Abstract:
An expandable drawer adaptable to various size openings comprises a pair of locking tracks and expanding wall and floor portions. The expanding drawer assembly comprises a conventional drawer with width adjustment features along front, back, and bottom surfaces. The drawer&#39;s width is adjustable to correspond to the width of the opening, allowing the device to fully occupy the prescribed space.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/413,499 filed on Nov. 15, 2010, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to drawers, and in particular, to the horizontal extension of drawers. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Drawers which are used to store items are known. Drawers are used in kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, and the like. The drawer sizes vary as depending upon the items being stored and the position within a cabinet. Therefore, drawers are limited to their maximum capacity. 
     Various attempts have been made to provide an expandable drawer. Examples of these attempts can be seen by reference to several U.S. patents. U.S. Pat. No. 3,272,583, issued in the name of Averdieck, describes a sliding adjustable drawer. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,909,406, issued in the name of Wu, describes a container which is extendable lengthwise. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,322,365, issued in the name of Teufel et al., describes a vertically extending rail system for drawers. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives, each of these references suffer from one (1) or more disadvantages. Many are not suited to adjust horizontally. Others are not suited for cabinets. Accordingly, there exists a need for an expandable drawer without the disadvantages as described above. The development of the present invention substantially departs from the conventional solutions and in doing so fulfills this need. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The inventor has recognized the aforementioned inherent problems and lack in the art and observed that there is a need for an expandable drawer. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present embodiments of the invention to solve at least one (1) of these problems. The inventor has addressed this need by developing an expandable drawer which horizontally expands and is constructed for various cabinets. 
     To achieve the above objectives, it is an object of the present invention to provide a universally expandable drawer to customize the width of drawers and increase storage space. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a center section having a first center side and a second center side, a first end section having a first end side and a second end side, a second end section having a third end side and a fourth end side, a first intermediate section having a first intermediate side and a second intermediate side, and a second intermediate section having a third intermediate side and a fourth intermediate side. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide adjustments via a pair of inner rail guides, a pair of outer rail guides, a pair of inner extension rails, a pair of outer extension rails, and a plurality of tightening knob fasteners. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide the extension rails with threaded apertures for receiving a standard threaded knob fastener. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide the end sections with runners for motioning upon a cabinet rail assembly. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a method of utilizing the device that provides a unique means of pre-adjusting a width of the device, extending each end section, installing the intermediate sections, tightening the knob fasteners, positioning the device into the existing cabinet rail assembly, and loading the device. 
     Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an expandable drawer, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an environmental view of the expandable drawer depicted as removably mounted upon of a cabinet rail assembly  60 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a partially exploded front view of the expandable drawer, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the expandable drawer, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a partially exploded side view of the expandable drawer, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6   a  is a partially exploded view of the expandable drawer  10  depicting inner rail guides  24   a  and inner extension rails  32   a , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6   b  is a partially exploded view the expandable drawer  10  depicting outer rail guides  24   b  and outer extension rails  32   b , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 7  is a bottom view of the expandable drawer, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 10 
                 expandable drawer 
               
               
                   
                 20 
                 center section 
               
               
                   
                 21 
                 stiffener 
               
               
                   
                 22 
                 tunnel portion 
               
               
                   
                 24a 
                 inner rail guide 
               
               
                   
                 24b 
                 outer rail guide 
               
               
                   
                 25 
                 bearing plate 
               
               
                   
                 26 
                 slot 
               
               
                   
                 30a 
                 first end section 
               
               
                   
                 30b 
                 second end section 
               
               
                   
                 31a 
                 first end section skirt 
               
               
                   
                 31b 
                 second end section skirt 
               
               
                   
                 32a 
                 inner extension rail 
               
               
                   
                 32b  
                 outer extension rail 
               
               
                   
                 33 
                 threaded aperture 
               
               
                   
                 34 
                 runner 
               
               
                   
                 36a 
                 center edge guide 
               
               
                   
                 36b 
                 intermediate edge guide 
               
               
                   
                 36c 
                 end edge guide 
               
               
                   
                 40a 
                 first intermediate section 
               
               
                   
                 40b 
                 second intermediate section 
               
               
                   
                 42 
                 skirt guide 
               
               
                   
                 45 
                 handle 
               
               
                   
                 50 
                 knob fastener 
               
               
                   
                 52 
                 threaded fastener 
               
               
                   
                 60 
                 cabinet rail assembly 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 7 . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention, and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     The present invention describes an expandable drawer (herein described as the “device”)  10 , which provides a means by which customized width drawers can be easily and quickly constructed without the time or cost considerations of custom cabinetry work. The development and use of the device  10  provides increased storage space in a wide variety of areas without the high cost or specialized work associated with custom-made cabinets. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , perspective and environmental views of the device  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The device  10  comprises a center section  20 , a first end section  30   a , a second end section  30   b , a first intermediate section  40   a , and a second intermediate section  40   b . The center section  20  comprises a first center side and a second center side opposite said first center side. The first end section  30   a  comprises a first end side and a second end side opposite said first end side. The second end section  30   b  comprises a third end side and a fourth end side opposite said third end side. The first intermediate section  40   a  comprises a first intermediate side and a second intermediate side opposite said first intermediate side. The second intermediate section  40   b  comprises a third intermediate side and a fourth intermediate side opposite said third intermediate side. The device  10  provides a universally installable drawer having adjustable features which allow a user to expand or retract a width dimension of the device  10  so as to fit in various sized drawer openings within an existing cabinet rail assembly portion  60  of drawer-type furniture. The device  10  is used in lieu of individually made drawer units that fit into a specific width cabinet rail assembly  60  by providing various selectable sizes via utilization of the expanding features of the device  10 . The device  10  is removably inserted into and supported by an existing cabinet rail assembly  60  which provides edge support along both left and right sides of the device  10  in a conventional manner. The device  10  may be utilized within various models of cabinet rail assemblies  60  which support between one (1) and several units of the device  10 . Each device  10  comprises a sliding assembly in which the aforementioned sections  20 ,  30   a ,  30   b ,  40   a ,  40   b  slide into each other along respective pairs of “U”-shaped center edge guides  36   a , intermediate edge guides  36   b , and end edge guides  36   c.    
     In a preferred embodiment, the device  10  is to be adjustable in width from twelve (12) to thirty-six (36) inches. The device  10  may be easily installed in any size opening without specialized mill work, various woodworking, and other construction usually associated with custom cabinets and drawers. 
     The sections  20 ,  30   a ,  30   b ,  40   a ,  40   b  of the device  10  are preferably fabricated using formed and machined sheet metal panels; however, it is understood that other suitable materials such as wood, molded plastic portions, or the like, which are also designed to utilize the herein disclosed metallic adjusting and locking components, may be introduced without deviating from the teachings of the device  10 , and as such should not be interpreted as a limiting factor of the invention  10 . It is further understood that the device  10  may be introduced being coated with various colors, patterns, veneers, face boards, or the like which match existing furniture and/or decors. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 through 6   b , exploded views of the device  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The device  10  provides a means of width adjustment via a pair of inner rail guides  24   a , a pair of outer rail guides  24   b , a pair of inner extension rails  32   a , a pair of outer extension rails  32   b , and a plurality of tightening knob fasteners  50 . Additionally, the vertical wall portions of said center  20 , end  30   a ,  30   b , and intermediate  40   a ,  40   b  sections are to extend along a common height to form a clean continuous upper edge profile once assembled. 
     The center section  20  and the adjacent first  40   a  and second  40   b  intermediate sections comprise unitary “U”-shaped members having slidingly inserting portions further comprising integral interlocking channel-shaped edge guide portions  36 ,  36   b ,  36   c  along respective top edge portions. Said center  20  and intermediate  40   a ,  40   b  sections include respective horizontal floor portions and front and rear opposing wall portions which extend upwardly from and perpendicularly from said floor portions. A front wall portion of the center section  20  further comprises a “U”-shaped or equivalently functioning pull handle  45  affixed to said center section  20  using common threaded fasteners  52 , thereby enabling a user to easily extend and insert the device  10  within the cabinet rail assembly portion  60  of an existing furniture item such as a dresser. It is further envisioned that said center section  20  may comprise any number of integral triangular stiffeners  21  which extend between vertical wall portions and floor portions of said center section  20  to provide additional load-carrying capability. 
     The first  30   a  and second  30   b  end sections comprise a pair of mirror-image four (4) sided enclosures further comprising a floor portion and three (3) perpendicular side wall portions. Said end sections  30   a ,  30   b  are sized so as to insertingly interconnect with adjacent intermediate sections  40   a ,  40   b  also interlocking and being guided along a top edge via respective end edge guide  36   c  and intermediate edge guide  36   b  portions. 
     The center section  20  comprises a unitary construction further comprising a rectangularly-shaped subjacent tunnel portion  22  which provides enclosure of the aforementioned integral inner rail guide  24   a  and outer rail guide  24   b  portions. Said rail guides  24   a ,  24   b  comprise entrapping channel-shaped linear metal forms comprising triangular inner spaces sized so as to slidingly receive correspondingly shaped inner extension rail portions  32   a  of the first end section  30   a , and outer extension rail portions  32   b  of the second end section  30   b  within. Said inner  32   a  and outer  32   b  extension rails are in turn permanently affixed to bottom surfaces of respective floor portions of said first  30   a  and second  30   b  end sections via welding or equivalent joining methods, and extend beyond an inward edge of bottom surfaces of said end sections  30   a ,  30   b , being correspondingly positioned with respect to said inner  24   a  and outer  24   b  rail guides. Sliding insertion of said inner  24   a  and outer  24   b  rail guides into the respective inner  32   a  and outer  32   b  extension rails provides linear guided left and right motioning of said end sections  30   a ,  30   b  with respect to the center section  20 . 
     Each of the extension rails  32   a ,  32   b  comprises a threaded aperture  33  at a distal end portion for receiving a standard threaded knob fastener  50 . The knob fasteners  50  are threadingly inserted through respective threaded apertures  33  resulting in subsequent impingement upon an integral bearing plate portion  25  within each rail guide  24   a ,  24   b  during assembly and adjustment of the device  10 . Said bearing plates  25  comprise a length of metal flat stock being located along respective outwardly facing vertical surfaces of said rail guides  24   a ,  24   b . Said knob fasteners  50  are tightened against said bearing plate portions  25  of the rail guides  24   a ,  24   b  to provide a securing friction force to retain the extension rails  32   a ,  32   b  at a secure position with respect to the rail guide portions  24   a ,  24   b  of the center section  20 . The tunnel portion  22  of the center section  20  also includes a plurality of elongated slots  26  which provide access to said knob fasteners  50  (see  FIG. 7 ). 
     The tunnel portion  22  of the center section  20  further comprises a pair of skirt guides  42  located at opposing positions along the bottom surface. Said skirt guides  42  comprise “           ”-shaped linear track members which provide guidance to a pair of first skirt portions  31   a  of the first end section  30   a , and to a pair of second skirt portions  31   b  of the second end section  30   b . Said skirt portions  31   a ,  31   b  each comprise integral flat vertical extension of front and rear side wall portions of respective end sections  30   a ,  30   b  being parallel and subjacent to the intermediate sections  40   a ,  40   b , thereby providing discrete enclosure of the rail guide  24   a ,  24   b  and extension rail  32   a ,  32   b  portions.
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The aforementioned intermediate sections  40   a ,  40   b  are to sit atop the extension rails  32   a ,  32   b  and may be optionally installed if necessary to add additional width to the device  10 . The intermediate edge guide portions  36   b  of the intermediate sections  40   a ,  40   b  are entrapped below the center  36   a  and end  36   c  edge guide portions of respective center  20  and end  30   a ,  30   b  sections, thereby providing a means to cover any gap within floor portions of said center  20  and end  30   a ,  30   b  sections which may result due to outward extension of said end sections  30   a ,  30   b  from said center section  20  as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , a bottom view of the device  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. A bottom surface of the tunnel portion  22  of the center section  20  further comprises a plurality of parallel elongated slots  26  which provide access to said knob fasteners  50 . Said slots  26  correspond to the various possible positions of said knob fasteners  50  based upon a desired selected width of the device  10 , thereby providing a means to manually tighten or loosen said knob fasteners  50 . 
     The end sections  30   a ,  30   b  further comprise a flat or “L”-shaped runner portion  34  affixed to left and right bottom outer edge regions preferably using fasteners  52  or equivalent attachment means, thereby providing smooth motioning of the device  10  upon the cabinet rail assembly  60  (see  FIGS. 2 and 7 ). The runner  34  is envisioned to utilize common sliding or rolling components such as, but not limited to: rollers, castors, low-friction coatings, or the like, which contact the cabinet rail assembly  60 , resulting in smooth forward and rearward motioning of the device  10  when being pulled out from or returned within said cabinet rail assembly  60 . 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the device  10 , it would be installed and utilized as indicated in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3 . 
     The method of utilizing the device  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: procuring a model of the device  10  having a desired material and color; measuring a width of an existing cabinet rail assembly  60  into which the device  10  is to be installed; pre-adjusting a width of the device  10  by loosening the knob fasteners  50 ; extending each end section  30   a ,  30   b  an equal distance from the center section  20  until obtaining the desired width of the device  10 ; installing the intermediate sections  40   a ,  40   b  in such an event as a gap appearing between the center  20  and end  30   a ,  30   b  sections by positioning the intermediate edge guide portions  36   b  of each intermediate section  40   a ,  40   b  over the end edge guide portions  36   c  of the adjacent end sections  30   a ,  30   b  and positioning said intermediate edge guide portions  36   b  of each intermediate section  40   a ,  40   b  under the center edge guide portions  36   a  of the center section  20 ; tightening the knob fasteners  50 ; sliding the device  10  partially into the existing cabinet rail assembly  60 ; loading the device  10  with various items to be stowed in a normal manner; sliding the device  10  fully into the existing cabinet rail assembly  60  using the handle  45 ; repeating the above steps to install additional units of the device  10  upon the cabinet rail assembly  60  as needed; and, benefiting from increased storage space within a variety of areas without the high cost or specialized work associated with custom-made cabinets. 
     The materials required to produce the device  10  are all readily available and well known to manufacturers of goods of this type. The majority of the components as used in the device  10  are preferably made of sheet steel in a stamping process. This process would require the design and use of custom dies. Should large-scale manufacture of the device  10  be undertaken, various jigs and other assembly aids would be needed to speed production and ensure consistency. The remaining components of the device  10 , namely the specialized fasteners would best be procured from wholesalers and manufacturers that deal in goods of that nature and assembled at a final location. The relatively simple design of the device  10  and the material of construction make it a cost-effective design due to the relatively low material and labor costs involved. Final production of the device  10  will be performed by manufacturing workers of average skill. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.