US20090121595A1

US20090121595A1 - Auto-return drawer rail

Info

Publication number: US20090121595A1
Application number: US11/983,258
Authority: US
Inventors: Jun-Long Yang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-11-08
Filing date: 2007-11-08
Publication date: 2009-05-14

Abstract

An auto-returning drawer rail is implemented in furniture having a drawer cavity and a drawer, and the auto-returning drawer rail has a drawer rail assembly, an auto-returning device and a buffering device. The drawer rail assembly is mounted in the drawer cavity and has a rail bracket, an outer track and an inner track. The auto-returning device is mounted in the drawer rail assembly and has a base, a sliding block, a connecting element and two springs. The base is mounted on the rail bracket. The sliding block is mounted slidably on the base. The connecting element is connected securely to the sliding block between the rail bracket and the base. The buffering device is mounted in the auto-returning device, is used to prevent the drawer from returning too fast and has a damper and a drive shaft being connected to the connecting element.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a drawer rail, and more particularly relates to an auto-return drawer rail with dampening to control an auto-return of a drawer.
2. Description of Related Art
When a drawer is not closed completely, insects or dust may get into the drawer and the drawer causes a hazard to passers-by. To keep a drawer closed completely when not in use, an auto-returning device with a spring is mounted on a drawer rail to provide an auto-returning effect to the drawer. However, a conventional auto-returning device has a complex structure composed of multiple elements, thereby raising production costs resulting in high end-unit prices for auto-return drawers. Such high prices deter consumers from buying auto-returning drawers.
Additionally, the conventional auto-returning derails easily, meaning the drawer must be replaced on the drawer rails at inconvenience to a user.
Furthermore, the spring of the conventional auto-returning device usually provides a strong force to pull the drawer back, but this force may be too large, causing injury to the user and damaging the drawer thereby shortening a lifespan of the drawer.
Therefore, the invention provides a drawer rail to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide an auto-returning drawer rail with dampening to control an auto-return of a drawer.
The auto-returning drawer rail in accordance with the present invention is implemented in furniture having a drawer cavity and a drawer, and the auto-returning drawer rail has a drawer rail assembly, an auto-returning device and a buffering device. The drawer rail assembly is mounted in the drawer cavity and has a rail bracket, an outer track and an inner track. The auto-returning device is mounted in the drawer rail assembly and has a base, a sliding block, a connecting element and two springs. The base is mounted on the rail bracket. The sliding block is movably mounted on the base. The connecting element is connected securely to the sliding block between the rail bracket and the base. The buffering device is mounted in the auto-returning device, is used to prevent the drawer from returning too fast and has a damper and a drive shaft being connected to the connecting element.
Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a drawer rail in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the drawer rail in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view in partial section of the drawer rail in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4 to 5 are operational side views in partial section of the drawer rail in FIG. 1, shown being pulled out;

FIG. 6 is an operational perspective view of the drawer rail in FIG. 1, shown with the drawer rail out; and

FIGS. 7 to 8 are operational side views in partial section of the drawer rail in FIG. 1, shown returning.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, an auto-returning drawer rail in accordance with the present invention is mounted on furniture comprising a drawer cavity and a drawer and comprises a drawer rail assembly (10), an auto-returning device (20) and a buffering device (30). The drawer rail assembly (10) is mounted in the drawer cavity and has a rail bracket (11), an outer track (12), an inner track (13) and multiple optional ball bearing races (14).
The rail bracket (11) is mounted securely in the drawer cavity and has a distal end, a proximal end, an internal surface, two optional mounting holes (111) and an optional inserting panel (112). The mounting holes (111) are formed through the internal surface of the outer track (11) near the proximal end. The inserting panel (112) is formed on, and protrudes from the internal surface of the rail bracket (11) near the distal end.
The outer track (12) is mounted slidably on the internal surface of the rail bracket (11) and has an external surface and an internal surface. The external surface of the outer track (12) is mounted slidably on the internal surface of the rail bracket (11).
The inner track (13) is mounted slidably on the internal surface of the outer track (12), mounted securely on the drawer and has a distal end, a proximal end, an internal surface, an external surface, two engaging blocks (131) and a hook (132). The engaging blocks (131) are formed on and protrude from the external surface of the inner track (13) near the proximal end and face the internal surface of the outer track (12). The hook (132) is formed on and protrudes from the external surface of the inner track (13) near the engaging blocks (131).
The ball bearing races (14) are mounted in the drawer rail assembly (10) between the outer track (12) and the inner track (13) for smooth movement of the inner track (13) relative to the outer track (12).
The auto-returning device (20) is mounted on the drawer rail assembly (10) and has a base (21), a sliding block (22), a connecting element (23) and two springs (24).
The base (21) is mounted on the internal surface of the rail bracket (11) and has a front end (211), a rear end (213), two sidewalls (217) and two elongated grooves (218).
The front end (211) of the base (21) is mounted on the internal surface of the rail bracket (11) and may have an inserting hole (212). The inserting hole (212) is formed through the front end (211) of the base (21) and is mounted around the inserting panel (112) of the rail bracket (11).
The rear end (213) of the base (21) is mounted on the internal surface of the rail bracket (11) near the proximal end and has an external surface, two outer sides, a recess (214), two shoulder mounts (215) and two optional mounting blocks (216).
The external surface of the rear end (213) is mounted on the internal surface of the rail bracket (11). The recess (214) is formed through the external surface of the rear end (213) of the base (21) and faces the internal surface of the rail bracket (11).
The shoulder mounts (215) are formed respectively on the outer sides of the rear end (213) of the base (21) and each shoulder mount (215) has an open end facing the front end (211) of the base (21).
The mounting blocks (216) are formed on and protrude from the external surface of the rear end (213) near the shoulder mounts (215), are mounted in the mounting holes (111) in the rail bracket (11) to mount the base (21) securely on the rail bracket (11).
The sidewalls (217) are formed on the base (21) between the front end (211) and the rear end (213) parallel to each other and each sidewall (217) has an inner side.
The elongated grooves (218) may be L-shaped, are respectively formed in the inner sides of the sidewalls (217).
The sliding block (22) may be curved, is mounted slidably on the base (21) between the sidewalls (217) and has two outer sides, a front end, a rear end, a middle, multiple sliding tabs (221), a clasp (222) and a mounting recess (223).
The sliding tabs (221) are formed on and protrude from the outer sides of the sliding block (22) near the rear end and the middle and are mounted slidably in the elongated grooves (218) of the base (21).
The clasp (222) is formed on the front end of the sliding block (22) and abuts the hook (132) of the inner track (13).
The mounting recess (223) is formed in the middle of the sliding block (22) between the sliding tabs (221) and faces the internal surface of the rail bracket (11).
The connecting element (23) is mounted securely on the sliding block (22) between the rail bracket (11) and the base (21) and has a middle, a connecting block (231) and a holding frame (233). The connecting block (231) is formed on and protrudes from the middle of the connecting element (23), is mounted securely in the mounting recess (223) of the sliding block (22) and may have a rear side and a mounting hole (232). The rear side of the connecting block (231) faces the rear end (213) of the base (21). The mounting hole (232) is formed in the rear side of the connecting block (231). The holding frame (233) is formed on and protrudes from the connecting block (231) and has two claws. The claws of the holding frame (233) protrude out of the sidewalls (217) of the base (21) and align with the shoulder mounts (215).
The springs (24) are connected to the base (21) and the connecting element (23) to pull the sliding block (22) along the elongated grooves (218) and each spring (24) has a distal end and a proximal end. The proximal ends of the springs (24) are attached securely to the shoulder mounts (215). The distal ends of the springs (24) are connected to the claws of the holding frame (233).
The buffering device (30) is mounted in the auto-returning device (20) between the base (21) and the rail bracket (11) and has a damper (31) and a drive shaft (32). The damper (31) is mounted securely in the recess (214) of the base (21) and has front end. The drive shaft (32) is mounted slidably in the damper (31), is connected to the connecting element (23), and may be connected to the mounting hole (232) of the connecting element (23).
With further reference to FIGS. 4 to 6, when the inner track (13) is not moved relative to the rail bracket (11), the hook (132) abuts the clasp (222) of the sliding block (22). When the drawer is opened, the inner track (13) moves relative to the rail bracket (11) of the drawer rail assembly (10) and the hook (132) will pull the sliding block (22) along the elongated grooves (218) to the front end (211) of the base (21). The inner track (13) will further move forward when the sliding block (22) engages the elongated grooves (218) near the front end (211) of the base (21) causing the hook (132) to be released from the clasp (222). The connecting element (23) and the drive shaft (32) will move with the sliding block (22). The springs (24) are stretched when the connecting element (23) is moved with the sliding block (22).
With further reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, when the drawer is pushed backward, the sliding block (22) moves back along the elongated grooves (218) to the rear end (213) of base (21) due to the engaging block (131) pushing the sliding block (22). Meanwhile, the damper (31) prevents the drawer from gaining too much speed and being damaged. Since the drawer is returned, the drawer is not an injury hazard to passers-by. Moreover, the auto-returning device is simple, so easily manufactured, thereby reducing production costs.
Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and features of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims

1. A drawer rail being mounted in furniture having a drawer cavity and a drawer, the drawer rail comprising

a drawer rail assembly being adapted to be mounted in the drawer cavity and having

a rail bracket being adapted to be mounted securely in the drawer cavity and having

a distal end;

a proximal end; and

an internal surface;

an outer track being mounted slidably on the internal surface of the rail bracket and having

an external surface being mounted slidably on the internal surface of the rail bracket; and

an internal surface; and

an inner track being mounted slidably on the internal surface of the outer track, being adapted to be mounted securely on the drawer and having

a distal end;

a proximal end;

an internal surface;

an external surface;

two engaging blocks being formed on and protruding from the external surface of the inner track near the distal end and facing the internal surface of the outer track; and

a hook being formed on and protruding from the external surface of the inner track near the engaging blocks;

an auto-returning device being mounted on the drawer rail assembly and having

a base being mounted on the internal surface of the rail bracket and having

a front end being mounted on the internal surface of the rail bracket;

a rear end being mounted on the internal surface of the rail bracket near the proximal end and having

an external surface being mounted on the internal surface of the rail bracket;

two outer sides;

a recess being formed through the external surface of the rear end of the base and facing the internal surface of the rail bracket; and

two shoulder mounts being formed respectively on the outer sides of the rear end of the base and each shoulder mount having an open end facing the front end of the base;

two sidewalls being formed on the base between the front end and the rear end parallel each other and each sidewall having an inner side; and

two elongated grooves being respectively formed in the inner sides of the sidewalls;

a sliding block being mounted slidably on the base between the sidewalls and having

two outer sides;

a front end;

a rear end;

a middle;

multiple sliding tabs being formed on and protruding from the outer sides of the sliding block near the rear end and the middle and being mounted slidably in the elongated grooves of the base;

a clasp being formed on the front end of the sliding block and abutting the hook of the inner track; and

a mounting recess being formed in the middle of the sliding block between the sliding tabs and facing the internal surface of the rail bracket;

a connecting element being mounted securely on the sliding block between the rail bracket and the base and having

a middle;

a connecting block being formed on and protruding from the middle of the connecting element, being mounted securely in the mounting recess of the sliding block; and

a holding frame being formed on and protruding from the connecting block and having two claws protruding out of the sidewalls of the base and aligning with the shoulder mounts; and

two springs being connected to the base and the connecting element to pull the sliding block along the elongated grooves and each spring having

a proximal end being attached securely to a corresponding shoulder mount; and

a distal end being connected to a corresponding claw of the holding frame; and

a buffering device being mounted in the auto-returning device between the base and the rail bracket and having

a damper being mounted securely in the recess of the base and having a front end; and

a drive shaft being mounted slidably in the damper, being connected with the connecting element and having

an inner end being extended into the damper from the front end of the damper; and

an outer end being extended out of the front end of the damper and being connected to the connecting element.

2. The drawer rail as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the rail bracket further has

two mounting holes being formed through the internal surface of the outer track near the distal end; and

an inserting panel being formed on and protruding from the internal surface of the rail bracket; and

the front end of the base further has an inserting hole being formed through the front end of the base and being mounted around the inserting panel of the rail bracket; and

the rear end of the base further has two mounting blocks being formed on and protruding from the external surface of the rear end near the shoulder mounts, being mounted in the mounting holes in the rail bracket to mount the base securely on the rail bracket.

3. The drawer rail as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the connecting block further has

a rear side facing the rear end of the base; and

a mounting hole being formed in the rear side of the connecting block; and

the outer end of the drive shaft is connected to the mounting hole of the connecting block.

4. The drawer rail as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drawer rail assembly further has multiple ball bearing races being mounted in the drawer rail assembly between the outer track and the inner track for smooth movement of the inner track relative to the outer track.

5. The drawer rail as claimed in claim 2, wherein

the connecting block further has

a rear side facing the rear end of the base; and

a mounting hole being formed in the rear side of the connecting block; and

6. The drawer rail as claimed in claim 3, wherein the drawer rail assembly further has multiple ball bearing races being mounted in the drawer rail assembly between the outer track and the inner track for smooth movement of the inner track relative to the outer track.