Supports: cabinet structure – With movable components – Horizontally movable
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-16
2001-07-03
Cuomo, Peter M. (Department: 3624)
Supports: cabinet structure
With movable components
Horizontally movable
C312S334110
Reexamination Certificate
active
06254209
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improved stop for a drawer slide and specifically to a floating bumper for stopping and holding a drawer slide in a closed position.
Individual drawer slides consist of two or more members, a stationary member and at least one telescoping member. The stationary member is typically mounted in a cabinet or desk, while the telescoping member is typically connected to a drawer which is to be extended and retracted from the cabinet or desk. Drawer slides are typically provided in pairs, one for each side of the drawer. A three member slide has an intermediate member engaged by means of roller bearings and bearing retainers with the stationary member and the drawer member to enable longer drawer extensions.
In two member and three member slides, the members are coupled to each other by means of ball bearings. These ball bearings are preferably fitted within a channel shaped bearing retainer located between the slide members. Bearing retainers are fitted between slide members, e.g. the inner and intermediate slide member and between the intermediate and outer slide member. Each slide member also has a channel shape comprising a central web and two bent leg portions extending longitudinally along opposite sides of the central web.
When the telescoping member(s) is fully extended, the drawer is at the limit of its travel from the space within the cabinet in which it is mounted. When the drawer is fully retracted, the telescoping member encounters a rear stop. Typically, the rear stop is formed by bending a selected portion of the web of the stationary member such that it extends into the channel defined by the stationary member. The stop is thus a tab extending from the outer member into the pathway of the inner slide member, and into the pathway of the intermediate and inner slide members in a three member slide. In the usual design, a rubber bumper is force fitted over the rear stop member. In such embodiment, the rubber bumper is slotted and pushed down over the tab. Typically the slot is narrower than the width of the tab, and the bumper has to be stretched in order to fit it onto the tab putting the bumper into constant tension.
The bumper functions in the following manner. In a three member slide, when the intermediate member slides within a stationary member to its retracted position, its movement stops when the web of the intermediate member strikes the rubber bumper. The inner sliding member continues its travel until it also encounters the rubber bumper. When the inner member encounters the rubber bumper, the inner surfaces of the inner member bent leg portions, bracketing a cutout portion of the inner member web, engage and slide past the sides of the rubber bumper thereby compressing it slightly. As the inner member is slid further, a bent flange portion of the web of the inner member on the front end of the inner member also comes to a stop against a front stop. As the inner member front flange portion comes to a stop, the inner member bent rear legs move past the bumper and a slight inward cant of the bent rear legs causes the inner member to be held in place until a positive extension force is again applied to the slide. This retention action holds the drawer in a closed position until the next subsequent extension.
The constant stretching and compressing of the rubber bumper while mounted on the stop member provides fatigue and causes the elasticity of the bumper to deteriorate. Consequently, the bumper cracks and ultimately fails. Since such bumpers are located at the rear end of slide on the stationary member, changing them is a problem after being mounted in a desk or cabinet. As such, there is a need for a rubber bumper for mounting on a stop member of a slide which has an enhanced operating life.
Moreover, when in a closed position, a significant section of the inner member rear end extends beyond the interior end of the ball retainer. The longer the slide, the longer the portion of the rear end of the inner member that extends beyond the retainer when the slide is in a closed position. Consequently, as the inner members slid rearwards to close the slide, the inner member rear portion may flex or bend slightly or be out of alignment. As a result, the inner member rear web may dig into the bumper and tend to cause the bumper to disengage from the rear stop tab as the inner member is slid back further. As such, there is a need for a bumper that will not disengage from the rear stop tab when a inner member accidentally contacts it.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect, the invention provides a bumper intended for use on a stop of a slide member, such as a rear stop formed in a stationary member of a drawer slide. The rear stop is a tab formed by bending a central portion of the web up into the channel defined by the stationary slide member. The bumper is fabricated of an elastomeric material in a generally flat configuration and has a central slot for receiving the stop tab. The slot in the bumper has a longitudinal dimension which is longer than the longitudinal dimension of the stop tab so that the bumper is not under tension when mounted on the tab.
In one embodiment, the stop tab has a notch formed on each of its vertical edges. Two projections formed inside the central slot of the bumper correspond to the notches on the tab to restrain the bumper from popping off the tab. Each interior projection in the slot has a length such that it penetrates into the space defined by each notch of the tab when the bumper is fitted in place over the stop tab. The projections approach, but do not engage the edges of the notches providing a loose fit. However, the length of the projections is such, that when attempting to disengage the bumper from the stop tab, the projections will engage the edges of the notches and thereby resist bumper disengagement.
To stiffen and prolong the life of the stop tab, the stop tab is sometimes supported by a gusset which is attached to the tab. To accommodate the gusset, a tubular passage is formed in the interior of the bumper extending upwardly into the slot. The tubular passage preferably extends through the bumper from one end to the other. The passage is larger than the gusset to provide a loose fit.
Preferably, the peripheral edges of the slot and the peripheral edges of the bumper are chamfered. When mounting the bumper on the tab, the chamfered slot edges engage and guide the tab into the slot. In case the inner slide member flexes or is misaligned, the bumper chamfered peripheral edge guides the inner member web over the bumper preventing bumper disengagement.
In another aspect, the invention provides a drawer slide assembly which comprises an outer slide member and an inner slide member slideably coupled to the outer slide member. The inner slide member has a web and a bent leg portion extending along each edge of the web defining a channel. A tab is located at the end of the outer slide member extending into the space defined by the channel. An elastomeric bumper having an upper and a lower end is mounted on the tab by means of a central slot extending through the bumper. When mounted on the tab, the slot length is wider than the tab permitting the bumper to “float” or slide from side to side on the tab and the legs of the inner slide member engage an outer surface of the bumper for slideably moving the bumper on the tab when the slide member is in a closed position.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4370007 (1983-01-01), Fler
patent: 4469384 (1984-09-01), Fler et al.
patent: 4932792 (1990-06-01), Baxter
patent: 5411333 (1995-05-01), Hoffman
patent: 5466060 (1995-11-01), Hoffman
patent: 5507571 (1996-04-01), Hoffman
patent: 5722750 (1998-03-01), Chu
patent: 3005817 (1986-08-01), None
Hettich, Bumper/Tab, lp. No Date given.
Knape & Vogt, Models 8400/8405 Drawer Slides, Apr. 1995, lp.
Thomas Regout Model ULF Bumper/Tab, lp. No Date given.
Thomas Regout B.V. Anchor, Model TR 200 Bumper/Tab, lp. No Date Given.
Shelby, Bumper/Tab, lp. No Date Given.
Skytechno, Model 630-20 Bumper/Tab, l
Accuride International, INC
Christie Parker & Hale LLP
Cuomo Peter M.
Hansen James O.
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