Full-extension drawer slide

Abstract

The invention comprising a full-extension drawer slide with areas 24, 26, 32, and 34 for interlocking parts. Areas 24, 26, 32, and 34 hold the parts in a relative position to allow the parts to slide within each other. There are no moving bearings or raceways present. Each full-extension drawer slide has only three separate moving parts. The unique design of this drawer slide allows for a much more compact construction, while retaining the strength of current full-extension drawer slides.

Description

This application clams the benefit of earlier filling date Oct. 18, 2010 of Provisional Application No. 61/455,186.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The technical field of this invention is full-extension drawer slides. In particular, the invention is in the technical field of compact, low profile, full-extension drawer slides.

Full-Extension drawer slides are currently built with metal raceways that contain tracks holding ball bearings. These raceways interconnect within three extending parts. Future failures are inevitable with this form of drawer slide; because they employ many moving parts, which due to continuous strain, require maintenance or replacement. Because of the excessive and cumbersome methods these slides use, they are bulky and unable to facilitate smaller box designs, especially jewelry boxes, display cases, and silverware cases. Current drawer slide designs are further hindered by the outdated fabrication used by their employment in the past, and moreover the inability of their use in this industry.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns a drawer slide with angled areas that equalize the relative positions of each part of the drawer slide to each other part. These parts are able to extend in order to provide a fully accessible drawer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a compact, low profile, full-extension drawer slide that utilizes angled areas with three interlocking parts. These interlocking parts allow for the full-extension of the drawer. The most important part of this invention is the centermost part. The centermost part contains angled areas on the exterior sides and grooves on the interior sides of this slide to maintain its position relative to the other parts, while allowing each part to move independently. This allows for a much more compact slide and, at the same time, provides the necessary support in both the fully-extended and closed positions. Because this slide does not use the same method as previous generations of drawer slides, it is able to be constructed with fewer materials and is a more reliable design. This interlocking drawer design is also capable of facilitating a much broader set of uses than prior mechanical slides.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 A perspective view of the drawer slide in the closed position.

FIG. 2 A perspective view of the drawer slide, according to FIG. 1, in the fully extended position.

FIG. 3 A side view of the drawer slide shows the parts as they set together in the closed position.

FIG. 4 A cut view of the drawer slide, according to FIG. 3, when the drawer is in the fully extended position.

FIG. 5 An end view of the drawer slide, according to FIG. 1, showing the areas as they interlock within the drawer slide.

FIG. 6 A top view of the drawer slide in the fully closed position.

FIG. 7 An expanded end view showing the countersink holes for the flat head screws in part 10.

FIG. 8 An expanded end view to show the countersink holes for flat head screws in part 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the invention in more detail,

FIG. 1 A perspective view of the drawer slide in the closed position. This perspective view shows the drawer slide composed of parts 10, 12, and 14 in interlocking positions as they are held together within areas 24, 26, 32, and 34. The drawer slide may be constructed from wood, plastic, aluminum, or any hard durable material.

The purpose of part 10 is to be the foundation for the drawer slide. Part 10 is to be mounted to a cabinet/box frame and to be held in place by flat head screws at the four corners indicated as areas 28. The screw mounting position at each area 28 is pre-drilled with a countersink hole. Part 10 has stop area 36 at the back end to prevent the drawer slide from coming apart through the back of part 10. Stop area 20 is on the top of part 10 and is designed to come into contact with stop arm 16. The design of areas 24 and 34, within part 10, is responsible for providing support to hold part 12, in a parallel alignment when the drawer is in the fully extended, partially extended, or closed position.

The purpose of part 12 is to move freely back and forth between parts 10 and 14. On the rear of part 12 is stop arm 16. Stop arm 16 is designed to come into contact with stop area 20 and prevents part 12 from extending past its movement point. Part 12 is an unattached center piece within grooved and angled areas 24, 26, 32, and 34. Part 12 is held in place within part 10 at areas 24 and 34. Stop area 22 is on top of part 12 and is designed to come into contact with stop arm 18 to prevent part 14 from extending past its movement point.

The purpose of part 14 is to move freely back and forth within part 12 at areas 26 and 32. Part 14 is attached to the drawer with two flat head screws affixed through pre-drilled countersink holes at each of the two areas 30. On the rear of part 14 is stop arm 18. Stop arm 18 is designed to come into contact with stop area 22 when part 14 is in the fully extended position. Stop arm 18 prevents part 14 from extending past its movement point.

FIG. 2 A perspective view of the drawer slide, according to FIG. 1, in the fully extended position. This figure shows the drawer slide in the fully extended position. Stop arm 16 is in contact with stop area 20 on part 10. Part 12 slides along areas 24 and 34 and is locked into place within parts 10 and 14. Part 14 is shown in the fully extended position as it slides along areas 26 and 32. Part 14 is locked into place by the parts design in part 12. Stop arm 18 is in contact with stop area 22, which prevents part 14 from extending past its movement point. The drawer is affixed to part 14 by two flat head screws in countersink holes. The design of areas 26 and 32, on both sides of part 14, is responsible for keeping part 14 in position during movement. The drawer is kept in a parallel alignment in relation to the cabinet/box.

FIG. 3 A side view of the drawer slide shows the parts as they set together in the closed position. Parts 10, 12, and 14 are each held together by the intended function and design of the complete drawer slide.

Part 10 is the foundation of the drawer slide, which is constructed from wood, plastic, aluminum or any hard durable material. There are four countersink holes in each corner of part 10, indicated by area 28. Part 10 also has recessed areas 24 and 34 cut into the body. These recessed areas allow part 12 to move freely back and forth within the drawer slide. Stop area 36 is located at the back end of part 10 to stop the movement of parts 12 and 14 from extending past the back of the drawer slide. Part 10 also has stop area 20, which will come into contact with stop arm 16 of part 12 when the drawer is fully extended.

Part 12 is the unconnected part of the drawer slide, which is constructed from wood, plastic, aluminum or any hard durable material. Part 12 also has recessed areas 26 and 32 cut into the body. These recessed areas hold part 14 in place during its movement. Stop area 22 is located at the top of part 12. Stop area 22 will come into contact with stop arm 18, mounted on part 14, when the drawer slide is in the fully extended position.

FIG. 4 A cut view of the drawer slide, according to FIG. 3, when the drawer is in the fully extended position. All numbers are identically matched with FIG. 3; however, the slide is pulled out to its fully extended position. When the drawer slide is in the fully extended position, stop areas 20 and 22 come in contact with both stop arms 16 and 18, respectively. The drawer slide is held in alignment in its open position by areas 24, 26, 32, and 34.

FIG. 5 An end view of the drawer slide, according to FIG. 1, showing the areas as they interlock within the drawer slide. This view of the front end of the drawer slide shows areas 24, 26, 32, and 34 as they interlock within the three-part drawer slide parts 10, 12, and 14.

FIG. 6 A top view of the drawer slide in the fully closed position.

FIG. 7 An expanded end view showing the countersink holes for the flat head screws in part 10. The countersink cuts are located in each corner of part 10. Areas 28 shows how the finished countersink will allow the flat head screws to remain flush with the face of part 10.

FIG. 8 An expanded end view to show the countersink holes for flat head screws in part 14. This view of the drawer slide shows the countersink holes at areas 30. Areas 30 show how the finished countersink will allow the flat head screws to remain flush with the face of part 14.

SUMMARY/PURPOSE

The descriptions above provide a detailed representation of the purpose of this drawer slide. Because of the design used, the drawer slide is able to perform tasks in a more efficient manner than previously available. The interlocking design provides strength and mobility of being able to fully extend without losing durability. Thus, this design is unique and unlike any prior designs.

The invention concerns a full-extension drawer slide with areas 24, 26, 32, and 34 for three interlocking parts 10, 12, and 14. Areas 24, 26, 32, and 34 hold parts 10, 12, and 14 in a relative position to one another in order to allow areas 24, 26, 32, and 34 to slide within each other. No ball bearings are present. Each full-extension drawer slide has three separate parts. Part 10 is the frame that attaches to the cabinet/box side with four flat head screws. The unique, dual-purpose center slide part 12 fits into part 10 at areas 24 and 34, locking them together. Part 12 also has areas 26 and 32 on the inside to allow part 14 to slide back and forth. Part 10 has a stop part 36 at the rear end of the slide. Parts 12 and part 14 have stop arms 16 and 18 that slide back and forth. Stop arms 16 and 18 catch on stop areas 20 and 22. Stop areas 20 and 22 are on parts 10 and 12, respectively, located at the top of the slide. Stop areas 20 and 22 prevent parts 12 and 14 from extending past their movement points. The drawer is attached to part 14 with two flat head screws.

The present disclosure relates to full-extension slide assemblies, particularly to areas 24, 26, 32, and 34. These areas consist of part 10 that is mounted to a cabinet/box frame, part 12 that moves freely within areas 24 and 34, and part 14 that moves freely in areas 26 and 32. Part 12 is located between parts 10 and 14. In order to achieve a load bearing shift, from part 10 in the closed position to part 12 when the draw slide is extended, part 12 extends to stop area 20 on part 10. The load transferring part 14 is located within part 12. In order to achieve a load bearing shift, part 14 extends to stop area 22 on part 12. The slide assembly is constructed with stop arms 16 and 18 at the rear of parts 12 and 14, respectively. Stop arms 16 and 18 engage with stop areas 20 and 22 that are mounted on parts 10 and 12 to restrict the slide from extending past their movement points.

Claims

1. A non-mechanical interlocking drawer slide, comprising:

A. Part 10 an outer frame assembly having two angled grooves that run the full length of said part, said frame also comprises two stop areas within said frame, and said frame comprises four counter sink holes for mounting the unit to an installation point, said top and bottom angled grooves receive outer angled grooves of part 12 that further comprise said non-mechanical interlocking three-part drawer slide;

B. Part 12 is a free moving intermediate slide, said intermediate slide contains inner grooves and outer edges, said grooves and edges facilitate full movement between stop areas, thus giving full-extension capability unlike other beveled non-mechanical, interlocking drawer slides without an intermediate slide,

C. Part 14 is the load bearing slide and rides within the inner angles of part 12, said part comprises a stop arm which contacts stop area on part 12, that inhibits movement past stop area, said part has two counter sink holes to enable mounting of said drawer slide to said drawer.

2. The outer frame, part 10, comprising;

D. The angled grooves set forth in claim 2, further characterized as angled grooves at each side of the frame the same width as part 12, part 12 fits within said grooves.

E. Stop area in said part of claim 2, is designed to come into contact with stop arm on part 12, preventing said slide from extending past its designed forward movement point.

F. Stop area in said frame of claim 2, is designed to come into contact as part 12 moves to the back of said frame, said stop area stops movement from extending past the back end of said part.

G. The mounting holes set forth in claim 2, further characterized in said housing are counter sink holes for mounting screws, location of counter sink holes are in the corners to avoid contact with other moving parts.

3. Center part 12, comprising;

H. The center part with angled edges on the exterior sides ride within the angled grooves of part 10, said exterior angled edges prevent said drawer slide from separating laterally from part 10 while allowing movement freely front to back, allowing for movement to the half-extended position, without this capability said drawer slide would not be able to fully extend;

I. Stop area in said part of claim 3, is designed to come into contact with stop arm on part 14, preventing said slide from extending past its designed forward movement point;

J. Stop area in said frame of claim 3, is designed to come into contact as part 14 moves to the back of said frame, said stop area stops movement from extending past the back end of said part.

K. Part 12, a free-floating intermediate slide, comprises outer angled edges on the exterior sides with angled grooves within the interior, the exterior sides are able to slide within the angled grooves of part 10, and the interior grooves of part 12 hold the angled edges of part 14 that enables the three-part drawer slide to accommodate full extension.

4. Load bearing part 14, comprising;

L. The load bearing slide, part 14, with angled edges on the exterior sides ride within the angled grooves of part 12, said exterior angled edges prevent said drawer slide from separating laterally from part 12 while allowing movement freely front to back, allowing for movement to the fully extended position;

M. Stop arm on the rear of said part of claim 4, is designed to come into contact with stop area on part 12, preventing said slide from extending past its designed forward and backward movement points;

N. A load bearing slide which contains two counter sink holes to allow mounting the load bearing slide to said drawer, the counter sink holes allow for mounting while providing room for the slide to function without contacting the mounting screws.