

4. A drawer slide structure in accordance with claim 3, wherein the angle of inclination of the first and second tracks is from about 2.degree.to about 4.degree..

5. A drawer slide structure in accordance with claim 4, wherein the angle of inclination upwardly is equal to the angle of inclination downwardly.

6. A drawer slide structure as in claim 1, wherein said tracks have horizontal surfaces spaced vertically apart a distance greater than the diameter of their mating rollers.

7. A drawer slide structure in accordance with claim 6, wherein one of said surfaces has a normally directed shoulder parallel to the tracks, and defining a space greater than the width of said mating rollers.

8. A slide structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said second tracks have stop means to limit the extent of movement of said drawer within predetermined limits.

9. A drawer slide structure in accordance with claim 8, wherein said stop means include partially struck-out portions from said second tracks, a finger extending outwardly from the flange of the first tracks, which fingers cooperate with corresponding struck-out portions of said second tracks.

10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 9, wherein the side panels of the drawer are of a height less than the height of the drawer opening by a distance at least as great as the outwardly struck portions performing the stops, so as to allow removal of the drawer by lifting.