Control mechanism for drawer slide assembly

Abstract

A control mechanism for a drawer slide assembly including a cabinet rail and a drawer rail is provided. The control mechanism comprises a latch bracket positioned on a portion of a drawer and having a post extending therefrom, a movable latch associated with the cabinet rail and capable of limited linear movement along a portion of the cabinet rail, the movable latch cooperating and engaging with the post of the latch bracket so as to move along with movement of the drawer when engaged with the post, and a damping mechanism for damping movement of the movable latch at least when the drawer is moving from an open position to a closed position.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates generally to slide assemblies used in connecting drawers to cabinets, and more particularly relates to a control mechanism to dampen the movement of a drawer slide assembly as it is closed within the cabinet housing.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Drawer slide assemblies are used in most drawer-cabinet settings to facilitate a smooth opening and closing of a drawer relative to the cabinet housing. The problem with such drawer slide assemblies, however, is that they lack means for providing any sort of control over the movement of the drawer as it closes in the cabinet housing. As such, the drawer, cabinet, or a facia cover associated with the front of the drawer, can be damaged as the drawer is forcibly closed into the cabinet housing.[0003]Such forceful movement of the drawer relative to the cabinet housing can also cause loud slamming noises upon impact between the drawer and the cabinet interface, and there can be damage ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014]According to another aspect of the present invention, a drawer slide assembly control mechanism is provided, comprising a cabinet rail associated with a cabinet housing and a drawer rail associated with a drawer, and a control mechanism associated with the drawer. The control mechanism comprises a drawer latch bracket positioned on the drawer, the drawer latch bracket having an engagement tab extending outwardly therefrom, and a shock-absorbing sub-assembly. The shock-absorbing sub-assembly comprises an elongate bracket member associated with the cabinet rail and capable of limited linear movement along a portion of the cabinet rail. The elongate bracket member comprising a groove extending in a direction that is substantially parallel with respect to an extension axis of the cabinet rail, a movable latch associated with the elongate bracket member and cooperating with the engagement tab of the drawer latch bracket so as to move along with movement of the drawer over at least a portion of a length of the drawer rail, and a shock absorber unit associated with the elongate bracket member and cooperating with the movable latch for damping movement of the movable latch at least during a closing stroke of the drawer to reduce noise associated with closing the drawer.

[0015]According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a control mechanism for a drawer slide assembly including a cabinet rail and a drawer rail is provided. The control mechanism comprises a latch bracket being fixedly positioned on a portion of the drawer above or below the drawer rail and the cabinet rail, a moveable latch associated with the cabinet rail and adapted to engage the latch bracket, the moveable latch being configured to move along with movement of the drawer when in a latched state as engaged with the latch bracket, and a damping mechanism for clamping movement of the movable latch engaged with the latch bracket as the drawer moves from an open position to a closed position to reduce noise associated with closing the drawer.

[0016]According to a further aspect of the present invention, a control mechanism for a drawer slide assembly including a cabinet rail and a drawer rail is provided. The control mechanism comprises a latch bracket positioned on a portion of a drawer and having a post extending therefrom, a movable latch associated with the cabinet rail and capable of limited linear movement along a portion of the cabinet rail, the movable latch cooperating and engaging with the post of the latch bracket so as to move along with movement of the drawer when engaged with the post, and a damping mechanism for damping movement of the movable latch at least when the drawer is moving from an open position to a closed position to reduce noise associated with closing the drawer.

Problems solved by technology

The problem with such drawer slide assemblies, however, is that they lack means for providing any sort of control over the movement of the drawer as it closes in the cabinet housing.

As such, the drawer, cabinet, or a facia cover associated with the front of the drawer, can be damaged as the drawer is forcibly closed into the cabinet housing.

Such forceful movement of the drawer relative to the cabinet housing can also cause loud slamming noises upon impact between the drawer and the cabinet interface, and there can be damage to the associated drawer slide assembly mechanisms and rails, or the contents of the drawers themselves.

Images