Supports: cabinet structure – With movable components – Horizontally movable
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-20
2001-10-02
Cuomo, Peter M. (Department: 3636)
Supports: cabinet structure
With movable components
Horizontally movable
C312S334110, C312S334460
Reexamination Certificate
active
06296338
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a telescopic rail. A known telescopic rail from practice is, for instance, supplied by the firm Jonathan, Fullerton, USA.
The known telescopic rail comprises a first section having a substantially C-shaped cross section whose back is provided with a guide rail which, with the interposition of a ball cage, is bearing-mounted in a second section likewise having a substantially C-shaped cross section.
The first section can be slid relative to the second section in the longitudinal direction, between a retracted position and an extended position. Provided in the back of the first section is an opening, adjacent the end which trails in the extending direction. By means of an axis that extends at right angles to the back of the first section, a blocking means is provided, comprising lips extending through the opening, which blocking means is moved into a blocking position under the influence of gravity. Adjacent the end of the second section which end leads in extending direction, there is provided at least one projection which lies in the path of travel of the blocking means when they are in the blocking position. The blocking means can pass the blocking projection by moving slightly upwards. Thus, the blocking means can be retained behind the blocking projection, i.e. between the blocking projection and the end of the second section that leads in extended direction. When the first section is being retracted relative to the second section, the blocking means should be pulled up slightly, causing the blocking lip to be moved from the path of the blocking projection, after which it can be passed. The desired lifting movement can be manually effected, yet in this known telescopic rail, this is brought about by a third section of a likewise C-shaped cross section, which third section is movable within the C-shaped first section and lifts the blocking means from the blocking position when the third section is being slid into the first section, in the direction of the retracted position.
This known telescopic rail has as a drawback that the blocking means are relatively costly in manufacturing, while the positioning thereof is moreover laborious and costly. In addition, these blocking means have the drawback of producing relatively much noise, in particular during movement into and out of the blocking position. Further, these blocking means require relatively much building-in space, in particular building-in length. Also, these blocking means have the drawback of being located adjacent the end of the first section which trails in extending direction, as a consequence of which this section should be relatively long. After all, at least a portion thereof should, in the extended position, extend behind the ball cage. A further major drawback of this known telescopic rail is that it can only be used with the backs of the sections in a vertical plane, as the operation of the blocking means is based upon gravity.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to provide a telescopic rail, in which the drawbacks of the known telescopic rail mentioned have been avoided, while the advantages thereof have been maintained. To that end, a telescopic rail according to one embodiment of the invention is characterized by the features as described in the following paragraphs.
In a telescopic rail according to the invention, the swivel body in a first position, wherein the first section can move freely with respect to the second section, is included between the first and the second section. Thus, the swivel body is in a simple manner prevented from being engaged in this position, also when the telescopic rail comprises only two sections. Through the use of the movement of the bearing means for controlling the swivel body from the first position into a second, blocking position, a positive control is obtained, independent of, for instance, the position of the telescopic rail. Hence, in contrast with the known telescopic rail, the blocking action does not depend on, for instance, gravity. As a result, the operation is always guaranteed. Moreover, the advantage thus achieved is that the swivel body can relatively easily be prevented from being audible in an unacceptable manner during use. Indeed, the swivel body is retained in the blocking position, thus preventing relative movement of the first section with respect to the second section, while in the first position, it is positively retained between the first and the second section. Further, a telescopic rail according to the invention has the advantage that the blocking means, in particular the swivel body and the opening or longitudinal edge cooperating therewith, are relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, which is economically and technically advantageous. Further, the desired swivel movement of a swivel body according to the invention can be obtained by means other than the bearing means, for instance by a lip, projection or the like extending from one of the sections, whereby for instance the maximally extended length can also be fixed in a position at which the bearing means are still located at a distance from the swivel body, while such embodiment can, for instance, also be suitable when bearing means are used that are static relative to one of the a sections. Also, other types of operating means may be provided for initiating at least the swivel movement of the swivel body from the blocking position.
In an advantageous embodiment, a telescopic rail according to the invention is characterized as follows.
Operating the swivel body by moving the bearing means thereagainst in the extended position effects in a particularly simple manner a positive control of the swivel movement of the swivel body. Moreover, such embodiment offers the advantage that the bearing means need not pass the swivel means, allowing the complete space between the first and the second section to be utilized for building in, while the swivel body may have a robust design. Retention of the swivel body by the bearing means in the second position offers the advantage that the swivel body will not be released from the blocking position unintentionally. In addition, this may yield in a simple manner an even better retention of the first section with respect to the second section. Said retention can of course also be effected by a differently constructed operating part.
In further elaboration of the invention, a telescopic rail according to the invention is characterized as follows.
The use of spring means for biasing the swivel body in the second position during abutment of an operating part, in particular the bearing means, against the swivel body, offers the advantage that the swivel means will in each case be forced into the blocking position and retained therein, which means that, for instance, rattling of the sections relative to each other and/or relative to the blocking means is readily prevented. Thus, an even better, reliable retention is realized. Moreover, the spring means can take up a portion of the force exerted by the first section on the second section upon reaching the extended position, whereby damage and sound nuisance are further prevented, while the extended position will be reached and fixed more fluently. Thus, the content of, for instance, a drawer connected to the telescopic rail is protected as well.
The spring means can, for instance, be formed by a buffer element on the end of the bearing means that leads in extending direction, on a lip or the like or between the swivel body and one of the sections. Also, the spring means may for instance be arranged on the end of the swivel body that faces the bearing means, for instance integrated therewith in the form of a resilient wall that encloses a chamber. The advantage thus achieved is that, in principle, a buffer element on the end of the bearing means that faces the swivel body can be omitted, of course, different spring meanes can also be combined.
In a first preferred embodiment, a telescopic rail according to the invention is character
Cuomo Peter M.
Hansen James O.
Thomas Regout B.V.
Weingarten, Schurgin Gagnebin & Hayes LLP
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