STOP AND LOCATING DEVICE FOR A GUIDE RAIL IN A DRAWER

Abstract

A stop and locating device for a guide rail in a drawer comprises a lower frame, a stop piece fixedly attached to the lower frame, a sliding frame sliding on the lower frame and retaining piece mounted to the sliding frame. The stop piece basically is a stop block fixing to the lower frame with two spacing partitions at a middle area thereof and each of the spacing partitions providing a spring hole at an inner side thereof passing through a bottom of the stop block. Each of the spring holes receives a spring and a stop rod at both ends thereof is inserted into the spring holes on top of the springs. The springs are rest on the lower frame and the retaining piece is on the sliding frame with a stamped V-shaped downward jut part. The draw can be stopped and located or released as soon as the lowermost spot of the jut part at the front side or the rear side passes over the stop rod during the sliding frame moving along the lower frame.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a stop and locating device for a guide rail in a drawer. In particular, the present invention relates to an adjustable stop and locating device, which is mounted to a guide rail in a drawer.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] It has been a long period of time that drawers are used for storing articles. Because the drawers can be drawn out and pushed back into place in addition to keeping articles, they are popularly utilized in offices and family houses. Especially, an arrangement of multiple drawers can partition the available space for articles so that it is widely used in our daily life.

[0005] The principle for operating the drawer is using a guide rail assembly and a lateral side thereof is fixed to an inner wall of the furniture or an office desk and another lateral side thereof is a flat part for being fixed to the outer wall of the drawer box such that the outer wall can slide relative to the inner wall. Hence, the guide rail is required by and indispensable to the drawer.

[0006] Because of the feature of the guide rail itself, the drawer can slide out and a locating part has to be provided to prevent the drawer from slipping off. Especially, in case of certain guide rail with a slight slant, it is very easy for the drawer to slip off if an improper locating is served.

[0007] Besides, a conventional anti-slipping off locating device is composed of parts made with injection molding to perform the function of locating by way of interference or friction. However, the prior art easily becomes ageing or slowness after using such that the function of anti-slip more or less is getting useless. Moreover, the prior art does not provide the function of adjustment so that the fittingness of space between the drawer and the furniture or the office desk is very important and the production cost is relatively high.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] A stop and locating device for a guide rail in a drawer according to the present invention comprises a lower frame, a stop piece fixedly attached to the lower frame, a sliding frame sliding on the lower frame and retaining piece mounted to the sliding frame. The stop piece basically is a stop piece fixing to the lower frame with two spacing partitions at a middle area thereof and each of the spacing partitions providing a spring hole at an inner side thereof passing through a bottom of the stop block. Each of the spring holes receives a spring and a stop rod at both ends thereof is inserted into the spring holes on top of the springs. The springs are rest on the lower frame and the retaining piece is on the sliding frame with a stamped V-shaped downward jut part. The draw can be stopped and located or released as soon as the lowermost spot of the jut part at the front side or the rear side passes over the stop rod during the sliding frame moving along the lower frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The present invention can be more fully understood by reference to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

[0010] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a guide rail of a drawer according to the present invention;

[0011] FIG. 2 is a partly enlarged perspective view of a stop piece and an engaging part of the guide rail shown in FIG. 1;

[0012] FIG. 3 is a partly enlarged perspective view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating the stop piece having been attached to the engaging part;

[0013] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a guide rail of the present invention in another embodiment thereof;

[0014] FIG. 5 is a partly enlarged perspective view of a stop piece and an engaging part shown in FIG. 4;

[0015] FIG. 6 is a partly enlarged perspective view illustrating a further embodiment of the present invention in which an adjustment lever is not added to the engaging part;

[0016] FIG. 7 is a partly enlarged perspective view illustrating a further embodiment of the present invention in which an adjustment lever is added to the engaging part; and

[0017] FIG. 8 is a partly enlarged perspective view illustrating a further embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] Referring to FIG. 1, basically, a guide rail for a drawer may comprises at least two frames fitting with each other and can be sliding relative to each other. It can be seen in FIG. 1 that the guide rail of the present invention comprises a lower frame A, an intermediate frame B and an upper frame C. But, the intermediate frame B is not essential so that the intermediate frame B dose not have to be prepared. Generally, a stop assembly is mounted between the upper frame C and the lower frame A and the stop assembly of the present invention comprises stop piece 1 and an engaging part 2.

[0019] Wherein, the stop piece 1 as shown in FIG. 2 is composed of a stop block 11, a stop rod 12 and two stop springs 13 and the stop piece 1 engages with a projection plate 14 integrally stamped from the lower frame A.

[0020] The stop block 11 is solid with two spacing partitions 111 at the middle area thereof and two outer walls 112. Each of the spacing partitions 111 at the inner side thereof has a vertical circular spring hole 1111 penetrating the bottom of the stop piece 11 to be inserted with the stop springs 13 from the bottom. Each of the outer walls 112 provides an elongated fitting slot 1121 respectively for the projection plates 14 passing through and being located. In order to mitigate the shock, the stop piece 1 at the front side thereof provides at least a buffer ring 113.

[0021] The stop rod 12 at both ends thereof has a diameter corresponding to the spring holes 1111 so as to fit with the spring holes 1111 and at the middle part thereof has a bigger diameter for reinforcing the strength thereof.

[0022] The stop springs 13 are elongated and can be placed into the spring holes 1111 from the bottom of the stop piece 1.

[0023] In order to be joined to the lower frame A, the sizes and the positions of the two stamped projection plates 14 are corresponding to the elongated fitting slots 1121 and two semi-circular stop tabs 141 are left after the projection plates 14 being formed such that the stop springs 13 can be supported by the stop tabs 141 respectively as the stop springs 13 are received in the spring holes 1111.

[0024] Before the stop piece 1 being assembled to the lower frame A, both ends of the stop rod 12 are inserted into the spring holes 1111 from the bottom of the stop piece 11 and the stop springs 13 are received in the stop holes also. Then, the entire stop piece 1 with the stop rod 12 and the stop springs 13 can be located at the lower frame A via the projection plates 14 passing through the fitting slots 1121 as the foregoing. The stop springs 13 are disposed to rest on the stop tabs 141 and the stop rod 12 may press the stop springs 13 downward against the stop tabs 141 during being exerted an outer force. As soon as the outer force is released, the stop springs can bounce back to the original positions thereof.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 3, the retaining piece 2 is integrated with the rear end of the upper frame C and has a jut part 21 with a V-shaped bend, that is, the middle area thereof is a sharp projection and the front and the rear areas are an oblique planes downward from the sharp projection so that it is capable of engaging with the stop piece 1.

[0026] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3 again, as soon as the upper frame C is slid backward to the end, the V-shaped jut part 21 also presses against the stop rod 12 and the stop rod 12 is forced to press downward such that the lowermost spot of the jut part 21 passes over the stop rod 12 to reach the very end. Then, the stop rod 12 bounces back due to the resilient force of the stop springs 13 so that the upper frame C at the rear end thereof can be located steadily without slipping off the upper frame C. Inversely, in case of the drawer being pulled outward, the jut part 21 can move outward to press down and pass over the stop rod 12 such that it results in a state of sliding and the drawer can be pulled out.

[0027] Referring to FIGS. 4 to 8, another embodiment of the present invention provides a middle hole 1112 between the outer walls and the middle hole 1112 receives an elongated intermediate spring 1113 so as to obtain a greater force. The retaining piece 2 on the upper frame C has an upper threaded hole 22 to engage with a threaded adjustable stem 23 and an adjustable plate 24 is mounted at the bottom of the retaining piece 2 with an end of the adjustable plate 24 being riveted to the bottom of the retaining piece 2. Thus, the adjustable plate 24 is urged to move downward as soon as the adjustable stem 23 is screwed downward. It can be seen from FIG. 7 that the retaining part 2 has a downward V-shaped jut part extending obliquely toward both lateral sides thereof.

[0028] Referring to FIGS. 4 to 8 again, in case of the adjustable stem 23 being screwed downward, the adjustable plate 24 presses downward to decrease the clearance between the stop piece 1 and the adjustable plate 24 and, inversely, in case of the adjustable stem 23 is screwed upward, the adjustable plate 24 bounces upward too such that the interference between the upper frame C and the lower frame A becomes slighter. In the other words, the fittingness between the stop piece 1 and the retaining part 2 can be regulated via the adjustable stem 23.

[0029] It is appreciated from the preceding embodiments that adjustable locating device according to the present invention can offer the upper frame C of the guide rail in a drawer a function of excellent positioning to and loosening from the lower frame A. Further, the present invention provides component parts with lower costs and easily being assembled and is capable of being adjusted for the tightness thereof to last the life span of the guide rail without the deficiency of loosening automatically after a long period of use. These advantages are not possible for the conventional guide rail to reach effectively.

[0030] While the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that modifications or variations may be easily made without departing from the spirit of this invention, which is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A stop and locating device for a guide rail in a drawer, comprising a lower frame;

a stop piece, being fixedly attached to the lower frame;

a sliding frame, being sliding on the lower frame; and

a retaining piece, being mounted to the sliding frame;

wherein, the stop piece basically is a stop block fixing to the lower frame with two spacing partitions at a middle area thereof and each of the spacing partitions providing a spring hole at an inner side thereof passing through a bottom of the stop block; each of the spring holes receives a spring and a stop rod at both ends thereof is inserted into the spring holes on top of the springs;

and the springs are rest on the lower frame; and

the retaining piece is on the sliding frame with a stamped V-shaped downward jut part;

whereby, the draw can be stopped and located or released as soon as the lowermost spot of the jut part at a front side or a rear side passes over the stop rod during the sliding frame moving along the lower frame.

2. The stop and locating device for a guide rail in a drawer according to claim 1, wherein the stop piece provides an outer wall with an elongated slot next to the outer side of the respective spacing wall and two opposite upright projection plates are obtained by way of the lower frame being stamped so as to fit with the elongated slots.

3. The stop and locating device for a guide rail in a drawer according to claim 1, wherein the stop piece at a front side thereof provides at least an integrated buffer ring for shock mitigation.

4. A stop and locating device for a guide rail in a drawer, comprising

a lower frame;

a stop piece, being fixedly attached to the lower frame;

a sliding frame, being sliding on the lower frame; and

a retaining piece, being mounted to the sliding frame;

wherein, the stop piece basically is a stop block fixing to the lower frame with two spacing partitions at a middle area thereof and each of the spacing partitions providing a spring hole at an inner side thereof passing through a bottom of the stop block; each of the spring holes receives a spring and a stop rod at both ends thereof is inserted into the spring holes on top of the springs; the springs are rest on the lower frame; and an intermediate hole with an intermediate spring is provided between the spacing partitions and fixed to the sliding frame; and

the retaining piece is provides with an upper threaded hole to engage with an adjustable threaded stem; a adjustable plate is disposed at a bottom of the retaining piece with an end of the adjustable plate extending forward to hook a front edge of the retaining piece; another end of the adjustable plate is riveted to the bottom of the retaining piece; and the adjustable plate provides a V-shaped downward jut part;

whereby, the draw can be located or slid as soon as the downward jut part of the adjustable plate passes over the stop rod and a fittingness of the retaining piece and the stop piece can be regulated as soon as the adjustable stem is screwed upward or downward.