Patent Application
20080074021
1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure is generally directed to drawers, and more particularly to a slidable drawer that can be mounted under an existing shelf.
2. Description of Related Art
Most modern kitchen redesigns are configured for optimal usage of storage space. Older kitchens were typically also designed with storage space as an important issue, but with older kitchen storage accessory technology in mind. Still, many older and more modern kitchens include cabinet systems and other storage elements that include a large volume potential storage space that is either not utilized at all, or that is under-utilized. Kitchen cabinets are typically designed to include a number of vertically spaced apart shelves. Shelves are also present in pantries and other storage areas of a home. Depending on the objects that are to be stored in a particular portion of a cabinet or other storage area that has shelf space, there typically is unused storage space found directly beneath one or more of the shelves in the storage area.
Some storage unit accessories are known that can be mounted directly onto or beneath shelves. These units typically employ fixed additional sub-shelves or fixed baskets that are attached to an underside of an existing shelf. These baskets or sub-shelves can be mounted in order to better utilize the unused space beneath existing shelves. However, it can be difficult for a user to grasp or even to reach items that are stored near the back end of such sub-shelves or baskets. This is because these units are typically fixed in position under the shelf and because the space between the prior existing shelf and the surface of the sub-shelf or the bottom of the basket can be rather small.
Objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which:
The slide drawer assembly disclosed and described herein solves or improves upon one or more of the above-noted and/or other problems or disadvantages with existing storage solutions for conventional kitchen and other storage cabinets. A slide drawer assembly is disclosed herein that readily mounts to a front edge of an existing shelf without requiring the need for complex hardware to install the assembly. The disclosed slide drawer assembly also provides a retractable and extendable drawer-like storage receptacle that mounts directly beneath the existing shelf. The drawer utilizes this typically unused storage space in a cabinet below the existing shelf and above smaller objects stored within the cabinet. The disclosed slide drawer assembly is simple in construction and easy to install and use. The disclosed assembly also takes up relatively little space, requires few components, and efficiently and effectively increases usable storage space in a cabinet, pantry, or other storage space that includes existing shelves. The drawer can also be extended to permit easy access to items stored anywhere in the drawer.
Turning now to the drawings,
In general, the mounting bracket 12 has a pair of elongate tracks 20 that are spaced apart laterally across the mounting bracket 12 and are parallel to one another.
In this example, a transverse channel or clamping structure 30 extends between and interconnects the front ends 24 of the tracks 20. In general, the mounting bracket 12 is rectangular or square when viewed from the top and has a large gap between the tracks 20. The clamp structure 30 in the disclosed example has a front panel 32 that is oriented generally vertically and that is connected to and extends upward from the front end 24 of each track 20. An attaching clamp 34 extends rearward from a top edge of the front panel 32. A bottom edge 33 of the front panel 32 is exposed, except where it attaches to the tracks 20. In this example, the clamp 34 includes a pair of elongate clips 36 on opposite ends of the structure that extend toward the back ends of the tracks. Each clip 36 is positioned generally parallel with and vertically spaced above a respective one of the tracks 20. The clamping structure 34 also has a transverse top panel 38 of a length or front-to-back edge depth that is shorter than a length of the clips 36. The top panel 38 extends rearward from the top edge of the front panel 32 and is positioned between and connected to each of the clips 36. The panel 38 is thus significantly shorter in a rearward direction than the clips 36.
The tracks 20 in the disclosed example each include a top panel 40 that lies generally horizontally and extends from the back end 22 to the front end 24. Each track 20 also has an outer facing side panel 42 that depends from an outside edge of each top panel 40. Each track 20 also includes an elongate support flange 44 that extends laterally inward from a bottom edge of each of the side panels 42 along the length of each track. In the disclosed example, the top panel 40, side panel 42, and support flange 44 on each track form a C-shaped slide channel 46 on each side of the mounting bracket 12. Opposed side portions of the drawer 14 are captured within the channels and are supported on the flanges 44. In the disclosed example, the channels 46 are open and face inward toward one another as can be seen in the cross-section of
As shown in the side view of
Returning to
In the disclosed example, the bottom 74 is formed of a wire grid pattern with spaced apart side-to-side extending bottom wires 76 and spaced apart fore and aft extending bottom wires 78. Each of these wires includes a bend 80 at each end. From the bend, each of the bottom wires 76 and 78 continues upward. The lateral wires 76 continue upward into side wires 82, which are connected to the top wire 60. The fore and aft wires 78 continue upward into either front wires 84 at the front wall 70 of the assembly and rear wires 86 at the rear wall 68 of the drawer. In the disclosed example, the front wires 84, rear wires 86, and side wires 82, are all generally vertical but inclined or angled slightly outward moving toward the top wire 60. This draft angle can be beneficial during formation of the wire basket. It can also be useful in operation of the installed drawer. In the disclosed example, the tips 90 of the side, front, and rear wires are bent outward and also rest on the top wire 60. Thus, the upper perimeter of the drawer 14 is wider than the bottom and an underside 92 of the top wire 60 creates an unencumbered sliding surface for the drawer. To assemble the drawer 14, the tips 90 can be welded, soldered, or otherwise attached to the top wires 60. The points of intersection in the grid of the bottom wires 76 and 78 can also be welded, soldered, or otherwise joined to form a sturdy drawer construction.
As will be evident to those having ordinary skill in the art, the overall general structure of the bracket 12 and drawer or receptacle 14 can vary and yet fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the general wire configuration, wire gauge, and overall size and shape of the drawer 14 can vary. As shown in the drawings, the top wire 60 is a heavier gauge, non-circular cross-section wire than the wall and bottom wires 76, 78, and 82, which are smaller gauge and circular in cross-section. Materials other than metal wires can also be used to form a suitable drawer as well. A molded configuration can be formed that will function in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. In the disclosed example, the bottom surfaces 92 of the top wire 60 at least on the side sections 66 are exposed from below and rest on and slide along the support panels 44 in the channels 46. The front ends 24 of the tracks 40 are open to permit free, unencumbered insertion of the drawer 14 into the channels 46 when installed on the bracket 12. Other laterally outward extending features, such as a flange or lip, of a different drawer construction can perform this same supporting and sliding function. The drawer can have a solid bottom and walls that are transparent, semi-transparent, translucent, or opaque as well. A wire-form basket can help reduce material usage and yet provide a sturdy, durable drawer construction. The drawer can also have an open front wall, a forward tilted front wall, and/or a reduced height front wall to permit partial access to items stored in the drawer without having to slide the drawer outward. The drawer 14 can also take on shapes that differ from the rectangular box-like structure as shown and described herein. The drawer can also have one or more removable or fixed tray inserts and can be sub-divided into storage compartments, if desired.
In the disclosed example, the bracket 12 can be formed from a single sheet metal layer and stamped, bent, and/or drawn to the configuration as shown. Thus, all of the bracket 12 components discussed above are integrally connected with one another in this example. The unitary bracket construction forms a simple bracket assembly with few failure points, virtually no assembly, and minimal manufacturing difficulty. However, a bracket formed from different materials, such as wire, plastic, thermoplastic elastomer, polypropylene, polyethylene, and the like, other than sheet metal, can also be provided in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. In one example, a unitary bracket can be formed of a molded plastic or other similar material and yet function as intended.
The shape and configuration of the bracket 12 can also vary from that shown and described. The disclosed bracket 12 is U-shaped from the top view with C-shaped clamps 34 and C-shaped slide channels 46. Each of these features can vary from the shapes and configurations shown. The top of the bracket can have a different shape and can employ traversing structures to add stability between the tracks 20. The clips 36 can be positioned differently from that shown and can even be modified to include only a single clamping structure or more than two clamping structures. The tracks 20 need not underlie the clips 36 and even need not provide part of the clamping structure, as they do in this example. The slide tracks 20 and channels 46 need not be part of a unitary bracket, but instead can be separately manufactured components that are fastened or otherwise attached to other bracket components. Assembly of the tracks to the bracket can simultaneously fasten the bracket to a shelf, if secondary fastening of the assembly to a shelf is desired. The bracket can alternatively be provided with fastener openings to receive mounting fasteners if desired. The bracket can be designed to clamp onto the shelf using only friction, a spring-enhanced biasing mechanism, or an inherently biased clamping force as in the disclosed example. Other positive attachment mechanisms can alternatively be used including adhesive tape or pads, one way metal tangs in the bracket surfaces, or the like.
Separate slide tracks can be configured to slidably engage, clip on, snap on, or connect to a part of a bracket body and can do so in any attaching direction relative to the bracket during installation. In this example, the C-shaped channels 46 are open facing inward toward one another. It is also possible that the slide tracks provide support surfaces that extend outward away from one another from which a drawer can hang. In addition, a more elaborate bracket structure including two or more components connected together can also be provided. More complex tracks and/or channels could be utilized in a higher end product. The drawer and/or the tracks or channels can employ bearings, wheels, sliders, guide or tracking features, and the like to create a more robust, easily slidable storage drawer product.
In the disclosed example, each of the clips 36 includes a stamped depression 98 in the body of the clip. These depressions can be provided to add strength and rigidity to the clip structure. Similarly, the top panels 40 of the tracks 20 also include a stamped or drawn upward bump 100 for a similar purpose. Stiffening or strengthening crossbars and braces can also be employed for either or both the bracket and drawer. The bracket and/or drawer can also include structural depressions, ribs, or other features to add strength and rigidity. The depressions 98 and bumps 100 can also assist during bracket installation by reducing surface area contact with the shelf and by providing smooth, rounded contact surfaces against the shelf, thus reducing surface friction between bracket and shelf.
In the disclosed example, a pair of down turned tabs 102 are provided at the back ends of the tracks. These tabs can be of a downward length sufficient to close off the back end 22 of each track. As shown, the tabs 102 can act as rearward stops for the slide drawer 14 when the drawer is pushed completely inward into the bracket.
Although certain shelf mounted drawer and drawer features have been described herein in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all embodiments of the teachings of the disclosure that fairly fall within the scope of permissible equivalents.
This patent is related to and claims priority benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/845,977 entitled “Shelf Mounted Slide Drawer,” which was filed on Sep. 20, 2006, and the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60845977 | Sep 2006 | US |
