Drawer interlock for a furniture element
A furniture element includes a housing, a drawer carried by the housing and movable between an extended position extending outwardly from the housing and a retracted position disposed within the housing, and a drawer interlock structured to slidably couple the drawer to the housing. The drawer interlock includes an elongated first interlocking structure mounted to the housing and an elongated second interlocking structure mounted to the drawer. One of the first and second interlocking structures includes first and second dovetail projections and the other of the first and second interlocking structures includes first and second dovetail recesses. The first and second dovetail projections slidably interlock with the first and second dovetail recesses in a cooperating relationship to slidably couple the drawer to the housing.
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The present invention relates to furniture elements having a housing and one or more drawers carried by the housing. More specifically, the present invention relates to drawer guides for guiding furniture drawers between extended and retracted positions with respect to a furniture housing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONDrawer guides for guiding furniture drawers are known in the art. The present invention provides improvements over known drawer guides to facilitate the mounting of the furniture drawers to the furniture housing, and to improve the sliding movement of the furniture drawers between extended and retracted positions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONOne aspect of the invention relates to a furniture element including a housing, a drawer carried by the housing and movable between an extended position extending outwardly from the housing and a retracted position disposed within the housing, and a drawer interlock structured to slidably couple the drawer to the housing. The drawer interlock includes an elongated first interlocking structure mounted to the housing and an elongated second interlocking structure mounted to the drawer. One of the first and second interlocking structures includes first and second dovetail projections and the other of the first and second interlocking structures includes first and second dovetail recesses. The first and second dovetail projections slidably interlock with the first and second dovetail recesses in a cooperating relationship to slidably couple the drawer to the housing.
Another aspect of the invention relates to a drawer interlock for use with a furniture element including a housing and a drawer carried by the housing and movable between an extended position extending outwardly from the housing and a retracted position disposed within the housing. The drawer interlock includes an elongated first interlocking structure adapted to be mounted to the housing, and an elongated second interlocking structure adapted to be mounted to the drawer. One of the first and second interlocking structures includes first and second dovetail projections and the other of the first and second interlocking structures includes first and second dovetail recesses. The first and second dovetail projections slidably interlock with the first and second dovetail recesses in a cooperating relationship to slidably couple the drawer to the housing.
Still another aspect of the invention relates to a method of manufacturing a furniture element including a housing and a drawer carried by the housing. The method includes: providing a drawer interlock including an elongated first interlocking structure and an elongated second interlocking structure, one of the first and second interlocking structures including first and second dovetail projections and the other of the first and second interlocking structures including first and second dovetail recesses; mounting the first interlocking structure to the housing; mounting the second interlocking structure to the drawer; and slidably interlocking the first and second dovetail projections with the first and second dovetail recesses in a cooperating relationship to slidably couple the drawer to the housing for movement between an extended position extending outwardly from the housing and a retracted position disposed within the housing.
These and other aspects, features, and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are a part of this disclosure and which illustrate, by way of example, principles of this invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe accompanying drawings facilitate an understanding of the various embodiments of this invention. In such drawings:
In the illustrated embodiment, the furniture element 10 is in the form of a cabinet. However, it should be understood that the furniture element 10 may be any suitable element structured to carry drawers, e.g., desk, shelf system, etc.
Each drawer 14 is slidably movable with respect to the housing 12 between an extended position extending outwardly from the housing 12 and a retracted position disposed within the housing 12.
As best shown in
As best shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, the housing 12 and drawers 14 are constructed of wood. Also, the upper wall member 26 of the housing 12 and the front wall 34 of each drawer 14 includes an ornamental design. However, the housing 12 and drawers 14 may be made from any suitable material, and may include any suitable ornamental design.
As shown in
Each drawer interlock 16(a), 16(b) includes an elongated first interlocking structure 46 mounted to the housing 12 and an elongated second interlocking structure 48 mounted to the respective drawer 14. As shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, the first interlocking structure 46 includes first and second dovetail projections 50, 52 (see
Specifically, as best shown in
The overall length of the first interlocking structure 46 is determined by the inner depth of the housing 12. That is, the length of the first interlocking structure 46 is subject to the housing 12 it is mounted within. For example, in one embodiment, the first interlocking structure 46 is structured such that the second end 64 is positioned within about 0.25″ from the inner surface of the back panel (or a physical member in the path of the first interlocking structure, e.g., post, partition, false panel).
In the illustrated embodiment, the first interlocking structure 46 is mounted to the housing 12 by fasteners. Specifically, the first interlocking structure 46 is mounted to the housing 12 by four screws 66 (see
The screws 66 pass thorough the first interlocking structure 46 such that no part of the screws 66, e.g., the heads, protrudes outwardly from the outer surfaces defining the dovetail projections 50, 52. As a result, the screws 66 do not interfere with the sliding movement between the first and second interlocking structures 46, 48 in use.
The openings 68 adjacent the first end 62 of the first interlocking structure 46 may be slot-shaped, e.g., elongated. The slot-shaped opening would allow lateral adjustment of the first end 62 of the first interlocking structure 46 during mounting to the housing 12. The adjustment may be beneficial in positioning the first interlocking structure 46 such that the drawer 14 and second interlocking structure 48 thereof may be properly positioned within the housing 12. That is, proper alignment of the first interlocking structure 46 within the housing 12 will ensure that the drawer 14 is guided parallel to its associated opening 30. However, the openings 68 may have any suitable shape, and the openings 68 may be formed in any suitable manner.
Also, it should be understood that the first interlocking structure 46 of each drawer interlock 16(a), 16(b) may be mounted to the housing 12 in any other suitable manner, e.g. adhesive.
As shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, the second interlocking structure 48 of each drawer interlock 16(a), 16(b) is mounted to the respective drawer 14 by an adhesive. Specifically, as best shown in
Moreover, the second interlocking structure 48 is mounted to the respective drawer 14 such that it protrudes beyond the rear wall 36, as shown in
The protruding portion 84 of the second interlocking structure 48 provides the extended length to seat a support member 86, and also allows the respective drawer 14 to be pulled to an extended position and be stably supported by the housing 12. As best shown in
However, it should be understood that the second interlocking structure 48 of each drawer interlock 16(a), 16(b) may be mounted to each drawer 14 in any other suitable manner, e.g., fasteners.
As best shown in
The tapered edges 92, 94 are structured to allow the center dovetail projection 72 of the second interlocking structure 48 to seat onto the center dovetail recess 60 of the first interlocking structure 46. Then, once the seat has taken place, advancement of the drawer 14 and the second interlocking structure 48 thereof onto the first interlocking structure 46 will allow the beveled edges 88, 90 to align the first and second interlocking structures 46, 48. Thus, the edges 88, 90, 92, 94 allow an initial self-alignment of the second interlocking structure 48 with the first interlocking structure 46 to allow the first and second interlocking structures 46, 48 to interlock and function.
The beveled and tapered edges 88, 90, 92, 94 may be formed in the first interlocking structure 46 in any suitable manner, e.g., machining.
The first end 62 of the first interlocking structure 46 may have any other suitable configuration to facilitate alignment of the drawer 14 with the housing 12. For example,
In
In
The interlocking engagement between the first and second interlocking structures 46, 246, 346, 48 prevents tilting of each drawer 14 with respect to the housing 12. Further, the relatively large width of the first and second interlocking structures 46, 246, 346, 48, due to the first and second dovetail projections 50, 250, 350, 52, 252, 352 and the first and second dovetail recesses 60, adds strength and stability. That is, the relatively large width allows more surface of the second interlocking structure 48 to be adhered to the drawer 14 and allows four fasteners to be used for securing the first interlocking structure 46, 246, 346 to the housing 12.
In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second interlocking structures 46, 246, 346, 48 are constructed of wood. However, the first and second interlocking structures may be constructed from any other suitable material, e.g., plastic, metal. Also, outer surfaces of the first and second interlocking structures 46, 246, 346, 48 may be provided with an anti-friction coating to facilitate sliding movement between the first and second interlocking structures in use.
Further, although the illustrated embodiments disclose a first interlocking structure with first and second dovetail projections slidably interlocked with a second interlocking structure with first and second dovetail recesses, it should be understood that the first and second interlocking structures may have any suitable number of dovetail projections and corresponding dovetail recesses, e.g., three dovetail projections and three dovetail recesses, four dovetail projections and four dovetail recesses, etc.
The foregoing embodiments have been provided to illustrate the structural and functional principles of the present invention, and are not intended to be limiting. To the contrary, the present invention is intended to encompass all modifications, alterations and substitutions within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A furniture element comprising:
- a housing;
- a drawer carried by the housing and movable between an extended position extending outwardly from the housing and a retracted position disposed within the housing; and
- a drawer interlock structured to slidably couple the drawer to the housing,
- the drawer interlock including an elongated first interlocking structure mounted to the housing and an elongated second interlocking structure mounted to the drawer, one of the first and second interlocking structures including first and second dovetail projections and the other of the first and second interlocking structures including first and second dovetail recesses, and the first and second dovetail projections slidably interlocking with the first and second dovetail recesses in a cooperating relationship to slidably couple the drawer to the housing.
2. The furniture element according to claim 1, wherein the first interlocking structure includes the first and second dovetail projections, and the second interlocking structure includes the first and second dovetail recesses.
3. The furniture element according to claim 1, wherein the housing includes a forwardly facing opening structured to receive the drawer therein, the forwardly facing opening defined by a generally horizontally extending drawer support member having a generally upwardly facing support surface, and wherein the first interlocking structure is mounted to the generally upwardly facing support surface.
4. The furniture element according to claim 1, wherein the housing carries a plurality of drawers, and a plurality of drawer interlocks are provided to slidably couple each of the plurality of drawers to the housing.
5. The furniture element according to claim 1, wherein the first interlocking structure is mounted to the housing by fasteners.
6. The furniture element according to claim 1, wherein the second interlocking structure is mounted to the drawer by an adhesive.
7. The furniture element according to claim 1, wherein the drawer includes generally parallel front and rear walls, the front wall covering the forwardly facing opening of the housing when the drawer is in the retracted position, and wherein the second interlocking structure is mounted to the drawer such that it protrudes beyond the rear wall.
8. The furniture element according to claim 7, further comprising a support member mounted between the outer surface of the rear wall and a protruding portion of the second interlocking structure that protrudes beyond the rear wall.
9. The furniture element according to claim 1, wherein the drawer interlock includes a first drawer interlock and a second drawer interlock spaced apart from the first drawer interlock, the first and second drawer interlocks slidably coupling the drawer to the housing.
10. The furniture element according to claim 1, wherein the first and second interlocking structures are constructed of wood.
11. The furniture element according to claim 1, wherein the first and second dovetail projections are spaced apart from one another to define a center dovetail recess, and the first and second dovetail recesses are spaced apart from one another to define a center dovetail projection, wherein the center dovetail projection slidably interlocks with the center dovetail recess.
12. The furniture element according to claim 11, wherein the first interlocking structure includes the first and second dovetail projections that define the center dovetail recess, the first interlocking structure having a first end adjacent the forwardly facing opening of the housing and a second end disposed within the housing, and wherein the center dovetail recess includes a tapered edge adjacent the first end of the first interlocking structure to facilitate alignment of the drawer and second interlocking structure thereof with the housing and first interlocking structure thereof.
13. The furniture element according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of support members mounted between the drawer and the second interlocking structure to secure the second interlocking structure to the drawer.
14. A drawer interlock for use with a furniture element including a housing and a drawer carried by the housing and movable between an extended position extending outwardly from the housing and a retracted position disposed within the housing, the drawer interlock comprising:
- an elongated first interlocking structure adapted to be mounted to the housing; and
- an elongated second interlocking structure adapted to be mounted to the drawer,
- one of the first and second interlocking structures including first and second dovetail projections and the other of the first and second interlocking structures including first and second dovetail recesses, and the first and second dovetail projections slidably interlocking with the first and second dovetail recesses in a cooperating relationship to slidably couple the drawer to the housing.
15. The drawer interlock according to claim 14, wherein the first interlocking structure includes the first and second dovetail projections, and the second interlocking structure includes the first and second dovetail recesses.
16. The drawer interlock according to claim 14, wherein the first interlocking structure is adapted to be mounted to the housing by fasteners.
17. The drawer interlock according to claim 14, wherein the second interlocking structure is adapted to be mounted to the drawer by an adhesive.
18. The drawer interlock according to claim 14, wherein the first and second interlocking structures are constructed of wood.
19. The drawer interlock according to claim 14, wherein the first and second dovetail projections are spaced apart from one another to define a center dovetail recess, and the first and second dovetail recesses are spaced apart from one another to define a center dovetail projection, wherein the center dovetail projection slidably interlocks with the center dovetail recess.
20. The drawer interlock according to claim 19, wherein the first interlocking structure includes the first and second dovetail projections that define the center dovetail recess, the first interlocking structure having a first end adjacent a forwardly facing opening of the housing and a second end disposed within the housing, and wherein the center dovetail recess includes a tapered edge adjacent the first end of the first interlocking structure to facilitate alignment of the drawer and second interlocking structure thereof with the housing and first interlocking structure thereof.
21. A method of manufacturing a furniture element including a housing and a drawer carried by the housing, the method comprising:
- providing a drawer interlock including an elongated first interlocking structure and an elongated second interlocking structure, one of the first and second interlocking structures including first and second dovetail projections and the other of the first and second interlocking structures including first and second dovetail recesses;
- mounting the first interlocking structure to the housing;
- mounting the second interlocking structure to the drawer; and
- slidably interlocking the first and second dovetail projections with the first and second dovetail recesses in a cooperating relationship to slidably couple the drawer to the housing for movement between an extended position extending outwardly from the housing and a retracted position disposed within the housing.
22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the first interlocking structure includes the first and second dovetail projections, and the second interlocking structure includes the first and second dovetail recesses.
23. The method according to claim 21, further comprising mounting the first interlocking structure to a generally upwardly facing support surface provided on a generally horizontally extending drawer support member of the housing.
24. The method according to claim 21, wherein the housing carries a plurality of drawers, and the method includes providing a plurality of drawer interlocks to slidably couple each of the plurality of drawers to the housing.
25. The method according to claim 21, wherein the mounting the first interlocking structure to the housing includes mounting the first interlocking structure to the housing by fasteners.
26. The method according to claim 21, wherein the mounting the second interlocking structure to the drawer includes mounting the second interlocking structure to the drawer by an adhesive.
27. The method according to claim 21, wherein the drawer includes generally parallel front and rear walls, the front wall covering the forwardly facing opening of the housing when the drawer is in the retracted position, and wherein the mounting the second interlocking structure to the drawer includes mounting the second interlocking structure to the drawer such that it protrudes beyond the rear wall.
28. The method according to claim 27, further comprising mounting a support member between the outer surface of the rear wall and a protruding portion of the second interlocking structure that protrudes beyond the rear wall.
29. The method according to claim 21, wherein the providing a drawer interlock includes providing a first drawer interlock and a second drawer interlock spaced apart from the first drawer interlock, and wherein the first and second drawer interlocks slidably couple the drawer to the housing.
30. The method according to claim 21, further comprising constructing the first and second interlocking structures of wood.
31. The method according to claim 21, further comprising providing a tapered edge on the first interlocking structure to facilitate alignment of the drawer and second interlocking structure thereof with the housing and first interlocking structure thereof.
32. The method according to claim 21, mounting a plurality of support members between the drawer and the second interlocking structure to secure the second interlocking structure to the drawer.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 17, 2004
Publication Date: Mar 23, 2006
Applicant: Century Furniture LLC (Hickory, NC)
Inventors: James Conley (Hickory, NC), Andrew Rudisill (Hickory, NC)
Application Number: 10/942,950
International Classification: A47B 88/00 (20060101);