Patent Grant
9521905
Many drawer chest systems today are mass produced at low prices. This translates into production methods that are lenient with regards to manufacturing tolerances. Although this allows for drawer chests to be created cheaply, the quality can be subpar. Specifically, drawers within the chests often get stuck or are hard to pull out and push in.
Any feature or combination of features described herein are included within the scope of the present invention provided that the features included in any such combination are not mutually inconsistent as will be apparent from the context, this specification, and the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art. Additional advantages and aspects of the present invention are apparent in the following detailed description and claims.
A drawer chest system wherein the drawer rails are secure within the system via minimal bolting and merely resting on the drawer chest walls. In some embodiments, this allows for higher drawer mobility and reduces the chances of drawers getting stuck within a chest due to clearance issues or inadequate manufacturing tolerances. Furthermore, lower production price accompanies this loosened tolerance.
Following is a list of elements corresponding to a particular element referred to herein:
Referring now to
In some embodiments, the trapezoidal wall plates (270) are folded perpendicular to the base plate (200) to form a base first wall (225), a base second wall (235), and a base back wall (265). In some embodiments, the rectangular wall plate (280) is folded thrice to form a base barrier (285) comprising a base barrier first end (289), a base barrier second end (290), a base barrier front surface (286), a base barrier top surface (287), and a base barrier back surface (288),
In some embodiments, the drawer chest system (100) comprises a pair of side plates (300), wherein each side plate (300) has a side plate first end (310) and a side plate second end (320). In some embodiments, the side plate first end (310) and the side plate second end (320) are bent to form a side plate channel (330) between a side plate first wall (315) and a side plate second wall (325). In some embodiments, the side plate second wall (325) is also bent to form a side plate surface (340). In some embodiments, the side plate surface (340) is parallel to the trough of the side plate channel (330). Referring now to
In some embodiments, the drawer chest system (100) comprises a standard pair of drawer rails (500) each having an inside rail (510) and an outside rail (520). Referring now to
In some embodiments, the drawer chest system (100) comprises a drawer (600) having a drawer first side (610) and a drawer second side (620). Referring now to
In a non-limiting example, the drawer chest system (100) comprises a pair of back side plates (400) each having the same geometry as the pair of side plates (300), with the exception of the back side plate (400) having a back side plate channel (430) with a deeper trough. Furthermore, a channel slot (440) is disposed on the back side plate channel (430). With material removed from the system (100), the channel slot (440) reduces the overall weight of the drawer chest system (100). Referring now to
In some embodiments, the assembly of the drawer chest system (100) is as follows: the pair of side plates (300) is attached to the base plate (200) opposing and parallel to each other. One side plate surface (340) attaches to the base plate first wall (225) while the other side plate surface (340) attaches to the base plate second wall (235). In some embodiments, the pair of side plates (300) is attached to the base plate (200) via a plurality of rivets.
The pair of back side plates (400) is attached to the base plate (200) opposing and parallel to each other in the same configuration as the pair of side plates (300).
In some embodiments, the base barrier top surface (287) and the base barrier back surface (288) are partially cut out at the base barrier first end (289) and base barrier second end (290). This is such that the side plate first wall (315) can be disposed on the base barrier front surface (286).
Continuing with the non-limiting example assembly, the pair of drawer rails (500) is each attached to the drawer (600) opposing and parallel to each other, via one inside rail (510) attaching to the drawer first side (610) and the other inside rail (510) attaching to the drawer second side (620). In some embodiments, a rail adaptor plate (700) is sandwiched in between the inside rail (510) and the drawer (600), such that a plurality of 8-32 jam nuts and lock set screws hold the three components together. Referring now to
Each of the pair of outside rails (520) is then attached to the side plate (300) and secured to the back side plate (400) via the outside rail (520) resting stably on the channel slot (440). In some embodiments, a support rail (800) is disposed in and along the side plate channel (330). In some embodiments, the support rail (800) is attached to the side plate channel (330) with a plurality of 4-40 socket head or flat head screws. In some embodiments, the outside rail (520) attaches to the support rail (800) and thus the side plate (300) with 8-32 socket set screws. The pair of drawer rails (500) now allows the drawer (600) to slide fluidly along the side plate (300) and the back side plate (400). Referring now to
In some embodiments, the drawer chest system (100) comprises a pair of brace plates (900) each attached to the side plate surface (340) and the corresponding back side plate surface to align the two components.
In some embodiments, physical surfaces of the present invention are designed to be perforated. Referring now to
In another non-limiting example, a different configuration of the drawer chest system (100) entails a channel slot (331) being disposed on the side plate channel (330). The channel slot (331) comprises a slot first edge (332), a slot second edge (333), a slot bottom edge (334), and a slot top edge (335). A rail rest plate (336) extends from and perpendicular to the slot bottom edge (334) into the side plate channel (330). A rail anchor plate (337) extends from and perpendicular to the slot first edge (332) into the side plate channel (330). Referring now to
In some embodiments, the assembly of the drawer chest system (100) is as follows: the pair of side plates (300) is attached to the base plate (200), each opposing and parallel to each other. One side plate surface (340) attaches to the base plate first wall (225) while the other side plate surface (340) attaches to the base plate second wall (235). In some embodiments, the pair of side plates (300) is attached to the base plate (200) via a plurality of rivets.
In some embodiments, the base barrier top surface (287) and the base barrier back surface (288) are partially cut out at the base barrier first end (289) and base barrier second end (290). This is such that the side plate first wall (315) can be disposed on the base barrier front surface (286).
Continuing with the non-limiting example assembly, the pair of drawer rails (500) is each attached to the drawer (600) opposing and parallel to each other, via one inside rail (510) attaching to the drawer first side (610) and the other inside rail (510) attaching to the drawer second side (620). In some embodiments, a rail adaptor plate (700) is sandwiched in between the inside rail (510) and the drawer (600), such that a plurality of 8-32 jam nuts and lock set screws hold the three components together.
The outside rail (520) is then attached to the rail anchor plate (337) and rests stably on the rail rest plate (336). In some embodiments, the outside rail (520 attaches to the rail anchor plate (337) with 8-32 socket set screws. The pair of drawer rails (500) now allows the drawer (600) to slide fluidly along the side plate (300). Referring now to
In some embodiments, physical surfaces of the present invention are designed to be perforated.
In both non-limiting examples above, the pair of outside rails (520) each either rests on a channel slot (440) or a rail rest plate (336). Without wishing to limit the invention to any theory or mechanism, it is believed that the configurations presented in the examples allow the outside rail (520) to be secured without excessive bolting, thus allowing for higher drawer mobility and reducing the chances of the drawer (600) getting stuck within the system (100) due to clearance issues or inadequate manufacturing tolerances. Furthermore, since drawer mobility is introduced with the present invention, production prices are lowered as manufacturing tolerances are loosened.
As used herein, the term “about” refers to plus or minus 10% of the referenced number.
Various modifications of the invention, in addition to those described herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. Each reference cited in the present application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Although there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made thereto which do not exceed the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of the invention is only to be limited by the following claims. Reference numbers recited in the claims are exemplary and for ease of review by the patent office only, and are not limiting in any way. In some embodiments, the figures presented in this patent application are drawn to scale, including the angles, ratios of dimensions, etc. In some embodiments, the figures are representative only and the claims are not limited by the dimensions of the figures. In some embodiments, descriptions of the inventions described herein using the phrase “comprising” includes embodiments that could be described as “consisting of”, and as such the written description requirement for claiming one or more embodiments of the present invention using the phrase “consisting of” is met.
The reference numbers recited in the below claims are solely for ease of examination of this patent application, and are exemplary, and are not intended in any way to limit the scope of the claims to the particular features having the corresponding reference numbers in the drawings.
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| http://www.stackbin.com/products/1-cust-1-custom-container-1/. |
| http://www.ebay.com/itm/20-PERFORATED-STAINLESS-STEEL-TOOL-BOX-CAN-HOLDER-a-snap-2-use-hang-on-side/371614226711?—trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850&—trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D36540%26meid%3D1e9e5b16455d4dca9498eefcc7a3bebc%26pid%3D100011%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D10%26sd%3D371538755773. |
