Having Biasing Means Patents (Class 312/319.1)
  • Patent number: 10058175
    Abstract: A driving device for a movable furniture part includes a retracting device for retracting the movable furniture part out of an open position into a close position, and the retracting device has a housing; a guide path formed in the housing and which comprises a retaining section; a retracting slide which can be moved in the guide path relative to the housing and can be locked in the retaining section; and a retracting force accumulator which urges the retracting slide. The retracting slide can be moved along the guide path between a first end position, which corresponds to the retaining section, and a second end position, which corresponds to the closed position, wherein the distance between the end positions along the guide path can be changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: JULIUS BLUM GMBH
    Inventor: Fredi Dubach
  • Patent number: 10028583
    Abstract: A closing device for closing a movably mounted drawer relative to a furniture carcass, including a catch piece releasably couplable with an entrainment mechanism of the drawer and mounted to be movable along a displacement portion, and an energy storage mechanism which is chargeable by a displacement movement of the catch piece. The catch piece includes a hold state at the end of and at the beginning of the displacement portion and the catch piece is locked in the hold state at the end of the displacement portion, holds the energy of the energy storage mechanism and allows the drawer to be decoupled. The catch piece is pivotable and carries out a pivoting movement along the displacement portion between the two holding states over a path of more than 20% of the displacement portion when the catch piece is displaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Grass GmbH
    Inventors: Tobias Erdel, Rolf Mintgen
  • Patent number: 9976331
    Abstract: A device for moving a movable furniture part, the device including a force accumulator such that by way of the device which is fitted to an item of furniture the movable furniture part in the case of an opening procedure by action of the force accumulator is capable of being put in the opening direction, wherein in the case of a movement of the movable furniture part in the closing direction, a charging procedure of the force accumulator is performed, wherein a front gap between the movable furniture part and the basic furniture structure is configured on the item of furniture in a closed state of the movable furniture part, wherein the front gap is adjustable by way of an adjustment assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Grass GmbH
    Inventor: Markus Albrecht
  • Patent number: 9968193
    Abstract: A slide rail assembly includes a first rail, a second rail, a first driving device, a second driving device and a switch. The second rail is movable relative to the first rail. The first driving device is configured to drive the second rail to open relative to the first rail when the second rail is pushed at a retracted position along a first direction. The second driving device is configured to drive the second rail to close relative to the first rail when the second rail is moved from an open position to a predetermined position. The switch is configured to enable the first driving device in a first state and disable the first driving device in a second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignees: KING SLIDE WORKS CO., LTD., KING SLIDE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ken-Ching Chen, Hsiu-Chiang Liang, Chun-Chiang Wang
  • Patent number: 9945166
    Abstract: A device for moving a movable furniture part, the device including a basic component on which a force accumulator is present such that the movable furniture part under the action of the force accumulator is capable of being put in the opening direction of the movable furniture part. A separate cover component, configured so as to match the basic component, of the device is present, which cover component covers the basic component, wherein connection means on the cover component are configured in such a manner that integration of the device on a counter portion on the item of furniture and/or the guide means is arrangeable using the connection means which are present on the cover component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Grass GmbH
    Inventors: Filip Rihtarec, Markus Albrecht
  • Patent number: 9939160
    Abstract: Disclosed is an oven which provides convenient removal of a rack, achieving enhanced usability. The oven includes a cabinet having a chamber, a door to open or close the cabinet, a rack assembly including an operating member to support a cooking object seated thereon, the operating member being removable from the chamber, and a support member fixed inside the chamber to support the operating member, and a spring device including a first fixing piece located at the operating member, a second fixing piece located at the support member, and an elastic member having one side connected to the first fixing piece and the other side connected to the second fixing piece and located in a vertical gap between the operating member and the support member so as to be elastically restored by a distance between the first and second fixing pieces to remove the operating member from the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: LG Electronic Inc.
    Inventors: Wontae Kim, Wansoo Kim, Sangcheol Lee
  • Patent number: 9930962
    Abstract: A side-locking sliding rail assembly for a drawer consisting of a fixed rail, a movable rail, an intermediate rail, a sliding device, a locating member, a hook block, an actuation member, at least one first compression spring, a second compression spring and an auto-opening mechanism carrier plate. The drawer can be temporarily secured in a position, subject to engagement of a pawl of a locating rod of the locating member with one of a series of sloping teeth along the auto-opening mechanism carrier plate, if the drawer is not accurately fully closed. Thereafter, the user can apply a pressure to push the drawer backward to the fully closed position avoiding rebound toward the open position. The arrangement of a second compression spring prevents tilting of the locating member, so that the locating rod will not be permitted to move forward when in the guide-in channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: GSLIDE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yung-Liang Chen
  • Patent number: 9907400
    Abstract: A retracting mechanism for a movable furniture part includes a body, a catching member, a connecting member, a supporting member, and a resilient member. The catching member and the body are movable with respect to each other. The connecting member is connected to the catching member, and the supporting member is connected to the connecting member. The resilient member applies an elastic restoring force to the catching member. The supporting member is engaged with the body when the body reaches a predetermined position with respect to the catching member by being moved in a certain direction. The engagement helps reduce the pulling force the operator has to apply to move the body further in the same direction with respect to the catching member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignees: King Slide Works Co., Ltd., King Slide Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ken-Ching Chen, Hsiu-Chiang Liang, Chun-Chiang Wang
  • Patent number: 9834972
    Abstract: An anti-jumping upper wheel device with double dampers comprises of an anti-jumping upper wheel assembly with double damper (10) being comprised of an upper wheel plate (11), an upper wheel (12), an upper wheel cover (13) and double dampers (14) and a pulling unit (20); wherein, an anti-jumping roller (17) is mounted to the upper wheel cover (13); the pulling unit (20) is a double-plate pulling unit which is comprised of a baseplate of pulling unit (21) and a pillar plate of pulling unit (22) mounted above it; a pulling pillar (221) is fixed vertically on the pillar plate of pulling unit (22); wherein, connecting elastic units (23, 24) are overlapped and connected in parallel to three branch plates (2131, 2132, 2133, 2141, 2142, 2143) mounted on longitudinal direction in parallel of both ends on longitudinal direction of the baseplate of pulling unit (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: ZHONGSHAN OPIKE HARDW ARE PRODUCT CO., LTD
    Inventor: Jiangde Xu
  • Patent number: 9803411
    Abstract: A device for moving a movable furniture part, the device including a force accumulator such that when the device is fitted to an item of furniture, the movable furniture part in the case of an opening procedure by action of the force accumulator is capable of being put in an opening position by way of an ejector. A coupling installation is included, which in the case of a charging procedure of the force accumulator is effective between the ejector and the force accumulator. The ejector is designed in such a manner that the latter in the region of the end of the path thereof in the case of the opening procedure couples to the coupling installation. For a following closing procedure of the movable furniture part and a charging procedure of the force accumulator associated therewith, the coupling between the ejector and the force accumulator is in a clearance-free manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Grass GmbH
    Inventor: Guenter Grabher
  • Patent number: 9681749
    Abstract: A slide rail assembly includes a first rail, a blocking member, a second rail, and an operating member. The first rail defines a longitudinal channel. The blocking member is attached to the first rail. The second rail is movably connected to the first rail and can be moved to an extended position relative to the first rail in the longitudinal channel to be blocked by the blocking member. The operating member is movably connected to the first rail and configured to operate the blocking member so that the second rail is allowed to be retracted relative to the first rail from the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignees: King Slide Works Co., Ltd., King Slide Tehcnology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ken-Ching Chen, Shun-Ho Yang, Zong-Sian Wong, Chun-Chiang Wang
  • Patent number: 9648952
    Abstract: A pressure release slide latch mechanism for a drawer slide assembly comprises an outer slide, an intermediate slide mounted in the outer slide, and an inner slide mounted in the intermediate slide, a channel plate having a track portion and a guide block attached to the outer slide and a carriage slidingly engaged and biased along the track portion. A pin of a follower pivotally attached to the inner slide engages the guide block to releasably maintain the drawer slide assembly in a closed position and releases upon an inward force applied to the drawer slide assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Hardware Resources, Inc.
    Inventor: Grant Nuckolls
  • Patent number: 9642460
    Abstract: A self-closing slide rail assembly includes a first rail, a second rail, and a self-closing mechanism. The second rail is longitudinally displaceable relative to the first rail. The self-closing mechanism includes a housing, an elastic member, and a movable member. The housing is mounted on the first rail. The movable member is movable within the housing in response to the elastic energy released by the elastic member. The second rail is retracted relative to the first rail by the movable member upon engagement therewith when moving from an extended position toward a retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignees: King Slide Works Co., Ltd., King Slide Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ken-Ching Chen, Shih-Lung Huang, Yi-Syuan Jhao, Chun-Chiang Wang
  • Patent number: 9622578
    Abstract: A drive device for a movable furniture part includes an ejection device which can be locked in a locked position, the ejection device being used to move the movable furniture part from a closed position into an open position. The ejection device can be unlocked by pushing the movable furniture part so that the movable furniture part moves into a pushed-in position which is beyond the closed position in a closing direction, this enables the ejection device to move the movable furniture part in an opening direction; and the movable furniture part can also be moved from the closed position into the open position by pulling the movable furniture part, the ejection device remaining in the locked position when opened by pulling. The drive device also includes a coupling device for coupling the drive device to the movable furniture part or to a furniture body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: JULIUS BLUM GMBH
    Inventors: Christof Goetz, Ingo Gasser, Hermann Haemmerle
  • Patent number: 9386851
    Abstract: An arrangement for moving a moveable furniture part has an ejection device for the ejection of the furniture part from the closed position to a first open position, and the ejection device includes a force accumulator. A loading device loads the force accumulator by a closing movement of the furniture part. The loading of the force accumulator is accomplished by a loading path having an end point, and the force accumulator is fully loaded at the end point of the loading path. The loading path has a variable starting point, and the starting point is defined for a closing movement of the furniture part by the position of the furniture part at the beginning of a closing movement from a second open position which is greater than the first open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: JULIUS BLUM GMBH
    Inventor: Fredi Dubach
  • Patent number: 9364089
    Abstract: A self-closing slide rail assembly with a deceleration mechanism includes first and second rails and a self-closing mechanism, in addition to the deceleration mechanism. The self-closing mechanism is mounted to the first rail and includes an elastic member for providing an elastic force in a first direction. The deceleration mechanism includes a deceleration spring for providing an elastic force in an opposite second direction. When the second rail is displaced from an extended position toward a retracted position relative to the first rail, the self-closing mechanism automatically drives the second rail toward the retracted position due to the elastic force applied by the elastic member. Meanwhile, the elastic force of the deceleration spring serves as a deceleration force, allowing the second rail to move slowly to the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignees: King Slide Works Co., Ltd., King Slide Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ken-Ching Chen, Shih-Lung Huang, Yi-Syuan Jhao, Chun-Chiang Wang
  • Patent number: 9328929
    Abstract: An oven appliance includes a cabinet that defines a chamber. A pair of doors is rotatably mounted to provide selective access to the chamber of the cabinet. The pair of doors is connected with a linkage assembly such that the doors rotate open and closed simultaneously. The linkage assembly includes a spur gear that engages another gear of the linkage assembly. The spur gear can hinder unwanted rotation of the pair of doors or compress the pair of doors against a seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Adam Yantis, John Mark Chilton, Scott Thomas Kershner, Eric Sugalski, David Schoon, David Perry
  • Patent number: 9285155
    Abstract: A refrigerator capable of varying the positions of a plurality of door guards provided at an opening of a refrigerating door, in which when an outer door configured to open and close the opening is closed in a state that a door guard is withdrawn, the door guard comes into contact with the outer door and thus is automatically inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Woo Yeol Yoo, Hyun Sang Yoo, Byoung Mok Kim, Seong Woo Kim
  • Patent number: 9188346
    Abstract: An oven appliance includes a cabinet that defines a chamber. A pair of doors is rotatably mounted to provide selective access to the chamber of the cabinet. The pair of doors is connected with a linkage assembly such that the doors rotate open and closed simultaneously. The linkage assembly includes a spur gear that engages another gear of the linkage assembly. The spur gear can hinder unwanted rotation of the pair of doors or compress the pair of doors against a seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Adam Yantis, John Mark Chilton, Scott Thomas Kershner, Eric Sugalski, David Schoon, David Perry
  • Patent number: 9121210
    Abstract: Self-closure device for sliding mobile parts, comprising an integrator element with three active areas—one front area that forms the first area or activator latch area, which swings, a second area or flexion area, which, given the elasticity of the material, enables the activator latch to swing and a third area or guide area, which guides the translation of the device and links it to the energy accumulator and the dampener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: INDUSTRIAS AUXILIARES, S.A. (INDAUX, S.A.)
    Inventor: Miguel Angel Rioja Calvo
  • Patent number: 9036342
    Abstract: Storage apparatus configured to provide an external apparatus with logical storage area as data storage area, the storage apparatus having a physical storage medium configured to generate the logical storage area, and storage controller communicatively coupled to physical storage medium to control data input/output processing between the external apparatus and the logical storage area, wherein the storage controller includes circuit package including circuit board which implements predetermined function of storage controller and a circuit board case to accommodate the circuit board, plurality of cooling fan units that generate cooling air for cooling circuit component mounted on the circuit board of the circuit package, and a chassis having a structure for accommodating the circuit package and the cooling fan units, some of circuit packages are inserted to be accommodated in chassis from opening thereof and are arranged side by side across width direction of chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Fukuda, Kenichi Miyamoto, Tadaharu Maeda
  • Publication number: 20150130339
    Abstract: The present invention is a filing cabinet with an outrigger that increases a footprint of the file cabinet to prevent the file cabinet from tipping over. The outrigger is positioned in proximity to a bottom of the housing, the outrigger includes a bias element to move a cantilever structure from a retracted position to a deployed position when the file cabinet is tipped to a release angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventor: Ralph Lipsey BARNETT
  • Publication number: 20150123528
    Abstract: In an industrial computer cabinet and a two-way slide rail structure, the industrial computer cabinet includes a cabinet having a receiving space, a first opening, and a second opening; a drawer in the receiving space; and a two-way slide rail assembly including a first slide rail assembly having at least one slide rail, a second slide rail assembly, and at least one roller installed on the second slide rail assembly and rolling along the slide rail. The two openings communicate with the receiving space, at opposite sides thereof. The first slide rail assembly is fixed to one of the cabinet and the drawer; the second slide rail assembly is fixed to the other such that the drawer can be pulled out, sliding relatively to the cabinet through the first or the second opening, enhancing the use convenience of the industrial computer cabinet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: AIC INC.
    Inventor: Wei-Shih WU
  • Patent number: 9010887
    Abstract: An exemplary storage rack assembly includes a rack, a cabinet and a mounting bracket fixed to the rack. The cabinet has an elastic component, and the elastic component has a hook exposed from the cabinet. The mounting bracket defines a sliding groove and a receiving channel communicating with the sliding groove. The hook slides along the sliding groove and into the receiving channel. The hook slides along a channel segment of the receiving channel under urging of an applied external force with the elastic component resiliently deforming until the hook reaches the channel segment. The elastic component resiliently recovers and drives the hook down to the end of the channel segment, and the hook resides in the end of the channel segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chun-Hao Shao
  • Publication number: 20150097473
    Abstract: A drive device for a movable furniture part, with a latching element which is movable in a slotted guide track in the manner of a cardioid, wherein the slotted guide track has a closing section in which the latching element moves during the closing of the movable furniture part, a locking section with a latching trough, in which the latching element is held in the locking position, an opening section in which the latching element is movable during the opening of the movable furniture part, and a first connecting section via which the latching element is movable from the opening section into the closing section when the furniture part is open, with a second connecting section, which is formed closer to the latching trough, between opening section and closing section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Harald BRUNNMAYR, Florian FISCHER
  • Publication number: 20150091424
    Abstract: A pressure release slide latch mechanism for a drawer slide assembly comprises an outer slide, an intermediate slide mounted in the outer slide, and an inner slide mounted in the intermediate slide, a channel plate having a track portion and a guide block attached to the outer slide and a carriage slidingly engaged and biased along the track portion. A pin of a follower pivotally attached to the inner slide engages the guide block to releasably maintain the drawer slide assembly in a closed position and releases upon an inward force applied to the drawer slide assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: Hardware Resources, Inc.
    Inventor: Grant Nuckolls
  • Publication number: 20150069895
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a cover that is openable and closable. The cover is provided with a lock member, a first biasing portion, a lever member, and a second biasing portion. The lock member is movable between a locking position and an unlocking position. The first biasing portion biases the lock member toward the unlocking position. The lever member is provided to be in contact with the lock member, the lever member being movable between a retaining position for retaining the lock member at the locking position and a retention releasing position for releasing retention of the lock member in a direction intersecting with a moving direction of the lock member. The second biasing portion biases the lever member toward the retaining position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Tahara
  • Publication number: 20150069896
    Abstract: The piece of furniture (10) is provided with at least one drawer (12) or the like which can be pulled out from the body of the piece of furniture by means of a first and a second pull-out guides (13), each guide having a closing device (16) for the drawer (12). The piece of furniture (10) also comprises stopping means (24?, 28) conformed and arranged to stop the drawer (12) in a first closing position in which the drawer (12) is spaced apart from the body of the piece of furniture, the stopping means (24?, 28) being elastically yielding and/or overcomable by pressure on the drawer (12) in the closing direction up to a second closing position in which the drawer (12) is more adjacent to the piece of furniture (10); locking means (24?, 30) are also provided, conformed and arranged for releasably locking the drawer (12) in the second closing position, the locking means (24?, 30) being releasable by means of traction on the drawer (12) in the opening direction thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventor: Luciano Salice
  • Publication number: 20150061480
    Abstract: The piece of furniture (10) having at least one drawer (13) or the like comprises a first and a second wall (11, 12) laterally arranged to the drawer (13) and provided with respective pull-out guides (14, 15) for the drawer, and ejecting means (16; 42) conformed and arranged for generating a thrust in an opening direction on the drawer (13), the ejecting means (16; 42) being lockable in a closing position of the drawer by means of releasable locking means (21, 22; 44, 46); the ejecting means (16; 42) with the relevant locking means (21, 22; 44, 46) are provided at only one (11) of the walls (11, 12) of the piece of furniture (10) laterally arranged to the drawer (13).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: Arturo Salice S.p.A.
    Inventor: Luciano Salice
  • Publication number: 20150055314
    Abstract: A mounting assembly for a chip card used in a portable electronic device includes a cover, an operating element, and a receiving member for receiving the chip card. One end of the operating element is slidably received in the cover, and the other end of the operating element is elastically resisted between the receiving member and the cover and is connected to the receiving member. The cover is pressed to expose the operating element and the operating element is pulled to allow the receiving member to move out of the portable electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicants: FIH (Hong Kong) Limited, SHENZHEN FUTAIHONG PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: YAN-LING GAO
  • Publication number: 20150048730
    Abstract: A foil extension ball bearing drawer slide assembly comprised of a fixed member attached to a cabinet piece, a middle member slidingly engaged with the fixed member with a set of linear bearings, a drawer member attached to a drawer piece slidingly engaged with the middle member via a second set of linear bearings, and a drawer retainer mechanism attached to the drawer member and in adjustable contact with the drawer member. The drawer retainer mechanism is comprised of a housing attached to the drawer member, a piston slidingly fitted in the frame and biased by a biasing member. The piston, biased by the biasing member, is forced towards the housing by a raised indention in a race of the fixed member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: HARDWARE RESOURCES, INC.
    Inventors: Mark Jeffrey Lowe, Grant Nuckolls
  • Patent number: 8936325
    Abstract: The apparatus comprises: a case (100), in particular a case that can be integrated into a motor vehicle dashboard; a front panel element (200), removably mounted on the case; and means for the reversible assembly and fixation of the front panel element to the case. Such means include: at a first end of the front panel element and of the case, a dismountable magnetic hinge comprising a first pair of magnetic elements (124, 224), arranged on the case and on the front panel element, respectively, opposite to each other and in mutual attraction; and at an opposed, second end of the front panel element and of the case, means for locking the front panel element to the case, comprising a lock (212) and a second pair of magnetic elements (126, 226), arranged on the case and on the front panel element, respectively, opposite to each other and in mutual repulsion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Parrot
    Inventor: Thierry Sanlaville
  • Patent number: 8925696
    Abstract: A damper assembly includes a fixed rack gear, a rotary gear damper having a gear engaged with the rack gear and a tether movable with the damper along the rack gear and a tether connecting the damper and a movable object to be controlled by the damper. The tether includes enlarged integral ends to secure the tether relative to the damper and the article to be controlled by the damper. A constant force spring interconnects movement of the damper relative to the fixed rack gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Chad K Zeilenga, David A Doornbos, Steven L Bivens, Jeffery S Cascio
  • Patent number: 8905497
    Abstract: A sliding arrangement, in particular an extension apparatus for drawers, sliding doors, hinged doors, etc., has an extending arrangement which comprises a sliding piece (21) that is displaceable by means of a spring element (22) between an inserted position and an extended position. In order to enable user-friendly opening of the drawer, provision is made according to the present invention that the sliding piece is displaceable over a first displacement distance in spring-impinged fashion, and in an adjacent second displacement distance is displaceable without spring impingement in a free-running portion of the extension apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Karl Simon GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Ulrich Bantle
  • Patent number: 8905498
    Abstract: A retracting device retracts a movably supported furniture part to the closed end position relative to a furniture body. The device includes a carrier, which can be detachably coupled to the movable furniture part and which is movably supported along a movement path that is linear at least in some sections, and at least one spring device for applying force to the carrier. The spring device can be tensioned by a spring retainer that is separate from the carrier, and the spring retainer is movably supported against or on the carrier. A coupling device is provided in order to couple motion between the carrier and the spring retainer. By the coupling device, the articulated attachment point of the spring device on the spring retainer falls back relative to the position of the moving carrier when the carrier is pulled out, so that the motion of the articulated attachment point of the spring device on the spring retainer is slower than the motion of the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Julius Blum GmbH
    Inventor: Hermann Hammerle
  • Patent number: 8894166
    Abstract: A cupboard-type domestic appliance is provided having a housing delimiting an interior in which a support can be displaced between a retracted and a pull-out stop position by a telescopic pull-out mechanism. The telescopic pull-out mechanism includes a first runner fastened on the housing and at least one second runner that can be displaced in a direction contrary to that of the first runner. A projection of the second runner is coupled to a self-retracting mechanism mounted on the housing at a distance to the runners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventor: Karl-Friedrich Laible
  • Patent number: 8888200
    Abstract: A slide assist mechanism includes a case attached to one of a main body or a moving body; a slider disposed freely slidably in the case; a latch supported by the slider so as to be switched between a standby position which locks in a corresponding portion of the case and a draw-in position which releases the locking; a draw-in unit including an urging device; and an operation member attached to the another of the main body or the moving body and switching the latch from the standby position to the draw-in position, or switching the latch from the draw-in position to the standby position. When the latch is switched from the standby position to the draw-in position, due to an urging force which has been accumulated in the urging device, the slide assist mechanism allows the moving body to move from a first position to a second position on a main body side through the operation member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Nifco Inc.
    Inventor: Masakazu Sato
  • Patent number: 8876230
    Abstract: A full extension ball bearing drawer slide assembly comprised of a fixed member attached to a cabinet piece, a middle member slidingly engaged with the fixed member with a set of linear bearings, a drawer member attached to a drawer piece slidingly engaged with the middle member via a second set of linear bearings, and a drawer retainer mechanism attached to the drawer member and in adjustable contact with the drawer member. The drawer retainer mechanism is comprised of a frame attached to the drawer member, a housing seated in the frame, a piston fitted in the frame and biased by a helical spring adjacent a post. The post has a threaded section engaged with a threaded hole in the frame. The piston, biased by the helical spring on the post, is forced towards the housing by a raised indention in a race of the fixed member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Hardware Resources, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Jeffrey Lowe, Grant Nuckolls
  • Publication number: 20140319986
    Abstract: The invention relates to drive device for a movable furniture part, comprising a lockable ejection device for ejecting the movable furniture part out of a closed position into an open position, wherein the ejection device can be unlocked by pushing the movable furniture part over into an pushed-over position located behind the closed position in the closing direction, wherein a blocking element is provided, which has a first position in which the movable furniture part can be stopped when reaching the closed position, wherein the blocking element prevents a further movement of the movable furniture part in the closing direction, and said locking element has a second position in which the path into the pushed-over position for the movable furniture part is enabled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventor: Harald BRUNNMAYR
  • Publication number: 20140300262
    Abstract: Drive device for a movable furniture component, particularly for a drawer, comprising an ejection device having an ejection force accumulator for ejecting the movable furniture component into an open position, and a retraction device having a retraction force accumulator for retracting the movable furniture component from an open position into a closed position, wherein the ejection force accumulator can be charged by the retraction force accumulator during refraction of the movable furniture component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventor: Alexander Simon FLOGAUS
  • Patent number: 8851586
    Abstract: An automatic full-open type sliding box mounting structure includes a sliding box, a sliding track assembly mounted at the bottom side of the sliding box, and a first opening and closing device and a second opening and closing device and a reset device mounted at the top side of the sliding box in such a manner that the first opening and closing device and the second opening and closing device are capable of automatically moving the sliding box to the full-open position and, the reset device is capable of reset the first opening and closing device and the second opening and closing device when the user pushes the sliding box back to the close position for a next sliding box opening operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Nan Juen International Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kuo-Sheng Huang
  • Patent number: 8844110
    Abstract: A self-closing drawer slide for a refrigerator includes a slide assembly operable between expanded and non-expanded positions and having first and second slides that are slidably engaged. The first slide is removably attached directly or indirectly to the refrigerator interior wall. An actuator is operably coupled to the second slide. A modular self-closing mechanism is releasably attached to an interior refrigerator wall separate from the slide assembly. A slider is attached to a spring and slidably engaged with the self-closing mechanism. The slider is positionable by the actuator between extended and retracted positions. The slider is adapted to be disengaged from the extended position by the actuator, allowing slider movement to the retracted position under force of the spring and which consequently pulls the actuator and a third slide, causing slide assembly movement to the non-expanded position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Chad J. Rotter
  • Patent number: 8833878
    Abstract: A guide rail system for slidably opening and closing a drawer within an enclosure is disclosed. The system comprises a mounting bracket for fixing the system to the enclosure, the mounting bracket having a fixed rail for receiving an intermediate rail capable of sliding back and forth on the fixed rail, and a pull out rail operatively attached to the drawer and capable of sliding back and forth on the intermediate rail. A resiliently compressible damping device, channel guide with sliding member and a closing device are disposed along the mounting bracket. The pull out rail has a guiding pin on its bottom surface. The sliding member is adapted to travel along the channel guide and locate an end of the damping device that can be pushed inwardly to provide damping. The closing device comprises a housing, a resilient means, and a driver pivotally mounted with the housing and operatively connected to the resilient means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Ham Marketing SDN, BHD
    Inventors: Harn Lian Lam, Harn Yan Lam
  • Patent number: 8827390
    Abstract: An appliance is provided. The appliance includes a cabinet that defines a chamber. A container is received within the chamber. A biasing member is configured for urging the container upwardly along a vertical direction. By urging the container upwardly, the biasing member can lift the container and facilitate access to the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ross Benson Wehner, Ronald Scott Tarr, Raymond James VanAssche, Joseph Emil Gormley
  • Publication number: 20140239790
    Abstract: A refrigerator capable of varying the positions of a plurality of door guards provided at an opening of a refrigerating door, in which when an outer door configured to open and close the opening is closed in a state that a door guard is withdrawn, the door guard comes into contact with the outer door and thus is automatically inserted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Woo Yeol YOO, Hyun Sang YOO, Byoung Mok KIM, Seong Woo KIM
  • Patent number: 8814288
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a shelf and a support structure for supporting the shelf, the support structure including rotation features that cause the shelf to rotationally pivot from a first height position to a second height position in response to a user-provided force. The rotation features include two pairs of wheels, wherein one of the pairs of wheels is attached to one side of the support structure and another one of the pairs of wheels is attached to another side of the support structure, each pair of wheels comprising a front wheel and a rear wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Aaron Matthew McDaniel, Eric Scott Johnson
  • Patent number: 8807671
    Abstract: A lockable ejection device for a movable furniture part has a control pin movable in a cardioid-shaped slotted guide track. The slotted guide track includes a closing section, in which the control pin moves as the movable furniture part is closed, a locking section having a latching depression in which the control pin is held in the locked position, and an opening section in which the control pin is movable as the mobile furniture part is opened. An overload mechanism is arranged in the locking section. The overload mechanism includes a blocking element to which force is applied and which temporarily blocks an overload path for the control pin. The blocking element at least partially co-forms the latching depression of the locking section and the overload path that can be blocked by the blocking element leads through a channel defined by a channel wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Julius Blum GmbH
    Inventor: Harald Brunnmayr
  • Patent number: 8789902
    Abstract: An appliance comprises a body and a door panel and/or drawer panel movable between a home position, an open position, and an over-travel position. A cosmetic panel may be coupled to the door and/or drawer panel. The appliance may further include an installation system and/or a positioning device. The positioning device is configured to bias the door and/or drawer panels to the home position from the over-travel position. The installation system is configured to establish the front-to-back alignment of the appliance. The installation system may be a direct mount installation system. The installation system may include an adjustment system configured to facilitate positioning the cosmetic panel to be co-planar with the surrounding cabinetry. The adjustment mechanism may further help establish small and consistent reveals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Sub-Zero, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip F. Hottmann, Mark J. Blahnik, Chad A. Wohlrab, John F. Andrews
  • Patent number: 8783799
    Abstract: A sliding rail assembly auto-opening mechanism and a sliding rail assembly in combination is disclosed, the sliding rail assembly auto-opening mechanism includes a holder block, a sliding block, a rotating member, a sliding hook, a spring and a link. The holder block provides a sliding slot connected to a locating notch that has a first steering-guiding portion and a second steering-guiding portion that engage a bottom block of the rotating member, with the bottom block having retaining grooves adapted to engage the first steering-guiding portion or second steering-guiding portion of the holder block, and the link is mounted on a sliding rail of the sliding rail assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: GSlide Corporation
    Inventor: Yung Liang Chen
  • Patent number: 8780565
    Abstract: A rail assembly having a stab-in inner rail member that inserts into and withdraws from an intermediate rail member supports an information handling system chassis disposed in a rack. Insertion of the inner rail member into the intermediate rail member is aided by a resting surface extending from the insertion end of the intermediate rail member. The inner rail member rests on and is aligned with the resting surface so that opposing pairs of rail assemblies can have their inner rail members aligned with their intermediate rail members during a stab-in assembly of a chassis into the rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventor: Gregory Lane Henderson