US2751272A - Drawer slides - Google Patents

Description

June 19, 1956 H. E. HUTZELMAN DRAWER SLIDES Filed April 15, 1954 Fly/f Hiya i INVENTOR.

HOWARD E HUTZfiL/VIAN BY b4404 ATTOBA/E Y Fic 7 DRAWER SLIDES Howard E. Hutzelman, Corry, Pa., assignor to Corry- Jamestown Manufacturing Corporation, Corry, Pa., in corporation of New York Application April 15, 1954, Serial No. 423,342

4 Claims. (Cl. 312341) This invention relates to structure for mounting drawers in tables, desks, cabinets, etc., and is particularly directed to an improved support and slide structure by whichto enable movement of drawers into and out of extended position. The present invention is specifically concerned with the provision of structure for improving the slidability of drawers not equipped with suspensions, traveling carriages, or other usual anti-friction parts.

Generally, drawers of the type with which the present invention is concerned are provided with side strips that rest upon and have frictional contact with flanges supported by a case or cabinet in which the drawer is mounted. These drawer strips and case flanges include certain interfitting parts by which to control direction of movement of the drawer. These interfitting parts have frictional contact over a considerable area and, to prevent binding and give free movement to the drawer, must be relatively loose. It would be highly objectionable to introduce an exposable lubricant to improve the slidability of the parts. The looseness of the interfitting parts is objectionable from a standpoint of noise of operation, such as chattering, which must invariably occur as a result of both side and vertical play. Noisy operation is particularly evident in all instances where the drawer and case are made of metal. It is probable that through the use of ball or roller bearings strategically located, the above mentioned interfitting parts would function more smoothly, not chatter, and be less noisy in operation. However, there are many instances where the cost of installing ball or roller bearings is such that it does not warrant their use. .By way of comparison, it is obviously highly practical to provide carefully engineered anti-friction suspensions for the drawers of filing cabinets inasmuch as these drawers are in constant use and contain large volumes of heavy material. To distinguish, the relatively shallow drawers provided in tables, desks, and cabinets are not required to sustain a large quantity of heavy material, nor are they manipulated generally with as much frequency. Therefore, it has not been the general practice to provide other than frictional sliding support for drawers of this type. Additionally, it is evident that bearings of one kind or another would be diflicult to install and maintain in tables, desks, etc., constructed from wood.

The present invention is directed to and has for its principal object the provision of an improved frictional drawer slide in which contact is made between the relatively slidable parts at only two points on each side of the drawer.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a drawer slide structure having contact members that function as grips and guides during drawer movement into one position or another, and are so designed and arranged as to serve as the sole slide supports without requirement for the special finishing of any surfaces with which they come in contact.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of a drawer slide structure that is quiet in operation due to the elimination of side play, inexpensive to install and nited States Patent enables the ready replacement of the contact inserts should wear occur after a long period of use.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully understood from a consideration of the following specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing; in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the rear corner portion of a drawer in partly extended position and shows one of the drawer supports and the arrangement of the slide contact inserts;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the drawer in retracted position with respect to the supports therefor;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially as suggested by the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of the forward insert, partly broken away, that is located at the forward end of the drawer support;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational View of the insert mounted at the rear of the drawer;

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the slide insert prior to being mounted as shown in both Figs. 4 and 5; and

Fig. 7 is an endwi-se view of the insert.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the reference numeral It} is employed to generally designate a portion of one of the vertical walls of a case or cabinet in which the drawer supporting structure embodying the invention may be mounted. A right angle slide support 11 is attached along its vertical flange 12 to the wall 10. The horizontal flange 13 of this support projects away from the wall 10 substantially as shown in the drawing. At the forward end of the support 11 the flange 12 is of less height and offset inwardly to provide a terminal flange 14 that is parallel to the wall 10. It is found preferable to eliminate the horizontal flange 12 at this end. The upper edge 16 of the flange 14 is formed with an upwardly opening rectangular notch or recess 17.

A drawer, generally indicated at 18, includes side walls 19, to each of which is attached a channel 21. Each channel includes a vertical flange 22 secured to the drawer wall 19, horizontal flange 23, and a shallow, depending flange 24. At each rear corner, the drawer is provided with a laterally extending bracket 26, in the outer vertical edge of which is formed a U-shaped recess 27.

Generally horseshoe shaped contact members 28 are provided. These members are molded or otherwise formed from a plastic material, such, for example, as nyion, and have a certain amount of inherent pliancy. Each member includes tapered legs 29, the inner sides 31'of which are normally parallel. The legs are integral with a curved base 32. The outer edge of each member is grooved, as at '34.

Prior to inserting the drawer 18 into the case or cabinet for which it is intended, a member 28 is projected into each of the recesses 27 of brackets 26, the walls of the recesses fitting into the grooves 34 of the members. When these members are mounted on the brackets, they will appear substantially as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing. It will be noted that when the members 28 are mounted on the brackets, the legs 29 are deflected toward each other due to the fact that the walls of the recess 27 are parallel and the outer faces 33 of the legs are not. Thus, the ends of the legs are brought into close proximity, any space therebetween being designed to be substantially the thickness of the flange 13 of support 11 (see Fig. 5). Further members 28 are mounted in the reverse manner in the recesses 17 of the offset flanges 14 by interfltting of the sides of the recess with the groove 34 of the legs of the member. The drawer may now be projected into the case or cabinet by aligning the narrowed space 36 of each of the drawer members with the horizontal flange 13. The rounded base 32 of the for ward members is within the channel 21, being in contact with the under face of the flange 23. The depth of the opening 36 within the members is such that the flange 13 can project only part way therein. Generally speaking, the flanges 13 are merely unfinished and the inner edges thereof may be rough as they come from a shear. However, these inner edges, due to the space within the member, cannot come in contact with or cause wear on it, and even though there may be a certain amount of side play as between the drawer and the side supports 11, such play would only result in the end of one of the legs 2) coming in contact with the vertical flange 12 of the support. The lateral location of the forward members is determined by the extent that flanges 14 are necessarily offset and this requires the rounded base 32 of each member to support the drawer on the flange 23 and also be in such proximity with the flange 24 as to prevent any appreciable side play of the drawer.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the drawer 18 is carried by the supports 11 at only two points, front and rear, and that the members, as designed and arranged, produce a minimum of frictional contact and also eliminate virtually all side play or the possibility of chattering during movement of the drawer from one position to an other. it is evident that through the provision of a pair of ordinary side supports, such as indicated at 11, and a pair of conventional drawer mounted channels 21, plus the members embodied in the invention, it is possible to provide an inexpensive and quietly and easily operable sliding drawer structure. It is well known that the molded nylon is not only highly resistant to wear but inherently has a surface that will not stick when slid along another surface such as metal. Thus, by producing sliding contact members of the design and in the arrangement shown, a freely operable drawer slide structure is produced and one that will be impervious to wear or breakdown over a long period of use. However, should one or more of the members become worn or damaged, it is a simple matter to withdraw the worn or damaged member and replace it with a new one.

Although applicant has shown and described only one modification and application of use of his invention, it will be apparent that the members may be modified for their application to drawers other than the one shown and that such variations of structure and use are contemplated as being within the spirit and scope of the invention insofar as set out in the annexed claims.

Having thus set forth my invention, what I claim as new and for which I desire protection by Letters Patent is:

1. Slide structure for a drawer comprising slides fixed to an enclosure for said drawer and including horizontal flanges, slides on the sides of said drawer partially overlying said fixed slides, laterally extending brackets at the rear of said drawer, said brackets having laterally opening recesses, pliant U-shaped members, the outer walls of said members and the walls of said recesses having a relationship such that when said members are mounted in said recesses the free ends thereof are caused to frictionally contact opposed surfaces of the flanges of said fixed slides, and contact members at the forward ends of said fixed slides engaged with said drawer slides.

2. in a slide structure for a drawer wherein fixed slides are carried by an enclosure for said drawer and further slides are provided on the sides of said drawer substantially co-exten-sive and in overlying relation; means pro viding slidable support for said drawer slides on said fixed slide-s comprising generally U-shaped pliant members, means mounting said members on the rear end of said drawer with the free ends thereof projecting laterally from said drawer, said ends, when said members are mounted on said means, being compressed toward each other to frictionally engage both surfaces of the adjacent rigid slide, at least one of the ends of each of said members serving to limit lateral play of said drawer, and other pliant members at the folward ends of said fixed slides providing contact support for said drawer slides.

3. in a slide structure for a drawer wherein fixed slides are carried by an enclosure for said drawer and further slides having side flanges, said further slides being on the sides of said drawer and substantially co-extensivc and in overlying relation with respect to said fixed slides; means providing slidable support for said drawer slides on said fixed slides comprising generally U-shaped pliant members at the forward inwardly oflset ends of said rigid slides, the closed ends of said members projecting upwardly rom said rigid slides to an extent to contact the under surfaces of said drawer slides and provide supporting contact and prevent lateral displacement of said drawer by contact with the flanges of said further slides, and other U-shaped pliant members on the rear end of said drawer, the free ends of said other members having frictional contact with both surfaces of said rigid slides.

4. A s'lidable support for a drawer comprising a generally L shaped pliant member, the periphery of said mem ber having a groove extending from one end to the other, the groove of said member being adapted to interfit a recess in a drawer carried bracket, the outer walls of said member and the walls of said bracket recess having a relationship such that when said member is mounted in said recess the free ends thereof are compressed to frictionally contact the opposed plane surfaces of a fixed rail.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 359,906

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