Abstract:
An extendable and retractable container assembly for recyclable materials which includes a pair of drawer slide structures that are interconnected by a rear cross-member bracket and a front cross-member bracket to retain them in spaced parallel relation with the rear ends of the slide structures being independently adjustably supported by two unique adjusting structures.

Description:
This application is a non-provisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 61/694,884, filed Aug. 30, 2012, and hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of cabinet mounted hardware. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is often difficult to properly align a cabinet face with respect to the cabinet body. Due to the positioning of interiorly located slide assemblies within a cabinet, alignment of the cabinet face may be skewed. It is therefore an object of the present invention to properly align a cabinet face with respect to a cabinet body by minimal adjustments. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to a container assembly for recyclable materials mounted within a cabinet for movement between an extended position in which the open tops of the bins or containers are exposed for receiving recyclable materials and a retracted position in which the bins are concealed. The container assembly is supported for movement between its extended and retracted positions by a pair of drawer slide assemblies with supporting cross-member brackets being connected to the slide assemblies. 
     The slide assemblies are mounted on a bottom of the cabinet under a center of the load to be applied to the slide assemblies. The slide assemblies interengage with brackets on which a door can be mounted for adjustment to accurately fit the opening in the front wall to form a closure for the cabinet in which the container assembly is mounted. The container assembly is constructed to enable easy removal of the bins or containers, easy mounting and assembly and quick and effective adjustment with all adjustments being securely locked when all components of the assembly are oriented in an optimum adjusted position. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide an extendable and retractable container assembly for recyclable materials which includes a pair of drawer slide structures that are interconnected by a rear cross-member bracket and a front cross-member bracket to retain them in spaced parallel relation with the rear ends of the slide structures being independently adjustably supported by two unique adjusting structures. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a container assembly for recyclable material in which the movable components of the drawer slide assemblies support at least one bin or receptacle for receiving recyclable materials with the upper ends of the bin or container being exposed and accessible when moved to an extended position to provide access thereto in order to enable categorized recyclable materials to be placed in the bin. 
     By including two independent adjusting structures at the rear of the slide assemblies, the adjusting structures raise and lower the slide assemblies independently of each other. This all occurs at the rear end of the slide assemblies. 
     However, in the front of the cabinet, where a Z-shaped cross-member bracket supports and is secured to the slide assemblies, the slide assemblies are caused to move independently of each other and adjust the position of the cabinet door by the torsional twist or flexure of the Z-shaped front cross-member bracket. Alternately, a C-shaped front cross-member bracket may be used. 
     This aids in moving the cabinet face so that the cabinet face lies flush against the cabinet in a vertical plane. A three-dimensional adjustment of the cabinet face is provided so as to secure an aesthetically pleasing proper alignment of the cabinet face. 
     Depending upon the independent adjustment of the two ends at the rear of the slide assemblies, the slide assemblies are caused to change relative positioning and thereby vary the alignment of the cabinet face. It is understood as being within the scope of the present invention that rotation of the independent adjustment assemblies in opposite directions, or in the same direction to different degrees, will cause the adjustment of the cabinet face to tip the alignment of the cabinet face. 
     The adjusting assembly is formed by machining of a full-hex threaded insert available as Atlas MaxTite® Blind Threaded Rivets distributed by PennEngineering of Dunboro, Pa. The threaded insert is machined to create a thinner walled round section located between the base and upper end of the insert. The round section begins at a height above the base at a height greater than a thickness of an L-shaped bracket. The threaded insert is placed in a hole of the L-shaped bracket. The insert is then compressed to form a lip. The threaded insert is captured within the hole of the L-shaped bracket between the base and the thus formed lip. 
     The threaded insert is of a dimension slightly less than the hole of the L-shaped bracket so as to allow free rotation of the threaded insert upon clockwise or counter-clockwise rotation of the threaded insert in an adjustment of the slide assemblies. The L-shaped bracket is securely connected by rivets to the rear of each of the slide assemblies. A bolt or stud is held securely by the rear cross member bracket and threaded through the threaded insert, thereby moving the L-shaped bracket upon rotation of the threaded insert and becoming an extension of the slide assemblies. 
     A plastic thumbscrew is rotatably mounted on a free end of the threaded bolt. The plastic thumbscrew acts as a lock to prevent loosening of the threaded insert on the bolt. The thumbscrew also acts a stop for the slide assemblies. 
     These and other objects of the invention, as well as many of the intended advantages thereof, will become more readily apparent when reference is made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The following drawings illustrate examples of various components of the invention disclosed herein, and are for illustrative purposes only. Other embodiments that are substantially similar can use other components that have a different appearance. 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a cabinet mounted frame having a pair of slide assemblies and a front door panel mounted on a bin holder for interengaging with the slide assemblies. 
         FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of the interior of a cabinet having the adjustable cabinet mounted frame of the present invention with the slide assemblies in an extended position. 
         FIG. 2B  is a top plan view of the two slide assemblies mounted into the bottom of a cabinet. 
         FIG. 2C  is a perspective view of the two slide assemblies shown in a closed position. 
         FIG. 3  is an exemplary view of a threaded insert prior to its modification. 
         FIG. 4  is a modified version of the threaded insert shown in  FIG. 3  with a portion of the external sidewalls removed in a round section at a spacing above the base and a portion of the threaded insert. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates the threaded insert in a compressed configuration to form a rim for encasing an L-shaped bracket between the rim and a flat head of a bolt. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the threaded insert shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 7  is a top plan view of the threaded insert shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the threaded insert after a rounded portion forming a relief collar has been removed and the threaded insert is compressed to be captured within a hole of an L-shaped bracket while allowing free rotation of the threaded insert. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a flat head stud bolt for use with the slide assemblies of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates the capturing of the head of the bolt shown in  FIG. 9  within a recess of a rear cross member bracket so as to fix the bolt in place. 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a nylon knurled nut which acts as a stop for rearward movement of the slide assembly and for locking the position of the threaded insert on the bolt. 
         FIG. 12  illustrates an L-shaped bracket having the modified threaded insert of the present invention captured within a hole of the L-shaped bracket for free rotation of the threaded insert. 
         FIG. 13  illustrates the mounting of the L-shaped bracket onto a bolt held securely in place on the rear cross member bracket with the nylon knurled nut placed over the threaded insert to secure the location of the threaded insert. 
         FIG. 14  is an opposite side view of the assembly shown in  FIG. 13 . 
         FIG. 15  is an exploded view of the L-shaped bracket and slide assembly prior to mounting of the L-shaped bracket by rivets onto the slide assembly. 
         FIG. 16  illustrates the two adjustment mechanisms of the present invention mounted onto the rear end of two slide assemblies with the two slide assemblies interconnected by a rear cross-member bracket and a front cross-member bracket. 
         FIG. 17  illustrates the Z-shaped front cross-member bracket secured by rivets underneath and to the two spaced apart slide assemblies. 
         FIG. 18  illustrates the Z-shaped front cross-member bracket prior to its installation on the bottom of the cabinet and secured by rivets to two slide assemblies. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In describing a preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. 
     With respect to the drawings, and with reference to  FIGS. 1 through 2C , in particular, the present invention is shown mounted inside on the bottom of a cabinet  20 . In  FIG. 1 , a recycling bin fixture  22  secured to a front door panel  24  of the cabinet is shown at an angle for mounting on the two slide assemblies  26 ,  28 . As shown in greater detail in  FIG. 2A , the slide assemblies  26 ,  28  are mounted on the bottom  30  of the cabinet  20 . The slide assemblies extend from the rear  32  of the cabinet towards its front edge  34 . 
     As shown in the plan view of  FIG. 2B , the slide assemblies  26 ,  28  are interconnected at a rear end  26 A,  28 A by a rear cross member  36 . Similarly, at the front end of the cabinet, the two slide assemblies  26 ,  28  are interconnected at front ends  26 B,  28 B by a front cross-member  40 . 
     In  FIG. 2B , the two slide assemblies are shown in the extended position. In  FIG. 2C , the two slide assemblies are showed in the retracted position. 
     In forming the two adjustment mechanisms  42 ,  44 , as shown at the rear ends  26 A,  28 A of the two slide assemblies, a threaded insert  46  is initially machined to reduce the treaded insert in cross-section and form a round relief collar portion  48 . The removal of material is above the base  50  and above a portion  51  of the hex shaped threaded insert, but below the remaining internally threaded portion  52 . The removal of material at the relief collar  48  provides for a weakening of the structure of the threaded insert  46  above portion  51 . This reduced diameter portion forms a round outer circumference for subsequent crushing to form a rim  58 . As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the threaded insert  46  includes an internally threaded portion  54  having an external hexagonal shape. Also, a round hollow interior portion  56  is located on the interior of the threaded insert. 
     Due to the weakening of the threaded insert at the relief collar by the removal of material and thus a thinning of the wall thickness, when the threaded insert is subjected to a compressive load in a press, the threaded insert will collapse along the portion  48  and produce an externally directed lip or rim  58 . In  FIG. 5 , the threaded insert is shown in a fully collapsed position as a result of compressive force. This example shows the portion  51  which remains. Portion  51  has a height of approximately 0.080 inches. This height should be maintained at approximately 0.010 inches greater than a thickness of an L-shaped bracket within which the insert is to be located. 
     As more aptly shown in  FIG. 8 , the crushing of portion  48  of the threaded insert produces the rim  58  but only to a point such that a bracket  59 , for example, is captured surrounding portion  51  between base  50  and rim  58 . Bracket  59  has a thickness of approximately 0.072 inches +/−0.005 inches. The threaded insert  46  is of a lesser diameter than the hole  62  formed in the bracket  59  such that when the insert  46  is placed in hole  62  and after compression of the threaded insert, the portion  51  of the threaded insert is still capable of freely rotating within the hole  62  of the bracket  59 . This function will be explained further with reference to  FIGS. 12 through 14 . 
     In  FIG. 9 , a stud bolt  60  is shown having flattened head base  62  and threaded portion  64 . This bolt has a height of approximately 3 to 4 inches. The head  62  is captured and fixedly held in place in a recess formed in the rear cross-member  36  as shown in  FIG. 10 . In this position, when the rear cross-member is secured to the bottom  30  of a cabinet, the head  62  is held in place and prevented from rotating within the swaged portion  66  of the rear cross-member  36 . 
     In  FIG. 11 , a nylon knurled nut  68  is shown. This nut  68  fits on top of the free end of the bolt  60  to secure the positioning of the threaded insert onto the bolt  60  and also serves as a stop for engagement with the slide assemblies  26 ,  28 , as shown in  FIG. 2C , when the slide assemblies are in their retracted position. 
     In  FIG. 12 , the specially modified threaded insert  46  is shown rotatably mounted within a hole of an L-shaped bracket  59 . The threaded insert is allowed to freely rotate in the L-shaped bracket while being retained in its position relative to the L-shaped bracket  59 . 
     In  FIGS. 13 and 14 , the bolt  60  is shown secured to the rear cross-member  36 . The rear cross-member is in turn secured to the floor  30  of the cabinet. The modified threaded insert  46  is threaded onto the bolt  60  and rotated until the threaded insert  46  with its associated L-shaped bracket  59  approaches, but is spaced from the rear cross-member  36 . The nut  68  is shown in position securing the threaded insert  46  from being rotated, but it is understood that the nut  68  may be removed for further adjustment of the threaded insert  46  by clockwise or counter-clockwise rotation of the threaded insert to move towards the cross-member  36  or away from the cross-member  36 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 15 , the L-shaped bracket  59  has two rivet holes  70 ,  72 . The bracket  59  is moved to engage with the slide assembly  26  having rivet receiving holes  74 ,  76 . Rivets  78 ,  80  secure the bracket  59  to a slide assembly through aligned rivet holes  70 ,  72  and  74 ,  76 , respectively. 
     As shown in the assembled form in  FIG. 16 , rivets  78 ,  80  extend through the rivet receiving holes  70 ,  72  of the L-shaped bracket  59  and the rivet receiving holes  74 ,  76  of the slide assembly  26  to secure the adjustment assembly  42  on the rear cross-member  36  and the slide assembly  26 . Similarly, the opposed adjustment mechanism  44  is secured to the slide assembly  28 . By this positioning, the threaded inserts  46  on each of the two L-shaped brackets  59  may be rotated to independently move the rear ends of the two slide assemblies  26 ,  28  up and down with respect to the rear cross-member  36 . 
     At the opposite ends of the slide assemblies  26 ,  28 , the slide assemblies are also riveted to the front cross-member  40 . The front cross-member  40  as shown in  FIGS. 17 and 18  is of a Z-shaped configuration having a thickness from 18 to 14 gauges. As shown in  FIG. 18 , the front cross-member  40  includes a horizontally extending portion  82  which is vertically spaced above the cabinet floor  30  by a vertically extending or rising portion  84 . Portion  82  has a width of approximately 1.5 inches. 
     Portion  84  terminates at the cabinet floor  30  by another horizontally extending portion  86 . Portion  86  has a width of approximately 0.5 inches. Portion  86  is secured to the cabinet floor  30  by screws or bolts passing through holes  88  to elevate portion  82  above the floor  30  by a height “h” of approximately 0.5 inches, and preferably 0.42 inches. 
     As shown in portion  82 , rivet holes  90  are formed for connection with the front ends of the slide assemblies  26 ,  28 . The bottom of rivets  92  are shown in  FIG. 17 . As shown in  FIG. 16 , and in more detail in  FIG. 17 , the vertically extending or vertically rising portion  84  spaces the horizontally extending portion  82 , and thereby the front ends of the slide assemblies  26  and  28 , above the cabinet floor. 
     In the operation of the present invention, the front cabinet door  24  is mounted onto an assembly  22  which slides on slide assemblies  26  and  28 . To achieve a perfect alignment of the cabinet door  24  with respect to the cabinet  20 , it is necessary to adjust the relative three dimensional alignment between the rear face of the cabinet door and the front face of the cabinet. This is oftentimes difficult to achieve. 
     By the present invention, independent rotation of the threaded insert of the two adjustment mechanisms  42 ,  44  achieves an independent relative transposition of the cabinet door by the balanced deflection of the front cross-member rigidly secured to the slide assemblies. The horizontally extending portion  82  of the front cross-member is caused to “twist” by the relative independent rotation of the threaded inserts on the bolts  60  at the rear of the slide assemblies. Due to the disparity in height between the rear ends of the slide assemblies, a diagonal twisting of portion  82  translates into an adjustment of the relative positioning of the cabinet door. 
     For example, if one adjustment assembly has its threaded insert rotated towards the head  62  of the bolt  60  whereas the other threaded insert, on the opposed adjustment mechanism, is unscrewed away from the head  62 , the two slide assemblies will be caused to move in opposite directions with the net balancing between the two assemblies causing a shifting of the cabinet door along a plurality of axes to provide for proper alignment of the cabinet door with respect to the cabinet frame by a torsional twisting of the front cross member. 
     It is understood that the rotation of the threaded inserts may be of differing amounts in the same direction either towards the bolt head  62 , or in opposite directions, or away from the bolt head  62 , as well as rotation of only one of the threaded inserts to cause the required shifting of the cabinet door. 
     The foregoing description should be considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and, accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.