Drawer system for space efficiency and convenience

Abstract

Nested ceiling set of drawer support members 19,20 for supporting movable drawers 27,28, connecting to drawer runners 3,4,5; nested floor set of drawer support members 21,22 for supporting movable dra

Description

The present invention relates to, but not exclusively, to a drawer system for space efficiency and convenience. Prior art drawer systems or filing cabinets often comprise drawers that slide in or out on drawer runners attached to their outermost carcasses or housings and extend so that their contents may be perused generally from above or in front of the drawers. However, when such drawers are disposed at inconveniently high or low positions, such as, bottom or top drawers, the contents often cannot so easily be perused requiring bending or ladders or, where available space is limited for front access, perusal from the sides of the drawers often being awkward especially for elderly or infirm users. Moreover, the top or uppermost drawers of such drawer systems become increasingly uncomfortable or inaccessible for users to easily use, or simply unusable as they approach the ceilings since the spaces or access required for such spaces, for perusal or removal or deposit of contents, becomes increasingly unavailable or difficult due to the obstructions of ceilings. Moreover, drawers in general become more difficult to use or are unusable when situated close to or very close to ceilings respectively. Generally, users are usually most comfortable when using drawers at typical average or waist or chest heights. Moreover, where space is restricted or limited, such as in homes or offices or on ships or aircraft or narrow corridors, it is often difficult to comfortably open drawers or easily peruse their contents particularly from in front of drawers or when drawers are quite deep, or particularly in busy areas where many people may share limited spaces. Moreover, drawers are sometimes difficult to open or jam caused by heavy contents and or general wear and tear often due to friction in the sliding mechanisms. Moreover, prior art systems include movable drawers wherein drawers may be moved vertically either from low to high or high to low positions generally for convenience of access for example at waist or chest heights. Moreover, such moveable drawers are often not compact. It is an object of the present invention to alleviate one or more of the above-mentioned problems and to provide a drawer system wherein drawers can be conveniently accessed at substantially average waist or chest heights and arranged to be compact and make effective use of spaces even up to ceilings and enabling better distribution of loads by way of wider drawers with shorter front to back drawer depths thereby reducing jamming problems. The present invention comprises a drawer system that includes pairs of drawer support members for supporting a corresponding movable drawer, said pairs and corresponding drawers being arranged in a nested configuration for allowing individual drawers to be opened and moved to convenient access positions by users, said members connecting to at least one pair of drawer runners mounted in a housing, said members each include a railway of a railway and carriage linear guide means for guiding said drawer during motions and movably coupling said drawer support member to said drawer, said railway being disposed substantially along the length of the said member, said railway having a slide-ably movable carriage engaged therein and said carriage being disposed on the proximal end of said corresponding drawer, said railway and carriage being arranged so as to slide-ably engage with each other for providing linear guiding of said drawer during motions, said members each also include a rack of a rack and pinion system for damping said corresponding drawer during motions, said rack being disposed substantially along the length of the said member, said rack having one or more rotatable movable pinion engaged therein and said pinion being disposed on the proximal end of said corresponding drawer, said rack and said pinion being arranged so as to rotate-ably engage with each other for providing damping of said drawer during motions, the said drawer support member further includes a constant force extension spring for providing forces to aid drawer movements, said spring having at least one first spring part connected to said drawer support member, and at least one second spring part connected to said movable drawer, the said first and said second parts being arranged such that said forces act between said drawer and said drawer support member during movements of said drawer for aiding drawer movements. The outermost pair of said support members may include a first and second pair of drawer runners connected to the housing and being spaced apart for additional stability. The inner pairs of said support members may include suitable spacing portions disposed between the ends of said support members and their corresponding drawer runners for enabling the drawers to be nested. The said drawer system may include a ceiling set of nested pairs of drawer support members that extend from a central housing region towards a ceiling region of said housing, each support member having a corresponding said first spring part formed of a spring storage bobbin mounted thereon, said bobbin being disposed proximal to the said ceiling region of said housing. The said drawer system may include a floor set of nested pairs of drawer support members that extend from a central housing region towards a floor region of said housing, each corresponding drawer having a said second spring part formed of a spring storage bobbin mounted thereon. The said drawer system may include a said ceiling set and a said floor set of nested pairs of drawer support members. It will become immediately apparent to suitably skilled persons that variations are possible within the scope of the invention as described. For example, the rack and pinion systems may be replaced by smooth wheel and friction wheels or any other similar system for providing substantially similar effects or function. The spring may be replaced by a cord winder and cord or any other suitable alternative for providing powered lift assist during movement of the drawer. The drawer runners could be mounted on the walls of an alcove as a housing. The support members and drawers may be incorporated into other items of furniture for example wardrobes. Moreover, in a low-cost embodiment the drawer support members may consist only of the linear guide railways and racks with the additional components being mounted thereon. By way of example, a specific embodiment in accordance with the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 shows a front view of a drawer system 1 comprising: housing 2; conventional chest and waist drawers 29,30; a ceiling set of nested moveable drawers namely head 27, shoulder 28, and a floor set of nested movable drawers namely knee 31, foot 32; drawer support members 19-22; drawer runners 3-10; spacers 11-18 and 23; railway carriages 38; constant force extension spring housing or spring storage bobbins 33; spring ribbons 40; ribbon connectors 37; direction arrows A and B. Figure 2 shows a partial cross section of cabinet 1 as viewed from direction A as shown in figure 1, extended drawer runners 3,4; drawer support member 19; constant force extension spring housing or spring storage bobbin 33; linear guide railway 34; toothed rack 35. Figure 3 shows a side elevation of drawer 27 as viewed from direction B shown in figure 1, showing drawer having front billet 27; ribbon connector 37; drawer box 36; railway carriage 38; toothed cog or pinion 39. Figure 4 shows a partial cross sectional side elevation of cabinet 1 as viewed from direction A as shown in figure 1, showing: housing 2; extended runners 3,4; drawer support member 19; head drawer having front billet 27; head drawer box 36, the box being drawn transparently with dashed lines so as to be able to see attachments on the distal side proximal to drawer support member 19; constant force extension spring housing or spring storage bobbin 33; Linear guide Railway 34; Toothed rack 35; constant force extension spring tape or ribbon connector 37; linear guide railway carriage 38; toothed cog or pinion 39; Constant force extension spring tape or ribbon 40 partly extended from its storage bobbin 33. Figure 5 shows a partial cross sectional side elevation of cabinet 1 as viewed from direction A as shown in figure 1, showing: housing 2; extended runners 3,4; drawer support member 19; head drawer having front billet 27; head drawer box 36 for storing payloads, the box being drawn transparently with dashed lines so as to be able to see attachments on the distal side proximal to drawer support member 19; constant force extension spring housing or spring storage bobbin 33; Linear guide railway 34; Toothed rack 35; constant force extension spring tape or ribbon connector 37; linear guide railway carriage 38; toothed cog or pinion 39; Constant force extension spring tape or ribbon 40 extended from its storage bobbin 33. Figure 6 shows a partial cross sectional side elevation of cabinet 1 as viewed from direction A as shown in figure 1, showing: housing 2; extended runner 8; drawer support member 21; knee drawer having front billet 31; drawer box 36 being drawn transparently with dashed lines so as to be able to see attachments on the distal side proximal to drawer support member 21; constant force extension spring housing or spring storage bobbin 33; Linear guide railway 34; Toothed rack 35; constant force extension spring tape or ribbon connector 37; linear guide railway carriage 38; toothed cog or pinion 39; Constant force extension spring tape or ribbon 40 extended from its storage bobbin 33. Figure 7 shows a partial cross sectional side elevation of cabinet 1 as viewed from direction A as shown in figure 1, showing: housing 2; extended runner 8; drawer support member 21; knee drawer having front billet 31; knee drawer box 36 drawn transparently with dashed lines so as to be able to see attachments on the distal side proximal to drawer support member 21; constant force extension spring housing or spring storage bobbin 33; Linear guide railway 34; Toothed rack 35; constant force extension spring tape or ribbon connector 37; toothed cog or pinion 39; Constant force extension spring tape or ribbon 40 partly extended from its storage bobbin 33. Figure 8 shows knee drawer 31 as viewed from direction B shown in figure 1, showing drawer having front billet 31; drawer box 36; constant force extension spring housing or spring storage bobbin 33; railway carriage 38; toothed cog or pinion 39. Note that indicated components 1-26 and 33-40 in figure 1 have corresponding complementary or matching opposite counterparts present on the other side of cabinet 1. Also note that in figure 1 parts with the same shading are connected together or directly or indirectly communicate with each other. Regions with different shadings are coupled only via carriages 38, ribbons 40 and pinions 39 (pinions not shown in figure 1, see figures 3,4,5,7). As shown in figure 1, filing cabinet 1 comprises a housing 2; conventional chest and waist drawers 29,30; a ceiling set of nested moveable drawers namely head 27, shoulder 28, and a floor set of nested movable drawers knee 31, foot 32; drawer support members 19-22; drawer runners 3-10; spacers 11-18 and 23; railway carriages 38; constant force extension spring housing or spring storage bobbins 33; spring ribbons 40; ribbon connectors 37; direction arrows A and B. Drawer runners 3,4 are spaced apart and connect the outermost pair of nested movable drawers of the ceiling set to the housing. Drawer runners 9,10 are spaced apart and connect the outermost pair of nested movable drawers of the floor set to the housing. Spacers 11,13,17,23 (figure 1) connect head, shoulder, knee and foot drawers 27,28,31,32 respectively via railway carriages 38 which carriages engage with railways 34 (see figures 2,4,5 for railway corresponding to head drawer 27, figures 6,7 corresponding to knee drawer 31), the carriages being movably or slid-ably coupled to support member 19-22 respectively. Bobbins 33 are mounted proximal to a ceiling region of the housing on spacers 12,14 and respective ribbons 40 connect to corresponding ribbon connection points 37 mounted on drawer box 36 of drawers having front billets 27,28. A bobbin 33 is mounted proximal to a floor region of the housing on spacer 18 of foot drawer 32, and another bobbin 33 is mounted proximal to the floor region on drawer box 36 of knee drawer 31 and respective corresponding ribbons 40 connect to corresponding ribbon connection points 37 which are mounted on corresponding drawer supports 21,22. As shown in figures 2,4,5 when head drawer having front billet 27 is pulled out from housing 2, runners 3,4 are extended and the entire drawer support member 19 and associated moveable drawer 27 emerge from the housing 2. As shown in figure 2, cabinet 1, as viewed from direction A as shown in figure 1, includes: housing 2 having attached and extended drawer runners 3,4; drawer support member 19 attached to runners 3,4; constant force extension spring housing or spring storage bobbin 33 attached to drawer support member 19; linear guide railway 34 attached to drawer support member 19; toothed rack 35 attached to drawer support member 19. As shown in figures 1,4,5,6,7,9,11 the constant force extension spring ribbon 40 is preferably comprised of a roll of memory metal tape or ribbon that has been conditioned to return to its coiled state when free. The railway 34 seen in figures 2,4,5,6,7,9 is preferably of a high-quality type as typically used in the airline industry. Pinion cogs 39 are preferably of the unidirectional damped type arranged so as to substantially oppose or damp the pull of the spring ribbons 40 so that unloaded or lightly loaded do not move excessively or violently. The railways 34 preferably contain steel rods and the carriages 38 preferably contain complimentary shaped wheels designed to fit very snugly therein, thereby providing excellent linear guiding of the drawer when in motion. As can be seen in figure 3 head drawer having front billet 27 as viewed from direction B shown in figure 1, front billet 27 is attached to drawer box 36; ribbon connector 37 is attached to box 36; railway carriage 38 is attached to box 36; toothed cog or pinion 39 is rotate-ably attached to box 36. Drawers 27,28 (figure 1) are substantially similar or identical to each other as shown in figure 3. Drawers 31,32 (figure 1) are substantially similar or identical to each other as shown in figure 8. The carriage 38 and pinion 39 shown in figure 3 are for connecting or engaging with corresponding complementarity parts railway 34, rack 35 mounted on drawer support members 19,20 (see figure 1 and arrow A). As can be seen in figure 8, foot drawer having front billet 31 as viewed from direction B shown in figure 1, front billet 31 is attached to drawer box 36; ribbon connector 37 is attached to box 36; railway carriage 38 is attached to box 36; toothed cog or pinion 39 is rotate-ably attached to box 36. The carriage 38 and pinion 39 shown in figure 8 are for connecting or engaging with corresponding complementarity parts railway 34, rack 35 mounted on drawer support members 21,22 (see figure 1 and arrow A). Specifically toothed pinions or cogs 39 on the drawer box 36 engage with racks 35, and carriages 38 engage with the carriage slot of railways 34. As seen in figure 4 which shows a partial cross sectional side elevation of cabinet 1 as viewed from direction A as shown in figure 1, showing: housing 2; extended runners 3,4; drawer support member 19; head drawer proximal a ceiling region having front billet 27 attached to head drawer box 36 for storing payloads, the box being drawn transparently with dashed lines so as to be able to see attachments on the distal side proximal to drawer support member 19, the drawer being in a first undeployed head position; spring storage bobbin 33 attached to drawer support member 19; Linear guide railway 34 attached to drawer support member 19; Toothed rack 35 attached to drawer support member 19; constant force extension spring tape or ribbon connector 37 attached to box 36 on side proximal to drawer support member 19; linear guide railway carriage 38 attached to box 36 on side proximal to drawer support member 19 is movably coupled to or snugly and slide-ably engaged inside slot of railway 34, carriage 38 being in a first undeployed head position; toothed cog or pinion 39 is rotate-ably attached to side of box 36 proximal to drawer support member 19, cog 39 being movably coupled to or rotate-ably engaged with rack 35; Constant force extension spring tape or ribbon 40 is partly extended from its storage bobbin 33 in a first undeployed head position, the ribbon 40 being connected at its free end to connector 37 for providing lift assist or support during movements or support during perusal of drawer contents. As can be seen in figure 5 which shows a partial cross sectional side elevation of cabinet 1 as viewed from direction A as shown in figure 1, showing: housing 2; extended runners 3,4; drawer support member 19; head drawer having front billet 27 attached to head drawer box 36 for storing payloads, the box being drawn transparently with dashed lines so as to be able to see attachments on the distal side proximal to drawer support member 19, the drawer being in a second deployed chest position; spring storage bobbin 33 attached to drawer support member 19; Linear guide railway 34 attached to drawer support member 19; Toothed rack 35 attached to drawer support member 19; constant force extension spring tape or ribbon connector 37 attached to box 36 on side proximal to drawer support member 19; linear guide railway carriage 38 attached to box 36 on side proximal to drawer support member 19 is movably coupled to or snugly and slide-ably engaged inside slot of railway 34, carriage 38 being in a second deployed chest position; toothed cog or pinion 39 is rotateably attached to side of box 36 proximal to drawer support member 19, cog 39 being movably coupled to or rotate ably engaged with rack 35; Constant force extension spring tape or ribbon 40 extended from its storage bobbin 33 in a second deployed chest position, the ribbon 40 being connected at its free end to connector 37 for providing lift assist or support during movements or support during perusal of drawer contents. Note that in this embodiment the pinion cogs 39 preferably have a unidirectional damping feature deployed in such a way such that lightly loaded drawers do not spring up under the tension of the spring, rather their motion is more sedate or controlled and smoothed thereby also providing a luxury feel. In use, users grip and pull down the head drawer from its first undeployed head position (figure 4) towards its second deployed chest position (figure 5), the carriage 38 smoothly slides or glides along the railway 34 whilst simultaneously the cog 39 spins and runs along the rack 35 and tension is substantially sustained by the constant force spring ribbon 40, connected to drawer box 36, is extended. Since the direction of pull is aligned with the weight of the drawer and any contents, this is comfortably achieved. When the drawer arrives at its second deployed chest position (figure 5) the interior of the drawer can easily and comfortably be accessed from in front of the drawer 27, being at a comfortable chest height. When finished the user simply releases or pushes up the head drawer. Note the spring tension provides a welcome lift assist. Note that because the drawer is only connected to the drawer support member via only 3 connection points namely the cog 39, carriage 38 and ribbon 40, friction is thereby minimized and jamming is less of an issue. The shoulder drawer 28 is operated in a substantially identical manner as the head drawer T1. As can be seen in figure 6 which shows a partial cross sectional side elevation of cabinet 1 as viewed from direction A as shown in figure 1, showing: housing 2; extended runner 8 attached to housing 2; drawer support member 21 attached to runner 8; knee drawer having front billet 31 attached to knee drawer box 36 for storing payloads, the box 36 being drawn transparently with dashed lines so as to be able to see attachments on the distal side proximal to drawer support member 21, the drawer being in a first undeployed knee position; spring storage bobbin 33 attached to knee drawer box 36; Linear guide railway 34 attached to drawer support member 21; Toothed rack 35 attached to drawer support member 21; constant force extension spring tape or ribbon connector 37 attached to drawer support member 21; linear guide railway carriage 38 attached to box 36 on side proximal to drawer support member 21 and snugly engaged inside track-way of railway 34, carriage 38 being in a first undeployed knee position; toothed cog or pinion 39 rotate-ably attached to side of box 36 proximal to drawer support member 21, cog 39 being engaged with rack 35; Constant force extension spring tape or ribbon 40 extended from its storage bobbin 33 in a first undeployed knee position, the ribbon 40 being connected at its free end to connector 37 attached to drawer support member 21. As can be seen in figure 7 which shows a partial cross sectional side elevation of cabinet 1 as viewed from direction A as shown in figure 1, showing: housing 2; extended runner 8 attached to housing 2; drawer support member 21 attached to runner 8; knee drawer having front billet 31 attached to knee drawer box 36 for storing payloads, the box 36 being drawn transparently with dashed lines so as to be able to see attachments on the distal side proximal to drawer support member 21, the drawer being in a second deployed waist position; spring storage bobbin 33 attached to knee drawer box 36; Linear guide railway 34 attached to drawer support member 21; Toothed rack 35 attached to drawer support member 21; constant force extension spring tape or ribbon connector 37 attached to drawer support member 21; linear guide railway carriage 38 attached to box 36 on side proximal to drawer support member 21 and snugly engaged inside trackway of railway 34, carriage 38 being in a second deployed waist position; toothed cog or pinion 39 rotate-ably attached to side of box 36 proximal to drawer support member 21, cog 39 being engaged with rack 35; Constant force extension spring tape or ribbon 40 partly extended from its storage bobbin 33 in a second deployed waist position, the ribbon 40 being connected at its free end to connector 37 attached to drawer support member 21. Similarly, to the head drawer, foot and knee drawers having front billets 31,32 respectively also have a lift assist. Note the spring ribbon is extended when in their undeployed first positions. For example, when using knee drawer 31, this time the user pulls up knee drawer 31 from respective first position (figure 6) towards the deployed waist position (figure 7). And when finished pushes it back down. And figure 8 shows knee drawer 31 as viewed from direction B shown in figure 1, showing drawer having front billet 31 attached to drawer box 36; spring storage bobbin 33 attached to box 36; railway carriage 38 attached to drawer box 36; toothed cog or pinion 39 rotate-ably attached to drawer box 36. The parts 38,39 (see figure 8) are for movably coupling or slide-ably engaging with or rotate-ably engaging with corresponding parts namely railway 34, rack 35 on drawer support member 21. Note that this time the bobbin 33 is mounted on the drawer box 36 (see figure 1 and 8) and the free end of the ribbon 40 connected to connector 37 which is mounted on the drawer support member 21. This is simply because there is less room available for the relatively bulky bobbin around the middle section of the cabinet 1. Also note that, in its first position, this time the spring is greatly extended in so as to provide an immediate lift assist for users when the drawer is first opened. When the drawer is in transit from its first to second position or vice versa, the spring provides a lift assist and when the drawer arrives at its destination the spring provides support for the drawer and contents during perusal. For example, when in the deployed waist position, again the contents are easily and comfortably accessed or perused. When finished, the user simply pushes down on the drawer to close it. Conveniently the push is in the same direction as the force of weight of the drawer and contents so it is very easy or comfortable or convenient for users to achieve this. It is understood that whilst figure 1 shows a cabinet having only drawers up to head level it is understood that additional drawers can easily be incorporated (simply by extending the lengths of support members 19) up to ceiling height if required. The movable drawers and support members as described herein thereby enable both utilization of uncomfortably high drawers or otherwise wasted ceiling space or convenient drawer access at waist or chest height.

Claims

1. A drawer system includes pairs of drawer support members for supporting a corresponding movable drawer, said pairs and corresponding drawers being arranged in a nested configuration for allowing individual drawers to be opened and moved to convenient access positions by users, said members connecting to at least one pair of drawer runners mounted in a housing, said members each include a railway of a railway and carriage linear guide means for guiding said drawer during motions and movably coupling said drawer support member to said drawer, said railway being disposed substantially along the length of the said member, said railway having a sIide ably movable carriage engaged therein and said carriage being disposed on the proximal end of said corresponding drawer, said railway and carriage being arranged so as to slide-ably engage with each other for providing linear guiding of said drawer during motions, said members each also include a rack of a rack and pinion system for damping said corresponding drawer during motions, said rack being disposed substantially along the length of the said member, said rack having one or more rotatable movable pinion engaged therein and said pinion being disposed on the proximal end of said corresponding drawer, said rack and said pinion being arranged so as to rotate ably engage with each other for providing damping of said drawer during motions, the said drawer support member further includes a constant force extension spring for providing forces to aid drawer movements, said spring having at least one first spring part connected to said drawer support member, and at least one second spring part connected to said movable drawer, the said first and said second parts being arranged such that said forces act between said drawer and said drawer support member during movements of said drawer for aiding drawer movements.

2. A drawer system as described in claim 1 wherein the outermost pair of said support members include a first and second pair of drawer runners connected to the housing and being spaced apart for additional stability.

3. A drawer system as described in any previous claim wherein the inner pairs of said support members include suitable spacing portions disposed between the ends of said support members and their corresponding drawer runners for enabling the drawers to be nested.

4. A drawer system as described in any claim 1-3 wherein the said drawer system includes a ceiling set of nested pairs of drawer support members that extend from a central housing region towards a ceiling region of said housing, each support member having a corresponding said first spring part formed of a spring storage bobbin mounted thereon, said bobbin being disposed proximal to the said ceiling region of said housing.

5. A drawer system as described in any claim 1-3 wherein the said drawer system includes a floor set of nested pairs of drawer support members that extend from a central housing region towards a floor region of said housing, each corresponding drawer having a said second spring part formed of a spring storage bobbin mounted thereon.

6. A drawer system as described in any claim 1-3 wherein the said drawer system includes a said ceiling set as described in claim 4 and a said floor set as described in claim 5 of nested pairs of drawer support members.

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