Drawer sliding system

Abstract

A slide system (100) is provided. The sliding system (100) includes a guide rail (110) and a sliding member (120) extending longitudinally and configured together to form a connection between the drawer (200) and an associated cabinet (300). The guide rail (110) is provided with two sliding surfaces (111a, 111b), and the sliding member (120) is provided with two engagement surfaces (121a, 121b), the two engagement surfaces (121a, 121b) each comprising a first projection (122a) configured for sliding engagement with a respective sliding surface (111a, b). The guide rail (110) and the sliding member (120) are longitudinally movable relative to each other between a closed position corresponding to the drawer (200) relative to the cabinet body (300) and a maximum extended position corresponding to the drawer (200) relative to the cabinet body (300) in which the front portion (123) of the sliding member (120) is fully accommodated by the guide rail (110), wherein each of the first projections (122a) extends along at least 75% of the length of the front portion (123) of the sliding member (120).

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention generally relates to drawer sliding systems, and more particularly to sliding systems adapted to be used with drawers and associated cabinetry. Background Art

[0002] The main function of a drawer sliding system is to allow a drawer to be horizontally pulled out of a piece of furniture so that its contents can be accessed. A wide variety of types of technology can be used to provide a robust and easily manipulable sliding system.

[0003] One basic example of such technology is to attach a horizontal rod to the inner wall of the furniture, with the rod protruding into mating recesses in the respective side walls of the drawer.

[0004] For smoother movement, it has been proposed to provide a low-friction guiding system, where one rail is fixedly mounted to the cabinet while the guiding means is fixedly mounted to the drawer. The guiding means, realized for example by one or more rollers, is movable relative to the rail, thereby ensuring not only very low friction but also allowing the addition of stop members so that the drawer does not fall out of the cabinet. Such solutions are known in the art, but they all suffer from the same drawback of requiring rather expensive components, namely metal rails, bearings and low-friction rollers to provide the desired functionality.

[0005] From the above, it is understood that there is a need for an improved drawer sliding system for drawers that allows for a simple and cost-effective construction and manufacture while still allowing for easy and robust operation. Summary of the Invention

[0006] An object of the present invention is to solve or at least alleviate problems associated with the prior art. This object is achieved by the technology set forth in the appended independent claims and in the preferred embodiments defined in the associated dependent claims.

[0007] In one aspect, a sliding system is provided. The sliding system includes a rail and a sliding member, the rail and the sliding member extending longitudinally and configured to together form a connection between a drawer and an associated cabinet. The rail is provided with two sliding surfaces, and the sliding member is provided with two engaging surfaces. Each engaging surface includes a first protrusion configured to slidably engage with a corresponding sliding surface. The rail and the sliding member are longitudinally movable relative to each other between a position corresponding to the closed position of the drawer relative to the cabinet and a position corresponding to the maximum extended position of the drawer relative to the cabinet, wherein at the maximum extended position, the front portion of the sliding member is fully received by the rail. The first protrusion extends along at least 75% of the length of the front portion of the sliding member.

[0008] The sliding engagement of the first protrusion with the sliding surface facilitates a low-friction connection between the sliding member and the guide rail. The low friction is ensured at least in part due to the small contact area between the sliding surface and the engagement surface (especially in the lateral direction). In addition, the extension of the first protrusion along the front part of the sliding member allows for a simple and robust structure that is easy and cost-effective to manufacture, and also provides a very smooth transition throughout the opening / closing movement.

[0009] The "front part" of the sliding member can be defined as the part of the sliding member received by the guide rail when the sliding system is in the maximum extension position.

[0010] The front part being "fully accommodated" means that the length LF of the front part is fully accommodated by the guide rail. In other words, the entire length LF of the front part is accommodated by the guide rail. The front part having a length LF is fully accommodated by the guide rail along the length LF extending in the longitudinal direction.

[0011] In other words, the sliding system includes a guide rail and a sliding member that extend longitudinally and are configured to together form a connection between a drawer and an associated cabinet body. The guide rail is provided with two sliding surfaces, and the sliding member is provided with two engagement surfaces, each of the two engagement surfaces including a first protrusion configured to slidably engage with a corresponding sliding surface. The guide rail and the sliding member are longitudinally movable relative to each other between a closed position corresponding to the drawer relative to the cabinet body and a maximum extension position corresponding to the drawer relative to the cabinet body, and wherein in the maximum extension position, each of the first protrusions extends along at least 75% of the length LF of the sliding member that is received by the guide rail in the maximum extension position.

[0012] The sliding surface can extend longitudinally along at least 80% of the length of the guide rail.

[0013] In the closed position, the sliding member can be fully accommodated by the guide rail.

[0014] In the maximum extension position, the sliding member can partially protrude beyond the guide rail.

[0015] The two sliding surfaces can be positioned at a vertical distance from each other. The guide rail provided with the sliding surfaces can be formed as a C-shaped groove, and the sliding surfaces can be the upper surface and the lower surface of the groove. The sliding member can be configured to be fully or partially received inside the guide rail.

[0016] The first protrusion or some of the first protrusions can be vertical protrusions of the engagement surface. This can be particularly applicable if the sliding surfaces are the upper surface and the lower surface and the first protrusions protrude vertically upward and vertically downward respectively.

[0017] At least one sliding surface may include longitudinally extending ridges configured to prevent movement of the sliding member in the lateral direction. By having the ridges project slightly from the sliding surface in the normal direction and extend longitudinally, when the guide rail and the sliding member are connected, the first protrusion of the engagement surface in contact with the sliding surface will be prohibited from moving in the lateral direction (i.e., across the ridges). Preferably, at least one of the first protrusions may be arranged inside the longitudinally extending ridges so as to resist lateral removal of the sliding member from the guide rail. Inside is intended herein to define the side facing inwards (i.e., towards the center of the cabinet). The ridges may preferably extend along at least 75% of the length of the first protrusion. These features, individually or in combination, are advantageous as they allow for a more robust sliding system and reduce the risk of the drawer falling out of the cabinet. Compared to other attempts to solve such problems, the ridges are a simple and cost-effective solution.

[0018] At least one engagement surface may include a second protrusion configured to be arranged facing the ridges of the sliding surface relative to the first protrusion when the guide rail and the sliding member are connected. Thus, since the ridges restrict lateral movement in two directions, the robustness is further enhanced. Additionally, the plurality of parallel protrusions provide an effective load distribution of the weight of the drawer, thus ensuring a low friction interface. Of course, each engagement surface may include even more protrusions, and each sliding surface may include more than one ridge. The protrusions and the ridges may be arranged alternately when the guide rail and the sliding member are connected, or there may be two or more protrusions and / or ridges side by side with each other.

[0019] The guide rail and the sliding member may together form the left connection between the drawer and the associated cabinet. The sliding system may further include additional guide rails and additional sliding members that extend longitudinally and are configured to together form the right connection between the drawer and the associated cabinet. At least one sliding surface of each guide rail may include longitudinally extending ridges configured to prevent movement of the associated sliding member in the lateral direction. Preferably, each sliding surface of each guide rail includes the longitudinally extending ridges. At least one of the first protrusions of each sliding member may be arranged inside the longitudinally extending ridges so as to resist lateral removal of each sliding member from the associated guide rail. The ridges of each guide rail may extend along at least 75% of the length of the first protrusion of the associated sliding member.

[0020] The distance between the first protrusion and the second protrusion of one guide rail may be greater than the distance between the first protrusion and the second protrusion of the other guide rail.

[0021] At least one second protrusion may extend along at least 75% of the length of the front portion of the sliding member. Additionally or alternatively, the ridge may extend along at least 75% of the length of the sliding surface. Thereby, it contributes to an easier and more cost-effective manufacturing process.

[0022] The horizontal distance (preferably the horizontal distance) between the first protrusion and the second protrusion may exceed the width of the ridge by 0.1 mm to 1.5 mm. Preferably, the distance exceeds the width of the ridge by 0.3 mm to 0.9 mm.

[0023] At least a portion of the sliding member may be made of plastic, preferably at least two engaging surfaces may be made of plastic. The guide rail may be made of metal and provided with a coating. By means of the coating, the friction of the guide rail can be reduced. In another embodiment, the guide rail may be made of plastic.

[0024] At least a portion of the guide rail may be made of plastic. Preferably, at least two sliding surfaces of the guide rail may be made of plastic. The two sliding surfaces of the guide rail may be made of a plastic different from the plastic that makes up at least two engaging surfaces of the sliding member. The coating may be paint. The thickness of the paint may be 100 μm or less, preferably 50 μm or less, more preferably 15 μm to 40 μm. The paint may in turn be at least partially coated with a lipophilic composition.

[0025] Preferably, the sliding surface is painted by electrocoating in a bath containing paint or by electrostatically coating with powder paint. These methods provide a uniform and thin paint layer.

[0026] The longitudinal length of the sliding member may be 50% to 90% of the longitudinal length of the guide rail, preferably 60% to 80%, preferably about 65% to 72%. Thereby, friction-related problems, such as the so-called sticky drawer effect, can be avoided.

[0027] The sliding system may further include a drawer stopper (preferably in the form of a plug) and a stop member configured to receive the drawer stopper at the maximum extension position and prevent further movement of the guide rail relative to the sliding member. The sliding member may be arranged on a bracket, and the stop member may be provided on the same bracket.

[0028] According to another aspect, a chest of drawers is provided. The chest of drawers includes a cabinet body, at least one drawer, and at least two sliding systems according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein two of the at least two sliding systems are arranged on opposite sides of each drawer.

[0029] The distance between the first protrusion and the second protrusion on one side of each drawer can be greater than the distance on the other side. If there are more than one drawer in the chest of drawers, the distance between the first protrusion and the second protrusion of all the sliding systems on one side can be greater than this distance of the sliding systems on the other side. Thus, it is helpful for manufacturing due to only unilateral tolerance adaptation.

[0030] When reading the following detailed descriptions of different embodiments, further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] By way of example, embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0032] Figure 1a is an exploded view of a sliding system and a side plate of a drawer according to one embodiment;

[0033] Figure 1b is an isometric view of a sliding system and a side plate of a drawer according to one embodiment;

[0034] Figure 2a is an isometric view of a sliding member according to one embodiment;

[0035] Figure 2b is a front view of a guide rail according to one embodiment;

[0036] Figure 2c is a front view of a sliding member according to one embodiment;

[0037] Figure 3a is an isometric view of a sliding member according to one embodiment;

[0038] Figure 3b is a side view of a sliding member according to one embodiment;

[0039] Figure 4 is a front view of a sliding system and a side plate of a drawer according to one embodiment;

[0040] Figure 5a is a side view of a sliding system and a drawer shown in a fully closed position according to one embodiment;

[0041] Figure 5b is a side view of a sliding system and a drawer shown in a maximum extended position according to one embodiment;

[0042] Figure 5c is an isometric view of a sliding system and a drawer according to one embodiment;

[0043] Figure 6Isometric view of a drawer cabinet according to an embodiment; and

[0044] Figures 7a to 7b Front view of a sliding member according to different embodiments. Detailed Description

[0045] Hereinafter, a sliding system and a drawer cabinet including such a sliding system will be described.

[0046] The terms "front" or "front end" refer to the part of the drawer that points outward from the cabinet body. For example, when the guide rail is attached to the drawer, the front end of the guide rail is the end that points in the same direction as the front of the drawer. Thus, the "rear" refers to the rear end of the drawer that points inward toward the back of the cabinet body.

[0047] As used in this specification, the expression "longitudinal direction" refers to the direction from the rear to the front or the depth of the drawer. In general use, the longitudinal direction is usually synonymous with a substantially horizontal direction. For example, the drawers in a drawer cabinet are usually mounted one above the other in the vertical direction and can extend in the horizontal direction or the longitudinal direction. Thus, the guide rails and the sliding members extending longitudinally mean that they have a length in the longitudinal direction, and the longitudinal length is preferably and usually longer than the width in any other direction. Similarly, the longitudinally extending sliding surfaces, engaging surfaces, protrusions, and ridges mentioned in the specification should be understood to be longer in the longitudinal direction than in any other direction.

[0048] As used in the specification, the expression "fully accommodate" means to fully accommodate a component with respect to its longitudinal direction. The first component can be fully accommodated by the second component along the length of the first component in the longitudinal direction, while only partially accommodated by the second component along the perimeter of the cross-section of the first component.

[0049] Although the sliding system described in the following specification is particularly applicable to connecting a drawer to a cabinet body, it should be understood that the benefits described below are also applicable to other types of furniture or mechanical arrangements that require a sliding interface between two interconnected components.

[0050] From Figure 1a and 1b on, the side plate 201 of the drawer 200 (only partially shown in Figure 1a and 1b ), and the sliding system 100 are shown. The sliding system includes a guide rail 110 and a sliding member 120. The guide rail 110 can be attached to the side plate 201 of the drawer 200 through spaced-through holes by screws, bolts, nails, rivets, or other fastening devices. The attachment of the guide rail 110 to the side plate 201 of the drawer 200 can also be facilitated by an adhesive or mechanical tension built into the shape of the guide rail 110.

[0051] The sliding member 120 can be attached to the inner wall of the cabinet 300 (not shown) by first fastening the sliding member 120 to the bracket 124 and then fastening the bracket 124 to the inner wall of the cabinet 300 (e.g., by fastening means such as the above-mentioned fastening means, such as screws, bolts, nails, rivets, or by adhesives). The portion of the bracket 124 to which the sliding member 120 is attached can protrude in the horizontal direction and is provided with clamping corrugations or other components suitable for attachment (especially for snap-action attachment). The sliding member 120 can be attached by snapping the sliding member 120 onto the bracket 124 and holding it in place by friction of the clamping corrugations. Figure 3a and 3b Figure Figure 3a and Figure 3b further show the bracket 124 provided with the sliding member 120. The bracket 124 can comprise a metal such as aluminum and / or steel. Some regions of the bracket 124, such as the region near the front end of the bracket 124 and / or the region around the rear end of the front portion 123 of the sliding member 120, can be provided with reinforcing grooves 126 or otherwise strengthened as shown in Figures Figure 3a and 3b . Thus, when the drawer 200 is in the closed position, the sliding system 100 is strengthened at the front end, and when in the maximum extended position, it is strengthened at the point corresponding to the rear end of the drawer 200, as shown in Figures Figure 5b and 5c . This increases the load-bearing capacity of the drawer 200 and contributes to a more robust arrangement. As shown in Figure Figure 5b , the front portion 123 is the part of the sliding member 120 facing the drawer front DF of the drawer 200. The front portion 123 is the part of the length of the sliding member 120 that is received by the guide rail 110. For example, as shown in Figures Figure 5b and 5c , when the drawer 200 is in the maximum extended position, the sliding member 120 is located inside the C-shaped guide rail 110, as shown in Figure Figure 4 . Figure 3a and 3b Figure Figure 3a and Figure 3b further show the bracket 124 provided with the sliding member 120. The bracket 124 can comprise a metal such as aluminum and / or steel. Some regions of the bracket 124, such as the region near the front end of the bracket 124 and / or the region around the rear end of the front portion 123 of the sliding member 120, can be provided with reinforcing grooves 126 or otherwise strengthened as shown in Figures Figure 3a and 3b . Thus, when the drawer 200 is in the closed position, the sliding system 100 is strengthened at the front end, and when in the maximum extended position, it is strengthened at the point corresponding to the rear end of the drawer 200, as shown in Figures Figure 5b and 5c . This increases the load-bearing capacity of the drawer 200 and contributes to a more robust arrangement. As shown in Figure Figure 5b , the front portion 123 is the part of the sliding member 120 facing the drawer front DF of the drawer 200. The front portion 123 is the part of the length of the sliding member 120 that is received by the guide rail 110. For example, as shown in Figures Figure 5b and 5c , when the drawer 200 is in the maximum extended position, the sliding member 120 is located inside the C-shaped guide rail 110, as shown in Figure Figure 4 . Figure 5b and 5c Figure Figure 5b and Figure 5c further show the bracket 124 provided with the sliding member 120. The bracket 124 can comprise a metal such as aluminum and / or steel. Some regions of the bracket 124, such as the region near the front end of the bracket 124 and / or the region around the rear end of the front portion 123 of the sliding member 120, can be provided with reinforcing grooves 126 or otherwise strengthened as shown in Figures Figure 3a and 3b . Thus, when the drawer 200 is in the closed position, the sliding system 100 is strengthened at the front end, and when in the maximum extended position, it is strengthened at the point corresponding to the rear end of the drawer 200, as shown in Figures Figure 5b and 5c . This increases the load-bearing capacity of the drawer 200 and contributes to a more robust arrangement. As shown in Figure Figure 5b , the front portion 123 is the part of the sliding member 120 facing the drawer front DF of the drawer 200. The front portion 123 is the part of the length of the sliding member 120 that is received by the guide rail 110. For example, as shown in Figures Figure 5b and 5c , when the drawer 200 is in the maximum extended position, the sliding member 120 is located inside the C-shaped guide rail 110, as shown in Figure Figure 4 . Figure 5b Figure Figure 5b shows that the front portion 123 is the part of the sliding member 120 facing the drawer front DF of the drawer 200. The front portion 123 is the part of the length of the sliding member 120 that is received by the guide rail 110. For example, as shown in Figures Figure 5b and 5c , when the drawer 200 is in the maximum extended position, the sliding member 120 is located inside the C-shaped guide rail 110, as shown in Figure Figure 4 . Figure 5b and 5c Figure Figure 5b and Figure 5c show that when the drawer 200 is in the maximum extended position, the sliding member 120 is located inside the C-shaped guide rail 110, as shown in Figure Figure 4 . Figure 4 Figure Figure 5b and Figure 5c show that when the drawer 200 is in the maximum extended position, the sliding member 120 is located inside the C-shaped guide rail 110, as shown in Figure Figure 4 .

[0052] Returning to Figure 1a and 1b, the illustrated embodiment of the sliding system further includes a drawer stop 130 and a stop member 125. The drawer stop 130 is configured to be attached to the drawer 200 (e.g., by penetrating the drawer 200). The stop member 125 preferably forms part of the bracket 124 and is configured to receive the drawer stop 130 when in the fully extended position. The drawer stop 130 may comprise a plastic material, and the stop member 125 may be made of the same material as the bracket 124. The shape of the drawer stop 130 may correspond to that of the stop member 125 such that they taper, for example, at substantially the same angle. The drawer stop 130 and the stop member 125 are configured to prevent further movement of the guide rail 110 relative to the sliding member 120 beyond the movement required to reach the fully pulled-out position (corresponding to the fully extended position). In other words, the drawer stop 130 and the stop member 125 are configured to ensure that when the guide rail 110 and the sliding member 120 are connected, the front portion 123 of the sliding member 120 is always received by the guide rail 110.

[0053] The sliding member 120 may be made of a plastic, preferably a plastic containing a polymer having a polar group. More preferably, the polar group is selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group, a carboxylic acid group, an amide group, a halide group, a sulfide group, a cyano group (nitrile group), a urethane group, an aldehyde group, and / or a ketone group. More specifically, the sliding member 120 may be made of a plastic containing a polymer selected from the group consisting of polymers: polyoxymethylene (POM), polyesters (e.g., thermoplastic polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), and polylactic acid (PLA)), and bio-based thermoplastic polyesters such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), and polyethylene furandicarboxylate (PEF)); polyamides (PA); polyvinyl chloride (PVC); polyphenylene sulfide (PPS); polyaryletherketones (PAEK, e.g., polyetheretherketone (PEEK)); and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

[0054] The guide rail 110 may be made of metal, preferably provided with a coating. The guide rail may comprise, for example, aluminum and / or steel. The coating may be provided by electrocoating, auto-deposition in a bath containing a paint, powder coating, electrostatic coating with a powder paint, wet spraying, Honny process or a derivative process thereof, or other suitable processes. The coating may be a paint. In an alternative embodiment, the guide rail 110 may be made of a plastic such as polyamide or polyester.

[0055] Now turning to Figure 2a and 2b, shows the guide rail 110 in more detail. The guide rail 110 can be formed as a C-shaped groove configured to completely or partially surround the sliding member 120. The C-shaped groove can accommodate (i.e., hold) the sliding member 120. The sliding surfaces 111a, 111b of the guide rail 110 can be the upper surface 111a and the lower surface 111b of the groove, positioned vertically apart from each other. Preferably, such upper and lower sliding surfaces 111a, b are arranged in parallel. In such an embodiment, the two sliding surfaces 111a, 111b are arranged on opposite sides of the guide rail 110 having a substantially C-shaped cross-section.

[0056] The guide rail 110 can also be provided with more sliding surfaces, such as a distal sliding surface 111c extending vertically between the upper and lower sliding surfaces 111a, 111b. Similarly, referring to Figure 2c , the sliding member 120 can be provided with engagement surfaces 121a, 121b, which are designed to be arranged in parallel and aligned with the sliding surfaces 111a, 111b. As Figure 2c shown, and as will be further described with reference to Figure 4 , the engagement surfaces 111a, 111b are provided with protrusions 122a, 122b. Each sliding surface 111a, 111b can be provided with two protrusions, namely a first protrusion 122a and a second protrusion 122b. The upper engagement surface 121a is shown as having a first protrusion and a second protrusion 122a, 122b that extend vertically upward to form a sliding engagement with the upper sliding surface 111a of the guide rail 110. The lower engagement surface 121b is shown as having a first protrusion and a second protrusion 122a, 122b that extend vertically downward to form a sliding engagement with the bottom sliding surface 111b of the guide rail 110. The sliding member 120 can also be provided with an optional engagement surface, such as a distal engagement surface 121c for sliding engagement with the distal sliding surface 111c. The flange of the guide rail 110 facing the drawer 200 when connected can be bent to avoid sharp edges and provide guidance for the sliding member 120 when the sliding member 120 is inserted into the guide rail 110.

[0057] The sliding surfaces 111a, 111b longitudinally extend along at least 80% of the length of the guide rail 110. Preferably, the sliding surfaces 111a, 111b longitudinally extend along the entire length of the guide rail 110.

[0058] Figure 4 shows a cross-section of the sliding system 100 during installation. As Figure 4As shown, the C-shaped groove of the guide rail 110 at least partially surrounds the sliding member 120. Thus, the C-shaped groove of the guide rail 110 accommodates the sliding member 120. A low-friction sliding interface is achieved through the sliding engagement between the engaging surfaces 121a, 121b of the sliding member 120 and the sliding surfaces 111a, 111b of the guide rail 110 via the first protrusion and the second protrusions 122a, 122b. It should be noted that although Figure 4 the shown embodiment (also see Figure 2c ) has two protrusions 122a, 122b provided on each of the engaging surfaces 121a, 121b, the sliding interface can also be achieved through other embodiments, such as only the first protrusion 122a on each of the engaging surfaces 121a, 121b, or more than two protrusions on each of the engaging surfaces 121a, 121b, or protrusions on more than two engaging surfaces 121a, 121b. More than one protrusion 122a, 122b on each of the engaging surfaces 121a, 121b can contribute to a more durable sliding system that is less sensitive to strain and long-term wear. As Figure 4 shown, the protrusions 122a, 122b can be vertical protrusions. This can be particularly applicable if the sliding surfaces 111a, 111b are the upper and lower surfaces and the protrusions protrude in the upper vertical direction and the lower vertical direction. It should be understood that the protrusions 122a, 122b can also protrude well in other directions (e.g., the horizontal direction, the angled direction between the vertical direction and the horizontal direction, or a combination thereof). Horizontal protrusions (not shown) can be adapted to be provided on the distal engaging surface for sliding engagement with the distal sliding surface 111c as described above.

[0059] As Figure 2c , 4 and 7a shown, the protrusions 122a, 122b have a triangular cross-sectional shape. Preferably, the protrusions 122a, 122b have sharp outer tips as Figure 2c , 4 and 7 shown. This provides a small contact surface between the protrusions 122a, 122b and the sliding surfaces 111a, 111b, which reduces the friction during sliding. In addition, the first protrusion and / or the second protrusions 122a, 122b can be arranged as a blade extending in the longitudinal direction.

[0060] In some other embodiments, the first protrusion 122a and / or the second protrusion 122b may taper in the vertical direction, having a narrower outer end in contact with the sliding surfaces 111a, 111b and a less narrow end adjacent to the engagement surfaces 121a, 121b. For example, as an alternative to a triangular cross-section, the protrusions 122a, 122b may have a frustum, cone, curved cone, truncated pyramid, curved or circular pyramid, conical cube, conical cylinder or hemisphere cross-section.

[0061] Although Figure 4 not explicitly shown therein, for example in Figure 3a and 3b the first protrusion 122a and / or the second protrusion 122b preferably extends along at least 75% of the length of the front portion 123 of the sliding member 120. The front portion 123 is herein defined as the portion of the sliding member 120 received by the guide rail 110 when the sliding system 100 is arranged in the maximum extension position. In other words, in the maximum extension position, each of the first protrusion 122a and / or the second protrusion 122b preferably extends along at least 75% of the length LF of that portion of the sliding member 120 received by the guide rail 110 in the maximum extension position.

[0062] In the maximum extension position, a portion of the length of the sliding member 120 is completely received, i.e., surrounded, by the guide rail 110. That portion of the length of the sliding member 120 surrounded by the guide rail 110 in the maximum extension position is referred to as the front portion 123 of the sliding member 120. Thus, when the drawer 200 is arranged in the maximum extension position, the portion of the sliding member 120 received by the guide rail 110 is the front portion 123.

[0063] Furthermore, each of the first protrusion 122a and / or the second protrusion 122b may extend along at least 75% of the length LF of the front portion 123 of the sliding member 120. In other words, each of the first protrusion 122a and / or the second protrusion 122b may extend along at least 75% of the length of the portion of the sliding member 120 received by the guide rail 110 (i.e., the front portion 123) in the maximum extension position.

[0064] Preferably, each of the first protrusion 122a and / or the second protrusion 122b extends along the entire length LF of the front portion 123 of the sliding member 120. The protrusions 122a, 122b may even extend further, for example along the entire length of the sliding member 120. The continuous extended sliding interface between the protrusions 122a, 122b and the corresponding sliding surfaces 111a, 111b is advantageous in many respects. The operation of the drawer 200 will be smoother and more robust compared to having a plurality of non-continuous interfaces, as there are no joints sensitive to misalignment and no friction variations. Since fewer components are required to form the continuous interface, the manufacturing process is also less complex and more cost-effective.

[0065] Return to Figure 4 ,each of the sliding surfaces 111a, 111b is shown as including longitudinally extending ridges 112. The ridges 112 are positioned outside the first protrusions 122a such that the latter are positioned and locked inside the ridges 112, preventing the sliding member 120 from moving outwardly from the guide rail 110 and thus preventing the sliding system 100 from separating during use. The ridges 112 may have a circular shape to facilitate the smooth insertion of the sliding member 120 into the guide rail 110, such insertion typically occurring by sliding the guide rail 110 longitudinally onto the sliding member 120. Although Figure 4 the illustrated embodiment shows two protrusions 122a, 122b and one ridge 112 at each interface between the respective engaging surfaces 121a, 121b and the corresponding sliding surfaces 111a, 111b, it should be noted that more combinations are possible. For example, there may be more ridges 112 on each of the sliding surfaces 111a, 111b such that some or all of the protrusions 122a, 122b in the interface are surrounded by ridges 112 on both sides. As described above, each of the engaging surfaces 121a, 121b may also include more protrusions, and there may be more than two engaging surfaces 121a, 121b and sliding surfaces 111a, 111b. More than one ridge 112 may contribute to a higher tolerance to loads and stresses.

[0066] The sliding system 100 including the ridges 112 (such as Figure 4 the sliding system shown) is particularly advantageous for use in a cabinet 300 or similar furniture having a tendency to bulge. The relationship between the distance D (i.e., the preferred horizontal c-c distance between two adjacent protrusions 122a, 122b) and the width of the ridge 112 corresponds to the lateral movement tolerance of the sliding member 120 relative to the guide rail 110 and thus to the lateral movement tolerance of the drawer 200 relative to the cabinet 300. Additional determining factors are the size of the sliding member 120 and the horizontal depth of the guide rail 110. The distance D may, for example, exceed the width of the ridge 112 by 0.3 mm or 0.9 mm. The horizontal movement tolerance may, for example, be + / - 0.3 mm or +0.9 / -0.8 mm. If the drawer 200 is provided with a sliding system 100 on each side, the distance D between the first and second protrusions 122a, b on one side of the drawer 200 may be greater. Thereby, a simpler design is achieved.

[0067] Figure 5aShows the sliding system 100 in the fully closed position. The sliding member 120 is preferably fully received by the guide rail 110. However, in some embodiments, when the sliding system is in the fully closed position, the guide rail 110 may be slightly shorter than the sliding member 120 at the front portion FS of the drawer 200, whereby the foremost portion of the sliding member 120 will not be received by the guide rail 110. Such a configuration would mean that the guide rail 110 does not extend along the entire front portion FS, i.e., it terminates at a certain distance from the drawer front DF.

[0068] As Figure 5b shown, the front portion 123 of the sliding member 120 faces the drawer front DF. Thus, the front portion 123 is referred to as the front portion of the sliding member 120. Figure 5b Shows how the length LF of the front portion 123 is still received within the guide rail 110, while the remaining portion of the sliding member 120 extends outside the drawer 200 and the guide rail 110 and is thus not received within the guide rail 110. Thus, when the drawer 200 is in the maximum extension position relative to the cabinet 300, the front portion 123 of the sliding member 120 having the length LF is fully received by the guide rail 110 along the length LF extending in the longitudinal direction.

[0069] In Figure 5b and 5c the sliding system 100 is shown in the maximum extension position. Here, the sliding member 120 preferably protrudes beyond the guide rail 110 to a certain extent at the rear of the drawer 200. However, in some embodiments, the protrusions 122a, 122b of the sliding member 120 may be fully received by the guide rail 110 since they extend across the entire front portion 123. In other embodiments, the protrusions 122a, 122b of the sliding member 120 may extend beyond the drawer 200, for example, they also extend along the portion of the sliding member that protrudes beyond the guide rail 110.

[0070] The front portion 123 of the sliding member 120 has a length LF (see Figure 5b ), which defines the portion of the sliding member 120 that is surrounded or received by the guide rail 110 when the drawer 200 is opened to the maximum extent corresponding to the maximum extension position. Thus, the guide rail 110 fully receives the front portion 123 of the sliding member 120 along its length in the maximum extension position.

[0071] The expression "fully received" herein refers to the reception related to the length LF of the front portion 123. As Figure 5bAs shown, when the drawer 200 is opened to the maximum extent corresponding to the maximum extension position, the length LF of the front portion 123 is completely accommodated by the guide rail 110, that is, the entire length LF of the front portion 123 is surrounded / accommodated by the guide rail 110. Therefore, the expression "completely accommodate" does not refer to accommodating the perimeter of the cross-section of the front portion 123, but rather to completely accommodating in the longitudinal direction, that is, accommodating the portion of the sliding member 120 that forms the length LF of the front portion 123. As Figure 4 shown, the guide rail 110 only partially surrounds the perimeter of the cross-section of the sliding member 120. In Figure 4 , as shown in the cross-sectional view, three of the four sides of the sliding member 120 are accommodated by the guide rail 110.

[0072] Furthermore, at the maximum extension position of the drawer 200, the front portion 123 can contact the guide rail 110 along its length LF, and the exact degree of such contact depends on the load and load distribution of the drawer.

[0073] Therefore, the sliding system 100 includes a guide rail 110 and a sliding member 120. The guide rail 110 and the sliding member 120 extend longitudinally and are configured to form a connection between the drawer 200 and the associated cabinet 300 together. The guide rail 110 is provided with two sliding surfaces 111a, 111b, and the sliding member 120 is provided with two engaging surfaces 121a, 121b. Each of the two engaging surfaces 121a, 121b includes a first protrusion 122a, and the first protrusion 122a is configured to slidably engage with the corresponding sliding surfaces 111a, b. The guide rail 110 and the sliding member 120 are longitudinally movable relative to each other between a closed position corresponding to the drawer 200 relative to the cabinet 300 and a maximum extension position corresponding to the drawer 200 relative to the cabinet 300, and wherein at the maximum extension position, each of the first protrusions 122a extends along at least 75% of the length LF of the sliding member 120 that is accommodated by the guide rail 110 at the maximum extension position.

[0074] Turning Figure 6 , a drawer cabinet 1000 is shown. The drawer cabinet 1000 is shown as including a cabinet 300 forming a fixed frame and three drawers 200. Each drawer 200 is slidably connected to the cabinet 300 by a sliding system 100 on each side, such that each drawer can be pulled out of the cabinet 300 in the horizontal direction. In Figure 6 , the bottom drawer 200 is shown in the closed position, and the top drawer 200 has been pulled out to the maximum extension position.

[0075] In Figure 7a to 7c, possible modifications of the sliding member 120 are shown. In Figure 7aIn [description], the sliding member 120 is provided with five protrusions 122 on the upper and lower engagement surfaces 121a, 121b. Another protrusion 122c is arranged at the distal engagement surface 121c.

[0076] In Figure 7b [description], the upper and lower engagement surfaces 121a, 121b are provided with only a single protrusion 122. Another protrusion 122c is arranged at the distal engagement surface 121c.

[0077] In an alternative embodiment not shown in the drawings, the sliding member 120 is completely received by the guide rail 110 at the maximum extended position of the drawer 200, which would mean that the front portion 123 of the sliding member 120 actually constitutes the entire length of the sliding member 120. In other words, in such an alternative embodiment, the length LF of the front portion 123 is equal to the length of the entire sliding member 120. Therefore, in such an alternative embodiment, the entire length of the sliding member 120 is completely received by the guide rail 110 at the maximum extended position.

[0078] It should be noted that the inventive concept is in no way limited to the embodiments described herein, and several modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, the term "comprising / including" does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps. Additionally, although the individual features may be included in different claims, these individual features can be advantageously combined, and including them in different claims does not imply that the combination of features is infeasible and / or disadvantageous. Also, a singular reference does not exclude a plural. The terms "a", "an", "first", "second", etc. do not exclude a plurality. The reference signs in the claims are provided only as illustrative examples for clarification and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims in any way.

Claims

1. A sliding system (100) comprising a guide rail (110) and a sliding member (120), the guide rail (110) and the sliding member (120) extending longitudinally and configured to together form a connection between a drawer (200) and an associated cabinet (300), wherein the guide rail (110) is provided with two sliding surfaces (111a, 111b), wherein the sliding member (120) is provided with two engaging surfaces (121a, 121b), each of the two engaging surfaces (121a, 121b) including a first protrusion (122a) configured for sliding engagement with a corresponding sliding surface (111a, b), wherein the guide rail (110) and the sliding member (120) are longitudinally movable relative to each other between a closed position of the drawer (200) relative to the cabinet (300) and a maximum extension position of the drawer (200) relative to the cabinet (300), wherein in the maximum extension position, the front portion (123) of the sliding member (120) is fully received by the guide rail (110), and wherein each of the first protrusions (122a) extends along at least 75% of the length (LF) of the front portion (123) of the sliding member (120).

2. The sliding system (100) according to claim 1, wherein the sliding surfaces (111a, 111b) extend longitudinally along at least 80% of the length of the guide rail (110).

3. The sliding system (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein in the closed position, the sliding member (120) is fully received by the guide rail (110).

4. The sliding system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein in the maximum extension position, the sliding member (120) partially protrudes beyond the guide rail (110).

5. The sliding system (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the two sliding surfaces (111a, b) are positioned at a vertical distance from each other, preferably, the two sliding surfaces (111a, 111b) are arranged on opposite sides of a guide rail (110) having a substantially C-shaped cross-section.

6. The sliding system (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first protrusion (122a) is a vertical protrusion of the engaging surfaces (121a, b).

7. The sliding system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the sliding surfaces (111a, 111b) comprises a longitudinally extending ridge (112) configured to prevent lateral movement of the sliding member (120), preferably each of the sliding surfaces (111a, 111b) comprises the longitudinally extending ridge (112), and / or wherein at least one of the first protrusions (122a) is disposed inside the longitudinally extending ridge (112) to resist lateral removal of the sliding member (120) from the guide rail (110), and / or the ridge (112) extends along at least 75% of the length of the first protrusion (122a).

8. The sliding system (100) according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the engagement surfaces (121a, b) comprises a second protrusion (122b) configured to be arranged facing the ridge (112) of the sliding surface (111a, b) relative to the first protrusion (122a) when the guide rail (110) is connected to the sliding member (120), preferably both of the engagement surfaces (121a, b) comprise the second protrusion (122b).

9. The sliding system (100) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the guide rail (110) and the sliding member (120) together form a left connection between the drawer (200) and the associated cabinet (300), wherein the sliding system (100) further comprises an additional guide rail (110) and an additional sliding member (120), the additional guide rail (110) and the additional sliding member (120) extending longitudinally and configured to together form a right connection between the drawer (200) and the associated cabinet (300), wherein at least one sliding surface (111a, 111b) of each guide rail (110) comprises a longitudinally extending ridge (112) configured to prevent lateral movement of the associated sliding member (120), preferably each of the sliding surfaces (111a, 111b) of each guide rail (110) comprises the longitudinally extending ridge (112), and / or wherein at least one of the first protrusions (122a) of each sliding member (120) is disposed inside the longitudinally extending ridge (112) to resist lateral removal of each sliding member (120) from the associated guide rail (110), and / or the ridge (112) of each guide rail (110) extends along at least 75% of the length of the first protrusion (122a) of the associated sliding member (120).

10. The sliding system (100) according to claims 8 and 9, wherein the distance (D) between the first and second protrusions (122a, b) of one guide rail (110) is greater than the distance (D) between the first and second protrusions (122a, b) of the other guide rail (110).

11. The sliding system (100) according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein at least one of the second protrusions (122b) extends along at least 75% of the length of the front portion (123) of the sliding member (120), and / or the ridge (112) extends along at least 75% of the length of the sliding surfaces (111a, b).

12. The sliding system (100) according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the horizontal distance (D) between the first and second protrusions (122a, b) exceeds the width of the ridge (112) by 0.1 mm to 1.5 mm.

13. The sliding system (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least a part of the sliding member (120) is made of plastic, preferably at least the two mating surfaces (121a, 121b) are made of plastic.

14. The sliding system (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the guide rail (110) is made of metal and provided with a coating.

15. The sliding system according to claim 13, wherein at least a part of the guide rail (110) is made of plastic, preferably at least the two sliding surfaces (111a, 111b) of the guide rail (110) are made of plastic, and more preferably, the two sliding surfaces (111a, 111b) of the guide rail (110) are made of a plastic different from the plastic making the two mating surfaces (121a, 121b) of the at least sliding member (120).

16. The sliding system (100) according to claim 14, wherein the coating is paint.

17. The sliding system (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the longitudinal length of the sliding member (120) is 50% to 90% of the longitudinal length of the guide rail (110), preferably 60% to 80%.

18. The sliding system (100) according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a drawer stopper (130) and a stop member (125), the stop member (125) being configured to receive the drawer stopper (130) at the maximum extension position and prevent further movement of the guide rail (110) relative to the sliding member (120).

19. A chest of drawers (1000) comprising a cabinet body (300), at least one drawer (200) and at least two sliding systems (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein two of the at least two sliding systems (100) are arranged on opposite sides of each drawer (200).

20. The drawer cabinet according to claim 19, when dependent on any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein a distance (D) between the first protrusion and the second protrusion (122a, b) on one side of each drawer (200) is greater than a distance (D) on the other side.

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