Abstract:
Disclosed is a mounting point locator tool for positioning a bracket of a drawer slide assembly such that the drawer slide assembly is square with the face frame of a cabinet carcass. The locator tool comprises a base perpendicularly extending from a first end of a rod. A bracket holding fixture is connected to a second end of the rod. In one embodiment, the base, the rod, and the fixture are ridgidly connected. In an alternate embodiment, the base is comprised of a sleeve extending generally perpendicular from a planar plate and slidingly engaged with the rod. The sleeve includes a pair of sides connected at a right angle for alignment with the face frame. The fixture includes a pair of prongs having edges spaced a predetermined distance and a set of slots having a predetermined width for releasably securing the bracket.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/307,174 filed on Mar. 11, 2016, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to cabinet structure, drawers, and drawer slides. In particular, the disclosure relates to an apparatus for consistently and easily locating the mounting position of a drawer slide such that the drawer slide is square with the cabinet face of a cabinet carcass. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0003]    Not all cabinets are built perfectly square. As a result, the front face frame is not always perfectly parallel with the rear panel of the cabinet. If the front face and the rear panel are not parallel, problems are created in that drawer slide assemblies mounted to the cabinet carcass tend to be out of alignment. The misalignment of the slides causes them to bind in operation and fail prematurely. These problems are also present for undermount and side mount drawer slide assemblies that incorporate a rear mounted bracket where the drawer slide assembly is only attached to the bracket at the rear and to the cabinet at the face frame. The degree of misalignment is exacerbated by the depth of the cabinet frame. 
         [0004]    When a drawer slide assembly is improperly mounted, jamming may result during the movement of the drawer in and out of the cabinet carcass. Additionally, features of the drawer slide assembly such as soft close and push-to-open functionalities may be affected or not function at all. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to ensure that the drawer slide assemblies are mounted square with the cabinet face frame and aligned despite the lack of squareness of the cabinet. 
         [0005]    In an effort to overcome these difficulties, the prior has responded with various tools designed to assist the cabinet builder with installation of drawer slide assemblies. 
         [0006]    For example, U.S. Pat. No. 8,667,701 to Geesaman discloses a template tool for locating drill holes for mounting brackets and clips of wire shelving. The tool has a first bracket slidable within in a slot of a second bracket. The first bracket fits against the back of the cabinet, the second bracket fits along the inside wall of the cabinet. Holes in the second bracket provide a template for drilling holes in the cabinet to which a drawer slide is attached. The tool is used for locating mounting points on the interior sides of a cabinet carcass instead of the rear panel. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,979,998 to Ziegmann discloses a tool for installing undermount slides in a cabinet. The tool comprises a horizontal and vertical member, each with a top, bottom, front, back, and opposing faces. The vertical member includes a handle and a flat plane. The horizontal member includes a lip offset from the bottom and perpendicular to the flat plane. At least one magnet is attached to the horizontal member. The magnet is used to secure a drawer slide to the tool. The flat plane is positioned adjacent a cabinet face and the tool is clamped to the cabinet. The horizontal member includes a hole pattern that is used to align the mounting holes in the drawer. The tool is used for holding the drawer slide assembly adjacent the side panel of a cabinet while mounting screws are fastened. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,791,732 to Bruno, Jr., et al. discloses an adjustable marking gauge for locating mounting holes of drawer and cabinet hardware. The gauge comprises a rectangular shaped dog slidable along a slide arm. The slide arm includes a 180° bend terminating at a datum surface. Two parallel rods extend perpendicularly from the dog. A rectangular bar is slidably mounted on both stationary arms such that its length is parallel with the length of the body. The rectangular bar further includes equally spaced circular openings. The body is positioned against the side edge of a cabinet door and the datum is positioned adjacent the bottom of the cabinet door. The rectangular bar is positioned adjacent the inside face of the cabinet door. The dog is moved along the slide arm to the desired height. The rectangular bar slides along the stationary rods so that the circular openings can be repeatably positioned to locate mounting holes on the side panel of the cabinet carcass and depends on the side panels to be square with the front panel. 
         [0009]    The prior art fails to disclose or suggest an apparatus for consistently and easily locating the mounting position of a rear bracket for a drawer slide. Therefore, there is a need for a tool which can easily and accurately locate the mounting holes for the rear bracket of drawer slide assemblies which compensates for out-of-square cabinet carcasses and thus provides a properly mounted drawer slide assembly such that smooth sliding operation and full use of all drawer slide assembly features are possible. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0010]    In a preferred embodiment, a mounting point locator tool comprises a base slidably mounted on a rod and a bracket holding fixture removably attached to the rod. The base is comprised of a sleeve extending generally perpendicular from a planar plate. The sleeve includes a pair of sides connected at a right angle. The fixture includes a pair of prongs having edges spaced a predetermined distance and a set of slots having a predetermined width. 
         [0011]    In use, the fixture is attached to the end of the rod and a bracket is secured to the fixture via the prongs. The plate is secured with clamps or by hand adjacent the front of the face frame of the cabinet carcass such that the sides of the sleeve forming the right angle are positioned in a corner of the drawer opening. The rod is moved through the sleeve until the bracket held by the fixture abuts the rear panel of the cabinet carcass. The bracket is then attached to the rear panel with typical mounting hardware and the fixture is removed from engagement with the bracket. The tool may then be used in an opposite corner should a second bracket be required. Drawer slide assemblies are then mounted on the brackets. Because the sleeve extends from the plate perpendicularly and since the sides of the sleeve form a right angle, the tool corrects for the lack of a square cabinet carcass and ensures that the bracket is positioned properly relative to the face frame. 
         [0012]    In an alternate embodiment, the plate, the rod, and the fixture are integrally formed corresponding to a particular sized bracket. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The disclosed embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Like pieces in different drawings are referenced by the same number. 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a preferred embodiment. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2A  is an end view of a base of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 2B  is a top view of a base of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 2C  is an isometric view of a fixture of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 2D  is a side view of a fixture of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 2E  is an end view of a fixture of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 3A  is an isometric view of a bracket attached to a fixture of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 3B  is an isometric view of a bracket attached to a fixture of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 3C  is an isometric view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  positioned in a cabinet carcass. 
           [0023]      FIG. 3D  is a front view of a base of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  positioned adjacent a face frame. 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of an alternate preferred embodiment. 
           [0025]      FIG. 5A  is an end view of a base of the embodiment of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 5B  is a top view of a base of the embodiment of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 5C  is an isometric view of a fixture of the embodiment of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 5D  is a side view of a fixture of the embodiment of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0029]      FIG. 5E  is an end view of a fixture of the embodiment of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0030]      FIG. 6A  is an isometric view of an alternate preferred embodiment. 
           [0031]      FIG. 6B  is a top view of the embodiment of  FIG. 6A . 
           [0032]      FIG. 6C  is a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 6A . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0033]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , locator tool  100  comprises base  102 , rod  104 , and fixture  106 . Base  102  is slidably engaged with rod  104 . Rod  104  has ends  110  and  112 . Fixture  106  is attached to rod  104  at end  112 . Base  102  is slidable along the length of rod  104  between ends  110  and  112 . Thumb screws  108  removably secure base  102  to rod  104  at any desired location along the length of rod  104 . Locator tool  100  is preferably made of aluminum or stainless steel but can also be formed from injection molded plastic or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). 
         [0034]    As shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , base  102  comprises plate  114  rigidly attached to sleeve  116 . Plate  114  is generally planar having three edges  117 ,  118 , and  119  forming a triangular shape. Plate  114  has opposing faces  122  and  124 . Plate  114  includes hole  120  sized to receive sleeve  116 . 
         [0035]    Sleeve  116  is rigidly affixed to plate  114  in hole  120 . Sleeve  116  includes at least side  126  connected to side  128 . Angle A between sides  126  and  128  forms a generally 90 degree angle. Sleeve  116  is generally tubular having interior  121 . Sleeve  116  has a cross section that mimics the shape of hole  120  and prevents rotation of sleeve  116  within hole  120 . Other cross sectional shapes are possible but must include at least one right angle formed by sides  126  and  128 . Rod  104  is slidingly received within interior  121 . Rod  104  includes at least side  127  connected to side  129  at an angle that matches angle A. Rod  104  is hollow and has a generally square cross section. Other cross sectional shapes would suffice as long as the connection between sides  127  and  129  form angle A. Side  126  abuts side  127  and side  128  abuts side  129  to ensure rod  104  does not rotate with respect to base  102 . Sleeve  116  extends from plate  114  perpendicularly at angle B. Angle B forms a generally 90 degree angle. Stanchions  130  extend from sleeve  116  and threadably receive thumb screws  108 . Thumb screws  108  can be advanced or retracted through stanchions  130  to abut rod  104  to releasably secure base  102  to rod  104 . 
         [0036]    As shown in  FIGS. 2C-2E , fixture  106  comprises prongs  140  and  142 , base  144 , and insert  146 . Prongs  140  and  142  extend generally perpendicularly from base  144 . Prong  140  includes open ended slot  152  and prong  142  includes open ended slot  154 . Prong  140  has edges  148  and  149  spaced distance  164  apart. Prong  142  has edges  150  and  151  spaced distance  166  apart. Distance  164  and  166  are generally equal in length. Slot  152  has width  168  and slot  154  has width  170 . Widths  168  and  170  are generally equal. Distances  164  and  166  combined with widths  168  and  170  are sized to accommodate rear brackets used in the mounting of particular drawer slide assemblies. Fixture  106  is interchangeable and thus may be manufactured with various relative dimensions to accommodate different sized rear brackets for a plurality of drawer slide assemblies. 
         [0037]    Insert  146  extends from base  144  opposite prongs  140  and  142 . Insert  146  includes at least side  160  connected to side  162  at an angle that matches angle A. Insert  146  has a cross section that matches the cross section of rod  104  such that insert  146  is fit into end  112  of rod  104  without relative motion between the two. Insert  146  includes hole  160 . Threaded nut  158  is rigidly affixed to the interior of rod  104  at end  112 . Fixture  106  is removeably attached to rod  104  via machine screw  156  sized to pass through hole  160  and threadably engage threaded nut  158 . Side  160  abuts side  127  and side  162  abuts side  129 . In an alternate embodiment, insert  146  is sized to frictionally fit around the exterior of rod  104  at end  112 . 
         [0038]    As shown in  FIG. 3A , bracket  302  comprises base  304  having upturned edges  306  and  307 . Distance  308  between flanges  306  and  307  is generally equal to distance  166  between edges  150  and  151 . Accordingly, bracket  302  can be frictionally and removably attached to fixture  106  by positioning upturned edges  306  and  307  adjacent to edges  150  and  151  or edges  148  and  149 . Bracket  302  is typically utilized in the installation of vertically oriented full extension ball bearing drawer slide assemblies. 
         [0039]    As shown in  FIG. 3B , bracket  310  comprises base  312  having tabs  314  and  315  spaced distance  316  from each other. Distance  316  generally equals width  170  of slot  154 . Accordingly, bracket  310  can be frictionally and removably attached to fixture  106  within slot  154  or slot  152  via tabs  314  and  315 . Bracket  310  is typically utilized in undermount drawer slide assemblies. 
         [0040]    As shown in  FIGS. 3C and 3D , cabinet carcass  320  includes face frame  322  and rear panel  324 . Face frame  322  defines drawer opening  326 . Face frame  322  includes face frame edge  328 . Cabinet carcass includes drawer opening bottom surface  330  which leads to drawer opening  326 . 
         [0041]    In use, locator tool  100  is used to easily locate the mounting position of a rear bracket for use with a drawer slide assembly. Locator tool  100  ensures that the drawer slide assembly is properly aligned and thus square with the face frame of a cabinet carcass to ensure smooth movement of the drawer in and out of the cabinet carcass. If multiple drawer slide assemblies are necessary, the locator tool can be rotated and used in the opposite corner of face frame  322  as well. Fixture  106 , matched to a desired drawer slide assembly, is removably secured to rod  104  via machine screw  156  through hole  160  and threadably engaged with threaded nut  158 . A rear mounting bracket corresponding to fixture  106  and the desired drawer slide assembly is removably affixed to fixture  106 . Base  102  is slidingly mounted on rod  104 . Face  124  of plate  114  is positioned adjacent to and flush with face frame  322  of cabinet carcass  320 . It is important that both edge  117  and edge  118  be simultaneously positioned adjacent face frame  322 . Additionally, side  126  is positioned adjacent face frame edge  328  while side  128  is simultaneously positioned adjacent drawer opening bottom surface  330 . With face  124  adjacent to face frame  322  and sleeve  116  simultaneously adjacent face frame edge  328  and drawer opening bottom surface  330 , base  102  is secured to face frame  322  with hand clamps (not shown). In an alternate embodiment, a handle extends from face  122  for a user to firmly hold base  102  in place. Rod  104  is extended through sleeve  116  until bracket  310  (or any bracket affixed to fixture  106 ) abuts rear panel  324  of the cabinet carcass. Thumb screws  108  are tightened such that the position of base  102  is fixed relative to rod  104 . Bracket  310  is secured to rear panel  324  with typical mounting hardware or suitable adhesive. Base  102  is removed from face frame  322  and fixture  106  is removed from frictional engagement with bracket  310 . 
         [0042]    As a result, bracket  310  is properly positioned such that the corresponding drawer slide assembly mounted to bracket  310  will be square with the face frame ensuring smooth operation regardless of the “squareness” of the cabinet carcass as a whole. 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , locator tool  400  comprises base  402 , rod  404 , and fixture  406 . Base  402  is slidably engaged with rod  404 . Rod  404  has ends  410  and  412 . Fixture  406  is attached to rod  404  at end  412 . Base  402  is slidable along the length of rod  404  between ends  410  and  412 . Thumb screws  408  removably secure base  402  to rod  404  at any desired location along the length of rod  404 . Locator tool  400  is preferably made of aluminum or stainless steel but could also be formed from injection molded plastic or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). 
         [0044]    As shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , base  402  comprises plate  414  rigidly attached to sleeve  416 . Plate  414  is generally planar having edges  417  and  418  forming an “L” shape having corner  420 . Plate  414  has opposing faces  422  and  424 . 
         [0045]    Sleeve  416  is rigidly affixed to plate  414  at corner  420 . Sleeve  416  includes at least flange  426  connected to flange  428 . Angle C between flanges  426  and  428  forms a generally 90 degree angle. Sleeve  416  is generally hollow and tubular with a polygonal cross section defining interior  421 . Sleeve  416  includes at least side  431  connected to side  433  at an angle that matches angle C. Other cross sectional shapes would suffice. Rod  404  is slidingly received through interior  421 . Rod  404  includes at least side  427  connected to side  429  at an angle that matches angle C. Rod  404  may be solid or hollow and has a polygonal cross section. Other cross sectional shapes would suffice. Side  431  abuts side  427  and side  433  abuts side  429  to ensure rod  404  does not rotate with respect to base  402 . Sleeve  416  extends from plate  414  perpendicularly at angle D. Angle D forms a generally 90 degree angle. Stanchions  430  extend from sleeve  416  and threadably receive thumb screws  408 . Thumb screws  408  can be advanced or retreated through stanchions  430  to abut rod  404  in order to releasably secure base  402  to rod  404 . 
         [0046]    Referring to  FIGS. 5C-5E , fixture  406  comprises prongs  440  and  442  and sleeve  444 . Prongs  440  and  442  are connected or integrally formed perpendicular to each other at angle E. Angle E between flanges  426  and  428  forms a generally 90 degree angle. Prong  440  includes open ended slot  452  and prong  442  includes open ended slot  454 . Prong  440  has edges  448  and  449  spaced distance  464  apart. Prong  442  has edges  450  and  451  spaced distance  466  apart. Distance  464  and  466  are generally equal in length. Slot  452  has width  468  and slot  454  has width  470 . Widths  468  and  470  are generally equal. Distances  464  and  466  combined with widths  468  and  470  are sized to accommodate rear brackets used in the mounting of select drawer slide assemblies. Fixture  406  may be manufactured with relative dimensions to accommodate different sized rear brackets for a plurality of drawer slide assemblies. 
         [0047]    Sleeve  444  is rigidly affixed to prongs  440  and  442 . Sleeve  444  includes at least side  460  connected to side  462  at an angle that matches angle E. Sleeve  444  is generally hollow and tubular with a polygonal cross section defining interior  461 . Other cross sectional shapes would suffice. Rod  404  is slidingly received through interior  461 . Stanchions  446  extend from sleeve  444  and threadably receive thumb screws  478 . Thumb screws  478  can be advanced or retreated through stanchions  446  to abut rod  404  in order to releasably secure fixture  406  to rod  404 . 
         [0048]    In use, locator tool  400  locates the mounting points for the rear bracket of a drawer slide assembly to ensure that the drawer slide assembly is square with the face frame of a cabinet carcass. Fixture  406 , matched to a desired drawer slide assembly, is removably secured to rod  404  via thumb screws  478  through stanchions  446 . A rear mounting bracket corresponding to fixture  406  and the desired drawer slide assembly is removably affixed to fixture  406 . As described in previous embodiments, bracket  302  can be frictionally and removably secured to fixture  406  by positioning upturned edges  306  and  307  adjacent to edges  448  and  449  or adjacent to edges  450  and  451 . Similarly, bracket  310  can be frictionally and removably attached to fixture  406  within slot  452  or slot  454  via tabs  314  and  315 . 
         [0049]    Base  402  is slidingly mounted on rod  404  with rod  404  positioned in interior  421 . Face  424  is positioned adjacent to and flush with face frame  322  of cabinet carcass  320 . It is important that both edges  417  and  418  be simultaneously held adjacent face frame  322 . Additionally, flange  426  is positioned adjacent face frame edge  328  while flange  428  is simultaneously positioned adjacent drawer opening bottom surface  330 . With face  424  adjacent to face frame  322 , flange  426  adjacent face frame edge  328 , and flange  428  adjacent drawer opening bottom surface  330 , base  402  is secured to face frame  322  with hand clamps (not shown) such that the position of base  402  is fixed relative to face frame  322 . In an alternate embodiment, a handle extends from face  422  for a user to firmly hold base  402  in place. Rod  404  is extended through sleeve  416  until the bracket affixed to fixture  406  abuts rear panel  324  of the cabinet carcass. Thumb screws  408  are tightened such that the position of base  402  is fixed relative to rod  404 . The bracket is secured to rear panel  324  with typical mounting hardware or suitable adhesive. Base  402  is detached from face frame  322  and fixture  406  is removed from frictional engagement with the bracket. If multiple drawer slide assemblies are necessary, the locator tool can be rotated and used in the opposite corner of face frame  322  as well. 
         [0050]    Referring to  FIGS. 6A-C , locator tool  600  comprises base  602  and shaft  604 . Based on the length of shaft  604 , locator tool  600  is manufactured to correspond to a cabinet carcass having a particular depth. Shaft  604  may be manufactured at different lengths corresponding to different sized cabinets. Locator tool  600  is preferably made of aluminum or stainless steel but could also be formed from injection molded plastic such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC). 
         [0051]    Base  602  is generally planar having edges  606  and  608  forming an “L” shape having corner  610 . Base  602  has opposing faces  612  and  614 . Shaft  604  is rigidly affixed to base  602  at corner  610 . Shaft  604  extends from base  602  perpendicularly at angle F. Angle F forms a generally 90 degree angle. 
         [0052]    Shaft  604  has a generally “L” shaped cross section and includes flange  620  connected to flange  622 . Angle G between flanges  620  and  622  forms a generally 90 degree angle. Shaft  604  has ends  616  and  618 . Shaft  604  is rigidly connected to base  602  at end  616 . Shaft  604  forms fixture  624  at end  618 . 
         [0053]    Fixture  624  comprises a plurality of prongs and slots formed in flanges  620  and  622  at end  618 . Flange  620  includes prong  630  and prong  632  separated by open ended slot  638 . Flange  622  includes prong  634  and prong  636  separated by open ended slot  639 . 
         [0054]    In use, a rear bracket is removably engaged with fixture  624 . As previously described, upturned edges of the bracket frictionally engage the edges of prongs  630  and  632  or the edges of prongs  634  and  636 . Alternatively, tabs extending from the bracket by frictionally engage slot  638  or slot  639 . Base  602  is positioned adjacent a face frame of a cabinet such that face  614  is flush with the front of the face frame. Flange  620  is positioned adjacent the face frame edge and flange  622  is positioned adjacent the drawer opening bottom surface. It is important that both edges  606  and  608  are simultaneously held adjacent the face frame while flanges  620  and  622  are adjacent the face frame edge and the drawer opening bottom surface, respectively. Base  602  is secured to the face frame with hand clamps. 
         [0055]    The bracket is secured to rear panel of the cabinet carcass with typical mounting hardware or suitable adhesive. Base  602  is detached from the face frame and fixture  624  is removed from frictional engagement with the bracket. If multiple drawer slide assemblies are necessary, the locator tool can be rotated and used in the opposite corner of the face frame. 
         [0056]    It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications can be made to the embodiments disclosed and remain within the inventive concept. Therefore, this invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, but is intended to cover changes within the scope and spirit of the claims.