Supports: cabinet structure – With movable components – Horizontally movable
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-07
2001-03-13
Wilkens, Janet M. (Department: 3636)
Supports: cabinet structure
With movable components
Horizontally movable
C312S334800, C248S222110, C248S222130
Reexamination Certificate
active
06199967
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a drawer slide and drawer incorporating a quick-release connection between the drawer slide and the drawer.
Nowadays, office furniture and the like which incorporates one or more drawers normally has each drawer mounted within a frame by means of a drawer slide so as to reduce friction and hence, wear between the drawer and the frame. Drawer slides are well known and comprise at least two longitudinally extending members, slidable relative to one another, there usually being a plurality of ball bearings arranged between the two relatively slidable members. In the past, one of the relatively slidable members has been fixedly secured to the frame, whereas the other has been secured to the drawer. It is preferred, however, nowadays that instead of fixedly securing one of the members to the drawer, some form of releasable coupling is provided so that the drawer can simply be removed from the frame and furthermore, so that the drawers are easily assembled within the frame.
A quick-release connecting clip of the above type is known in which a deformed spring steel clip has one end connected by riveting to the slide, and the other, kinked end terminates in a step so as to provide a projecting nose engageable within an aperture in the side wall of the drawer. This aperture in the side wall is spaced somewhat rearwardly from the front of the side wall. This construction of connecting clip suffers from the disadvantage that it is made of spring steel and has to be pre-connected to the slide. Furthermore, because of the construction of the clip, it is possible for the clip to become disengaged from the aperture within the side wall of the drawer when, for example, the drawer is opened quickly and reaches the end of its travel. If the drawer is full of papers, it will be extremely heavy and substantial forces will be borne by the clip, which can cause the clip to deform and become disengaged from the drawer.
In another known arrangement, two clips are provided, one being located between the drawer front and front of the drawer slide to provide a vertical latch, and one between the top of the slide and the drawer to provide a fore and aft latch. Such a double clip arrangement has its obvious disadvantages.
The present invention seeks to provide an improved design of drawer slide and drawer, with a quick-release connection between the drawer slide and drawer, which is relatively simple to manufacture and fit, and is thus inexpensive.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, we provide a drawer slide and drawer combination incorporating a quick-release connection between the drawer slide and drawer, the combination comprising a drawer, at least one drawer slide comprising at least two slide members slidable relative to one another, an external one of said members being connectable to a framework and an inner one of said members being connectable to the drawer and a clip having a fixing part by means of which it may be connected to one of the inner slide member and the drawer, and a latching part having a projection thereon for engagement within an aperture or recess in the other of the inner slide member and the drawer, the latching part being moveable between a first position in which the projection engages with the aperture or recess to connect the drawer to the inner slide member and a second position in which it is disengaged from the aperture or recess to allow disconnection of the drawer from the inner slide member, there being means on or able to act on the latching part to enable the part to be moved between its first and second positions, and wherein the co-operation between the projection and the aperture or recess is such as to provide both vertical and fore-and-aft latching, and including further co-operating means on the drawer and drawer slide to hold the side of the drawer closely adjacent to the side of the slide.
In one construction, the clip is formed of two separate parts, one comprising the fixing part, and the other comprising the latching part, which may be spring loaded; in this construction, co-operating means are provided on each part to assist in holding them together in use, with the spring bias to the latching part being provided by a leaf spring portion on the fixing part, and the latching part being held in position, in use, by being sandwiched between the fixing part and the one of the inner slide member and the drawer to which the fixing part may be connected.
In another construction, the clip is a single moulded part which preferably incorporates a spring bias to the latching part provided by moulding the latter in a material which is resiliently deformable with a set, whereby when relaxed, it will take up its first position.
Preferably, there is a stop on the clip which prevents the latching part being moved through more than a few degrees when it is moved to its second position.
Preferably, the projection has thereon two chamfered surfaces arranged at right angles to one another. This assists in connecting the drawer to the slide by permitting fitting either from the front or from above.
Preferably, the slide is adapted to receive the fixing part of the connecting clip with a snap fit and the drawer has an aperture therein into which the projection on the latching part is spring biased to connect the drawer to the slide.
Preferably hook means is provided at a rear end of the slide which engages with a rear end of the drawer to prevent relative up and down movement between the drawer and slide at the rear of the drawer.
Preferably, the co-operating means comprise a projecting nose at the front end of the slide which engages within a recess, provided by a lancing or by an aperture, in the front of the drawer. In this way, the drawer is positively located alongside the slide, thus ensuring that twisting of the drawer relative to the slide is avoided. This means that any forces between interengaged drawer and slide which are accommodated by the connecting clip are shear forces. This allows the clip to be manufactured from plastics material which is relatively strong in shear. This also means the clips can be manufactured by a moulding process.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1963220 (1934-06-01), Anderson
patent: 3389949 (1968-06-01), Studinski et al.
patent: 4068887 (1978-01-01), Babbs
patent: 4557531 (1985-12-01), Rock et al.
patent: 5632541 (1997-05-01), Uthoff
patent: 5632542 (1997-05-01), Krivec
patent: 2030847 (1980-04-01), None
Bayles Peter
Whittlesea John Henry
Accuride International Limited
Harter Secrest & Emery LLP
Salai Esq. Stephen B.
Shaw Esq. Brian B.
Wilkens Janet M.
LandOfFree
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