Track device allowing sequential inward movement

Details Track device allowing sequential inward movement Track device allowing sequential inward movement

2002-03-22

2004-03-16

Wilkens, Janet M. (Department: 3637)

Supports: cabinet structure

With movable components

Horizontally movable

C312S333000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06705689

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a track device including three tracks that are moved inward in sequence when desired.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 8
of the drawings illustrates a so-called “three-track” conventional track device for a drawer. The track device includes an outer track
91
, a middle track
92
, and an inner track
93
. A plurality of rolling balls
94
are mounted between the middle track
92
and the inner track
93
to allow easy sliding movement of the inner track
93
in the middle track
92
. In order to allow easy assembly, the inner track
93
has a claw
95
with a resilient leg
96
and the middle track
92
has a stop
97
. The resilient leg
96
can be pressed to allow the claw
95
to move across the stop
97
, thereby allowing assembly or detachment between the inner track
93
and the middle track
92
. After the inner track
93
has been engaged in the middle track
92
, the claw
95
is engaged with the stop
97
when the inner track
93
is pulled outward to a predetermined position, thereby preventing disengagement of the inner track
93
from the middle track
92
.
The outer track
91
is attached to a side of, e.g., a cabinet, and the inner track
93
is attached to a lateral side of, e.g., a drawer of the cabinet. Of course, two sets of the track devices are provided to each lateral side of the drawer. However, no means is provided to prevent inadvertent inward movement of the inner track
93
into the middle track
92
when the inner track
93
is inadvertently impinged. The user's elbow might be injured.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a track device having a first track, a second track, and a third track. When the track device is extended, members provided between the first track and the second track engage with each other such that the third track and the second track are moved inward in sequence for collapsing the track device while inadvertent sudden closing of the track device is avoided.
A track device in accordance with the present invention comprises a first track, a second track, and a third track. The first track comprises an upper longitudinal lip and a lower longitudinal lip. The first track further comprises a first stop and an engaging block. The second track is slidably received between the upper longitudinal lip and the lower longitudinal lip of the first track. The second track comprises a second stop for abutting against the first stop of the first track. The second track further includes a third stop with a protrusion. The second track further includes an upper longitudinal lip and a lower longitudinal lip. The second track further includes a first engaging member on an end thereof. The first engaging member includes an extension member, the extension member including an engaging section and a foot. The third track is slidably received between the upper longitudinal lip and the lower longitudinal lip of the second track. The third track includes a second engaging member for abutting against the third stop of the second track. The second engaging member includes an engaging edge and a leg. The leg is pressable to allow disengagement of the engaging edge from the protrusion on the third stop.
Other objects, specific advantages, and novel features a track device including three tracks that are moved inward in sequence when desired of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description and preferable embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4469384 (1984-09-01), Fler et al.
patent: 4932792 (1990-06-01), Baxter
patent: 5181782 (1993-01-01), Wojcik
patent: 5577821 (1996-11-01), Chu
patent: 6244678 (2001-06-01), Dopp et al.
patent: 6350001 (2002-02-01), Chu
patent: 6585335 (2003-07-01), Hwang et al.
patent: 2002/0140331 (2002-10-01), Chen et al.
patent: 2603753 (1977-08-01), None

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Track device allowing sequential inward movement does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Track device allowing sequential inward movement, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Track device allowing sequential inward movement will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3219978