US3356435A

US3356435A - Combination drawer stop and release

Info

Publication number: US3356435A
Application number: US556102A
Authority: US
Inventors: Norman L Hanson
Original assignee: Lyon Metal Products LLC
Current assignee: Lyon Metal Products LLC
Priority date: 1966-06-08
Filing date: 1966-06-08
Publication date: 1967-12-05
Anticipated expiration: 1984-12-05

Description

Dec. 5, 1967 N. HANSON 3,356,435

COMBINATION DRAWER STOP AND RELEASE June 8, 4 s t sh t 1 FIG. I

YNVENTOR. NORMAN L. HANSON ATri s.

1967 N. HANsoN COMBINATION DRAWER STOP AND RELEASE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 8, 1966 N. L. HANSON COMBINATION DRAWER STOP AND RELEASE Dec. 5, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 8, 1966 United States Patent 3 356 435 COMBINATION DRA WE R STOP AND RELEASE Norman L. Hanson, Aurora, 11]., assignor to Lyon Metal Products, Incorporated, Aurora, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Filed June 8, 1966, Ser. No. 556,102 5 Claims. (Cl. 312--348) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE There is disclosed a desk including a desk top having a pair of drawer-supporting guide rails mounted therebeneath in spaced-apart positions, a pair of longitudinally spaced-apart glides mounted on each of the guide rails, a drawer including a bottom wall and a pair of inner side walls and a rear wall and a drawer head, a pair of outer side walls respectively mounted on the outer surfaces of the inner side walls including support flanges engagable with the glides slidably to support the drawer for movement between a closed position disposed beneath the top and extended positions disposed outwardly with respect to the top, the outer side walls extending rearwardly beyond the drawer rear wall, a pair of stop assemblies respectively mounted on the inner sides of the outer side walls behind the drawer rear wall, each stop assembly including a stop arm pivotally mounted with respect to the drawer and manually pivotal between a stop position and a release position, and a resilient bumper on the stop arm, the stop arm in the stop position extending laterally beyond the outer side wall and in position such that the bumper engages the rear one of the glides after the drawer has been partially withdrawn from beneath the top thereby to prevent removal of the drawer from beneath the top, the stop arm in the release position being disposed on the inside of the outer side Walls of the drawer and in position to pass by the glides when the drawer is moved to an extended position, thereby to permit complete removal of the drawer from beneath the top.

This invention relates to furniture constructions including drawers therein, and particularly to stop structures for limiting the distance of withdrawal of the drawers from the associated furniture construction.

' It is an important object of the present invention to provide in a furniture construction the combination comprising a furniture top, a pair of glide rails mounted beneath the top in spaced apart positions, a drawer slidably supported upon the rails for movement bet-ween a closed position disposed beneath the top and extended positions disposed outwardly with respect to the top, an abutment member mounted on at least one of the rails adjacent to the path of movement, of the drawer, and a stop mounted on the drawer adjacent to the rear thereof and manually shiftable between a stop position and a release position, the stop in the stop position extending laterally beyond the side edge of the drawer and in position to engage the abutment member after the drawer has been partially withdrawn from beneath the top thereby to prevent removal of the drawer from beneath the top, the stop in the release position being confined within the sides of the drawer and in position to pass by the abutment member when the drawer is moved to 'an extended position thereby to permit complete removal of the drawer from beneath the top.

In connection with the foregoing object, it is another object of the invention to provide a furniture construction of the type set forth wherein the guide rails carry glides that slidably support the drawer, and the rearmost one of the glides on the rail also serves as the abutment member for engagement with the stop.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved stop for drawers in furniture constructions of the type set forth, the stop being pivotally mounted upon the drawer adjacent to the rear thereof and being manually pivotal between the stop position and the release position thereof, the stop carrying a resilient bumper thereon for engagement with the abutment member.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a furniture construction of the type set forth wherein the drawer includes a pair of outer side walls extending rearwardly beyond the drawer rear wall, there being provided on that portion of the outer side Wall disposed behind the drawer rear wall an improved stop assembly including a stop arm manually shiftable between a stop position and a release position, preferably a pair of the improved stop assemblies being provided respectively upon the outer side walls of the drawer.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved stop assembly for use in furniture constructions of the type set forth.

Further features of the invention pertain to the particular construction and arrangement of the parts whereby the above-outlined and additional features thereof are attained.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with other objects and advantages, will best be understood by reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a single pedestal desk having a center drawer mounted therein and provided with the improved drawer stop made in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in horizontal section through the desk of FIG. 1 along the line 2--2 thereof;

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged view in vertical section through the drawer of FIG. 2 along the line 3-3 thereof;

FIG. 4 is a view in vertical section through the drawer of FIG. 3 along the line 4-4 thereof;

FIG. 5 is a further enlarged view in plan section with certain portions broken away of the drawer illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the stops at the rear of the drawer being illustrated in the stop positions thereof;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the stops in the release positions thereof;

FIG. 7 is a further enlarged fragmentary perspective view of one of the stop assemblies at the rear of the drawer of FIG. 5, the stop forming a part of the stop assembly being in the stop position thereof;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 and illustrating the stop in the release position thereof; and

FIG. 9 is a view in horizontal section through the stop assembly of FIG. 7 along the line 9-9 thereof.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is illustrated a single pedestal desk having the pedestal thereon disposed to the left, the desk 100 including a center drawer 150 incorporating therein the improved stop construction of the present invention. More specifically, the desk 100 includes a desk top 101 which has mounted on the underside thereof and on the lefthand end thereof a desk pedestal 102, the desk pedestal 102 being generally rectangular both in vertical and horizontal section and having a drawer-receiving opening in the front thereof. Slidably disposed within the desk pedestal 102 is a shelf 103 having a pull 104 thereon, a box drawer 105 having a pull 106 thereon, and a file drawer 107 having a pull 108 thereon, the shelf 103 and the

drawers

105 and 107 being slidably mounted within the pedestal 102 for sliding movement between the fully closed positions illustrated in FIG. 1 and extended positions disposed outwardly from the pedestal 102. Disposed on the bottom of the pedestal 102 is a pair of legs 109 useful in supporting the pedestal 102 and the lefthand end of the desk 100 above a suitable underlying support surface. The righthand end of the desk top 101 has an end panel 110 disposed therebeneath and connected thereto and provided with a pair of legs 111 for supporting the end panel 110 and the righthand end of the desk top 101 above a suitable underlying support surface. Interconnecting the rear of the pedestal 102 and the rear of the end panel 110 and disposed beneath the desk top 101 and secured thereto is a rear panel 115. There further is provided a skirt 116 extending from the end panel 110 a short distance to the left therefrom and beneath the forward edge of the desk top 101.

Mounted beneath the desk top 101 essentially centrally thereof and disposed between the desk pedestal 102 on the left thereof and the skirt 116 on the right thereof is a center drawer 150. The center drawer 150 is mounted upon a drawer support 130 which is in turn mounted upon a pair of mounting channels 120 forming a part of the desk top 101. Referring specifically to FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings, it will be seen that two of the mounting channels 120 have been provided disposed respetcivcly adjacent to the front and rear edges of the desk top 101 and extending substantially the length thereof. Each of the mounting channels 120 includes a main wall 121 suitably secured as by welding to the underside of the associated desk top 101. Extending downwardly from the longitudinally extending front and rear edges of the main wall 121 are two side flanges 122, the lower edges of the side flanges 122 carrying thereon inturned flanges 123, the inturned flanges 123 having the facing edges thereof spaced apart to provide a channel therebetween. Disposed within the mounting channels 120 are special nuts 124 which engage and hold screws or bolts 125 that serve to mount all of the parts of the desk 100 upon the desk top 101. More specifically, the desk pedestal 102, the end panel 110, the rear panel 115, the skirt 116 and the drawer support 130 are all thus mounted upon the desk top 101 by means of the mounting channels 120, the special nuts 124 and the bolts 125. Further details of construction of the above described portions of the desk 100 including the desk top 101, the desk pedestal 102, the end panel 110, the rear panel 115, the mounting channels 120, and the special nuts 124 are set forth in the copending application for United States Letters Patent, Serial No. 503,- 157, filed October 23, 1965, by Kenneth E. Schreyer for Desk Construction; the additional details of construction set forth in that copending application are hereby incorporated by reference in the present application whereby further description of the details thereof is not necessary.

Turning now to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings, the details of construction of the drawer support 130 will be given. The drawer support 130 includes a pair of spaced apart

guide rails

131 and 131A which are connected at the rear thereof by a rear cross tie 137 and at the front thereof by a front lock cover 140 to form a rigid generally rectangular frame that is securely mounted upon the mounting channels 120 on the underside of the desk top 101. The left hand guide rail 131 includes a generally vertically arranged main wall 132 having a vertical extent at least as great as the vertical extent of the associated center drawer 150, the longitudinal extent of the guide rail 131 being slightly greater than that of the associated drawer 150. Extending longitudinally of the main wall 132 is an outwardly directed reinforcing rib 133 which provides added strength to the guide rail 131, the reinforcing rib 133 being essentially part-circular in cross, section. The lower edge of the main wall 132 carries an inwardly directed bottom flange 134 thereon and the upper edge of the main wall 132 carries an inwardly directed top flange 135 thereon.

The righthand guide rail 131A includes a generally vertically arranged main wall 132A having a vertical ex tent at least as great as the vertical extent of the associated center drawer 150, the longitudinal extent of the guide rail 131A being slightly greater than that of the associated drawer 150 (see FIG. 4). The lower edge of the main wall 132A carries an inwardly directed bottom flange 134A thereon and the upper edge of the main Wall 132A carries an inwardly directed top flange 135A thereon.

The rear ends of the

guide rails

131 and 131A are interconnected by the rear cross tie 137 having an attachment flange 138 suitably secured as by welding to the

top flanges

135 and 135A, respectively, and having a downwardly extending integral reinforcing flange 139 thereon extending the length thereof. Extending upwardly from and fixedly attached to the flange 139 and in general longitudinal alignment with the associated

top flanges

135 and 135A are spacer clips 136 having a first flange 136A secured as by welding to the cross tie flange 139 and having a rearwardly directed integral flange 136B extending rearwardly from the upper edge thereof, the flanges 136B being disposed well above the associated

top flanges

135 and 135A and extending beneath the rear mounting channel (see FIG. 4). Each of the flanges 136B has an opening therein receiving therethrough a bolt that engages one of the special nuts 124 disposed in the rear mounting channel 120.

The front ends of the

guide rails

131 and 131A are interconnected by the front lock cover 140, the cover 140 including a main wall 141 extending the entire distance between the

guide rails

131 and 131A and beyond the outer edges thereof and being suitably secured as by welding to the forward portions of the top flanges and 135A, respectively. The forward edge of the main wall 141 extends beyond the forward edges of the

guide rails

131 and 131A and carries an upstanding reinforcing flange 142 thereon. The rear edge of the lock cover also carries an upwardly directed reinforcing flange 143 thereon. Disposed at each end of the main wall 141 is a cover angle 144. Finally there is provided in the main wall 141 openings receiving therethrough bolts 125 extending upwardly to engage the special nuts 124 in the front mounting channel 120, thereby to mount the forward portion of the drawer support 130 upon the front mounting channel 120.

There is provided on the lefthand guide rail 131 a first form of combination glide and guide 145 and there is provided on the righthand guide rail 131A a second from of glide 146, screws (not shown) passing through the glides 145 and 14-6 and engaging nuts 147 mounted on the outer surfaces of the guide rail

main walls

132 and 132A, respectively. The

glides

145 and 146 are formed of a lubric material, the preferred material being a synthetic organic plastic resin; further details of construction of the

glides

145 and 146 may be found in the copending application Ser. No. 503,157, filed Oct. 23, 1965, and reference is made thereto for additional details of construction of the

glides

145 and 146.

As may be best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4 of the drawings, two of glides 146, for example, are provided on the righthand guide rail 131A and likewise two of the glides 145 are provided on the lefthand guide rail 131. As illustrated, the forward ones of the

glides

145 and 146 are disposed essentially at the front ends of the

guide rails

131 and 131A and the rear ones of the

glides

145 and 146 are disposed only a short distance rearwardly from the front ones of the

glides

145 and 146, whereby the associated drawer 150 is essentially mounted in cantilever fashion in both the closed position and in many of the extended positions thereof.

Mounted upon the drawer support 130, and specificall upon the

glides

145 and 146 thereof, is the center drawer 150 the details of construction of which can be best seen in FIGS. 2 to 8 of the drawings. The center drawer 150 includes a bottom Wall 151 that is substantially rectangular in shape and has a width slightly less than the distance between the

guide rails

131 and 131A and has a length slightly less than the length of the

guide rails

131 and 131A (see FIG. 4). Disposed on the rear of the bottom wall 151 and integral therewith and extending upwardly therefrom is a generally rectangular rear wall 152, the upper edge of the rear wall 152 carrying a forwardly directed top wall 153 that extends a short distance toward the front of the drawer 150. Disposed on the longitudinally extending side edges of the bottom wall 151 are upstanding inner side walls 155, the side walls 155 being disposed substantially parallel to each other and normal to the bottom wall 151 and extending substantially the entire length thereof. The upper edges of the inner side walls 155 extend upward-1y a distance equal substantially to the vertical extent of the rear wall 152, the adjacent edges of the rear wall 152 and the top wall 153 and the inner side walls 155 being suitably joined as by welding. The upper edge of the inner side walls 155 further carry outwardly directed side flanges 156 disposed substantially normal to the associated inner side wall 155, the outer edges of the side flanges 156 being reversely bent to provide a smooth rounded outer edge. Finally, there is provided at the front of the drawer 150 a drawer head 158, the shape and construction of which is best seen in FIGS. 2, 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings, the drawer head 158 having a vertical extent substantially equal to that of the inner side walls 155 and extending across and closing the front of the center drawer 150 and extending laterally outwardly therefrom to join with the pedestal 102 and the skirt 116.

There further is provided on each of the inner side walls 155 an outer side wall 160, a single piece of sheet metal being shaped to provide a bottom flange 161, a lower support flange 162, a retaining flange 163, an upper support flange 164, a connecting wall 165 and an attachment flange 166. The two outer side walls 160 are formed as mirror images one of the other, and accordingly, only one of the outer side walls 160 will be described in detail and the same reference numerals supplied to corresponding parts of the other outer side wall 160 throughout the several figures of the drawings. The bottom flange 161 of the outer side wall 160 lies beneath the drawer bottom wall 151 and is suitably secured thereto as by welding (see FIG. 3), the bottom flange 161 extending laterally outwardly beyond the associated inner side wall 155 and carrying on the outer edge thereof and spaced upwardly therefrom the lower support flange 162. The lower support flange 162 is disposed beneath the associated

glide

145 or 146, as the case may be, and may hear thereagainst in certain positions of the center drawer 150. The outer edge of the lower support flange 162 carries an upwardly extending retaining flange 163 which is adapted to engage the side of the glides 145 to assist in lateral positioning of the center-drawer 150 within the drawer support 130. Spaced upwardly from the lower support flange 162 is an upper support flange 164 that normally rests upon the upper surface of the associated

glide

145 or 146, as the case may be, the support flanges 1'62 and 164 being interconnected by a connecting wall 165, the connecting wall 165 being suitably secured as by welding to the adjacent inner side wall 155. Finally, there is provided integral with the upper support flange 164 and extending upwardly therefrom an attachment flange 166 that extends upwardly substantially to the drawer side flange 156, the attachment flange 166 being secured to the adjacent inner side wall 155 as by welding. Each of the outer side walls 160 extends along the side of the drawer 150 from a point immediately to the rear of the drawer head 158 and to a point spaced afew inches rearwardly with respect to the drawer rear wall 152 (see FIGS. 5 to 8).

The center drawer 150 is supported beneath the desk top 101 for movement between a storage position and extended positions upon the four

glides

145 and 146. Referring to FIG. 4, it will be seen that the center drawer 150 in the storage position illustrated therein has the major portion thereof disposed rearwardly or to the right with respect to the drawer support 130, whereby the portion of the drawer 1-50 to the right of the rearmost or righthand glides '145 and 146 is supported in cantilever fashion. As a result, the upper support flanges 164 rest upon and are supported by the upper surfaces of the rearmost righthand glides and 146, but the lower support flanges 162 engage the lower portions of the front or lefthand glides 145 and 146. However, when the center drawer 150 is moved to the fully extended position thereof, i.e., to the left as viewed in FIG. 4, the major portion thereof is supported in cantilever fashion out from under the desk top 101, whereby the upper support flanges 164 rest upon the upper surfaces of the forward or

lefthand glides

145 and 146, while the lower support flanges 162 rest against the lower surfaces of the rear or

righthand glides

145 and 146. Side movement of the center drawer 150 during movement between the storage and extended positions thereof is controlled by the cooperation between the glides 145 on one hand and the connecting wall 165 and the retaining flange 163 on the other hand.

In order to limit the outward movement of the center drawer 150 with respect to the desk top 101, or alternatively, to release the center drawer 150 to permit complete removal thereof from beneath the desk top 101, there has been provided a pair of stop assemblies 200, the stop assemblies 200 being formed as mirror images one of the other, whereby only one of the stop assemblies 200 will be described in detail and like reference numerals applied to corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings. Referring particularly to FIGS. 5 to 9 of the drawings, the stop assembly 200 includes a stop late 201, the stop plate 201 being formed of sheet metal bent into substantially an L-shaped cross section providing a bottom flange 202 and a side flange 203, the bottom flange 202 and the side flange 203 being disposed substantially perpendicular to each other. All of the other parts of the stop assembly 200 are mounted upon the stop plate 201, whereby mounting of the stop plate 201 upon the associated drawer 150 serves to mount the stop assembly 200 thereon. It will be seen that the bottom flange 202 of the stop plate 201 rests upon the bottom flange 161 of the associated outer side wall disposed rearwardly with respect to the drawer rear wall 152, and the side flange 203 is disposed against the inner side of that portion of the outer side Wall 160 disposed rearwardly of the drawer rear wall 152, the side flange 203 more specifically bearing against the connecting wall 165 and the attachment flange 166. In order to interconnect the parts, a plurality of welds 204 is provided interconnecting the bottom flange 161 of the outer side wall 160 and the bottom flange 202 of the stop plate 201 on the one hand, and interconnecting the wall 165 and the attachment flange 166 of the outer side wall 160 and the side flange 203 of the stop plate 201 on the other hand.

Mounted upon the stop plate bottom flange 202 and secured thereto as by welding at 204 is a pivot bracket 205, the pivot bracket 205 being also formed of sheet metal and generally L-shaped in cross section and including a bottom flange 206 that is welded to the bottom flange 202 and an upstanding flange 207 disposed substantially normal to the bottom flange 206 and substantially normal to the side flange 203 and spaced to the rear thereof (see FIG. 9 particularly). Provided in the upstanding flange 207 is an opening 208 that is utilized to mount upon the pivot bracket 205 a stop 210. As illustrated, the stop 210 includes a generally rectangular body 211 from one edge of which extends outwardly a stop arm 212 generally rectangular in shape and disposed to the rear of the outer side wall 160 and the stop plate 201. An adjacent edge of the body 211 carries integral therewith an abutment flange 213 disposed substantially normal to the body 211 and substantial normal to the stop arm 212 and extending forwardly therefrom. There is provided on the stop arm 212 a resilient bumper 215 which is preferably formed of rubber or some similar resilent material. In order to mount the stop 210 upon the pivot bracket 205, the stop body 211 has an opening 216 therethrough which receives a shoulder screw 217, having a head 218 provided with the usual tool receiving slot therein and a first shank 219 of a predetermined diameter slightly less than the diameter of the opening 216 but greater than the diameter of the opening 208 and having a longitudinal extent just slightly greater than the thickness of the stop body 211. Integral with the shank 219 and extending in longitudinal alignment therewith is a smaller diameter shank portion 220' that is threaded and extends through the opening 208 and receives on the outer end thereof a nut 221 which serves to mount the screw 217 and the stop 210 carried thereon upon the pivot bracket 205.

The described mounting of the stop 210 permits the stop 210 to be pivoted between the positions illustrated in. FIGS. 7 and 8 of the drawings, the pivotal movement of the stop 210 being accomplished manually without the use of any tool whatsoever. The stop 210 in FIG. 7 is illustrated in the stop position thereof wherein the stop arm 212 and the bumper 215 carried thereby extend beyond the outer side wall of the drawer 150 and into a position in general longitudinal alignment with the associated rear glide 145 (see FIG. also). When the parts are in this position, the abutment flange 213 is disposed above the screw 217 and the outer edge thereof may engage the stop plate side flange 203, the parts being held in this position fundamentally under the urging of gravity, inasmuch as the stop arm 212 and the bumper 215 thereon are disposed laterally from the pivot axis of the stop 210, whereas all other parts of the stop 210 are disposed symmetrically with respect to the pivot axis thereof, the pivot axis being essentially the longitudinal axis of the screw 217. Accordingly, the parts will be held in this position by gravity until the position is manually changed by a user. Preferably both the stop assemblies 200 are arranged with the stops 210 thereof in the stop position, i.e., with the stop arm 212 and the bumper 215 extending laterally outwardly beyond the side walls of the drawer 150 and in positions to engage the associated

glide

145 or 146, as the case may be. With the parts in this position, the drawer 150 can be withdrawn from beneath the desk top 101 until the bumpers 215 engage the respective rear glides 145 and 146, such engagement positively preventing further withdrawal of the drawer 150 from beneath the desk top 101.

If it is desired fully to remove the drawer 150 from beneath the desk top 101, the user can readily move the stop assemblies 200 from the stop position thereof to the release position thereof, the stop 210 and the stop arm 212 being illustrated in the release positions thereof in FIGS. 6 and 8 of the drawings. In the release position of the parts, the stop 210 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction approximately 90 from the position illustrated in FIG. 7 to that illustrated in FIG. 8. In FIG. 8, the stop arm 212 and the bumper 215 carried thereby are disposed vertically and with the longitudinal axis thereof in alignment with and vertically disposed above the pivot axis of the parts, i.e., the longitudinal axis of the screw 217. The abutment flange 213 is disposed now to the left of the pivot axis as viewed in FIG. '8 and may bear against the outer side of the pivot bracket 205, gravity tending to hold the parts in this position since the weight of the abutment flange 213 tends to cause the parts to rotate in a counterclockwise direction, the weight of the other parts including the stop arm 212 and the bumper 215 being equally distributed on either side of the pivot axis and thus exerting no force tending to cause rotation. Accordingly, the parts remain in the release positions illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 8 until manually changed by the user. With the parts in the release position illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 8, no parts of the stop assemblies 200 extend laterally beyond the sides of the drawer 150,

and specifically, no parts of the bumpers 215 are disposed in longitudinal alignment with the

glides

145 and 146, whereby the drawer 150 can be fully withdrawn from beneath the desk top 101, the stop assemblies 200 passing by the

glides

145 and 146 during such movement of the drawer 150, all as is diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 6 of the drawings.

Recapitulating, if it is desired to insert the drawer 150 in the drawer support or completely to remove the drawer 150 from the support 130 and from beneath the desk top 101, the stop assemblies 200 may be manually adjusted by the user without the use of any tool whatsoever to place the parts in the positions illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 8 of the drawings. With the parts in these positions, the bumpers 215 clear the adjacent glides and 146, respectively, and thus permit the drawer to be moved along the drawer supports 130 between the fully closed position and the fully removed position as desired. Moreover, the stops 210 will remain in this adjusted release position under the urging of gravity until manually changed by the user. Once the center drawer 150 has been inserted in the proper position upon the drawer support 130, and assuming thereafter that normal drawer operation is desired, the user will move the stops 210 on the stop assemblies 200 to the stop positions illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 7. With the parts in the stop position, the bumpers 215 extend laterally beyond the side walls of the drawer 150 and into longitudinal alignment with the associated glides 145 and 146, respectively. As a consequence, if the user attempts to withdraw the drawer 150 completely from beneath the desk top 101, after a predetermined distance of outward movement of the drawer 150 the bumpers 215 will engage the associated rear glides 145 and 146 as illustrated in FIG. 5, and thus positively prevent further withdrawal of the drawer 150 from beneath the desk top 101 and from the drawer support 130. Again the parts will remain in the stop positions thereof under the urging of gravity until the user manually moves the parts from the stop positions illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 7 to the release positions illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 8. It is noted that the movement of the stops 210 between the stop positions thereof and the release positions thereof is accomplished manually without the use of any tool whatsoever.

From the above it will be seen that there has been provided an improved furniture construction and particularly an improved stop structure for use with drawers therein which fulfills all of the objects and advantages set forth above. While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Ina furniture construction, the combination comprising a furniture top, a pair of guide rails mounted beneath said top in spaced-apart positions, a drawer slidably supported upon said rails for movement between a closed position disposed beneath said top and extended positions disposed outwardly with respect to said top, abutment members mounted respectively on said rails adjacent to the path of movement of said drawer, a pair of stop plates mounted respectively on the opposite sides of said drawer and extending rearwardly therefrom and disposed inwardly with respect to said abutment members, and a pair of stop arms respectively pivotally mounted on said stop plates to the rear of said drawer and pivotal about axes substantially parallel to the direction of movement of said drawer on said rails, said stop arms being manually shiftable between stop positions and release positions and being held by gravity in said respective positions when manually placed therein, said stop arms in the stop positions thereof extending laterally beyond the respective sides of said drawer and in position to engage the associated abutment member after said drawer has been partially withdrawn from beneath said top thereby to prevent removal of said drawer from beneath said top, said stop arms in the release positions being confined within the sides of said drawer and in position to pass by the associated one of said abutment members when said drawer is moved to an extended position thereby to permit complete removal of said drawer from beneath said top.

2. The furniture construction set forth in claim 1, and further comprising a pair of resilient bumpers respectively carried by said stop arms for engagement with the associated abutment member when said stop arms are in the stop position thereof.

3. The furniture construction set forth in claim 1, and further comprising a front pair of glides respectively mounted on said guide rails in general horizontal alignment, a rear pair of glides respectively mounted on said guide rails in general horizontal alignment and in general longitudinal alignment with said front pair of glides, said glides slidably supporting said drawer in the movement between the closed position and the extended positions thereof, said rear glides serving as said abutment members for engagement with said stop arms.

4. A stop assembly for use on a drawer mounted beneath a furniture top for movement between a closed position disposed beneath the top and extended positions disposed outwardly with respect to the top and having an abutment mounted on the top adjacent to the path of movement of the drawer, said stop assembly comprising a stop plate for mounting on the associated drawer adjacent to the rear thereof, and extending rearwardly therefrom and disposed inwardly with respect to the abutment memher, a stop arm pivotally mounted on said stop plate to the rear of the drawer and pivotal about an axis substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the drawer beneath the top, said stop arm being manually shiftable between a stop position and a release position and being held by gravity in said respective positions when manually placed therein, said stop arm in the stop position thereof extending laterally beyond the adjacent side of the drawer and in position to engage the abutment member after the drawer has been partially withdrawn from beneath the top thereby to prevent removal of the drawer from beneath the top, the stop arm in the release position being confined within the sides of the drawer and in position to pass by the abutment member when the drawer is moved to an extended position thereby to permit complete removal of the drawer from beneath the top.

5. The stop assembly set forth in claim 4, and further comprising a resilient bumper carried by said stop arm for engagement with the abutment member when said stop arm is in the stop position thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,207,786 12/1916 Olree 312-348 1,569,010 1/1926 Geimer 312-348 1,774,236 8/1930 Ohnstrand.

2,496,997 2/1950 Hallberg.

2,550,980 5/1951 Drake 312-348 2,765,208 10/1956 Bush 312-348 3,142,517 7/1964 Ward 312-348 X 3,278,250 10/1966 Vogt 312-348 BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner.

JAMES T. MCCALL, Examiner.

Claims

1. IN A FURNITURE CONSTRUCTION, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A FURNITURE TOP, A PAIR OF GUIDE RAILS MOUNTED BENEATH SAID TOP IN SPACED-APART POSITIONS, A DRAWER SLIDABLY SUPPORTED UPON SAID RAILS FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN A CLOSED POSITION DISPOSED BENEATH SAID TOP AND EXTENDED POSITIONS DISPOSED OUTWARDLY WITH RESPECT TO SAID TOP, ABUTMENT MEMBERS MOUNTED RESPECTIVELY ON SAID RAILS ADJACENT TO THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF SAID DRAWER, A PAIR OF STOP PLATES MOUNTED RESPECTIVELY ON THE OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID DRAWER AND EXTENDING REARWARDLY THEREFROM AND DISPOSED INWARDLY WITH RESPECT TO SAID ABUTMENT MEMBERS, AND A PAIR OF STOP ARMS RESPECTIVELY PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID STOP PLATES TO THE REAR OF SAID DRAWER AND PIVOTAL ABOUT AXES SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID DRAWER ON SAID RAILS, SAID STOP ARMS BEING MANUALLY SHIFTABLE BETWEEN STOP POSITIONS AND RELEASE POSITIONS AND BEING HELD BY GRAVITY IN SAID RESPECTIVE POSITIONS WHEN MANUALLY PLACED THERIN, SAID STOP ARMS IN THE STOP POSITIONS THEREOF EXTENDING LATERALLY BEYOND THE RESPECTIVE SIDES OF SAID DRAWER AND IN POSITION TO ENGAGE THE ASSOCIATED ABUTMENT MEMBER AFTER SAID DRAWER HAS BEEN PARTIALLY WITHDRAWN FROM BENEATH SAID TOP THEREBY TO PREVENT REMOVAL OF SAID DRAWAL FROM BENEATH SAID TOP, SAID STOP ARMS IN THE RELEASE POSITIONS BEING CONFINED WITHIN THE SIDES OF SAID DRAWER AND IN POSITION TO PASS BY THE ASSOCIATED ONE OF SAID ABUTMENT MEMBERS WHEN SAID DRAWER IS MOVED TO AN EXTENDED POSITION THEREBY TO PERMIT COMPLETE REMOVAL OF SAID DRAWER FROM BENEATH SAID TOP.