US3164419A

US3164419A - Drawer slide mechanism

Info

Publication number: US3164419A
Application number: US81533A
Authority: US
Inventors: Michaelson Carlyle
Original assignee: HOLGA METAL PRODUCTION CO
Current assignee: HOLGA METAL PRODUCTION CO
Priority date: 1961-01-09
Filing date: 1961-01-09
Publication date: 1965-01-05
Anticipated expiration: 1982-01-05

Description

Jan. 5, 1965 c. MlcHAELsoN 3,164,419

DRAWER SLIDE MECHANISM Filed Jan. 9. 1961 l Z2 INVENTOR. 2* f WHA/vm a ,mwN/GAL /4 ,4f/army.: for ff/'cow' United States Patent 3,164,419 DRAWER SLIDE lVIECI-IANISM Carlyle Michaelson, Sunland, Calif., assigner to Helga Metal Production Company, Van Nuys, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Jan. 9, 1961, Ser. No. 81,533 8 Claims. (Cl. 30S-3.8)

This invention relates generally to drawers for desks, and the like, and relates more particularly to slide mechanisms for drawers.

While the invention has particular utility in connection with slide mechanisms for desk drawers, and the like, and is shovm and described in such connection, it is to be understood that its utility is not confined thereto.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a drawer slide mechanism that is extremely easy to operate.

It is another object of the invention to provide mechanism of this character that firmly supports the drawer in all operative positions.

It is still another object of the invention to provide mechanism of this character wherein friction between the parts is reduced to a minimum.

A further object of the invention is .to provide mechanism of this character of extremely simple construction.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide mechanism of this character having a minimum number of parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide mechanism of this character whereby the drawer may be easily and quickly installed in the opening provided therefor in a desk or the like.

Still another object of the invention is to provide mechanism of this character operably supporting the drawer in its various positions and limiting outward movement thereof by permitting easy and quick removal of the drawer if so desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide mechanism of this character that is rugged and that will have a long, trouble free life.

A still further object of the invention is to provide mechanism of this character that is reliable in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of this character that is rela-tively inexpensive to manufacture and install.

'The characteristics and advantages of the invention are further sufllciently referred to in connection with the following detailed description of the accompanying drawings, which represent one arrangement. After considering this example, skilled persons will understand that variations may be made without departing from the prineiples disclosed, and I contemplate the employment of any structures, arrangements or modes of operation that are properly within the scope of the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only:

FIG. l is a fragmentary perspective view of a desk -having drawers with slide mechanisms embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top plan view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3 3 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the cabinet race; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 1, but with the drawer removed.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown a portion of a table, indicated generally at 10, having a drawer opening 12 to a drawer compartment 14 in which is slidably disposed a drawer, indicated generally at 1d. At each side of the drawer compartment there are a plurality of vertical cabinet race supv ICC port members 18 which are laterally spaced apart. The members 18 at each side have attached thereto a horizontal cabinet race indicated generally at 20.

Each cabinet race is T-shaped in cross section and is formed by folding a strip of sheet metal of suitable length along its longitudinal center, as indicated at 21, and in parallel spaced relation to the folded edge, turning flanges 22 in opposite directions, said flanges 22 being `normal to the plane of the stem portion 23 of the race, said stern having two thicknesses of the material. The ilanges 22 are attached to the support members 18 by means of welding or the like and the stem'portions of the races 20 are in a common horizontal plane.

The drawer 15 has a bottom 25, longtiudinally extending side walls 26, a rear wall 27 and a front wall 28. Along the upper edges of the side walls are outwardly turned flanges 29 and the rear wall is provided with an outwardly turned or rearwardly turned flange 30. The front wall has a rearwardly turned flange 31 along its top edge.

The drawer is provided with a pair of oppositely arranged longitudinally extending drawer races, indicated generally at 34, said races 34 being generally C-shaped in cross section and having their backs, or closed sides, secured to the respective side walls of the drawer by any suitable means such as welding or theA like. Races 34 have end-portions which extend inwardly or rearwardly from the front of the drawer beyond the rear wall thereof.

Since each drawer race is C-shaped in cross section, there is a closed rear side 35, top and bottom walls 3e and 37 respectively, which are turned laterally outwardly of the closed side wall 35 and substantially normal thereto,

walls

36 and 37 being substantially parallel to each other but spaced vertically apart. Along the outer edge of the top wall 36 there is a depending flange 3S and along the outeredge of the wall 37 there is an upturned flange 39, the free edges 38a and 39a of the

respective flanges

38 and 39 are spaced vertically apart and are substantially parallel to each other.

Each race 34 is provided with an upper and a lower ball bearing, said ball bearings being indicated at 49 and 41 respectively. These ball bearings are of a diameter somewhat greater than the width of the

flanges

38 and 39 and the tangent horizontal planes of adjacent parts of said ball bearings are spaced apart sufliciently to operably receive the stem 23 of the respective cabinet race 20, as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

As best shown in FIG. 3, free edge portions of the flanges 3S and 39 are turned inwardly sufliciently to retain the

balls

40 and 41 in their respective channels defined by the

flanges

38, 39,

walls

36 and 37 respectively, and adjacent portions of the back wall 35 to the drawer race, said channels being indicated at 42 and 44 respectively. The lower balls 41 of the drawer races are prevented from rolling out of the rear ends of the channels 44 of the drawer races by turning the upper free corners at the rear of the flanges 39 inwardly suficiently to be disposed in the pathway of said balls. Forward movement of the balls 41 is limited by ears 46 which are cut from and turned upwardly of the lower walls 37 of the drawer races. Ears 46 extend into the channels 44 and are spaced forwardly of the rear ends of said drawer races 34. Ears 48 are cut from and turned downwardly of the top walls 36 of the drawer races and extend downwardly into the channels 42 for the balls 40 to limit rearward movement of said balls.

Ears 48 are spaced forwardly of the rear ends of the drawer races 34 but are rearwardly of the upturned ears 46. Forwardly of the ears 48 areears 50 which are cut from and turned downwardly of the top walls 36 of the drawer races 34. Ears 50 depend into the channels 42 of Vare turned upwardlysomewhat, as best shown at 52 in FIG. 6. When inserting the drawer the forward end ofy the Vdrawer is raised sufficiently so that the forward ends ofthe stems 23 will enter the spaces between the edges 38a. and 39a of respective drawer races. When the front end portions of said stems 23 enter said spaces be- Y tween the edges 38a and 39a the forward end of the drawer is lowered so-that said drawer is substantially horizontal and is then moved inwardly into the drawer compartment. It is to be understood, of course, that when the drawer is to be inserted into its compartment the balls in the races are at thej rearmost limit of movement, the lower balls being in engagement with the inturned corners 39h and the upper balls being in engagement with the ears 48.

Y Then when the drawer is moved inwardly into its compartment with the cabinet races and drawer races in operable relationship to each other, the balls will support the drawer and will permit easy, almost frictionless sliding movement into the drawer compartment and also permit similar sliding movement outwardly when access to the drawer is desired.

vThe balls 4@ have operable rolling contact with the top walls 36 of the respective drawer races and with the stems 23 of the respective cabinet races. Likewise the balls 4l have operable rolling contact with the lower walls 37 of the drawer races and with the stern 23 of the respective cabinet races. The stop means for limiting movement of the balls Vare so spaced as to permit the drawer to have a predetermined longitudinal movement between the position whereat it is fully closed and a predetermined extended position. The ball limiting means are-so related to the upturned forward ends 52 of the cabinet races that when the drawer is pulled outwardly the upper balls 4i) simultaneously engage the upturned end portions 52 of Y the cabinetraces and the rearward ears 4S in the upper channels 42 of the drawer races. Also the lower balls engage the upturned ears 45 in the lower channels 44 of the drawer races. It is to be noted that at all operable positions of the drawer the lower balls are positioned rearwardly of the upper balls.

As long as the drawer is in its normal horizontal position its outward movement will be limited, as above pointed out, and, of course, its inward movement will be limited by bumpers 54 at the front end of the drawer compartment, said bumpers comprising U-shaped brackets having a back part S6 spot welded or otherwise suitably secured to the vertical support members at the front end of said drawer compartment. Said bracket having inturned flanges 58V and 59, the flanges 58 being at the forward ends of the bracket and having a resilient covering 6d of any suitable material, such as rubber, plastic, or the like. The front wall of the drawer is adapted to engage the covered flanges to 'limit inward movement of the drawer. A handle 62 of any well known character is attached to the front wall 2S by any suitable well known means, such as, for example, screws, not shown.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that various changes may be made inthe form, construction and arrangement ot the parts of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof or sacrificing its material advantages, the arrangement hereinbefore described being merely for purposes of illustration.

I claim:

f l, The combination of a structure having a drawer receiving compartment open at one end; a drawer horizontally disposed in said compartment and movable in the opening of said compartment; and a slide mechanism at each side or" said drawer, each of said slide mechanisms comprising a drawer race formed ot sheet material in the general cross sectional shape of a C, said race having a closed vertical back wall secured to the adjacent side of the drawer, upper and lower horizontal walls, a depending ilange at the outer edge of the upper wall and an upstanding llange from the outer edge of the lower wall, the free edges of said flanges being spaced apart and having their adjacent edge portions turned inwardly, the llanges, respective upper and lower horizontal walls and adjacent portions of the back wall forming upper and lower longitudinally extending channels; an upper and a lower ball bearing in respective upper and lower channels, the diameters of said balls being somewhat greater than the width of the respective anges and the inturned free edge portions of said channels retaining said balls in said channels, the drawer races extending rearwardly of said drawers; means limiting movement of the lower ball in its channel comprising an inturned rear free corner of the upstanding flange of the lower channel to limit rearward movement of the lower ball in said channel and an ear upturned into the lower channel in longitudinally forwardly spaced relation to the rear end thereof, said ear being so spaced from the inturned corner of the lower channel as to permit a predetermined free rolling movement of the lower ball in its channel to thereby normally limit the movement of the drawer from its closed position to a predetermined open position; means limiting movement of the upper ball in its channel comprising a pair of ears downturned into the upper channel and having substantially the same effective spacing relative to each other as the spacing of the inturned free corner of the lower llange and the upturned ear in the lower channel, said downturned ears being spaced forwardly of the rear end of the drawer race; a cabinet race for each drawer race, each cabinet race being generally T-shaped in cross section and having a horizontal stem portion extending into the drawer race through the space between the free edges of the flanges thereof and engageable by the upper and lower balls for rolling movement relative to the respective top and bottom sides of said stem; and cppositely extending llanges at the outer edge of the stem, said flanges being normal to the plane of the stem and being secured to said structure, the positioning of the stop means for limiting rolling movement of the upper ball being so related to the stop means for limiting rolling movement of the lower ball that said upper and lower balls are always in staggered relationship relataive to each other throughout the various operative movements of the drawer.

2. The combination of a structure having a drawer receiving compartment open at one end; a drawer horizontally disposed in said compartment and movable inwardly and outwardly relative thereto; and a slide mechanism at each side of said drawer, each slide mechanism comprising a drawer race formed of sheet material in the general cross sectional shape of a C, said race having a closed vertical back wall secured to the adjacent sides of the drawer, upper and lower horizontal walls, a depending ange at the outer edge of the upper wall and an upstanding flange from the outer edge of the lower wall, the free edges of said flanges being spaced apart and having their adjacent edge portions turned inwardly, the flanges, respective upper and lower horizontal walls and adjacent portions of the back wall forming upper and lower longitudinally extending channels; upper and lower ball bearings in respective upper and lower channels, the diameters of said balls being somewhat greater than the width of the respective flanges, stop means for the lower channel spaced longitudinally thereof to limit rearward and forward movement of the lower ball into said channel; stop means for the upper channel spaced longitudinaland operably engageable by the upper and lower balls,

the positioning of the stop means for limiting rolling movement of the upper ball being so related to the stop means for limiting rolling movement of the lower ball that said upper and lower balls are in staggered relationship relative to each other.

3. The combination of a structure having a drawer receiving compartment open at one end; a drawer normally horizontally disposed in said compartment and movable inwardly and outwardly relative thereto; and a slide mechanism at each side of said drawer, each slide mechanism comprising a drawer race attached to the adjacent side of the drawer and extending longitudinally thereof, each drawer race having parts defining an upper and a lower ball receiving channel, said channels facing each other and being spaced apart with a longitudinally extending opening at the outer sides; an upper ball operably disposed and retained in the upper channel; a lower ball operably disposed and retained in the lower channel; longitudinally spaced stop means for limiting longitudinal movement of the lower ball in the lower channel; longitudinally spaced stop means for limiting longitudinal movement of the upper ball; and a cabinet race for each drawer race, the cabinet races being mounted at respective sides of the drawer receiving compartment and each cabinet race including a longitudinally extending part extending through the longitudinal opening between the upper and lower channels of the adjacent drawer race and operably engaging the upper and lower balls, the positioning of the stop means for the respective channels being so arranged and related to each other that the upper and lower balls are in staggered relationship to each other.

4. The combination of a structure having a drawer receiving compartment open at one end; a drawer normally horizontally disposed in said compartment and movable inwardly and outwardly relative thereto; and a slide mechanism at each side of said drawer, each slide mechanism comprising a drawer race attached to the adjacent side of the drawer and extending longitudinally thereof, each drawer race having parts defining an upper and a lower ball receiving channel, said channels facing each other and being spaced apart with a longitudinally extending opening at the outer sides; an upper ball operably disposed in the upper channel; a lower ball operably disposed in the lower channel; longitudinally spaced rear and forward stop means for limiting longitudinal movement of the lower ball in the lower channel; longitudinally spaced rear and forward stop means for limiting longitudinal movement of the upper ball, the rear and forward stop means of the upper channel being positioned forwardly of the corresponding stop means of the lower channel; a cabinet race for each drawer race mounted at respective sides of the drawer receiving compartment and each including a track part extending through the respective longitudinal opening between the upper and lower channels of the adjacent drawer race and operably engaged by the upper and lower balls; and means limiting outward movement of said drawer when in the horizontal position but permitting said drawer to be removed from said compartment when the front end is raised as said drawer is pulled outwardly.

5. The combination of a structure having a drawer receiving compartment open at one end; a drawer disposed in said compartment and movable inwardly and outwardly relative thereto; and a slide mechanism at each side of said drawer, each slide mechanism comprising a drawer race attached to the adjacent side of the drawer and extending longitudinally thereof, each drawer race having parts defining an upper and a lower ball receiving channel, said channels facing each other and being spaced apart with a longitudinally extending opening at the outer sides; an upper ball operably disposed in the upper channel; a lower ball operably disposed in the lower channel; longitudinally spaced stop means for limiting longitudinal movement of the lower ball in the lower channel; 1ongitudinally spaced stop means for limiting longitudinal movement of the upper ball, the stop means of one channel being longitudinally offset relative to the stop means of the other channel; and a cabinet race for each drawer race, said cabinet races being mounted at respective sides of the drawer receiving compartment and each including a part extending through the respective longitudinal opening between 'the upper and lower channels and operably engaged by the upper and lower balls.

6. A drawer slide mechanism, comprising: a drawer race formed of sheet material in the general cross sectional shape of a C, said race having a closed side, upper and lower horizontal walls, a depending ilange at the outer edge of the upper wall and an upstanding flange from the outer edge of the lower wall, the free edges of said anges being spaced apart and having their adjacent edge portions turned inwardly, the anges, respective upper and lower horizontal walls and `adjacent portions of the back wall forming upper and lower longitudinally extending channels; upper tand lower ball bearings in respective upper and lower channels, the diameters of said balls being somewhat greater than the width of the respective llanges and the inturned free edge portions of said channels retaining said balls in said channels, the upstanding ilange of the lower channel having its free corner turned inwardly to limit rearward movement of the lower ball into said channel; an ear upturned into the lower channel in longitudinally spaced relation to the rear end thereof, said ear being so spaced from the inturned corner of the lower ball in its channel as to provide a predetermined free rolling movement of the lower ball in its channel; a pair of ears downturned into the upper channel and having substantially the same effective spacing relative to each other as the spacing of the inturned free corner of the lower flange and the upturned ear in the lower channel, said downturned ears being spaced forwardly of ithe rear end of the drawer race; and a cabinet race generally T-shaped in cross section and having a stem portion extending into the drawer race through the space between the free edges of the anges thereof and engageable by the upper and lower balls for rolling movement relative to the respective top and bottom sides of said stem, the forward end of said stem having a portion turned upwardly; and oppo- =sitely extending flanges at the outer edge of the stem, the positioning of the stop means for limiting rolling movement of the upper ball being so related to the stop means llmiting rolling movement of the lower ball that said upper and lower balls are `always in staggered relationship relative to each other throughout tthe various operative movements of the drawer.

7. A drawer slide mechanism, comprising: a drawer race formed of sheet material in the general cross sectional shape of a C, said race having a closed side, upper and lower horizontal walls, a depending flange at the outer edge of the upper wall and an upstanding flange from the outer edge of the lower wall, the free edges of said flanges belng spaced apart and having their adjacent edge portions turned inwardly, the anges, respective upper and lower horizontal walls Vand adjacent portions of the back wall forming upper and lower longitudinally extending channels; upper and lower ball bearings in respective upper and lower channels, the diameters' of said balls being somewhat greater than the width of the respective anges and the inturned free edge portions of said channels retaining said balls in said channels, the upstanding flange of the lower channel having its freecorner turned inwardly to limit rearward movement of the lower ball in said channel; an ear upturned into the lower channel in 9 iongitndinallyfspaced relation to the rear end thereof, said ear being so spaced from the inturned corner of the lower channel as to provide a predetermined free rolling movement of the `lower ball in its channel; a pair of ears downturned into the upper channel and having substantially the same ciective spacing relative -to each other as the spacing of the intnrned free corner of the lower flange and the'upturned ear in the lower channel, said downturned ears being spaced forwardly of the rear end of the drawer race;` and -a cabinet race including'a track portion extending into the drawer race through the space between the free edges of the flanges thereof and engageable by the upper and lower balls for rolling movement relative to-the respective top and bottom' sides of said stem; the positioning of the stop means for limiting rolling movement of the balls being Isorelated that said balls are offset relative to each other.

v 8. ln combination: a' structure having adrawer yreceiving cornpartmentopen at one end; a drawer disposed in said compartment and movable inwardly and outwardly relative thereto; and a slide mechanism at each side of said drawer, each slide mechanism comprising a cabinet race operably mounted adjacent each side of said drawer and including a longitudinally extending track, a drawer race attached to each side of the drawer, each drawer race having parts defining an upper and a lower ball receiving channel adjacent the top and bottom sides of the track of the adjacent cabinet means; and a single ball operably disposed in each channel and engaging the track of the adjacent cabinet race, said balls being operably arranged in staggered relationship to each other and the balls of each slide mechanism being movable longitudinally rel-ative to the cabinet race and channel races thereof.

References Cited in the die of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 678,211 Allen July 9, 1901 2,370,861 Jakeway a., Mar. 6, i945 2,678,854 Card May 18, 1954

Claims

1. THE COMBINATION OF A STRUCTURE HAVING A DRAWER RECEIVING COMPARTMENT OPEN AT ONE END; A DRAWER HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED IN SAID COMPARTMENT AND MOVABLE IN THE OPENING OF SAID COMPARTMENT; AND A SLIDE MECHANISM AT EACH SIDE OF SAID DRAWER, EACH OF SAID SLIDE MECHANISMS COMPRISING A DRAWER RACE FORMED OF SHEET MATERIAL IN THE GENERAL CROSS SECTIONAL SHAPE OF A C, SAID RACE HAVING A CLOSED VERTICAL BACK WALL SECURED TO THE ADJACENT SIDE OF THE DRAWER, UPPER AND LOWER HORIZONTAL WALLS, A DEPEDING FLANGE AT THE OUTER EDGE OF THE UPPER WALL AND AN UPSTANDING FLANGE FROM THE OUTER EDGE OF THE LOWER WALL, THE FREE EDGES OF SAID FLANGES BEING SPACED APART AND HAVING THEIR ADJACENT EDGE PORTIONS TURNED INWARDLY, THE FLANGES, RESPECTIVE UPPER AND LOWER HORIZONTAL WALLS AND ADJACENT PORTIONS OF THE BACK WALL FORMING UPPER AND LOWER LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING CHANNELS; AN UPPER AND LOWER BALL BEARING IN RESPECTIVE UPPER AND LOWER CHANNELS, THE DIAMETERS OF SAID BALLS BEING SOMEWHAT GREATER THAN THE WIDTH OF THE RESPECTIVE FLANGES AND THE INTURNED FREE EDGE PORTIONS OF SAID CHANNELS RETAINING SAID BALLS IN SAID CHANNELS, THE DRAWER RACES EXTENDING REARWARDLY OF SAID DRAWERS; MEANS LIMITING MOVEMENT OF THE LOWER BALL IN ITS CHANNEL COMPRISING AN INTURNED REAR FREE CORNER OF THE UPSTANDING FLANGE OF THE LOWER CHANNEL TO LIMIT REARWARD MOVEMENT OF THE LOWER BALL IN SAID CHANNEL AND AN EAR UPTURNED INTO THE LOWER CHANNEL IN LONGITUDINALLY FORWARDLY SPACED RELATION TO THE REAR END THEREOF, SAID EAR BEING SO SPACED FROM THE INTURNED CORNER OF THE LOWER CHANNEL AS TO PERMIT A PERDETERMINED FREE ROLLING MOVEMENT OF THE LOWER BALL IN ITS CHANNEL TO THEREBY NORMALLY LIMIT THE MOVEMENT OF THE DRAWER FROM ITS CLOSED POSITION TO A PREDETERMINED OPEN POSITION; MEANS LIMITING MOVEMENT OF THE UPPER BALL IN ITS CHANNEL COMPRISING A PAIR OF EARS DOWNTURNED INTO THE UPPER CHANNEL AND HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME EFFECTIVE SPACING RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER AS THE SPACING OF THE INTURNED FREE CORNER OF THE LOWER FLANGE AND THE UPTURNED EAR IN THE LOWER CHANNEL, SAID DOWNTURNED EARS BEING SPACED FORWARDLY OF THE REAR AND OF THE DRAWER RACE; A CABINET RACE FOR EACH DRAWER RACE, EACH CABINET RACE BEING GENERALLY T-SHAPED IN CROSS SECTION AND HAVING A HORIZONTAL STEM PORTION EXTENDING INTO THE DRAWER RACE THROUGH THE SPACE BETWEEN THE FREE EDGES OF THE FLANGES THEREOF AND ENGAGEABLE BY THE UPPER AND LOWER BALLS OF ROLLING MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO THE RESPECTIVE TOP AND BOTTOM SIDES OF SAID STEM; AND OPPOSITELY EXTENDING FLANGES AT THE OUTER EDGE OF THE STEM, SAID FLANGES BEING NORMAL TO THE PLANE OF THE STEM AND BEING SECURED TO SAID STRUCTURE, THE POSITIONING OF THE STOP MEANS FOR LIMITING ROLLING MOVEMENT OF THE UPPER BALL BEING SO RELATED TO THE STOP MEANS FOR LIMITING ROLLING MOVEMENT OF THE LOWER BALL THAT SAID UPPER AND LOWER BALLS ARE ALWAYS IN STAGGERED RELATIONSHIP RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER THROUGHOUT THE VARIOUS OPERATIVE MOVEMENTS OF THE DRAWER.