US3649086A

US3649086A - Drawer guide

Info

Publication number: US3649086A
Application number: US93228A
Authority: US
Inventors: Kenneth G Vance
Original assignee: Winzeler Stamping Co
Current assignee: Winzeler Stamping Co
Priority date: 1970-11-27
Filing date: 1970-11-27
Publication date: 1972-03-14
Anticipated expiration: 1989-03-14
Also published as: CA945614A

Abstract

A drawer guide which provides noiseless, low friction operation of a drawer comprises a channel-shaped base member which is adapted to a fixed in an article of furniture to extend centrally and longitudinally of a drawer in order to support the drawer. An inverted channel-shaped slide member is adapted to be fixed to the bottom of a drawer, and one of such members telescopes within the other. A block of a durable low friction material extends centrally inside the outer member. The inner member has side walls terminating in in-turned flanges which extend into a groove on both sides of such block, and is also provided with ears of a durable low friction material which extend laterally from the side walls of the inner member and also extend vertically beyond such in-turned flanges into engagement with the outer member. Such ears are located adjacent to one end of the assembly and such block is located adjacent to the other end so that the drawer when closed is centrally supported at one end by the ears and at the other end by the block.

Description

United States Patent Vance Mar. 14, 1972 [54] DRAWER GUIDE Primary Examiner-Martin P. Schwadron Assistant ExaminerRonald H. Lazarus [72] Inventor. Kenneth G. Vance, Fort Wayne, Ind. Atmmey Marsha" & Yeasting [73] Assignee: Winzeler Stamping Company, Montpelier,

Ohio [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: Nov. 27, 1970 A drawer guide which provides noiseless, low friction operation of a drawer comprises a channel-shaped base member [21] Appl 93228 which is adapted to a fixed in an article of furniture to extend centrally and longitudinally of a drawer in order to support the [52] US. Cl ..308/3.6, 308/3.8, 312/345, drawer. An inverted channel-shaped slide member is adapted 312/342 to be fixed to the bottom of a drawer, and one of such mem- [51] Int. Cl. ..Fl6c 29/00 bers telescopes within the other. A block of a durable low fric- Field of Search 3 31 3 9,3 3; 3 1 7 713 1 2i tion material extends centrally inside the outer member. The 344, 346, 347 inner member has side walls terminating in in-tumed flanges which extend into a groove on both sides of such block, and is [56] References C'ted also provided with ears of a durable low friction material which extend laterally from the side walls of the inner member UNITED STATES PATENTS and also extend vertically beyond such in-tumed flanges into 608,130 7/1898 Kandle ..312/34l NR engagement with the outer member. Such ears are located ad- 732,72l 7/1903 Dunning ..3 12/342 jacent to one end of the assembly and such block is located ad- 2,l42,898 1/1939 Harmon ..312/343 jacent to the other end 50 that the drawer when closed is cen- 3,126,230 3/1964 Spicer ..308/3.6 trally upported at one end by the ears and at the other end by the block.

3 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures DRAWER GUIDE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the construction of furniture, it is advantageous to mount a drawer upon a central guide or slide mechanism which guides and supports the drawer. It has been found, however, that it is difficult to design a simple drawer guide which is inexpensive but structurally sound, and which permits the drawer to move smoothly with little friction and also guides the drawer accurately so as to prevent displacement or misalignment that would cause the drawer to bind at one side or the other.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present drawer guide is of an improved construction that supports and guides the drawer at two points which are spaced longitudinally as far as possible. At both of these points, the drawer is guided accurately with very little friction, so that the drawer operates smoothly and quietly, and the guiding arrangement is interlocked at both points so that the drawer cannot be displaced in the guide.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 of the drawing is a longitudinal vertical section of a drawer guide embodying the invention, which is shown installed in an article of furniture to support a drawer.

FIG. 2 is an end elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the drawer guide shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A channel-shaped base base member is adapted to be fixed in an article of furniture to extend centrally and longitudinally of a drawer in order to support the drawer. Thus the base member 10 may be provided at each end with a horizontally extending tab 11 which may be fixed to the framework of the furniture by means of screws (not shown).

An inverted channel-shaped slide member 12 is adapted to be fixed to the bottom of the drawer, for example by means of an upstanding flange 13 which is tacked or stapled to the rear end of the drawer, and a horizontal tab 14 that extends into a groove 15 provided on the rear face of the front panel 16 of the drawer.

The channel-shaped base member 10 and the inverted channel-shaped member 12 telescope together. Preferably the base member telescopes within the slide member 12 as shown in the drawing. If desired, however, the entire structure of the guide member shown in the drawing may be inverted so that the inner member becomes the slide member 12 fixed to the bottom of the drawer, and the outer member becomes the base member 10 fixed in the framework of the furniture. In any case, a block of a durable low friction material extends centrally inside the outer channel-shaped member, which in the arrangement shown in the drawings is fixed to the bottom of the drawer.

Each of the side walls of the inner channel-shaped member 10 terminates in an in-turned flange 18. The flanges 18 extend into a groove 19 on both sides of the block 17.

Preferably the block 17 is in the shape of a cylindrical spool so that it does not need to be installed in any particular angular position. The block 17 may be fastened in place by means of a rivet 20 which is secured to the outer channel-shaped member 12 at one end and extends through a central bore in the block 17 which is countersunk to receive the head at the other end of the river 20.

The block 17 preferably is made of nylon, but may be made of any other durable low friction material.

arrangement shown in the drawin is fixed to the framework of the furniture rather than to the rawer, 15 provided with two cars of a durable low friction material which extend laterally from the side walls of the inner member and also extend vertically beyond the in-turned flanges of the inner member into engagement with the outer member. These ears of durable, low friction material, preferably nylon, may be of any desired shape and may be secured to the inner channel-shaped member in any desired manner. In order to enable the block 17 to be manufactured in larger quantities so as to reduce its cost of manufacture, it is advantageous to make the ears 21 of the same construction as the block 17. Thus in the structure shown in the drawing, the ears 21 are identical to the block 17 and are made of the same material. Each of the ears 21 is secured to one side of the inner channel-shaped member by means of a rivet which is identical to the rivet used to secure the block 17, and which may hold the car 21 loosely so that it is rotatable. In this way, the number of different parts required to construct the guide is reduced. However, the ears may be of any other desired shape, so long as they extend laterally from the side walls of the inner member and also extend vertically beyond the in-turned flanges of the inner member into engagement with the outer member.

The ears 21 are located adjacent to one end of the assembly and the block 17 is located adjacent to the other end ofthe assembly, so that when the drawer is closed it is centrally supported at one end by the ears and at the other end by the block. Preferably the block 17 rather than the ears is located adjacent to the rear end of the drawer, because the block 17 is somewhat more effective than the ears 2] in restraining the drawer against vertical movement or against tilting when the drawer has been pulled nearly completely out.

The outer channel-shaped member preferably has its side walls terminating in in-turned flanges 22, which assist in restraining the drawer against vertical movement and also stiffen the side walls of the outer channel-shaped member.

A drawer guide embodying the present invention is simple and inexpensive to construct, and guides a drawer very accurately to permit smooth, quiet operation of the drawer.

I claim:

1. A drawer guide which provides noiseless, low friction operation of a drawer comprising a channel-shaped base member which is adapted to be fixed in an article of furniture to extend centrally and longitudinally of a drawer in order to support the drawer, an inverted channel-shaped slide member which is adapted to be fixed to the bottom of a drawer, one of such members telescoping within the other, and a block of durable low friction material extending centrally inside the outer telescoping member, the inner member having side walls terminating in in-turned flanges which extend into a groove on both sides of such block, and being provided with ears of durable low friction material which extend laterally from the side walls of the inner member and also extend vertically beyond such in-turned flanges into engagement with the outer member, such ears being located adjacent to one end of the assembly and such block being located adjacent to the other end so that the drawer when closed is centrally supported at one end by the ears and at the other end by the block.

2. A drawer guide according to claim 1 wherein the base member telescopes within the slide member.

3. A drawer guide according to claim 1 wherein the block is in the shape of a spool.