Abstract:
A drawer manipulation system adapted to facilitate opening of a drawer supported within a cabinet. The system includes at least one biasing actuator adapted for mounting in supported relation at projecting edge elements within the cabinet housing the drawer. The actuator incorporates an arrangement of slotted engagement surfaces adapted to accept supporting edge structures. The actuator may be used in conjunction with a push-push latch assembly.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This Non-Provisional Application claims benefit to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/964,299 filed Aug. 10, 2007, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to a drawer manipulation system to facilitate opening and, more particularly, to a system incorporating a biasing drawer actuator mountable in supported relation relative to projecting edge portions of a cabinet frame structure. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Drawer manipulation systems using biasing actuators and cooperating latch structures are generally known. Such drawer actuators operatively engage a rear portion of the drawer when the drawer is in a closed position so as to urge the drawer towards an open position to permit access to the interior by a user. When the drawer is in the closed position, a latch assembly is engaged to resist the biasing opening force provided by the actuator. Upon disengagement of the latch assembly, the biasing force of the actuator urges the drawer forward towards the open position. 
         [0004]    So-called “push-push” latch assemblies are generally known. Such latch assemblies typically lockingly engage a striker element when the striker element is pushed into an acceptance opening within the latch assembly. When a second pushing force is subsequently applied to the striker the locking relation is released and the striker is urged outwardly from the latch assembly by an internal spring or other biasing element. 
         [0005]    In a number of drawer environments the mounting of actuators has proven to be difficult due to the need to secure the actuators in a fixed and stable position so as to promote consistency of the applied biasing force to the rear of the drawer over an extended life of the system. By way of example only, and not limitation, drawers located in appliances or other structures incorporating metal or plastic cabinet structures with adjustable legs may require particular skill and effort to provide a consistent mounting arrangement. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention provides advantages and alternatives over the prior art by providing a drawer manipulation system incorporating a biasing actuator which may be used in combination with a cooperating push-push latch wherein the actuator is adapted for mounting in supported relation at edge portions of a support frame structure within a cabinet housing the drawer. 
         [0007]    According to one exemplary feature, a biasing actuator adapted for mounting within a drawer cabinet at a position behind a sling drawer is provided. The biasing actuator includes a rearwardly projecting slot adapted to slidingly engage a support frame rib member extending at least partially across the width of the drawer cabinet and projecting away from the rear wall of the cabinet. The biasing actuator further includes a downwardly projecting bracket structure adapted to engage a support structure projecting away from a bottom surface of the cabinet. 
         [0008]    Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description, claims and drawings in which like numerals are used to designate like features. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a schematic of an appliance system incorporating drawers housed within appliance cabinet structures. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a cut-away schematic drawing illustrating components of a drawer system. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a partial cut-away perspective view illustrating an arrangement of biasing actuators within a drawer system. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary mounting arrangement for a biasing actuator at a frame member of a drawer cabinet. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a partial cut-away view of the actuator illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a rear perspective view of the actuator illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a schematic view illustrating another embodiment of a biasing actuator. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  illustrates the actuator of  FIG. 7  in mounted relation at a support frame of a drawer cabinet. 
       
    
    
       [0017]    Before the embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including” and “comprising” and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items and equivalents thereof. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0018]    Turning now to the drawings, in  FIG. 1  there is illustrated an appliance system  10  such as a clothes washer and dryer or the like. In the illustrated arrangement, each of the appliances in the appliance system  10  includes a user manipulated drawer system  12  including a cabinet structure  14  and a user manipulated sliding drawer  16 . Of course, it is to be understood that the drawer system  12  is in no way limited to use within an appliance system. Rather, a drawer system  12  consistent with the present disclosure may be utilized in any suitable environment where storage is required. 
         [0019]    As best illustrated through joint reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the illustrated exemplary drawer system  12  incorporates a latch assembly  20  mounted adjacent an edge of a drawer acceptance opening within the cabinet structure  14 . The latch structure  20  is preferably a so called “push-push” latch assembly of a type well known to those of skill in the art adapted to matedly engage a strike element  22  extending away from an inwardly projecting shoulder surface of a drawer fascia structure  24 . 
         [0020]    In operation, when the drawer  16  is pushed to a closed position the strike element  22  is inserted into the latch assembly and becomes locked against outward withdrawal. Applying a subsequent pushing force causes the strike element  22  to be released from locking engagement within the latch assembly  20 . The latch assembly  20  typically includes a spring biasing element to urge the strike element  22  outwardly when the strike element is disengaged. 
         [0021]    In order to promote the outward opening movement of the drawer  16 , the drawer system  12  includes one or more biasing actuators  30  adapted to apply an opening biasing force against a rearwardly projecting surface of the drawer  16 . By way of example only, and not limitation, according to the arrangement illustrated in  FIG. 3 , a pair of such actuators  30  may be disposed adjacent rear corners of the cabinet structure  14 . Of course, any other suitable positioning arrangement may likewise be utilized if desired. 
         [0022]    As best illustrated in  FIG. 5 , according to one contemplated arrangement the actuators  30  may include a biasing piston element  32  including an outwardly projecting distal end adapted to engage a rear surface of the drawer  16  and a proximal end disposed within a cylinder  34 . As illustrated, the cylinder  34  may include a biasing spring element  36  which is compressed as the piston element  32  moves into the cylinder  34  along the cylinder axis. Thus, the spring element  36  applies a constant biasing force urging the piston element  32  towards an outward projecting position thereby applying force against a rear surface of the drawer  16 . 
         [0023]    In operation, when the drawer  16  is moved to a closed position, the piston element  32  moves along a plane and is forced into the cylinder  34  thereby compressing the spring element  36 . While the strike element  22  is held in locked relation within the latch assembly  20 , the spring element  36  is retained in a state of compression. However, upon the release of the strike element  22  from locked relation within the latch assembly  20 , the spring element  36  urges the piston element  32  to an outward position thereby causing the drawer  16  to also move. Thus, the actuators  30  may operate in concert with the latch assembly  20  to permit controlled outward movement of the drawer  16 . 
         [0024]    As best illustrated through joint reference to  FIGS. 4 and 6 , the actuators  30  may be adapted for positional mounting using projecting edges of a supporting channel frame structure  40  disposed adjacent a rear wall of the cabinet structure  14 . As illustrated, according to one contemplated arrangement, the actuator  30  may include a downwardly projecting tongue  42  disposed adjacent to the base of the actuator and including a rearwardly projecting slot  44 . As shown, the depth dimension of the slot  44  resides in a plane substantially parallel to the axis of the cylinder  34  with the width dimension being in a substantially transverse horizontal orientation relative to the axis of the cylinder  34  such that portions of the rearwardly projecting engagement slot are disposed outboard of opposing sides of the cylinder axis. 
         [0025]    According to the illustrated exemplary configuration, the actuator  30  further includes a downwardly projecting bracket structure  46  disposed at a position forward of the tongue  42 . In the illustrated arrangement the bracket structure includes a first leg  48  and a second leg  50  defining boundary surfaces for a substantially “U” shaped channel  52 . As shown, the channel  52  projects downwardly in a plane oriented at a substantially right angle to the plane defined by the slot  44 . 
         [0026]    As best illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the arrangement of the slot  44  and the channel  52  facilitates a secure placement of the actuators  30  utilizing slotted engagement with protruding edge portions of the channel frame structure  40 . In particular, the slot  44  is adapted to engage a rib member  56  extending across at least a portion of the width of the drawer cabinet structure. By way of example only, and not limitation, the rib member  56  may be an inwardly projecting lip of the channel frame structure  40 . As shown, the rib member projects generally away from a rear wall of the cabinet structure  14  and towards a back surface of the drawer  16 . The engagement between the slot  44  and the rib member  56  is preferably a substantially sliding engagement so as to permit a sliding motion of the actuator  30  during installation. 
         [0027]    As shown in phantom lines in  FIG. 4 , during installation the actuator  30  may first be arranged in engaged relation to the rib member  56  to establish the proper vertical placement. The actuator  30  may then be moved to the proper position along the width of the cabinet structure  14  by sliding along the rib member  56  as shown by the directional arrow until the channel  52  engages an upstanding support plate member  60 . Upon reaching this position, the upstanding support plate member  60  is held between the first leg  48  and the second leg  50 . The actuator  30  may then be secured in place by a screw  62  or other fastening structure as may be desired. The actuator  30  is thus restrained against both horizontal and vertical displacement. As shown, the upstanding support plate member  60  may have a slightly reduced thickness relative to the channel frame structure  40  thereby defining a step  64  which engages the lower terminal surface of the first leg  48  of the bracket structure  46  to further assist in positioning of the actuator  30 . Such an arrangement may provide additional support against tilting. 
         [0028]    As illustrated, the edge structures engaging the actuator  30  may be portions of a channel frame structure  40  disposed at an interior portion of the cabinet structure  14 . However, the invention is in no way limited to the use of such a separate channel frame structure. To the contrary, it is contemplated that virtually any arrangement of corresponding edge elements may be utilized if desired. By way of example only, and not limitation, the rib member  56  and/or the upstanding support member  60  may be integral with the cabinet structure  14  if desired. 
         [0029]    Of course, the present invention is susceptible to a number of different embodiments. By way of example only, and not limitation,  FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrate an alternative embodiment of an actuator  130  wherein elements corresponding to those previously described are designated by like reference numerals increased by  100 . As illustrated, the actuator  130  incorporates a modified bracket structure  146  having a first leg  148  and a substantially shorter second leg  150  opposing the first leg  148  so as to define a generally inverted “J” shaped profile with a shallow channel  152  between the first leg  148  and the second leg  150 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 8  illustrates an exemplary orientation of the actuator  130  relative to a rib member  156  and upstanding support plate  160  as previously described in relation to  FIG. 4 . As will be noted, in this arrangement, the second leg  150  extends only a portion of the distance from the upper edge of the support plate  160 . However, the actuator  130  is nonetheless provided with full support. 
         [0031]    Variations and modifications of the foregoing are within the scope of the present invention. It is understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text and/or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the present invention. The embodiments described herein explain the best modes known for practicing the invention and will enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention. The claims are to be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art. 
         [0032]    Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.