Undermount drawer slide position adjustment apparatus and method of use

• US 10,149,539 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2017
• Issued: 12/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hardware Resources Incorporated (Dimora Brands, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hardware Resources Incorporated (Dimora Brands, Inc.)
• Inventors: McGregor, Dennis, Davis, Greg
• Primary Examiner(s): Rohrhoff, Daniel J
• Application Number:
  US15/630,537
• Publication Number:
  US 20170347794A1
• Time in Patent Office: 537 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2088/4276 at drawer front via latch means or locking lever
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2088/4278 Quick-release clip
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2210/091 between slides and drawer bottoms
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 88/407 Adjustably or detachably mounted drawers A47B88/423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 88/427 at drawer side
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 88/49 with double extensible guides or parts
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 88/57 preventing complete withdrawal of the drawer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4984 Retaining clearance for motion between assembled parts

Abstract

An undermount drawer slide mounting clip releasably attaches a drawer to a drawer rail assembly mounted in a cabinet carcass. The apparatus is capable of effecting positional adjustments of the drawer in three directions without removing the drawer from the cabinet carcass. The apparatus is comprised of a body slidingly engaged with a bonnet. A trigger pivotally connected between the body and the bonnet. A spring loaded catch slidable within the bonnet and acted on by the trigger to releasably attach the apparatus to a drawer rail assembly. A threaded spindle rotates within the base and adjusts the horizontal position of the drawer. A ramp adjustably connected to the base adjusts the vertical position of the drawer. A plunger extends from a housing connected to the body to adjacent the drawer rail assembly and adjusts the depth of the drawer.

Claims

1. A drawer slide clip mounting apparatus for releasably connecting a drawer to a drawer slide assembly mounted in a cabinet carcass, comprising:

a base configured to be mounted to the drawer;

a bonnet slidingly connected to the base;

a rack positioner, having a sliding connection to the bonnet, configured to be releasably connected to the drawer slide assembly; and

,

a releasable locking means, operatively connected to the rack positioner, for controlling the sliding connection.

2. The drawer slide clip mounting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a trigger lever pivotally connected to the rack positioner;

a guide dog slidingly connected to the rack positioner;

a spring bias between the guide dog and the rack positioner; and

,

a transfer plate connected to the guide dog and pivotally connected to the trigger lever;

whereby compression of the trigger lever effects a retraction of the guide dog and release of the trigger lever effects an extension of the guide dog.

3. The drawer slide clip mounting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rack positioner further comprises a set of rack teeth, and wherein the releasable locking means further comprises:

a spring loaded release button rotationally fixed within and extending out of the bonnet;

the spring loaded release button comprising a set of engagement teeth;

a pinion collar adjacent the release button and configured to selectively engage the engagement teeth;

the pinion collar comprising a set of pinion teeth engaged with the set of rack teeth; and

,

whereby compressing the spring loaded release button disengages the set of engagement teeth from the pinion collar.

4. The drawer slide clip mounting apparatus of claim 3, wherein the set of engagement teeth comprises graduated teeth.

5. The drawer slide clip mounting apparatus of claim 3, wherein the set of engagement teeth further comprises at least one resilient pawl arm;

and

wherein the pinion collar further comprises a set of ratchet teeth engaged with the at least one resilient pawl arm.

6. The drawer slide clip mounting apparatus of claim 5, wherein the pinion collar further comprises a first set of lock teeth, and wherein the releasable locking means further comprises:

a locking ring, having a first set of positioning threads and a second set of lock teeth, constrained to vertical movement by the bonnet;

a lock lever, having a second set of positioning threads engaged with the first set of positioning threads, constrained to rotational movement by the locking ring;

whereby rotation of the lock lever in a first direction causes engagement of the first set of lock teeth and the second set of lock teeth; and

,

whereby rotation of the lock lever in a second direction causes disengagement of the first set of lock teeth from the second set of lock teeth.

7. The drawer slide clip mounting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a housing mounted to the base; and

,

an adjustable plunger slidingly attached to the housing;

wherein the apparatus adjusts a depth position of the drawer relative to the cabinet carcass when the plunger is repositioned relative to the housing.

8. The drawer slide clip mounting apparatus of claim 7,

wherein the housing comprises a carriage fixed to the base;

wherein the adjustable plunger comprises a plunger having a threaded guide arm and a thumbscrew threaded into the carriage and the threaded guide arm; and

,

wherein rotation of the thumbscrew in a first direction advances the plunger with respect to the carriage and rotation of the thumbscrew in a second direction retracts the plunger with respect to the carriage.

9. The drawer slide clip mounting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a knob;

wherein the base further comprises a threaded spindle;

wherein the bonnet further comprises a first flange and a second flange adjacent the threaded spindle; and

,

wherein the knob is threaded onto the threaded spindle; and

is between the first flange and the second flange;

whereby rotation of the knob clockwise moves the bonnet in a first direction with respect to the base and rotation of the knob counter-clockwise moves the bonnet in a second direction with respect to the base.

10. The drawer slide clip mounting apparatus of claim 3, wherein the bonnet further comprises a first set of serrated teeth, further comprising:

a ramp, constrained to sliding movement by the bonnet;

the ramp further comprising a ramp extension having a second set of serrated teeth engaged with the first set of serrated teeth; and

,

whereby movement of the ramp extension advances the ramp under the drawer slide to effect a vertical adjustment of the drawer.

11. A drawer slide clip mounting apparatus for releasably connecting a drawer to a drawer slide assembly mounted in a cabinet carcass, comprising:

a base, adapted to be attached to the drawer;

a bonnet, slidingly attached to the base;

a depth adjustment means, attached to the base between the drawer and the drawer slide assembly, for adjusting a depth distance;

a vertical adjustment means, attached to the bonnet between the drawer and the drawer slide assembly, for adjusting a vertical distance; and

a lateral adjustment means, attached to the base between the drawer and the drawer slide assembly, for adjusting a horizontal distance.

12. The drawer slide clip mounting apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

a release mechanism, attached to the bonnet, for releasably coupling the drawer slide clip mounting apparatus to the drawer slide assembly.

13. The drawer slide clip mounting apparatus of claim 12, wherein the release mechanism further comprises:

a rack positioner, having a set of rack teeth, constrained to slide in a depth direction by the bonnet;

a releasable catch assembly, attached to the rack positioner and adapted to engage the drawer slide assembly;

a release button, having a set of engagement teeth, constrained to vertical movement by the bonnet;

a pinion collar, having a set of pinion teeth and a first set of lock teeth, constrained to rotational movement about the release button by the bonnet;

the set of pinion teeth engaging the set of rack teeth; and

,

whereby the set of engagement teeth engage the first set of lock teeth when the release button is in a released position, thereby inhibiting movement of the rack positioner; and

,

whereby the set of engagement teeth disengage the first set of lock teeth when the release button is in a compressed position, thereby permitting movement of the rack positioner.

14. The drawer slide clip mounting apparatus of claim 13, wherein the release mechanism further comprises:

a locking ring body, having a second set of lock teeth;

a lock lever, having a first set of riser threads, positioned in the bonnet and constrained to rotational movement; and

,

a locking ring, having a second set of riser threads in contact with the first set of riser threads, constrained to vertical movement by the bonnet;

whereby rotation of the locking ring alternatively engages and disengages the first set of lock teeth from the second set of lock teeth.

15. The drawer slide clip mounting apparatus of claim 14, whereby rotation of the locking ring is inhibited by a set of positioning arms on the bonnet.

16. The drawer slide clip mounting apparatus of claim 14, wherein the second set of lock teeth are triangular;

and,

wherein the release button further comprises at least one triangular catch operatively disposed on a resilient pawl arm; and

,

whereby inhibiting movement of the rack positioner further comprises inhibiting movement in a proximal depth direction and permitting movement in a distal depth direction.

17. The drawer slide clip mounting apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first set of lock teeth are triangular and the set of engagement teeth are graduated.

18. The drawer slide clip mounting apparatus of claim 11, wherein the depth adjustment means comprises:

a carriage, having a threaded receiver, attached to the base;

a plunger, having a half-threaded trench, slidingly engaged with the carriage;

a thumbscrew, engaging the half-threaded trench, constrained to rotational motion by the carriage.

19. The drawer slide clip mounting apparatus of claim 11, wherein the vertical adjustment means comprises:

a ramp body, constrained to lateral movement within the bonnet;

an extension, having a first set of serrated teeth, integrally formed with the ramp body; and

,

a second set of serrated teeth, removably engaging the first set of serrated teeth, positioned on the bonnet.

20. The drawer slide clip mounting apparatus of claim 11, wherein the lateral adjustment means comprises:

a threaded spindle, fixed to the base;

a knob, threaded on the threaded spindle;

a set of flanges, configured to receive the threaded spindle, positioned adjacent the knob, and fixed to the bonnet.