DRAWER RELEASE

• US 20180279781A1
• Filed: 06/05/2018
• Published: 10/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Austin Hardware & Supply Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Austin Hardware & Supply Incorporated
• Inventors: Jeffries, Mark Steven, Smith, Norman Allen
• Granted Patent: US 10,455,937 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2210/0016 Telescopic drawer slide latch device
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 95/02 Handles similar handles for doors in general E05B1/0015
• CPC Class Codes: B21C 23/142 Making profiles
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/46 for drawers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/57 Operators with knobs or handles

Abstract

A drawer release is described. The drawer release includes a handle portion pivotally or rotatably engaged to a fixed portion, and the fixed portion is attached to or connected to a drawer. The handle portion includes at least one engaging member that engages a lever or actuator of a drawer-slide of the drawer to open or release the drawer. The drawer release provides for the one-handed opening of the drawer.

Claims

1. A drawer assembly with a release, comprising:

a drawer;

a drawer release comprising a handle extrusion pivotally engaged to a fixed extrusion;

the fixed extrusion attached to or connected to a front portion of the drawer;

the handle extrusion and the fixed extrusion extend an entire width or substantially the entire width of the front portion of the drawer;

the drawer engaged to a drawer slide, the drawer slide comprising an outer member and an inner member, the inner member attached to the drawer, the inner member slides relative to the outer member to provide a sliding movement to the drawer slide, the drawer slide having a lock that prevents the sliding movement of the drawer slide, the drawer slide having a lever rotatably mounted to the drawer slide, wherein the lever is moveable to release the lock of the drawer slide and allow the sliding movement of the drawer; and

,

the drawer release comprising at least one engaging member that extends from the handle extrusion, and the at least one engaging member engages a surface of the lever of the drawer slide of the drawer to open or release the lock to allow the sliding movement of the drawer slide, and wherein a pulling motion applied to the handle extrusion causes the at least one engaging member to move in a substantially vertical direction to press against the surface of the lever to open or release the lock of the drawer slide.

2. The drawer assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one spring assembly biases the handle extrusion to a closed position.

3. The release according to claim 1, further comprising end caps mounted on ends of the fixed extrusion, the end caps comprising a spring and a spring guide.

4. The drawer assembly according to claim 1, wherein the lever is mounted to an end of the inner member of the drawer slide.

5. The drawer assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one engaging member extends outwardly from the handle extrusion and generally parallel to a front surface of the handle extrusion.

6. A cabinet comprising the drawer assembly according to claim 1.

7. A drawer assembly with a release, comprising:

a drawer;

a drawer release comprising a handle portion pivotally engaged to a fixed portion to move between open and closed positions;

the fixed portion attached to or connected to the drawer;

an end cap engaged to an end of the fixed portion, wherein a biasing member biases the handle portion to the closed position, wherein the end cap holds the biasing member;

the drawer engaged to a drawer slide, the drawer slide comprising an outer member and an inner member, the inner member attached to the drawer, the inner member slides relative to the outer member to provide a sliding movement to the drawer slide, the drawer slide having a lock that prevents the sliding movement of the drawer slide, the drawer slide having a lever rotatably mounted to the drawer slide, wherein the lever is moveable to release the lock of the drawer slide and allow the sliding movement of the drawer; and

,

the drawer release comprising at least one engaging member that extends from the handle portion, and the at least one engaging member engages a surface of the lever of the drawer slide of the drawer to open or release the lock to allow the sliding movement of the drawer slide, and wherein a pulling motion applied to the handle extrusion causes the at least one engaging member to move in a substantially vertical direction to press against the surface of the lever to open or release the lock of the drawer slide.

8. The drawer assembly according to claim 7, wherein the at least one engaging member comprises a first engaging member and a second engaging member, wherein the first and second engaging members are on opposite sides of the handle portion.

9. The drawer assembly according to claim 7, wherein the handle portion and the fixed portion are formed by an extrusion process.

10. The drawer assembly according to claim 7, wherein the handle portion is actuated to engage the lever by an operator pulling any portion of the handle portion.

11. The drawer assembly according to claim 7, wherein the handle portion is actuated to engage the lever positioned on a first side of the drawer and to engage another lever positioned on a second side of the drawer by pulling any portion of the handle portion, wherein the first side of the drawer and second side of the drawer are oppositely disposed.

12. The drawer assembly according to claim 7, wherein the at least one engaging member extends outwardly from the handle portion.

13. A cabinet comprising the drawer assembly according to claim 7.

14. A release for a drawer slide, comprising:

a handle extrusion pivotally engaged to a fixed extrusion to move between open and closed positions, wherein the handle extrusion comprises an axis, and the axis rotates in a curved portion of the fixed extrusion;

a spring assembly biases the handle extrusion to the closed position;

a drawer slide, the drawer slide comprising an outer member and an inner member, the inner member slides relative to the outer member to provide a sliding movement to the drawer slide, the drawer slide having a lock that prevents the sliding movement of the drawer slide, the drawer slide having a lever rotatably mounted to the drawer slide, wherein the lever is moveable to release the lock of the drawer slide and allow the sliding movement of the drawer slide; and

,

at least one engaging member that extends from the handle extrusion, and the at least one engaging member engages an upper surface of the lever of the drawer slide of the drawer to open or release the lock to allow the sliding movement of the drawer slide, and wherein a pulling motion applied to the handle extrusion moves the handle to the open position and causes the at least one engaging member to move in a substantially downward direction to press down on the upper surface of the lever to open or release the lock of the drawer slide.

15. The release according to claim 14, further comprising an end cap mounted on an end of the fixed extrusion, the end cap housing the spring assembly, the spring assembly comprising a spring and a spring guide.

16. The release according to claim 15, wherein the end cap includes a spring retainer to hold the spring.

17. The release according to claim 15, wherein the spring guide comprises an opening and an insert.

18. The release according to claim 17, wherein the insert of the spring guide is positioned into a first end of the spring, and a spring retainer of the end cap receives a second end of the spring.

19. The release according to claim 17, wherein the opening of the spring guide receives the engaging member.

20. The release according to claim 14, wherein the handle extrusion comprises a curved channel, and wherein the curved channel of the handle extrusion pivots about the curved portion of the fixed extrusion.