Patent Abstract:
A drawer slide member including raceways formed of folded or solid material providing additional thickness while utilizing thin material may provide for increased strength of the drawer slide.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of the filing of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/779,125, filed on Mar. 13, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to drawer slides, and more particularly to drawer slide member structures. 
         [0003]    Drawer slides are commonly used to extendably mount casings in a structure, for example drawers in a cabinet or computer equipment in a rack. The use of drawer slides often allows for compact storage of casings, while providing relative ease of user access to the casings or items in the casings when desired. 
         [0004]    The loads carried by drawer slides can at times be significant. The loads can exert significant forces on the drawer slides, particularly when the members of the drawer slides are extended from the structure. In addition, in some applications space allowed for drawer slides, particularly in width, may be limited, placing a premium on relative strength of drawer slide components. Unfortunately, a requirement for a thin drawer slide may prohibit the use of thicker and therefore stronger material in drawer slides, which may be undesirable in any event for cost reasons. 
         [0005]    In rack mounted computer equipment applications, in particular, very little room may be allocated in width for a drawer slide, and the computer equipment itself may be heavy. Complicating matters, computer equipment may be in varying sizes. For example, often computer equipment is sized in a one rack unit ( 1 U) size or a two rack unit ( 2 U) size, and the different equipment sizes may often correlate with increased weight of equipment. The use of equipment of different rack sizes complicates drawer slide design, and, inconveniently, different drawer slides may be required for the different rack sizes. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Aspects of the invention provide for a slim drawer slide. 
         [0007]    In some aspects the invention provides a slide member for a drawer slide, comprising: a pair of longitudinal raceway structures separated by a longitudinal web, each of the raceway structures having an S-shaped cross section, with an outward facing portion about a first end of the S-shape being indented to form an outward facing raceway and an inward facing portion about a second end of the S-shape being indented to form an inward facing raceway. 
         [0008]    In one aspect, the invention provides a slide member for a drawer slide, comprising: a pair of longitudinal raceway structures separated by a longitudinal web, each of the raceway structures having a cross section with: an inwardly facing arcuate raceway extending from about a longitudinal edge of the web, the inwardly facing arcuate raceway having a proximate edge about the longitudinal edge of the web and a distal edge distal from the web; a first abutment extending outward from the distal edge of the inwardly facing raceway; an outwardly facing arcuate raceway extending from the first abutment; a second abutment extending from the outwardly facing arcuate raceway and towards the proximate edge of the inwardly facing arcuate raceway; and a base extending from the second abutment, the base extending along and generally conforming to an outwardly facing surface of material forming the inwardly facing arcuate raceway. 
         [0009]    In another aspect, the invention provides a telescopic drawer slide, comprising: an outer slide member having a longitudinal web bounded by inwardly facing arcuate raceways; an inner slide member having a longitudinal web bounded by outwardly facing arcuate raceways; and an intermediate slide member, the intermediate slide member extendably coupled to the outer slide member by bearings running in the inwardly facing arcuate raceways of the outer slide member, the intermediate slide member extendably coupled to the inner slide member by bearings running in the outwardly facing arcuate raceways of the inner slide member, the intermediate slide member having a longitudinal web bounded by inward facing arcuate raceways receiving the bearings running in the outwardly facing arcuate raceways of the inner slide member, with abutments extending outwardly from about edges of material forming the inward facing arcuate raceways, and outward facing arcuate raceways between the abutments, the outward facing arcuate raceways receiving the bearing running in the inwardly facing arcuate raceways of the outer slide member, and an extra layer of material abutting and conforming to an outer surface of the inward facing raceways. In some aspects a first of the abutments extends from an outer edge of the inward facing arcuate raceway, the outer edge being distal from the longitudinal web, and a second of the abutments extends from the extra layer of material about an inner edge of the inward facing arcuate raceway. In some aspects the intermediate slide member is integrally formed of a strip of material. In some aspects the intermediate slide member includes at least one pair of opposing angled transitions. In some aspects at least one pair of opposing angled transitions is separated by an offset platform of the longitudinal web. In some aspects at least one pair of angled transitions includes two pairs of angled transitions. 
         [0010]    These and other aspects of the invention are more fully comprehended on review of this disclosure. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  A is a cross-sectional view of a telescopic drawer slide in accordance with aspects of the invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 1B  illustrates a cross-section of a further drawer slide member in accordance with aspects of the invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  illustrates a cross-section of a further drawer slide in accordance with aspects of the invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  illustrates the drawer slide of  FIG. 1  in a partially extended position. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  illustrates an example of use of a drawer slide in a rack application. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  illustrates a cross-section of a two member drawer slide in accordance with aspects of the invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  illustrates a cross-section of a further two member drawer slide in accordance with aspects of the invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  illustrates a partial cross-section of a drawer slide member in accordance with aspects of the invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  illustrates a cross-section of a still further drawer slide member in accordance with aspects of the invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  illustrates portions of a friction drawer slide in accordance with aspects of the invention in a partially extended position. 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  illustrates portions of a friction drawer slide in accordance with aspects of the invention in a partially extended position. 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  illustrates a cross-section of a further friction drawer slide in accordance with aspects of the invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 12  illustrates the drawer slide of  FIG. 12  in a partially extended position. 
           [0024]      FIG. 13  illustrates a cross-section of a still further friction drawer slide in accordance with aspects of the invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 14  illustrates an intermediate slide member of a yet still further friction drawer slide in accordance with aspects of the invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 15  illustrates a cross-section of a drawer slide with a further intermediate slide member in accordance with aspects of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]      FIG. 1A  is a cross-sectional view of a telescopic drawer slide in accordance with aspects of the invention. Generally telescopic drawer slides include slide members, sometimes called rails, nestled within one another and extendable in a telescopic manner. Telescopic drawer slides may be, for example, two member drawer slides or three-member drawer slides. In a two member drawer slide an inner slide member is generally nestled within and telescopically extendable from an outer slide member. In a three-member drawer slide, an intermediate slide member is generally nestled within and telescopically extendable from the outer slide member, and the inner slide member is generally nestled within and telescopically extendable from the intermediate slide member. 
         [0028]    The drawer slide of  FIG. 1A  is a three member drawer slide, and includes an outer slide member  111 , an intermediate slide member  113 , and an inner slide member  115 . The outer slide member generally includes a longitudinal web  121  longitudinally bounded by opposing arcuate raceways  123 ,  125 . The opposing arcuate raceways may be considered inwardly facing, as they generally face towards each other (and towards a center plane bisecting the slide members). The intermediate slide member  113  is generally between the arcuate raceways of the outer slide member. The intermediate slide also has a generally longitudinal web longitudinally bounded by arcuate raceways. In some embodiments, and as shown in  FIG. 1A , the web of the intermediate slide member generally includes an inset platform  116  bounded by longitudinal strips  118 , with the platform and the strips coupled by a transition  120 . The strips are generally closer to the web of the outer slide member, while the platform is offset from the web of the outer slide member, for example to provide clearance for various items, which in some embodiments may include mounting hardware associated with the outer slide member or other items. 
         [0029]    The raceways of the intermediate slide member include a first set of arcuate raceways  127 ,  129  facing inwardly, and a second set of arcuate raceways  131 ,  133  facing outwardly towards the raceways of the outer slide member. The outwardly facing raceways of the intermediate slide member are slidably or rollably coupled to the inwardly facing raceways of the outer slide member, for example by way of bearings, which may be held, as in  FIG. 1A , by a bearing spacer or retainer  117 . In turn, nestled within the inwardly facing raceways of the intermediate slide member is the inner slide member  115 . The inner slide member, like the outer slide member, has a longitudinal web  135  longitudinally bounded by arcuate raceways  137 ,  139 , with the raceways of the inner slide member being generally outwardly facing. The outwardly facing raceways of the inner slide member are slidably or rollably coupled to the inwardly facing raceways of the intermediate slide member, for example, by way of bearings  119 . 
         [0030]    Considering the intermediate slide member, the inward facing raceways extend from longitudinal edges of the longitudinal web. The outwardly facing raceways are outward of the inwardly facing raceways. The raceways of the intermediate slide of  FIG. 1A  are formed of triple thickness material. The triple thickness material may be considered, in some respects, as forming an S-shape, with an outward facing portion about one end of the S being indented to form an outwardly facing raceway, and an inward facing portion about another end of the S also being indented to form an inwardly facing raceway. 
         [0031]    Referring for simplicity to only one set of the raceways of the intermediate slide member, the opposing sets of raceways having a symmetrical shape, as shown in the embodiment of  FIG. 1A , the inwardly facing arcuate raceway  127  extends out from a longitudinal edge of the longitudinal web. The inwardly facing raceway forms a first layer of material. A first vertical spacer  141  extends outwardly from an end of the inwardly facing arcuate raceway. A second layer  143  of material of the slide member extends generally towards a plane defined by the longitudinal web. In some embodiments, and as shown in  FIG. 1A , the second layer of material is in contact with and generally conforms to the shape of an outward surface of the material forming the inwardly arcuate raceway. A second vertical spacer  145  extends outwardly from the end of the second layer of material. The arcuate outwardly facing raceway  131 , forming a third layer of material, extends from an outward end of the second vertical spacer and away from the plane defined by the longitudinal web. 
         [0032]      FIG. 1B  illustrates a further drawer slide member in accordance with aspects of the invention. The drawer slide member is similar in shape to the intermediate slide member of  FIG. 1A , and may be used, for example, as an intermediate slide member in the drawer slide of  FIG. 1A . The intermediate slide member of  FIG. 1B  is symmetrical about a longitudinal center plane, and for simplicity, and as done for  FIG. 1A , only one set of raceways will be specifically discussed below. 
         [0033]    As with the intermediate slide member of  FIG. 1A , the drawer slide member of  FIG. 1B  includes a longitudinal web  149  and raceways formed of triple thickness material that may be considered as forming an S-shape, with a flattened top and bottom to form arcuate raceways. Accordingly, the drawer slide member of  FIG. 1B  includes an inwardly facing arcuate raceway  151 , a first vertical spacer  153 , a second layer of material  155 , a second vertical spacer  157 , and an outwardly facing arcuate raceway  159 . The inwardly facing raceway extends from a longitudinal edge of the longitudinal web, with the first vertical spacer  153  extending outward from an end of the inwardly facing raceway. The second layer of material  155  extends back towards a plane generally defined by the web, with the second layer of material also generally conforming to the shape of the material forming the first raceway. The second vertical spacer extends outward from an end of the second layer of material, and the outwardly facing raceway extends from an outward end of the second vertical spacer. 
         [0034]    The drawer slide member of  FIG. 1B  also includes a stub abutment  161  at the end edge of the outwardly facing raceway. The stub abutment extends inwardly from the end edge of the raceway, and rests, at least partially, on portions of the top of the first vertical spacer, and/or in some embodiments on the second layer of material  155 . The stub abutment provides for increased support for the outwardly facing raceway. 
         [0035]      FIG. 2  illustrates a further drawer slide in accordance with aspects of the invention. The further drawer slide of  FIG. 2  is a three-member telescopic slide, with an outer slide member  211 , an intermediate slide member  213 , and an inner slide member  215 . A set of bearings in a bearing retainer  214  couple the outer slide member and the intermediate slide member, and a set of bearings  216  couple the intermediate slide member and the inner slide member. The outer slide member and the inner slide member are as discussed with regards to  FIG. 1A , having longitudinal webs  217 ,  219 , respectively, longitudinally bounded by arcuate raceways  221   a,b ,  223   a,b , respectively. The arcuate raceways  221   a,b  of the outer slide member are inwardly facing, and the arcuate raceways  223   a,b  of the inner slide member are outwardly facing. 
         [0036]    The intermediate slide member includes a longitudinal web  225 , similar to the longitudinal web discussed with respect to the intermediate slide member of  FIG. 1A . The intermediate slide member also includes inward facing raceways  227 ,  229  and outward facing raceways  231 ,  233 . 
         [0037]    Generally referring to only one set of raceways of the intermediate slide member, with the discussion applying to both sets of raceways, the inward facing raceway  227  extends from a longitudinal edge of the longitudinal web. As may be seen in  FIG. 2 , the inward facing raceway extends generally transverse to a plane defined by the longitudinal web. A first abutment  241  extends outwardly from an edge of the inward facing raceway that is distal from the longitudinal web. The outward facing raceway  231  extends substantially horizontally from a top of the first abutment. As such, the outward facing raceway also extending generally transverse to the plane defined by the longitudinal web. A second abutment  237  extends inwardly from the opposing end of the outwardly facing raceway, with the second abutment extending towards an edge of the inwardly facing raceway about the longitudinal edge of the web. A base  239  extends outwardly from the second abutment towards the first abutment, with the base generally in contact with and conforming to a shape of an outer surface of material forming the inwardly facing raceway. The base is located between the two arcuate raceways, and also provides support for the outwardly facing arcuate raceway. 
         [0038]    In some embodiments the raceways of the intermediate slide member may be viewed as being formed of a double-hem along a longitudinal edge of the material of intermediate slide member, with opposing sides of the hem being made concavely arcuate to form the arcuate raceway. As discussed above, the double hem may be considered transverse to the longitudinal web, and may therefore be considered a transverse double hem. In some embodiments the outwardly facing raceway of the intermediate slide member may be viewed as being formed of an integrally formed pedestal extending outwardly from the inwardly facing raceway of the intermediate slide member. 
         [0039]      FIG. 3  illustrates the drawer slide of  FIG. 2  in a partially extended position, although it should be recognized that the drawer slide of  FIG. 1A , or other drawer slides discussed herein, may also be so similarly extended. As may be seen in  FIG. 3 , the inner slide member of  215  is partially extended from the intermediate slide member  213 . In turn, the intermediate slide member  213  is partially extended from the outer slide member  211 . If the outer slide member is fixably mounted to a structure, with the inner slide member attached to a casing, extension of the intermediate slide member and inner slide member generally extends the casing from the structure, allowing for easier access to the casing. Alternatively, the roles of the inner slide member and outer slide member may be reversed, with the inner slide member fixedly mounted to the structure and the outer slide member attached to the casing. 
         [0040]    In use, the drawer slide of  FIG. 1A or 2  may be mounted to a rack, for example as shown in  FIG. 4 . The rack will generally include four posts, of which two posts  421 ,  423  are shown in  FIG. 4 . The posts are generally arranged to form an outline of an enclosure of rectangular cross-section. As shown in  FIG. 4 , a drawer slide  411  is mounted between the racks, generally using mounting hardware  417 ,  419 . An opposing drawer slide (not shown), mounted to opposing rack posts (also not shown), is generally also used, with for example computer equipment mounted to the opposing drawer slides. Extension of the drawer slide members extends the computer equipment from the rack. 
         [0041]      FIG. 5  illustrates a further drawer slide in accordance with aspects of the invention. The drawer slide of  FIG. 5  is a two member telescopic drawer slide with an outer slide member  511  and an inner slide member  513 . The inner slide member is generally nestled within, and telescopically extendable from the outer drawer slide member. The inner slide member has a longitudinal web  519  bounded by outwardly facing arcuate raceways  521 . The outer slide member includes a longitudinal web  523  longitudinally bounded by inwardly facing arcuate raceways  525 , generally formed in a double hem. Again, and largely throughout without further mention, referring to only one of the raceway related structures, the double hem includes the inwardly facing arcuate raceways  525 , a first offset  527  effectively forming a bend accounting for the width of the material of the outer slide member, an outer edge  529 , a second offset  531  also effectively forming a bend arcuating for the width of the material of the outer slide member, and an interior portion  533  of the hem. Bearings  515   a ,  515   b , couple the outer slide member and the inner slide member. The bearings, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , are conveniently maintained in position with respect to one another by use of a bearing retainer  517 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 6  illustrates a further drawer slide in accordance with aspects of the invention. In  FIG. 6 , an outer slide member  611  includes a longitudinal web  617  generally longitudinally bounded by arcuate raceways  619   a,b  containing bearings held in bearing retainers  615   a,b , as illustrated in the embodiment of  FIG. 6 . An inner slide member  613  includes a longitudinal web  621  longitudinally bounded by outwardly facing raceways  627  formed on a top of a pedestal extending from the longitudinal edges of the web. The pedestal in the case of the slide of  FIG. 6  includes a base  623  extending from longitudinal edges of the web, a first sidewall  625  extending outward from an edge of the base distal from the web, a concavely formed top providing the raceway  627 , a second side wall  629  extending inwardly from a side of the top opposite the first sidewall, and a support  631  extending from the second sidewall and having a first surface in contact with and generally conforming in shape to the base and a second abutment at least partially supporting the top. 
         [0043]      FIG. 7  illustrates a partial cross-section of a slide member in accordance with aspects of the invention. The slide member of  FIG. 7  may be used, for example, as the intermediate slide member of  FIGS. 1A or 2 , the outer slide member of  FIG. 5 , or the inner slide member of  FIG. 6 . 
         [0044]    The slide member of  FIG. 7  includes a longitudinal web  707  bounded by a raceway structures  710 , one of which is shown in  FIG. 7 . The raceway structure includes an inwardly facing arcuate raceway  711  extending from a longitudinal edge of the longitudinal web. A first abutment  713  extends outwardly from an end of the inwardly facing raceway distal from the longitudinal web. An outwardly facing arcuate raceway  715  extends from a top of the first abutment, with the outwardly facing raceway extending back towards a plane generally defined by the longitudinal web. The outwardly facing raceway extends to a second abutment  717 . The second abutment extends between an edge of the outwardly facing raceway to a partial base  719 . The partial base extends partway along an outer surface of the inwardly facing arcuate raceway  711 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the partial base generally approaches, but does not reach, a center line of the inwardly facing arcuate raceway  711 , while reaching, and supporting, a center line of the outwardly facing arcuate raceway  715 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 8  illustrates a further drawer slide member in accordance with aspects of the invention. The slide member of  FIG. 8  includes a generally longitudinal web bounded by raceway structures  811 . As illustrated, the raceway structures have a configuration the same as the raceway structures of the intermediate slide member of  FIG. 2 , although in various embodiments the raceway structures may have a configuration the same as raceways structures discussed with respect to the other figures. 
         [0046]    The longitudinal web includes longitudinal edge portions, for example edge portion  813 , bounding a central longitudinal platform  815 . A pair of opposing angled transitions, for example opposing angled transitions  817 , separate the edge portions from the platform  815 . The opposing angled transitions, which together may be of serpentine shape in cross-section, are believed to provide for increased strength of the longitudinal web. 
         [0047]      FIG. 9  illustrates a friction drawer slide in accordance with aspects of the invention. The friction drawer slide, shown in an extended position, is a three member telescopic drawer slide. The drawer slide includes an inner slide member  911  generally nestled within and telescopically extendable from an intermediate slide member  913 , which in turn is generally nestled within and telescopically extendable from an outer slide member  915 . The inner, intermediate, and outer slide members are as discussed with respect to  FIG. 2 . In other embodiments, however, the intermediate slide member may be as discussed with respect to any of  FIGS. 1A, 1B, 7 , or  8 . 
         [0048]    Coupling the slide members, however, are friction rods. Rods, for example rod  917 , are fixed in the raceways of the outer slide member about a front of the outer slide member, with the rod  917  supporting the intermediate slide member during travel, for example extension or retraction of the intermediate slide member. Rods, for example rod  918 , fixed in the outward facing raceways of the intermediate slide member about a rear of the intermediate slide member also supports the intermediate slide member during travel. 
         [0049]    Similarly, rods, for example rod  919 , are fixed in the inward facing raceways of the intermediate slide member about a front of the intermediate slide member, with the rod  919  supporting the inner slide member during travel. Rods, for example rod  920 , fixed in the raceways of the inner slide member about its rear also supports the inner slide member during travel. 
         [0050]    In some embodiments the rods may not be fixed in position with respect to the slide members. For example, in some embodiments the rods may float with the slide members during travel of the slide members, with recycling stops used to reposition the rods appropriately when the slides reach a fully extended position or a closed position. In such embodiments, generally rods with longer lengths are used, as compared to lengths of rods having fixed positions. 
         [0051]      FIG. 10  illustrates an embodiment of a drawer slide with floating rods. A first pair of rods  1021   a,b  couple an outer slide member  1011  and an intermediate slide member  1013 . A second pair of rods  1023   a,b  couple the intermediate slide member and an inner slide member  1015 . Stops (not shown) at fronts and rears of raceways of the slide members serve to prevent the rods, which are not fixed in position, from exiting the raceways. In addition, the stops provide a recycling feature, in that the stops stop forward or rearward movement of the rods at particular positions, for example fully forward or rearward in the raceways with respect to particular slides, when the slide is in a fully extended or fully retracted position. 
         [0052]      FIG. 11  illustrates a cross-section of a friction drawer slide in accordance with aspects of the invention. The friction drawer slide is a three member telescopic drawer slide, and includes an outer slide member  1111  and an inner slide member  1113  as described with regard to the slide of  FIG. 1A . An intermediate slide member  1115  extendably couples the outer slide member and the inner slide member. In some embodiments the intermediate slide member is dimensioned so as to be replaceable with the intermediate slide member and bearings of the slide of  FIG. 1A . 
         [0053]    In the slide of  FIG. 11 , the intermediate slide member includes a generally longitudinal web  1117 , which as illustrated includes a central offset platform bounded by longitudinal edges. Referring to what is seen in  FIG. 11  as a top half of the slide, the intermediate slide member includes an inward angled bend  1119  forming an inward frictional contact surface for riding in an outwardly facing arcuate raceway of the inner slide member. The intermediate slide member also includes an outward frictional contact surface for riding in an inwardly facing arcuate raceway of the out slide member. The outward frictional contact surface is formed in a hemmed edge  1121 ,  1123  of the intermediate slide member, with the hemmed edge extending outward from the inward frictional contact surface provided by the angled bend. In the embodiment of  FIG. 11 , the outward extension of the hemmed edge is also slightly angled towards a plane generally defined by the longitudinal web of the intermediate slide member, to account for a slight lateral offset between raceway centers of the outwardly facing raceway of the inner slide member and the inwardly facing raceway of the outer slide member. A potential benefit of the friction slide shown in  FIG. 11 , is that the intermediate slide member may be formed with a sheet strip using a roll form process. 
         [0054]      FIG. 12  illustrates the friction drawer slide of  FIG. 11  in a partially extended position. As may be seen in  FIG. 12 , an inner slide member  1215  is partially extended from an intermediate slide member  1213 , which in turn is partially extended from an outer slide member  1211 . 
         [0055]      FIG. 13  illustrates a cross-section of a further friction drawer slide in accordance with aspects of the invention. The friction drawer slide of  FIG. 13  is similar to the friction drawer slide of  FIG. 11 , but with an intermediate slide member of a different form. Thus, the friction drawer slide of  FIG. 13 , like the slide of  FIG. 11 , is a three member telescopic drawer slide, and includes an outer slide member  1311  and an inner slide member  1315  as described with regard to the slide of  FIG. 1A . An intermediate slide member  1313  extendably couples the outer slide member and the inner slide member, and in some embodiments is dimensioned so as to be replaceable with the intermediate slide member and bearings of the slide of  FIG. 1A . 
         [0056]    The intermediate slide member of  FIG. 13  includes a longitudinal web generally longitudinally bounded by generally triangular lobes, for example triangular lobe  1325 . An interior of the triangular lobe may be hollow, as illustrated in  FIG. 13 . An apex of the triangular lobe provides an outward frictional contact to ride in an inwardly facing arcuate raceway of the outer slide member. The intermediate slide of  FIG. 13  may be formed, for example, by way of extrusion, with possibly post extrusion sizing performed, and possibly hard anodizing of contact surfaces. 
         [0057]    A wall including a protruding sloping ledge  1323  couples the web and the triangular lobe. The wall connects to a base  1327  of the triangular lobe, with the connection somewhat offset from a center of the base. The connection is offset in a first direction, with the ledge generally extending from the wall in a direction opposite the first direction. A surface of the ledge, a portion of the wall, and a bottom of the base together define a notch. The notch has a shape matching a flange of the inner slide member providing an outwardly facing raceway. The notch receives the outwardly facing raceway, with a base corner of the triangular lobe providing an inward frictional contact for riding in the raceway. As the notch has a slightly curvilinear shape to match that of the outward facing raceway, and as the intermediate slide member includes notches for both outward facing raceways of the inner slide member, the notches serve to further maintain relative position of the inward frictional contact of the intermediate slide member and the raceways of the inner slide member. For example, the notches generally entraps the outwardly facing raceway of the inner member  1315 , restricting and preventing a separation of the members by twist or tension. 
         [0058]      FIG. 14  illustrates a further intermediate slide member in accordance with aspects of the invention. The intermediate slide member of  FIG. 14  is generally for use in a friction drawer slide, for example the friction drawer slide of  FIG. 12 . As with the intermediate slide members of  FIGS. 11 and 13 , the intermediate slide member of  FIG. 14  is in some embodiments dimensioned so as to be replaceable with the intermediate slide member and bearings of the slide of  FIG. 1A . 
         [0059]    The slide member of  FIG. 14  includes a longitudinal web  1411  longitudinally bounded by generally oval opposing lobes, one of which for example is lobe  1413 . The lobes may be formed by extrusion or by injection molding, in some embodiments. The lobe  1413  includes an outward facing surface  1415 , providing an outward frictional contact surface for riding in an inwardly facing raceway of an outer slide member, and an inward facing surface  1417 , providing an inward frictional contact surface for riding in an outwardly facing raceway of an inner slide member. 
         [0060]    In some embodiments the web and the opposing lobes are unitarily formed, for example of extruded aluminum. In some embodiments the frictional contact surfaces are coated, for example with Teflon, to decrease frictional forces or to decrease wear on the contact surfaces over time. In some embodiments, for example as illustrated in  FIG. 14 , the web and lobes are separately formed, with the lobes attached to the web by way of fasteners  1419 , which for example may be rivets or the like. In such an embodiment the web may be formed of steel, for example, with the lobes formed of a rubber or plastic, for example. 
         [0061]      FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view of a three member telescopic drawer slide including an intermediate slide member similar to that of  FIG. 14 . The slide includes an outer slide member  1511 , an intermediate slide member  1513 , and an inner slide member  1515 . The outer slide member and the inner slide member are as described with respect to, for example,  FIG. 1 . 
         [0062]    As can be seen in  FIG. 15 , the intermediate slide member has an integrally formed web  1517  and bounding opposing heads  1521 . C-shaped covers  1519  are seated over the heads, with the C-shaped covers providing frictional contact surfaces for riding in the raceways of the outer slide member and the inner slide member. Together the C-shaped covers and heads provide a structure similar to the oval lobes discussed with respect to  FIG. 14 . The presence of the heads provide for increased strength for the lobes, as well as providing for increased depth of material, as compared to merely the longitudinal web, for receiving fasteners or the like coupling the covers and the heads. 
         [0063]    Although the invention has been discussed with respect to various embodiments, it should be recognized that the invention comprises the novel and non-obvious claims supported by this disclosure.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5