Linearly movable stabilizer for slidable structures

A linearly movable stabilizer for slidable structures, particularly with respect to drawers which are wider in width than in depth, and have a tendency to canter or bind during movement thereof, the stabilizer comprising a fixed-track member attached to the rear of the slidable structure transversely to the movement thereof, wherein a bearing slide mechanism is slidably supported in the track, and wherein a long arm member is pivotally attached at one end to the bearing slide mechanism and the other end is pivotally attached to a stationary structure associated with the slidable structure, a second shorter arm member being pivotally secured at one end to the fixed track and the other end thereof being pivotally attached to the central portion of the long arm member. This arrangement provides a controlled in-and-out movement of the slidable structure--thus preventing cantering or binding of the sides thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates generally to a device to stabilize the movement of 
drawers, doors and like slidable structures, and relates more particularly 
to a stabilizing device thereof that provides a ball-bearing-slide 
mechanism as a major anti-friction section within the linear stabilizer. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
As is well known in the art, various types of anti-racking or binding 
devices are presently available. However, several problems and 
difficulties are encountered in providing a device of this character that 
includes a reliable non-binding support for the movable structure being 
attached thereto. Most known devices lack the necessary structural 
strength and load-carrying capacity when these mechanisms are used to 
control the linear movement of structures (such as drawers, doors and 
partitions) that are supported between parallel side structures. 
In order to meet specific design requirements relating to sliding 
structures as mentioned above, these mechanisms or devices must operate 
continuously, smoothly and efficiently under difficult conditions, without 
allowing the movable structure to become wedged or bound between the 
parallel fixed structure in which the movable structure is supported. 
Present known mechanisms do not provide the absolute free motion which 
assures the no-racking condition. In other words, the radius forces which 
accrue by the in/out movement of a wide but shallow drawer or door are 
checked by the short and long arm of the present invention. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a linearly movable stabilizer mechanism 
that prevents sideward binding movement of a slidable structure that is 
generally supported between fixed, parallel side walls, such as are found 
in a structure wherein slidable drawers are supported. 
Thus, to provide a controlled, in-and-out, linear movement of a slidable 
structure, such as a drawer, the present invention comprises an elongated 
track generally affixed to the rear portion of the movable structure, the 
track having slidably supported therein a ball-bearing slide mechanism to 
which an elongated arm member is pivotally attached at one end of the arm. 
The opposite end of the long arm member is pivotally secured to a fixed 
structure such as the rear or side wall members of a cabinet. 
A second, but short, arm is included which is pivotally affixed at one end 
directly to the fixed track member, the opposite end being pivotally 
mounted to the central point of the long arm; that is, the pivot point is 
located centrally between the ends of the long arm, the long arm being 
approximately twice the length of the short arm. 
Thus, as the drawer is moved in or out, the scissor action of the arms 
keeps the drawer in a parallel attitude with respect to the cabinet side 
walls, thus preventing the drawer from cantering to one side or the other, 
and becoming wedged in the cabinet. 
An equal force is applied to the rear of the drawer due to the transverse 
movement of the frictionless travel of the bearing member in the track. 
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention has for an important object a provision wherein a 
linear stabilizing device includes a track mounted slide mechanism which 
allows an equal stabilizing force to be applied over the full width of a 
sliding structure that is supported within a fixed structure having 
parallel side walls, wherein the movable structure is slidable 
therebetween without binding. 
It is another object of the invention to provide a linearly movable 
stabilizer for slidable structures, the stabilizer having a first long arm 
member pivotally mounted at its respective ends to a fixed structure and 
the slide mechanism within the track, and a second short arm member 
pivotally attached to the track at one end and also pivotally attached to 
the mid-section of the long arm member. 
It is still another object of the invention to provide a stabilizer means 
for sliding structures, and more particularly to flipper doors for lateral 
file cabinets, so as to allow free transverse movement thereof without 
binding along the sides thereof. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device of this 
character that includes a scissor arrangement of parts, thus securing a 
slidable fixture in a parallel attitude with respect to the side walls to 
which it is associated therewith. 
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a device of 
this character that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and simple 
to install and maintain. 
The characteristics and advantages of the invention are further 
sufficiently referred to in connection with the accompanying drawings, 
which represent one embodiment. After considering this example, skilled 
persons will understand that variations may be made without departing from 
the principles disclosed; and I contemplate the employment of any 
structures, arrangements or modes of operation that are properly within 
the scope of the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown in FIGS. 1 and 
2 a linearly movable stabilizer apparatus, generally indicated at 10, 
positioned within a substantially stationary structure defining a cabinet 
12. Slidably supported within the cabinet is a typical drawer 14 which 
represents various slidable structures, including doors and the like. 
Thus, the cabinet comprises a rear wall 16 and a pair of parallel side 
walls 18 and 20, whereby the front of the cabinet 12 includes at least one 
opening 22 to allow drawer 14 to be received therein. 
Very often it is found that, due to loads within the drawer and forces 
applied thereto, there is a great tendency for the sliding structure, such 
as 12 (having a width, indicated at "W" which is greater than the depth, 
indicated at "D"), to canter or bind during either the in or the out 
longitudinal travel thereof. 
Accordingly, the present invention comprises a stabilizing means 10 having 
a main track or outer slide member 23 defining a substantially stationary 
slide member secured to the rear of the sliding-drawer structure 14. This 
track can be mounted either directly to the drawer or be provided with 
hinge means 25 disposed therebetween as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. 
Included with track member 23 is an inner slide member, indicated generally 
at 24. Slide members 23 and 24 are generally channel-shaped and formed of 
sheet metal, preferably steel, by stamping--these parts being made with 
great accuracy. 
The track or outer slide member 23 has a longitudinally extending center 
wall 26 which may be termed the bottom of the channel. Along each side 
edge of bottom wall 26 is an outwardly and laterally extending ball 
raceway 28 that is concave and convex in cross-section (See FIG. 5), with 
a concaved surface facing inwardly, so that said surfaces are oppositely 
arranged relative to the length of wall 26. 
Inner slide member 24 also has a bottom wall, indicated at 30, along the 
longitudinally extending sides or side edges of which are laterally turned 
ball raceways 32 which are oppositely arranged and arcuate in 
cross-section, with the concave surfaces arranged oppositely to respective 
adjacent ball raceway 28 of the outer slide member, said raceways 28 being 
spaced from said adjacent raceways 32. 
Slide members 23 and 24 are arranged so that their open sides face each 
other and are disposed between said members. In the space between the 
parallel walls 26 and 30, there is provided a ball-retainer means, 
indicated generally at 34. Ball retainer 34 is also channel-shaped and has 
a bottom wall comprising a shallow, reverse-channel portion 36 which 
extends longitudinally of the retainer. The side walls 38 of the 
reverse-channel portion 36 connect with side parts 39 of the ball 
retainer; and from the outer edges of the ball retainer there extend a 
series of ball-retaining arms 40 spaced apart longitudinally of the ball 
retainer 34. The arms at one side of the ball-retainer end generally are 
parallel to walls 38 of the reverse-channel portion 36. The arms 40 are 
provided with respective aligned openings 42 for reception of ball 
bearings 44. 
When the ball retainer is operably disposed in the slide mechanism between 
the inner and the outer slide members 24 and 23, respectively, the balls 
44 are operably positioned in the raceways, as best shown in FIG. 5. The 
sides 40 of the ball retainer may exert a slight pressure or tension on 
the balls against the raceways, to minimize or eliminate retainer 
vibration and possible noise. 
Thus, it can be understood that a slide mechanism as herein described is so 
made as to be very accurate in its structural arrangements and alignments. 
The stabilizing device of the present invention further includes a pair of 
equalizer arms, 50 and 52, whereby each arm applies equal force over the 
width of the sliding structure or drawer 14. The first long arm member 50 
is pivotally mounted at one end thereof to the inner slide member 24, 
mid-way between the ends of bottom wall 30 at a pivot point PP1. The 
opposite end of long arm 50 is pivotally secured to stationary rear wall 
16 of cabinet 12 by pivot means 54, comprising bracket 56 and pin 57, 
thereby defining pivot point PP2. 
The short arm 52 is connected at one end to the long arm 50 wherein the 
pivot means 60, defining pivot point PP3, is positioned equidistant 
between PP1 and PP2. As shown in FIG. 2, distance "A" from PP2 to PP3 is 
half of distance "2A" from PP2 to PP1. The opposite end of arm 52 is 
pivotally connected by means 62 to one end of track 23, thereby defining 
pivot point PP4. 
Hence, it is important to note that PP2 and PP4 must be axially aligned 
along line a--a whether in a closed mode or an open mode (as seen in FIGS. 
1 and 2). Thus, bracket 56 could also be mounted to side wall 18, as long 
as PP2 is aligned with PP4 along axis line a--a. 
Accordingly, as drawer 14 is moved inwardly or outwardly, a 
scissor-equalizing action is created between arms 50 and 52, whereby pivot 
point PP1 travels longitudinally along track channel 23. Thus, as can be 
seen in FIG. 1, the inner slide member 24 is positioned at the furthermost 
end of track 23; wherein point PP3 is located equidistant between point 
PP1 and points PP2 and PP4. 
However, in FIG. 2, the drawer is shown fully extended wherein pivot point 
PP1 on slide member 24 moves toward PP4. Thus, the radius forces which 
accrue by the in/out movement of a wide but shallow drawer or like 
structure are checked by the long and short arms 50 and 52, respectively, 
and are thus channelled into a fine, smooth, parallel force against the 
drawer, thereby assuring a no-racking mode of the drawer's in-and-out 
movement. 
The invention and its attendant advantages will be understood from the 
foregoing description; and it will be apparent that various changes may be 
made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts of the 
invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof or 
sacrificing its material advantages, the arrangement hereinbefore 
described being merely by way of example; and I do not wish to be 
restricted to the specific form shown or uses mentioned, except as defined 
in the accompanying claims.