GB2224637A - Drawer assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A drawer assembly comprises drawer side and back panels of the same cross-sectional shape formed by cutting appropriate lengths from a common extruded profile, corner connectors 7 interconnecting the back and side panels at right angles to one another and a drawer base supported by engagement of its edge regions in recesses formed in the inner faces of the back and side wall panels. The back panel is shorter in length than the distance between the two side panels and each of the corner connectors 7 includes an extension portion comprising spigots 11A, 11B, 11C extending along the back of the drawer to meet the adjacent end of the back panel. Openings or recesses 14 are defined by the extension portions beneath the level of the drawer base to permit sliding movement of the drawer relative to a runner mounted beneath the base in a position parallel to the adjacent side wall and in alignment with the opening or recess. <IMAGE>

Description

Drawers This invention relates to drawers and especially to drawers of so called knoc'k-own construction assembled from a plurality of parts supplied in flat pack form for ease of transport and storage and adapted for interconnection to form the assembled drawer.

The invention provides a drawer assembly comprising drawer side and back panels of the same crosssectional shape formed by cutting appropriate lengths from a common extruded profile, corner connectors interconnecting the back and side panels at right angles to one another and a drawer base supported by enagagement of its edge regions in recesses formed in the inner faces of the back and side wall panels, the back panel being shorter in length than the distance betweer t he two side panels, and each of the corner connectors including an extension portior, extending alonc t n e b a c of the drawer to meet the adjacent end of the back panel, said extension portion defining an opening or recess beneath the level of said drawer base to permit sliding movement of the drawer relative to a runner mounted beneath said base in a position parallel to the adjacent side wall and in alignment with said opening or recess.

Preferably each corner connector includes a portion which extends at right angles to said extension portion and may be of equal length to the extension portion or may be shorter than such portion. The proxi- sion of portions or arms of different length is preferred since this provides a ready means of distinguishing which arm of the connector is the back arm and which the side arm, thereby facilitating drawer assembly.

Preferably each of said portions or arms is provided with a plurality of projecting spigots arranged and dimensioned to extend into cavities in the ends of the wall panels to connect the wall panels together by way of said corner connectors. Advantageously said spigot portions are provided with projecting detents engageable in apertures provided adjacent the ends of the associated wall panels.

Preferably said runner is provided I de d with rO r In q means arranged to extend outwardly beneath the adjacent side wall of the drawer and adapted for connection to a cabinet or the like in which the drawer is mounted in use.

The outer surfaces of said wall panels are preferably of essentially flat planar form without projections or recesses, thereby imparting an attractive external appearance to the assembled drawer.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an assembled drawer construction according to the invention; Figs. 2 and 3 are perspective views from above and below of a corner connector shown separated from the drawer; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross-section on the line IV-IV in Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is a fragmentary rear elevation in the direction of the arrow V in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the drawer comFr.seC side wall panels 5A,5B and a rear wall panel 6 jrter- connected at right angles to one another b) corer pieces 7 and provided with inwardly directed recesses towards their lower ends accommodating the peripheral edges of a base or floor 8. A drawer front or facia 9 is fitted to the forward ends of the side panels 5A,5B by means of facia connectors to form the assembled drawer.

As best seen in Fig. 4 the wall panels 5A*5B and 6 are formed from plastics material b extrusion and are of identical construction comprising upper, intermediate and lower hollow portions 10A, 10B and 10C, the lower portion 10C of which incorporates an inwardly directed recess 11 adapted to accommodate the peripheral edge portion 8A of the drawer base 8. The panels are interconnected by means of projecting spigots 11A, 11B and 11C formed on the corner pieces 7 (Figs. 2 and 3) and engageable in the hollow portions 10A, 10B and lOG of the wall panels.The upper and lower spigots are each provided with an outwardly projecting detent 12 engageable in an aperture formed adjacent the edge of the associated wall panel to secure the panels and corner pieces in engagement with one another.

The facia panel 9 is attached to the forward ends of the side wall panels 5A and 5B by connecting pieces secured to the rear face of the panel 9 and proxicec with rearwardly directed spigots similar to those en the corner pieces 7 which engage in the forward ends of the side wall panels 5A and 5B and are retained b) detents in a similar manner to the corner pieces 7 to form the assembled drawer. The corner pieces 7 and the rear surface of the facia panel 9 are provided with recesses similar to the recesses 11 which receive the associated edge portions of the base 8.

The body portion of each corner connect or 7 comprises a short arm 7A adapted for connection to the associated side wall panel and a longer arm 7B adapted for connection to the rear wall panel 6. The latter is shorter than the distance between the side wall panels such that the arms 7B of the corner connectors form the remainder of the rear wall of the drawer. The arm 7B of each corner connector defines with the adjacent end of the back panel 6 , and opening or recess 14 at a level below the recess 11 which accommodates the drawer base 8, as best seen in Figs. 3 and 4.

A drawer runner 15 comprising relative) slidable runner components 15A and 15B is mounted beneath the drawer floor adjacent to each side wall of the drawer.

The runner component 1 5 A is secured by screws or similar fastening means (not shown) to the side wall 16 of a cabinet or the like in which the drawer is mounted i use. The runner component 1 5 B moLes with t drawer and e r a n d slides over the component 15A during open I rig arid closing movement of the drawer. The opening 14 provides clearance for the fixed runner component 15A as the rear wall of the drawer moves forward during opening movement. When the drawer is in its closed position the runner components 15A and 15B are located one upon the other beneath the drawer floor 8.

The illustrated construction pcsesses a number of substantial advantages. Since the back and sides of the drawer are formed from extruded wall panels, drawers of any practical length and width can be produced by cutting sections of the desired lengths from the same extruded component to form the back and side panels. By provision of the rear extension arms on the corner portions 7B and by location of the runners in alignment with these extended portions the openings or recesses 14 are provided without requiring any alteration to the rear wall panel of the drawer itself. Incorporation of the openings or recesses in the corner pieces is a simple process since the corner pieces are of moulded plastics construction.If the corner piece were nowt extended in this way, the rear wall panel itself would interfere with runner operation and a recess to accommodate the runner would require to be formed Ir the wall panel itself by a separate cutting operation. Not only would this involve additional production tif and cost but it would also weaken the drawer at a critical corner region.

Mounting of the runner assembly beneath the drawer is advantageous in that the load is carried directly on the runner. This results in an increased load carrying capacity compared with constructions in which the runners engage in recesses in the outer surfaces of the side walls. Moreover mounting of the runners beneath the drawer enables the outer surfaces of the side walls to be of unbroken planar construction thereby considerably enhancing the external appearance of the drawer.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example, drawers of a variety of different depths may be provided by employing wall panels and connectors of different height while still providing an opening or recess in the extended rear arm of each corner piece for accommodation of the runner assembly. Both arms of the corner piece may, if desired, be of the same length but arms of different length are preferred since this enables the rear and side arms to be readily distinguished, thereby facilitating drawer assembly. Thus the arrangerent enables the advantages of knock-down constructin tc b- secured in combination with increased load carrsin3 capacity and improved external drawer appearance.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims (9)

Claims:

1. A drawer assembly comprising drawer side and back panels of the same cross-sectional shape formed by cutting appropriate lengths from a common extruded profile, corner connectors interconnecting the back and side panels at right angles to one another and a drawer base supported by enagagement of its edge regions in recesses formed in the inner faces of the back and side wall panels, the back panel being shorter in length than the distance between the two side panels, and each of the corner connectors including an extension portion extending along the back of the drawer to meet the adjacent end of the back panel, said extension portion defining an opening or recess beneath the level of said drawer base to permit sliding movement of the drawer relative to a runner mounted beneath said base Iri a position parallel to the adjacent side wall and in alignment with said opening or recess.

2. A drawer assembly according to claim 1 wherein each corner connector includes a portion which extends at right angles to said extension portion and is of shorter length than said extension portion.

3. A drawer assembly according to claim 1 or 2 wherein each of said portions is provided with a plurality of projecting spigots arranged and dimensioned to extend into cavities in the ends of the wall panels to connect the wall panels together by way of said corner connectors.

4. A drawer assembly according to claim 3 wherein said spigot portions are provided with projecting detents engageable in apertures provided adjacent the ends of the associated wall panels.

5. A drawer assembly according to any preceding claim wherein said runner is provided with mounting means arranged to extend outwardly beneath the adjacent side wall of the drawer and adapted for connection to a cabinet or the like in which the drawer is mounted In use.

6. A drawer assembly according to any preceding claim wherein said runner comprises first and second relatively slidable parts respectively adapted for mounting on the underside of said drawer and on a cabinet or the like in which the drawer is mounted in use.

7. A drawer assembly according to any preceding claim in which the outer surfaces of said wall panels are of essentially flat planar form.

8. A drawer assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. An article of furniture incorporating at least one drawer assembly according to any preceding claim.