GB1604816A - Drawers and drawer components - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO DRAWERS AND DRAWER COMPONENTS (71) We, L.B. (PLASTICS) LIMITED, a British Company, of Firs Works, Nether Heage, Belper, Derby, 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 invention relates to drawers and to parts and components thereof. The invention is particularly concerned with so called "knock-down" drawers of plastic construction comprising hollow extruded wall panels having slots therein for accommodation of ths drawer floor and adapted to be interconnected at right angles to one another by corner pieces having projecting spigots engageable in the ends of the wall panels. The invention is however also applicable to other forms of drawer.

The invention provides a drawer having wall panels interconnected by connecting members having spigots projecting therefrom for engagement in cavities in the ends of the panels, the spigots being provided with projecting detents of D-shaped form having curved portions directed towards the free ends of the spigots and engaged in complementary apertures in the wall panels.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings which: Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of forms of drawer and runner construction incorporating the invention and comprises Figs. 1A and 1L: Fig. 1A is a perspective view of a drawer side panel; Fig. 1B is a perspective view of a guide and bearing member adapted to be received in a track formed in the drawer panel shown in Fig. 1A; Fig. 1C shows one form of runner on which the drawer construction may be mounted; Fig. 1D shows a corner connector for use in connecting the drawer back and side panels; Fig. 1E is a perspective view showing the internal construction of the corner connector shown in Fig. 1D.

Fig. 1F is a perspective view showing one form of removable fitment used in association with the corner connector in Figs. 1D and 1E and the runner shown in Fig. 1C; Fig. 1G is a perspective view of a front connector for use in connecting the drawer side panel to the drawer front; Fig. 1 H is a perspective view showing the internal construction of the front connector shown in Fig. 1G.

Fig. 1J shows a fiatment for use in assisting closing of the drawer; Fig. 1K is a perspective view of an alternative form of runner on which the drawer may be mounted; Fig. 1L is a perspective view of an alternative fitment for use in association with the corner connector shown in Figs. 1D and IE and the runner shown in Fig. 1K; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a drawer and runner constructed from the components shown in Figs. 1A to 1H; and Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a drawer and runner constructed from the components shown in Figs. 1A, 1D, lE, 1G, 1H, 1K and 1L.

The drawers shown in the drawings are of so called 'knock-down" construction, the sides and back comprising identical extruded hollow panels interconnected at right angles to one another by corner pieces. The forward ends of the side panels, are connected to the drawer front by means of end connectors, and inwardly directed slots are provided adjacent the lower edges of the panels to receive the edges of a drawer bottom.

Referring to Fig. 1 and 1A, a side panel is shown at 105, a corner piece at 103 and an end connector for connecting the drawer side to a suitable facia panel at 104. The drawer panel 105 comprises upper, intermediate and lower hollow sections 106A, 106B and 106C separated by internal webs 106D. An inwarly directed recess 108 is formed in the hollow section 106C adjacent the lower longitudinal edge of the panel to accommodate an edge of a drawer bottom (not shown). The lower hollow section 106C of the panel also incorporates a longitudinal channel 109 the entrance to which is narrower than the channel itself and comprises a slot 110 defined between upper and lower longitudinal lips 111A, 111B extending across the channel 109 towards one another so as to partially close same.The channel 109 constitutes an integral runner track designed to accommodate a guide and bearing member.

One form of guide and bearing member 114 which may be accommodated in the channel 109 is shown in Fig. 1B and comprises a body portion 115 formed with a through track or slot 116 and surmounted by a pair of rotatable wheels or rollers 117.

A curved leaf spring 118 is located in the bottom of the track 116 between inturned lips 118A. Pips 115A project from the faces of the body portion which engage the lips lily, 111B of the track 109 to reduce frictional contact. Similar pips are provided on the underside of the body portion.

In use the guide and bearing member is located in the track 109 with the rollers 117 uppermost and the recess or slot 116 in alignment with the entrance slot 110 to the track 109. The roller assembly is retained in the track by the lips lily, 111B and by the corner piece 103 and front connector 104 which are located in the ends of the drawer panel when the drawer is assembled.

It should be noted that the extents to which the lips 111A and lllB extend across the channel 109 differ slightly. This is designed to ensure that the guide and bearing member 114 cannot be inserted into the channel upside down.

The guide and bearing member 114 is adapted for engagement with a drawer runner 120 shown in Fg. 1C which is of angle form and L-shaped cross-section having a securing flange 121 by means of which the runner may be mounted in a suitable position in a cabinet or like housing in which the drawer is to be slidably located. The runner also has a drawer-engaging flange 122 which projects at right angles from the securing flange and is adapted to extent into the channel 109 for locking engagement with the guide and bearing member. For this purpose a notch 123 is formed adjacent the forward end of the drawer-engaging flange 122 and is adapted to engage with the guide and bearing member to retain same in a fixed position on the runner 120.A downwardly directed projection 125 is formed on the upper surface of the slot 116 in the guide and bearing member and engages with the notch 123 in the runner 120, engagement being maintained by virtue of the spring 118 urging the guide and bearing member downwardly and thereby retaining the projection 125 in the notch. A similar arrangement is of course provided at the other side of the drawer.

The corner pieces 103 (Fig. 1D) each comprise an upstanding corner post 130 having spigot members 131 projecting therefrom at right angles and spaced and dimensioned so as to form a tight push fit in the upper, intermediate and lower cavities of the associated wall panels. Detents 132 are provided on the projections 131 and engage in holes 133 formed in the outer face of the wall panel adjacent to the end thereof. Towards its lower end the post 130 is provided with a through opening 134 for accommodation of an insert 135 which co-operates with the runner 120 in use.

The insert 135 comprises a locking part 136 and a bearing or body part 137. The insert is located in the opening 134 in the corner post 130 after the drawer has been assembled and the locking part 136 extends beyond the corner post into the channel 109. A detent (not shown) similar to the detent 132 is provided on the surface of the locking part 136 which locates against the back or inner wall of the channel 109 for engagement with a hole 138 provided therein. The body part 137 incorporates a pair of rollers 138 which are spaced apart sufficiently to accommodate the flange 122 of the runner 120 and provide opposed bearing surfaces therefor. The rollers could alternatively be replaced by fixed bearing surfaces of the kind incorporated in the alternative insert to be described hereafter.The body or bearing part 137 thus provides a guide and bearing member for supporting the rear end of the drawer during sliding movement.

When the insert is in position it closes the rear end of the channel 109 and prevents withdrawal of the front guide and bearing member 114. A spring tongue 139 is bent outwardly from the back wall of the locking part 136 of the insert and serves as a spring to reduce side movement. This accommodates differences in tolerance of the drawer components introduced during manufacture.

It will be noted that the corner connectors serve a number of functions. Firstly they serve to interconnect the side and back wall panels at right angles to one another.

Secondly they incorporate supporting and guiding means for the rear of the drawer during its movement along the runners.

Thirdly they provide end stops serving to limit the extent to which the drawer can be drawn out of the cabinet.

Each of the front connecting members 104 (Fig. 1G) comprises a face plate 140 provided with spigot members 141, similar to the spigots or projections 131 formed on the corner connectors 103, and adapted for engagement in the hollow end of the associated side wall panel. Prior to insertion of the front connectors into the respective wall panels the front connectors are secured to a suitable facia panel by screws passed through holes 142 in the face plates 140, whereupon the assembly comprising the facia panel and the two front connectors is engaged with the open forward ends of the side wall panels, the drawer bottom having been inserted in the meantime.

A raised rim 140A is provided round the peripheral edge of the face plate 140. This provides a slight clearance between the surface of the face plate and the surface of the drawer front to which it is attached so that the face plate contacts the drawer front at all points on its periphery despite any slight surface irregularities on the drawer front.

The clearance provided at the central region of the face plate also accommodates material displaced from the drawer front in the region of the screw holes when the front connecting member is secured in position.

It should be noted that the detents provided on the corner and facia connectors and on the corner connector inserts are of D-shape and slope upwardly from their narrow to their wider ends. This is advantage ous in providing a gradual increase in resistance both due to the increasing dimen sion of the D-form from the point towards the base and due to the sloping formation.

Detents of this form do not present undue resistance to interconnection of the components but at the same time provide a secure connection when engaged.

The construction of the corner pieces 103 and front connecting members 104 is such that they cannot be wrongly inserted in the ends of the wall panels. For this purpose flange-like extensions 131A are provided on the upper and central spigot members of the corner pieces 103 and similar extensions 141A are provided on the central spigot member of the front connecting member.

These extensions interfere with the internal webs 107 of the wall panels if the corner pieces or front connecting members are offered to the wall panels in an inverted or reversed position. Incorrect assembly is also prevented in some cases by interference be tween the spigot members and the recesses 108 in the panels.

In use, the drawer is supplied to the customer in disassembled or knocked-down condition and is erected by inserting the comer pieces 103 in the open ends of the side and back wall panels thereby joining same together at right angles to one another.

The inserts 136 are then fitted and there after the guide and bearing member 114 may be inserted in the respective tracks or channels 109 in the side walls and the drawer bottom engaged in the slots 108.

The front connectors 104 are then secured to the facia panel in suitable positions corresponding to the spacing of the drawer sides and the assembly comprising the facia panel and the front connectors is then engaged with the remainder of the drawer by pushing the spigots on the front connectors into the hollow ends of the side wall panels.

The guide and bearing members 114 are then trapped within the tracks 109 at opposite sides of the drawer but are free to slide longitudinally therealong. The assembled construction is shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The drawer may then be inserted in the cabinet or the like in which it is to be housed and which is first of all provided with opposed runners of the kind shown at 120 in the drawings. The drawer may be engaged with the runners by simply pushing it into the opening in the cabinet to its fully closed position, in which position the projections 125 on the guide and bearing members reach the notches 123 in the respective runners.

The guide and bearing members then lock on to the associated runners and are retained in position, the drawer being free to slide along the runners between the limits defined by engagement of the guide and bearing members with the inserts 135 and the front mouldings which are disposed at opposite ends of the tracks 109. If it is desired to release the drawer from the cabinet the springs 118 are depressed by lifting the front of the drawer, thereby enabling the guide and bearing members to be disengaged from the slots 123 whereupon the drawer can be drawn completely out of the cabinet.

The drawer is constructed to enable it to be modified for use in association with an alternative form of runner. The modified runner is shown at 145 in Fig. 1K and has a vertical or mounting flange 146 enabling it to be attached to a drawer cabinet or the like in a suitable position, and a horizontal or drawer-engaging flange 147 which in use extends into the track 109 through the entrance slot 110. At its forward end the vertical flange 146 is extended and and carries a roller 148 rotatable about a horizontal pin 149. A modified insert 150 is used in association with the runner 145 and is generally similar to that shown at 135 but has an extended body portion 151 terminating in a shoulder 152 which abuts the corner piece and limits the extent to which the insert can be pushed into the opening 134 in the corner piece 130.The locking portion is provided with a detent (not shown) which engages with the hole 138 in the rear wall of the channel 109, but when the insert is in position the body portion projects to the rear of the drawer leaving a downwardly directed opening 155 forming an entrance to the channel 109. In this way the drawer may be mounted on the runners by engaging the rollers 148 with the openings 155 and pushing the drawer into the cabinet so that the rollers travel along the channels 109 at opposite sides of the drawer.

A downwardly projecting lip 156 is provided at the forward end of each insert 150.

This is engaged by the roller 148 when the drawer is opened and acts as a stop to prevent complete removal of the drawer from the cabinet. If required the drawer may be completely removed by lifting it slightly to enable the rollers 148 at each side to clear the lips 156 on the respective inserts 150, following which the drawer can be drawn forward until the rollers are located above the openings 155, enabling the drawer to be lifted clear and withdrawn from the cabinet.

In order to provide a self-closing effect a metal clip 160 locates over the horizontal web separating the hollow sections 106B and 106C of the panel at one or both sides of the drawer. The clip is provided with a slightly domed region 161 which, by interaction with the associated roller, urges the drawer towards its closed position.

It will be appreciated that the drawer assembly may be utilised in association with either of the runner arrangements described without requiring any modification of the drawer itself other than the substitution of the revised corner connector fitment and the use of the alternative runner. The same wan panels, front and corner connectors are used in both cases and the drawers themselves are completely interchangeable as between one system and the other.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example the construction of the guide and bearing member may be altered and it could incorporate a fixed bearing surface of curved or other form instead of rollers. If desired a plurality of such guide and bearing members could be provided at spaced intervals along the associated runner; in this event it may be possible to dispense with the rear guide and bearing members. The drawer panels may also be of different construction provided they incorporate integral tracks for engagement with the drawer runners. The track is preferably contained within the dimensions of the wall panel itself but could in some instances be fitted to the outer surface thereof.Moreover though particularly beneficial when used in association with hollow extruded plastics drawer constructions, the invention is also applicable to other forms of drawer.

Certain features of the drawer constructions described above from the subject of our co-pending Application No. 29261/76 (Serial No. 1604811).

WHAT WE CLAIM JS:- 1. A drawer having wall panels interconnected by connecting members having spigots projecting therefrom for engagement in cavities in the ends of the panels, the spigots being provided with projecting detents of D-shaped form having curved portions directed towards the free ends of the spigots and engaged in complementary apertures in the wall panels.

2. A drawer according to claim 1 wherein the back and side wall panels of the drawer are interconnected by connecting members in the form of corner pieces each of which comprises a corner post from which spigot members project in two directions at right angles to one another.

3. A drawer according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the drawer front and side panels are interconnected by front connecting members each having a generally flat face plate for abutment with the rear face of the drawer front, said spigot members extending at right angles to the face plate for engagement in the forward ends of the associated side wall panels.

4. A drawer according to any of claims 1 to 3 wherein said detents have sloping surfaces at the curved ends thereof.

5. A drawer according to claim 4 wherein the detents have a sloping surface adjacent to the curved end thereof and a flat surface adjacent the other end.

6. A drawer according to any of claims I to 5 wherein said spigots are of U-form in cross-section said detents being mounted on the outer surface of the base portion of the U-shape.

7. A drawer according to claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. of the drawer leaving a downwardly directed opening 155 forming an entrance to the channel 109. In this way the drawer may be mounted on the runners by engaging the rollers 148 with the openings 155 and pushing the drawer into the cabinet so that the rollers travel along the channels 109 at opposite sides of the drawer. A downwardly projecting lip 156 is provided at the forward end of each insert 150. This is engaged by the roller 148 when the drawer is opened and acts as a stop to prevent complete removal of the drawer from the cabinet. If required the drawer may be completely removed by lifting it slightly to enable the rollers 148 at each side to clear the lips 156 on the respective inserts 150, following which the drawer can be drawn forward until the rollers are located above the openings 155, enabling the drawer to be lifted clear and withdrawn from the cabinet. In order to provide a self-closing effect a metal clip 160 locates over the horizontal web separating the hollow sections 106B and 106C of the panel at one or both sides of the drawer. The clip is provided with a slightly domed region 161 which, by interaction with the associated roller, urges the drawer towards its closed position. It will be appreciated that the drawer assembly may be utilised in association with either of the runner arrangements described without requiring any modification of the drawer itself other than the substitution of the revised corner connector fitment and the use of the alternative runner. The same wan panels, front and corner connectors are used in both cases and the drawers themselves are completely interchangeable as between one system and the other. Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example the construction of the guide and bearing member may be altered and it could incorporate a fixed bearing surface of curved or other form instead of rollers. If desired a plurality of such guide and bearing members could be provided at spaced intervals along the associated runner; in this event it may be possible to dispense with the rear guide and bearing members. The drawer panels may also be of different construction provided they incorporate integral tracks for engagement with the drawer runners. The track is preferably contained within the dimensions of the wall panel itself but could in some instances be fitted to the outer surface thereof.Moreover though particularly beneficial when used in association with hollow extruded plastics drawer constructions, the invention is also applicable to other forms of drawer. Certain features of the drawer constructions described above from the subject of our co-pending Application No. 29261/76 (Serial No. 1604811). WHAT WE CLAIM JS:-

1. A drawer having wall panels interconnected by connecting members having spigots projecting therefrom for engagement in cavities in the ends of the panels, the spigots being provided with projecting detents of D-shaped form having curved portions directed towards the free ends of the spigots and engaged in complementary apertures in the wall panels.

2. A drawer according to claim 1 wherein the back and side wall panels of the drawer are interconnected by connecting members in the form of corner pieces each of which comprises a corner post from which spigot members project in two directions at right angles to one another.

3. A drawer according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the drawer front and side panels are interconnected by front connecting members each having a generally flat face plate for abutment with the rear face of the drawer front, said spigot members extending at right angles to the face plate for engagement in the forward ends of the associated side wall panels.

4. A drawer according to any of claims 1 to 3 wherein said detents have sloping surfaces at the curved ends thereof.

5. A drawer according to claim 4 wherein the detents have a sloping surface adjacent to the curved end thereof and a flat surface adjacent the other end.

6. A drawer according to any of claims I to 5 wherein said spigots are of U-form in cross-section said detents being mounted on the outer surface of the base portion of the U-shape.

7. A drawer according to claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.