DRAWER SYSTEMS

Abstract

A drawer system includes a drawer and at least one drawer support, the drawer and the at least one drawer support are configured to function cooperatively in the movement of the drawer along paths of travel inwardly and outwardly of the at least one drawer support. The drawer includes at least one of a drawer guide unit and a drawer slide mounted to the drawer. The at least one drawer support includes at least one of a drawer guide unit and a drawer slide. A least one of a drawer slide and one of a drawer guide unit are in continuous engagement with one another at a drawer slide channel at an uninterrupted series of at least four discrete engagement locations during the movement of the drawer along the paths of travel at the at least one drawer support.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to drawer systems and, more particularly, to drawer systems and drawer system assemblies that are employed at refrigeration appliances such as household refrigerators.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Drawer systems that are provided for various applications often include drawer rails that are slidably received within grooves or channels in drawer glides for sliding movement of the drawers between open and closed positions. Crisper drawer systems and assemblies installed at refrigeration appliances such as household refrigerators are examples of such drawer systems and assemblies.

Drawer systems that are currently available can be subject to wobbling and/or bouncing as the drawers of the drawer systems are opened and closed, particularly if a user applies an upward or downward force to the drawers during the opening and closing of the drawers. In certain instances, the drawers can become askew or assume an oblique position in relation to the drawer glides and, as a result, the travel of the drawers in the drawer glides can be at least momentarily interrupted.

The present invention overcomes the foregoing described shortcomings by providing drawer systems and drawer system assemblies in which the drawers are caused to be maintained in constant paths of travel in a single plane as the drawers are opened and closed. This constancy in the paths of travel of the drawers provides the user with a feeling of satisfaction concerning the quality of the drawer systems. The present invention also provides drawer system assemblies that include a plurality of drawer systems.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following presents a simplified summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. The summary does not represent an extensive overview of invention, nor is the summary intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention or delineate the scope of the invention. The sole purpose of the summary is to present certain concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the description of the invention that is presented hereinafter.

According to one aspect of the invention, a drawer system can include a drawer and at least one drawer support. The drawer and the at least one drawer support can be configured to function cooperatively in the movement of the drawer along paths of travel at the at least one drawer support inwardly and outwardly of the at least one drawer support. The drawer can include a drawer first side and a drawer second side arranged longitudinally to the paths of travel of the drawer at the at least one drawer support, and at least one of a drawer guide unit and a drawer slide can be located at least one of the drawer first side and the drawer second side and arranged longitudinally to the paths of travel of the drawer. The at least one drawer support can include at least one of a drawer guide unit and a drawer slide. There can be at least one drawer slide that includes a drawer slide channel at which a drawer guide unit is located such that the drawer slide and the drawer guide unit are in continuous engagement with one another at the drawer slide channel at an uninterrupted series of at least four discrete engagement locations during the movement of the drawer along the paths of travel.

According to another aspect of the invention, the drawer can include first drawer guide unit and a second drawer guide unit, the first drawer guide unit being mounted to the drawer first side and the second drawer guide unit being mounted to the drawer second side. In this aspect, the drawer supports can include a first drawer support and a second drawer support, the first drawer support including a first drawer slide and the second drawer support including a second drawer slide. The first drawer slide can include a first drawer slide channel at which the first drawer guide unit is located. The first drawer slide and the first drawer guide unit can be in continuous engagement with one another at the first drawer slide channel at an uninterrupted series of at least four discrete engagement locations during the movement of the drawer along the paths of travel at the first drawer support. Similarly, the second drawer slide can include a second drawer slide channel at which the second drawer guide unit is located. The second drawer slide and the second drawer guide unit can be in continuous engagement with one another at the second drawer slide channel at an uninterrupted series of at least four discrete engagement locations during the movement of the drawer along the paths of travel at the second drawer support. In an example of this aspect, the drawer system can include both the first drawer support, including the first drawer slide, and the second drawer support, including the second drawer slide, and both the first drawer guide unit and the second drawer guide unit.

According to another aspect, at least one of the first drawer slide and the first drawer guide unit can include a relative movement aid that is present at each discrete engagement location between the first drawer slide and the first drawer guide unit and eases the relative movement between the first drawer slide and the first drawer guide unit at the uninterrupted series of at least four discrete engagement locations between the first drawer slide and the first drawer guide unit during the movement of the drawer along the paths of travel of the first drawer support. Similarly, at least one of the second drawer slide and the second drawer guide unit can include a relative movement aid that is present at each discrete engagement location between the second drawer slide and the second drawer guide unit and eases the relative movement between the second drawer slide and the second drawer guide unit at the uninterrupted series of at least four discrete engagement locations between the second drawer slide and the second drawer guide unit during the movement of the drawer along the paths of travel along the second drawer support.

According to an additional aspect, the first drawer slide channel can include a first drawer slide channel upper surface and a first drawer slide channel lower surface, and the second drawer slide channel can include a second drawer slide channel upper surface and a second drawer slide channel lower surface. The first drawer guide unit can include a first guide unit rotatable wheel that continuously engages the first drawer slide channel upper surface and the first drawer slide channel lower surface during the movement of the drawer along the paths of travel at the first drawer slide. Additionally, the second drawer guide unit can include a second guide rotatable wheel that continuously engages the second drawer slide channel upper surface and the second drawer slide channel lower surface during the movement of the drawer along the paths of travel at the second drawer slide.

According to yet another aspect, the first drawer slide can include a first drawer slide upper rotatable wheel and a first drawer slide lower rotatable wheel and the second drawer slide can include a second drawer slide upper rotatable wheel and a second drawer slide lower rotatable wheel. The first drawer guide unit can include a first rail that includes a first rail upper surface and a first rail lower surface, and the first rail can extend outwardly from the drawer first side into the first drawer slide channel with the first drawer slide upper rotatable wheel continuously engaging the first rail upper surface during the movement of the drawer along the paths of travel at the first drawer slide, and the first drawer slide lower rotatable wheel continuously engaging the first rail lower surface during the movement of the drawer along the paths of travel at the first drawer slide. The second drawer guide unit can include a second rail that includes a second rail upper surface and a second rail lower surface, and the second rail can extend outwardly from the drawer second side into the second drawer slide channel with the second drawer slide upper rotatable wheel continuously engaging the second rail upper surface during the movement of the drawer along the paths of travel at the second drawer slide, and the second drawer slide lower rotatable wheel continuously engaging the second rail lower surface during the movement of the drawer along the paths of travel at the second drawer slide.

According to yet a further aspect, at least one of the first guide unit rotatable wheel and the second guide unit rotatable wheel can include a shock-absorbing outer surface and at least one of the first drawer slide lower rotatable wheel and the second drawer slide lower rotatable wheel can include a shock-absorbing outer surface.

According to yet an additional aspect, the first rail, the second rail, the first drawer slide channel and the second drawer slide channel can be each arranged at a same degree of inclination downwardly from the horizontal in a direction from a drawer front face to a drawer rear face.

According to still another aspect, the first guide unit rotatable wheel can be spaced away from the drawer first side a greater distance than the first drawer slide upper rotatable wheel and the first drawer slide lower rotatable wheel. Similarly, the second guide unit rotatable wheel can be spaced away from the drawer second side a greater distance than the second drawer slide upper rotatable wheel and the second drawer slide lower rotatable wheel.

According to still a further aspect, at least one of a first stopping element can be mounted at the drawer first side and a second stopping element can be mounted at the drawer second side. The first stopping element can be located the same distance from the drawer first side as the first drawer slide lower rotatable wheel whereby the first stopping element engages the first drawer slide lower rotatable wheel when the drawer is moved along a path of travel outwardly of the first drawer support. Similarly, the second stopping element can be located the same distance from the drawer second side as the second drawer slide lower rotatable wheel whereby the second stopping element engages the second drawer slide lower rotatable wheel when the drawer is moved along a path of travel outwardly of the second drawer support.

According to still an additional aspect, the drawer system can be provided in a refrigeration appliance such as a household refrigerator for example. In one embodiment, the drawer system is provided in the fresh food compartment of a bottom-mount refrigerator.

According to another aspect, a drawer system assembly can including a plurality of drawer systems as described above arranged in an upper plurality of drawer systems and a lower plurality of drawer systems, and the drawer supports of the upper plurality of drawer systems and lower plurality of drawer systems can comprise a unitary molded plastic unit.

According to a further aspect, a drawer system assembly installed at a refrigeration appliance can include a multi-drawer support structure including a multi-drawer support structure upper section and a multi-drawer support structure lower section. The assembly also can include a plurality of upper drawer supports including upper drawer slides mounted at the multi-drawer support structure upper section and supporting an upper plurality of drawers for movement inwardly and outwardly of the multi-drawer support structure upper section and a plurality of lower drawer supports including lower drawer slides mounted at the multi-drawer support structure lower section and supporting a lower plurality of drawers for movement inwardly and outwardly of the multi-drawer support structure lower section. The multi-drawer support structure, including the upper plurality of drawer supports and the lower plurality of drawer supports, can comprise a unitary molded plastic unit.

According to an additional aspect, the upper plurality of drawers can comprise a first upper drawer and a second upper drawer arranged side by side and the lower plurality of drawers can comprise a first lower drawer and a second lower drawer also arranged side by side. The plurality of upper drawer supports can include a first upper outside drawer support, a second upper outside drawer support and an intermediate upper drawer support located between the first upper outside drawer support and the second upper outside drawer support. The intermediate upper drawer support can include an intermediate upper drawer support first side facing the first upper drawer support and an intermediate upper drawer support second side facing the second upper outside drawer support. The first upper drawer can be slidably received at a first upper outside drawer support drawer slide at the first upper outside drawer support and at an intermediate upper drawer support first slide at the intermediate upper drawer support first side. The second upper drawer can be slidably received at a second upper outside drawer support drawer slide at the second upper outside drawer support and at an intermediate upper drawer support second slide at the intermediate upper drawer support second side. The plurality of lower drawer supports can include a first lower outside drawer support, a second lower outside drawer support and an intermediate lower drawer support located between the first lower outside drawer support and the second lower outside drawer support, the intermediate lower drawer support including an intermediate lower drawer support first side facing the first lower drawer support and an intermediate lower drawer support second side facing the second lower outside drawer support. The first lower drawer can be slidably received at a first lower outside drawer support drawer slide at the first lower outside drawer support and at an intermediate lower drawer support first slide at the intermediate lower drawer support first side. The second lower drawer can be slidably received at a second lower outside drawer support drawer slide at the second lower outside drawer support and at an intermediate lower drawer support second slide at the intermediate lower drawer support second side.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates upon reading the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first example of a drawer system, including a drawer and associated drawer supports, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a second example of a drawer system, including a drawer and associated drawer supports, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a somewhat schematic front elevational view of a refrigeration appliance, illustrated by dashed lines, that shows an example of a drawer system assembly in accordance with the invention installed at the interior of the refrigeration appliance that can include a plurality of drawer systems;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an example of a support structure of a drawer system assembly, including drawer supports, in accordance with the invention that can be provided for a plurality of drawers, including drawers as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the example of the support structure of FIG. 4 shown with examples of drawers installed at the support structure in accordance with the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. It is to be appreciated that the various drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale from one figure to another or within a given figure. Also, the sizes of the components are somewhat arbitrarily drawn in order to facilitate an understanding of the drawings. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention, but it can be possible in certain instances to practice the present invention without those specific details.

According to the present invention, a drawer system includes a drawer and at least one drawer support, the drawer and the at least one drawer support being configured to function cooperatively in the movement of the drawer along paths of travel at the at least one drawer support inwardly and outwardly of the at least one drawer support. The drawer includes a drawer first side and a drawer second side arranged longitudinally to the paths of travel of the drawer at the at least one drawer support. At least one of a drawer guide unit and a drawer slide is located at least one of the drawer first side and the drawer second side and arranged longitudinally to the paths of travel of the drawer. The at least one drawer support includes at least one of a drawer guide unit and a drawer slide. At least one drawer slide includes a drawer slide channel at which a drawer guide unit is located such that the drawer slide and the drawer guide unit are in continuous engagement with one another at the drawer slide channel at an uninterrupted series of at least four discrete engagement locations during the movement of the drawer along the paths of travel.

FIG. 1 illustrates a first example of an embodiment of a drawer system in accordance with the invention as described in the preceding paragraph and includes a drawer, indicated generally at 10, and at least one drawer support that are configured to function cooperatively in the movement of the drawer along paths of travel at the at least one drawer support inwardly and outwardly of the at least one drawer support. The at least one drawer support can include at least one of a first drawer support and a second drawer support, and in the example of FIG. 1 two drawer supports comprising the first drawer support, indicated generally at 40, and the second drawer support, indicated generally at 50 are provided. In one embodiment of the drawer system of the invention, the drawer system can be included at the interior of a refrigeration appliance such as a household refrigerator and comprise a crisper installed at the fresh food compartment of the refrigerator for example. However, the drawer systems of the invention have application wherever drawers find a use.

The first drawer support 40 and the second drawer support 50 can be joined by a drawer support shelf 60 and the supports, together with the shelf, installed as a unit at a location where the drawers are required as will be familiar to those skilled in the art. Alternatively, the drawer support shelf 60 can be dispensed with and the first drawer support 40 and the second drawer support 50 installed separately at the opposite sides of a structure such as the opposing walls of the fresh food compartment of a household refrigerator for example.

The drawer 10 illustrated in the example of FIG. 1 includes a drawer front face 11, a drawer rear face 12, a drawer bottom 13, a drawer first side 14 and a drawer second side 15. As will become apparent from the description that follows, the drawer first side 14 and the drawer second side 15 are arranged longitudinally to the paths of travel of the drawer 10 at the first drawer support 40 and the second drawer support 50.

The drawer 10 of the example of FIG. 1 also includes at least one of a first drawer guide unit and a second drawer guide unit. The example comprising the drawer 10 includes a first drawer guide unit, indicated generally at 20, mounted at the drawer first side 14 and a second drawer guide unit, indicated generally at 30, mounted at the drawer second side 15. The first drawer guide unit 20 is arranged horizontally at the drawer first side 14 directionally between the drawer front face 11 and the drawer rear face 12 and also longitudinally to the paths of travel of the drawer 10 at the first drawer support 40 and the second drawer support 50. The second drawer guide unit 30 is arranged horizontally at the drawer second side 15 directionally between the drawer front face 11 and the drawer rear face 12 and also longitudinally to the paths of travel of the drawer 10 at the first drawer support 40 and the second drawer support 50.

The first drawer guide unit 20 includes a first rail, indicated generally at 21, that includes a first rail upper surface 22 and a first rail lower surface 23. The first rail 21 extends outwardly from the drawer first side 14. The first drawer guide unit 20 also includes a first guide unit rotatable wheel 24 that is mounted for rotation at the drawer first side 14 rearwardly of the first rail 21. The second drawer guide unit 30 includes a second rail, indicated generally at 31, that includes a second rail upper surface 32 and a second rail lower surface 33. The second rail 31 extends outwardly from the drawer second side 15. The second drawer guide unit 30 includes a second guide unit rotatable wheel 34 that is mounted for rotation at the drawer second side 15 rearwardly of the second rail 31. The first rail 21 also includes a first abutment 25 that depends downwardly from a first rail rear end 26 in the direction of the drawer bottom 13 and extends below the first rail lower surface 23. The first abutment 25 includes a first abutment arcuate surface 27 for a purpose described below. The second rail 31 includes a second abutment 35 that depends downwardly from a second rail rear end 36 in the direction of the drawer bottom 13 and extends below the second rail lower surface 33. The second abutment 35 includes a second abutment arcuate surface 37 also for a purpose to be described below. The abutments which need not be integral with the rails from which they depend but can comprise separate structures, act to stop the drawer 10 from being completely removed from the first drawer support 40 and the second drawer support 50 without manipulation by a user as described in detail below.

The first drawer support 40 includes a first drawer slide, indicated generally at 41, and the second drawer support 50 includes a second drawer slide, indicated generally at 51. The first drawer slide 41 includes a first drawer slide channel, indicated generally at 42, at which the first drawer guide unit 20 is located and the second drawer slide 51 includes a second drawer slide channel, indicated generally at 52, at which the second drawer guide unit 30 is located, both as described in greater detail below. The first drawer slide channel 42 includes a first drawer slide channel open end 48 and a first drawer slide channel closed end 49. Also, the second drawer slide channel 52 includes a second drawer slide channel open end 58 and a second drawer slide channel closed end 59.

Continuing with a description of the first drawer slide 41 and the second drawer slide 51, the first drawer slide channel 42 of the first drawer slide 41 includes a first drawer slide channel upper surface 43 and a first drawer slide channel lower surface 44. The second drawer slide channel 52 of the second drawer slide 51 includes a second drawer slide channel upper surface 53 and a second drawer slide channel lower surface 54. Additionally, the first drawer slide 41 includes a first drawer slide upper rotatable wheel 45 that is mounted at the first drawer slide 41 toward the front end of the first drawer slide channel 42 and extends below the first drawer slide channel upper surface 43, and a first drawer slide lower rotatable wheel 46 that is mounted at the first drawer slide 41 toward the front end of the first drawer slide channel 42 forwardly of the first drawer slide upper rotatable wheel 45 and extends above the first drawer slide channel lower surface 44. Also, the second drawer slide 51 includes a second drawer slide upper rotatable wheel 55 that is mounted at the second drawer slide 51 toward the front end of the second drawer slide channel 52 and extends below the second drawer slide channel upper surface 53 and a second drawer slide lower rotatable wheel 56 that is mounted at the second drawer slide 51 toward the front end of the second drawer slide channel 52 forwardly of the second drawer slide upper rotatable wheel 55 and extends above the second drawer slide channel lower surface 54.

When the drawer 10 is in place at the first drawer support 40 and the second drawer support 50, the first rail 21 extends outwardly from the drawer first side 14 into the first drawer slide channel 42. The first guide unit rotatable wheel 24 is sized so that when the drawer 10 is in place at the first drawer support 40 and the second drawer support 50, the first guide unit rotatable wheel 24 continuously engages the first drawer slide channel upper surface 43 and the first drawer slide channel lower surface 44 during the movement of the drawer along the paths of travel at the first drawer slide 41. The width of the first rail 21 is narrower than width of the first drawer slide channel 42 so that the first rail upper surface 22 is out of contact with the first drawer slide channel upper surface 43 and the first rail lower surface 23 is out of contact with the first drawer slide channel lower surface 44. At the same time, the second rail 31 extends outwardly from the drawer second side 15 into the second drawer slide channel 52. The second guide unit rotatable wheel 34 is sized so that when the drawer 10 is in place at the first drawer support 40 and the second drawer support 50, the second guide unit rotatable wheel 34 continuously engages the second drawer slide channel upper surface 53 and the second drawer slide channel lower surface 54 during the movement of the drawer along the paths of travel at the second drawer slide 51. The width of the second rail 31 is narrower than width of the second drawer slide channel 52 so that the second rail upper surface 32 is out of contact with the second drawer slide channel upper surface 53 and the second rail lower surface 33 is out of contact with the second drawer slide channel lower surface 54.

The first drawer slide upper rotatable wheel 45 is situated so that the first drawer slide upper rotatable wheel continuously engages the first rail upper surface 22 during the movement of the drawer 10 along the paths of travel at the first drawer slide 41 and the first drawer slide lower rotatable wheel 46 is situated so that first drawer slide lower rotatable wheel continuously engages the first rail lower surface 23 during the movement of the drawer 10 along the paths of travel at the first drawer slide 41. The second drawer slide upper rotatable wheel 55 is situated so that the second drawer slide upper rotatable wheel continuously engages the second rail upper surface 32 during the movement of the drawer 10 along the paths of travel at the second drawer slide 51 and the second drawer slide lower rotatable wheel 56 is situated so that second drawer slide lower rotatable wheel continuously engages the second rail lower surface 33 during the movement of the drawer 10 along the paths of travel at the second drawer slide 51.

Based on the foregoing description, it will be understood that whenever the drawer 10 is moved outwardly from the first drawer support 40 and the second drawer support 50 to access the contents of the drawer 10 for example and thereafter returned to a resting place at the first drawer support 40 and the second drawer support 50, the first guide unit rotatable wheel 24 at any point during that movement of the drawer 10 is in engagement at a discrete location with the first drawer slide channel upper surface 43 and at a discrete location with the first drawer slide channel lower surface 44. At the same time, the second guide unit rotatable wheel 34 is in engagement at a discrete location with the second drawer slide channel upper surface 53 and at a discrete location with the second drawer slide channel lower surface 54. Further, the first drawer slide upper rotatable wheel 45 is in engagement with the first rail upper surface 22 at a discrete location and the first drawer slide lower rotatable wheel 46 is in engagement with the first rail lower surface 23 at a discrete location. Additionally, the second drawer slide upper rotatable wheel 55 is in engagement with the second rail upper surface 32 at a discrete location and the second drawer slide lower rotatable wheel 56 is engagement with the second rail lower surface 33 at a discrete location. Thus, the first drawer slide 41 and the first drawer guide unit 20 are in engagement with one another at the first drawer slide channel 42 at four discrete engagement locations, and the second drawer slide 51 and the second drawer guide unit 30 also are in engagement with one another at the second drawer slide channel 52 at four discrete engagement locations. Further, during the inward and outward movement of the drawer 10 at the first drawer slide 41 and the second drawer slide 51, because the four engagement locations in each case will constantly change, the first drawer slide 41 and the first drawer guide unit 20 are in continuous engagement with one another at the first drawer slide channel 42 at an uninterrupted series of at least four discrete engagement locations during the movement of the drawer 10 along the paths of travel at the first drawer support 40; and the second drawer slide 51 and the second drawer guide unit 30 are in continuous engagement with one another at the second drawer slide channel 52 at an uninterrupted series of at least four discrete engagement locations during the movement of the drawer 10 along the paths of travel at the second drawer support 50.

The aforedescribed plurality of engagement locations provided between the first drawer guide unit 20 and the first drawer slide 41 together with the plurality of engagement locations between the second drawer guide unit 30 and the second drawer slide 51 result in the drawer 10, when moved outwardly and inwardly of the first drawer support 40 and the second drawer support 50 by a user, remaining in a constant attitude and not being subject to bouncing and/or wobbling. It can be noted that the same result can be accomplished when only one drawer support such as the first drawer support 40 or the second drawer support 50 is provided. In that case, the other drawer support can be such as not to provide the plurality of engagement locations provided by the first drawer support 40 and the second drawer support 50.

In the case of the first drawer slide 41 and the first drawer guide unit 20, each of the first drawer slide upper rotatable wheel 45, the first drawer slide lower rotatable wheel 46 and the first guide unit rotatable wheel 24 comprises a relative movement aid that is present at each discrete engagement location between the first drawer slide 41 and the first drawer guide unit 20 and eases the relative movement between the first drawer slide 41 and the first drawer guide unit 20 at each discrete engagement location between the first drawer slide 41 and the first drawer guide unit 20 during the movement of the drawer 10 along the paths of travel at the first drawer support 40. Similarly, in the case of the second drawer slide 51 and the second drawer guide unit 30, each of the second drawer slide upper rotatable wheel 55, the second drawer slide lower rotatable wheel 56 and the second guide unit rotatable wheel 34 comprises a relative movement aid that is present at each discrete engagement location between the second drawer slide 51 and the second drawer guide unit 30 and eases the relative movement between the second drawer slide 51 and the second drawer guide unit 30 at each discrete engagement location between the second drawer slide 51 and the second drawer guide unit 30 during the movement of the drawer 10 along the paths of travel at the second drawer support 50. Suitable relative movement aids include not only rotatable wheels of the type described but also include, for example, ball bearings, as well as structures made of materials such as fabrics, rubbers and plastics that inherently or otherwise possess sufficient lubricity to aid the relative movement between the drawer slides and the drawer guide units.

The positioning of each of the first guide unit rotatable wheel 24, the first drawer slide upper rotatable wheel 45 and the first drawer slide lower rotatable wheel 46 is such that the first guide unit rotatable wheel 24 is spaced away from the drawer first side 14 a greater distance than the first drawer slide upper rotatable wheel 45 and the first drawer slide lower rotatable wheel 46. In addition, the positioning of each of the second guide unit rotatable wheel 34, the second drawer slide upper rotatable wheel 55 and the second drawer slide lower rotatable wheel 56 is such that the second guide unit rotatable wheel 34 is spaced away from the drawer second side 15 a greater distance than the second drawer slide upper rotatable wheel 55 and the second drawer slide lower rotatable wheel 56. As a result of this positioning, the first guide unit rotatable wheel 24 will bypass and not encounter either of the first drawer slide upper rotatable wheel 45 or the first drawer slide lower rotatable wheel 46, and the second guide unit rotatable wheel 34 will bypass and not encounter either of the second drawer slide upper rotatable wheel 55 or the second drawer slide lower rotatable wheel 56, should it be intended that the drawer 10 be withdrawn completely from within the first drawer support 40 and the second drawer support 50.

However, in order to prevent the drawer 10 from being accidentally completely removed from the drawer supports in the absence of some manipulative action by a user that involves more than merely pulling the drawer outwardly of the supports, a mechanism can be provided that affords a positive stopping of the drawer as it is moved outwardly of the drawer supports. This stopping feature is carried out by the first abutment 25 that comprises a stopping element mounted at the drawer first side 14 and the second abutment 35 that comprises a stopping element mounted at the drawer second side 15. The first abutment 25 is located the same distance from the drawer first side 14 as the first drawer slide lower rotatable wheel 46 whereby the first abutment 25 engages the first drawer slide lower rotatable wheel 46 when the drawer 10 is moved along the path of travel outwardly of the first drawer support 40. The second abutment 35 is located the same distance from the drawer second side 15 as the second drawer slide lower rotatable wheel 56 whereby the second abutment 35 engages the second drawer slide lower rotatable wheel 56 when the drawer 10 is moved along the path of travel outwardly of the second drawer support 50. Specifically, in the case of the first abutment 25, the first abutment arcuate surface 27, that can have a curvature that is complementary to the curvature of the first drawer slide lower rotatable wheel 46, will engage and come to rest against a first drawer slide lower rotatable wheel outer surface 47. And in the case of the second abutment 35, the second abutment arcuate surface 37, that can have a curvature that is complementary to the curvature of the second drawer slide lower rotatable wheel 56, will engage and come to rest against a second drawer slide lower rotatable wheel outer surface 57.

If it becomes necessary or desirable to remove the drawer 10 completely from the first drawer support 40 and the second drawer support 50, the drawer 10 can be manipulated as follows. The drawer front face 11 is lifted upwardly and the drawer pulled outwardly from the first drawer support 40 and the second drawer support 50. The complementary curvatures of the first abutment arcuate surface 27 and the first drawer slide lower rotatable wheel outer surface 47 and the complementary curvatures of the second abutment arcuate surface 37 and the second drawer slide lower rotatable wheel outer surface 57 will allow the first abutment 25 and the second abutment 35 to ride over the first drawer slide lower rotatable wheel 46 and the second drawer slide lower rotatable wheel 56, respectively, as the drawer 10 is pulled away from the first drawer support 40 and the second drawer support 50. At the same time, because the first guide unit rotatable wheel 24 is offset from the first drawer slide upper rotatable wheel 45 and the first drawer slide lower rotatable wheel 46 as described above, the first guide unit rotatable wheel 24 will not encounter the first drawer slide upper rotatable wheel 45 and the first drawer slide lower rotatable wheel 46 as the drawer 10 is pulled away from the first drawer support 40 and the second drawer support 50 and through the first drawer slide channel open end 48. Correlatively, because the second guide unit rotatable wheel 34 is offset from the second drawer slide upper rotatable wheel 55 and the second drawer slide lower rotatable wheel 56 as described above, the second guide unit rotatable wheel 34 will not encounter the second drawer slide upper rotatable wheel 55 and the second drawer slide lower rotatable wheel 56 as the drawer 10 is pulled away from the first drawer support 40 and the second drawer support 50 and through the second drawer slide channel open end 58.

The first drawer slide lower rotatable wheel outer surface 47 and the second drawer slide lower rotatable wheel outer surface 57 can be made of a shock-absorbing material such as rubber for example. Consequently, when the first abutment 25 engages the first drawer slide lower rotatable wheel 46 and the second abutment 35 engages the second drawer slide lower rotatable wheel 56, should the drawer 10 be pulled outwardly of the first drawer support 40 and the second drawer support 50 sufficiently for those engagements to take place, the shock of the engagements will be desirably absorbed or dampened.

In a related aspect, in the example of the invention illustrated in FIG. 1, the first guide unit rotatable wheel 24 includes a first guide unit rotatable wheel outer surface 28, and the second guide unit rotatable wheel 34 includes a second guide unit rotatable wheel outer surface 38. Each of these outer surfaces is made of a shock-absorbing material such as rubber for example. When the drawer 10 is returned to a storage position at the first drawer support 40 and the second drawer support 50 after having been moved outwardly of the supports to an open position, the first guide unit rotatable wheel 24 will engage the first drawer slide channel closed end 49 and the second guide unit rotatable wheel 34 will engage the second drawer slide channel closed end 59. The shock-absorbing material provided at the first guide unit rotatable wheel 24 and the second guide unit rotatable wheel 34 will desirably absorb the shock of the first guide unit rotatable wheel 24 engaging the first drawer slide channel closed end 49 and the second guide unit rotatable wheel 34 engaging the second drawer slide channel closed end 59.

Turning now to FIG. 2, a drawer system is illustrated that is essentially of the same construction as the drawer system of FIG. 1 except in one respect. Specifically, in the example of FIG. 2, the first rail 21, the second rail 31, the first drawer slide channel 42 and the second drawer slide channel 52 are each arranged longitudinally of the paths of travel but at a same degree of inclination downwardly from the horizontal in a direction from the drawer front face 11 to the drawer rear face 12. This arrangement allows the drawer 10, after having been withdrawn from the first drawer support 40 and the second drawer support 50, and the contents of the drawer accessed for example, to be returned to a storage location at the supports essentially under its own initiative.

The present invention, in addition to being applied in the context of a single drawer system as described above, has application in the context of a plurality of drawers in a drawer system assembly wherein the plurality of drawers are arranged in an upper plurality of drawers and a lower plurality of drawers. In an example of such an application, the drawer system assembly can be installed at a refrigeration appliance as illustrated in FIG. 3. The example of the embodiment of the invention that is shown in FIG. 3 comprises a refrigeration appliance, indicated generally at 70, in the configuration of a household refrigerator that includes two refrigerator compartments. In the example of FIG. 3, a fresh food compartment, indicated generally at 72, in which articles can be stored at temperatures above their freezing points but low enough to maintain the articles in a usable condition for reasonable periods of time is located at the top of the refrigeration appliance 70. Located beneath the fresh food compartment 72 is a freezer compartment, indicated generally at 74, in which articles can be stored at below their freezing points for extended periods of time. The fresh food compartment 72 and the freezer compartment 74 are separated by a mullion 73 that comprises, essentially, an insulation panel between the two compartments. Refrigerators in which the freezer compartments are located beneath the fresh food compartments are sometimes referred to in the art as “bottom-mount” refrigerators. The example embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 3 includes two doors 78, in the nature of French-style or double doors that are provided at the fresh food compartment 72. These two doors are configured to open and close off a fresh food compartment interior 71 in a manner that is familiar with those having ordinary skill in the art.

The fresh food compartment 72 includes opposing first interior side 75 and second interior side 76. The fresh food compartment interior 71 can include shelves and/or drawers as is typical for the fresh food compartments of refrigerators. In addition, the example of a drawer system assembly, indicated generally at 77, is located within the fresh food compartment interior 71 between the first interior side 75 and second interior side 76 adjacent the bottom of the fresh food compartment. The drawer system assembly 77 is shown and described in greater detail below with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

Although the drawer system assembly 77 is shown in the drawings as located in the fresh food compartment of a bottom-mount refrigerator, the assembly can be located in a refrigerator compartment other than a fresh food compartment. For example, the drawer system assembly of the invention can be located in a freezer compartment of a refrigerator or in a refrigerator compartment that contains only the drawer system assembly or contains the assembly together with one or more special purpose compartments. Additionally, the drawer system assembly of the invention can be located in types of refrigeration appliances other than household refrigerators and in household refrigerators other than bottom-mount refrigerators. For example, the drawer system assembly of the invention can be located in household refrigerators in which the fresh food and freezer compartments are arranged side-by-side or in which the freezer compartments are positioned above the fresh food compartments.

The drawer system assembly 77 in the example embodiment of FIGS. 3-5 includes an upper plurality of drawers (two in number in the example embodiment comprising a first upper drawer 80 and a second upper drawer 81 arranged side by side) and a lower plurality of drawers (two in number in the example embodiment comprising a first lower drawer 82 and a second lower drawer 83 arranged side by side) that are mounted separately from one another in a manner so that each drawer can be individually slidably withdrawn from and returned to the fresh food compartment interior 71. As best seen in FIG. 3, a shelf 79 is provided at the fresh food compartment interior 71 and serves as a cover for the drawer system assembly 77.

Referring to FIG. 4, there is illustrated an example embodiment of a multi-drawer support structure, indicated generally at 85, of the drawer system assembly 77. This multi-drawer support structure and the drawers that are located thereat, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, incorporate the features that have been described above in relation to the drawer systems of FIGS. 1 and 2. Stated otherwise, according to one aspect of the invention, the drawer systems of FIGS. 1 and 2 can be applied at the multi-drawer support structure 85. However, it is also the case that drawer systems of a different design can be used and the multi-drawer support structure suitably modified to accept the drawer systems of the different design.

The multi-drawer support structure 85 includes a multi-drawer support structure upper section, indicated generally at 86, and a multi-drawer support structure lower section, indicated generally at 87. A plurality of upper drawer supports, including a first upper outside drawer support, indicated generally at 90, a second upper outside drawer support, indicated generally at 92, and an intermediate upper drawer support, indicated generally at 94, that is located between the first upper outside drawer support 90 and the second upper outside drawer support 92, are mounted at the multi-drawer support structure upper section 86. The first upper outside drawer support 90 includes a first upper outside drawer support slide 91 and the second upper outside drawer support 92 includes a second upper outside drawer support slide 93. The intermediate upper drawer support 94 includes an intermediate upper drawer support first side 95 that faces the first upper outside drawer support 90 and includes an intermediate upper drawer support first slide 96 and an intermediate upper drawer support second side 97 that faces the second upper outside drawer support 92 and includes an intermediate upper drawer support second slide 98. The plurality of upper drawer supports and the upper drawer slides associated with those supports support an upper plurality of drawers for movement inwardly and outwardly of the multi-drawer support structure upper section 86. Specifically, the first upper drawer 80, not shown in FIG. 5, is slidably received at the first upper outside drawer support slide 91 at the first upper outside drawer support 90 and at the intermediate upper drawer support first slide 96 at the intermediate upper drawer support first side 95 and the second upper drawer 81, also not shown in FIG. 5, is slidably received at the second upper outside drawer support slide 93 at the second upper outside drawer support 92 and at the intermediate upper drawer support second slide 98 at the intermediate upper drawer support second side 97.

Also included at the multi-drawer support structure 85 is plurality of lower drawer supports, including a first lower outside drawer support, indicated generally at 100, a second lower outside drawer support, indicated generally at 102, and an intermediate lower drawer support, indicated generally at 104, that is located between the first lower outside drawer support 100 and the second lower outside drawer support 102, are mounted at the multi-drawer support structure lower section 87. The first lower outside drawer support 100 includes a first lower outside drawer support slide 101 and the second lower outside drawer support 102 includes a second lower outside drawer support slide 103. The intermediate lower drawer support 104 includes an intermediate lower drawer support first side 105 that faces the first lower outside drawer support 100 and includes an intermediate lower drawer support first slide 106 and an intermediate lower drawer support second side 107 that faces the second lower outside drawer support 102 and includes an intermediate lower drawer support second slide 108. The plurality of lower drawer supports and the lower drawer slides associated with those supports support a lower plurality of drawers for movement inwardly and outwardly of the multi-drawer support structure lower section 87. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the first lower drawer 82 is slidably received at the first lower outside drawer support slide 101 at the first lower outside drawer support 100 and at the intermediate lower drawer support first slide 106 at the intermediate lower drawer support first side 105 and the second lower drawer 83 is slidably received at the second lower outside drawer support slide 103 at the second lower outside drawer support 102 and at the intermediate lower drawer support second slide 108 at the intermediate lower drawer support second side 107.

The multi-drawer support structure 85, including the upper plurality of drawer supports and the lower plurality of drawer supports, comprises a unitary molded plastic unit in the example embodiment. However, the multi-drawer support structure can be constructed of separate components, including drawer supports, that are assembled in a construct that supports the upper plurality of drawers and the lower plurality of drawers in the manner of multi-drawer support structure 85 as described above.

The foregoing description of the drawer system assembly has been presented on the basis of four substantially equal-sized drawers arranged in an upper section and a lower section of drawers. However, any number of drawers of any size can be included in the drawer system assembly. For example, one of the upper section and the lower section can comprise a single drawer that extends from the first interior side 75 to the second interior side 76 of the fresh food compartment 72 of the refrigeration appliance 70 while the other of the upper section and the lower section can include two or more drawers of equal size or of varying sizes.

The invention has been described herein above using specific examples; however, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various alternatives may be used and equivalents may be substituted for elements or steps described herein without deviating from the scope of the invention. Modifications may be necessary to adapt the invention to a particular situation or to a particular need without departing from the scope of the invention. It is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular implementation described herein, but that the claims be given their broadest interpretation to cover all embodiments, literal or equivalent, covered thereby.

Claims

1. A drawer system including a drawer and at least one drawer support, the drawer and the at least one drawer support being configured to function cooperatively in the movement of the drawer along paths of travel at the at least one drawer support inwardly and outwardly of the at least one drawer support wherein, the drawer includes:

a drawer first side and a drawer second side arranged longitudinally to the paths of travel of the drawer at the at least one drawer support; and

at least one of a drawer guide unit and a drawer slide located at least one of the drawer first side and the drawer second side and arranged longitudinally to the paths of travel of the drawer, and

the at least one drawer support includes at least one of a drawer guide unit and a drawer slide, there being at least one drawer slide that includes a drawer slide channel at which a drawer guide unit is located, the drawer slide and the drawer guide unit being in continuous engagement with one another at the drawer slide channel at an uninterrupted series of at least four discrete engagement locations during the movement of the drawer along the paths of travel.

2. The drawer system of claim 1 wherein, the drawer includes:

a first drawer guide unit and a second drawer guide unit, the first drawer guide unit being mounted to the drawer first side and the second drawer guide unit being mounted to the drawer second side, and

the at least one drawer support includes a first drawer support and a second drawer support, the first drawer support including a first drawer slide, and the second drawer support including a second drawer slide, the first drawer slide including a first drawer slide channel at which the first drawer guide unit is located, the first drawer slide and the first drawer guide unit being in continuous engagement with one another at the first drawer slide channel at an uninterrupted series of at least four discrete engagement locations during the movement of the drawer along the paths of travel at the first drawer support, and the second drawer slide including a second drawer slide channel at which the second drawer guide unit is located, the second drawer slide and the second drawer guide unit being in continuous engagement with one another at the second drawer slide channel at an uninterrupted series of at least four discrete engagement locations during the movement of the drawer along the paths of travel at the second drawer support.

3. A refrigeration appliance including the drawer system of claim 2.

4. The drawer system of claim 2, wherein:

at least one of the first drawer slide and the first drawer guide unit includes a relative movement aid that is present at each discrete engagement location between the first drawer slide and the first drawer guide unit and eases the relative movement between the first drawer slide and the first drawer guide unit at the uninterrupted series of at least four discrete engagement locations between the first drawer slide and the first drawer guide unit during the movement of the drawer along the paths of travel at the first drawer support; and

at least one of the second drawer slide and the second drawer guide unit includes a relative movement aid that is present at each discrete engagement location between the second drawer slide and the second drawer guide unit and eases the relative movement between the second drawer slide and the second drawer guide unit at the uninterrupted series of at least four discrete engagement locations between the second drawer slide and the second drawer guide unit during the movement of the drawer along the paths of travel at the second drawer support.

5. The drawer system of claim 4, wherein each relative movement aid comprises a rotatable wheel.

6. A refrigeration appliance including the drawer system of claim 5.

7. The drawer system of claim 2 wherein,

the first drawer slide channel includes a first drawer slide channel upper surface and a first drawer slide channel lower surface;

the second drawer slide channel includes a second drawer slide channel upper surface and a second drawer slide channel lower surface;

the first drawer guide unit includes a first guide unit rotatable wheel that continuously engages the first drawer slide channel upper surface and the first drawer slide channel lower surface during the movement of the drawer along the paths of travel at the first drawer slide; and

the second drawer guide unit includes a second guide unit rotatable wheel that continuously engages the second drawer slide channel upper surface and the second drawer slide channel lower surface during the movement of the drawer along the paths of travel at the second drawer slide.

8. The drawer system of claim 7 wherein,

the first drawer slide includes a first drawer slide upper rotatable wheel and a first drawer slide lower rotatable wheel;

the second drawer slide includes a second drawer slide upper rotatable wheel and a second drawer slide lower rotatable wheel;

the first drawer guide unit includes a first rail that includes a first rail upper surface and a first rail lower surface, the first rail extending outwardly from the drawer first side into the first drawer slide channel, the first drawer slide upper rotatable wheel continuously engaging the first rail upper surface during the movement of the drawer along the paths of travel at the first drawer slide and the first drawer slide lower rotatable wheel continuously engaging the first rail lower surface during the movement of the drawer along the paths of travel at the first drawer slide; and

the second drawer guide unit includes a second rail that includes a second rail upper surface and a second rail lower surface, the second rail extending outwardly from the drawer second side into the second drawer slide channel, the second drawer slide upper rotatable wheel continuously engaging the second rail upper surface during the movement of the drawer along the paths of travel at the second drawer slide and the second drawer slide lower rotatable wheel continuously engaging the second rail lower surface during the movement of the drawer along the paths of travel at the first drawer slide.

9. The drawer system of claim 8 wherein at least one of the first guide unit rotatable wheel and the second guide unit rotatable wheel includes a shock-absorbing outer surface and at least one of the first drawer slide lower rotatable wheel and the second drawer slide lower rotatable wheel includes a shock-absorbing outer surface.

10. A refrigeration appliance including the drawer system of claim 9.

11. The drawer system of claim 8 wherein the first rail, the second rail, the first drawer slide channel and the second drawer slide channel are each arranged at a same degree of inclination downwardly from the horizontal in a direction from a drawer front face to a drawer rear face.

12. The drawer system of claim 8 wherein the first guide unit rotatable wheel is spaced away from the drawer first side a greater distance than the first drawer slide upper rotatable wheel and the first drawer slide lower rotatable wheel and the second guide unit rotatable wheel is spaced away from the drawer second side a greater distance than the second drawer slide upper rotatable wheel and the second drawer slide lower rotatable wheel.

13. The drawer system of claim 12 including at least one of a first stopping element mounted at the drawer first side and a second stopping element mounted at the drawer second side wherein the first stopping element is located the same distance from the drawer first side as the first drawer slide lower rotatable wheel whereby the first stopping element engages the first drawer slide lower rotatable wheel when the drawer is moved along a path of travel outwardly of the first drawer support and the second stopping element is located the same distance from the drawer second side as the second drawer slide lower rotatable wheel whereby the second stopping element engages the second drawer slide lower rotatable wheel when the drawer is moved along a path of travel outwardly of the second drawer support.

14. A refrigeration appliance including the drawer system of claim 13.

15. A drawer system assembly including a plurality of drawer systems as set forth in claim 1 arranged in an upper plurality of drawer systems and a lower plurality of drawer systems.

16. A drawer system assembly including a plurality of drawer systems as set forth in claim 8 arranged in an upper plurality of drawer systems and a lower plurality of drawer systems.

17. The drawer system assembly of claim 16 wherein the drawer supports of the upper plurality of drawer systems and lower plurality of drawer systems comprise a unitary molded plastic unit.

18. A drawer system assembly installed at a refrigeration appliance, the drawer system assembly including:

a multi-drawer support structure including a multi-drawer support structure upper section and a multi-drawer support structure lower section;

a plurality of upper drawer supports including upper drawer slides mounted at the multi-drawer support structure upper section and supporting an upper plurality of drawers for movement inwardly and outwardly of the multi-drawer support structure upper section; and

a plurality of lower drawer supports including lower drawer slides mounted at the multi-drawer support structure lower section and supporting a lower plurality of drawers for movement inwardly and outwardly of the multi-drawer support structure lower section.

19. The drawer system assembly of claim 18 wherein the multi-drawer support structure including the upper plurality of drawer supports and the lower plurality of drawer supports comprises a unitary molded plastic unit.

20. The drawer system assembly of claim 19 wherein:

the upper plurality of drawers comprises a first upper drawer and a second upper drawer arranged side by side;

the lower plurality of drawers comprises a first lower drawer and a second lower drawer arranged side by side;

the plurality of upper drawer supports includes a first upper outside drawer support, a second upper outside drawer support and an intermediate upper drawer support located between the first upper outside drawer support and the second upper outside drawer support, the intermediate upper drawer support including an intermediate upper drawer support first side facing the first upper drawer support and an intermediate upper drawer support second side facing the second upper outside drawer support;

the first upper drawer is slidably received at a first upper outside drawer support drawer slide at the first upper outside drawer support and at an intermediate upper drawer support first side drawer slide at the intermediate upper drawer support first side and the second upper drawer is slidably received at a second upper outside drawer support drawer slide at the second upper outside drawer support and at an intermediate upper drawer support second side drawer slide at the intermediate upper drawer support second side;

the plurality of lower drawer supports includes a first lower outside drawer support, a second lower outside drawer support and an intermediate lower drawer support located between the first lower outside drawer support and the second lower outside drawer support, the intermediate lower drawer support including an intermediate lower drawer support first side facing the first lower drawer support and an intermediate lower drawer support second side facing the second lower outside drawer support; and

the first lower drawer is slidably received at a first lower outside drawer support drawer slide at the first lower outside drawer support and at an intermediate lower drawer support first side drawer slide at the intermediate lower drawer support first side and the second lower drawer is slidably received at a second lower outside drawer support drawer slide at the second lower outside drawer support and at an intermediate lower drawer support second side drawer slide at the intermediate lower drawer support second side.