Patent Publication Number: US-2010123376-A1

Title: Drawer cover

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a method and device for the attachment and function of a covering for the prevention of the entry of rodents, other pests, humidity and contamination into a closed sliding drawer. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is all too common to find that a closed and supposedly isolated drawer has been occupied by rodents and other pests. It is also sometimes a surprise to find that a closed drawer did not offer protection form humidity or drying conditions. A cabinet sliding drawer may be closed, but inside the cabinet the drawer and its contents are exposed to any foreign matter, air and pests that are able to enter the cabinet. 
     The concept of covering a drawer is first disclosed in U.S. Pat. No 308,156. In this disclosure it is recognized that closed sliding drawers are in fact not well isolated from the environment and a “dust cover” is provided to further insure the integrity and protection of the drawer&#39;s contents. Further improvements are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 688,010 in which rodents and large insects are prevented from entering the closed drawer. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 2,246,342, a means is disclosed for the control of humidity in a drawer. The means disclosed requires a fixed door or lid which closes the drawer independently and then the sealed drawer is “closed” into the cabinet. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 4,156,549 an insect proof drawer cover is disclosed in which a close fitting, grooved drawer cover assures the complete sealing of the closed drawer against insects. Another lidded drawer is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,001,000. 
     In all the prior art the drawer cover is either a secondary lid which must be opened after the sliding drawer is opened, or is a fixed part of the cabinet which produces a mechanical load on the drawer and therefore adds resistance to the drawer opening or closing, or allows for a fixed spacing between the drawer and the covering therefore providing only partial protection. 
     In modern drawers, the drawer slides provide for the smooth and easy opening and closing of the drawer by greatly reducing any frictional drag. Some drawer slides provide for the lifting and falling of the drawer during the opening and closing operation to assure the drawer “falls” closed and remains in the closed position. This is sometimes referred to as automatic or self closing. Such actions greatly increase the difficulty of providing a drawer cover that is not an independent lid and that provides protection to the contents of the drawer when it is in the close position. 
     The present invention provides both a means and an apparatus for the attachment of an integrated cover for the prevention of dust, humidity, air, rodents, foreign objects and other pests from entering a closed cabinet drawer. The present invention provides an attachment device and means for the holding of an integrated drawer cover, allowing the movement of modern drawers with automatic closing, and providing a drawer cover to drawer interface that adds little or no resistance to the closing and opening of the sliding drawer. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a device with means to attach an integrated drawer cover and associated drawer cover, providing for the low resistance vertical motion of a drawer cover during the opening and closing of the drawer, and providing for the proper positioning of the drawer cover over the closed drawer so as to retard and prevent the entry of dust, humidity, air, rodents, foreign objects and other pests. The invention embodies a device and method for providing the moveable attachment of the drawer cover to the drawer cabinet that facilitates the vertical movement of the drawer cover to prevent interference, such as binding, during the operation of the drawer. This allows the drawer cover to float on the drawer proving minimal resistance. The moveable attachment maintains the correct position of the drawer cover when the drawer is closed and allows the drawer cover to settle onto the drawer contacting all the drawer wall tops and making contact with the drawer face. In this manner, the drawer is covered in a precise manner and the drawer contents are isolated and contained. 
     The present invention provides for the ready and uninhibited operation of the cabinet drawer and presents no interference to the normal operation of the drawer while providing protection from the entry of dust, humidity, air, rodents, foreign objects and other pests when the drawer is in the closed position. 
     While the preferred embodiments of the invention are shown and described herein, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced. 
     These and many other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the invention becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a representation of a drawer typical of those found in furniture and kitchen cabinetry. 
         FIG. 2  shows perspective views of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  shows the present invention as assembled. 
         FIG. 4  shows the drawer and the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  shows the present invention as mounted into the cabinet and protecting the drawer contents. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a representation of a typical drawer as may be found in various furniture and kitchen cabinetry. A drawer floor  1  is shown and is surrounded by drawer sides  2 , drawer back plate  3  and drawer front  4 . Many drawers will have a pull attachment (sometimes referred to as a handle)  5 , though this is optional depending on the particular design and intended purpose. The top areas of drawer sides  2  and drawer back plate  3  define a drawer contact area  8 . The optional drawer rise  7  is the vertical height of the drawer sides  2  and the drawer back  3 . The drawer front height  6  is the distance between the drawer contact surface  8  and the top of the cabinetry opening into which the drawer is fitted. 
       FIG. 2  shows perspective views of the attachment of the present invention. Shown is the attached cover top  10 , the underside of which is shown as the cover underside  11 . The cover top  10  is further defined by the cover sides  12  and the cover back  13 . Cover sides  12  and cover back  13  are optional and may not be present in all covers depending upon drawer front height  6  ( FIG. 1 ). In this case the cover is a flat plate. The cover is attached to the cabinetry by the cover attachment means  14 . 
       FIG. 3  shows the cover attachment means  14  as mounted on the cover top  10  and optionally spaced from the cover sides  12 .  FIG. 3A  shows the plan view of the top of the present invention. A rigid or semi-rigid cover connector  16  is shown bound to cover top  10  by cover attachment strip  15 . The cover strip  15  is firmly attached to the cover top  10  and to the cover connector  16 . The cover strip  15  is flexible and forms a cover hinge joint  20  where it connects between cover connector  16  and cover top  10 . Cover hinge joint  20  allows cover connector  16  to move freely around cover hinge joint  20  in the vertical, but does not allow cover connector  16  to move in the plane of cover top  10 . Cover cabinet connector  17  is attached to the top front surface of cover connector  16  and is used to connect the present invention to the topmost undersurface of the cabinet opening into which the drawer is then inserted. Cover cabinet connector  17  may be double backed sticky tape, foam tape, a glue strip, a glue strip for heated connection, a strip for industrial adhesives such as epoxies or contact cements, or a strip for nails, staples, screws, or fasteners of various types.  FIG. 3A  shows secondary cover hinge joint  19  which is formed between cover cabinet connector  17  and cover connector  16  by secondary cover attachment strip  18 , as shown in  FIG. 3B .  FIG. 3B  shows cover attachment means  16  as rotated about cover hinge joint  20 , and secondary cover hinge joint  19  which is formed between cover cabinet connector  17  and cover connector  16  by secondary cover attachment strip  18 .  FIG. 3C  shows cover attachment means  14  lying flat against cover top  10  in a side view. 
       FIG. 4  shows the drawer and the present invention prior to installation of the drawer covering means. Cover cabinet connector  17  will attach to cabinet enclosure face  21 . This attachment may be made with the drawer removed, in place and closed or in place and opened as required. Hinge joints  19  and  20  allow the drawer cover to rise and fall as necessary to accommodate unimpeded drawer operation. The cover contact area  22  makes contact with drawer contact area  8 , and the drawer cover contacts the back of the drawer front  4  to accomplish the covering of the drawer. 
       FIG. 5  shows the present invention as mounted into the cabinet and protecting the drawer. The Attachment Means is connected to the cabinet enclosure by cabinet connector  17 . 
     While a particular embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Numerous advantages of the invention covered by this document have been set forth in the foregoing description. It will be understood, however, that this disclosure is, in many respects, only illustrative. Changes may be made in details, particularly in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts without exceeding the scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention defined in the appended claims