GB2347843A

GB2347843A - Integrally moulded drawer and shelf supports

Info

Publication number: GB2347843A
Application number: GB9905952A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian J Rix
Original assignee: DEANESTOR Ltd
Current assignee: DEANESTOR Ltd
Priority date: 1999-03-16
Filing date: 1999-03-16
Publication date: 2000-09-20
Also published as: GB9905952D0

Abstract

Support for a sliding drawer or shelf 2 is provided by runners 3,4,5 each formed as a series of half-moon shaped supports 6 integrally moulded with a panel 1. Complementary runners to prevent shelf or drawer tipping may be integrally moulded above the main runners, each comprising a series of similar supports 7 which may alternate (as shown) or be aligned with the supports 6. The panel can be part of a vacuum formed or moulded housing comprising a base and two side panels as described.

Description

SHELF RUNNERS The invention relates to panels having integrally pre-formed runners for slidably supporting a shelf or drawer, particularly but not exclusively, to panels in which the runners are moulded or vacuum formed integrally with the panel.

Shelves and drawers may be slidably supported on panels which form the side walls of a housing, such as, for example, a cabinet or other furniture item, in which the shelf or drawer can be moved in and out. The shelf or drawer is supported on a runner, such runners being formed as cut-out recesses in the panels, by attachment of separate runners or by moulding or vacuum-forming the runner in a panel made of deformable material such as plastics material.

Runners that are formed by moulding or vacuum forming are usually in the form of a recess into which part of the drawer or shelf fits and slides in and out or may alternatively be in the form of a ridge on which the drawer or shelf rests.

These integrally formed runners have a number of problems, both in manufacture and in use. They usually include 90 angles at positions where corners are formed between the runner and the panel. This can cause particular problems wlth vacuum forming of panels as the sharp angles are difficult to form and can cause stresses in the materials. It is also difficult, particularly with vacuum forming, to form a small ridge in a panel of plastics material, which may lead to runners being bigger than is actually needed to support the drawer or shelf.

A further problem arises with drawer and shelf units which are designed for certain uses, such as in medical, dental or scientific environments, in which the units have to be kept very clean or where the use of such a unit is changed and the user has to be certain that there is no residual contamination in the unit from any previous use. With known drawer and shelf runners, it is extremely difficult to ensure that the panels are perfectly clean and that there is no contamination remaining around the runners.

It is an object of the invention to provide a panel for slidably supporting a shelf or a drawer that is easy to manufacture and that is easy to clean.

The invention provides a panel for slidably supporting at least one drawer or shelf, the panel comprising at least one runner integrally formed with the panel, wherein the runner comprises a plurality of separate support members integrally formed with the panel and alternating with recessed portions, the support members being arranged such that the drawer or shelf is supported on the support members and can slide in and out along the support members.

Advantageously the panel further comprises a complementary retaining runner positioned above the supporting runner, the complementary runner comprising a plurality of retaining members and recessed portions.

Advantageously the support members of the support runner are arranged to correspond to recessed portions of the complementary retaining runner and the retaining members of the complementary retaining runner are arranged to correspond to recessed portions of the support runner.

The support members and retaining members may be arranged vertically in line with one another with respect to the vertical orientation of the panel or may be arranged alternately with recessed portions in the vertical direction. If the members are arranged to alternate with recessed portions, the support members and retaining members may be arranged such that a first end of a first support member is adjacent a second end of a first retaining member and the second end of the first support member is adjacent a first end of a second retaining member. Alternatively the support members and retaining members may be arranged such that their positions overlap. Preferably, however, they are arranged such that the support members and retaining members are smaller than the width of the recessed portions.

Preferably the panel is formed of plastics material and the runners are moulded or vacuum formed in the panel.

The support members and retaining members of the runners may advantageously comprise pimples or domes, blocks or ovals. In a preferred embodiment they comprise half moon shapes. Preferably the half moon members have a steep side on which the shelf or drawer is supported and a gentle slope on the non-supporting sides. This reduces all sharp angles in the support and retaining member formation and is particularly advantageous for vacuum forming.

Advantageously, particularly for a panel for supporting a shelf, the support member at the position forming the front of the panel in use is formed with a small ridge on the forward end of the face of the support member on which the shelf rests, such that when the shelf is fully inserted into position with respect to the panel, the shelf fits behind the ridge and is held in place with respect to the panel.

Advantageously a pair of identical panels is provided to support a shelf or drawer but it is also possible for a panel according to one embodiment of the invention to be used with a panel according to another embodiment of the invention or with a different panel in certain situations.

The invention further provides a vacuum formed or moulded housing for supporting a shelf or a drawer, the housing comprising a base and two side panels and the side panels each comprising at least one runner integrally formed with the panel, wherein the runner comprises a plurality of separate support members integrally formed with the panel and alternating with recessed portions, the support members being arranged such that the drawer or shelf is supported on support members and can slide in and out along the support members.

Advantageously the side panels further comprise a complementary retaining runner positioned above the supporting runner, the complementary runner comprising a plurality of retaining members and recessed portions.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings, of which: Figure 1 shows a plan view of a side panel in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure la shows an enlarged view of a support member on the side panel of Figure 1; Figure 2 shows a cross section along the line A-A of Figure la; and Figure 3 shows a cross section along the line B-B of Figure la.

As shown in Figure 1, a side panel 1 for supporting a shelf or a drawer 2 has shelf runners 3,4,5 integrally formed therewith. The runners 3,4,5 comprise a plurality of half moon shaped support members 6 on which the shelf 2 rests and on which it can slide.

Retaining members 7 are positioned in alternating arrangement with the support members 6 to prevent the shelf 2 from tipping.

The panel 1 is formed of plastics material and the support members 6 and retaining members 7 are vacuum formed in the panel in alternating arrangement with recesses 8 where the panel 1 is not deformed. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the recessed portions 8 between horizontally adjacent pairs of supporting members 6 or pairs of retaining members 7 are wider than the width of each supporting or retaining member 6,7.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, which show the support or retention member 6,7 in cross section, the members 6,7 have a very smooth profile, with no sharp angles. This shape can be vacuum formed much more easily than the conventional elongate runner and has the particular advantage of being very easy to clean. As can be seen from Figures 2 and 3, the panel is formed with a corresponding hollow 9 on the reverse of the panel 1. This arrangement is also advantageous for moulded panels as it reduces the amount of material used in manufacturing the panels.

The arrangement of the support and retaining members 6,7 being set within the width of the vertically adjacent correspond recess also improves the cleanability of the panel as it further reduces the areas in which dirt can be trapped.

It is very important for units in certain environments, such as medical, dental or scientific environments, to be able to be cleaned very thoroughly and the runners of the present invention overcome the problems of known runners which may trap dirt in sharp corners or around the runner. By having separated support members, and retaining members, on the panel, it is far easier for the panel to be cleaned effectively and the shape of the support members, and retaining members, also serves to enhance the cleaning effectiveness for a user.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A panel for slidably supporting at least one drawer or shelf, the panel comprising at least one runner integrally formed with the panel, wherein the runner comprises a plurality of separate support members integrally formed with the panel and alternating with recessed portions, the support members being arranged such that the drawer or shelf is supported on the support members and can slide in and out along the support members.
2. A panel according to claim 1 wherein the panel further comprises a complementary retaining runner positioned above the supporting runner, the complementary runner comprising a plurality of retaining members and recessed portions.
3. A panel according to claim 2 wherein the support members and retaining members are arranged vertically in line with one another with respect to the vertical orientation of the panel.
4. A panel according to claim 2 wherein the support members of the support runner are arranged to correspond to recessed portions of the complementary retaining runner and the retaining members of the complementary retaining runner are arranged to correspond to recessed portions of the support runner.
5. A panel according to claim 4 wherein the support members and retaining members are arranged such that a first end of a first support member is adjacent a second end of a first retaining member and the second end of the first support member is adjacent a first end of a second retaining member.
6. A panel according to claim 4 wherein the support members and retaining members are arranged such that their positions overlap.
7. A panel according to claim 4 wherein the widths of the support members and retaining members are less than the width of the recessed portions.
8. A panel according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the panel is formed of plastics material and the runners are moulded or vacuum formed in the panel.
9. A panel according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the support members comprise half moon shapes.
10. A panel according to claim 9 when dependent on claim 2 wherein the retaining members comprise half moon shapes.
11. A panel according to claim 9 or claim 10 wherein the half moon shaped members have a steep side on which the shelf or drawer is supported and a gentle slope on the non-supporting sides.
12. A panel for supporting a shelf according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the support member at the position forming the front of the panel in use is formed with a small ridge on the forward end of the face of the support member on which the shelf rests, such that when the shelf is fully inserted into position with respect to the panel, the shelf fits behind the ridge and is held in place with respect to the panel.
13. A furniture unit comprising a pair of panels in accordance with any one of the preceding claims.
14. A vacuum formed or moulded housing for supporting a shelf or a drawer, the housing comprising a base and two side panels and the side panels each comprising at least one runner integrally formed with the panel, wherein the runner comprises a plurality of separate support members integrally formed with the panel and alternating with recessed portions, the support members being arranged such that the drawer or shelf is supported on support members and can slide in and out along the support members.
15. A housing according to claim 14 wherein the side panels further comprise a complementary retaining runner positioned above the supporting runner, the complementary runner comprising a plurality of retaining members and recessed portions.
16. A panel as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.