TILTABLE DRAWER ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A drawer assembly that includes a housing and drawer movably coupled to the housing. The housing includes at least one linear slot and at least one non-linear slot that has a straight section and an arcuate section. The drawer includes a plurality of pegs or protrusions that engage and movably couple to the slots for coupling the drawer to the housing. As the drawer moves from a closed position to an open position, the pegs slide within the linear slot and the straight section of the non-linear slot to provide linear movement of the drawer towards the open position. Once in the open position, the drawer may be tilted when the pegs engaged and coupled to the non-linear slot move through the arcuate section.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/878,713, filed on Jul. 25, 2019, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

A drawer assembly that includes at least one linear slot and at least one non-linear slot that has a straight section and an arcuate section for providing linear and rotational movement of a drawer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Drawer assemblies have been around for decades. Yet, many drawer assemblies are complex, and include many moving parts. The makeup of a drawer traditionally is a drawer box with a drawer front, a bottom and some type of slide mechanism. Most drawers pull straight out, but for storage of certain items it is desirable to tilt the front of the drawer, however most of these have been very complex mechanisms, or use latches to attach the drawer front to the rest of the drawer box, which usually allows undesirable movement of the drawer front relative to the drawer box. Other designs have been more complex and the complexity of assembly and manufacture of the drawer assembly increases cost and reliability. In addition, the complicated mechanisms that allow slide and tile generally take up substantial space in the cavity receiving the drawer. As such with a smaller drawer box, the drawer can hold fewer items.

Other drawer assemblies, such as those shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,769,266 issued to Morris on Aug. 3, 2010 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,169,221 issued to Wheeler on Dec. 8, 1992, disclose drawer assemblies including drawer guides for facilitating linear movement of a drawer between an open position and a closed position. In addition, the drawer assemblies include a pivot assembly coupled along, or at the end of, the drawer guide, to facilitate tilting of the drawer. Yet again, such designs are complex, causing difficulty for assembly and manufacture. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a simple, easily assembled, and simplified manufactured drawer assembly that allows for linear movement and tilting of a drawer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention solves such problems by providing a drawer assembly that is simple, easy to assemble, light weight, yet sturdy, durable, and simple to manufacture due to the limited parts. Moreover, the present invention of a drawer assembly provides for linear movement and tilting, or rotation, of a drawer. More specifically, the drawer assembly of the present invention includes a housing and drawer movably coupled to the housing. The housing includes at least one linear slot and at least one non-linear slot that has a straight section and an arcuate section. The drawer includes at least one, or more preferably, a plurality of pegs or protrusions that engage and movably couple to the slots for coupling the drawer to the housing. As the drawer moves from a closed position to an open position, the pegs slide within the linear slot and the straight section of the non-linear slot to provide linear motion of the drawer towards the open position. Once in the open position, the drawer may extended and tilted for a combined motion. More specifically the tilt function occurs when the pegs in the non-linear slot move through the arcuate section. This allows the present invention to eliminate traditional drawer slides and complex mechanisms and therefore increase the drawer box size to the maximum size for the drawer cavity.

The drawer assembly may include a housing configured to receive a drawer and wherein the housing includes a pair of sides each having at least one slot with a linear portion and a nonlinear portion and wherein the drawer includes at least one protrusion disposed in the slot. The two sides include at least one linear slot, and the at least one slot includes at least one nonlinear slot.

The drawer includes drawer sides each aligned with the two sides of the housing and wherein the drawer sides each include at least one protrusion. The at least one protrusion includes a protrusion disposed in the at least one linear slots and the at least one non-linear slot.

The at least one non-linear slots each includes a linear portion and a non-linear portion. The non-linear portion has an arcuate profile. In many instances the sides include a second non-linear slot, which form the at least one non-linear slot. More specifically, the sides may include the at least one slot which may include includes a first slot with a first profile and a second slot with a second profile and wherein the first and second profiles are different. For one of the slots, the nonlinear portion of the nonlinear slot may extends substantially vertical from the horizontal linear portion and wherein the non-linear portion has an arcuate profile.

The drawer assembly may include a second slot having a substantially horizontal extending linear section and wherein a second non-linear portion extends off the front end of the slot upwardly and toward the front with an arcuate profile. The non-linear portion may extend upwardly and arcuately away from the linear portion and wherein the non-linear portion is disposed about half way between a forward end and a rearward end of the linear portion. In addition, the drawer assembly may include at least one protrusion having a first protrusion which is configured to be disposed in the linear portion between the forward end and the non-linear portion of the slot and a second protrusion configured to be disposed in the nonlinear portion as well as the rearward linear portion located between the rearward end and the non-linear portion of the slot and the drawer is moved between positions.

The drawer assembly may include a housing including a first side and a second side and wherein each side includes at least one slot having a linear portion and a nonlinear portion; and the drawer disposed in a cavity of the housing having first and second drawer sides substantially aligned with the first side and the second side of the housing and wherein each of the first and second drawer sides includes a first protrusion and a second protrusion spaced from the first protrusion and wherein at least one of the first and second protrusions is configured to be disposed in the at least one slot. The linear portion extends along the axis of the linear movement of the drawer between an open and closed position and the nonlinear portion extends upwardly from the linear portion and wherein the first protrusion is constrained to only move linearly within the linear portion and the second protrusion is configured to move within both the linear and nonlinear portions. The drawer assembly may include a nonlinear slot a nonlinear slot having the linear portion and the nonlinear portion and second linear slot extending along axis of the linear movement of the drawer between the open and the closed positions. In some instances the at least one slot includes a third nonlinear slot. The third non-linear slot may be configured to include a linear portion ending in a nonlinear portion.

19. The drawer assembly of claim 16 wherein the first protrusion is disposed in the second linear slot and the second protrusion is disposed in the at least one slot having a linear portion and a nonlinear portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a drawer assembly showing the position of the pegs within the slots when the drawer is in the closed position;

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the drawer assembly showing the position of the pegs within the slots as the drawer is extended half of the length of its linear movement;

FIG. 3 illustrates a side perspective view of the drawer assembly showing the positions of the pegs within the slots as the drawer reaches the end of its linear movement as it is being opened;

FIG. 4 illustrate front perspective view of the drawer assembly in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 illustrates a side perspective view of the drawer assembly showing the position of the pegs within the slots as the drawer is rotated half way through its range of rotation;

FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of the drawer assembly in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 illustrates a side perspective view of the drawer assembly showing the position of the pegs within the slots at the end of its rotation to a fully open and fully rotated position;

FIG. 8 illustrates a side view of the drawer assembly in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 illustrates a side view of a drawer assembly for a smaller drawer and showing the position of the pegs within the slots when the drawer is in the closed position;

FIG. 10 illustrates a side view of the drawer assembly of FIG. 9 and showing the position of the pegs within the slots as the drawer moves towards an open position, is fully extended with regards to the linear movement, but not yet tilted;

FIG. 11 illustrates a side view of the drawer assembly of FIG. 9 showing the position of the pegs within the slots when the drawer is in the open position and fully tilted or rotated position;

FIG. 12 illustrates a side view of a drawer assembly showing the position of the pegs within the slots when the drawer is in the closed position;

FIG. 13 illustrates a side view of the drawer assembly of FIG. 12 showing the position of the pegs within the slots as the drawer moves towards an open position;

FIG. 14 illustrates a side view of the drawer assembly of FIG. 12 showing the position of the pegs within the slots when the drawer is in the open position fully extended linearly, but not tilted or rotated;

FIG. 15 illustrates a side view of the drawer assembly of FIG. 12 showing the position of the pegs within the slots when the drawer is in the open position and tilted;

FIG. 16 illustrates a side view of a drawer assembly having a single slot with a linear and non-linear portion and the position of the pegs within the slots when the drawer is in the closed position;

FIG. 17 illustrates a side view of the drawer assembly of FIG. 16 showing the position of the pegs within the slots as the drawer moves linearly towards an open position;

FIG. 18 illustrates a side view of the drawer assembly of FIG. 16 showing the position of the pegs in the slots when the drawer is in the open position, fully extended linearly, but not tilted or rotated;

FIG. 19 illustrates a side view of the drawer assembly of FIG. 16 showing the position of the pegs in the slots when the drawer is in the open position, foully extended but only partially tilted or rotated; and

FIG. 20 illustrates a side view of the drawer assembly of FIG. 16 the pegs in the slots when the drawer is in the open position, foully extended and fully tilted or rotated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With references to the FIGS., the present invention provides a drawer assembly 20 that facilitates linear and rotational movement of a drawer 22 between open and closed positions. With reference to FIGS. 1-10, the drawer assembly 20 includes a housing 24, which defines a cavity 25. The housing 24 has a pair of sides 26, and each side 26 has a top, bottom, front and back edge 28, 30, 32, 34, respectfully. While only one side 26 of the pair of sides 26 is illustrated in the Figures, the other side 26 is a mirror image of the illustrated side 26, with the same slot configurations. The housing 24 receives, between each side 26, and is movably coupled to, the drawer 22 to allow the drawer 22 to move between the closed position where the drawer 22 is disposed in the cavity 25 and the open position where the drawer 22 is moved outwardly from the cavity 25. The drawer 22 may vary in size shape and configuration and in some instances may include a drawer box with an attached drawer box. However, the illustrated drawer 22 is specifically configured to maximize the function of storage and access in combination with specific movement allowed by the present invention. For example, the drawer may be a keyboard tray that pulls out and rotates down and out to allow ease of typing and then is rotated upward and stowed to provide more legroom when not in use.

In the assembly 20, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-10, the housing 24 includes at least one linear slot 36 defined on each side 26 and a peg or protrusion 64 on each side disposed within the slot 36 and configured to slide within the slot 64. More specifically, the at least one linear slot 36 on each side is disposed in the sides 26 provides a linear motion allowing the drawer 22 to slide out of the housing 24 or be pushed back into the housing 24. The linear slots 36 define a rotation point for the drawer after being pulled out to the end of the linear slots 36. While the location may vary, the linear slots 36 on the housing 24 sides 26 may be configured along the center of gravity of the drawer 22, typically with some load in the drawer 22, allowing the drawer 22 to rotate easier than if the linear slot 36 was displaced near the top of the drawer 22 or the bottom of the drawer 22. In the illustrated embodiment, that location of the slots 36 approximately half-way between the top and bottom edges 28, 30 and extends from a first end 40 adjacent the front edge 32 approximately half-way to the back edge 34 to a second end 42.

In addition, each side 26 defines at least one non-linear slot 38. The non-linear slot is configured to allow rotation movement or tilting of the drawer when the peg 64 disposed in the linear slot 36 reaches the first end 40 and is engaged against the front end 40, the peg 64 engaged in the nonlinear slot 38 reaches the seventh end, and is clear to travel along the nonlinear portion of the nonlinear slot 38, illustrated as an arcuate portion 54 in FIGS. 3 and 4, and then is free to travel along the arcuate portion while the peg 64 in the linear slot 36 remains engaged against the first end 40, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, until the peg 64 in the nonlinear slot reaches the sixth end 64, as defined in greater detail below.

With reference to FIGS. 1-10, each side 26 defines a first non-linear slot 38a that has a first non-linear portion 44, and as illustrated in FIGS. 1-10 is an arcuate section 44 and a first straight section 46. The first arcuate section 44 arcs from a third end 48 disposed adjacent the corner of the top and front edges 28, 30, downwardly to a fourth end 50 where the first straight section 46 begins and extends parallel with the linear slot 36 towards the back edge 34 to a fifth end 52. In some embodiments, the drawer assembly 20 may further define in each side 26 a second non-linear slot 38b that has a second arcuate section 54 and a second straight section 56. The drawer assembly 20 has been illustrated with both the first non-linear slot 38a and the second non-linear slot 38b, to illustrate that the length and profile of the non-linear slot 38 will vary depending on the location on the drawer 22, specifically the peg 64 in the linear slot 36. As the drawer is rotating about the peg 64 in the linear slot 36, the shape of the non-linear or arcuate portion 44 will change depending upon the location of the second peg 64 disposed in the nonlinear slot 38. As illustrated in FIGS. 1-10, a peg that is located above and more proximate to the peg 64 disposed in the linear slot 36 requires a shorter and different profile for the nonlinear slot, and the radius of the arc of the arcuate portion will change depending on distance of the peg 64 in the non-linear slot 38 from the peg 64 in the linear slot 36. As illustrated in FIGS. 1-10, the first non-linear slot 38a has a more gentle transition from the linear portion 46 to the arcuate portion 44, as compared to the second non-linear slot's 38 transition from the linear portion 56 to the arcuate portion 54.

In the drawer assembly illustrated in FIGS. 1-10, the second arcuate section 54 is aligned perpendicular to, and arcs about, the linear slot 36 and extends from a sixth end 58 to a seventh end 60 where the second straight section 42 extends from the seventh end 60 parallel with the linear slot 36 and the first straight section 46 towards the back edge 34 to an eighth end 62. As one of skill in the art will readily appreciate, there are many variations of linear and non-linear slots 36, 38 that would fall within the scope of the present invention. Moreover, the size and spacing of the linear and non-linear slots 36, 38 may vary. For example, FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate an embodiment of the present invention for smaller assemblies, i.e., for smaller drawers, incorporating the above described linear and non-linear slots 36, 38 on a smaller scale.

With further reference to FIGS. 1-10, the drawer 22 of the assembly 20 is movably coupled to the housing 24 and has a pair of side walls 47 spaced opposite one another, and a plurality of pegs 64 protrude from each side wall 47. In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1-11, the plurality of pegs 64 are further defined as a plurality of three pegs 64. Each one of the pegs 64 is sized to engage and movably couple to each slot 36, 38 of the housing 24 when the drawer 22 is received by and movably coupled to the housing 24. In some embodiments, the pegs 64 may comprise of bearings or other structure(s) for allowing the pegs 64 to glide or slide within the slots 36, 38.

With reference the drawer assembly 20 illustrated in FIG. 1, the pegs 64 are spaced from one another and aligned such that when the drawer 22 is in the closed position one of the three pegs 64 is positioned in each of the second end 42 of the linear slot 36, the fifth end of the first straight section 46, and the eighth end 62 of the second straight section 56. Moreover, and with reference to FIGS. 7-10 and 12, when the drawer 22 is in the open position, the one of the three pegs 64 is positioned in each of the first end 40 of the linear slot 36, the third end 48 of the first arcuate section 44, and the sixth end 58 of the second arcuate section 54. The pegs 64 may be made in a variety of sizes, shapes and configurations. Any peg capable of smoothly sliding in the slots 36/38 and taking the weight of the drawer is acceptable. In some instances, the pegs may be simply a shaft with an enlarged end, such as a bolt with a smooth portion. In other instances the shaft of the peg 64 may be a bearing to roll against the edges of the slots 36 & 38, and an enlarged head may be included. The pegs 64 may be welded, bolted to or otherwise coupled to the drawer 22.

As the drawer 22 is moved from the closed position to the open position, each peg 64 moves within the respective linear or non-linear slot 36, 38, such that the drawer 22 is pulled linearly outwardly from the cavity 25 and then tilted, or folded, downwardly to the open position. More specifically, and with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the pegs 64 engaged and movably coupled to the first and second non-linear slots 38a, 38b move from the fifth and eighth ends 52, 62 through the straight section 46 towards the fourth and seventh ends 50, 60 causing linear movement of the drawer 22. Moreover, the peg 64 engaged and movably coupled to the linear slot 36 moves from the second end 42 to the first end 40 to also support the linear movement of the drawer 22. With reference to FIGS. 5-10, as the drawer 22 is further moved to the open position, the pegs 64 engaged and movably coupled to the first and second non-linear slots 38a, 38b move from the fourth and seventh ends 50, 60 into and through the arcuate sections 44, 54 towards the third and sixth ends 48, 58, causing the drawer 22 to be tilted downwardly into the open position. It is to be appreciated that as the drawer 22 is tilted, the peg 64 engaged and movably coupled to the linear slot 36 maintains its position at the first end 40.

As the drawer 22 is moved from the open position to the closed position, each peg 64 moves within the respective linear or non-linear slot 36, 38, such that the drawer 22 is tilted upwardly and is pushed linearly into the cavity 25 to the closed position. With reference to FIGS. 5-10, initially as the drawer 22 is tilted upwardly, the pegs 64 engaged and movably coupled to the first and second non-linear slots 38a, 38b move from the third and sixth ends 48, 58 through the arcuate sections 44, 54 towards the fourth and seventh ends 50, 60. Again, it is to be appreciated that as the drawer 22 is tilted, the peg 64 engaged and movably coupled to the linear slot 36 maintains its position at the first end 40. As the drawer 22 is further closed, and with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the pegs 64 engaged and movably coupled to the first and second non-linear slots 38a, 38b move from the fourth and seventh ends 50, 60 through the straight section 46 towards the fifth and eighth ends 52, 62 causing linear movement of the drawer 22 to the closed position. Moreover, the peg 64 engaged and movably coupled to the linear slot 36 moves from the first end 40 to the second end 42 to also support the linear movement of the drawer 22.

With reference to FIGS. 12-15, the housing 142 defines linear slots 136 in each pair of sides 146. Each linear slot is centrally disposed and spaced from the bottom edge 130 of the side 146 and extends from a ninth end 166 to a tenth end 168. Each side wall 146 further includes a third non-linear slot 138c positioned above the linear slot 136 and having a third straight section 170 and a third arcuate section 172. The third straight section 170 extends from an eleventh end 174 adjacent the back edge 134 towards the front edge 132 to a twelfth end 176. The third arcuate section 172 arcs downwardly and back towards the back edge 134 to a thirteenth end 178.

With further reference to FIGS. 12-15, the drawer 122 of the assembly 120 is movably coupled to the housing 124 and has a pair of sides 147 spaced opposite one another and a plurality of pegs 164 protrude from each side 147. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 13-16, each sidewall 148 includes a pair of pegs 164 wherein one of the pair of pegs 164 is movably disposed in and couples to one of the linear slot 136 and the non-linear slot 138c and movably couples to the drawer 122 and to the housing 124.

With reference to FIG. 12, the pegs 164 are spaced from one another such that when the drawer 122 is in the closed position, the pegs 164 are disposed in the respective linear and non-linear slots 136, 138c at the respective ninth and eleventh ends 168, 174. With reference to FIGS. 14 and 15, as the drawer 122 is moved towards its opened position, the respective pegs 164 move within the linear slot 136 and the third straight section 170 from the respective ninth and eleventh ends 168, 174 to the respective tenth and twelfth ends 166, 176, which facilitates linear movement of the drawer 122 to a first open position. With reference to FIG. 16, the drawer 122 may be tilted, or rotated, to an upward open position as the peg 164 that is movably disposed in and coupled to the non-linear slot 138c moves from the twelfth end 176 into and through the third arcuate section 172 to the thirteenth end 178 to the upward open position.

With reference to FIGS. 16-20, the drawer assembly 20 may be formed with a single slot 230 having an elongated linear portion 236, and a non-linear portion 238 extending upward therefrom. The drawer 22 may include two pegs 64, specifically a linear peg 64a and a rotational peg 64b. The linear peg 64a is configured to only move in the linear portion 236 of the slot 230, while the rotation peg 64b is configured to move in the linear portion 236 of the slot 230, and then when the linear peg 64a engages the forward end 240 of the linear slot, the drawer 22 may be tilted or rotated by the rotational peg 64b entering the nonlinear portion 238 of the slot 230. The nonlinear portion 238 is illustrated with an arcuate profile having an end 250 that stops rotation of the drawer 22. The corner 260 of the slot 230 may also be configured with a radius to allow easier return of the rotational peg 64b to the linear portion 236 of the slot 230. In addition, a bump or recess in the upper wall of the rearward linear portion 238 may be included, such that one pulling the drawer outward has a tactile feel of where to stop the linear movement to avoid rotation of the drawer, if such rotation is not desired. The rear of the linear slot portion 236 includes a rearward end 280 that the rotation peg 64b engages when the drawer is fully closed.

The specification and illustrations of the embodiments described herein are intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of the various embodiments. The specification and illustrations are not intended to serve as an exhaustive and comprehensive description of all of the elements and features of apparatus and systems that use the structures or methods described herein. Many other embodiments may be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reviewing the disclosure. Other embodiments may be used and derived from the disclosure, such that a structural substitution, logical substitution, or another change may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the disclosure is to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive.

Certain features, for clarity, described herein in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any subcombination. Further, references to values are to be regarded as non-limiting examples.

Claims

1. A drawer assembly comprising:

a housing configured to receive a drawer and wherein said housing includes a pair of sides each having at least one slot with a linear portion and a nonlinear portion and wherein said drawer includes at least one protrusion disposed in said slot.

2. The drawer assembly of claim 1 wherein each of said two sides include at least one linear slot.

3. The drawer assembly of claim 2 wherein said at least one slot includes at least one nonlinear slot.

4. The drawer assembly of claim 3 wherein said drawer includes drawer sides each aligned with said two sides of said housing and wherein said drawer sides each include said at least one protrusion and wherein said at least one protrusion includes a protrusion disposed in said at least one linear slots and said at least one non-linear slot.

5. The drawer assembly of claim 3 wherein said at least one non-linear slot each includes a linear portion and a non-linear portion.

6. The drawer assembly of claim 1 wherein said non-linear portion has an arcuate profile.

7. The drawer assembly of claim 1 wherein each of said at least one non-linear slot includes a second non-linear slot.

8. The drawer assembly of claim 1 said at least one slot includes a first slot with a first profile and a second slot with a second profile and wherein said first and second profiles are different.

9. The drawer assembly of claim 1 wherein said nonlinear portion extends substantially vertical from the horizontal linear portion and wherein said non-linear portion has an arcuate profile.

10. The drawer assembly of claim 9 wherein said at least one slot includes a second slot having a substantially horizontal extending linear section and wherein a second non-linear portion extends off the front end of said slot upwardly and toward the front with an arcuate profile.

11. The drawer assembly of claim 1 wherein said non-linear portion extends upwardly and arcuately away from said linear portion and wherein said non-linear portion is disposed about half way between a forward end and a rearward end of said linear portion.

12. The drawer assembly of claim 11 wherein said at least one protrusion includes a first protrusion which is configured to be disposed in the linear portion between the forward end and the non-linear portion of the slot and a second protrusion configured to be disposed in the nonlinear portion as well as the rearward linear portion located between the rearward end and the non-linear portion of the slot and the drawer is moved between positions.

13. A drawer assembly comprising:

a housing including a first side and a second side and wherein each side includes at least one slot having a linear portion and a nonlinear portion;

a drawer having first and second drawer sides substantially aligned with said first side and said second side of said housing and wherein each of said first and second drawer sides includes a first protrusion and a second protrusion spaced from said first protrusion and wherein at least one of said first and second protrusions is configured to be disposed in said at least one slot.

14. The drawer assembly of claim 1 wherein said linear portion extends along the axis of the linear movement of said drawer between an open and closed position.

15. The drawer assembly of claim 14 wherein said nonlinear portion extends upwardly from said linear portion and wherein said first protrusion is constrained to only move linearly within said linear portion and said second protrusion is configured to move within both said linear and nonlinear portions.

16. The drawer assembly of claim 14 wherein said at least one slot includes a nonlinear slot having said linear portion and said nonlinear portion and second linear slot extending along axis of the linear movement of said drawer between the open and the closed positions.

17. The drawer assembly of claim 16 wherein said at least one slot includes a third nonlinear slot.

18. The drawer assembly of claim 17 wherein said third non-linear slot includes a linear portion ending in a nonlinear portion.

19. The drawer assembly of claim 16 wherein said first protrusion is disposed in said second linear slot and said second protrusion is disposed in said at least one slot having a linear portion and a nonlinear portion.