A New or Improved Device for Equalizing the Movement of Drawers, Slide-doors, Desk Shelves, and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Sept., 1899-Accepted, 21st Oct., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Device for Equalizing the Movement of Drawers,
Slide-doors, Desk Shelves, and the like.
I, OTTO HENRICH LOUIS WERNICKE, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States
of America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement: -
This invention relates to a new and useful device for equalising the movement
of drawers, slide-doors, desk shelves and the like, and the same consists in the
combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described. The objects of the
invention are., first to furnish a device that will prevent a drawer, door, or slide
which moves horizontally, from binding, and cause both ends to move uniformly;
second, to simplify and cheapen the construction of equalizing devices for drawers
and analagous purposes. These objects I accomplish by means of the mechanism
illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which,
Figure 1 shows a plan view of a case with the top removed and a door pulled
out or partially pulled out of the case, it showing the form of my invention when
applied to a door that is raised from a perpendicular position when opened, and
slid back within the case, and which can be drawn out and dropped down to close
the opening.
Figure 2 shows a transverse section of a case having the door drawn out and
closed.
Figure 3 shows a like sectional view with the door partially drawn out.
Figure 4 shows my preferred form of attachment.
Figure 5 shows a sectional view of the door with the stop arrangement upon it
which, in the example of my invention shown in the drawing, forms a sort of a
hinge for the drawer or door.
Figure 6 shows a modified form, which may be applied to very lengthy drawers.
Like letters refer to like parts throughout the various views.
A represents the frame of the case.
B represents the drop door.
C and D represent the levers pivoted at G, one end of the levers secured mov-
ably to the case, the other end of the levers secured movably to the door. This
illustrates my preferred form, but any suitable method of securing the levers to
the door and case, which allows the ends to move, may be adopted.
In the example of my invention shown in the drawing I provide a ledge or other
suitable support for the end of the door, shown in the drawing by I, so that when
the door is raised to a horizontal position it slides on these ledges I.
E shows a hook or stop secured to the door, and F shows pins in the case.
H shows an enlarged view of my preferred form of attaching the levers to the
case.
The operation of my invention is as follows:-The door is opened or raised to
a horizontal position when it slides upon the ledges I, and a pressure upon any
part of the door backwards will cause the levers to close and the levers will operate

page_text: so that the pressure is applied to both ends of the door at once, and the door or
drawer, in case the same be attached to a drawer, will move uniformly at both
ends into and out of the case, the ends of the levers moving longitudinally of
the case as the door or drawer is slid in and out, said levers turning freely upon
the pivot G. By drawing the door open or outwardly, the levers are spread or
opened until the hook on the door reaches the stop F, when the door can be
dropped down into the position shown in Fig. 2. In some cases it may be desir-
able to interpose one or more sets of levers, and I have illustrated the modified
form in Fig. 6. The levers which are secured to the case are secured movably,
the same as above described, and the ends of the levers that are fastened to the
door or drawer are also secured movably, inasmuch as the device will not work
without such movable connection.
I have found this device peculiarly efficient in connection with book cases hav-
ing sliding doors, and equally efficient in connection with drawers, and the same
may be applied perpendicularly as well as horizontally.
-
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The combination with a case of a movable part such as a door or drawer,
levers arranged in said case to cross and to have pivotal connection centrally,
said levers being movably connected to the movable part and to the case at or
near the sides of the latter with which said movable part engages, and guides for
the connected ends of said levers arranged at right angles to the line of movement
of said movable part, substantially as described.
2. The combination with a case of a movable part, such as a door or drawer,
levers arranged in said case between its rear wall and the movable part, said levers
being centrally crossed and pivotally connected together, and guide rods for the
ends of said levers arranged upon the rear wall of the case and upon the movable
part at right angles to the line of movement of the latter, substantially as des-
cribed.
3. The combination of the case, a sliding door adapted to open and to be slid
within the case, levers having their ends adjacent to the case movably attached
thereto, other ends adjacent to the door movably attached thereto, a support for
the sliding door and a stop for the door gauging the distance the door may be
withdrawn from the case, the whole constructed so as to allow the door to be
raised to a horizontal position and slid into the case and to be pulled outwardly
and to be dropped to a perpendicular position, substantially as described.
4. The combination with a case of a movable part, such as a door or drawer,
and a plurality of pairs of levers arranged in said case, the members of each pair
crossing each other, the first pair being connected at one end to move in suitable
guides on the movable part and their other ends connected to the ends of the
members of the adjacent pair, the last pair having their ends connected to move
in guides on the case parallel to those on the movable part, substantially as
described.
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
Agents to Applicant, 18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London.