Abstract:
A guide tab and a multiple member slide incorporating such guide tab are provided. The guide tab is coupled to one slide member of the slide. When actuated, the guide tab activates a latch allowing another slide member of the slide to decouple from the slide.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of and is based on Provisional Application Serial No. 60/313,276, filed on Aug. 17, 2001, the contents of which are fully incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a guide tab for pushing a slide lock latch for disengaging a slide member from a slide or for engaging a slide member to a slide and to a slide incorporating the same.  
           [0003]    Slides which are used to slidably couple drawers to a cabinet or desk consist of two or more members, a stationary member and at least one telescoping member. The stationary member is typically mounted in a cabinet or desk, while the telescoping member is connected to a drawer slidably coupling the cabinet or desk. Two slides are typically used to couple the drawer to the cabinet or desk, one on either side of the drawer.  
           [0004]    A three member slide has an intermediate telescoping member slidably engaged by means of ball bearings fitted in bearing retainers with a stationary member and with a telescoping member to enable longer drawer extensions. In a two member slide, the telescoping member is coupled to the stationary member by means of ball bearings fitted in a bearing retainer. The ball bearings ride on bearing raceways formed on each slide member.  
           [0005]    To allow for the drawer to easily disconnect from the cabinet or desk, the telescoping members of the slide are made so that they can easily disconnect from the slide. Typically, it is the telescoping member connected to the drawer that is made to easily disconnect from the slide. A lock latch is typically mounted on the telescoping member. The latch engages an end of the slide member coupled to the telescoping member. To disconnect the telescoping member from the slide, i.e., to disconnect the drawer from the cabinet or desk, the latch on each slide telescoping member on either side of the drawer is pushed in while the drawer is pulled open, releasing the telescoping member from the remaining member(s) of the slide. Similarly, the reconnect the telescoping member to the slide, the lock latches on both telescoping slide members must be pushed in to allow the telescoping members to slide within the appropriate members of the slides.  
           [0006]    When a person pushes the latch with his/her finger to allow the telescoping member to reconnect to the slide, it is not uncommon for such person to get his/her finger pinched between a slide member and the lock latch. The present invention provides for a guide tab that allows for one to disconnect or reconnect to a telescoping slide member to a slide without pinching his/her finger.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    A guide tab and a multiple member slide incorporating the same are provided. The guide to one slide member coupled to the slide. When actuated, the guide tab activates a latch allowing the slide member to decouple from the slide. In one exemplary embodiment the guide is coupled a first slide member of a slide. A second slide member is slidably coupled to the first slide member. A latch is coupled to the second slide member allowing the second slide member to couple and decoupled from the first slide member. When actuated, the guide tab activates the latch allowing the second slide member to decouple from the first slide member. The guide tab may extend beyond an end of the first slide member from which the first slide member extends.  
           [0008]    In another exemplary embodiment, a cut-out is formed on a web of the first slide member. The cut-out extends to end of the web and the guide tab extends over the cut-out. When the second slide member is fully extended relative to the first slide member, at least a portion of the latch is positioned within the cutout formed on the web of the first slide member.  
           [0009]    In a further exemplary embodiment, the guide tab extends from a guide block which has a web portion and two spaced apart leg portions extending transversely from the web portion.  
           [0010]    The guide tab extends between the two leg portions of the guide block The web portion of the guide block is accommodated in an opening formed the first slide member. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a slide incorporating an exemplary embodiment guide tab of the present invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along arrow  2 - 2  of the slide shown in FIG. 1  
         [0013]    [0013]FIGS. 3A and 3B are an end view and a bottom view, respectively of the intermediate member incorporating the exemplary embodiment guide tab.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4A, 4B,  4 C and  4 D are perspective, top, end and side views, respectively of a guide block incorporating a guide tab of the present invention.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 is an end view of the slide shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an intermediate member of a slide incorporating another exemplary embodiment guide tab of the present invention.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 7A- 7 E are perspective views of different latch mechanisms which can be operated by a guide tab of the present invention.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 8A depicts a perspective view of a lock latch having a bent tip.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 8B depicts a perspective view of a lock latch having a flat tip. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0020]    The inventive guide tab can be used with any multiple member slide as for example, a two member slide or a three member slide. With a multiple member slide the guide tab is coupled to a first slide member onto which reconnects or from which disconnects a second slide member. For descriptive purposes, the present invention is described in conjunction with a three member slide with the guide tab coupled to the intermediate member of the three member slide.  
         [0021]    A typical three member slide  10  comprises an inner telescoping member  12  slidably coupled to an intermediate telescoping member  14  which is slidably coupled to an outer stationary member  16  (FIGS. 1 and 2). The outer member is channel shaped in cross section, i.e., it defines a channel  18 , having web  20  and two legs  22  extending transversely from opposite ends of the web. An inner bearing raceway  26  is defined on each leg  22 . The intermediate slide member  14 , also generally channel shaped in cross-section, is slidably coupled within the outer member  16 .  
         [0022]    In cross-section, the intermediate member also comprises a web  28  and two legs  30  extending from opposite ends of the web. Each of the legs defines an inner raceway  32  and an outer raceway  34 . A central portion of the intermediate member web  28  may define a longitudinal depression  35 . The intermediate member is slidably coupled within the outer member with their “channels” facing in the same direction. Ball bearings  36  are sandwiched between the inner bearing raceways  26  of the outer member and the outer bearing raceways  34  of the intermediate member. The ball bearings are typically coupled to an outer ball bearing retainer  37 .  
         [0023]    The inner member is also channel shaped in cross-section comprising a web  38  having two legs  40  extending from opposite ends of the web. A concavity is formed on the outer surface of each leg defining an outer bearing raceway  42 . The inner member is slidably coupled to the intermediate member with the channel of the inner member facing the channel of the intermediate member. In other words, the legs of the inner member extend from the web  38  of the inner member toward the web  28  of the intermediate member. Ball bearings  44  are sandwiched between the outer bearing raceways  42  of the inner member and the inner bearing raceways  32  of the intermediate member. The ball bearing are typically coupled to an inner ball bearing retainer  45 . Each slide member is typically formed from a single piece of material.  
         [0024]    A lock latch mechanism is formed on the intermediate and inner slide members to allow the inner slide to disconnect from and reconnect to the intermediate slide member. An exemplary embodiment lock latch mechanism includes a lock latch  99  extending from the inner member and a cut out  60  formed at and end portion of the intermediate member web  28  which extends to the end  61  of the intermediate member from which the inner member extends. Two set of lance tabs are formed along the sides of the cut out. The first set of lance tabs comprises two tabs  62  located opposite each other and extending from opposite edges of the cut out toward the inner slide member. The second set comprises two lance tabs  64  located opposite each other and extending from opposite edges of the cut out and toward the inner slide member. The second set of lance tabs are located at the end  61  of the cut out at the end of the intermediate member and are spaced apart by a distance greater than the distance between the first set, i.e., the spacing  66  between the two second set tabs  64  is greater than the spacing  68  between the two first set tabs  62 . The first set of lance tabs is furthest from the end  61  of the intermediate member from which the inner member extends.  
         [0025]    A guide block  70  as for example the guide block shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B,  4 C and  4 D, is inserted into the raceways of the intermediate member proximate the end  61  of the intermediate member from which the inner member extends, as for example shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. The guide block comprises two spaced apart legs  72  and a web  74  formed there between such that each leg extends both longitudinally and laterally from the web. In the exemplary embodiment, the guide block web  74  is complementary in cross-section to the web  28  of the intermediate member and a such also defines a depression  76  complementary to the depression  35  defined on the web  28  of the intermediate slide member. An opening  78  is formed transversely across the web  28  of the intermediate member to accommodate the web  74  of the guide block (FIG. 1). As can be seen in FIG. 4D, the web  74  of the guide block extends below the legs  72  of the guide block. In this regard, the web  74  can be accommodated in opening  78  while the legs  72  can be accommodated within the channel of the intermediate member.  
         [0026]    Each guide block leg outer surface comprises an outer portion  80  and an inner portion  83 . The outer portion  80  of the outer surface of each leg  72  of the guide block is complementary to an inner bearing raceway  32  of the intermediate member. A first section  82  of the outer surface inner portion  83  of each leg opposite the outer portion  80  of each leg is complementary to the outer bearing raceway  42  of the inner member. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 3B, the complementary section  82  of the inner portion of the outer surface of each leg does not extend to the end  85  of the leg furthest from the guide block web  74 . A relatively flat outer surface inner portion second section  87  extends from the first section  82  to the end of each leg  72 . In an alternate exemplary embodiment, the complementary or first section  82  of the inner portion of the outer surface of each leg spans the entire length of the leg.  
         [0027]    A lip  84  extends inwardly from each leg  72  of the guide block. A surface  86  of each lip faces in the direction of the legs of the guide block and is generally parallel to a first surface  75  of the guide block web  74 .  
         [0028]    A guide tab  88  extends from the guide block web  74  in the direction of the guide block legs  72 . The guide tab  88  extends from a second surface  90  opposite the first surface  75  of the guide block web (FIG. 4C). The width of the tab is such that it can fit within the cut out  60  formed on the intermediate member web. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 3B, 4A and  4 B, the tab consists of two sections, a first section  92  extending from the web  74  and having a width smaller than the spacing  68  between the first set lance tabs and a second section  94  extending from the first section and having a width greater than the width of the first section and smaller than the spacing  66  between the second set lance tabs.  
         [0029]    The exemplary embodiment guide block with guide tab shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B,  4 C and  4 D, is made of plastic so that it is resilient. For example, the quick block with guide tabs may be made from ABS plastic or molded acetal. In this regard, when pushed, the guide tab bends and when released, it returns to its original position. Alternatively, the guide block with guide tab may be made from other materials that provide the tab with the requisite flexibility and resiliency.  
         [0030]    The guide block is fitted in the end portion of the intermediate member such that the outer surface portions  80  of the block legs are accommodated by the intermediate member inner bearing raceways while the guide block web is accommodated in the intermediate member web opening  78  and the guide tab  88  extends over the intermediate member web and over the cut out  60 , as for example shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B and  5 . When the guide block is in position within the intermediate member, the first section  92  of the guide tab is positioned between the first set lance tabs while the second section  94  of the tab is positioned between the second set lance tabs. In this regard, the guide tab can be pushed within the cut out  60  and between the first and second set lance tabs. When mounted on the intermediate member, the guide block lip portion surfaces  86  a level above the web of the intermediate member that is equal or greater in height than the level  87  of the bearing retainer  45  sections  114 . (FIG. 2).  
         [0031]    To install the guide block with the guide tab on the intermediate member, a tip  115  of the tab is positioned into the opening  78  formed on the depressed web portion of the intermediate member. The guide block is pushed into position causing the guide tab to move through the opening  78  and past the surface of the web  28  of the intermediate member opposite the inner member.  
         [0032]    A slot  98  is defined between the inner portion second section  87  of the outer surface of each leg of the guide lock and a second set lance  64 . These slots serve to guide the legs of the inner member when reconnecting the inner member to the outer member.  
         [0033]    A spring tab forming the lock latch  99  (referred to herein as the “latch” for convenience) is attached to the web  38  within the legs  40  of the inner member  12 . An exemplary latch as shown in FIG. 7C has a first portion  100  which is attached to the inner member web. A second portion  102  extends for at an angle from the inner member web. The second portion comprises a body portion  104  which narrows to a neck portion  106  which widens to a head portion  108 . The neck portion is relatively centered along the width of the body and head portions. The tip end  110  of the head portion is bent toward the web of the inner member and a slot  112  is formed through the web to accommodate the bent tip portion when the latch is pushed against the inner member web, as for example shown in FIG. 8A. In an alternate exemplary embodiment, the tip end  111  of the latch does not have to be bent toward the web of the inner member, i.e., the tip end may be flat as for example shown in FIG. 8B. In such case, slot  112  is not required through the web of the inner member.  
         [0034]    To connect the inner member to the intermediate member, the leg portions  40  of the inner member are slid within the slots  98  defined between the guide block legs outer surface inner portion second sections and the second set lance tabs. As the legs of the inner member are pushed further toward the intermediate member the outer bearing raceways  42  formed on the outer surfaces of the legs of the inner member move over the first sections of the inner portions of the guide block legs outer surfaces thereby coupling the inner member to the intermediate member. Simultaneously, edges  116  of the legs of the inner member move over their corresponding lip surfaces  86 . As the inner member is further moved in a direction toward the intermediate member, the inner member legs continue to slide along the guide lock legs inner surface and lip surface  86  and are guided to the bearing retainer  45 . Because the lip portions of the guide lock legs extend to a level higher than that of the retainer sections  114  in relation to the intermediate member web, the lip portions prevent the legs of the inner member from striking the end edges of the bearing retainer  45 .  
         [0035]    As the inner member is further pushed in, the latch body is engaged by the first set of lance tabs  62  and pushed toward the inner slide member web until the neck portion moves to a position between the first set of lance tabs. When the latch is pushed toward the inner member web, it generates a spring force urging it away from the inner member web. The spring force causes the latch to extend toward the intermediate member and the neck portion  106  to be straddled between the first set of lance tabs when the neck moves to a position between the first set lance tabs. As the slide is further slid toward the intermediate slide member, the first set lances engage the edges  118  of the head portion of the latch extending beyond the neck portion preventing the slide from sliding further toward the intermediate member. To allow the slide to slide further toward the intermediate member, the head portion of the latch is pushed in by pushing on the guide tab  88  which in turn pushes on the head portion of the latch thereby causing the neck portion to move toward the inner member web and withdraw from the first set lance tabs, allowing the slide inner member to move further toward the intermediate member.  
         [0036]    As the inner slide member is extended relative to the intermediate member, the bent tip portion  110  of the head of the latch engages the first set of lance tabs causing the latch to flex toward the web of the inner member and generate a spring force. As the extension of the inner member continues, the first set of lance tabs ride along the head of the latch until they move past the head and straddle the neck portion of the latch as the latch extends due to the generated spring force. As the inner member is further extended, the first set lance tabs engage edges  120  defined on the body portion  104  of the latch adjacent the neck, preventing the inner member from further extending. To allow for further extension, the latch head is pushed toward the inner member web by pushing on the guide tab  88  so as to un-straddle the neck portion of the latch from the first set of lance tabs and allow the latch to move past the first set lance tabs. Consequently, the inner member is allowed to further extend relative to the intermediate member until it disconnects from the intermediate member.  
         [0037]    By pushing on the guide tab instead of on the latch with his/her finger, a person does not pinch his/her finger between the intermediate member and inner member during inner member connection to, or disconnection from, the intermediate member, since the tab isolates the person&#39;s finger from the interface between the inner and intermediate members.  
         [0038]    While in the exemplary embodiment, the guide tab resilience causes it to return to its original position after being pushed for moving the latch, in an alternate exemplary embodiment, the guide tab is not resilient, i.e., the guide tab is made from a material that is non-resilient In such case, the guide tab is returned to its original position by the spring force generated by the depressed or pushed latch.  
         [0039]    In a further alternate exemplary embodiment, the guide tab may be made to extend beyond the end  61  of the intermediate member from which the inner member will extend, as for example shown by the dashed lines  124  in FIG. 3B. In yet another alternate embodiment, the guide tab may be separate from the guide block. In such case the guide tab  188  may attached to the web of the intermediate member  14  with any many well known methods, as for example shown in FIG. 6.  
         [0040]    The guide tab of the present invention has been described for use with an exemplary latch system. However the guide tab of the present invention may be used with other types of latch mechanisms which are used to lock one slide member to another as for example the mechanisms  200 ,  202 ,  204 ,  206  and  208  shown in FIGS.  7 A- 7 E, respectively.  
         [0041]    Although the present invention has been described and illustrated to respect to multiple embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that it is not to be so limited, since changes and modifications may be made therein which are within the full intended scope of this invention as hereinafter claimed.