Drawer pull-out guide
The drawer pull-out guide addresses the issue of drawer slitting by using a broader bearing surface on the engagement portion to distribute forces, maintaining secure coupling and preventing drawer fall-out.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- US · United States
- Patent Type
- Applications(United States)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-11-19
- Publication Date
- 2026-03-12
AI Technical Summary
Existing drawer pull-out guides can cause the drawer sidewall or bottom to be slashed when the drawer is opened with excessive speed, leading to a loss of coupling and potential fall-out due to high pressing forces concentrated at the engagement portion.
The engagement portion of the entrainment member has a broader bearing surface transverse to the longitudinal direction of the extension rail, distributing forces over a larger area to prevent slitting of the drawer material, particularly in chipboard, and optionally featuring a convex curvature to accommodate tolerances.
Prevents drawer slitting and maintains secure coupling by distributing forces, ensuring the drawer remains attached to the extension rail even under high loads.
Smart Images
Figure US20260069032A1-D00000_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] The present application is a continuation of International Application PCT / AT2024 / 060123 filed on Apr. 8, 2024. Thus, all of the subject matter of International Application PCT / AT2024 / 060123 is incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a drawer pull-out guide for movably supporting a drawer relative to a furniture carcass. Such a drawer pull-out guide comprises:
[0003] at least one carcass rail configured to be fixed to a furniture carcass,
[0004] at least one extension rail movably supported relative to the carcass rail,
[0005] at least one fastening device for releasably fixing a drawer to the at least one extension rail, the at least fastening device including at least one entrainment member,
[0006] wherein the at least one entrainment member includes an engagement portion configured to be immersed in a recess of the drawer, the engagement portion being arranged on a fastening limb via at least one connecting portion, wherein the fastening limb is undetachably and stationarily fixed to the extension rail,
[0007] wherein the engagement portion, the connecting portion and the fastening limb are formed together so as to have an integral one-piece configuration,
[0008] wherein the engagement portion includes at least one bearing surface configured to bear against an inner wall of the recess of the drawer,
[0009] wherein the engagement portion has a middle plane extending parallel to a longitudinal direction of the at least one extension rail, wherein the connecting portion is arranged in the middle plane of the engagement portion.
[0010] Moreover, the invention relates to an arrangement comprising at least one drawer pull-out guide of the type to be described and a drawer which is releasably fixed to the at least one extension rail of the drawer pull-out guide via the at least one fastening device.
[0011] Such a drawer pull-out guide is adapted to releasably connect a drawer consisting of a wood material to a movable extension rail of the drawer pull-out guide. For this purpose, a fastening device with an entrainment member is usually provided on the front end region of the extension rail. The entrainment member includes an engagement portion configured to be immersed in a recess, for example in a cylindrical bore, of the drawer. By the entrainment member, the drawer can be coupled to a movement of the extension rail on the one hand. On the other hand, a horizontal relative movement between the drawer and the extension rail can be restricted or prevented by the entrainment member.
[0012] Tests conducted by the applicant have shown that problems may arise, due to the engagement portion of the entrainment member engaging in the recess of the drawer. For example, when the drawer is opened with excessive speed, the engagement portion of the entrainment member that engages in the drawer sidewall or in the drawer bottom may cut through the wood material of the drawer, causing the drawer sidewall or the drawer bottom to be slashed in a direction extending in a longitudinal direction of the extension rail. This can eventually lead to the fact that the coupling between the entrainment member and the extension rail can no longer be maintained, and that the drawer could fall out from the furniture carcass upon an actuation.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] It is an object of the present invention to propose a drawer pull-out guide of the type mentioned in the introductory part, thereby avoiding the above-discussed drawbacks.
[0014] According to the invention, the at least one bearing surface of the engagement portion has a larger width, in a direction extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the at least one extension rail, than a material thickness of the fastening limb.
[0015] In other words, a broadened bearing surface of the entrainment member with respect to the material thickness of the fastening limb can be provided, and the forces occurring between the bearing surface of the entrainment member and an inner wall of the recess can be distributed over a larger area.
[0016] In this way, point contacts with high pressing forces can be avoided, thereby preventing the drawer from being slit by the engagement portion of the entrainment member. This is particularly also advantageous when the drawer is made of inexpensive chipboard which, however, is sometimes prone to breakage.
[0017] According to an embodiment, the at least one bearing surface of the engagement portion is configured to be convexly curved. A convex bearing surface allows the engagement portion to be better adapted to a recess in the form of a cylindrical bore, so that tolerances can be compensated for and the occurring forces can be distributed over a larger area.
[0018] The arrangement according to the invention comprises a drawer pull-out guide of the type in question, and a drawer, the drawer being releasably fixed to the at least one extension rail of the drawer pull-out guide via the at least one fastening device.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] Further details and advantages of the present invention will be explained below with reference to the drawings, in which:
[0020] FIGS. 1a, 1b are perspective views of an item of furniture comprising a furniture carcass and a drawer displaceably supported relative to the furniture carcass, and of a drawer pull-out guide with a drawer arranged thereon,
[0021] FIGS. 2a, 2b show the drawer in a cross-sectional view and the drawer pull-out guide in a perspective view,
[0022] FIG. 3a-3c are different views of the drawer pull-out guide and the fastening device for releasably fixing the drawer, and
[0023] FIG. 4a-4c show different embodiments of an entrainment member for releasably coupling a drawer to an extension rail of a drawer pull-out guide.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0024] FIG. 1a shows a perspective view of an item of furniture 1 comprising a furniture carcass 2, in which drawers 3 are displaceably supported relative to the furniture carcass 2 via drawer pull-out guides 4.
[0025] For the sake of improved overview, the uppermost drawer 3 is not depicted.
[0026] Each of the drawer pull-out guides 4 for moving the drawer 3 relative to the furniture carcass 2 includes a carcass rail 9 configured to be fixed to the furniture carcass 2, and at least one extension rail 10 displaceably supported relative to the carcass rail 9 in the longitudinal direction L. If appropriate, an additional central rail may be arranged between the carcass rail 9 and the extension rail 10 so as to allow the drawer 3 to be fully extended relative to the furniture carcass 2.
[0027] On the front end of the extension rail 10, at least one fastening device 12 is arranged for releasably coupling the drawer 3.
[0028] FIG. 1b shows a perspective view of a drawer pull-out guide 4 with the drawer 3 arranged thereon. Each of the drawers 3 includes a front panel 5, drawer sidewalls 6a, 6b, a rear wall 7 and a drawer bottom 8. Preferably, each of the drawers 3 is made of a wood material, for example of real wood or of chipboard material.
[0029] FIG. 2a shows a cross-sectional view from behind of the drawer 3 according to FIG. 1b, the drawer 3 being arranged on the drawer pull-out guide 4. The drawer pull-out guide 4 includes a carcass rail 9 configured to be fixed to the furniture carcass 2, and an extension rail 10 displaceable relative to the carcass rail 9. The drawer 3 is releasably connectable to the movable extension rail 10 of the drawer pull-out guide 4 via at least one fastening device 12. The at least one fastening device 12 is arranged on a front end of the extension rail 10 and includes at least one entrainment member 13 configured to be releasably coupled to the drawer 3.
[0030] The drawer 3 can be coupled to a movement of the extension rail 10 by the entrainment member 13, and the entrainment member 13 prevents or limits a relative movement between the drawer 3 and the extension rail 10. The entrainment member 13 includes an engagement portion 14 configured to be immersed in a recess 15 of the drawer 3, the engagement portion 14 being arranged on a fastening limb 23 via at least one connecting portion 16.
[0031] The fastening limb 23 is undetachably and stationarily fixed to the extension rail 10. For example, the fastening limb 23 can be connected to the extension rail 10 in a firmly bonded manner, for example by welding. As an alternative or in addition, the fastening limb 23 can be connected to the extension rail 10 in a form-locking manner and / or in a force-locking manner.
[0032] The engagement member 14, the connecting member 16 and the fastening limb 23 are formed together so as to have an integral one-piece configuration. This allows a cost-effective production, thereby preventing fault-probe connecting locations and, therewith, an undesired relative movement between these components can be avoided. This integral component, consisting of the engagement member 14, the connecting member 16 and the fastening limb 23 can be produced, for example, by milling, by deep drawing or by a casting process.
[0033] The engagement member 14 of the entrainment member 13 includes at least one bearing surface 17 configured to bear against an inner wall 15a of the recess 15 of the drawer 3. The at least one bearing surface 17 can extend transversely to the longitudinal direction L of the extension rail 10. The engagement portion 14 of the entrainment member 13 has a middle plane ME extending parallel to a longitudinal direction L of the at least one extension rail 10, and the connecting portion 16 is arranged in the middle plane ME of the engagement portion 14. The arrangement of the engagement portion 14 and of the connecting portion 16 in a common middle plane ME has the advantage that lateral tilting moments between these components can be prevented and that a central load distribution can be guaranteed.
[0034] According to the invention, the at least one bearing surface 17 of the engagement portion 14 of the entrainment member 13, in a direction extending transversely to the longitudinal direction L of the at least one extension rail 10, has a larger width than a material thickness 18 of the fastening limb 23. The increased width of the bearing surface 17 of the engagement portion 14 allows the occurring forces to be distributed over a larger area when moving the drawer 3, thereby preventing the wood material of the drawer 3 from being cut by the bearing surface 17 of the engagement portion 14 of the entrainment member 13.
[0035] The arrangement according to the invention includes at least one drawer pull-out guide 4 and a drawer 3, the drawer 3 being releasably fixed to the at least one extension rail 10 of the drawer pull-out guide 4 via the at least one fastening device 12. The drawer 3 includes at least one recess 15 having an inner wall 15a, and the at least one engagement portion 14 of the entrainment member 13 of the fastening device 12 is immersed in the at least one recess 15, and the at least one bearing surface 17 bears against the at least one inner wall 15a of the recess 15.
[0036] According to a preferred embodiment, the at least one engagement portion 14 of the entrainment member 13 is immersed in the recess 15 without clearance in the longitudinal direction L of the at least one extension rail 10, and / or is immersed with clearance in the recess 15 in a direction extending transversely to the longitudinal direction L of the at least one extension rail 15.
[0037] According to a further embodiment, the drawer 3 can include at least one drawer sidewall 6a, 6b, and the at least one recess 15 is formed in the at least one drawer sidewall 6a, 6b. Preferably, the at least one recess 15 of the drawer 3 is configured to be open towards an underside of the drawer 3. Alternatively, the at least one recess 15 can also be arranged in the drawer bottom 8.
[0038] FIG. 2b shows the drawer pull-out guide 4 in a perspective view. The extension rail 10 to be connected to the drawer 3 is displaceably supported in a longitudinal direction L relative to the stationary carcass rail 9. By a damping device 19, for example having a piston-cylinder-unit, a spring-assisted retraction movement of the extension rail 10 into the closed end position relative to the carcass rail 9 can be dampened.
[0039] On the rear end region of the extension rail 10, at least one abutment element 20 is arranged. The abutment element 20, in the mounted position of the drawer 3 on the extension rail 10, engages in a rear-sided opening of the drawer 3, for example in the rear wall 7 or in the drawer sidewall 6a, 6b. In this way, the rear end region of the drawer 3 relative to the extension rail 10 can be stabilized.
[0040] The abutment element 20 arranged on the rear end region of the extension rail 10 can be configured identically to the entrainment member 13 of the fastening device 12 in order to prevent undesired cutting-in. On the front-end region of the extension rail 10, at least one fastening device 12 with an entrainment member 13 for releasably fixing the drawer 3 to the extension rail 10 is arranged. In a mounted condition of the drawer pull-out guide 4, the front-end region of the extension rail 10 is arranged adjacent to a front panel 5 of the drawer 3. On the front-end region of the extension rail 10, at least one adjustment device 11 with a movably, preferably pivotally, supported adjustment element 11a is arranged. By an actuation, preferably by a rotation, of the adjustment element 11a, a position of the drawer 3 relative to the extension rail 10 is adjustable.
[0041] In the present case, an inclination of the drawer 3 relative to the extension rail 10 is adjustable by the at least one adjustment device 11.
[0042] By a lifting-off securing device 21, an undesired lifting-off movement of the drawer 3 relative to the extension rail 10 can be prevented or limited. In the shown embodiment, the lifting-off securing device 21 includes at least one slider configured to be moved in a direction extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the extension rail 10. In a mounted condition of the drawer 3, the slider engages in a corresponding opening of the drawer 3, thereby preventing a lifting-off movement of the drawer 3 relative to the extension rail 10. The at least one extension rail 10 includes at least one support limb 26 for a drawer bottom 8 of the drawer 3. The at least one fastening limb 23 (FIG. 2a) of the entrainment member 13 is arranged in a plane extending parallel to the at least one support limb 26, and / or the at least one engagement portion 14 is arranged transversely to the at least one support limb 26.
[0043] FIG. 3a shows the drawer pull-out guide 4 with the carcass rail 9 and the at least one extension rail 10 in a top view.
[0044] By a spring device 22, preferably having at least one tension spring, the at least one extension rail 10 is retractable into a closed end position relative to the carcass rail 9.
[0045] By the damping device 19, preferably having a piston-cylinder-unit, a movement of the extension rail 10 to be retracted by the spring device 22 can be dampened.
[0046] Between the extension rail 10 and the mounting flange 25 of the carcass rail 9, the fastening device 12 with the entrainment member 13 is arranged, the entrainment member 13 having an engagement portion 14 configured to be immersed in the recess 15 of the drawer 3.
[0047] FIG. 3b shows the encircled region “A” of FIG. 3a in an enlarged view. The fastening limb 23 is firmly connected to the extension rail 10, for example welded to the extension rail 10.
[0048] The engagement portion 14 of the entrainment member 13 includes at least one, preferably convex, bearing surface 17, 17a configured to bear against an inner wall 15a of the recess 15 of the drawer 3.
[0049] According to an embodiment, the engagement portion 14 of the entrainment member 13 includes at least two bearing surfaces 17, 17a spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction L of the at least one extension rail 10. Preferably, the at least two bearing surfaces 17, 17a can be configured substantially mirror-symmetrically to each other, and / or are connected to each other via at least one middle limb 24. The engagement portion 14 of the entrainment member 13, in a cross-section, can be configured substantially I-shaped, H-shaped, rectangular or circular.
[0050] FIG. 3c shows the drawer pull-out guide 4 in a cross-sectional view. The carcass rail 9 includes at least one mounting flange 25 for fixing the carcass rail 9 to a furniture carcass 2. The engagement portion 14 of the entrainment member 13 to be immersed in the recess 15 of the drawer 3 is arranged on the fastening limb 23 via at least one connecting portion 16, and the fastening limb 23 is undetachably and stationarily fixed to the extension rail 10.
[0051] The engagement portion 14, the connecting portion 16 and the fastening limb 23 are formed together so as to have an integral one-piece configuration. The engagement portion 14 of the entrainment member 13 has a middle plane ME extending parallel to a longitudinal direction L of the at least one extension rail 10, and the connecting portion 16 is arranged in the middle plane ME of the engagement portion 14.
[0052] The at least one bearing surface 17, 17a of the engagement portion 14, in a direction extending transversely to the longitudinal direction L of the at least one extension rail 10, has a larger width than a material thickness 18 of the fastening limb 23.
[0053] According to possible embodiments:
[0054] the engagement portion 14 is configured symmetrically to the middle plane ME, and / or
[0055] the connecting portion 16 is configured symmetrically to the middle plane ME, and / or
[0056] the connecting portion 16 has a middle plane ME extending parallel to a longitudinal direction L of the at least one extension rail 10, and the middle plane ME of the connecting portion 16 is arranged substantially congruent with the middle plane ME of the engagement portion 14.
[0057] According to a further embodiment, the at least one bearing surface 17, 17a has a width extending transversely to the longitudinal direction L of the at least one extension rail 10, and the width of the bearing surface 17, 17a is at least two times, preferably at least three times, larger than the material thickness 18 of the fastening limb 23. The fastening limb 23 can be welded to the extension rail 10, preferably to a side limb 10a of the at least one extension rail 10. The material thickness of the side limb 23 can be smaller or equal than 2 mm, preferably 1.5 mm.
[0058] FIG. 4a-4c show different embodiments of an entrainment member 13 for releasably coupling the drawer 3 to the extension rail 10 of a drawer pull-out guide 4.
[0059] FIG. 4a shows the entrainment member 13 having an engagement portion 14 configured to be substantially I-shaped or substantially H-shaped. The engagement portion 14, the connecting portion 16 and the fastening limb 23 are formed together so as to have an integral one-piece configuration. The engagement portion 14 can include two bearing surfaces 17, 17a spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction L of the extension rail 10. The at least two bearing surfaces 17, 17a are configured to be substantially mirror-symmetrically to each other, and / or are connected to each other via at least one middle limb 24. The connecting portion 16, in the shown embodiment according to FIG. 4a, is configured as a tapered neck, and the middle plane ME of the connecting portion 16 is arranged substantially congruent with the middle plane ME of the engagement portion 14.
[0060] FIG. 4b shows an entrainment member 13 with an engagement portion 14 which is substantially rotationally symmetrical. In the shown figure, the engagement portion 14 is cylindrical, preferably circular cylindrical. The connecting portion 16, in the shown embodiment according to FIG. 4b, is in the form of a widening pedestal, and the middle plane ME of the connecting portion 16 is arranged substantially congruent with the middle plane ME of the engagement portion 14.
[0061] FIG. 4c shows an entrainment member 13 with an engagement portion 14 configured substantially cuboidal. The connecting portion 16, in the shown embodiment according to FIG. 4c, is in the form of a tapered neck, and the middle plane ME of the connecting portion 16 is arranged substantially congruent with the middle plane ME of the engagement portion 14.
Claims
1. A drawer pull-out guide for movably supporting a drawer relative to a furniture carcass, the drawer pull-out guide comprising:at least one carcass rail configured to be fixed to a furniture carcass,at least one extension rail movably supported relative to the carcass rail,at least one fastening device for releasably fixing a drawer to the at least one extension rail, the at least fastening device including at least one entrainment member,wherein the at least one entrainment member includes an engagement portion configured to be immersed in a recess of the drawer, the engagement portion being arranged on a fastening limb via at least one connecting portion, wherein the fastening limb is undetachably and stationarily fixed to the extension rail,wherein the engagement portion, the connecting portion and the fastening limb are formed together so as to have an integral one-piece configuration,wherein the engagement portion includes at least one bearing surface configured to bear against an inner wall of the recess of the drawer,wherein the engagement portion has a middle plane extending parallel to a longitudinal direction of the at least one extension rail, wherein the connecting portion is arranged in the middle plane of the engagement portion,wherein the at least one bearing surface of the engagement portion has a larger width, in a direction extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the at least one extension rail, than a material thickness of the fastening limb.
2. The drawer pull-out guide according to claim 1, wherein the at least one bearing surface of the engagement portion is convexly curved.
3. The drawer pull-out guide according to claim 1, wherein:the engagement portion is configured symmetrically to the middle plane, and / orthe connecting portion is configured symmetrically to the middle plane, and / orthe connecting portion has a middle plane extending parallel to a longitudinal direction of the at least one extension rail, wherein the middle plane of the connecting portion is arranged substantially congruent with the middle plane of the engagement portion.
4. The drawer pull-out guide according to claim 1, wherein the engagement portion of the entrainment member includes at least two bearing surfaces spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the at least one extension rail, preferably wherein the at least two bearing surfaces are configured to be substantially mirror-symmetrically to each other, and / or are connected to each other via at least one middle limb.
5. The drawer pull-out guide according to claim 1, wherein the at least one bearing surface of the engagement portion has a width extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the at least one extension rail, the width of the bearing surface being at least two times, preferably at least three times, larger than the material thickness of the fastening limb.
6. The drawer pull-out guide according to claim 1, wherein the engagement portion of the entrainment member, in a cross-section, is substantially I-shaped, H-shaped, rectangular or circular.
7. The drawer pull-out guide according to claim 1, wherein the at least one extension rail includes at least one support limb for a drawer bottom of the drawer, wherein the at least one fastening limb of the entrainment member is arranged in a plane extending parallel to the at least one support limb, and / or wherein the at least one engagement portion of the entrainment member is arranged transversely to the at least one support limb of the extension rail.
8. The drawer pull-out guide according to claim 1, wherein the fastening limb is welded to the at least one extension rail, preferably to a side limb of the at least one extension rail.
9. The drawer pull-out guide according to claim 1, wherein the material thickness of the fastening limb is smaller or equal than 2 mm, preferably 1.5 mm.
10. The drawer pull-out guide according to claim 1, wherein the entrainment member of the fastening device is arranged on a front region of the at least one extension rail, wherein the front region of the extension rail, in a mounted condition of the drawer pull-out guide, is arranged adjacent to a front panel of the drawer.
11. The drawer pull-out guide according to claim 1, further comprising:at least one spring device for retracting the at least one extension rail into a closed end position relative to the carcass rail, and / orat least one damping device for dampening a movement of the at least one extension rail, and / orat least one abutment element for stabilizing a rear end portion of the drawer relative to the at least one extension rail, the at least one abutment element being arranged on the extension rail and being configured to be immersed in an opening of the drawer.
12. An arrangement comprising:the drawer pull-out guide according to claim 1, anda drawer releasably fixed to the at least one extension rail of the drawer pull-out guide via the at least one fastening device, the drawer including at least one recess having an inner wall,wherein the at least one engagement portion of the entrainment member of the fastening device is immersed in the at least one recess of the drawer, and the at least one bearing surface of the engagement portion bears against the at least one inner wall of the recess of the drawer.
13. The arrangement according to claim 12, wherein the engagement portion of the entrainment member is immersed without clearance in the recess of the drawer in a longitudinal direction of the at least one extension rail, and / or is immersed with clearance in the recess of the drawer in direction extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the at least one extension rail.
14. The arrangement according to claim 12, wherein the drawer includes at least one drawer sidewall, wherein the at least one recess is formed in the at least one drawer sidewall, preferably wherein the at least one recess is configured to be open towards an underside of the drawer.