Having Biasing Means Patents (Class 312/319.1)
  • Publication number: 20100237758
    Abstract: Furniture drive for a pull-out guide system, for driving at least one guide rail of the pull-out guide system, having an electric motor arranged in a housing, wherein the housing has a cup-like portion in which the electric motor is arranged, and wherein the housing has an abutment part for abutment against a wall of a basic furniture structure on which the pull-out guide system is, or can be, fitted, and therefore, in the fitted state of the furniture drive, the electric motor can be arranged in a recess in the wall of the basic furniture structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Inventor: Ingo Gasser
  • Patent number: 7798582
    Abstract: A fixing apparatus for fixing a slide rail to a first column and a second column includes a first fixing member, a release member, and a second fixing member. The slide rail includes a flange formed perpendicularly at a first end of the slide rail. The first fixing member attached to and slid along the first end of the slide rail includes a tab. The tab and the flange sandwich the first column. The release member attached to and slid along to the slide rail includes a latching hook formed at a first end to engage with the first fixing member, a mounting tab extending from the release member adjacent to a second end, and an opening adjacent to the mounting tab. The second fixing member attached to the second end of the release member includes a fixing tab. The tab and the mounting tab sandwich the second column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mo-Ming Yu, Hai-Chen Zhou
  • Patent number: 7800893
    Abstract: A display stabilization system comprises an electronic device having a hinge assembly coupling a side of a display member to a base member to enable the display member to tilt and swivel relative to the base member and at least one stabilizer configured to cause a stabilization force to be applied between the base member and the side of the display member at a distal location relative to the hinge assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Mark S. Tracy, Jonathan R. Harris, Paul J. Doczy
  • Publication number: 20100231107
    Abstract: A pull-out guide for a drawer or pull-out of furniture. The pull-out guide includes a guide rail attachable to a body of the furniture, a self-retracting device mounted on the guide rail, a running rail mountable on the drawer, and an actuator attached to the running rail to control the self-retracting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Inventor: Darko Radusin
  • Publication number: 20100219727
    Abstract: A synchronizing device for use with a pair of drawer slide assemblies where each drawer slide assembly has at least a first slide member moveable relative to a second slide member, and includes a first stabilization element configured to be coupled to the second slide member of one of the slide assemblies, and a second stabilization element configured to be coupled to the second slide member of the other slide assembly. A linking element extends transverse to an extension direction of the slide assemblies and synchronizes movements of the first slide members of the slide assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Inventors: Jose Roberto Aguilar Ante, Jorge Fermín Gianola Fernández, Rafael Celaya Basilio
  • Patent number: 7784890
    Abstract: A biaxial flow damper used in an auto-close mechanism of a sliding rail assembly is disclosed to include a cylinder body defining flow parallel flow chambers, two first end caps respectively mounted in the front and rear sides of the cylinder body to close one end of each of the flow chambers, two second end caps respectively mounted in the front and rear sides of the cylinder body to close the opposite end of each of the flow chambers, two pistons respectively slidably mounted in the flow chambers of the cylinder body, and two piston rods respectively connected to the pistons and respectively extending out of the first end caps at the front and rear sides of the cylinder body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: GSlide Corporation
    Inventor: Yung-Liang Chen
  • Patent number: 7780251
    Abstract: A retracting device for a drawer, including a pulling device which can be connected to the drawer, a drive unit having an electric motor, and a roller drivable by the drive unit for winding up the pulling device, wherein the drive unit is activatable by a rotation of the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Julius Blum GmbH
    Inventors: Fredi Dubach, Klaus Brüstle
  • Publication number: 20100194256
    Abstract: The invention relates to a support construction for at least one furniture drive, comprising a support rail for bearing the at least one furniture drive and a first and a second fixing device for fixing the support rail to an item of furniture. At least one of the fixing devices comprises a mounting part for fixing to the item of furniture and a bearing part that can be connected to the support rail. The mounting part and the bearing part can be displaced in relation to each other and can be releasably locked by a locking device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventor: Simon GRABHERR
  • Publication number: 20100176699
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment includes a cabinet having at least one drawer with selectable access for storing items, such as medications. A slidable cover with a first opening allows for closure and/or access to items in an interior of the drawer. The cabinet further includes an actuator coupled to the cover and a controller coupled to the actuator to control movement of the first opening relative to the drawer interior in response to signals generated from a user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Inventors: Scott I. Biba, Randall S. Koplin, Daniel J. Lee, Kathy L. Soukup, James A. Michael
  • Patent number: 7753457
    Abstract: Apparatus and slide cassette for removably retaining or securing a slide. The cassette includes trays for holding a slide. Each tray has a retaining lip at an end thereof. A first edge of a slide contacts a support member within the cassette when the slide that is placed in a slot. The support member can be an elastomeric member, a spring, a foam member, or an insert with slide retention surfaces. The support member pushes or urges the slide in the opposite direction so that an opposite edge of the slide contacts the retaining lips of the trays. As a result, the slide is removably retained or secured on the trays and between the retaining lips and the support member(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Cytyc Corporation
    Inventor: Nathan P. Wood
  • Patent number: 7748799
    Abstract: The invention relates to a drive device for a furniture part that is displaceably mounted in relation to a furniture body, in particular for a drawer or similar. The device includes an energy accumulator device, which supports the displacement of the furniture part. According to the invention, the displaceable furniture part can be essentially displaced into a fully open position by the energy accumulator device, thus partially discharging the energy accumulator device. The energy accumulator device is then re-charged during the closing operation of the displaceable furniture part. The energy accumulator device only acts on part of the displacement path of the furniture part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Julius Blum GmbH
    Inventor: Gerhard Kleinsasser
  • Patent number: 7740327
    Abstract: A drawer Buffer includes: the base, cylinder and plate with the guide rod projected in the front end; the cylinder of which is fixed in the base and there is a projecting column on the front end of its piston rod; in the middle of the guide rod, there is a sliding chute for the move of piston rod; in the outer side of the guide rod, there is a guideway to coordinate with the projecting column, the front end of the guideway is linked with a positioning slot; on the plate, there is the guiding slot for traction and pushing the projecting column into the positioning slot; the section shape of the mentioned cylinder sleeve and piston rod of the cylinder is similar to the ellipse, the tail of the cylinder sleeve is linked with the head of piston rod via the spring. The buffer can be used with a drawer slide rail for drawer moving reposefully.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Inventor: Yin-Wang Hsieh
  • Patent number: 7731311
    Abstract: A closing device for a drawer comprising an elongate hollow housing which includes front and rear portions, a rotating member slidably mounted in the front portion and a resilient member mounted in the rear portion. The front portion includes first and second portions with the first portion having a rotation-preventing internal surface and the second portion having a rotation-admitting internal surface. A locking step is defined by the differing internal cross sections of the first and second portions. The rotation of the rotating member in the first portion is prevented by the internal shape of the first portion relative to the external shape of the rotating member. The rotating member has an angular slot for receiving a guiding pin which is downwardly extending from the bottom surface of a top roller guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Harn Marketing SDN BHD
    Inventors: Harn Lian Lam, Harn Yan Lam
  • Publication number: 20100117500
    Abstract: A cabinet door collapses and slides into a concealed position inside a door compartment of a cabinet. The door has a first wing which is pivotally connected to a second wing and to a vertical door-supporting bar which travel insides the door compartment. The second wing is guided by carriages running in upper and lower continuous guideways that extend inside the door compartment. A device for moving the door-supporting bar includes a stationary toothed belt inside the door compartment, a toothed wheel and guide pulleys carried by the door-supporting bar. The toothed wheel is operatively connected to a torsion spring inside the door-supporting bar. A locking device locks the toothed wheel, when the door wings are in a coplanar closed position, and releases the toothed wheel, when they are in a parallel open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: DADA S.P.A.
    Inventor: Luca Giorgi
  • Publication number: 20100090570
    Abstract: A mounting fixture for attaching at least one device for controlling the movement of a furniture part which is received on a stationary furniture part so as to be movable in a driven manner. According to the invention, a fastening mechanism is provided, with elongate profiles which extend separately from each other with a clearance in between them and to which the device for controlling the movement can be attached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: Grass GmbH
    Inventor: Klaus SCHNEIDER
  • Publication number: 20100084953
    Abstract: The invention proposes a device for pushing out a furniture part which is accommodated in a movable manner on a fixed furniture part, having a pushing-out element which is driven via a drive unit and is present on one of the furniture parts in order to push the movable furniture part out of a closure position, the intention being for contact between the pushing-out element and the other furniture part to be eliminated during a pushing-out operation, and having a control unit for controlling the drive unit, the control unit taking as a basis a definable closure position of the movable furniture part for controlling the drive unit. The invention provides means by which, following a closing operation of the movable furniture part, a standstill position achieved in the process can be defined as a new closure position and replaces the closure position previously taken as a basis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: Grass GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus SCHNEIDER, Holger Wenzel, Harry Gehrer
  • Publication number: 20100084954
    Abstract: The invention proposes a piece of furniture and a device for pushing out a furniture part which is accommodated in a movable manner on a fixed furniture part, having a pushing-out lever which can be driven via a drive unit, is fitted on one of the two furniture parts and is temporarily in contact with the other furniture part in order to push out the movable furniture part, and the pushing-out lever has an abutment region within which the contact between the pushing-out lever and the other furniture part takes place, it being possible for the pushing-out lever to be driven, the intention being for the contact between the pushing-out lever and the other furniture part to be eliminated during a pushing-out operation. According to the invention, the abutment region has an inflection, and the pushing-out lever is designed to deform elastically during the pushing-out operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: Grass GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus SCHNEIDER, Harry GEHRER
  • Publication number: 20100045152
    Abstract: A basket apparatus includes a basket positioned in a cabinet, a motor to drive the basket from a rearward lowered position in the cabinet to a forward directed raised position outside of the cabinet and a driver connecting the basket to the motor. In one embodiment, the driver has an extendable drive portion to allow manual movement of the basket from the rearward lowered position to a forward lowered position and a rigid drive portion to transmit force from the motor to the basket to drive the basket between the rearward lowered position and the forward directed raised position so that the basket may be pulled by a user from a rearward lowered position to a forward lowered portion and the driver enables the motor to drive the basket to the forward directed raised position outside of the cabinet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Inventors: Steve Bond, Andrew Tiffin
  • Publication number: 20100026152
    Abstract: An automatic position restoring slide rail device includes: a slide rail device having a bottom rail and an inner rail slid with respect to the bottom rail; a control device having a control base, a spring connected between the control base and the slide cover, and a control plate with a concave guide slot, and the guide slot having a latch groove on one side and an aslant guide slot on another side, and the slide cover being covered at the control base, and having a first return slot and a second return slot; a swing element, including a first actuating block at the first return slot and a second actuating block at the second return slot, a link element, fixed at the inner rail. Therefore, the present invention can achieve a smoother and better automatic position restoration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: NAN JUEN INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kuo-Sheng Huang
  • Patent number: 7651179
    Abstract: A device, for automatic extraction of a supply drawer from a household appliance, includes a releasable locking device for releasably locking the drawer; an elastic element for pushing the drawer into an extracted position; a braking element for opposing movement of the drawer; a support housing the elastic and the braking elements; and a toothed pinion fitted idly to the support, which is configured to leave at least one given circumferential portion of the teeth of the pinion exposed. The elastic element is to exert a torque in a given direction on the pinion, which is connected angularly integral with the braking element. The exposed circumferential portion of the pinion teeth meshes selectively with a straight or curved rack, formed externally on a wall of the drawer, by simply rotating the support with respect to the drawer, so that the same device can be used for both slide-out and swing-out drawers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: ITW Industrial Components SRL Con Unico Socio
    Inventor: Dino Chirumbolo
  • Publication number: 20100012547
    Abstract: A dispenser includes a housing defined by a bay, and a drawer defining an open position and a closed position. The drawer is retained within the bay against a compression force applied by a spring-like member when the drawer is in a closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: VARIANT PRODUCTS, LTD.
    Inventor: Christopher P. Gardner
  • Patent number: 7641296
    Abstract: A self-moving mechanism, a slide incorporating the same and a method of self-moving a slide are provided. A slide incorporating a self-moving mechanism is a self-moving slide and includes a first slide member slideably coupled to a second slide member. A self-moving mechanism is coupled to the second slide member. A slot having a first longitudinal portion and a second transverse portion is formed on a housing of the mechanism. A slider having an actuator is guided within the slot and slides along the housing and couples with the first slide member for moving the first slide member relative to the second slide member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Accuride International, Inc.
    Inventor: Baoloc T. Le
  • Patent number: 7624960
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, a cup holder assembly includes a support frame, a cup holder and a dampener. The support frame has spaced apart walls. The cup holder is slidably engaged with the walls of the support frame for movement between a stowed position disposed between the walls of the support frame and a use position extending outwardly from the support frame. The dampener is coupled to the walls of the support frame. The dampener has an arcuate spring member formed integrally therewith to provide an interference fit with the cup holder for dampening the sliding movement of the cup holder relative to the sleeve between the stowed and use positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: N. Antonio Saenz
  • Publication number: 20090284113
    Abstract: An opening and closing system permits a drawer to be operated by pressing on a front panel of the drawer (e.g., in a hands-free manner). By way of example, the system includes a first sub-assembly coupled to the drawer and a second sub-assembly coupled to a drawer frame. A linear spring provides a tensioning force for operation of the drawer. The first sub-assembly includes a first pivot biasly coupled to the drawer, a fixed-length arm having a first end fixed to the first pivot and a second end coupled to a roller. The second sub-assembly includes first and second guide arms coupled to a second pivot, the first guide arm having an upper surface for engaging the roller when the drawer is being closed, the second guide arm having an arcuate-shaped region sized to receive at least a portion of the roller after the drawer is closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventor: Christopher MacElveen
  • Publication number: 20090278430
    Abstract: A retraction mechanism for a drawer includes a guiding member, a holding member, and an elastic member. The guiding member includes a first wall, a second wall, a first channel and a second channel, a first end portion extending from first ends of the first and second walls. The first end portion includes a locking portion adjacent to the first channel. The holding member includes a pin slot, and a first supporting portion and a second supporting portion to hold against the first and second channels, respectively. The first supporting portion includes a first supporting leg corresponding to the locking portion. The drawer includes a pin for engaging with or disengaging from the pin slot when the drawer is pulled or pushed. The elastic member is adapted to act on the holding member. The drawer urged by the elastic member will be retracted into a furniture body when the drawer is moved to a predetermined position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Inventors: Hsiu-Chiang Liang, Ken-Ching Chen, Chun-Chiang Wang
  • Publication number: 20090273262
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for ejecting a movable furniture part from a closed end position in or on a furniture body, having an ejector comprising a motor-driven ejector lever, wherein a power transmission device interacting with the ejector lever is provided such that the force exerted on the movable furniture part by the ejector lever can be transferred in the mounted state of the device in a furniture body, in which the movable furniture part in the closed end position is at a distance from the ejector lever.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventor: Klaus BRUSTLE
  • Patent number: 7600828
    Abstract: A slide assembly having a homing device includes a tie mount, a draw bar, a block, an elastic element and a pull unit. The slide assembly includes at least a first slide member and a second slide member. The tie mount is connected to the first slide member. The top and the bottom of the tie mount are formed with open slots, and the lateral of the tie mount is formed with a chute. The draw bar pierces through the open slots. The block, plugged by the draw bar, has a protruding cylinder corresponding to the chute. The elastic element is connected to the block. The pull unit is provided on the second slide member. The block corresponds to the pull unit, the second slide member, relative to the first slide member, is able to be homing in position automatically during its moving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: King Slide Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ken-Ching Chen, Shih-Lung Huang, Chun-Chiang Wang
  • Patent number: 7589960
    Abstract: A disk drive assembly for a server system includes a drive bracket (30), a disk drive (10), and a backboard (50). The drive bracket includes a top wall (31) and two parallel sidewalls (34) perpendicular to the top wall. The disk drive is received in the drive bracket between the two sidewalls. The disk drive has a port (15) defined therein. The backboard is secured to the drive bracket and perpendicular to the top wall and the sidewalls thereof. The backboard includes a main body (51) and a connecting member (53) detachably mounted on the main body. The connecting member is connected to the port of the disk drive and facilitates communication between the disk drive and the server system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Zhan-Yang Li
  • Publication number: 20090195131
    Abstract: A self-closing drawer slide system includes first and second slide members and a self-closing mechanism which, in turn, includes a housing coupled to the first slide member, a carriage slidably coupled to the housing, and a spring coupled between the housing and the carriage. The carriage has an engagement area that selectively receives a cam/tab extending from the second slide member. As the drawer is pulled open, the carriage disengages from the cam/tab as it rotates and is locked in place. As the drawer returns, the carriage again engages the cam/tab, unlocks, and is pulled toward a drawer-closed position by the spring. The system may also include an intermediate member, with respective sets of three balls disposed between the intermediate and first and second slide members such that respective centers of the balls define corners of an obtuse triangle. The self-closing mechanism may also include a damper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: ACCURIDE INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Quinn Chi, Saul Gutnik
  • Publication number: 20090152879
    Abstract: A cabinet having one or more doors is disclosed. The doors include a latch mechanism. The latch mechanism disclosed includes a single or multiple linkages between a latch slide and one or more multiple rods which move to latch the doors in a closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventor: Malgorzata Pala
  • Publication number: 20090140620
    Abstract: An article of furniture (11, 11?, 11?) has a first furniture part and at least one second furniture part that can be motor-driven in relation to the first furniture part. The at least one second furniture part may be a drawer (2; 13, 14, 15; 19, 20, 24) that can be displaced in relation to at least one body (1; 16; 21, 22, 23) of the first furniture part. An electric power supply device is arranged on the first furniture part. A control device may be provided to stop the moveable second furniture part from displacing from its initial position into its final position before it is displaced as far as an immediately adjacent moveable furniture part that is already in an open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2007
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Inventors: Juergen Zipp, Steffen Medebach, Martin Blucher, Holger Wenzel
  • Publication number: 20090140621
    Abstract: An auto-returning drawer rail is implemented in furniture having a drawer cavity and a drawer, and the auto-returning drawer rail has a drawer rail assembly, an auto-returning device and a buffering device. The drawer rail assembly is mounted in the drawer cavity and has a rail bracket, an outer track and an inner track. The auto-returning device is mounted in the drawer rail assembly and has a base, a sliding block, a connector and two springs. The base is mounted on the rail bracket. The sliding block is mounted slidably on the base. The connector is connected securely to the sliding block between the rail bracket and the base and has two clasping tabs engaging the base. The buffering device is mounted in the auto-returning device to prevent the drawer from returning too fast and has a damper and a drive shaft being connected to the connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Inventor: Jun-Long Yang
  • Patent number: 7539013
    Abstract: A method and incorporated automatic air blockage assembly door is provided. The assembly comprises an air blockage door secured to a frame, capable of moving from a first to a second position via a pivot block and a shaft. The movement of the door is enabled by securing the door via the pivot block to an arm mechanism. The mechanism includes a pivot member and an activation pin. The activation and deactivation of the pin causes the movement of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mark A. Brandon, Richard M. Ecker, Edward F. Furey, John J. Loparco
  • Publication number: 20090127990
    Abstract: A retracting device for a drawer, comprising a pulling device which can be connected to the drawer, a drive unit having an electric motor, and a roller drivable by the drive unit for winding up the pulling device, wherein the drive unit is activatable by a rotation of the roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventors: Fredi Dubach, Klaus Brustle
  • Patent number: 7533946
    Abstract: A closing device for drawers, the device having a housing with a holding notch and a slider having a resilient latching arm that is bendable to engage the holding notch, as well as a spring that engages the housing and the slider to urge the slider to a rearward position relative to the housing. The resilient latching arm has a slot adapted to receive a pin, whereby as the drawer is moved from its closed position, the relative movement of the pin advances the slider to a position where the resilient latching arm engages the holding notch and the drawer is free to mover further outward without influence of the closing device. As the drawer is moved rearward toward its closed position, the relative movement of the pin will cause it to engage the slot in the resilient latching arm, further causing it to release from the holding notch and to be urged by the spring to move the drawer toward a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Knape & Vogt Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Keith A. Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20090121596
    Abstract: A controlled closure system for a sliding element of a piece of furniture, comprises an elongated body provided in which is a rectilinear groove passing through the body and extended axially in the closure direction. An engagement element slides along the groove to move from a first idle position to a second closure position through the action of a spring. The engagement element comprises abutment surfaces to delimit, between them, a seat intended to accommodate a drawing projection integral with the sliding element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventor: Adelchi Ferrari
  • Publication number: 20090102338
    Abstract: The invention relates to a piece of furniture and to a device for moving a first furniture part relative to a second furniture part using a drive unit by means of which the first furniture part can be moved, in the driven manner, relative to the second furniture part via a monitoring unit for movement monitoring of the first furniture part. In order to adopt a position better between the furniture parts, the monitoring unit is designed to preset a movement of the first furniture part through a predefined movement distance away from a mechanical stop after a movement of the first furniture part to a position which is defined by the mechanical stop, with the first furniture part being locked in the position that is reached, as a final position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicants: Grass GmbH, Kuster Automotive Door Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Wenzel, Jurgen Zipp, Steffen Medebach, Frank Oberpichler
  • Patent number: 7513581
    Abstract: A chassis lock (32) for drawer slide (12) is provided by a slot (20) and a rotary lock member (34). The rotary lock member (34) has a disk-shaped body (36) with an arcuately shaped cutout portion defining a cam follower surface (38). A stop protuberance (42) extends from the rotary lock member (34) with opposite ends (47, 49) which locate the rotary lock member (34) in an open position and a closed position. A torsion spring (50) urges the rotary lock member (34) into the closed position. The weight of a drawer is applied through a mounting lug (30) to the cam follower surface (38), to move the rotary lock member (34) to the open position which aligns the cam follower surface (38) for passing the mounting lug (30) into a lock section (26) of the slot (20). When in the closed position, the disk-shaped portion (36) of the rotary lock member (34) prevents removal of the mounting lug (30) from within the lock section (26) of the slot (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Central Industrial Supply Company
    Inventors: Julian S. Baiza, Huang Mushan, Wenming Yang, Meng Kee Koh
  • Patent number: 7513582
    Abstract: A slide rail stopper having anti-opening and self-closing functions is installed on the storage box of a daily necessity such as a washing machine, a refrigerator, a cabinet or a desk so as to enable the storage box to be smoothly opened and closed. In the slide rail stopper, a housing has an elastic member inserting recess, a hinge pin, and a fixed rail coupling hole. An elastic member, into which a coil spring is inserted, is installed in the elastic member inserting recess. A rotary member having a holder is coupled to the hinge pin at the front of the elastic member inserting recess. A bracket protrudes from one side of the fixed rail, and is inserted into the fixed rail coupling hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Inventors: Sang-Won Yoon, Ki Soo Ok
  • Publication number: 20090033187
    Abstract: An auto-returning assembly with mechanical damper is used in conjunction with a drawer rail and has a body, a rack, a locking protrusion, at least one spring and a damper. The body has a base and a guiding mount. The guiding mount is formed on the base and has a guide slot. The rack is mounted slidably on the body. The locking protrusion is mounted rotatably on the rack and slidably in the guiding slot and has a pivoting protrusion and a locking post. The at least one spring is connected to the body and the rack. The damper is connected securely to the body and engages the rack and has a casing and a buffering wheel. When the spring pulls the drawer rails back, rack forces the damper wheel to turn that encounters high resistance and slows the movement of the drawer rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Inventor: Chin-Hsiang Chung
  • Publication number: 20090026902
    Abstract: A self-closing drawer slide has a housing with a linear channel extending therein at an inner end of an outer longitudinal section. A catch is slidably mounted within the channel and has pivot pins 36 extending out either side thereof (only one side is shown) into corresponding slots in the sides of the channel. The catch is symmetrical about a longitudinal centre line of the housing and rocks rearward to unlock and engage a latch on an inner longitudinal section and forward to lock and release the latch. The catch is biased to slide to an inner end of the channel when the catch is unlocked and there are no external forces on the slide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventor: Samuel Jurja
  • Patent number: 7481397
    Abstract: The invention relates to a force supporting device (10) for providing a load-dependent supporting force, in particular for a lowerable overhead locker (12) in an aircraft. The device (10) comprises a bracket (20), whose one end is attached to a supporting structure so as to be pivotal about an axis (P) and whose other end is configured for connection to an object to which the supporting force should be applied. There is also a gas-filled spring (22), whose one end is pivotally articulated to the bracket (20) and whose other is pivotally articulated to one end of an oscillating lever (24), whose other end is pivotally attached to a bearing plate (18) and which can pivot relative to the bearing plate (18) between a first end position and a second end position. By means of an arresting device the oscillating lever (24) can be arrested at a plurality of positions in the region of its first end position to the second end position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Herbert Steinbeck, Oleg Graf
  • Patent number: 7472973
    Abstract: An automatic closing mechanism for a slide track of a drawer according to present invention comprises a guide member, a connection member, a bendable member, and a hook stopper; the connection member is disposed on the inner wall of a furniture article and the hook stopper is disposed on the outer wall of another article in the opposite direction, and when the other object being pulled outward, the bendable member is stretched to render the guide rod contacting the outer edge of the arrow portion, the swing part rotates to press against the slant wall of the arrow portion, the swing part is retained thereon and thus points downward, and the hook stopper is disengaged and thus separated from the engagement of the swing part; and when the other object is being inserted inward, the engaged tooth of the contacts the hook stopper and the inner wall of the hook slot of the swing part at the arrow portion and is accommodated there to disengage therefrom, and thus the bendable member contracts and in turn drives the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Nan Juen International Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kuo-Sheng Huang
  • Patent number: 7452040
    Abstract: A guiding rail is described with a carcass rail, fixable to a cabinet carcass, a running rail, fixable to the cabinet pull-out part, a center rail slidably connecting the carcass rail to the running rail, permitting telescopic movement of the carcass rail, the center rail, and the running rail with respect to one another from a compressed position to an extended position, a blocking device, and an operating lug disposed in a rearward end of the running rail. The blocking device includes a rod, at least one first snap-in tooth projecting from the rod, a notch lever pivotally disposed at a rearward end of the center rail, and at least one second snap-in tooth associated with the notch lever. The first and second snap-in teeth engage associated components of the guiding rail such that the guiding rail is lockable in both the extended and compressed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Paul Hettich GmbH & Co KG
    Inventor: Thomas Edward Burgess, III
  • Publication number: 20080265727
    Abstract: A pullout storage structure for a bathroom cabinet, such as a vanity or medicine cabinet, has a hinge linkage for moving a storage unit between an opened and a closed position such that the storage unit travels an arcuate path and maintains its orientation. Smooth and easy movement of the pullout storage structure is facilitated by an over-center assist member. The assist member tends to close, and keep closed, as well as open, and keep open, the pullout structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: Michael Kohlman, Daniel N. Halloran, Matthew M. Smeltzer, Scott R. Krebs
  • Publication number: 20080211365
    Abstract: A piece of furniture (10), in particular an item of office furniture or furniture for young persons, comprises body (14) from which a drawer (11 through 13) may be pulled out in a drawer motion direction (19) along a drawer path (27), such drawer running on a guide arrangement (20) on the body (14), and on two mutually opposite side portions (28 and 29), parallel to the drawer motion direction (19), of the drawer (11 through 13) gear wheels (30) synchronously coupled together are in mesh with racks (39) set on the body (14), for parallelization of the drawer (11 through 13) so that on the body the drawer does not run askew to the drawer motion direction (19). The racks (39) are constituted by tooth sections (32 and 33) on a front and/or a rear terminal section (25 and 26) of the drawer path (27). The gear wheels (30) are out of mesh with a rack (39) in a drawer path part clear of the tooth sections (32 and 33) in the front and/or the rear terminal section (25 and 26).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Applicant: moll Funktionsmobel GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Moll, Hans Looser
  • Publication number: 20080211363
    Abstract: A safety cabinet is disclosed which includes an enclosure having a double-walled construction and a pair of doors to selectively seal the enclosure. The safety cabinet includes a lock bar and a pair of retaining arms that permit the lock bar to be set across the front of the safety cabinet, thereby preventing the safety cabinet doors from being opened. The lock bar may be locked in place at both ends to the retaining arms by use of removable locks. When locked in place, the lock bar protects the safety cabinet from accidental or unauthorized opening. The enclosure is mounted on top of a base that contains two forklift pockets designed to accommodate the fork of a forklift. An indicator is disposed on the safety cabinet for, among other things, making the safety cabinet easy to locate and indicating the nature of the contents stored in the safety cabinet, especially in situations where the safety cabinet is located in a room where there is smoke or low light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2007
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Applicant: Justrite Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Glen Alan Carter, Steven Michael Eyer
  • Patent number: 7413270
    Abstract: An improved locking device of sliding drawer comprises a sliding rail and a locking device, when the sliding drawer is pushed back to a cabinet body, the locking device is initiated when a second sliding track moves along the sliding rail towards a direction of the cabinet body. When one of the circumferential parts of the locking device comes into contact with a protruding portion of a first sliding track, an attaching portion is rotated around the rotating shaft at a rotation center thereby biasing a flexible part of the locking device and generating a first restoring force, a flexible device of the first sliding track is triggered by the second sliding track to generate a second restoring force, when the protruding portion is inserted through the trench and seated within the arc-shaped structure, the first restoring force of the flexible device is released such that the drawer is now locked within the cabinet body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Inventors: Guey-Yun Chang, Kuo-Sheng Huang
  • Publication number: 20080191592
    Abstract: Lockable pushing-out device (1) for a furniture part guided in a movable manner in or on a piece of furniture, in particular for a drawer or door, having a spring-loaded drive element (5) for moving the movable furniture part out of a closed end position into an open position, wherein the drive element (5), for the purpose of transmitting force to the movable furniture part, is arranged such that it can be displaced in a guide track (8), and wherein the guide track (8) has at least one portion (A, A?) which is designed such that the furniture part can be moved by virtue of the spring-loaded drive element (5) interacting with the guide track (8).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Inventor: Fredi Dubach
  • Publication number: 20080191591
    Abstract: The invention relates to a displacement device for displacing, in particular sliding and/or for opening and closing at least one drawer (2), lid, door or similar, which can be located in an item of furniture (3), such as for example a cupboard, in particular a kitchen cupboard, or in a vehicle, such as for example a commercial vehicle, in particular a service or emergency vehicle. Said device comprises at least one electromotive drive unit, which acts on a transmission element to displace the drawer or drawers (2), lid, door or similar. The device is provided with a guide element (5), which is displaceably mounted in a guide and on which the drive unit (4) acts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicant: Kuster Automotive Door Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Blucher, Carmelo Gutierrez, Stefan Keul, Thomas Schmidt