Patent Publication Number: US-7722139-B1

Title: Mechanism for quickly assembling or disassembling drawer slide

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of Invention 
   The invention relates to drawer slides and more particularly to a mechanism for quickly assembling a slide on either side of a drawer and detaching the slide therefrom without using tools. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   A conventional slide assembly mounted on either side  2  of a drawer  1  and a corresponding side of a cabinet (not shown) is shown in  FIG. 1 . Either side  2  of the drawer  1  is provided with a longitudinal inner slide member  3 . Also, either side of an inner surface of the cabinet is provided with a longitudinal outer slide member  6 . A plurality of screws  5  are driven through the inner slide member  3  into either side of the drawer  1  to secure the inner slide member  3  thereto. A slot  4  is formed on a position proximate a rear end of the inner slide member  3  for stopping the drawer  1  from pulling out of the cabinet when a latch (not shown) on the outer slide member  6  enters the slot  4 . 
   However, an assembly of the conventional slide assembly on the drawer  1  and the cabinet is a complicated process due to threading. Further, a repair of any malfunctioned component is not an easy task. Furthermore, the slide assembly tends to malfunction or even damage if heavy objects are stored in the drawer  1  for a long period of time. 
   There is another type of conventional slide assembly commercially available. Either side of a drawer is provided with an inner slide member having front and rear slots. Either side of an inner surface of a cabinet is provided with an outer slide member. The outer slide member has front and rear latches each adapted to lockingly engage with the front or rear slot so as to allow the drawer to travel between a first position relative to the cabinet and a second position relative to the cabinet. 
   However, the locking components of the conventional slide assembly tend to deform after a short time of use. That is, it is not durable. Thus, continuing improvements in the exploitation of drawer slide are constantly being sought. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a mechanism for quickly assembling a slide on either side of a drawer and detaching the slide therefrom without using tools. 
   To achieve the above and other objects, the invention provides a telescoping slide assembly for supporting a movable drawer in a cabinet, the slide assembly comprising a stationary outer slide member on either side of the cabinet; two inner slide members each adapted to move relative to the outer slide member and comprising front and rear tabs of substantially curved cross-section, a front opening disposed laterally of the front tab, and a rear opening disposed laterally of the rear tab; a front locking unit formed on either side of the drawer and comprising a first projection having a flat side surface, and a downward bent first snapping member disposed rearward of the first projection; and a rear locking unit formed on either side of the drawer and comprising a second projection having a flat side surface, and a downward bent first snapping member disposed forwardly of the second projection, wherein the first snapping member is adapted to lockingly dispose between the front opening and the front tab, and the second snapping member is adapted to lockingly dispose between the rear opening and the rear tab. 
   By utilizing the invention, the following advantages can be obtained. Assembly and disassembly of the drawer slide are easy and can be done without using tools. The structural strength of the drawer is even increased. The retracting or extending operation of the drawer is facilitated. 
   The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of one side of a drawer mounted with a conventional slide assembly; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a drawer incorporating a portion of a preferred embodiment of slide assembly according to the invention to be assembled with the remaining portion thereon mounted on a cabinet shown in phantom; 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the portion of slide assembly on the drawer of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a top plan view of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 3  including one side of the drawer and the inner slide member; 
       FIG. 6  is a side elevation of  FIG. 5  showing the inner slide member being mounted on one side of the drawer; 
       FIG. 7  is a sectional view taken along line C-C of  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 8  is a view similar to  FIG. 6  showing the inner slide member having been mounted on one side of the drawer; 
       FIG. 9  is a sectional view taken along line D-D of  FIG. 8 ; 
       FIG. 10  is an enlarged view of the top of the right side portion of  FIG. 2  showing the projections being urged against with the inner slide member; and 
       FIG. 11  is a rear view of a portion of  FIG. 10  further showing the projection being urged against with the inner slide member. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to  FIGS. 2 to 11 , a mechanism for quickly assembling a slide on either side of a drawer and detaching the slide therefrom without using tools in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. 
   A cabinet  10  has a sufficient space to accommodate a plurality of (three as shown) drawers  20  to slidably dispose therein. Either side of one of three levels of the cabinet  10  is provided with an outer slide member  12  which is well known in the art. 
   Either side  201  of the drawer  20  is provided with the mechanism of the invention. The mechanism comprises the following components as discussed in detail below. 
   An inner slide member  40  is provided on either side  201  of the drawer  20 . The inner slide members  40  are adapted to move relative to the outer slide members  12  in order to retract the drawer  20  into the cabinet  10  or extend therefrom in a manner well known in the art. 
   Front and rear fastening units  21 ,  26  are provided on either side  201  of the drawer  20 . A projection  30  with a flat side surface is provided forwardly of the front fastening unit  21  and a projection  30  with a flat side surface is provided rearward of the rear fastening unit  26  respectively. The projection  30  is about flush with either one of the fastening units  21 ,  26  as best shown in  FIG. 4 . Front and rear tabs  41 ,  42  of substantially curved cross-section are provided on the inner slide member  40 . A front opening  411  is provided in the same place of the front tab  41  and a rear opening  421  is provided in the same place of the rear tab  42  respectively. The front fastening unit  21  comprises a downward bent first snapping member  22  and the rear fastening unit  26  comprises a downward bent second snapping member  27  respectively. A first gap  25  is formed between the first snapping member  22  and either side of the drawer  20  and a second gap  28  is formed between the second snapping member  27  and either side of the drawer  20  respectively. 
   As shown in  FIG. 6 , a bottom of the first snapping member  22  is formed with a forward projecting tongue  24 . A curved corner  23  is formed on a rear bottom of the first snapping member  22 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 7 , a latch  29  is formed on an outer surface of the second snapping member  27 . The latch  29  comprises an upward inclined surface  292  and a shoulder  291  extending laterally from a top end of the inclined surface  292 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 6 to 9 , in assembly a person may first dispose the inner slide member  40  in a position that the rear tab  42  is below and about vertically aligned with the second snapping member  27  and the front tab  41  is above and about vertically aligned with the first snapping member  22  respectively. That is, the inner slide member  40  is inclined relative to one side  201  of the drawer  20  (see  FIG. 6 ). Next, the person may press the first snapping member  22  downward by sliding the curved corner  23  into the front opening  411  until the tongue  24  is positioned below the front tab  41 . 
   Next, the person may press the second snapping member  27  and then counterclockwise pivot the rear end of the inner slide member  40  as indicated by arrow in  FIG. 6 . Hence, the rear tab  42  slides along an inner surface of the inclined surface  292  to cause the shoulder  291  to enter the rear opening  421  via the second gap  28  (see  FIGS. 6 to 9 ). As a result, the inner slide member  40  is mounted on one side  201  of the drawer  20 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , at this assembled state the projections  30  are urged against with the inner slide member  40 . Hence, the provision of the projections  30  can increase contact between the inner slide member  40  and the drawer  20  and increase operating stability when retracting or extending the drawer  20 . 
   The invention has the following advantages. Its assembly and disassembly are easy and can be done without using tools. The structural strength of the drawer is even increased. The retracting or extending operation of the drawer is facilitated. 
   While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.