Abstract:
A drawer assembly for a consumer appliance is provided. The drawer assembly includes an anti-racking system for minimizing misalignment of an appliance drawer. More particularly, the present subject matter provides a drawer slide assembly for a drawer having some horizontal flexibility. The drawer slide assembly may have a pinion gear and connecting rod assembly that minimizes racking of the appliance drawer as it is moved into and out an appliance chamber. The appliance drawer may be attached to the appliance chamber by a ball and joint pinion gear configuration that adds another degree of freedom to the anti-racking system in order to reduce stress on the pinion gear. By adding an additional degree of freedom to the pinion gear and reducing the imposed stresses applied to the pinion gear, the performance and lifetime of the drawer assembly may be improved.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present subject matter relates generally to appliances, such as refrigerator appliances, and drawer assemblies for the same. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Various types of consumer appliances are designed with pull-out compartment drawers. For example, a number of popular refrigerator styles have freezer compartments with one or more pull-out drawers that span the width of the appliance and include storage baskets or bins. The conventional pull-out drawers typically include side brackets that are mounted to slides of a slide mechanism that, in turn, has a base member mounted to the compartment liner. 
     Due to their substantial width, depth, and weight, the pull-out drawers are susceptible to misalignment between the sides when moving the drawer into and out of the appliance compartment, particularly if the door is grasped off-center and the pulling/closing force is applied non-parallel to the slide structure. This misalignment may lead to binding or “racking” of the drawer, which may make further movement of the drawer difficult and may also lead to an improper seal of the drawer in the closed position. 
     A known approach to minimize racking of the drawers is to synchronize the sliding movement of the opposite drawer slide assemblies with a pinion gear and connecting rod assembly. A pinion gear is provided at each side of the drawer that engages with a stationary gear rail as the drawer moves in and out of the freezer compartment. The pinion gears are connected with a connecting rod that spans the width of the drawer. The connecting rod synchronizes movement of the respective pinion gears along the gear rail, which is imparted to the drawer slide assemblies. Thus, any off-center pulling/pushing force on the drawer handle is compensated for through the connecting rod and pinion gears. 
     Although the pinion gear and connecting rod assembly discussed above is beneficial in minimizing the occurrence of racking, the pinion gears may be subjected to substantial forces and stresses during operation. For example, axial, transverse, and torsional forces are imparted on the pinion gears during operation, which may lead to pinion gear failure. Particularly when the drawer has any horizontal flexibility, torsional forces may place excessive stress on the pinion gears and cause premature failure. 
     Accordingly, a refrigerator appliance including an improved drawer assembly would be useful. More particularly, a drawer slide assembly having an anti-racking system with a pinion gear designed to withstand stresses commonly experienced during operation would be especially beneficial. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present subject matter provides a drawer assembly for a consumer appliance having an anti-racking system for minimizing misalignment of an appliance drawer. More particularly, the present subject matter provides a drawer slide assembly for a drawer having some horizontal flexibility. The drawer slide assembly may have a pinion gear and connecting rod assembly that minimizes racking of the appliance drawer as it is moved into and out an appliance chamber. The appliance drawer may be attached to the appliance chamber by a ball and joint pinion gear configuration that adds another degree of freedom to the anti-racking system in order to reduce stress on the pinion gear. By adding an additional degree of freedom to the pinion gear and reducing the stresses imposed on the pinion gear, the performance and lifetime of the drawer assembly may be improved. Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be apparent from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention. 
     In a first exemplary embodiment, a drawer assembly for a consumer appliance that defines a cabinet having a first sidewall and a second sidewall is provided. The drawer assembly includes a first support mounted to the first sidewall and having a first geared rack, and a second support mounted to the second sidewall and having a second geared rack. A drawer door includes a first drawer slide and a second drawer slide, a first end of each of the first drawer slide and the second drawer slide being attached to the drawer door. A first pinion base is attached at a second end of the first drawer slide and defines a first pinion stud, and a second pinion base is attached at a second end of the second drawer slide and defines a second pinion stud. A first pinion gear engages the first geared rack and defines a first socket that is configured to receive the first pinion stud and rotatably mount the first pinion gear to the first pinion base, and a second pinion gear engages the second geared rack and defines a second socket that is configured to receive the second pinion stud and rotatably mount the second pinion gear to the second pinion base. A connecting rod connects the first pinion gear and the second pinion gear, such that driving force generated at the first pinion gear from an off-center pulling force on the drawer door is transmitted through the connecting rod to the second pinion gear as the drawer door moves between an open and a closed position. 
     According to another exemplary embodiment, a consumer appliance is provided. The consumer appliance includes a compartment having a first side and an opposite second side. A first slide member is configured on the first side of the compartment and a second slide member is configured on the second side of the compartment. A first gear rail is configured adjacent the first slide member and a second gear rail is configured adjacent the second slide member. A drawer mounted to the first slide member and the second slide member for movement of the drawer into and out of the compartment. A first gear assembly is mounted to the first slide member and a second gear assembly is mounted to the second slide member, each of the first gear assembly and the second gear assembly including a pinion base that is attached to the respective first slide member or second slide member and defines a pinion stud, and a pinion gear defining a socket that is configured to receive the pinion stud such that the pinion gear is rotatably mounted to the pinion base. Each pinion gear engages the respective first gear rail or second gear rail and a cross bar is connected between the pinion gears such that driving force generated at the first gear assembly from an off-center pulling force on the drawer is transmitted through the cross bar to the second gear assembly. 
     According to still another exemplary embodiment, a consumer appliance is provided. The consumer appliance defines a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the vertical, lateral, and transverse directions being mutually perpendicular. The consumer appliance includes a compartment having a first side portion and a second side portion spaced apart from each other along the lateral direction, and a first slide assembly base proximate the first side portion and including a first geared rack, and a second slide assembly base proximate the second side portion and comprising a second geared rack. A drawer is configured to provide access into the compartment, the drawer having a first slide assembly positioned proximate the first slide assembly base and a second slide assembly positioned proximate the second slide assembly base. A first pinion gear assembly is mounted to the first slide assembly and a second pinion gear assembly is mounted to the second slide assembly, each of the first pinion gear assembly and the second pinion gear assembly including a pinion base that defines a spherical ball stud, and a pinion gear defining a socket that is configured to receive the spherical ball stud. Each pinion gear engages the respective first geared rack or second geared rack and a cross bar is connected between the pinion gears such that driving force generated at the first pinion gear assembly from an off-center pulling force on the drawer is transmitted through the cross bar to the second pinion gear assembly. The first slide assembly and the second slide assembly support the drawer such that the drawer is translatable along the transverse direction between an open position where it is disposed outside of the compartment and a closed position where it is disposed inside the compartment. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures. 
         FIG. 1  provides a front elevation view of a refrigerator appliance according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter with doors and a freezer drawer shown in the closed position. 
         FIG. 2  provides a front elevation view of the exemplary refrigerator appliance of  FIG. 1  with the doors shown in an open position. 
         FIG. 3  provides a perspective view of the exemplary refrigerator appliance of  FIG. 1  with the freezer drawer in the open position. 
         FIG. 4  provides a side view of the exemplary refrigerator appliance of  FIG. 1  with the freezer drawer in the open position. 
         FIG. 5  provides a perspective view of the back side of the assembled freezer drawer and a drawer slide assembly of the exemplary refrigerator appliance of  FIG. 1   
         FIG. 6  provides a partial perspective view of the back side of the freezer drawer and the drawer slide assembly of the exemplary refrigerator appliance of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  provides an exploded view of the back side of the freezer drawer and the drawer slide assembly of the exemplary refrigerator appliance of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  provides a close-up exploded view of a first drawer slide assembly of the exemplary refrigerator appliance of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 9  provides a close-up exploded view of a second drawer slide assembly of the exemplary refrigerator appliance of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 10  provides an exploded, cross-sectional view of a pinion gear assembly and drawer slide assembly of the exemplary refrigerator appliance of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 11  provides a top perspective, cross-sectional view of an assembled pinion gear assembly and drawer slide assembly of the exemplary refrigerator appliance of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 12  provides a rear perspective, cross-sectional view of an assembled pinion gear assembly and drawer slide assembly of the exemplary refrigerator appliance of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 13  provides a rear perspective, cross-sectional view of an assembled pinion gear assembly and drawer slide assembly of the exemplary refrigerator appliance of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 14  provides a perspective view of the pinion gear from the drawer slide assembly of the exemplary refrigerator appliance of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 15  provides a cross-sectional view of the pinion gear from the drawer slide assembly of the exemplary refrigerator appliance of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 16  provides a cross-sectional view of an assembled pinion gear and pinion base from the drawer slide assembly of the exemplary refrigerator appliance of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 17  provides a perspective view of the pinion base from the drawer slide assembly of the exemplary refrigerator appliance of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 18  provides a cross-sectional view of the pinion base from the drawer slide assembly of the exemplary refrigerator appliance of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 
       FIG. 1  provides a front, elevation view of a refrigerator appliance  100  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter with refrigerator doors  102  and freezer drawer  104  of the refrigerator appliance  100  shown in a closed position.  FIG. 2  provides a front, elevation view of refrigerator appliance  100  with refrigerator doors  102  and freezer drawer  104  of refrigerator appliance  100  shown in an open position. Refrigerator appliance  100  defines a vertical direction V, a lateral direction L, and a transverse direction T (see, e.g.,  FIG. 3 ), each mutually perpendicular to one another. As discussed in greater detail below, refrigerator appliance  100  includes features for assisting with accessing food items stored therein. 
     As may be seen in  FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 , refrigerator appliance  100  includes a housing or cabinet  108  that extends between a top  110  and a bottom  112  along the vertical direction V, between a first side  114  and a second side  116  along the lateral direction L, and between a front side  118  and a rear side  120  along the transverse direction T (see, e.g.,  FIG. 3 ). 
     As depicted, cabinet  108  defines chilled chambers for receipt of food items for storage. In particular, cabinet  108  defines fresh food chamber  122  ( FIG. 2 ) positioned at or adjacent top  110  of cabinet  108  and a freezer chamber  124  ( FIG. 3 ) arranged at or adjacent bottom  112  of cabinet  108 . As such, refrigerator appliance  100  is generally referred to as a bottom mount refrigerator. It is recognized, however, that the benefits of the present disclosure apply to other types and styles of refrigerators such as, for example, a top mount refrigerator, a side-by-side style refrigerator, or a freezer appliance. Consequently, the description set forth herein is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to be limiting in any aspect to a particular refrigerator chamber configuration. Moreover, aspects of the present subject matter may be used for any appliance with a drawer requiring a drawer slide assembly exhibiting improved performance and durability. 
     Refrigerator doors  102  are rotatably mounted to cabinet  108 , e.g., such that doors  102  permit selective access to fresh food chamber  122  of cabinet  108 . As shown in the illustrated embodiment, refrigerator doors  102  include a first refrigerator door  126  rotatably mounted to cabinet  108  at first side  114  of cabinet  108  and a second refrigerator door  128  rotatably mounted to cabinet  108  at second side  116  of cabinet  108 . 
     In addition, a freezer drawer  104  is arranged below refrigerator doors  102  for selectively accessing items stored in freezer chamber  124 . As discussed in greater detail below, freezer drawer  104  is slidably mounted to cabinet  108  and can be selectively moved in and out of freezer chamber  124  along transverse direction T. Freezer drawer  104  may further include a front panel  130  which may be attached to the freezer drawer  104  and may define a front surface that sits flush with a front surface of the refrigerator doors  126 ,  128  when in the closed position. 
     Referring specifically to  FIG. 2 , various storage components are mounted within fresh food chamber  122  to facilitate storage of food items therein as will be understood by those skilled in the art. In particular, the storage components include bins  134 , drawers  136 , and shelves  138  that are mounted within fresh food chamber  122 . Bins  134 , drawers  136 , and shelves  138  are configured for receipt of food items (e.g., beverages and/or solid food items) and may assist with organizing such food items. As an example, drawers  136  can receive fresh food items (e.g., vegetables, fruits, and/or cheeses) and increase the useful life of such fresh food items. 
     Similarly, a variety of support baskets, bins, drawers, or other containers may be received within freezer chamber  124  for receipt and storage of food items in freezer chamber  124 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 3 , a freezer drawer  104  may define a storage volume  160 , e.g., for receipt of food items for storage. Freezer drawer  104  may shift between the open and closed positions in order to access storage volume  160  by sliding freezer drawer  104  along the transverse direction T. In this regard, as will be discussed in detail below, the freezer drawer  104  may include a first drawer slide assembly  164  and a second drawer slide assembly  166 , which are mounted on opposing sides of the freezer drawer  104  and are configured to allow the freezer drawer  104  to slide into and out of freezer chamber  124 . 
     Also shown in  FIG. 3 , the refrigerator appliance  100  may further comprise a secondary bin  170  that is slidably mounted within freezer chamber  124 . In this regard, secondary bin  170  may have its own set of drawer slides  172 . However, in an alternative embodiment, secondary bin  170  may sit within a track on the top of freezer drawer  104 . For example, secondary bin  170  may have a set of wheels that rolls along a top side of freezer drawer  104 . In this manner, secondary bin  170  may move relative to freezer drawer  104  when freezer drawer  104  is in the open position. Thus, when freezer drawer  104  is open, secondary bin  170  may remain in freezer chamber  124  or may be extended along with freezer drawer  104 . Other secondary bin  170  configurations are also possible. 
     The exemplary embodiment of freezer drawer  104  shown in  FIG. 2  is provided by way of example only. Other configurations for freezer drawer  104  are within the scope of the present subject matter. For example, although the illustrated embodiment shows one freezer drawer  104  and one secondary bin  170 , one skilled in the art will appreciate that more or fewer bins and drawers may be used if desired, and these bins and drawers can be configured as needed depending on the application. Also, freezer drawer  104  and secondary bin  170  may have any suitable size. For example, freezer drawer  104  may span across freezer chamber  124 . Similarly, multiple drawer assemblies (e.g., two, three, or more) may be disposed within freezer chamber  124  in any suitable configuration. 
     Refrigerator doors  102  and freezer drawer  104  may be moved between the open and closed position using a variety of hand grips and/or handles. For example, freezer drawer  104  may include a handle  180  defined by or on front panel  130  of freezer drawer  104 . A user can pull on handle  180  to adjust freezer drawer  104  between a closed position ( FIG. 1 ) and an open position ( FIG. 2 ). In the closed position, freezer drawer  104  closes access to freezer chamber  124  within cabinet  108 . Conversely, freezer drawer  104  permits access to freezer chamber  124  within cabinet  108  when freezer drawer  104  is in the open position. With freezer drawer  104  in the closed position shown in  FIG. 1 , a user can grab handle  180  and pull freezer drawer  104  outwardly along the transverse direction T in order to slide freezer drawer  104  into the open position shown in  FIGS. 2-3 , thereby providing access to the storage volume  160  and allowing a user to insert food items therein. 
     Although the illustrated embodiment depicts handle  180  for opening and closing freezer drawer  104 , one skilled in the art will appreciate that other handle configurations, such as pocket handles may be used to open and close the refrigerator doors  102  and freezer drawer  104 . Pocket handles are generally integral to the door and are created by forming a recess in a door body. For example, a hand grip recess may be created on the side or front surface of a door, thereby allowing a user to manipulate the door. Pocket handles may be, for example, recessed portions in the top of front panel  130  of freezer drawer  104 , where the user can insert one or more fingers to grip and pull the freezer drawer  104  to the open position. 
     The cabinet  108 , refrigerator doors  102 , and freezer drawer  104  of refrigerator appliance  100  can be constructed in any suitable manner. For example, cabinet  108  may include an outer case  200  and an inner liner  202 . Outer case  200  and inner liner  202  are components of cabinet  108  and are assembled together to form cabinet  108 . Outer case  200  is exposed such that outer case  200  can correspond to an outermost layer of cabinet  108 . Outer case  200  may be formed by folding a sheet of a suitable material, such as stainless steel or painted steel, into an inverted U-shape to form top and side walls of outer case  200 . Inner liner  202  is positioned within outer case  200  and defines fresh food chamber  122  and freezer chamber  124  of cabinet  108 . Inner liner  202  can be formed from any suitable material, such as molded plastic. Insulating material (not shown), such as rigid polyurethane foam, is disposed between outer case  200  and inner liner  202  in order to insulate fresh food chamber  122  and freezer chamber  124  and provide structural rigidity for cabinet  108 . The refrigerator doors  102  and freezer drawer  104  may be similarly constructed. For example, freezer drawer  104  may have an outer casing  200 , insulating material (not shown), and inner liner  202 . In addition, the inner liner  202  may be configured to receive a variety of trays, bins, shelves, and other support structures such as those discussed above. 
     Refrigerator appliance  100  also includes a dispensing assembly  204  for dispensing liquid water and/or ice. Dispensing assembly  204  includes a dispenser  206  positioned on or mounted to an exterior portion of refrigerator appliance  100 , e.g., on one of the refrigerator doors  126 ,  128 . Dispenser  206  includes a discharging outlet  208  for accessing ice and liquid water. An actuating mechanism  210 , shown as a paddle, is mounted below discharging outlet  208  for operating dispenser  206 . In alternative exemplary embodiments, any suitable actuating mechanism may be used to operate dispenser  206 . For example, dispenser  206  can include a sensor (such as an ultrasonic sensor) or a button rather than the paddle. A user interface panel  212  is provided for controlling the mode of operation. For example, user interface panel  212  includes a plurality of user inputs (not labeled), such as a water dispensing button and an ice-dispensing button, for selecting a desired mode of operation such as crushed or non-crushed ice. 
     Discharging outlet  208  and actuating mechanism  210  are an external part of dispenser  206  and are mounted in a dispenser recess  214 . Dispenser recess  214  is positioned at a predetermined elevation convenient for a user to access ice or water and enabling the user to access ice without the need to bend-over and without the need to open refrigerator doors  130 ,  132 . In the exemplary embodiment, dispenser recess  214  is positioned at a level that approximates the chest level of a user. 
     Operation of the refrigerator appliance  100  can be regulated by a controller (not shown) that is operatively coupled to user interface panel  212 . In response to user manipulation of the user interface panel  212 , the controller operates various components of the refrigerator appliance  100 . The controller may include a memory and one or more microprocessors, CPUs or the like, such as general or special purpose microprocessors operable to execute programming instructions or micro-control code associated with operation of refrigerator appliance  100 . The memory may represent random access memory such as DRAM, or read only memory such as ROM or FLASH. In one embodiment, the processor executes programming instructions stored in memory. The memory may be a separate component from the processor or may be included onboard within the processor. 
     The controller may be positioned in a variety of locations throughout refrigerator appliance  100 . In the illustrated embodiment, the controller may be located within the control panel area of the refrigerator doors  130 ,  132 . In such an embodiment, input/output (“I/O”) signals may be routed between the controller and various operational components of refrigerator appliance  100 . In one embodiment, the user interface panel  212  may represent a general purpose I/O (“GPIO”) device or functional block. In one embodiment, the user interface  212  may include input components, such as one or more of a variety of electrical, mechanical or electro-mechanical input devices including rotary dials, push buttons, and touch pads. The user interface  212  may include a display component, such as a digital or analog display device designed to provide operational feedback to a user. The user interface  212  may be in communication with the controller via one or more signal lines or shared communication busses. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 5 through 18 , freezer drawer  104  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter will be described.  FIGS. 5 and 6  provide perspective views of the assembled freezer drawer  104  and drawer slide assemblies  164 ,  166 .  FIGS. 7 through 9  provide exploded views of freezer drawer  104  and drawer slide assemblies  164 ,  166  ( FIG. 7 ), first drawer slide assembly  164  ( FIG. 8 ), and second drawer slide assembly  166  ( FIG. 9 ).  FIGS. 10 through 12  provide exploded ( FIG. 10 ) and assembled ( FIGS. 11 through 13 ) cross-sectional views of first pinion gear assembly  244 .  FIGS. 14 through 18  provide perspective and cross-sectional views of pinion gear assemblies  244 ,  246 . 
     As shown in the illustrated embodiments, freezer drawer  104  may include first drawer slide assembly  164  and second drawer slide assembly  166  for moving freezer drawer  104  into and out of the freezer chamber  124 . In this regard, as best shown in  FIG. 7 , each slide assembly  164 ,  166  may include a base  216  and one or more slide members  218  that move linearly into and out of slide base  216  via a suitable bearing arrangement. In an alternative embodiment, multiple slide members  218  may telescope relative to each other. 
     A first support  220  and a second support  222  may be configured for receiving drawer slide assemblies  164 ,  166  which are mounted on opposing sides of freezer drawer  104 . In this regard, freezer chamber  124  may have a first sidewall  224  and a second sidewall  226 . First support  220  may be mounted to the first sidewall  224  and include a first geared rack  228 . Similarly, second support  222  may be mounted to the second sidewall  226  and include a second geared rack  230 . Each of the geared racks  228 ,  230  may include an upper surface having a plurality of gear teeth defined thereon. As best shown in  FIG. 7 , base  216  of each slide assembly  164 ,  166  may be mounted to first support  220  or second support  222 . 
     First support  220  and second support  222  may be constructed from any suitably rigid material. For example, first support  220  and second support  222  may be constructed of steel or injection molded plastic and attached to the first sidewall  224  and second sidewall  226  using any suitable mechanical fastener, such as screws, bolts, rivets, etc. Alternatively, first support  220  and second support  222  may be integrally formed with first sidewall  224  and second sidewall  226  or may be welded thereto. Similarly, first geared rack  228  and second geared rack  230  may be formed as a separate piece of metal, plastic, or other suitably rigid material and may be fastened to the first support  220  and second support  222 , respectively. Alternatively, first geared rack  228  and second geared rack  230  may be formed as a unitary, integral piece with the first support  220  and second support  222 , respectively, e.g., by injection molding. 
     Drawer slide assemblies  164 ,  166  may be fixed within freezer chamber  124  in any suitable manner. For example, fasteners (e.g., screws or bolts) may secure drawer slide assemblies  164 ,  166  to first and second supports  220 ,  222 , or directly to cabinet  108 . Similarly, glue, snap-fit mechanisms, interference-fit mechanisms, or any suitable combination thereof may secure drawer slide assemblies  164 ,  166  within freezer chamber  124 . Alternatively, drawer slide assemblies  164 ,  166  may be integrally molded to cabinet  108  within freezer chamber  124 . According to the illustrated embodiment, drawer slide assemblies  164 ,  166  may be secured to first and second supports  220 ,  222  on opposing sidewalls of cabinet  108  using mechanical fasteners. 
     According to the illustrated embodiment, first support  220  and second support  222  define a recess  232  that is configured to receive the slide base  216 , which may be snapped in place or attached using mechanical fasteners, e.g., bolts. First geared rack  228  and the second geared rack  230  may be disposed below first drawer slide assembly  164  and second drawer slide assembly  166 , respectively. Recess  232  may be deep enough to allow the slide base  216  of the drawer slide assemblies  164 ,  166  to sit flush with a surface of the first support  220  and second support  222 . In this manner, a pinion gear (discussed in detail below), when attached to the slide member  218 , may be aligned along the lateral direction L with the first geared rack  228  or second geared rack  230 , respectively. 
     Drawer slide assemblies  164 ,  166  may be mounted to front panel  130  of freezer drawer  104  such that the freezer drawer  104  may be moved into and out of the freezer chamber  124  along the transverse direction T, relative to first support  220  and second support  222 . More specifically, each of first drawer slide assembly  164  and second drawer slide assembly  166  may be attached at a first end  234  to front panel  130  and may extend from the front panel  130  in a substantially orthogonal direction to a distal second end  236 . 
     As described above, first drawer slide assembly  164  and second drawer slide assembly  166  may be connected directly to front panel  130 . By contrast, in the illustrated embodiment, first drawer slide assembly  164  and second drawer slide assembly  166  may be connected to front panel  130  by a first slide support bracket  240  and a second slide support bracket  242 . First slide support bracket  240  and second slide support bracket  242  may be attached at opposite lateral sides of front panel  130  of freezer drawer  104  and connect to first slide support bracket  240  and second slide support bracket  242 , respectively. The slide support brackets  240 ,  242  may be may of a rigid material, such as metal, and may connected to front panel  130  using mechanical fasteners, e.g., rivets or bolts. The slide support brackets may provide additional structural support to the freezer drawer  104 . 
     Drawer slide assemblies  164 ,  166  may be positioned adjacent and parallel to the first support  220  and second support  222 , respectively. In this manner, freezer drawer  104  may be disposed within the freezer chamber  124  (i.e., the retracted position) when in a closed position and freezer drawer  104  may slide out such that it is at least partially disposed outside freezer chamber  124  when in an open position (i.e., the extended position). One skilled in the art will appreciate that other mechanisms can be used to manipulate freezer drawer  104  within the freezer chamber  124  of refrigerator appliance  100 . 
     Notably, as described briefly above, off-center pulling on handle  180  of freezer drawer  104  can cause freezer drawer  104  to have a tendency to rotate slightly as it moves into and out of freezer chamber  124 . This rotation results in misalignment between the sides of freezer drawer  104 , often referred to as “racking” Racking can cause freezer drawer  104  to bind within freezer chamber  124  such that is it is either very difficult to move or will not move at all. Moreover, this misalignment of freezer drawer  104  may result in an improper seal between cabinet  108  and freezer drawer  104  when in the closed position. 
     To minimize racking of freezer drawer  104 , first drawer slide assembly  164  and second drawer slide assembly  166  may be synchronized by an anti-racking system to prevent them from sliding at different rates, and thus always keeping the freezer drawer  104  aligned with freezer chamber  124 . According to the illustrated embodiment, in order to synchronize the movements of first drawer slide assembly  164  and second drawer slide assembly  166 , freezer drawer  104  may include a pinion and connecting rod configuration. As described below, pinion gears may be attached to each of the drawer slide assemblies  264 ,  266  and may be joined by a connecting rod that spans the width of freezer drawer  104 . In this manner, as freezer drawer  104  is moved into and out of the freezer chamber  124 , an off-center pulling force exerted primarily on the first slide assembly causes the first pinion gear to simultaneously rotate the connecting rod and transfer the pulling force to the second pinion gear. Therefore, even when the freezer drawer  104  is pulled with an off-center force, first drawer slide assembly  164  and second drawer slide assembly  166  move in unison, as does the entire freezer drawer  104 . 
     According to the illustrated embodiment, a first pinion gear assembly  244  and a second pinion gear assembly  246  are connected to the first drawer slide assembly  164  and the second drawer slide assembly  166 , respectively. First pinion gear assembly  244 , may include, for example, a first pinion base  248  and a first pinion gear  250 . The first pinion base  248  may be attached to second end  236  of first drawer slide assembly  164 . It should be understood that the second drawer slide assembly  166  may be similarly constructed, having a second pinion base  252  and a second pinion gear  254  attached to second end  236  of second drawer slide assembly  166 . 
     First pinion base  160  and second pinion base  252  may define a first pinion stud  260  and a second pinion stud  262 , respectively. Pinion studs  260 ,  262  may be any member protruding from pinion bases  248 ,  252  that is configured to receive the respective first pinion gear  250  or second pinion gear  254 . According to the illustrated embodiment, each pinion stud  260 ,  262  is a spherical ball joint that extends from pinion bases  248 ,  252 , respectively. The spherical ball joint may be a solid sphere or any other shape sufficient to attach pinion gears  250 ,  254  and pinion bases  248 ,  252  together. The shape of each pinion stud  260 ,  262  should allow rotation of pinion gears  250 ,  254  relative to pinion bases  248 ,  252  about an axis parallel to the lateral direction L. In addition, the shape of each pinion stud  260 ,  262  should allow rotation of pinion gears  250 ,  254  relative to pinion bases  248 ,  252  about an axis parallel to at least one of vertical direction V and transverse direction T. 
     First pinion base  248  and second pinion base  252  may be mounted to the respective first drawer slide assembly  164  or second drawer slide assembly  166  by resilient locking tabs  264  that may be snapped into a receiving hole  266  on the respective first drawer slide assembly  164  or second drawer slide assembly  166 . In this regard, locking tabs  264  may protrude from first pinion base  248  and second pinion base  252  in a cantilevered manner, such that they flex when inserted into receiving hole  266  and snap securely in place when fully inserted. Alternatively, first pinion base  248  and second pinion base  252  may be connected to the respective first drawer slide assembly  164  or second drawer slide assembly  166  using any suitable attachment means, such as mechanical fasteners. 
     First pinion gear  250  may engage first geared rack  228  and define a first socket  270  that is configured to receive first pinion stud  260  and rotatably mount first pinion gear  250  to first pinion base  248 . Similarly, second pinion gear  254  may engage second geared rack  230  and define a second socket  272  that is configured to receive second pinion stud  262  and rotatably mount second pinion gear  254  to second pinion base  252 . Each socket  270 ,  272  may include a plurality of arcuate clips that are configured to snap onto the respective first pinion stud  260  or second pinion stud  262 . One skilled in the art will appreciate that other socket configurations are possible. In this manner, pinion gear assemblies  244 ,  246  are mounted to slide member  218  and pinion gears  250 ,  254  are in geared engagement with geared racks  228 ,  230  so as to rotate as front panel  130  (and attached slide member  218 ) of freezer drawer  104  are moved into and out of freezer chamber  124 . 
     A connecting rod  274  connects first pinion gear  250  and second pinion gear  254  such that they share a rotational axis with connecting rod  274 . More specifically, pinion gears  250 ,  254  and connecting rod  274  rotate about an axis A defined by connecting rod  274 , such that pinion gears  250 ,  254  rotate in unison along their respective geared racks  228 ,  230 . In this manner, a driving force generated at first pinion gear  250  from an off-center pulling force on the freezer drawer  104  is transmitted through the connecting rod  274  to second pinion gear  254  as the drawer door moves between an open and a closed position, and vice versa. In this manner, the force imbalance is “equalized” and the likelihood of freezer drawer  104  racking or binding in freezer chamber  124  is significantly reduced. 
     According to some embodiments, each of first pinion gear  250  and second pinion gear  254  may include a circular gear  280  surrounding a concentric, axially extending member  282 . A first end  284  of the axial member  282  may define sockets  270 ,  272  while an opposite second end  286  of the axial member  282  defines a keyed hub  288 . Notably, connecting rod  274  spans the entire lateral width of freezer drawer  104  and engages keyed hub  288  of pinion gears  250 ,  254  in a manner that ensures each pinion gear  250 ,  254  is securely positioned over the geared racks  228 ,  230 . More specifically, connecting rod  274  has a first end  290  and an opposite second end  292 , each of the first end  290  and second end  292  being configured for receipt into the respective keyed hub  288 . The keyed hub  288  may be, for example, a square receiving hole defined in the center of second end  286  of axial members  282  configured to receive a square ends  290 ,  292  of connecting rod  274 . In this manner, connecting rod  274  will rotate along with first pinion gear  250  and second pinion gear  254 . Other shapes of the keyed hub  288  and ends  290 ,  292  of connecting rod  274  are also possible. For example, the ends  290 ,  292  of connecting rod  274  and the keyed hubs  288  may have any complementary multi-sided cross-sectional profile. 
     Although the illustrated embodiment describes freezer drawer  104  for use in freezer chamber  124  of refrigerator appliance  100 , one skilled in the art will appreciate that freezer drawer  104  can be used in any suitable appliance. As an example, freezer drawer  104  may be used in refrigerator appliance  100  ( FIG. 1 ) as one of drawers  136  ( FIG. 2 ). In alternative exemplary embodiments, freezer drawer  104  may be used in oven appliances, dishwasher appliances, washing machine appliances, etc. 
     This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.