US2668745A - Extension drawer support and guide structure - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 9, 1954 F. H. METCALF 2,668,745

EXTENSION DRAWER SUPPORT AND GUIDE STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 19, 1949 IIIIIIIIII 3 Sheets-Sheet l Zhwentor Gttbmegs Feb. 9, 1954 F. H. METCALF 2,668,745

EXTENSION DRAWER SUPPORT AND GUIDE STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 19, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 3nventor Gttomegs 1954 F. H. METCALF EXTENSION DRAWER SUPPORT AND GUIDE STRUCTURE F' iled Nov. 19, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Feb. 9, 1954 EXTENSION DRAWER SUPPORT AND GUIDE STRUCTURE Frank H. Metcalf, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application November 19, 1949, Serial No. 128,287

2 Claims. (Cl. 312-335) This invention relates to supporting and guiding structures or apparatus for drawers, trays, slides, frames, and the like which are extensible from and retractable within a cabinet or the like. Moreparticularly it has to do with structures or apparatus of the described type which are themselves extensible in part so as securely to support the drawer when the latter is fully extended as well as in all intermediate positions.

One object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the described type which will save space and costly framing in cabinets and other articles of furniture which are equipped with drawers, extensible shelves, and the like.

Another object is to provide simple and inexpensive extensible apparatus for drawers and the like, which apparatus is applicable to old as well as to new cabinets and other articles of furniture.

Another object is to fashion the apparatus from sheet material with a minimum of operations.

Still another object is to utilize as few parts as possible by making them interchangeable and adaptable to use in a plurality of positions.

Still another object is to make the apparatus in suchform that is easy to mount and, once mounted, is readily assembled and disassembled for insertion and removal of the drawers or other slidable elements to be supported thereby.

Still another object is to combine strong support for drawers or the like in any position along with, ease of operation and a minimum of wear and of noise during operation.

These and other objects will be apparent from the detailed description which follows:

In accordance with the present invention a drawer, sliding shelf or other equivalent device (herein referred to generically by the term drawer) is guided in its movement and supported in all positions by a pair of elongate angle slides, one at each side of the drawer. The slides are mounted for longitudinal sliding movement on fixed tracks attached to the cabinet, and the drawer is mounted slidably upon the slides. The tracks, like'the slides, are angular in cross section having continuous flat vertical and horizontal flanges. One flange on each track is bent over toward its other flange to form a channel within which the edge of one of the flanges of a slide will extend when the slide is properly mounted on the track. By preference the flanges of the slide are of equal width so that it can be mounted on the track with either flange extending into the channel. The track can be attached by either of its flanges to either vertical or horizontal supports within the cabinet; and drawer space is gained by providing supports within the cabinet extending in one direction only. The tracks are interchangeable for right or left side of the drawer. Stops preferably in the form of upturned lugs at the ends of the flanges of each slide are contacted by the end of the track and by stops on the drawer to determine the time and extent of the movement of the slides relative to the tracks. For flat bottomed drawers special guide and stop means are provided secured to the sides of such drawers.

In order to illustrate the invention and the manner of its use concrete embodiments thereof are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a cabinet showing two drawers one of which is in fully extended position;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of one of the track or rail elements shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view on the scale of Fig. 2 of one of the slides or support angles shown in Fig. 1;

Fig.4 is a perspective view of an assembled track and slide with a cut away and sectioned portion of a drawer thereon showing the parts as they approach the fully extended position of the drawer;

Fig. 5 is a broken away bottom plan view on an enlarged scale of one of the drawers shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section on the line 7-! of Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale and showing only a corner portion of the cabinet and one drawer;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 but showing the track attached to a horizontal portion of a cabinet rather than to a vertical portion as in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view through a cabinet as in Fig. l but showing a different mounting of the tracks;

, Fig. 10 is a fragmentary elevational and sectional view similar to Fig. 7 but on the line ill-l0 of Fig. 9; i

Fig. 11 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of track and slide assembled as in Figs. 9 and 10;

Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view on the line l2-|2 of Fig. 13 of a metal cabinet having flat bottomed drawers showing a modification of the invention, one of the drawers being shown in fully extended position, certain parts being broken away or otherwise sectional to show details of the construction;

Fig. 13 is a horizontal sectional View on the line 'Fig. 14 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view on an enlarged scale on the line |4 l4 of Fig. 13; and

Fig. 15 is a perspective view partly broken away of an assembled track and slide as shown in Figs.

7 12-14, but on a different scale a portion of the rear corner of a drawer being shown mounted on the slide. f A

A small wooden cabinet A is shown in Fig. 1 having two wooden drawers D. Each drawer has sides e, front and rear ends 7 and g, respectively, and an elevated bottom h. Each drawer rests slidably upon and is supported by a pair of slides it o e Slide at ac sidentihe drawn a h i e. 16 sf me o r i heetmat r a i s ch as sheet or strip steelgor other metal and, as shown in Fig. 3, is angular in cross section have ing continuous fiat vertical and horizontal flanges ifid and it?) at right angles to each other. Bear end portions of both flanges I 604 and 5b are bent inwardly within the angle of slide it to provide integralglugs I; and Iii, anda front end portion of the horizontal flangeitb is bent inwardly to pro- 1 videan integral lugifi, said lugs serving as stops for purposes describedhereinafter. Each of these lugs is notched or. partly cut away at its sides as indioatedat 26 (Figs. 3ancl e) to receive. and hold a resilientbuinper, such as a cylindrical piece of both stops IT and i8 onslides l8 and force the rubber indicated at l'ia and Na.

Each pair of slides 16 supporting a drawer D is received by and rests slidably upon a pair of fixed tracks or guide rails 21-, one of which is 7 shown. by itself in Fig. 2. Said tracks are also formed of rigid sheet material, such sheets or strips of steel or other metal. Like slides [-6, tracks 2 Lare angular in cross section having continuous fiat flanges Zia andllb at right angles to each other. Both flanges are perforatedas at 22 for the insertion of screws or other fastening means to secure the track in place within the cabinet. One flange such as 25a is rolled "or bent over along its outer edgeas at 2ic (Fig. 2) to pro-*- 4 half the length of the drawer. Slides it are considerably longer, preferably nearly the length of the drawer, as indicated, and are arranged to move with the drawer toward the end of its movement in either direction. When the drawer is fully extended as indicated by the lower drawer D in Fig. 1, slides l6 projectbeyond cabinet A to an extent apprcgrirnating one-third the length 6f the drawer; The vertical flange of each slide I 6 seated within the channel formed by bent over pdrtions 2lc of each track 2! provides a rigid support, for the slide to prevent tilting thereof under the weight of the drawer on the forward end of the slide, in all longitudinal positions of the drawer and slides. Also, the shoulder ii at the bottom of each groove 2' in the side walls of the drawer engages the lower edge of the bent over flange portion 210 of the track, to provide vide an elongate channel extending substantiallj I the full length of the track in which an edge of one of the 'fl-anges on slide H5 is received when the slide is mounted on its track as indicated Fig. 4. By preference, flanges its and [Eb of each slide it are oflie'd'u'al "width so that either may fit within the retaining channel formed by the bent over portion '2 lo of track 2 l inasmuch as tracks 21 areinterchangeable andeither may be used as the fixed sup'por'tfor either side of each drawer D.

Figs. 1 and 7 shows tracks 2| "for drawers Din place with flanges 21a vertically disposed and at tached to verticals a of cabinet A by screws 23. Although these figures show the slides l6 and tracks '2! at only one side of the drawers D,-i-t will be understood that similarly constructed slides and tracks are mounted in the same relationship but in'laterally 'reversed osition' at the other'side of the drawers. Since the bent over portion 21c fflange 21a projects toward each drawer D, sides 1 about $2 of mines froinithfe front {face of t'he banner and are 'Of "the order'b'f approximately a rigid support for the weight of the drawer and its contents against sagging and substantially prevents downward tilting of the drawer in all positions of longitudinal movement thereof. 7 Forward movement of slides i6 with drawer D is effected by check plates 25 (Figs, 4-, 5 and 6 countersunk in the lower face of sides e of each drawer D andsuitably attached thereto as by screws 26-. Each check plate 25 has an upwardly bent portion 25av extending beneath theelevated bottomh of the drawer and formed with a stop face 25b in position to engage rubber bumper 19a on stop I9 on each slide 6 when drawer D ap-.- proaches the end of it's forward movement. On its rearward movement's-id'es'e of the drawer con tact the rubber bumper, such as He, on either or latter back until they contact stop block af on cabinet A. Forward movement of slides i6 is limited by contact of'rubber buinper stops H with the rearward ends of bent overiporti'ons ZI-c of tracks 2|. 7

When drawer D is in its extreme outermost-1pcsitionv it can be renioved'froni cabinet -by tilt ing the outer end of the drawer upwardly until stops 251) on check plates '25 clear "stop 1 9 "on slides 16. Drawer D is then withdrawn from slides 16. :If desired slides I 6 can'then'berernoved from their track 2'! by tilting the slides side= ways sufliciently to bring thee'd'gesof their'flangs out of the channels formed by bentover I ortions 210 of tracks 21. Mounting of the sides 1'6 on their tracks 21 followed'by insertion bf the drawer is effected byreversing theabovesteps, but'the drawer can be mountedonslides -H arm; when both slides are in :fully'extended positidn on their tracks '21 with stops 1'! in contact with Elie rearward ends "of bentover flange portions Fig. 8 "illustrates a "Slight niodific'ation'pf the invention shown in Figs. -1'-'7 in that the tr cks 21 are attached to horizontal parts '1) on'eabmet A by screws 2t extending through holes i'n hor i zontal flanges 21b. Flanges even fineness till remain in vertical pos-ition as s. l, 4 'and 7 and the functiohingpf the p ts is identical.

"Figs. 9 and =10 show a sman'twb'urawr wooden cabinet in "all respects id'enti'ca1 with the Figs. 1 and 7 and with its ioa'rts indi ca I the same reference characters. Th'esafiie guide and supporting apparatus is also provided for drawers D but the mounting of tracks =2 l is-different in that flanges Z-Ibtherecf are-now verti Pfiil i 9$ 51 a ra cn 9 'fiq fk on c bin 1A br w-f e lis i a Wh 45 a assembled on the tracks it isthe edge of horizofital hangers bof the "slides and; extends within the channel formed by bent over portion 2| of each track 2|. The elevated bottom 71. of drawers D provides ample clearance space for bent over portions 2|c of tracks 2| and routing or grooving of the side walls e is not required. This horizontal arrangement of the retaining channel formed by bent over flange 2|c does not change the procedure for removing or remounting drawers D. Moreover since lug l8 (Fig. 11) now becomes the limiting stop to engage the inner edge of bent over flange 210 when slide It moves forwardly it is preferable to apply a rubber bumper |8a to it as illustrated. Horizontal mounting of tracks 2| as in Figs. 9-11 will support drawers D against downward tilting but not to the same extent nor with the same rigidity as when tracks 2| are vertically mounted as in Figs. 1-8. Hence while the horizontal mountingof tracks 2| eliminates the necessity of routing or grooving the sides of the drawers, its usefulness is largely confined to short drawers of light construction for light loads.

Engagement of the rear end of the drawer, when fully extended, with a higher drawer or with a frame member of the cabinet is desirable to prevent sagging in case the drawer should be heavily loaded. 7

Figs. 12-15 show the invention as applied to metal cabinets having drawers with flat bottoms. Cabinet H is of conventional appearance on its exterior and is provided with a plurality of banks of metal drawers M formed with flat sides 12, bottom 0 and rear wall p secured to a front q in any suitable manner, as by welding. On its interior cabinet H has vertical stiffening webs 1? attached to its sides and similar webs ,7 attached to the back, the latter serving as stop plates or blocks for the rearward movement of drawers M. Between the banks of drawers M are vertical strips k in parallel alignment with webs t and to these verticals t and 7c are secured tracks 2| of the present invention to fix the position of drawers M within cabinet H and to support the same.

For this type of heavy service flanges 2|a of tracks 2| are disposed in vertical position and suitably secured to verticals t and k as by welding. Since drawers such as M are conventionally narrower than their fronts q, as indicated in Fig. 13, there is ample clearance for tracks 2| with their bent over flanges 2|c and slides |6 for supporting and guiding each drawer M. Slides I6 are fitted into tracks 2| with flanges ||lb disposed vertically and extending into the channels provided by bent over flanges 2|c (Fig. 15). To the sides n of each drawer M at their lower rear corners are attached, as by welding, combined guide and stop members 30 which have several important functions. In the first place members 30 fill the spaces between the sides 11. of drawers M and the vertical flanges lBb of slides l6 prevent side play of the drawers during movement. When a drawer M is pulled out, front ends 30a of members 30 contact stops IS on slides IE to move the latter into extended position with the drawer during the latter part of the outward movement of the drawer. Such movement of slides and drawer is halted when stops H! on slides I6 contact the rear ends of bent over flanges 2|c on tracks 2|. At this time the rear portions of members 30 are beneath flanges 2|c on tracks 2| and the drawer is securely held against downward tipping (see Fig. 12, lower drawer, also Fig. 15). While in this position the drawer can be removed from cabinet H by tilting its forward 6 end upwardly until stops 30a on members 30 clear stops H! on slides l6, members 3|] being recessed, or cut away at 3| at their lower front corners below and rearwardly of stops 30a as clearly shown in Figs. 12 and 15. On the rearward movement of drawer M the rearward ends 3% of members 30 contact stops It to move slides I6 rearwardly with the drawer until stops It (or their rubber buffers l8a) contact stop plates 7' on the rear wall of cabinet H. Stops ll on horizontally disposed flanges IBa of slides [6 may also be engaged by the lower portion of the rear wall 11 of the drawer to effect rearward movement of slides I 6. Stop members 30 may be formed as a solid block, or made of sheet metal bent upon itself, as shown, to reduce weight while providing required strength and rigidity.

From the above it will be apparent that the guiding and supporting apparatus of the present invention comprises few parts of simple and inexpensive construction which are readily applied to old as well as new constructions to provide eflicient and long wearing support for drawers and other extensible members requiring positive stop for outward movement and strong support against sagging. On new constructions impor-v tant economies of construction and assembly, as well as saving of space, results from the fact that it is no longer necessary to provide the cabinet with both verticals and horizontals. Tracks 2| of the present invention can be attached to either, thus dispensing with the other and gaining that much additional space within the cabinet, or the cabinet may be made that much smaller without sacrifice of drawer capacity. Mounting of the apparatus in a cabinet is a simple matter, requiring only the attachment of tracks or rails 2| to the framing of the cabinet and of check plates 25 or guide and stop members 30 to the drawers. When the tracks 2| are mounted with flanges 2| a disposed vertically, routing or grooving of the sides of the drawers is required to accommodate the bent over flanges 2 lo. Disposing flanges 2 la horizontally when the drawers have elevated bottoms makes such routing or grooving unnecessary. With flat bottomed drawers, either of wood or metal, guide and stop members such as 30 will be utilized.

Slides l6 and tracks 2| are conveniently and inexpensively made by stamping from strip or sheet metal or other suitable material. They have extended bearing and engaging surfaces so that wear is at a minimum. The tracks are interchangeable for either side of the drawer. While right and left slides are required, they are formed with flanges of equal width so that either flange can be utilized to extend into the retaining channel formed by bent over flange 210 on tracks 2|. This feature adapts slides IE to all possible mounting positions of tracks 2| and gives a. certain degree of interchangeability in as much as applications of the invention shown in Figs. 1-10 require the mounting of slides IS with flanges |6b (having stops [8 and I9) horizontally disposed while in the modification shown in Figs. 12-15 flange IBb must be vertical-1y disposed. To effect this change right and left slides I6 are interchanged.

While the present invention has been herein disclosed in what are now believed to be preferred forms, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the specific details thereof but covers all changes, modifications, and adaptations within the scope of the appended claims.

7 7 I claim:

1. In guiding and supporting apparatus for slidable drawers and the like, the combination comprising: an elongate track having two flang perpendicular to each other; and a slide also having two flanges perpendicular to each other for mounting the slide for longitudinal sliding movement on the track; said track having an elongate channel at the outer edge of one of its flanges for receiving one edge of a flange of said slide; said slide having its two perpendicular tfianges of equal width and of such configuration that it can be mounted on said track with either of its said flanges slid-ably engagme said one flange of the track and extending within said channel and with the other flange of the slide slidahly engaging the other flange of the trash; and said slide being vprovided at its rear end with two stop members projecting from the respective flanges thereof and extending within the angle formed by said flanges and so'positioned that, when either flange of the slide is mounted in slidable engagement with said one flange of the track and extending within said channel, the stop member on that flange of the slide is in position to engage the rear end of said channel to Jimitiorward movement of the slide relative to the track,

'2. Guiding and supp rting apparatus for a slid able drawer or the like comprising: a pair of elon gate tracks, each track having continuous fiat vertical and horizontal flanges; a pair of slides for receiving a drawer therebetween, each slide having continuous flat vertical and horizontal houses to be slidabhr mounted upon one of said tracks; the outer edge portion of one flange of each some. track being hentover to form an elon- 8 1 ate channel receiving the out r esini one .flang of one oi said. slides when the latter is mo nted on its seid raek: and mean for mount ins said tracks interchan eably to support eithe:

side of a drawerand with the channel hear-int flanges of both tracks in either a, vertical or horizontal position; the two flanges not each of said slides being of equal width and f such con fi uration that said slides m y be mounted on the tracks with one oi the flanges of each sl de slida'bly engaging the ch nnel bearing flange and channel of the c rresoondingtra k. and theoother flange of each slide slidably en aging the other flange of the corresponding traek. in either PO51 tion of said channel bearing flanges: and each of said slides being provided at its r ar end with two stop members p ojecting from the respective flanges thereot and extending within the ng e formed y vsaid flanges and so positione that. when the Slides are mounted on the tr ks with the channel bearin flan-gee of the trac s lneither of sa d p s i ns, ne of said 51 0! members oi each slide is in posi ion to enga e the rear en of the channel of the corresponding track to limit forward movement of the slides relative to the tracks.

References (Jited in the idle of this patent UNITED STATES PATEN'IS Jun

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