Progressive drawer slide

• US 3,912,341 A
• Filed: 10/23/1973
• Issued: 10/14/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert Stein
• Original Assignee: Robert Stein
• Inventors: Stein, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Myhre, Charles J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lazarus, R. H.
• Application Number:
  US05/408,676
• Time in Patent Office: 721 Days
• Field of Search: 308/3.8 312/341,343,344,331,332,348,333,350
• US Class Current: 384/18
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2210/001 having a roller on the intermediate drawer rail, between the upper and lower rail
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2210/0032 Balls
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2210/0035 cages therefor, e.g. for telescopic slides
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2210/0059 Guide located at the side of the drawer
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2210/007 Three slide synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 88/493 with rollers, ball bearings, wheels, or the like

Abstract

The present invention relates to an improved drawer slide of the progressive type incorporating a pair of external channel members, one of which may be secured to the side of a drawer, the other external channel being affixed to the surface of a cabinet adjacent the drawer side, the mechanism including an intermediate channel. Each external channel is connected to the intermediate channel by a separate anti-friction bearing assembly for relative sliding movement, the intermediate channel member including a compressible traction member fixed against substantial bodily movement lengthwise of the intermediate channel, the traction member including drive portions in frictional engagement with opposed vertical surfaces of the external channels. At least one of the anti-friction bearing assemblies permits a degree of lateral movement between the components connected thereby, whereby the widthwise separation of the external channels may be varied. The compressed traction means, the drive surfaces of which are biased against the channels, urge the channels outwardly to the maximum spaced condition permitted within the clearance space provided in any particular installation. The slide members of the type described are thus able to compensate for substantial inaccuracies in installation and tolerance variations in the construction of the drawer and cabinet, while at the same time, due to the yieldable biasing forces exerted by the traction member, providing smooth and controlled operation of the drawer.

Claims

1. A self-compensating drawer slide of the progressive opening type comprising first and second elongated external channel members free of direct connection to each other adapted selectively to be attached to a drawer side and a cabinet surface adjacent said side, an intermediate channel interposed between said exterior channel members, said exterior channel members including vertical, opposed, parallel wall portions, first and second anti-friction bearing means interposed between said intermediate channel and said first and said second external channels, respectively, for enabling relative longitudinal sliding movement of said channels, at least one of said antifriction bearing means comprising a vertically disposed roller means rotatable about a horizontal shaft fixed to one said channel, the other said channel including a horizontal track supported on said roller means, the width of said track exceeding the width of said roller means to permit relative horizontal movement between the channels connected by said at least one anti-friction bearing means, a resilient, compressible traction member including a continuous tread having first and second opposed drive portions biased into frictional driving contact with a different one of said parallel wall portions, and mounting means on said intermediate channel securing said traction member against substantial bodily movement longitudinally of said intermediate channel while permitting relative longitudinal movements between said drive portions and said intermediate channel.

2. A drawer slide in accordance with claim 1 wherein said traction member comprises an annular band, said band being deformed from the normal annular condition when disposed between said parallel wall portions.

3. A drawer slide in accordance with claim 2 wherein said tread includes corrugations in contact with said parallel wall portions.

4. A drawer slide of the progressive type comprising a pair of exterior channel members to be selectively secured to a drawer side and to a parallel cabinet surface adjacent said side and an intermediate channel, first and second guide and support means interposed, respectively, between said intermediate channel and each of said exterior channels, at least one of said guide and support means comprising a roller mounted on a guide track, said roller being shiftable lengthwisely and widthwisely relative to said track to permit, in addition to longitudinal sliding movement, relative lateral movements between the intermediate channel and exterior channel connected by said one guide and support means, and a traction member carried by said intermediate channel and including a pair of oppositely moving drive portions, one said drive portion being in frictional driving connection with a portion of each of said exterior channel members, said traction member being resiliently expansible and contractable in a horizontal plane yieldingly to bias said drive portions and, hence, said external channels laterally away from each other, movement of said exterior channels toward each other being accommodated by contraction of said traction member.