GB2196835A

GB2196835A - Means for fixing a guide rail to a drawer or like furniture

Info

Publication number: GB2196835A
Application number: GB08626431A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David William Lee
Original assignee: ELMBRIDGE PRODUCTION ENGINEERS
Current assignee: ELMBRIDGE PRODUCTION ENGINEERS
Priority date: 1986-11-05
Filing date: 1986-11-05
Publication date: 1988-05-11
Anticipated expiration: 2006-11-05
Also published as: GB8626431D0; GB2196835B

Abstract

For sliding a drawer or like furniture element (21) into and out of a furniture body or carcase (11), a guide rail (30) comprising a limb (33) provided with deformable fastening means (36) which, upon deformation, fasten the guide rail (30) in a groove (25) extending longitudinally of a side surface of the drawer or like furniture element (21). The deformable fastening means (36) comprises two fingers (36) spaced apart longitudinally of the rail (30), those fingers (36) having their root portions (39) directed in substantially opposite directions (either towards or away from one another) generally longitudinally of the rail (30), and terminating in free end portions (40) that, upon deformation of the fingers (36), extend outwardly of the rail (30) from the same one longitudinal edge (34) of the rail (30) to protect outwardly of the rail (30) and into the side wall (27) of the groove (25). The guide rail (30) provided with additional fastening means (45) in the form of one or more lugs (45) to fasten the rail (30) to the opposite longitudinal wall (26) of the groove (25). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Furniture fittings This invention relates to furniture fittings and in particular to fittings in the nature of guide rails for furniture elements (e.g. drawers or shelves) that are to slide into and out of a furniture body or carcase. The present invention is particularly concerned with a guide rail (hereinafter referred to as "of the said kind") comprising a limb provided with deformable fastening means which, upon deformation, fasten the guide rail in a groove extending longitudinally of a side surface of a furniture element, the fastening means being in use deformed such that part thereof projects outwardly of the rail and into a side wall of the groove.

In normal use, the furniture element is provided with one guide rail on each side, and the pair of guide rails rest on carrying rails formed on or attached to the body or carcase of the finished article of furniture.

According to one aspect of this invention a guide rail of the said kind has its deformable fastening means characterised by two fingers having their root portions directed in substantially opposite directions generally longitudinally of the rail and terminating in free end portions that, upon deformation of the fingers, extend outwardly of the rail from the same one longitudinal edge of the rail.

Because the two fingers (or at least their root portions) extend in substantially opposite directions generally longitudinally of the rail, the guide rail is fixed in position in the furniture element groove by corresponding oppositely directed turning movements to effect deformation of the two fingers, the free end portions being driven outwardly of the rail into the groove wall adjacent the limb's said one longitudinal edge thereby to engage firmly that groove wall. It is considered that, as a result of such opposite turning movements (of a quasi arcuate nature), the guide rail will be firmly engaged in the groove and will be well able to resist forces tending to disengage it, in whichever direction longitudinally of the rail such forces are applied.Such forces can arise, for example, by end stop engagement when the sliding furniture element is opened out too vigourously and/or when it is slammed shut.

Preferably said limb is -formed with cutouts (e.g. of generally L-shape) to define said fingers.

Preferably the two fingers are spaced apart longitudinally of the rail. The fingers may be directed generally towards one another or, alternatively, away from one another in the general longitudinal direction of the rail.

Preferably said cutouts provide each finger, in its undeformed state, with two side edges, the side edge adjacent the limb's said one longitudinal edge being shaped to define a recess.

Advantageously the recess extends a greater distance longitudinally of the limb than the opposite side edge of the finger.

According to another aspect of this invention there is provided a guide rail of the said kind wherein said fastening means comprises a finger deformable outwardly of the rail away from the limb's other longitudinal edge and such that the free end of the finger can engage in the groove wall adjacent the limb's said one longitudinal edge, and wherein the deformable finger, in its undeformed state, has its side edge adjacent the limb's said one longitudinal edge shaped to define a recess.

Preferably the recess or said side edge is of greater extent longitudinally of the limb than the other side edge of the finger.

Advantageously (according to either aspect of this invention) the guide rail is provided with additional fastening means to fasten the rail to the opposite longitudinal groove wall.

Conveniently, said additional fastening means comprises one or more lugs projecting outwardly of the rail away from the first-mentioned longitudinal edge of the said limb. Advantageously said one or more lugs are defined by cutouts formed in the guide rail in the region of said opposite longitudinal groove wall, e.g. in the arris between said one limb and another limb at right angles thereto. Preferably the or each of said lugs is located nearer to the root portion of a finger than to that finger's free end portion.

In use, the turning movement deforming the finger and driving its free end portion into said one groove wall will simultaneously tend to urge said one or more lugs into the opposite groove wall.

By way of non-limiting example, guide rails according to this invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a carrying rail 10 upon which is mounted a guide rail 30 according to this invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the carrying rail and guide rail 10,30 of Fig. 1 mounted on respectively a furniture carcase 11 and the right-hand side wall 21 of a furniture drawer 22; Figure 3 is a schematic elevational view of part of the guide rail 30 of Figs 1 and 2; and Figure 4 is a schematic elevational view of another guide rail according to this invention.

Referring to Figs 1-3, each side wall 21 of a drawer 22 is provided with a longitudinally extending groove 25 of U-section comprising upper and lower "side" walls 26,27 and a vertical "back" wall 28. An L-section guide rail 30 is fitted in each groove 25 and fixed in position with its horizontal limb 31 uppermost and its vertical limb 33 in surfacial abutment of the groove's vertical back wall 28. In use, the pair of guide rails 30 rest on carrying rails 10 attached to the body or carcase 11 of the finished article of furniture. Each carrying rail 10 is of L-section and is attached to the carcase 11 by screws 12 fastened through its vertical limb 13, the horizontal limb 14 being uppermost. A roller 15 with its axis horizontal is attached to the vertical limb 13 of each carrying rail 10.Each L-section guide rail 30 has its horizontal limb 31 provided at one end (to be located towards the rear of the drawer) with a grooved slide 32 of plastics material.

When the complete article of furniture is assembled, the horizontal limb 31 of the guide rail 30 rests on the roller 15 and the horizontal limb 14 of the carrying rail 10 fits into the groove of the slide 32. The vertical limb 33 of the guide rail 30 is bent outwardly to a concave form at its end remote from slide 32, this bent end forming an end stop for engagement of the roller 15.

The lower, free, edge 34 of the vertical limb 33 is apertured at two locations spaced longitudinally of the guide rail to provide two deformable fingers 36 constituting fastening means for the guide rail. The two deformable fingers 36 are directed generally longitudinally of the limb 33 in opposite directions (see Fig 3). Each aperture 37 forming or defining a deformable finger 36 is punched out or or cut from the vertical limb 33 and leads inwardly of the limb from the same edge 34 thereof.

Each cutout or aperture 37 has a generally longitudinal boundary portion 38 extending between first and second generally transverse boundary portions 41 and 42. The root portion 39 of each finger 36 extends from the first generally transverse boundary portion 41 in spaced relation to the generally longitudinal boundary portion 38. The free end portion 40 of each finger 36 is directed away from the other longitudinal edge 35 of the limb, i.e.

away from the horizontal limb 31 of the rail.

It will apparent from Fig 3 that the said cutouts 37 are arranged such that the two said second generally transverse boundary portions 42 are disposed between the two said first generally transverse boundary portions 41. Alternatively, the cutouts 37 may be arranged such that the two said first generally transverse boundary portions 41 are disposed between the two said second generally transverse boundary portions 42. In either case, the arrangement is such that deformation of the two fingers 36 urges their free ends 40 outwardly of the rail past said one longitudinal edge 34, and away from the other longitudinal edge 35, of the limb 33 in opposite rotational directions (i.e. having oppositely directed components longitudinally of the limb).

It will also be apparent from Fig 3 that the said cutouts, in addition to forming the free end portions of the fingers 36 as outwardly directed points or spikes, also provides the underside edge of each finger with a recess 43. The recess 43 of each finger is of greater extent longitudinally of the limb than the other side edge 44 of the finger.

To fasten the guide rail 30 to the opposite, upper, wall 26 of the drawer's longitudinal groove 25, the rail 30 is provided with additional fastening means comprising one or more lugs 45 projecting outwardly of the rail away from the opposite longitudinal edge 35 of limb 33. The said lugs 45 are defined by cutouts 46 formed in the rail in the horizontal limb 31 adjacent the arris between the horizontal and vertical limbs 31,33. Each of said lugs 45 is located nearer to the root portion 38 of a finger 36 than to that finger's free end portion 40, preferably (as shown) immediately above the first transverse boundary portion 41.

When, in use, the guide rail 30 is inserted into the groove 25 in the drawer side wall 21, and the appropriate tool, for example a screwdriver, is inserted into the slot between finger 36 and horizontal boundary portion 38 and is twisted in the appropriate direction, the finger 36 is deformed and thereby urged to press the finger's free end portion 40 projectingly into the lower face 27 of the groove 25. At the same time, the contra movement of the remainder of the guide rail (occasioned by the selfsame tool action) causes the lugs 45 to be simultaneously pressed into the upper face 26 of the drawer groove 25 thereby firmly locking the guide rail 30 in position in the groove 25 to provide a secure anchorage.

By locating each lug 45 substantially in line (transversely of the limb 33) with the first boundary portion 41, i.e. with the root portion of the finger 36, it is positioned substantially in line with the point of application of the tool's limb-deforming force directed transversely of the limb 33.

The guide rail illustrated is preferably of steel but may be of any other suitable material of suitable strength such as easily to penetrate-into the side of the groove 25 in a drawer of, for example, a chip board. The material of the drawer may however also be of steel or a plastic material with constant wall thickness in which case the groove 25 to receive the lugs 5 is formed of somewhat Tshaped cross-section with the limbs of the T adapted to receive the deformed projections 40 and the lugs 45.

The embodiment illustrated in Fig 4 is similar to that of Fig 3 in that the deformable fingers 136 have their root portions 139 extending somewhat inwardly as they approach their respective free end portions 140, and in that their free end portions are spaced from the second boundary portions 142. The fingers 136 differ somewhat from the fingers 36 in their shape or form and, although provided with recesses 143, these recesses 143 do not extend rearwardly past the upper rearward end of the root portion, i.e. rearwardly past the first boundary portion 141. Furthermore, each of the two longitudinal boundary portions 138 is provided with a convex projecting pip 147 to form a fulcrum for the tool's rotational movement. Such a fulcrum or pip may be provided in the guide rail of Figs 1-3.

It will be apparent that each illustrated embodiment of this invention provides a guide rail of the said kind comprising a limb having one longitudinal edge provided with two spaced apart cutouts each defining a deformable finger having a root portion and a free end portion that is directed away from the opposite longitudinal edge of the limb, wherein the two fingers have root portions extending (along the fingers towards their free end portions) in substantially opposite directions longitudinally of the limb such that deformation of the fingers to drive their free end portions outwardly of the rail is effected respectively by two general turning movements in opposite directions of the two free end portions about the two root portions.

It is considered that, as a result of such opposite turning movements (of a quasi arcuate nature), the guide rail will be firmly engaged in the groove and be well able to resist forces which might be applied in either direction longitudinally of the rail and tending to disengage it from the groove. Such forces can arise, for example, by end stop engagement when the sliding furniture element is opened out too vigourously and/or when it is slammed shut.

Claims

1. A guide rail for a furniture element that is to slide into and out of a furniture body or carcase, said guide rail comprising a limb provided with deformable fastening means which, upon deformation, fasten the guide rail in a groove extending longitudinally of a side surface of a furniture element, the fastening means being in use deformed such that part thereof projects outwardly of the rail and into a side wall of the groove, characterised in that said deformable fastening means comprises two fingers having their root portions directed in substantially opposite directions generally longitudinally of the rail and terminating in free end portions that, upon deformation of the fingers, extend outwardly of the rail from the same one longitudinal edge of the rail.

2. A guide rail according to Claim 1, wherein said limb is formed with cutouts to define said fingers.

3. A guide rail according to Claim 2, wherein said cutouts are of generally L-shape.

4. A guide rail according to any preceding Claim, wherein said two fingers are spaced apart longitudinally of the rail.

5. A guide rail according to any preceding Claim, wherein said two fingers are directed generally towards one another in the general longitudinal direction of the rail.

6. A guide rail according to any preceding Claim, wherein said two fingers are directed generally away from one another in the general longitudinal direction of the rail.

7. A guide rail according to any preceding Claim, wherein each finger, in its undeformed state, is provided with two side edges, the side edge adjacent the limb's said one longitudinal edge being shaped to define a recess.

8. A guide rail according to Claim 8, wherein the said recess extends a greater distance longitudinally of the limb than the opposite side edge of the finger.

9. A guide rail for a furniture element that is to slide into and out of a furniture body or carcase, said guide rail comprising a limb provided with deformable fastening means which, upon deformation, fastens the guide rail in a groove extending longitudinally of a side surface of a furniture element, the fastening means being in use deformed such that part thereof projects outwardly of the rail and into a side wall of the groove, characterised in that said fastening means comprises a finger deformable outwardly of the rail away from the limb's other longitudinal edge and such that the free end of the finger can engage in the groove wall adjacent the limb's said one longitudinal edge, and further characterised in that the deformable finger, in its undeformed state, has a recessed side edge adjacent the limb's said one longitudinal edge.

10. A guide rail according to Claim 9 wherein the said recessed side edge is of greater extent longitudinally of the limb than the other side edge of the finger.

11. A guide rail according to Claim 9 or Claim 10, wherein the recess of the said recessed side edge is of greater extent longitudinally of the limb than the other side edge of the finger.

12. A guide rail according to any preceding Claim, wherein the guide rail is provided with additional fastening means to fasten the rail to the opposite longitudinal groove wall.

13. A guide rail according to Claim 12, wherein said additional fastening means comprises one or more lugs projecting outwardly of the rail away from the first-mentioned longitudinal edge of the said limb.

14. A guide rail according to Claim 13, wherein the or each of said one or more lugs is defined by a cutout formed in the guide rail in the region of said opposite longitudinal groove wall.

15. A guide rail according to Claim 13, wherein the or each of said one or more lugs is defined by a cutout formed in the guide rail in the arris between said one limb and another limb at right angles thereto.

16. A guide rail according to any one of Claims 13 to 15, wherein the or each of said lugs is located nearer to the root portion of a finger than to that finger's free end portion.

17. A furniture element having opposite sides that are grooved and in each of which a guide rail according to any preceding claim is fastened.

18. An article of furniture comprising a furniture body or carcase into or out of which a furniture element according to Claim 17 is slidable by means of said guide rails.