Drawer slide socket and method

Abstract

A cabinet drawer slide socket is provided which provides ease and convenience in installing cabinet drawers for kitchen, bathroom or other cabinets. The slide socket is easily attached to conventional cabinet slides and includes a pair of legs which are positioned in pre-drilled apertures in the rear cabinet wall. Leg caps lock the slide socket to the rear cabinet wall and includes a slide receptor which is movable laterally for self-adjustment.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention herein pertains to cabinets as are used in kitchens, bathrooms or the like and in particular pertains to a self-adjusting slide socket for mounting side drawer slides.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART AND OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Various types of drawer guides and or slides have been used in the furniture industry for many years to permit drawers to easily open and close. Such slides are generally attached along the sides or bottom of the drawer and are formed of metal. Certain of these slides consist of c-shaped channel members which are positioned on each side of the drawer opening of the cabinet and engages a roller attached to the drawer. Other drawer slides contain two or more sections which telescope as the drawer opens and closes. Examples of such slides are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,658,399, 3,675,883, 4,176,890, 4,244,546, 4,278,309 and 4,927,216.

[0003] While certain of the cabinet slide sections are affixed to the cabinet sidewalls, others extend to the rear cabinet wall and are anchored thereto with stationary brackets as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,658,399. Other prior art rear cabinet wall brackets are adjustable as seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,176,890 and 3,675,833 and 4,244,546. While certain of these rear wall cabinet slide attachments provide for a fixed slide section as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,927,216, others provide for a moving or “self-adjusting” attachment as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,176,890, 3,675,833 and 4,244,546.

[0004] Problems have arisen with standard self-adjusting brackets which affix to the rear cabinet wall and permit a lateral movement of the drawer. Since certain of the prior cabinet wall brackets are formed of metal they can be deformed during shipping or installation, causing subsequent operational problems during drawer use. Other self-adjusting brackets are difficult to install in a level or horizontal manner to prevent “binding” of the drawer slides. Other prior art devices are not molded or manufactured to the close tolerances required for precise, even movement during installation and continual drawer usage. Other prior art drawer slide brackets require skill and expertise in mounting for proper functioning and are difficult to align.

[0005] Thus, with the problems and disadvantages of prior art drawer slide brackets or sockets which are self-adjusting, the present invention was conceived and of its objectives is to provide a drawer slide socket which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and easy to install by relatively inexperienced persons.

[0006] It is yet another objective of the invention to provide a drawer slide socket which will “lock” into pre-existing apertures in a rear cabinet wall.

[0007] It is another objective of the present invention to provide a drawer slide socket which includes a t-like member for durable, positive movement therein.

[0008] It is still another objective of the present invention to provide a drawer slide socket which can be used on either the left or right side of the drawer and which includes a flexible stop member.

[0009] It is yet a further objective of the present invention to provide a method of installing a drawer slide utilizing the slide socket as aforedescribed for quick and efficient assembly and installation.

[0010] Various other objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as a more detailed description is set forth below.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The aforesaid and other objectives are realized by providing a drawer slide socket having a base integrally formed from a polymeric material and which includes a pair of mounting legs projecting therefrom. A cap on each leg overhangs the same to provide a catch for the slide socket and prevents it from detaching from the rear cabinet wall. Slidably affixed to the base is a receptor for containing the end of a drawer slide as conventionally used in the cabinet industry. The base also defines a flexible stop member which limits the lateral movement of the receptor.

[0012] The method of installation includes positioning the slide socket on the drawer section of a cabinet slide and thereafter placing the slide socket on the inside rear cabinet wall in preformed apertures. Next, the cabinet section of the drawer slide is attached to a drawer section of the slide for cooperative engagement therewith. The receptor allows for lateral, self-adjusting movement of the drawer to ensure free, easy movement thereof as the drawer is opened and closed during normal use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] FIG. 1 shows in schematic representation the slide socket of the present invention mounted on the wall of a drawer cabinet;

[0014] FIG. 2 demonstrates a top view of the drawer cabinet as shown in FIG. 1 with the top of the cabinet removed for clarity;

[0015] FIG. 3 illustrates an enlarged side view of the slide socket of the invention as seen in FIG. 1;

[0016] FIG. 4 features an enlarged top view of the left slide socket as shown in FIG. 2 with the drawer slide removed;

[0017] FIG. 5 illustrates an enlarged top view of the right slide socket as shown in FIG. 2;

[0018] a FIG. 6 depicts a front elevational view of the slide socket as shown along lines 6-6 in FIG. 3;

[0019] FIG. 7 pictures an enlarged view of the side socket as shown in FIG. 1 removed from the rear wall without the drawer slide;

[0020] FIG. 8 demonstrates a view only of the slide socket base of FIG. 6;

[0021] FIG. 9 shows a view of the slide socket as shown in FIG. 3 but with the slide receptor removed therefrom; and

[0022] FIG. 10 captures a view only of the slide socket receptor as seen in FIG. 7 as removed from the base.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS AND OPERATION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] For a better understanding of the invention and it operation, turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a typical installation of preferred drawer slide socket 10 mounted on back wall 20 of cabinet 30. Cabinet 30 may be, for example, a kitchen cabinet and have one or more drawers 25 as is standard in the industry. Drawer slide socket 10 receives the terminal end of c-shaped cabinet section 26 of drawer slide 28. As would be understood, c-shaped drawer section 27 of telescopic drawer slide 28 is affixed to drawer 25 by screws or other fasteners (not shown) and is movable within cabinet section 26 as is usual in the trade. Drawer slide 28 is formed from metal and is one of a pair of side drawer slides used with drawer 25, the other drawer slide mounted on the opposite side as seen in FIG. 2. As would be understood, drawer slide socket 10 is used in pairs, but is generally described herein in singular fashion.

[0024] For a view of drawer slides 28, 28′ and slide sockets 10, 10′ used therewith, FIG. 2 provides a top schematic look at cabinet 30 with the cabinet top removed and with drawer 25 in a somewhat open posture as seen in FIG. 1. Drawer slides 28, 28′ with drawer section 27, 27′ and cabinet section 26, 26′ are also seen, showing their respective positions.

[0025] Drawer slide sockets 10, 10′ allows for easy installation and adjustment of cabinet drawers with accompanying hardware. In FIG. 3, drawer slide socket 10 is mounted on back wall 20, inside cabinet 30 which has pre-drilled apertures 21, 21′ for receiving socket mounting legs 11, 11′ respectively. Caps 12, 12′ which may be integrally molded with socket mounting legs 11, 11 include catches 13, 13′ which slightly overhang legs 11, 11′ as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 to prevent legs 11, 11′ from escaping apertures 21, 21′ respectively once in place. Catches 13, 13′ are slightly flexible to allow legs 11, 11′ to ‘snap’ into the respective apertures for quick and easy installation.

[0026] FIGS. 4 and 5 demonstrate slide socket 10 as positioned in cabinet back wall 20 seen from above with slide receptor 16 shown in a left-most position in FIG. 4 and a right-most position in FIG. 5. In order to “self-adjust” or move, drawer slide socket 10 includes base 15 as seen in FIGS. 8 and 9 with movable slide receptor 16 (FIG. 10) mounted therein. Slide receptor 16 is held by L-shaped brackets 17, 17′ as seen in FIGS. 6, 8 and 9 which engage the edges of t-like member 18 (FIG. 10) of slide receptor 16. As shown in FIG. 10, T-like member 18 is joined to sleeve 19 such as by molding a unitary component.

[0027] As also shown in FIG. 8, base 15 defines groove 22 into which t-like member 18 rests. Flexible stop finger 23 includes a wedge-shaped tip 24 which limits the movement of t-like member 18 as it moves from a left-most position to a right-most position as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Thus, flexible finger 23 with wedge-shaped tip 24 prevents t-like member 18 from escaping therefrom. However, stop finger 23 can be manually depressed using a screwdriver or other tool for assembling or disassembling base 15 from slide receptor 16 as needed.

[0028] The preferred method of utilizing drawer slide socket 10 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes the step of positioning a slide socket on a cabinet slide or slide section, positioning the slide socket on an inside rear cabinet wall of a cabinet which has been pre-drilled with apertures therein which will properly accept mounting legs 11, 11′ as shown in FIG. 3. By urging legs 11, 11′ through said apertures 21, 21′, catches 13, 13′ will “snap” in place as they emerge along the exterior side of cabinet wall 20 as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. Next, the cabinet slide can be attached to the drawer as usual and the drawer operated.

[0029] As would be understood, the opening and closing of drawer 25 as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 allows slide receptor 16 to freely move laterally as needed as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, to self-adjust. Thus, cabinet drawer 25 will freely move laterally within cabinet 30 as the slide preceptor 16 moves and accommodates any slight misalignments in the drawer or cabinet.

[0030] The illustrations and examples provided herein are admitted for explanatory purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the attached claims.

Claims

1. A drawer slide socket comprising: a base, a pair of opposing brackets, said brackets mounted on said base, a slide receptor, and said receptor slidably positioned in said brackets for receiving a drawer slide.

2. The drawer slide socket of claim 1 wherein said receptor comprises a t-like member, a sleeve, said sleeve positioned within said brackets, said sleeve mounted on said t-like member.

3. The drawer slide socket of claim 2 wherein said sleeve is perpendicularly mounted on said t-like member.

4. The drawer slide socket of claim 2 wherein said base comprises a flexible stop finger.

5. The drawer slide socket of claim 4 wherein said t-like member engages said flexible stop finger to limit the movement of said receptor.

6. The drawer slide socket of claim 1 wherein said base defines a receptor groove, said receptor groove positioned between said brackets.

7. A drawer slide socket for a left or right side drawer slide comprising: a base, said base defining a receptor groove, a pair of brackets, said brackets positioned on said base on opposite sides of said receptor groove, a slidable receptor, said receptor positioned between said brackets and within said groove, said receptor movable for receiving a drawer slide.

8. The drawer slide socket of claim 7 further comprising a mounting leg, said mounting leg affixed to said base.

9. The drawer slide socket of claim 8 further comprising a leg cap, said leg cap overhanging said leg to form a catch.

10. The drawer slide socket of claim 7 molded from plastic.

11. A method of installing a drawer slide having a cabinet section and a drawer section in a cabinet comprising the steps of:

a) positioning a slide socket on the cabinet section of the drawer slide;

b) positioning the slide socket on the rear cabinet wall;

c) attaching the cabinet section to the drawer section; and

d) attaching the drawer section of the slide to the drawer side wall.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of urging the drawer into the cabinet.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of sliding the receptor laterally within the cabinet drawer.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein positioning the slide socket on the rear cabinet wall comprises the step of inserting a leg on the slide socket into an aperture on the rear cabinet wall.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein engaging the drawer section comprises telescopingly engaging the drawer section with the cabinet section.