AU2004200565A1 - Coupling Assembly For Sliding Drawers - Google Patents

Description

COUPLING ASSEMBLY FOR SLIDING DRAWERS FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a coupling assembly for sliding drawers intended in particular for drawers provided collaterally with an extendable slide, consisting of a fixed rail anchored to the cabinet and a movable rail that is capable of sliding along the fixed rail and to which the drawer is attached, and for drawers that have rapid and height-adjustable coupling means that abut against the lower face of the base of the drawer and where when during assembly the drawer is inserted lengthwise on its collateral, movable rails, these means couple onto the side of said movable rails at the same time as a wedge is available for insertion lengthwise and by appropriate means between the movable rails and the base of the drawer; whereby it is possible, independently and on both sides of the drawer, to vary the height of the front of the drawer with respect to the movable rails in order to achieve the correct alignment of said front of the drawer with the front of the cabinet.

PRIOR ART A known solution in this field, and already in the public domain, is that described in Utility Model U-9201360.

In this Utility Model a mounting accessory for sliding drawers is described, comprising a mounting plate, a tilting hook, a gripping (holding) element and a wedgeshaped part; four elements in total. The tilting hook has a bevelled edge at one end and, with a stepped cut on the opposing face appropriately configured so that in said procedure to insert the drawer on the movable rails, the action of the bevelled edge on the latter causes the elastic retraction of the hook until it reaches a lateral opening in the movable rails, allowing said hook through automatically, the stepped cut of which causes the assembly to be retained in conjunction with the edge of the opening nearest to the front of the drawer. The purpose of the gripping element is to enable the hook to be withdrawn and the drawer to be disassembled from the movable rails when it is pressed horizontally. Finally, the wedge-shaped part is elastic in nature, so that when it performs its adjustment function, penetrating between the movable rail and the base of the drawer, it can bend downward, forced by a protuberance in its mounting plate, to project below the fixture, its function being to rest on the fixed rail and take the excess load without allowing the front of the drawer to move out of true if the drawer is closed when tipped forward as a result of overloading or incorrect operation.

EXPLANATION AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION This being so, the object of the present invention is a coupling assembly for sliding drawers that differs in relation to that described above in having a simpler construction, using fewer parts, in having different means of adjusting the height precisely and reliably, in having different means of regulating the elevation of the drawer with respect to the fixed rails, and in having different means for fastening the coupling assembly to the sliding drawer.

To this end, the coupling assembly according to the invention comprises a height-adjustment device consisting of two separate parts: a one-piece support and a rigid wedge coupled to said one-piece support capable of sliding along it lengthwise in a selectively variable manner; wherein the one-piece support comprises a body and a handle, the body abuts against the underside of the base of the drawer, has means to anchor it to the side of the drawer, forms a runner that is open to the plane of said abutment of the body and aligned with the movable rail, and is provided with a rigid bendable arm extending upward and at its end forming a head that penetrates from top to bottom in said runner; and wherein the rigid wedge has two successive sloping planes on its lower surface, a first and a second, that descend towards the front of the drawer, and where for a zero height setting, the first sloping plane is adjacent to the front end of the movable rail and the first part of the second sloping plane is placed against said head of the bendable arm.

In accordance with this, the height-adjustment device of the proposed coupling assembly comprises two separate parts: the one-piece support and the rigid wedge. The rigid wedge provides for precise and reliable operation; it is possible for it to be of a rigid nature because in the proposed design its sole function is one of height adjustment, determining the elevation of the base of the drawer (and thus of the drawer itself) with respect to the movable rails. As for the one-piece support, it has a specific functional design combining the functions of a tilting hook, a handle for disassembling the drawer and regulating the set elevation so that, if the open drawer is tilted downward when an attempt is made to close it as a result of overloading or incorrect operation, it is the bendable arm that comes up against the end of the fixed rail first, thus maintaining the height setting of the wedge by preventing its displacement.

Another characteristic of the invention consists in that the body of the one-piece support is provided with oblique holes for anchoring screws onto said side of the drawer; this provides for strong and reliable anchoring of the device to the sides of the drawer, which is advantageous and allows for a stronger bond as the fastening is nearer the movable rail. Nevertheless, the body of the one-piece support is also provided with vertical holes to anchor it to the base of the drawer.

In accordance with a further characteristic of the invention, the rigid wedge extends towards the front of the drawer by means of a bendable extension, which has two first toothed racks and a button in its sides, the first toothed rack comprises vertical teeth, positioned transversely to the direction in which the rigid wedge slides when in operation, these being reciprocal to those of two second notched racks in the opposite vertical walls of said runner on the body of the one-piece support. This configuration produces a perfect interlock at each position of adjustment, preventing the wedge slipping back as the drawer is banged during normal use and thereby altering the pre-set position; this benefit being the result in the first instance of the fact that said wedge does not touch the fixed rail at any time during the use of the drawer. The procedure to make the adjustment is simple: merely press lengthwise on the button so that, as a result of the elastic bending of the lateral walls, the teeth on the racks are allowed to slide against each other until they reach the desired position of adjustment.

In addition to the oblique and vertical holes, and in a complementary or optional manner, the invention allows for means to fasten the coupling assembly in which the body of the one-piece support, on the side that abuts against the side of the drawer, has plugs capable of being inserted into two blind holes provided in said side of the drawer; it being established that at least one of said insertable plugs is an anchoring plug provided with a movable core operated by a rotating lever. In this regard, a variation of embodiment consists in that said movable core is a pin that is coupled in a rotary manner to the rotating lever and at the end opposed to the latter protrudes from the anchoring plug and is there furnished in a peripheral manner with an eccentric edge that, in relation to the periphery of the anchoring plug, itself is capable of adopting two positions, retracted and extended, corresponding with the furthest rotating positions of the operating trajectory of the rotating lever, the anchoring plug having an opening along its length, the width of which is adjusted by elastic displacement to the thickness of said rotating pin. A further variation of embodiment consists in that said movable core is an axially displaceable pin that has an enlarged end, and that it is positioned in a said anchoring plug that is an expandable plug having several elastic lateral sections, wherein the enlarged end is capable of moving between various assembly and anchoring positions that correspond to the two furthest positions of the operating trajectory of the rotating lever and being such that, in said assembly position, the enlarged end is received in a recessed cavity between the ends of said lateral sections of the expandable anchoring plug and in said anchoring position the enlarged end remains in an intermediate position along the anchoring plug where these lateral sections substantially abut each other in a complementary manner. It is also provided that one of said insertable plugs, is a solid plug the periphery of which fits snugly into a corresponding blind hole in the side of the drawer. In any case, said rotating lever has a protuberance that is capable of being locked by elastic displacement in conjunction with two matching recesses provided in the body of the onepiece support corresponding with said furthest operating positions of the rotating lever, thus enabling the installer to verify that the desired operating position has been achieved (anchored or assembled/disassembled).

DRAWINGS AND REFERENCES For a better understanding of the nature of the present invention, preferred forms of industrial embodiments are represented in the attached drawings, these being purely illustrative and non-limiting examples.

Figure 1 is a cross section of a sliding drawer (4) fitted with the coupling assembly according to the invention; only the right side of the drawer is represented, incorporating an enlarged detail corresponding to the section indicated on said cross section and another enlarged detail of the oblique fastening of the body (10) of the one-piece support to the base of the drawer and to the side of the drawer using anchoring screws On the longitudinal section, the rigid wedge is shown unsectioned.

Figure 2 is a plan view from above of the one-piece support according to the invention, incorporating an enlarged detail in which the second toothed racks (23) can be seen.

Figure 3 shows the rigid wedge that is capable of being installed on the one-piece support of Figure 2, but viewed laterally from the left side (looking from the front of the drawer) with an enlarged detail of the first toothed rack (19).

Figure 4 is a plan view from below corresponding to Figure 3 and incorporating an enlarged detail in which the first toothed racks (19) can be seen more clearly. Also shown are both the relaxed and elastically flexed positions of the lateral walls the flexed position is a virtual representation because in operation it only occurs when the wedge is mounted on the one-piece support and is propelled lengthwise, allowing the teeth of the rack to slide against each other.

Figure 5 is an enlargement of the cross section V-V shown on Figure 2 and rotated horizontally; also incorporated is the rigid wedge Figure 6 is an enlargement of detail VI as shown in Figure Figure 7 is a perspective view showing a coupling assembly according to the invention mounted on an extendable slide (1-2) Figures 8, 9 and 10 illustrate the heightadjustment procedure according to the invention.

Figure 8 is an enlargement of detail VIII illustrated in Figure i, and shows the zero height setting. Figures 9 and 10 are similar to Figure 8 but show an intermediate height setting and the maximum height setting respectively.

Figure 11 is a perspective view that shows the proposed coupling assembly viewed from the sides abutting against the base and the side of the drawer (4) Figure 12 is a perspective view similar to that of Figure 11, but showing the lower face of the coupling assembly and the side abutting against the side of the drawer (4) Figure 13 is a view similar to Figure 2 (although turned 90' in the opposite direction) wherein are shown the plugs (31, 32) inserted in the side (6) of the drawer the eccentric edge (35) of the anchoring plug (31) being in its retracted position. This figure incorporates two enlarged details of the anchoring plug (31) and the solid plug (32) Figure 14 is similar to Figure 13, but shows the eccentric edge (35) in its extended position; there is a better view in the enlarged detail.

Figure 15 is a side view of the rotating lever (33) incorporating an enlarged detail of the protuberance (36) Figure 16 is the left side view of Figure Figure 17 is a partial view of the body (10) of the one-piece support viewed from its lower face and showing both insertable plugs (31, 32) Also incorporated is an enlarged view relating to the anchoring plug (31) (without its pin) and the recesses (37) Figure 18 is an enlargement of the cross section XVIII-XVIII shown in Figure 13.

Figure 19 is an enlargement of the cross section XIX-XIX shown in Figure 13.

Figure 20 is the left side view corresponding to the enlarged detail included in Figure 17.

Figure 21 is the cross section XXI -XXI illustrated in the enlarged detail included in Figure 17.

Figure 22 is a view in which the one-piece support is shown, wherein anchoring screws (28) are displayed, pre-assembled in the oblique holes (17) of the body which can be seen in greater detail in the enlarged detail incorporated in said Figure 22 of the Patent of Addition.

Figure 23 is a similar view but with the coupling assembly placed on the drawer, showing the anchoring screws (28) (still not screwed down) according to Figure 22 of this Patent of Addition.

The following references are used in these figures: 1. Fixed rail of the extendable slide (1-2) 2. Moveable rail of the extendable slide 3. Cabinet 4. Drawer Base of the drawer (4) 6. Side of the drawer (4) 7. Front of the drawer (4) 8. One-piece support 9. Rigid wedge Body of the one-piece support (8) 11. Handle of the one-piece support (8) 12. Runner on the body 13. Bendable arm on the body 14. Head of the bendable arm (13) First sloping plane of the rigid wedge (9) 16. Second sloping plane of the rigid wedge (9) 17. Oblique holes in the body 18. Bendable extension of the rigid wedge (9) 19. First toothed rack on the bendable extension (18) 20. Button on the bendable extension (18) 21. Lateral walls of the bendable extension (18) 22. Central longitudinal wall of the bendable extension (18) 11 23. Second toothed rack on the body 24. Handle (11) catch Hinge 26. Opening in the body 27. Vertical holes in the body 28. Anchoring screws 29. Longitudinal ridges on the rigid wedge (9) Longitudinal projections on the runner (12) 31. Anchoring plug 32. Solid plug 33. Rotating lever 34. Moveable core of the anchoring plug (31) Eccentric edge of the moveable core (34) 36. Protuberance on the rotating lever 37. Recesses on the body 38. Head of the anchoring screws (28) 39. Thread of the anchoring screws (28) Smooth shank of the anchoring screws (28) DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the attached plans and with relation to the drawings and references set out above, a coupling assembly for sliding drawers is illustrated, being provided with an extendable slide consisting of a fixed rail (1) anchored to the cabinet and a movable rail that is capable of sliding along the fixed rail and to which the drawer is attached, and for drawers (4) that have rapid and height-adjustable coupling means that abut against the lower face of the base of the drawer and that, in an assembly procedure that inserts the drawer lengthwise on its collateral, movable rails these means couple onto the side of said movable rails at the same time as a wedge is available for insertion lengthwise and by appropriate means between the movable rails and the base of the drawer As shown in the Figures, the height-adjusting device of this proposed coupling assembly consists of (Figures 2-7) two separate parts: a one-piece support and a rigid wedge coupled to said one-piece support capable of sliding along it lengthwise in a selectively variable manner; wherein the one-piece support comprises a body (10) and a handle the body (10) abuts against the underside of the base of the drawer has means to anchor it to the side of the drawer forms a runner (12) that is open to the plane of said abutment of the body (10) and aligned with the movable rail and is provided with a rigid bendable arm (13) extending upward and at its end forming a head (14) that penetrates from top to bottom in said runner (12); wherein the rigid wedge has two successive sloping planes on its lower surface, a first (15) and a second that descend towards the front of the drawer and where for a zero height setting, the first sloping plane (15) is attached to the front end of the movable rail and the first part of the second sloping plane (16) is placed against said head of the bendable arm This coupling means is installed (Figure 1) abutting against the underside of the base of the drawer to which end the body (10) of the one-piece support is provided with oblique holes (17) for anchoring screws (28) onto said side of the drawer which provides a fastening solution guaranteeing strength and reliability for the most frequent case where the base is of minimal thickness (Figure in any case the body (10) of the one-piece support also has vertical holes (27) for anchoring it to the base of the drawer where the thickness of the base allows it or where no other anchoring solution is feasible. In the drawer assembly procedure, the bevelled end of the hook (24) rests on the side of the movable rail and forces the elastic tilting of the handle (11) around the hinge (25) with respect to the body until an opening on said side of the movable rail is reached, into which said hook (24) penetrates, thus retaining the assembly.

In a further characteristic of the invention, the rigid wedge extends towards the front of the drawer (4) by means of a bendable extension which has two first toothed racks (19) and a button (20) in its sides, the first toothed rack (19) comprises vertical teeth, positioned transversely to the direction in which the rigid wedge slides when in operation, these being reciprocal to those of two second notched racks (23) in the opposite vertical walls of said runner (12) on the body (10) of the one-piece support wherein the first toothed racks (19) are formed in the two lateral walls (21) that are separated by two openings with respect to a central longitudinal wall (22) of said bendable extension (18).

This coupling assembly's function of height adjustment is clearly illustrated in Figures 8 to 10. In Figure 8 the zero setting is shown wherein: the base of the drawer is resting on the entire length of the movable rail the first sloping plane (15) of the rigid wedge (9) is adjacent to the end of the movable rail the head (14) of the bendable arm (13) is supported on the first part of the second sloping plane (16) and the first toothed rack (19) is engaged in the end of the second toothed rack (23) nearest to the front of the drawer Figure 9 shows an intermediate height setting and Figure 10 shows the maximum position in the range of adjustment; it can be seen how the base of the drawer becomes progressively higher with respect to the movable rail how the engagement of the first (19) and second (23) toothed racks takes place progressively further away from the front of the drawer and how the bendable arm (13) rotates elastically as the head (14) rises along the second sloping plane (23) (sic) and finally protrudes from the body (10) in that area, thus protecting the physical integrity of the latter if the drawer is closed when tilted downward, as in this case the bendable arm (13) would knock against the fixed rail causing the drawer to return to its correct horizontal position.

In this procedure (Figure 4) the engagement and disengagement of the first (19) and second (23) toothed racks is achieved by pressing the button (20) lengthwise, at which the action of the inclined plane between the teeth of both racks (19, 23) produces a transverse action that elastically bends the lateral walls (21) towards the central longitudinal wall (22) allowing the teeth to slide against each other until the desired position of adjustment is reached. And the pre-set position is preserved as the drawer is banged in normal use because the rigid wedge does not touch the fixed rail at any time. In accordance with a further specific embodiment of the invention, said first (15) and second (16) sloping planes are preferably of the same length and pitch.

In a further arrangement, Figures 5 and 6 illustrate the means by which the rigid wedge is guided as it slides in operation, by means of longitudinal ridges (29) on the sides of the latter (Figure 6) in conjunction with opposing longitudinal projections (30) on the sides of the runner (12).

In a complementary or optional manner to the use of oblique (17) and vertical (27) holes to fasten the body to the drawer according to the invention, the body (10) of the one-piece support on the side that abuts against the side of the drawer has plugs (31, 32) capable of being inserted into two blind holes provided in said side of the drawer A variation of embodiment in this regard is that illustrated in Figures 11 to 21; wherein at least one of said insertable plugs (31, 32) is an anchoring plug (31) provided with a movable core (34) operated by a rotating lever equally one of said insertable plugs (31, 32) is a solid plug (32) the periphery of which fits snugly into a corresponding blind hole in the side of the drawer As regards the anchoring plug (31) in this variation of embodiment, said movable core (34) is a pin that is coupled in a rotary manner to the rotating lever (33) and at the end opposed to the latter protrudes from the anchoring plug (31) and is there furnished in a peripheral manner with an eccentric edge (35) that, in relation to the periphery of the anchoring plug (31), itself is capable of adopting two positions, retracted and extended, corresponding with the furthest rotating positions of the operating trajectory of the rotating lever wherein the anchoring plug (31) has an opening along its length, the width of which is adjusted by elastic displacement to the thickness of said rotating pin; as illustrated in Figure 13, mounting of the body is performed by inserting the plugs (31, 32) when the eccentric edge (35) of the anchoring plug (31) is retracted, and once this position is reached, said eccentric edge (35) is brought out to its extended position by giving the rotating lever (33) an appropriate turn (Figure 14).

A further possible variation of embodiment, easily understandable without need for graphic representation, is that in which said movable core (34) is an axially displaceable pin that has an enlarged end, and that is positioned in one said anchoring plug (31) that is an expandable plug having several elastic lateral sections, wherein the enlarged end is capable of moving between assembly and anchoring positions that correspond to the two furthest positions of the operating trajectory of the rotating lever (33) and being such that, in said assembly position, the enlarged end is received in a recessed cavity between the ends of said lateral sections of the expandable anchoring plug and in said anchoring position the enlarged end remains in an intermediate position along the anchoring plug (31) where these lateral sections substantially abut each other in a complementary manner. On operating the rotating lever (33) traction will be exerted on the pin such that it exits the blind hole in the side of the drawer (4) thus producing the expanding separation of the lateral sections of the expandable anchoring plug (31).

To indicate to the installer that the furthest operating positions of the rotating lever (33) (Figures 15 to 21) have been reached, said rotating lever (33) has a protuberance (36) that is capable of being locked by elastic displacement in conjunction with two matching recesses (37) provided in the body (10) of the one-piece support corresponding with said furthest operating positions of the rotating lever (33).

Referring now to Figures 22 and 23, there is shown an arrangement wherein at least one of the holes in the body will be factory-fitted with a pre-assembled anchoring screw, ready to be screwed directly onto the drawer; and at least one of said holes is provided with pre-assembly means for the respective anchoring screws; said preassembly means for the anchoring screws consist in that at least one of the holes has an appropriate diameter with interference fit with respect to said anchoring screws.

According to this embodiment (and referring to Figure 22) at least one of the holes (17, 27) on the body (10) will be factory-fitted with a pre-assembled anchoring screw ready to be screwed directly onto the drawer; and at least one of said holes (17, 27) is provided with preassembly means for the respective anchoring screws (28); said pre-assembly means for the anchoring screws (28) consist in that at least one of the holes (17, 27) has an appropriate diameter with interference fit with respect to said anchoring screws (28).

When the one-piece support with the anchoring screws (28) pre-assembled as in Figure 22, is available for assembling on the drawer it can simply be placed, as shown in Figure 23, and screwed in; these procedures are capable of being incorporated into an automated production line.

As is the case for the oblique holes this embodiment of the invention equally allows for the vertical holes (27) to be provided with means for the pre-assembly of their corresponding anchoring screws (28) and that these pre-assembly means consist in that said vertical holes (27) form an appropriate interference fit with respect to said anchoring screws (28).

In Figure 22 another characteristic of this embodiment is clearly illustrated, in that anchoring screws (28) have a smooth shank (40) of appropriate length between the head (38) of the anchoring screw (28) and the end of the thread (39) nearest to the head This enables the parts to be anchored to be brought closer together than the pitch of the thread to ensure a firm final fit.

This construction makes it feasible for assembly on the drawer to be achieved by a simple screwing procedure in which the pre-assembly of the anchoring screws itself accurately guides the penetration of the screw into the side of the drawer. Hereby is derived the major advantage of being able to incorporate said screwing procedure into the automated assembly lines which are now common in this manufacturing sector.

Clearly, what has been said up to this point about the oblique holes is perfectly valid for the vertical holes intended for those anchoring screws functioning with respect to the base of the drawer rather than its sides.

The smooth shank has the function of ensuring the total union of the elements anchored by the screws after the tightening process. Since, if the thread extends to the head of the anchoring screw itself, the pitch of the thread has a separating effect similar to that of a stud, preventing the elements being brought closer together than said thread pitch; in this regard it should be borne in mind that for these joints self-tapping or lag screws for wood or plastic having a comparatively large thread pitch are normally used.

Claims (16)

1. Coupling assembly for sliding drawers, in particular for drawers provided collaterally with an extendable slide, including a fixed rail anchored to the cabinet and a movable rail that is capable of sliding along the fixed rail and to which the drawer is attached, and for drawers that have rapid and height-adjustable coupling means that abut against the lower face of the base of the drawer and where when during assembly the drawer is inserted lengthwise on its collateral, movable rails, these means couple onto the side of said movable rails at the same time as a wedge is available for insertion lengthwise and by appropriate means between the movable rails and the base of the drawer, a height-adjustment device consisting of two separate parts being a one-piece support and a rigid wedge coupled to said one-piece support and capable of sliding along it lengthwise in a selectively variable manner; the one-piece support includes a body and a handle, the body abuts against the underside of the base of the drawer, has means to anchor it to the side of the drawer, forms a runner that is open to the plane of said abutment of the body and aligned with the movable rail, and is provided with a rigid bendable arm extending upward and at its end forming a head that penetrates from top to bottom in said runner; the rigid wedge has two successive sloping planes on its lower surface, a first and a second, that descend towards the front of the drawer, and where for a zero height setting, the first sloping plane is adjacent to the front end of the movable rail and the first part of the second sloping plane is placed against said head of the bendable arm.

2. Coupling assembly for sliding drawers as claimed in claim 1, wherein in that the body of the one-piece support is provided with oblique holes for anchoring screws onto said side of the drawer.

3. Coupling assembly for sliding drawers as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein outside the runner the rigid wedge extends up to the front of the drawer by means of a bendable extension, which has two first toothed racks and a button in its sides, the first toothed rack includes vertical teeth, positioned transversely to the direction in which the rigid wedge slides when in operation, these being reciprocal to those of two second notched racks in the opposite vertical walls of said runner on the body of the one-piece support, in the first toothed racks being formed in the two lateral walls that are separated by two openings with respect to a central longitudinal wall of said bendable extension.

4. Coupling assembly for sliding drawers as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the body of the one-piece support also has vertical holes for anchoring to the base of the drawer.

Coupling assembly for sliding drawers as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first and second sloping planes are of the same length and pitch.

6. Coupling assembly for sliding drawers as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body of the one-piece support, on the side that abuts against the side of the drawer, has plugs capable of being inserted into two blind holes provided in said side of the drawer.

7. Coupling assembly for sliding drawers as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of said insertable plugs is an anchoring plug provided with a moveable core operated by a rotating lever.

8. Coupling assembly for sliding drawers as claimed in Claim 7, wherein said movable core is a pin that is coupled in a rotary manner to the rotating lever and at the end opposed to the latter protrudes from the anchoring plug and is there furnished in a peripheral manner with an eccentric edge that, in relation to the periphery of the anchoring plug, itself is capable of adopting two positions, retracted and extended, corresponding with the furthest rotating positions of the operating trajectory of the rotating lever, the anchoring plug having an opening along its length, the width of which is adjusted by elastic displacement to the thickness of said rotating pin.

9. Coupling assembly for sliding drawers as claimed in Claim 7, wherein said movable core is an axially displaceable pin that has an enlarged end, that is positioned in a said anchoring plug that is an expandable plug having several elastic lateral sections, wherein the enlarged end is capable of moving between assembly and anchoring positions that correspond to the two furthest positions of the operating trajectory of the rotating lever and being such that, in said assembly position, the enlarged end is received in a recessed cavity between the ends of said lateral sections of the expandable anchoring plug, and in said anchoring position the enlarged end remains in an intermediate position along the anchoring plug where these lateral sections substantially abut each other in a complementary manner.

Coupling assembly for sliding drawers as claimed in Claim 6, wherein one of said insertable plugs is a solid plug the periphery of which fits snugly into a corresponding blind hole in the side of the drawer.

11. Coupling assembly for sliding drawers as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said rotating lever has a protuberance that is capable of being locked by elastic displacement in conjunction with two matching recesses provided in the body of the one-piece support corresponding with said furthest operating positions of the rotating lever.

12. Coupling assembly for sliding drawers as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein at least one of the holes on the body is factory-fitted with a pre- assembled anchoring screw, ready to be screwed directly onto the drawer.

13. Coupling assembly for sliding drawers in accordance with claim 12, wherein at least one of said holes is provided with pre-assembly means for the respective anchoring screws.

14. Coupling assembly for sliding drawers in accordance with claim 12 or 13, wherein said pre-assembly means for the anchoring screws comprises at least one of the holes having an appropriate diameter for interference fit with respect to said anchoring screws.

Coupling assembly for sliding drawers in accordance with claim 12, 13 or 14, wherein said anchoring screws have a smooth shank of appropriate length between the head of the anchoring screw and the end of the thread nearest to said head.

16. Coupling assembly for sliding drawers substantially as herein described with reference to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. DATED this seventeenth day of February 2004 MIGUEL ANGEL RIOJA PATENT ATTORNEYS FOR THE APPLICANT/NOMINATED PERSON DON HOPKINS ASSOCIATES