Abstract:
A motion control bracket ( 100 ) for use with a drawer slide includes a mounting plate ( 102 ) for fastening the bracket ( 100 ) to a cabinet drawer slide. A motion control device ( 101 ) is used for controlling the rate of speed with which a drawer closes against a cabinet frame. Other embodiments of the motion control bracket ( 130, 160 ) include fastening tabs ( 113, 115  and  119 ) for mounting the bracket to an existing drawer slide and a substantially L-shaped bracket ( 131 ) for mounting motion control device ( 101 ) under a cabinet drawer. The invention enhances existing drawer slides by adding motion control with minimal cost and effort.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     This invention relates in general to mechanical drawer slides used for cabinet drawers and, more particularly, to a bracket with motion control device that can be added to preexisting drawer slides for controlling the speed with which a drawer is closed.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Drawer slides are well known in the art and are used in many applications to allow drawers to easily slide in and out of the cabinet frame. One initial improvement for drawer slides included a detent or bumper that allowed the drawer to be pulled from the cabinet frame when applying a pulling force to the drawer. This allowed the drawer to remain in a closed position without accidentally opening due to contract or vibration. Over time, drawer slides were again improved to allow the drawer to self-close. A self-closing feature allows the drawer to automatically close when the user pushes the drawer a predetermined position back into the cabinet frame. Either a ramped surface built into the slide or a biasing spring allows the drawer to retract back into the cabinet frame after release.  
         [0003]     Still further improvements to the self-closing slide included integrated dampening devices that work to control the speed with which the drawer retracts into the cabinet frame. In general, this feature utilizes a motion control device to operate once the drawer reaches a predetermined position in the track of the drawer slide. A dampener works to slow movement of the drawer allowing to it gently return to its closed position. This has an advantage of allowing the drawer to softly close into a shut position without slamming or bumping the drawer face against the cabinet frame.  
         [0004]     One problem associated with the slides that include an integrated self-closing device is that there is no easy way to add a motion control feature to preexisting drawer slides. If the user wants to add a motion control feature, most often the cabinet slide must be completely removed and replaced.  
         [0005]     In most instances, the cost to add motion control to a drawer involves more expense than replacing the drawer slide. The motion control feature is currently available largely, if not exclusively, on drawer slides that are concealed beneath the drawer box. This type of slide requires drawer construction and drawer sizes unlike those utilized with conventional side mount slides, necessitating a new drawer box. This obviously can be costly and burdensome and may require the services of a skilled carpenter. Although it is possible to drill out a cavity in the cabinet frame to add a motion control cylinder, this is difficult process for the ordinary consumer. Drilling large holes in the cabinet frame that are the right size and location is difficult for an ordinary consumer to accomplish. This method also runs the risk of improperly positioning the motion control device in the cabinet frame.  
         [0006]     Another problem associated with the current art extends to builders of new cabinets. Since the motion control feature is currently available largely, if not exclusively, on drawer slides that are concealed beneath the drawer box, cabinet makers must utilize drawer construction techniques and drawer sizes unlike those utilized with conventional side mount slides. For example, the drawer must often be notched in two locations and two holes drilled in the back of the drawer in order to mount the drawer slide. These construction changes can be costly to implement in both equipment and production costs.  
         [0007]     Accordingly, there is a need to provide a motion control device that can easily be retrofitted to existing drawer slides. The motion control device should be operable with standard slides or ones having a self close feature. The device should be capable of controlling the rate upon which the drawer closes into the cabinet frame. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     The features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of the motion control bracket with mounting plate and dampener.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of the motion control bracket with integrated motion control device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a side perspective view of the motion control bracket as showing in  FIG. 2  attached to a drawer slide.  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of the motion control bracket as in  FIG. 2  where the bracket is substantially L-shaped allowing orthogonal mounting to a cabinet frame.  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of an alterative embodiment to that shown in  FIG. 1  where the bracket is used as an integral portion of the drawer slide.  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is a side perspective view of the motion control bracket as shown in  FIG. 5  attached to a drawer slide.  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  is a side perspective view of an alterative embodiment to that shown in  FIG. 1  where the motion control bracket includes both a self-close apparatus and a motion control device.  
         [0016]      FIG. 8  is a side view of the motion control bracket as shown in  FIG. 7 .  
         [0017]      FIG. 9  is a side view of the motion control bracket as shown in  FIG. 8 , where the motion control bracket is attached to a drawer slide.  
         [0018]      FIG. 10  is a side perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the motion control bracket as shown in  FIG. 8 , where the bracket is L-shaped allowing orthogonal mounting to a cabinet frame.  
         [0019]      FIG. 11  is a side view of the motion control bracket as shown in  FIG. 10 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 12  is a side perspective view of an alterative embodiment to that shown in  FIG. 7  where the self-close mechanism and motion control device operate from a single point of contact. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0021]     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a motion control bracket with integrated motion control device  100  includes a dampener device  101  that is used to control the closing motion of a cabinet drawer. The dampener device  101  includes a body section  103  and an arm  105  with bumper  107 . The body section  103  may be mechanically fastened or frictionally engaged within an attachment area formed into the mounting plate  102 . The mounting plate may be any size or configuration allowing it to be easily fastened to the side of a drawer slide. The attachment area  109  is defined by a side section  111  and one or more fastening tabs  113 ,  115  where the top of the body section  103  is also held into place with a fastening tab  117 . Those skilled in the art will recognize that although the body section  103  is shown frictionally engaged by the fastening tabs, other means of attachment may also be used such as welds, glues, screws, pins, or other types of mechanical fasteners that work to hold the dampener device  101  into a fixed position. A locating tab  104  and attachment hole  106  may also be used singly or in combination to allow the mounting plate  102  to be correctly fastened at some predetermined position on a drawer slide. Additionally, although the dampener is depicted in  FIG. 1  and subsequent figures as a cylinder type device, it will be further evident to those skilled in the art that a dampener may operate in a linear or rotational fashion and may be configured in any manner to control the speed with which the drawer contacts a cabinet frame.  
         [0022]     In an alternative embodiment,  FIG. 2  illustrates a motion control bracket  150  similar to that shown in  FIG. 1 . In this embodiment, one or more mounting tabs  119  are formed substantially perpendicular to the surface of the bracket where each mounting tab  119  may include a locking tab  121 . As seen in  FIG. 3 , the locking tabs  121 ,  123  are used to engage the motion control bracket  101  to a drawer slide positioned in a mounting channel located between the tab section,  113 ,  115  and the side section  119 . A locating tab  125  may be used to position and locate the bracket  101  when fastened to an accompanying slide. The embodiment shown in  FIG. 2  as well as the other embodiments herein using mounting tabs are very useful in that they may be attached to a drawer slide without the use of tools and other mechanical fasteners.  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  illustrates the motion control bracket as described in  FIG. 2  attached to the side of a drawer slide  200 . As will be evident to those skilled in the art, the drawer slide  200  is one typically used for bathroom and/or kitchen cabinetry. The drawer slide  200  may use either a roller or ball bearing to provide a smooth action when the drawer is opened or closed. The motion control bracket  100  is positioned at some predetermined location on the drawer slide  200  and may be fastened using a screw (not shown) within hole  127 . In operation, the dampening device  101  works in combination with either the back of a drawer face or the back of the drawer body so that the bumper  107  contacts the drawer upon closure. The dampening device  101  operates to control the rate upon which the drawer is closed. This ensures a smooth closure of the drawer face without bouncing and/or other vibration against the cabinet frame.  
         [0024]      FIG. 4  illustrates an alternative embodiment to that shown in  FIG. 2  where the motion control bracket  131  is formed into a substantially L-shaped configuration. In contrast to that shown in  FIG. 1 , the motion control bracket  131  is designed to operate under the cabinet drawer where mounting tabs  133 ,  135 , mounting tabs  137 ,  138  and  140  work to mount with a drawer slide to hold the bracket into a fixed position. As will be evident to those skilled in the art, the bracket may be mounted using mounting tabs  133 ,  135 , mounting tabs  141  and locking tabs  141 ,  142  with no mechanical fasteners such as screws or the like. To even better secure the bracket  131  to a slide, the bracket may be mounted one or more mechanical fasteners attached using locating tab  144  and/or a mounting hole  139  with an accompanying fastener (not shown).  
         [0025]      FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate an alternative embodiment to that shown in  FIG. 2 , where a motion control bracket  300  is formed to be used at the end of a drawer slide to provide support. In addition to the features that are shown in  FIG. 1 , the motion control bracket  300  includes one or more support tabs  301  that are mounted to a cabinet frame using screws or other mechanical fasteners though an associated mounting hole  303 . As seen in  FIG. 6 , the channel  305  is positioned over the bracket  307  where it can be fastened into position using the support tabs  301 . Shown in the retracted position, the dampening device  311  is positioned such that the back of a cabinet drawer face or drawer wall will contract the bumper  313 . This enables the dampening device  311  to control the motion of the drawer when retracting into a closed position within the cabinet frame.  
         [0026]      FIG. 7  illustrates yet another embodiment of the invention as shown in  FIG. 2 , where a support bracket  500  is configured to be fastened and/or mounted on a drawer slide. In this embodiment, the bracket  500  includes both a self-close apparatus  501  and a motion control device  503 . The motion control device  503  is comprised of a cylindrical dampener positioned beneath the drawer slide. As noted herein, the dampener is depicted as a cylinder type device, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that a dampener may operate in a linear or rotational fashion and may be configured in any manner to control the speed with which the drawer is closed into the cabinet frame.  
         [0027]     As best seen in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , a pin  505  is positioned on the side of the cabinet drawer  507 . When the user partially closes the drawer to a position where the pin  505  contracts a seat  507  located at the front portion of the self-closing device  501 , the self-closing device  501  works to engage the pin  505  within the seat  507  for automatically closing the drawer without the user applying a closing force. The self-closing device  501  may utilize either a ramp or spring biasing method to pull the drawer to a closed position within the cabinet frame  511 . As the self-closing device  501  closes to a position where the pin  505  contacts the motion control device  503 , the motion control operates to control the speed with which the drawer face  513  closes against the cabinet  511 .  FIGS. 8 and 9  illustrate the motion control device in its extended position.  
         [0028]      FIGS. 10 and 11  illustrate an alternative embodiment to that shown in  FIG. 7  where the support bracket  800  is L-shaped such that it can be configured at a right angle to the drawer side. Although the bracket  800  is mounted to the drawer slide, the self-close apparatus  801  and the motion control device  803  are concealed below the drawer bottom. As noted herein, a pin (not shown) will first engage with a seat  805  on the self-closing device  801 . As the drawer retracts into the cabinet, the motion control device  803  works to control the speed with which the drawer face contacts the cabinet frame. Both  FIGS. 10 and 11  show the motion control device  803  in a retracted position.  
         [0029]     Finally,  FIG. 12  illustrates another alternative embodiment to that shown in  FIG. 7  where the bracket  1000  includes both the self-close apparatus  1001  and a motion control device  1003 . Although a pin engages with a seat  1005 , an actuator arm  1007  is used to contact motion control device  1003  during the closing process. Although this device operates in a similar fashion to that shown in  FIG. 7 , this embodiment offers a single point of contact since the motion control device  1003  does not make contract with the drawer or an attachment thereto.  
         [0030]     While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be clear that the invention is not so limited. Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions and equivalents will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.