Abstract:
A stationary drawer glide and cabinet drawer are provided. The stationary drawer glide and cabinet drawer incorporating the drawer glide allow for a user to easily slide open and closed a cabinet drawer without causing damage or warping to the cabinet drawer, even if there are heavy objects in the drawer. The drawer glide includes a fastening portion adapted to be affixed to an interior cabinet wall, and top and bottom portions for supporting a drawer. The drawer glide may be made of a material with a smooth surface with a low coefficient of friction to facilitate easy gliding of the cabinet drawer.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a division of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/640,609, filed on Dec. 18, 2006, pending, the entire disclosure of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a drawer glide for use in a cabinet drawer and a cabinet drawer for use in a cabinet. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Often times, cabinet drawers contain heavy items such as paper files. When the cabinet drawer contains heavy items, it typically becomes difficult to quickly open without damaging or warping the drawer. The drawer will not easily slide open. More expensive drawers have mechanisms that allow them to more easily slide, however, these mechanisms are expensive and not economical for a simple file cabinet for someone not looking to invest a lot of money. 
         [0004]    In view of the foregoing, there exists a need for a cabinet drawer and stationary drawer glide that will easily open, even when there are heavy items in the cabinet. Additionally, there exists a need for a drawer glide that will allow a drawer to be easily opened without damaging or warping the cabinet drawer. There also exists a need for a cabinet drawer and drawer glide that can be easily and inexpensively manufactured. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In accordance with the present invention, a cabinet drawer and stationary drawer glide are provided. The cabinet drawer and stationary drawer glide are particularly useful for storing heavy items such as paper in a drawer, while still allowing quick and easy opening of the drawer. The cabinet drawer and stationary drawer glide are also particularly useful to allow the drawer to store heavy items without warping or damaging the drawer when it is opened. 
         [0006]    In one aspect of the invention, a stationary drawer glide for attachment to a cabinet wall is provided. The drawer glide comprises a fastening portion adapted to be affixed to a cabinet wall comprising at least one fastening member; an elongated, substantially flat upper plateau, load-bearing top portion for supporting a drawer; an elongated, substantially flat, load-bearing bottom portion for supporting a drawer; at least one horizontal side portion; and two vertical side portions. 
         [0007]    The load-bearing top portion and load-bearing bottom portion can be of any length and width as appropriate to facilitate a cabinet drawer to easily open and close. Typically, the top portion will be essentially the same length and width as the bottom portion. Typically, the top and bottom portions are between approximately 3 and 9 inches long and between approximately % and 2 inches wide. More typically, the top and bottom portions are between approximately 4 and 6 inches long and between about ½ and 1 inch wide. Most typically, the top and bottom portions are approximately 5 inches long and ½ inch wide. 
         [0008]    The horizontal side portion may be any length and width as appropriate. Typically, the horizontal side portion is approximately the same length as the top and bottom portions. Typically, the horizontal side portion is between approximately 2 and 9 inches long and between approximately % and 3 inches wide. More typically, the horizontal side portion is between approximately 4 and 6 inches long and between approximately ½ and 2 inches wide. Most typically, the horizontal side portion is approximately 5 inches long and 1 inch wide. 
         [0009]    The vertical side portions may be any height and width as appropriate. Typically, the height of the vertical side portion is approximately the same as the width of the horizontal side portion and the width of the vertical side portion is approximately the same as the width of the top and bottom portions. Typically, the vertical side portion is between approximately ¼ and 3 inches high and between approximately ½ and 2 inches wide. More typically, the vertical side portion is between approximately ½ and 2 inches high and between approximately ½ and 1 inch wide. Most typically, the vertical side portion is approximately 1 inch high and ½ inch wide. 
         [0010]    The drawer glide may comprise any suitable material. Preferably, the upper plateau comprises high density polyethylene or an acetal copolymer, which is available under the trademark Celcon®. Other materials may be used as desired, and include, for example, polypropylene, nylon or ABS. Typically, the upper plateau of the stationary drawer glide has an essentially smooth surface. The bottom portion of the drawer glide may have an essentially smooth surface. The vertical and horizontal side portions may also have an essentially smooth surface. Typically, the upper plateau, bottom portion, vertical side portions, and bottom side portions all have an essentially smooth surface. The smooth surface helps facilitate the easy gliding of the cabinet drawer when opening and closing the cabinet drawer. 
         [0011]    The essentially smooth surfaces of the drawer glide typically have a low coefficient of friction, further easing the opening and closing of a cabinet drawer. For example, the coefficient of friction is between approximately 0.07 and 0.3. More preferably, the coefficient of friction is between approximately 0.1 and 0.15. 
         [0012]    To further reduce friction, the upper plateau and bottom portion of the drawer glide may be lubricated. Preferably, white lithium grease is used; however, any lubricant compatible with the material used to fabricate the drawer glide may be used. 
         [0013]    The bottom portion of the drawer glide may further comprise a member bridging the top and bottom portions, forming an inner portion that is essentially hollow and comprises a plurality of supports. The horizontal side portion may further comprise a glide portion, wherein the glide portion connects the top portion with the bottom portion. The glide portion facilitates easy gliding of the cabinet drawer over the drawer glide, thus allowing the drawer to be easily opened and closed from the cabinet. The glide portion may be any size as appropriate in order to facilitate easy opening and closing of the cabinet drawer. Typically, the glide portion will be approximately half the width of the vertical side portion. 
         [0014]    The stationary drawer glide can be configured in any appropriate shape that will easily facilitate the opening and closing of a cabinet drawer. Typically, the drawer glide is substantially symmetrical around a horizontal axis. The drawer glide may also be substantially symmetrical around a vertical axis. Most typically, the drawer glide is both substantially symmetrical around a horizontal axis and around a vertical axis. The drawer glide may have any cross-sectional shape that will allow for easy sliding of a cabinet drawer when closing or opening the cabinet drawer while still providing a strong and stable drawer glide. Typically, the drawer glide has a c-shaped cross-section. 
         [0015]    The stationary drawer glide may further comprise an essentially hollow inner portion. The essentially hollow inner portion may further comprise a series of supports to support and strengthen the drawer glide. Typically, the inner portion will also comprise at least one fastener. The fastener can be any type of fastener, allowing the drawer glide to be connected to the inside of a cabinet or to a cabinet rail. Typically, the fastener will be a snap-in fastener to connect to a cabinet rail. More typically, the inner portion of the drawer glide will comprise two snap-in fasteners. 
         [0016]    In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a cabinet drawer is provided. The cabinet drawer comprises a drawer body comprising a bottom, two opposing sides, a back, and a front, wherein said opposing sides comprise at least one recessed track; and a stationary drawer glide affixed to a cabinet rail comprising: a fastening portion adapted to be affixed to a cabinet wall comprising at least one fastening member; an elongated, substantially flat upper plateau, load-bearing top portion for supporting a drawer; an elongated, substantially flat, load-bearing bottom portion for supporting a drawer; at least one horizontal side portion; and two vertical side portions. 
         [0017]    The recessed track may be slightly larger than the cabinet rail and drawer glide. The recessed track can then fit and glide over the cabinet rail and drawer glide, allowing for easy movement of the cabinet drawer within a cabinet. Typically, the cabinet drawer is essentially symmetrical around a vertical axis. Typically, at least one cabinet drawer is arranged within a cabinet body to form a file cabinet. More typically, a plurality of cabinet drawers are arranged within a cabinet body to form a multi-drawer file cabinet. The cabinet drawers may be arranged in any appropriate configuration within the cabinet body. Typically, the plurality of cabinet drawers are vertically aligned to form a vertical cabinet. Typically, the plurality of vertically aligned cabinet drawers are essentially symmetrical around a vertical axis. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0018]    The accompanying drawings form part of the specification and like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same. 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a drawer glide in accordance with the invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the bottom of an embodiment of a drawer glide in accordance with the invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a front plan view of another embodiment of a drawer glide in a drawer track in accordance with the invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of a cut-away portion of another embodiment of a drawer glide in a drawer track in accordance with the invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a cut-away portion of a cabinet and drawer glides in accordance with the invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a drawer glide in accordance with the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0025]    While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and described in detail herein, several specific embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as exemplifications of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated. 
         [0026]    Referring to the figures generally, and in particular to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , a perspective view of a stationary drawer glide  10  is provided. Stationary drawer glide  10  comprises an integral body  12  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Body  12  comprises an elongated, substantially flat upper plateau, load-bearing top portion  14  and an elongated, substantially flat, load-bearing bottom portion  16 . Body  12  further comprises a horizontal side portion  18  and two vertical side portions  20   a - b . For convenience, “horizontal” and “vertical” as used here refer to drawer glide  10  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , and it will be understood that horizontal side portion  18  and vertical side portions  20   a - b  will be oriented differently when drawer glide  10  is mounted to the inside wall of a cabinet as shown in  FIGS. 3-5 , i.e., horizontal side portion  18  may be vertically oriented when mounted to a cabinet wall. Horizontal side portion  18  further comprises glide portions  22   a - b.    
         [0027]    Horizontal side portion  18 , vertical side portions  20   a - b , top portion  14 , and bottom portion  16 , are connected and configured to form inner portion  24 . Inner portion  24  is essentially hollow and comprises fasteners  26   a - b  and a plurality of supports  28   a - h , which are integral to drawer glide  10  as shown in  FIG. 2 . Fasteners  26   a - b  are snap-style fasteners. Supports  28   a - h  provide additional load-bearing and structural support to top portion  14  and bottom portion  16 . Supports  28   a - h  are configured within inner portion  24  forming a generally c-shaped cross-section when drawer glide  10  is standing on and supported by bottom portion  16 . Vertical side portions  20   a - b  also form a generally c-shaped cross-section when drawer glide  10  is standing on and supported by bottom portion  16 . 
         [0028]    Horizontal side portion  18  further comprises a horizontal opening  30 . Top portion  14  comprises top opening  32  and bottom portion  16  further comprises bottom opening  34 . Vertical side portions  20   a - b  further comprise vertical openings  36   a - b.    
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a front plan view of a stationary drawer glide  50  in a drawer track  52  in accordance with the invention is provided. Drawer glide  50  comprises a load-bearing top portion  54  and a load-bearing bottom portion  56 . Drawer glide  50  further comprises a vertical portion  58  and a horizontal portion  60 . Vertical portion  58  comprises a vertical opening  62 . Drawer glide  50  further comprises an inner portion  64  comprising a support  66 . Support  66  provides additional load-bearing support to top portion  54  and bottom portion  56 . Drawer glide  50  and inner portion  64  have a generally c-shaped cross-section. 
         [0030]    Inner portion  64  further comprises a fastener  68 , allowing drawer glide  50  to be affixed to a cabinet wall  70 . Drawer glide  50  is securely fastened to cabinet wall  70 . A cabinet drawer wall  72  has a drawer track  74  that is affixed around and glides over drawer glide  50 . 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a top plan view of a cut-away portion of a stationary drawer glide  80  on a cabinet track  82  affixed with a cabinet drawer  84  is provided. Drawer glide  80  is affixed to an interior cabinet wall  86 . Drawer glide  80  comprises horizontal side portions  88   a - b , vertical side portions  90   a - b , and a load-bearing top portion  92 . Vertical side portions  90   a - b  further comprise glide portions  94   a - b . Glide portions  94   a - b  are angled away from cabinet drawer  84 , allowing cabinet drawer  84  to easily slide along cabinet track  82 . 
         [0032]    Cabinet drawer  84  comprises a handle H for opening and closing cabinet drawer  84  along cabinet track  82 . Cabinet drawer  84  further comprises a recessed track  98  that envelopes drawer glide  80 , allowing cabinet drawer  84  to slide along drawer glide  80 . 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , a perspective view of a cut-away portion of a cabinet  110  is provided. Stationary drawer glides  112   a - b  are mounted on a cabinet track  114   a - b . Stationary drawer glides  112   a - b  comprise a load-bearing top portion  116   a - b , a horizontal portion  118   a - b  and vertical side portions  120   a - d . Horizontal side portions  118   a - b  comprise horizontal openings  122   a - c . Drawer glides  112   a - b  further comprise essentially hollow interior portions  124   a - b . Interior portions  124   a - b  comprise load bearing supports  126  and fasteners  128   a - b . Fasteners  128   a - b  affix drawer glides  112   a - b  to cabinet tracks  114   a - b.    
         [0034]    Drawer glides  112   a - b  are essentially stationary once affixed to cabinet tracks  114   a - b . A cabinet drawer can slide on drawer tracks  130   a - b  over and along drawer glides  112   a - b . Drawer tracks  130   a - b  are affixed to a cabinet drawer and slide over drawer glides  112   a - b , allowing for easy opening and closing of a cabinet drawer in cabinet  110 . 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a stationary drawer glide  150  is provided. Stationary drawer glide  150  comprises a body  152 . Body  152  comprises an elongated, substantially flat upper plateau, load-bearing top portion  154  and an elongated, substantially flat, load-bearing bottom portion  156 . Body  152  further comprises a horizontal side portion  158  and two vertical side portions  160   a - b . As before, “horizontal” and “vertical” as used here refer to drawer glide  150  as shown in  FIG. 6 , and it will be understood that horizontal side portion  158  and vertical side portions  160   a - b  will be oriented differently when drawer glide  150  is mounted to the inside wall of a cabinet. Horizontal side portion  158  further comprises glide portions  162   a - b.    
         [0036]    Horizontal side portion  158 , vertical side portions  160   a - b , top portion  154 , and bottom portion  156 , are connected and configured to form inner portion  164 . Inner portion  164  is essentially hollow and comprises fasteners  166   a - b  and a plurality of supports. Fasteners  166   a - b  are snap-style fasteners. Supports provide additional load-bearing and structural support to top portion  154  and bottom portion  156 . Vertical side portions  160   a - b  form a generally c-shaped cross-section when drawer glide  150  is standing on and supported by bottom portion  156 . 
         [0037]    While the invention has been described with respect to certain preferred embodiments, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, it is to be understood that the invention is capable of numerous changes, modifications and rearrangements, and such changes, modifications and rearrangements are intended to be covered by the following claims.