GB1600136A

GB1600136A - Detachable assemblable drawer

Info

Publication number: GB1600136A
Application number: GB48456/77A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Ikea Svenska AB
Current assignee: Ikea Svenska AB
Priority date: 1976-12-16
Filing date: 1977-11-21
Publication date: 1981-10-14
Also published as: DE2755527A1; FR2373990A1; SE7614154L; GB1600137A; DE2755527C2; DE2760371C2; FR2373990B1; SE403040B

Description

(54) DETACHABLE ASSEMBLABLE DRAWER (71) We IKEA SVENSKA AB, a Swedish Body Corporate, of S-343 00 Almhult, Sweden, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to a drawer of the kind in which an external strip can be slid into the channel of a channelled runner in a piece of storage furniture, for example a cabinet or a desk, the drawer being fabricated from a plurality of releasably interconnected components.

Drawers generally consist of a bottom panel and four upstanding walls projecting from said bottom. The two long sides (the side walls of the drawer) can be provided with the said external strip which slidingly engages a runner in the cabinet sides. The front wall of the drawer, which is visible when the drawer is fully pushed into the cabinet, usually includes a handle or knob, and sometimes a lock.

In the furniture art, such drawers have been made out of natural wood, plywood, and particle board (with or without a facing laminate), the bottom panel usually being attached, with or without glue and dowels, in a groove which extends around the inside of the four walls. The front wall and back wall are usually connected to the side walls with glued so-called dove tail joints which provide a sturdy and strong joint.

In the latter-day furniture industry, the wooden material drawer sides are normally connected by means of straight zinc dowels or round dowels (with or without longitudinal ridges) which are pressed or glued into bores in the adjacent component. The above-mentioned kind of drawers are fully satisfactory in use.

However, one problem arising from these drawers is that the manufacturing cost for wooden material components is remarkably high per unit despite rationalised methods of manufacture. The assembly of the components into drawers is also expensive.

Another problem is that costs for storage, transportation and distribution to the user naturally depend on the volume of the furniture and are specifically great for storage furniture which predominantly consists of cavities. Consequently, one aim of this invention is to reduce this volume by means of manufacturing the furniture in components which can be compactly packed at the manufacturer for storage and transportation and finally be easily assembled by the user where the furniture is to be used. One problem concerns providing joints for the various components of the drawer such that every buyer, without any previous experience, and without having to resort to complicated tools or to employ assembly methods demanding difficult manipulation will be able to assemble the components into a functional drawer having strong joints.Another problem is to achieve joints which are also easily detachable if the user makes a mistake during assembly or when a component must be replaced or exchanged due to damage or for repainting, etc.

According to the present invention we provide a dismantleably assembled drawer for furniture, to be slidably supported on channelled runners of the furniture and comprising: a front wall; a back wall; and two side walls which are symmetrical with one another, each of the two side walls being made by moulding of a thermoplastic material as one integral unit having an inner web with stiffener flanges along the edges, one of said stiffener members including an inwardly directed groove for inserting a drawer bottom panel, the outwardlyprojecting walls of such stiffener member forming a rigid strip which is slidable in a corresponding channel in the associated runner, the stiffener flanges forming a closed outwardly directed peripheral frame of which the stiffener flanges at the back of the drawer side walls also extend inwardly of the web in order to guide and support the adjacent side edge of the back wall, and the side walls being detachably connected to at least the front wall by means of spring detent connections.

Another purpose of the invention is to achieve a detachable assemblable drawer having a so-called child safety catch which locks the drawer so as to prevent it from being pulled put from an almost closed position and being arranged at either or both of the outer sides of the drawer so that its function is difficult to understand for an inexperienced person, but easily understood by an experienced person.

The side pieces and all composite details may, for example, be made out of a tough plastic material, such as a polyamide or polystyrene, the design being advantageously such that the mould requires no displaceable core. The back wall can be made in a corresponding manner out of polystyrene while a runner for use with the drawer may suitably be made of polypropylene. Even if the front wall is made out of wood, the accompanying attachment members consist of a tough plastic, for example polyamide.

The drawer may include a catch to prevent total withdrawal from the runners, and/or a child safety catch.

The invention will be described in the following by means of a suitable embodiment of the drawer as an example, in which the front wall is made out of wood while the side walls and the back wall are made out of plastic, and the bottom plate is, for example, made out of plywood or plastics. Reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is an exploded sketch of the main components of the drawer; FIGURE 2 shows a side wall of the drawer with a portion of an accompanying runner; FIGURE 3 is a horizontal section through a side wall, in which a hooked lug from the back wall is pushed into a flanged aperture in the side wall; FIGURE 4 shows a runner intended to cooperate with a side wall; FIGURE 5 is a cross-section of the runner according to Figure 4; and FIGURE 6 is a longitudinal section of the runner according to Figure 4.

Figure 1 is an exploded sketch of the main components of a drawer according to the invention. This Figure shows the outside of a left-hand side wall 2, the inside of a righthand side wall 4. the rear of a back wall 6 whose middle portion has been cut away, and the inside of a front wall 8 whose middle portion has also been cut away.

Furthermore, a bottom panel (not shown here) is also included in the drawer, with the edges of the bottom panel resting in grooves 3, 5, 7, 9 in the lower portions of said drawer walls when the drawer is assembled.

In order that the side walls 2, 4 and the back wall 6, which are made of a suitable plastics material, will be sufficiently rigid and strong at a moderate expense of material, they have a relatively thin web reinforced by outwardly-directed stiffener flanges. At the bottom edge of the side walls 2, 4, the wall around the grooves 3, 5 forms the desired reinforcement, and also defines a rigid external strip for supporting the drawer by sliding engagement within the channel 24 of runner 10.

The back wall 6 has hooked lugs 12 projecting from the side edge flanges, said flanges suitably being integral with the rest of the back wall. Suitably, at least two such hooked lugs 12 are arranged on each side edge, the upper lug 12 being situated below the upper edge flange and the lower lug 12 being situated at a distance above the groove 7, both lugs being directed parallel with the upper and lower edges of the back wall.

Materials and dimensions are selected so that the lugs 12 are resilient in the event of bending stress. The lugs 12, whose profiled hooks 16 will be described in more detail below, are insertable into apertures in the drawer sides in such a manner that each hook can grip an edge of the corresponding aperture.

As is shown in Figures 2 and 3, respective flanges 14 on the outer surfaces of the side walls 2, 4 surround each aperture. The inner cross-sections of the apertures and flanges 14 are suitably D-shaped. The horizontal section depicted in Figure 3 reveals that the flat side of the D is provided with a transverse wedge-like projection 15 for engagement with a complementarv hook 16 on the respective lug 12.

Where it adjoins the edge of the back wall 6, the lug 12 has the same cross-section as the aperture and flange 14, so that said flange 14 totally guides the lug 12 as it is inserted, with the flat surfaces of both lug and aperture adjacent each other. In order to further improve the registration between the sides 2, 4 and the back 6, the rear edge flange of each side wall can be extended inwardly towards the centre line of the drawer by a tongue 18, against which the corresponding flange of the back wall abuts when the drawer is completely assembled.

The tongue 18 also allows improved location for the back if it is made of wood. In such a construction the lugs 12 are provided with spigots similar to, for example, those of the snap hooks 36 (of spring detent connection to be described below). They are then, in similar manner, pressed or glued into bores in the edges of the back.

The surfaces of the lugs 12 which face away from the hook 16, are inclined (as shown in Figure 2) so that apart from a non-tapering base portion the rest of each lug 12 tapers towards its free end. This enables the lugs to bend sufficiently without deforming the flange 14 to allow the edges of the hooks 16 to ride over the corresponding wedges 15 and grip the same, after which the resilience of the material maintains the grip.

A withdrawal stop catch abutment 20 (Figures 1 and 2) projects from each of the side walls 2,4 adjacent the lower flanges 14, said abutments suitably being integral with the flanges 14 as well as the side wall 2 or 4, respectively. The leading edge of the abutment 20 is composed of a lower forwardly facing surface part 21 which is essentially vertical, and an upper surface part suitably inclined forwards and upwards. The abutment 20 is intended to prevent the drawer from being pulled completely out of the piece of furniture. It engages with a withdrawal stop catch tongue 2 on the upper edge of the forward part of the drawer runner 10. The tongue 22 is fast with the runner 10 and comprises a leaf spring 22 extending generally rearwardly from the runner, the rearwardly-facing edge 23 of the tongue 22 having an essentially vertical surface.When the drawer is pulled out, the tongue 22 engages the abutment 20 while the drawer is still sufficiently well engaged on the runner to be guided by means of the engagement of the outside profile of the groove 3 in the channel 24 of the runner 10. In order to pull the drawer completely off the runner, the tongue is pressed downwards with one finger, whereafter the abutment 20 can pass freely over the edge 23.

A child safety catch is also incorporated in the drawer as a hindrance to young children gaining access to the contents of the drawer.

The child safety catch can be arranged on either one or both of the side walls 2, 4. The child safety catch is composed of a pin 26, an upper projection 27 and a lower projection 28 extending from the web of the side wall, said upper and lower projections being situated somewhat to the rear of the pin 26 and having essentially flat surfaces facing each other and parallel with the groove 3.

The catch member 30 is suitably manufactured out of tough and resilient plastics and comprises a hub with a circular bore to journal the pin 26; a rearwardly extending spring leaf 31; a rearwardly extending leg 32 essentially parallel with said spring leaf, said leg having at its rearmost end a shoe 33; and a forwardly-extending arm 29. On assembling the catch member 30 onto the drawer, the spring 31 is pressed somewhat downwards so that the spring 31 and the leg 32 can be inserted between the projections 27 and 28, after which they abut the inner surface of the respective projections. The catch member 30 is secured by means of a washer held by a screw in a bore of the pin 26.The shoe 33 has a forwardly-facing, essentially vertical heel 34 which, in this position, is arranged so that after the drawer has been pulled out a predetermined distance, suitably from 2 to 6 cm, it is stopped by the edge 23 of the withdrawal stop tongue 22. The drawer cannot then be pulled out any further. An inexperienced child having no knowledge of this arrangement will not be able to open the drawer and will only be able to see the catch member 30 from a viewpoint on that side of the drawer where the catch member is applied. An experienced person can, however, easily press down the arm 29 at the pulled-out drawer edge with a finger. This operation lifts the heel 34 above the stop edge 23 and releases the drawer which can then be pulled out.

The shoe 33 has a rearwardly facing surface 35 which inclines backwards and upwards shown in Figure 2. When the drawer and the catch member 30 are pushed back into the furniture, the surface 35 rides over the upper edge of the stop 22, to allow the drawer to be fully pushed into the piece of furniture.

In the shown embodiment of the drawer, the front wall 8 is made out of a wooden material, for example sawn wood. A groove 9 is milled in the lower rear part of the front wall at the level of the groove 3, 4 for holding the drawer bottom panel. Furthermore, for the purpose of joining together the front wall with the side walls 2, 4 with a spring detent connection, two snap hooks 36 are attached to the inner surface of the front wall for cooperation with snap edges 40 directed out from the side walls 2,4.

The general appearance of the snap hooks 36 is revealed in Figure 1, where they are shown in perspective to the right of the ends of the side walls while in Figure 2 they are shown at the far right as seen from the side.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section showing a snap hook in the inserted position where it grips the snap edge 40 of the side piece.

The snap hook 36 is intended to be glued or pressed into a corresponding bore in the wooden material of the front wall 8. For this purpose, the snap hook comprises a spigot 37 which is intended to be inserted into the front wall 8, and a head having an outside jaw 38 and an inside jaw 39. A strong tooth intended to grip the snap edge 40 projects from the rear part of the outside jaw.

In order for the spigot 37 to be adequately located in the cylindrical bore in the front wall 8 of the drawer, said spigot has a number of axially separated, essentially conical surface parts which abruptly join onto each other. The tips of the truncated cones are directed inwards towards the bore and the circular edges of the cones form a guide for the inner surface of the bore. A portion of the conical edge area is cut away in two approximately diametrically opposite areas on a plane of section approximately parallel to the axis of the spigot 37. This expedites the distribution of glue when the spigot 37 is being inserted into the bore. Furthermore, in the glued joint, this design increases resistance to turning of the stem. At the same time, the arrangement reduces the risk of the edge of the front wall of the drawer being forced out.Finally, said design automatically provides space for a film joint or flash (not shown here) by means of which two adjacent snap hooks are connected together by their spigots due to the method of manufacturing them, and this hinge serving to hold the spigots of the snap hooks 36 together during feeding from a magazine.

after which the joint is cut off.

The inside jaw 39 of the snap hook 36 extends with an essentially constant thickness parallel with the web in the side wall 2, 4. In the inserted position, the surface of the inside jaw 39 is flush with the inner surface of the side wall 2, 4. The inside jaw 39 abuts a forwardly-extending and laterally displaced snap tongue 41 which is an integral part of the side wall web. The outer surface of the tongue 41 is inclined outwardly and rearwardly to define the snap edge 40, which is perpendicular to the side wall web.

The tongue 41 is displaced laterally outwards from the side wall web a distance corresponding to the thickness of the inside jaw 39, and merges in the rear into a gusset 42 which is an integral part of the side wall, the purpose of said gusset being disclosed below.

The inside of the outside jaw 39 of the snap hook 36 diverges away from the parallel sided inside jaw 38 towards a tooth which, in the inserted position, grips the snap edge 40 of the tongue 41. In the hooked-up position, a certain space exists between the backwardly-directed lip of the outside jaw 39 and the edge of a gusset 42, said space allowing the insertion of a tool such as a screwdriver to release the outside jaw. A slot of space is also arranged on the opposite side of the side wall 2, 4 web between the rear edge of the inside jaw 39 and the forwardly-directed edge of the rib.

Likewise, said slot allows insertion of, for example, a screwdriver into the space.

An opening 43 (Figure 1) of the same height as the jaws 38, 39 is situated in front of the tongue 41 in the edge flanges of the side walls 2, 4. The snap hook 36 can be inserted into said opening 43 so as to hook up over the snap edge 40 on the tongue 41 which is then completely guided in the gap between the jaws 38,39.

Assembly of the components into a drawer takes place in the following manner.

The drawer runners 10 are attached by screws passing through screw holes in their ends to the side walls of the furniture for which the drawer is intended. For deep or heavily-loaded drawers, a reinforcement in the form of a strip of steel or other rigid material can be inserted between inwardly and outwardly disposed parts of each respective runner 10. This reinforcing strip is inserted with mutual support of the multi-part web of the runner 10 as shown in chain dotted lines in Figures 2, 5 and 6.

When attaching the runners 10 to the furniture, the user decides whether or not he wants to use the withdrawal stop 22 at one end of the runner (for either the pull-out preventing catch 20 or the child safety catch 30) in which case the stop 22 is on the upper side of the runner. Otherwise, the runner 10 will be inverted so that the stop tongue 22 faces downwards.

The drawer 1 can then be assembled by pushing the hooked lugs 12 of the back wall through the corresponding apertures and flanges 14 in the side walls 2, 4 so that engagement is achieved with the hooking edges 15 in the flanges. The drawer bottom panel (not shown here) is thereafter pushed into the groove 3.

If the back wall is long, that is, if the drawer is wide, the drawer bottom panel can, in addition to being supported in the groove 3, 7, also be fixed by means of locking with a pin which projects upwardly from a resilient bracket (not shown here) of small length projecting inwardly of the drawer from the lower wall of the groove 7. The pin is then biased into a corresponding hole in the drawer bottom panel.

The same effect is achieved by means of a loose pin 44 having a head which, by means of light pressing, is pushed into a bore 45 in the walls of the groove 7 and in the drawer bottom panel.

Finally, the snap hooks 36 of the front wall 8 are pushed into the openings 43 in the side walls 2, 4 so that the jaws 38, 39 grip both sides of the tongue 41 and the tooth of the outside jaw finally grips the snap edge 40. The front edge of the drawer bottom has then aligned itself in the groove 9 in the front wall and can, if desired, there be provided with the same kind of support and locking as in the back wall.

The child safety catch 30 is introduced onto the pin 26 as described before.

The drawer is thereafter inserted in the furniture with the outer profile of the walls of the groove 3 sliding in the channel 24 in the runner 10, and is ready for use.

The drawer can be easily dismantled into the above-described main components.

Suitable tool, for example a common screwdriver, is inserted from the rear into the space between the outside jaw 38 of the snap hook and the edge of the gusset 42 projecting from the side wall web. By means of swinging the screwdriver outwards, the outside jaw is bent outwards, causing the tooth to disengage from the snap edge 40. A second screwdriver is now inserted into the slot behind the inside jaw 39 and rotated to cam the snap hook 36, which is now free, forward at least far enough to hold the snap hook free from the edge 40 when the first screwdriver is removed. The process is repeated with all of the snap hooks on the front wall 8, which is thereafter freed and can be removed.

In a corresponding manner, a screwdriver is inserted into the slot between the lugs 12 and the flat surfaces of the flanges 14. By means of levering with the screwdriver or rotating the screwdriver blade, the lug 12 is bent forward so that the hook disengages from the hooking edge 15, after which the side walls 2, 4 can be separated from the back wall 6 so that re-engagement does not take place when the screwdriver is moved to the next lug and flange.

If necessary, the locking pin 44 or other bottom panel retaining means is loosened so as to release the bottom panel, after which the main components of the drawer are free.

Disassembly allows, for example, simple exchange of a damaged component or repainting of the front wall.

In the following claims, the positions and directions are based on the arrangement in an assembled drawer. "Forwards" relates to the withdrawal direction of the drawer, while "inwards" and "outwards" relate to the direction towards and away from the plane of symmetry of the drawer.

Various aspects of the drawer and runner combination described above are also described and claimed in our copending Patent Application No. 8023473 (Serial No.

1600137).

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A dismantleably assembled drawer for furniture, to be slidably supported on channelled runners of the furniture and comprising: a front wall; a back wall; and two side walls which are symmetrical with one another, each of the two side walls being made by moulding of a thermoplastic material as one integral unit by having an inner web with stiffener flanges along the edges, one of said stiffener members including an inwardly directed groove for inserting a drawer bottom panel, the outwardlyprojecting walls of such stiffener member forming a rigid strip which is slidable in a corresponding channel in the associated runner, the stiffener flanges forming a closed outwardly directed peripheral frame of which the stiffener flanges at the back of the drawer sidewalls also extend inwardly of the web in order to guide and support the adjacent side edge of the back wall, and the side walls being detachably connected to at least the front wall by means of spring detent connections.

2. A drawer according to claim 1, wherein adjacent the said stiffener flanges at the back of the drawer, each said side wall has at least one hole for a fastener, by means of which the side walls are attached to the back wall.

3. A drawer according to claim 1, wherein adjacent the said stiffener flange at the back of the drawer, each said side wall has at least one aperture bordered by an outwardly-directed further flange to receive, guide and engage hooked lugs projecting from the outer edges of the back wall.

4. A drawer according to claim 3, wherein the back wall is an integral moulded thermoplastic unit, and has an inner web with integral outwardly directed flanges along its edges, the lower flange having closely above it an inwardly directed groove to receive a said bottom panel; and wherein the said hooked lugs each have a generally flat surface in which a notch defining the hook is formed.

5. A drawer according to claim 3, wherein the inside wall of the said further flange bordering each said aperture includes a generally flat wall portion having a hooked edge projecting inwardly therefrom, said hooking edge cooperating with the hook on a lug pushed into the flanged aperture.

6. A drawer according to claim 5, wherein at the junction between each lug and the edge flange of the back wall, the cross-section of the lug fills the cross-section of the flanged aperture; and the walls of the lug (other than said flat surface) taper towards the flat surface in a manner sufficient to allow the lug to be bent within the flanged aperture sufficiently to allow engagement and disengagement of the hook.

7. A drawer according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein each said spring detent connection comprises at least one forwardly-directed snap tongue on the respective side wall behind an opening in the said stiffener flange at the front of the side wall, said snap tongue having a backwardly inclined edge adjacent to which the thickness of said tongue decreases progressively in the forward direction, said tongue being part of the connection of the side wall to the front wall.

8. A drawer according to claim 7, wherein a gusset projects out from the web of the side piece behind the said edge of each snap tongue to support a disassembly tool.

9. A drawer according to claim 7 or 8, wherein each spring detent connection further comprises at least two backwardlydirected snap hooks on the front wall detachably engaged with respective said snap tongues on the side walls, and wherein the front wall further includes a rearwardly directed groove for the drawer bottom

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

second screwdriver is now inserted into the slot behind the inside jaw 39 and rotated to cam the snap hook 36, which is now free, forward at least far enough to hold the snap hook free from the edge 40 when the first screwdriver is removed. The process is repeated with all of the snap hooks on the front wall 8, which is thereafter freed and can be removed.

In a corresponding manner, a screwdriver is inserted into the slot between the lugs 12 and the flat surfaces of the flanges 14. By means of levering with the screwdriver or rotating the screwdriver blade, the lug 12 is bent forward so that the hook disengages from the hooking edge 15, after which the side walls 2, 4 can be separated from the back wall 6 so that re-engagement does not take place when the screwdriver is moved to the next lug and flange.

If necessary, the locking pin 44 or other bottom panel retaining means is loosened so as to release the bottom panel, after which the main components of the drawer are free.

Disassembly allows, for example, simple exchange of a damaged component or repainting of the front wall.

In the following claims, the positions and directions are based on the arrangement in an assembled drawer. "Forwards" relates to the withdrawal direction of the drawer, while "inwards" and "outwards" relate to the direction towards and away from the plane of symmetry of the drawer.

Various aspects of the drawer and runner combination described above are also described and claimed in our copending Patent Application No. 8023473 (Serial No.

1600137).

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A dismantleably assembled drawer for furniture, to be slidably supported on channelled runners of the furniture and comprising: a front wall; a back wall; and two side walls which are symmetrical with one another, each of the two side walls being made by moulding of a thermoplastic material as one integral unit by having an inner web with stiffener flanges along the edges, one of said stiffener members including an inwardly directed groove for inserting a drawer bottom panel, the outwardlyprojecting walls of such stiffener member forming a rigid strip which is slidable in a corresponding channel in the associated runner, the stiffener flanges forming a closed outwardly directed peripheral frame of which the stiffener flanges at the back of the drawer sidewalls also extend inwardly of the web in order to guide and support the adjacent side edge of the back wall, and the side walls being detachably connected to at least the front wall by means of spring detent connections.
2. A drawer according to claim 1, wherein adjacent the said stiffener flanges at the back of the drawer, each said side wall has at least one hole for a fastener, by means of which the side walls are attached to the back wall.
3. A drawer according to claim 1, wherein adjacent the said stiffener flange at the back of the drawer, each said side wall has at least one aperture bordered by an outwardly-directed further flange to receive, guide and engage hooked lugs projecting from the outer edges of the back wall.
4. A drawer according to claim 3, wherein the back wall is an integral moulded thermoplastic unit, and has an inner web with integral outwardly directed flanges along its edges, the lower flange having closely above it an inwardly directed groove to receive a said bottom panel; and wherein the said hooked lugs each have a generally flat surface in which a notch defining the hook is formed.
5. A drawer according to claim 3, wherein the inside wall of the said further flange bordering each said aperture includes a generally flat wall portion having a hooked edge projecting inwardly therefrom, said hooking edge cooperating with the hook on a lug pushed into the flanged aperture.
6. A drawer according to claim 5, wherein at the junction between each lug and the edge flange of the back wall, the cross-section of the lug fills the cross-section of the flanged aperture; and the walls of the lug (other than said flat surface) taper towards the flat surface in a manner sufficient to allow the lug to be bent within the flanged aperture sufficiently to allow engagement and disengagement of the hook.
7. A drawer according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein each said spring detent connection comprises at least one forwardly-directed snap tongue on the respective side wall behind an opening in the said stiffener flange at the front of the side wall, said snap tongue having a backwardly inclined edge adjacent to which the thickness of said tongue decreases progressively in the forward direction, said tongue being part of the connection of the side wall to the front wall.
8. A drawer according to claim 7, wherein a gusset projects out from the web of the side piece behind the said edge of each snap tongue to support a disassembly tool.
9. A drawer according to claim 7 or 8, wherein each spring detent connection further comprises at least two backwardlydirected snap hooks on the front wall detachably engaged with respective said snap tongues on the side walls, and wherein the front wall further includes a rearwardly directed groove for the drawer bottom

panel.
10. A drawer according to claim 9, wherein each said snap hook comprises a first jaw abutting one side of a corresponding snap tongue on a side wall, and a second jaw having a tooth directed towards the first jaw, said tooth being in engagement with the said edge on the other side of the snap tongue.
11. A drawer according to claim 10, wherein, in the engaged position, the inner side of the first Jaw of each snap hook extends flush with the inner surface of the corresponding side wall.
12. A drawer according to claim 10 or claim 11, wherein in the engaged position, the rearmost edge of the first jaw is situated at a distance from the adjacent edge part of the web of the side wall so that a disassembly tool can be inserted into the space so as to press out the snap hook from the engaged position.
13. A drawer according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the front wall is made of wood and each said snap hook comprises a forwardly-directed spigot located in a corresponding bore in the said front wall, the outside of said spigot being formed with a succession of coaxial, truncated conical surfaces having rearwardly inclined edges which, when the spigot is pressed into the bore, grip into the wood of the front wall and, between themselves, form adjacent pockets for glue so as to achieve good attachment of the snap hook to the front wall.
14. A drawer according to claim 13, wherein at least along a portion of their periphery, the frusto-conical surfaces of the spigot are cut away so as to form an axial flow path for the glue when the stem is glued.
15. A drawer according to any one of the preceding claims, in combination with a pair of channelled furniture runners, wherein each said runner has at least at one of its ends, a spring leaf extending towards the other end and directed away from the runner surface, said spring leaf having on its free end a stop edge intended to cooperate with a safety catch or a withdrawal preventing catch on the drawer, to prevent the drawer from being pulled out.
16. A drawer according to claim 15, wherein said furniture runner comprises a web which is divided up into at least two parts which are alternately displaced outwards and inwards so as to support both sides of a reinforcing strip extending along said at least two parts.
17. A drawer according to claim 15 or 16, including a said withdrawal preventing catch on said drawer to engage the said spring leaf on the associated furniture runner.
18. A drawer according to claim 15, 16 or 17, including a releasable safety catch to engage said spring on the associated runner.
19. A drawer according to claim 17, or to claim 18 when appendant thereto, wherein said withdrawal catch is arranged at the rear end of each side wall and comprises a forwardly-extending, essentially vertical edge part extending outwardly from the side wall to form a stop suitable for engagement with said spring leaf on the furniture runner.
20. A drawer according to claim 19, wherein the withdrawal preventing catches are integral parts of the flanged apertures for the hooked lugs.
21. A drawer according to claim 18 or to claim 19 or 20 when appendant thereto, wherein said safety catch is pivotably journailed on a pin projecting from the outer surface of the web of each side wall for allowing only limited initial withdrawal of the drawer.
22. A drawer according to claim 21, wherein the said safety catch comprises a middle part having a bore in which the pin is pivotally engaged, a leg protruding rearwardly from said middle part and carrying a shoe, a heel on said shoe presenting an essentially vertical forwardly-facing surface intended to form a stop surface for engagement with said spring leaf on the furniture, and an arm extending forwardly from the middle part and operable to swing the safety catch free from the said spring leaf.
23. A drawer according to claim 22, wherein an upper surface and a lower surface project from the outer surface of each side wall, said surfaces, in cooperation with the leg of the safety catch and a spring blade, holding the heel in the stopping position.
24. A drawer according to claim 23, wherein the spring blade is integral with the safety catch and extends essentially parallel to the leg, said leg having considerably greater rigidity than the spring blade.
25. A drawer according to claim 4 alone or in combination with any one of claims 5 to 24, wherein the back wall comprises a resilient bracket directed forwardly from the lower edge of the said groove, the front part of said bracket having an upwardly directed pin intended to engage with a snap fit in a corresponding hole in the bottom panel to transfer tension load between the bottom panel and the back wall.
26. A drawer according to claim 4 alone or in combination with any one of claims 5 to 24 wherein, through the walls of said bottom panel receiving groove, the back wall has at least one hole into which a bolt can be passed, the bolt also engaging an aperture in the bottom panel whereby it transfers tension load between the bottom panel and the back wall.
27. A drawer, for cabinets or storage furniture, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.