US1758550A - Supporting means for drawers for articles of furniture - Google Patents

Description

May I3, 1930. c. F. WOLTERS 1,758,550

SUPPORTING MEANS FOR DRAWERS FOR ARTICLES OF FURNITURE I FiledDec. 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 'l May 13, 1930. c. F. WOLTERS 1,758,550

SUPPORTING MEANS FOR DRAWERS FOR ARTICLES OF FURNITURE Filed Dec. 1925 4 Sheets-She et 2 3 [/V VENTOR.-

I BY

A TTORNE yx.

y 1930- c. F. WOLTERS 1,758,550

SUPPORTING MEAN FOR DRAWERS FOR ARTICLES OF FURNITURE Filed Dec. 192s 4 Sheets-Sheet s 'HHHHIIIHIII'I o E (y n i v WHWIHIH HH HH 23 9 f 7% INVENTOR.

ZWZMW I ATTORNEYJ.

May 13, 1930. c. F. WOLTERS SUPPORTING MEANS FOR DRAWERS FOR ARTICLES FURNITURE Filed Decv 5, 1925 4 SheetsSheet Hana -'1".

INVAEVNTOR ulihwau ATTORNEY Patented May 13, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE i CARL R'WQLTERS, F MARIETTA, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO REM- INGTON RAND INC., 0! NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE sheet steel bent into forms to make the combi- SUPPORTING MEANS FOR DRAWERS FQR ARTICLES OF FURNITURE Application filed December 5, 1925. Serial No. 73,325.

This invention relates to what are generally classified as drawer suspension means employed in suspending a drawer in a cabinet or other article of furniture in such a way that, even though heavily loaded, the drawer may move freely and easily on suitable bearings, and so adjusted that the drawer may be fully withdrawn from its housing to permit free access to the contents of the drawer. The invention particularly relates to that class of drawer suspension means wherein supporting elements are secured to the side walls of the container, and corresponding supporting means are secured to the side walls of the drawer, and interposed between the supporting means is a floating element or member so relatedjto the other elements as to cause a differential movement between the elements, by reason of which one movable element moves at twice the speed of the other movable element.

As previously stated, devices of this nature are well known in the art, but, so far as applicant is informed, in all such devices recourse has been had to frictional engagement between the elements composing the structure in order to obtain the necessary traction between such elements so as to cause one to drive the other as the drawer is withdrawn from its casing or returned thereto.

These structures are uniformly made of nation of parts 'coacting, as heretofore stated. One of the difliculties involved by reason of such construction is the fact that the sheet metal varies in thickness, and in the bending and constructing of the various parts, it is not possible to so form them as to make perfect.

registry or alignment between the various ele inoperative and fails to function in the way intended. umerous compensating devices have been applied, but without an entirely satisfactory result.

One of the objects of this invention is to eliminate the use of frictional contacts for the purpose of establishing tractional engage- -ments.- This is accomplished by interposing between the movable elements positive driving means, consisting in this particular instance of a stationary rack, a pinion mounted on a movable element to engage such stationary rack, and a rack mountedon a movable element also adapted to engage such pinion, so that, when the parts arebrought into cooperative relation and moved in the manner familiar in such devices, as above indicated,

instead of being dependent on any frictional engagement, they will be positively driven by reason of the interposition of a pinion between two racks. Any irregularities in the thickness of the metal, or any imperfection in the alignment due to manufacture under the conditions above recited, will be compensated for by reason of the size and arrangement of the pinion and its cooperative relation to the two racks. Consequently, in this construction, it is possible to mount the various elements between definitely associated friction bearings mounted in predetermined planes having a parallel relation, and yet compensate for the fact that the apparatus may not with-precision move in said parallel planes because of the irregularity of the metal or imperfection of workmanship, yet such irregularity or imperfection will be compensated for by the length of the teeth of the pinion operating in conjunction with the said racks between which it isinterposed. I

My invention, therefore, consists of certain simple, strong and durable parts and combinations thereof, all, as will be hereinafterde scribed and claimed.

In order that, my invention may be clearly understood, I have provided drawings wherein p Figure 1 is a view in sectional elevation of a portion of a casing showing a sliding drawer and the supporting and driving means combined therewith, the parts being in closed position; a

v elevation, the view being enlarged, and a secmember 3 rigidly. secured to the casing 1, theisupporting, carrying or floating mem-g on .the casing member 3, and which is ,5, the latter being rlgidlfi Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showin t e the supporting; or floating member of my mechanism;

Figure 6 is of the three parts of my mechanism in side tion only of the parts being shown; 7 Figure 7 is a view, similar to Figure 6, of anothero form of my invention, the view being broken in two at several points due to the limitations of the sheet, and the parts being shown 'in partially extended relation; Figure 8 is aview similar to Figure 7, the view being-unbroken and shown in closed relation;

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view substantially on the line 9.9 of Figure 7; and Flgure 10 is a sectional view on the line 1010"of Figure 7, the section extending onl part way down. 'gure 11 is a disassembled perspective view of the structure disclosed Figure 4.

Referring to the drawings, Figures 1 and,

,2,- the numeral 1 indicates the casing, or cab-' inet, or piece of furniture ill a merely con ventional manner, in order to'show or'sug- I an application of m invention, and 2 indicates the sliding mel'n er, or a container or drawer adapted to slide within the casing upon my supporting and mechamsm, the latter consisting of the casing ber 4, which slides within and is sup orted ven by and, in turn, supports the drawer member secured to the side ,6'of-the drawer. It w be understood that I the three principal parts 3, 4: and 5 of my mechanism; are provided on opposite sides of the land drawer 2, so that the de- .scription herein given of one set of (parts applies equally. to the other set, an "similar reference charactersare'used in both sets.

The details of construction of my supporting and driving mechanism are shown in Figures 3 to 6, inclusive. v v

In Figure 4, the fng-member 3 is shown to consist ofvthe main web or body portion having an overturned and rebent flange 7,

the depending edge of which is part1 plain,

as indicated at 8, and. partly-forme mto a 7 rack-bar 9, the latter occupying about -'one-. 1 half the length of the flan e and extendfrom the outer end inwar to about the middle ofthe member. portion of the member 3 is bent laterallg to provide a wide'track or support 10, an at The ower or basewhich are similarly its inner edge: is upturned to provide a re-' taining flange 11. Near its inner end, the

base portion 10 of themember 3 is provided in the casing at the bottom of the receptacle. a view showing the'interaction j The carrying or floating member 4 is com at 14, to provide a casing within which a plate 15 is fixed, the plate and the portion 14' cooperating to strengthen and reinforce posed of the web or bod portion, the upper portion of which is re ent upon itself, as

the member 4, and the plate being provided with a laterally extending flange 16 adapted to cooperate with the member 5, as presently described. The floating member, at itsextreme inner end,is provided with a balladapted to operateadjacent the flange 8 of the casing member- 3, and to have traction on the overhanging portion 7 thereof. The

floating member 4 substantially midway its lenh, and near its upper edge, is provided wit a driving pinion 18, journaled at 19 ina cut-out 20 of the reinforced portion of,

said member, the pinion meshing with the rack-bar 9 of the casin -member, and also with a rack-bar carried y the drawer mem ber, as resently described, The lower edge of the eating member 4 is provided with a laterally extended support 21 terminating'in an upturned Hang 22 extending the lehl'gth of'the member. ear opposite ends an .in the middle of the support 21, apertures are provided through which operate the periphv series of anti-frictional rolls 23'journaled in theflange 22 and in the web ortion of member 4; The periphery of r0 5 23 is of two different diameters, the larger diameter 24 having traction .on the surface 5' .of the drawer member 5, as presently. described,

and the [smaller diameter 25 is only an enlargement of the spindle or shaft of the roller 23 and has no contact with the surface 21 of the member i 4. The larger diameter 2410f the rollextends through the apertures in the supporting portion 21 and contacts with the support 10 of the casin member 3, making tractional engagement-t erewith; Thus, the

rolls 17,- and 23-operate against the top and bottom portions, respectively, of'the casing member 3, while the pinion'18 meshes with the rack 9, the two members being thus ade gpately supported, the one by the other, anti ictionally. The pinion 18 also bears a drivingrelation to the casing member 3.

body' portion. or. web

- The drawer member 5 is composed ofthe the opposite edges of v flanged right-angularly,

- portion 21,

as indicated at 26. A portion of the edge of the upper flange 26 is formed into a rackbar 27 which meshes with the pinion 18 for the purpose of driving the latter, and the horizontal portion of the said upper flange rests and practically rides ll])()ll' the flange- 16 of lloating member 4; while the edge of the lower flange reaches below and behind the larger diameter portion 24 of the rolls 23, thus letting the horizontal portion of the lower flange down so as to ride on said portion 24 of the roll. Thus, the member 5 is retained behind the rolls 23, rides upon the rolls 23, rides upon the flange 16 of the member 4, and drives, by medium of its rack-bar 27, the pinion 18, which in turn meshes in the stationary rack-bar 9, thus causing the member 4 to travel relatively to the casing member 3 and the drawer member 5, and at only onehalf the speed of the latter. Since the member 5 is rigidly secured to'thc drawer 2, and the latter is manipulated by the operator, the pinion is positively driven, whenever'the drawer is shifted, causing the floating or intermediate member 4 to be positively driven, thus'overcoming any tendency of the latter to bind or be retarded in its movements. The member 5, at its extreme inner end, carries, on its inner side, within its longitudinal groove formed between the flanges 26, an antifrictional ball-bearing roll 28 arranged so as to have traction on the bottom of the flange 16, of the floatingmember 4, thus preventing the member 5, at its extreme inner end, from unduly rising, or moving transversely to the length of the member 5, and also preventing the teeth of the rack-bar from jamming into the teeth of the pinion. At a point near the middle roll 23,'the horizontal portion 21 of the member 4, carries a pivotally mounted latch 29, the forward free end of which passes through an aperture 30 in said horizontal the said latch operating automatically to check the travel of the floating member 4 by dropping into the aperture 12 in the horizontal portion 10 of the casing member 3. This operation results from gravity' and prevents the member4 from being shifted too far relatively to the member 3 and, being held in its extreme outer. position, member 4 operates as a rigid support for the drawer in its extreme outward position. Approximately midway between its ends, see Figure 5, the member 5 carries a locking latch pivotally mounted at 31, and having a handle portion 32 and a weighted portioi 33. At the upper edge of the handle portion, a catch lug 34 is provided, adapted to operate in a slot 35, of flange 16, the forward'end wall of which is engaged by the catch lug 34. Normally, the catch lug travels in contact with the under side of the flange 16 of the member 4, the weight 33 maintaining the contact, so that, when the parts reach the position shown in Figure 5, the member 5 is held from further movement, by the lug 34 automatically rising into the slot 35.

This occurs in the extreme; outer position of the member 5, and of the drawer carrying the latter. However, the drawer may be lifted from its carrying member or support 4 by presing upon the handle member 32, so as to depress the lug 34 from the slot 35.

One of the important features of my invention upon which I desire to lay stress is the provision of a positive driving means between the drawer member 5, and the floating member 4, by which the floating member may i be proportionally and positively shifted during the shifting of the drawer member,-this mechanism embodying a stationary rack-bar, a. shifting rack-bar, and an intermediate, shifting pinion, which, during its shifting movements, is caused to rotate upon its axis and thus actuate or shift the floating member to which it is journaled. Another feature, upon which I desire to lay stress, is the arrangement of the pinion on a shifting member between a stationary rack-bar and a shift ing rack-bar, the pinion being of such diameter as to compensate for variations in the form or the surfaces of'the several relatively movable members and which variations may result from inequalities in the parts, poor workmanship, inherent characteristics of the metal or of the members due to the mode of.

the teeth of the pinion and the teeth of the that there may be considerable play between 1 opposite and cooperating rack-bars, the foregoing compensation is provided for. As an illustration of what is meant by the foregoing, I have shown a pinion, in dotted lines in Figure 6, in a position slightly raised as compared with the pinion shown in full lines. This changed relation of pinion 18 may be brought aboutby reason of unevenness or inequalities in the supporting portion 10 of the casing member 3, which will cause the-floating member to rise relatively to the casing member when the rollers 23 ride over the inequalities. Thus, by allowing play between the pinion and the rack-bars, such inequali ties can be compensated I for without loss of driving engagement or power and without jamming or: binding or retarding the respective members. Such compensation will also result should the horizontal portion of the lower flange 26 of the member 5 develop inequalities resulting in unduly shifting vertically the member 5 with a tendency to more intimately mesh its rack with the pinion. Another important feature of my invention, upon which I desire to lay stress, is the arrangementof anti-frictional rolls on the several members, together with the pinion and rack-bars which bring about the uniform travel of 'theparts relatively;- that is to say,

' dation in the movement of the parts, holds the drawer is universally carried in a horizontal position, and has not at any time a tilting action relatively to the floating member 4, or the casing member 3. This prevents any tendency to binding, jamming or retarthe drawer always in a horizontal position and avoids the necessity for anything other than a perfectly straight pushing or pulling action upon the drawer in a line parallel'with the longitudinal walls of the several members of the su porting mechanism.

In thev orm of my invention shown in Figures 7 to 11,1 have shown anothermeans for positively driving the floating member relatively to the drawer member and casin memshallow; bracket. '36 rigidl her, and at one-half the speed of the grmer. In these figures, parts similar to those shown in Figures 1 to 6 are indicated by like reference characters.

. In this form of my invention, I have shown the intermediate member 4 provided with a between which and the eating member a pulley 37 is journaled. The circumference of this pulley is provided with. two parallel grooves :38, in which travel, 1 respectively, ' wires 39 and 40. The wire 39, at its end 41", is removablyganchored in the top surface of theextreme lnner end-of the drawer memher 5, and, after passing approximately halfway around the pulley37, in its outer groove 38, is removably anchored at its end 42 in the top flange of the casing member 3. The other w1re'40' has one end 43' anchored in the topflange of the casing member 3 at its forward end, and, 'afterpassing approximately half-- way around the pulley 37, in the inner groove 38, is anchored at its end 44 approximately midway of the drawer member in the top surface thereofi In other respects, the features of. construction of the severalmerhberain the form of my invention in Figures 7 to 1 0, are. substantially the. same as in'the construction of Figures. 1"

tot. The operation of-"the secondform of my invention is the same as that of the first,

" and such operation be understood uponreference to Figures 7 and 8, in which latter figure the arts are shown closed relation,-

- while in igure-7 they areishown'ih partly extended relation, the difference ,in s ed of travel andin' x Jthe oatingmember 4 relatively to the draw: er and drawer member. In Figure 91):: have shown how the drawer member 5 ma horizolnotglly extended for the purpose 0 forming 'gidity, and may also-be flanged, as at 45, and

rebent uplon itself to provide means for 'attachin t edrawer thereto. Thus, provision is e fordetachably securing the drawer to .the member 5, and the latter p'rovldes a secured thereto,

reasons of economy. However,

tom tractionmember of considerable ri-" the drawer,

wearing of the drawer.

In all instances, my invention contemplates the employment of automatic stop devices, such as shown-in Figures 4 and 5, to prevent the floating member and the drawer from being shifted too far during ordinary opera tions. Therefore, while'such stop devices are notshown'in Figures 7 -to 10, it is to be understoodthat their use is-contemplated and that they are a part of such structure.

The mode of operation of the structures described is as follows: When the drawer is shifted, the rack-bar 27 on the member 5 will rotate the pinion 18 and its reaction on the rack-bar of the casing member will cause the floating member to be shifted with and in the and traction member for the bottom same direction as the-drawer, but at only half the speed. and half the distance of the latter. When the floating member is at its outer extreme, the rolls 17 and 23 prevent it from tilting, and, when the drawer and member -5 are at the outer extreme, the pinion 18 and rolls 17 and 23, prevent them from tilting. At its outer extreme, the floating member is c hecked and held by the latch 29; and, at its outer extreme, the drawer is checked and held by the catch 34. The interaction of the various-rolls and rack-bars and pinion hold the members 4 and 5 and the drawer from tilting at all times.

In the form of my invention of Figures 7 to 10, the drawer member is the drivin element for. the floating member, which is shi ed relatively tothe-casin and its fixed member at half the speed an half the distance of the drawer and its, fixed member. Pulley 37 tot e movement of the latter. The and pulle s, though subject to-slippa'ge, for various o vious reasons, are approximatel tive in their action. and may be'desira 1e for rack-barand pinion'structure because of its literally positlve action, its certainty of control, facility'in assemblin flexibility in operation and simplicity 0 both structures, however,

shift of. the floa members affording a shifting support fort efdrawer, -coupled with the cessation of travel of the floa member In operation, when to e bodily s 'fted in the direction of 7 support afiorded'the drawer proportionally pos1- s I prefer the construction. In t the proportional.

simultaneously with the cessation o travel of and the automatic interruption of movement of the floating member and drawer at the respective terminals of'travel measeo the floating member; for, upon such features of construction depend the function of preventing the drawer and floating member from i having any tilting action during operation and at the respective terminals of travel.

Claims: 1. A drawer support, having in combinas tion, a casing member, a carrying member entirely supported by said casing member, a drawer member entirely supported by said carrying member, and means between the casing. and carrying members engaging. the

casing member,

a tween the casing and cam-yin Zoo :65 and supported bythe cas ng mem drawer member adapted to compensate for variations in said members, including rolls connected to said carrying member and engaging one side of the drawer member and and a pinion journalled on said carrying member engaged between the drawer member and caslng member, said pinion having means thereon cooperating with said casing and: drawerjmembers for positively driving the carrying member in the movement of the drawer member.

2. A drawer support, having in combination, a casing member, a carrying member entirely supported by said casing member, adrawer member entirely supported by said carrying member, and means between the casing and carrying members engaging the drawer member adapted to compensatefor variations in said members, including anti-friction means between one side of said drawer member and the carrying and casing members, and -means between the. drawer member and the carrying and easing members having positive driving cooperation with each for positively operating the carrying member in the operation of the drawer member. a v r 3. A drawer support, having in combination, a casing member, a' carrying member within the casing member, a drawermember within the carrying member, and means begaging the drawer member a apted'to co mpensate for variations in said'members, 1ncluding bearing means engaging one edge :of the drawer member and said casing mem-- ber, and a pinion rotatably mounted on the carrying member meshin between teeth on the opposite side of the rawer member and said casing member for ber in t 4. A drawer support, having tion, a casing member, a carryin member in r, adrawmembers en'-' in combinaer'v member in said carrying member, and meansbetween the casing and carrying members engaging the drawer member adapted to compensate, for variations in said members, including a series of rolls mountedon one side of the carrying member at spaced longitudinal intervals and engaging between the drawer member and the casing member, and a toothed pinion rotatably mounted on the carrying member, and having the teeth engaged in opposed rack-teeth on the drawer andcasmg members, said teeth having playtherebetween to permit relative lateral movement of the drawer and carrying members on the casing member. a 1

Signed by me at Marietta, Ohio, this l day ofDecember, 1925. n J v CARL F. W OLTERS.

having teeth loosely interi ositivel driving said carrying memhe movement of said drawer member.

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