Means for positioning ball retainer for telescoping ball bearing slide mechanisms in relationship to open or closed position of same
United States Patent 3904254
A telescoping ball bearing slide mechanism having inner and outer slide members with a ball bearing retainer positioned there between. The moving slide member has a lanced-down tab. The ball retainer also has a lanced-up counter-tab. The tab of the slide moving member is aligned with the tab of the ball retainer, and if the ball retainer has moved out of its normal operative position, the tab of the slide moving member engages the tab of the ball retainer, and the ball retainer is pushed to its normal position by fully closing the drawer which the slide mechanism supports.
US Patent References:
Spring locking means for a stop pin in a sliding bracket
Gussack - February 1951 - 2542247
Drawer slide
Jordan - September 1965 - 3205025
HEAVY-DUTY DRAWER SLIDE
Fall - January 1970 - 3488097
ANTI-CREEP BALL BEARING RETAINER FOR A DRAWER SLIDE
Lambert - June 1973 - 3738716
PRECISION TELESCOPING BALL BEARING DRAWER SLIDE SUSPENSION FOR WOOD AND METAL FURNITURE PRODUCTION
Hagen - December 1973 - 3778120
Spring locking means for a stop pin in a sliding bracket
Gussack - February 1951 - 2542247
Drawer slide
Jordan - September 1965 - 3205025
HEAVY-DUTY DRAWER SLIDE
Fall - January 1970 - 3488097
ANTI-CREEP BALL BEARING RETAINER FOR A DRAWER SLIDE
Lambert - June 1973 - 3738716
PRECISION TELESCOPING BALL BEARING DRAWER SLIDE SUSPENSION FOR WOOD AND METAL FURNITURE PRODUCTION
Hagen - December 1973 - 3778120
Inventors:
Hagen, Magnus F. (Fullerton, CA)
Jordan, Fred A. (Whittier, CA)
Jordan, Fred A. (Whittier, CA)
Application Number:
05/370040
Publication Date:
09/09/1975
Filing Date:
06/14/1973
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
312/334.470
International Classes:
A47B88/10; A47B88/04; F16C17/00
Field of Search:
308/3.8 312/348,344,341,343,337,334,339
Primary Examiner:
Myhre, Charles J.
Assistant Examiner:
Lazarus R. H.
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Baisch, Carroll J.
Claims:
I claim
1. Means for recycling of ball retainers to effectively eliminate harmful ball creepage for telescoping ball bearing slide mechanisms, comprising:
2. The invention defined by claim 1, including an alternate movable recycle tab at each end of the inner slide member for positively moving the ball retainer to the normal zero position when the inner slide member has been moved forward and then telescoped;
3. The invention defined by claim 1 wherein the recycle tab is at the inner side of the bottom wall of the inner slide member and the counter tab is on the central portion of the ball retainer.
4. The invention defined by claim 3, wherein the recycle tab is lanced from the bottom wall of the inner slide member, and the counter tab is lanced from the central portion of the ball retainer and in alignment with the recycle tab.
5. The invention defined by claim 3, wherein the recycle tab moves away from the counter tab when the inner slide member is extended.
6. Means for recycling ball bearing retainers for telescoping ball bearing slide mechanisms, comprising:
7. Means for recycling ball bearing retainers for telescoping ball bearing slide mechanisms, comprising:
1. Means for recycling of ball retainers to effectively eliminate harmful ball creepage for telescoping ball bearing slide mechanisms, comprising:
2. The invention defined by claim 1, including an alternate movable recycle tab at each end of the inner slide member for positively moving the ball retainer to the normal zero position when the inner slide member has been moved forward and then telescoped;
3. The invention defined by claim 1 wherein the recycle tab is at the inner side of the bottom wall of the inner slide member and the counter tab is on the central portion of the ball retainer.
4. The invention defined by claim 3, wherein the recycle tab is lanced from the bottom wall of the inner slide member, and the counter tab is lanced from the central portion of the ball retainer and in alignment with the recycle tab.
5. The invention defined by claim 3, wherein the recycle tab moves away from the counter tab when the inner slide member is extended.
6. Means for recycling ball bearing retainers for telescoping ball bearing slide mechanisms, comprising:
7. Means for recycling ball bearing retainers for telescoping ball bearing slide mechanisms, comprising:
Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
Applicant: magnus f. hagen and fred a. jordan
Title: precision telescoping ball bearing drawer slide suspension for wood and metal furniture
U.s. pat. No. 3,778,120
Filed: feb. 15, 1972
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to telescoping slide mechanisms and relates more particularly to improvements in telescoping ball bearing mechanisms such as improved movement under cycling of the slide to less than full extension.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Prior to the present invention, it has not been possible to effect an exact recycling position of the ball retainer in relationship to a closed or telescoped position of the slide mechanism.
The problem or difficulty encountered with such prior slide mechanisms results when a drawer mounted on telescoping ball bearing slide mechanisms is pulled forward toward operator, but not to the fully extended position where the recycling of the ball retainer would take place by virtue of slide member outstops hitting the retainer. When a drawer is repeatedly cycled at less than full extension, the ball retainer will creep due to the skidding of the balls into an uncontrolled location. Due to creep, the ball retainer will skid out of the normal position and result in less than full design extension or travel of the slide mechanism. The ball retainer will then effect a stop of the drawer short of its fully open position, and the drawer can only be pulled to the full forward position by dragging or skidding of the moving drawer member through the balls.
Consider a file drawer mounted on ball bearing telescoping slides which is being utilized frequently by file clerks. It is well known that file clerks do not pull out this drawer every time to its fully extended position, so that the full out stops of the slide will properly engage.
The Jordan U.S. Pat. No. 3,205,025 refers to such stops and the proper cycling of the ball retainers in relationship to the fully open slide position. In this patent, there are outer member tongues which are necessary to limit the ball retainer travel to the rear of the slide so that the proper sequencing of the ball retainer in normal use of the slide is assured.
In other words, should you have removed a drawer with attached slide member, when reinserting the slide member into the other slide section by means of engaging the balls, the ball retainer will be stopped by the tongues of the "outer member," and the inner section will then pass by friction through the ball bearings, since they are unable to rotate due to the retainer having been stopped. Once the slide is in the closed position, or what is called the "0" position, the ball retainer is properly cycled. The important point to understand is that this cycle position is only achieved after the drawer has been disconnected and reinserted again.
In case the drawer and attached slide inner member is not removed by pulling the inner sections out completely from the ball bearings, it has been found that various ball bearing slides, not only that of U.S. Pat. No. 3,205,025 but all slides based on this principle, have a considerable problem, namely; skidding of the balls. This is a problem that cannot be overcome in ball bearing slides unless there is synchronization or recycling of the ball retainer and ball bearings with the inner member movement.
Due to this ball skidding, the normal full extension of the slide becomes less, because of the foreshortened travel of the ball retainer. Due to the frictional stop effected by balls which cannot rotate freely, which occurs when the ball retainer engages the slide outer member stop in the extended position, the drawer then stops before the intended full-extension position is reached for full accessibility, unless the operator is familiar with the slide mechanism and pulls hard on the drawer and attached inner member in order to skid the inner member through the stationary balls. Only by overcoming this frictional stop can the operator "drag" the inner member to the maximum extended position with the ball retainer stopped by the slide outer member stop, thereby achieving full drawer extension and full accessibility. When drawers are full of papers, the frictional resistance under such conditions makes it extremely difficult to pull the drawer to its fully extended position, especially for a woman file clerk. There is also the danger of inadvertantly removing the drawer
However, since the file clerks are generally not familiar with such workings of the slide, they cannot be expected to exert such strong drawer pull in order to pull the drawer to its fully extended position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above problem is solved by the present invention. To begin with, it is always certain that a file drawer has a "normal" position which is the closed or "shut" position within the file cabinet or desk pedestal, etc. With this assumption that the normal drawer position is always a closed or shut drawer position, we now provide special ball retainer tab and moving member tab which assure a recycling sequence when the drawer is in the closed (normal) position.
Restating the matter, the slide is so constructed that when the members are in the closed position, the recycling closed position tabs are in exactly such position that the ball retainer is forced to move to its zero or closed position.
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a slide mechanism that will always recycle when the drawer mechanism is in the telescoped or closed position. Consequently, the recycling will be effected when a drawer, carried by such slide mechanisms, is in the closed position.
Another object of the invention is to provide a slide mechanism of this character wherein the ball retainer is always positioned properly with respect to the movable slide member.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a slide mechanism of this character wherein creeping or skidding of the ball retainer is controlled within set limits.
A further object of the invention is to provide a slide mechanism that will allow a drawer to be easily pulled to the fully opened position.
A still further object of the invention is to provide slide mechanisms of this character that will always recycle when the drawer is closed.
The characteristics and advantages of the invention are further sufficiently referred to in connection with the following detailed description of the accompanying drawings, which represent the embodiment. After considering this example, skilled persons will understand that many variations may be made without departing from the principles disclosed, and we contemplate the employment of any structure, arrangements or modes of operation that are properly within the scope of the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring to the drawings which are for illustrative purposes only:
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a portion of a drawer slide with parts broken away.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the drawer slide;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3--3 of FIG. 1;
FIGS. 4-8 are reduced views showing various positions of a drawer carried by slide mechanisms embodying the present invention and showing the respective positions of the slide members;
FIGS. 9-13 are somewhat enlarged elevational views of the slide mechanism with portions broken away to show the position of the various parts of the slide mechanism related to the respective views of FIGS. 4-8;
FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a drawer carried by an alternative slide mechanism embodying the present invention; and
FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the slide mechanism of FIG. 12; and
FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of a slide mechanism employing movable inner member tabs.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring more particularly to FIGS. 1-3, there is shown a slide mechanism, indicated generally at 20, embodying the present invention. It is to be understood, of course, that there are two slide mechanisms for a desk or other drawer, one at each side of the drawer.
Each slide mechanism comprises a pair of slide members, an outer member indicated generally at 24 and an inner slide member indicated generally at 26. One of the slide members is attached to the side of a drawer and the other is attached or secured to the adjacent side of the desk, there being sufficient clearance for the slide between the side of the drawer and the adjacent side wall or parts of the desk defining the drawer opening. Normally, the small or inner slide member is secured to the side of the drawer while the larger or outer slide member is secured to the adjacent part or wall of the desk defining the drawer opening. Slide members 24 and 26 are generally channel shaped and formed of sheet metal by stamping, these parts being made with great accuracy.
Outer member 24 has a longitudinally extending center wall 28 which may be termed the bottom of the channel. Along each side edge of the bottom 28 there is an outwardly and laterally extending ball race 30 that is concave and convex in cross section with a concave surface facing inwardly so that said surfaces are oppositely arranged relative to each other and are spaced apart laterally relative to the length of the wall 28.
At each end of the outer member 24 there is a flange 34 & 37 that is turned laterally at an angle substantially normal to the plane of the bottom wall 28 and in a perpendicular direction to the ball races 30. However, the flange 34 extends but part way across the channel so as to leave clearance space at each side for the ball races of the inner slide member when the device is assembled as described hereinafter.
At its other end, and at a location intermediate to the ends of member 24 there are two tongues 36 cut from the bottom wall, said tongues being apart one-third of the distance from the ball races 30 of the member 24 relative to the length of said member 24. The sides of each tongue are cut parallel to each other in laterally spaced relationship and one end of said tongue is free and formed by a cut connecting the adjacent sides of the tongue. At one end the tongue is integral with the metal of the bottom wall 28 while the other end is free and said tongue is bent inwardly into the channel so that said free end is positioned inwardly of the inner surface of wall 28 and provides stop means of a ball retainer 60. Wall 28 is also provided with various openings 40 for reception of screws, not shown, whereby said member 24 is secured at a support such as the part of the desk defining the side walls of the drawer opening or the like.
Inner slide member 26 also has a bottom wall, indicated at 48, along the longitudinally extending sides or side edges of which are laterally turned ball races 50 which are oppositely arranged and arcuate in cross-section with the concave surfaces arranged oppositely respective adjacent ball races 30 of the outer slide member, said races 50 being spaced from said adjacent races 30.
Both ends of the inner slide member 26 are open. End 54 of slide member 26 is designed to engage flange 37 when the slide members 24 and 26 are fully telescoped together to thereby limit telescopng movement thereof. Thus, the members 24 and 26 have longitudinal movement relative to each other and may be extended and telescoped. Wall 48 of the inner member 26 also has openings 55 therein for screws not shown whereby said member 26 is attached to the side wall of a desk or file drawer. The bottom wall 48 of the inner slide member has a recycle tab 49 that is lanced down or inwardly.
Slide members 24 and 26 are arranged so that their open sides face each other and disposed between said members, in the space between the parallel walls 28 and 48 is a ball retainer, indicated generally at 60.
Ball retainer 60 is also channel shaped and has a bottom wall comprising a shallow, reverse channel portion 62 which extends longitudinally of the retainer and from the outer edges of which there are longitudinally extending wall portions 64 in a plane parallel to the bottom of said channel portion 62. From the outer edges of the wall portions 64 extend a series of ball retaining arms 68, integral with said wall portions 64 and spaced apart longitudinally of the ball retainer 60. The arms 68 at one side of the ball retainer end are parallel to those at the opposite side thereof, said arms being at right angles to the bottom portions 64. The arms 68 are provided with respective aligned openings 70 for reception of ball bearings 72, FIG. 3, said openings 70 being of smaller diameter than the balls 72. The bottom 72 of the ball retainer has a lanced out counter tab 67 that extends outwardly of said bottom and toward the movable or inner slide member 48. The free inturned end of the counter tab 67 and the free end of the recycle tab 49 are designed so that these ends may engage when the slide mechanism is telescoped.
Ball retainer 60 is inserted into the outer member 24 before the tongue 36 and flange 34 are bent inwardly. Tongue 36 and flange 34 prevent said retainer 60 from coming out of the outer member at either end of said member 24, the tongue 36 preventing said retainer from coming out one end while flange 34 prevents said retainer from coming out the opposite end of said member. Thus, the ball retainer has longitudinal movement between said tongue 36 and the flange 34.
When the ball retainer is operably disposed in the outer member the balls 72 are operably positioned in the races 30 and 50, as best shown in FIG. 3. The sides 68 of the ball retainer may exert a slight pressure or tension on the balls against the races to minimize or eliminate retainer vibration and possible noise.
To telescopically assemble the outer and inner members, the ball retainer 60 is moved toward the tongue 36 until the adjacent end engages said tongue. The inner member is then inserted into the outer member to a position whereat the races 50 of said inner member contact the first balls at the end of the ball retainer 60 opposite the tongue 36. At this point there is frictional resistance but the inner race is forced telescopically inwardly until the inner member slide end 54 engages the flange 37 of the outer member and telescopic movement is stopped. When the outer and inner member 24 and 26 are thus telescopically positioned, they may be moved longitudinally apart relative to each other, supported by the balls 72 with a minimum of friction. As said members are moved apart the ball retainer travels toward the flange 34 of the outer member and when the adjacent end of the retainer is stopped and this in turn stops said movement of the inner member due to the frictional resistance of the balls on the races 50 of the inner member. However, by exertion of a sufficient pull to overcome said frictional resistance said inner member may be separated. Replacement of the inner member in the outer member is effected as described previously.
The drawer 80 includes a front member 86 and sides 88. The outer slide member is attached to the adjacent wall, not shown, by screws or the like, while the inner slide member is attached by screws or other suitable means to the side 88 of the drawer. The drawer opening is indicated as 84. The back of the cabinet/enclosure is 82.
In FIGS. 4 and 8, the drawer is shown in the closed position with the inner slide member and the ball retainer in the normal position. In FIGS. 5 and 6, the drawer is shown in different partly open positions. As is well known, file clerks frequently do not pull the drawer out to its fully extended position so that the inner stops of the slide mechanism will not properly engage. In the slide mechanism, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,205,025, there is described stops for the proper cycling of the ball retainers in relationship to the fully open slide position. In this slide mechanism, it is necessary to withdraw the drawer with the attached inner slide members to get the proper effect. When reinserting the inner slide members into the outer slide members by means of engaging the balls within the ball retainer, the ball retainer will be stopped by the ball retainer tongues 36 of what is called the outer member 24 and the inner member 26, will in such case, then pass through the ball bearings once they have stopped rotating due to the retainer being stopped by tongue 36. It is important to understand that this final position of ball retainer 60 is only achieved once the drawer has been disconnected and reinserted again.
In case the drawer is not withdrawn thereby withdrawing the inner slide members from the ball bearings by pulling them out completely from said bearings, it has been found that various ball bearing slides have a considerable problem, in that the balls will skid and the travel of the inner member and of the ball retainer will be shortened. Due to the frictional stop effected by the ball retainer location which prevents ball rotation and which comes into effect as soon as the ball retainer engages the slide outer member stops in the extended position, the drawer cannot be fully extended for full accessibility unless the operator is familiar with the slide mechanism and pulls hard on the drawer in order to overcome this frictional stop. Only by overcoming this frictional stop, will the operator then drag the inner member and the drawer to its normal intended out position.
Overcoming such a frictional drag requires the exertion of very considerable force and in case of drawers being heavily loaded, it is difficult for the operator to pull the drawer to its full extension or its full accessible position. This considerable force may result in accidentally pulling the drawer completely free of the desk or file with resultant damage or injury.
Such a skidding of the balls occurs when a drawer is frequently only pulled to the partly open position. Such actuation of the drawer is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and results in skidding or slipping of the balls in relation to the travel of the inner members. This problem has been solved by the present invention. It is to be understood that the normal position for a file drawer is the closed or shut position within the file drawer cabinet, desk or the like and this position may be considered to be the zero position.
Special ball retainer tabs are incorporated in the moving or inner slide member and the ball retainer such that the ball retainers are recycled to their zero or normal position when the drawer is closed. In other words, the present invention effects recycling of the mechanism in the closed position and this will be effected every time the drawer is closed. Thus, by recycling the ball retainer at the closed position, said retainer is in the original normal or zero position to allow full extension of the drawer so that the drawer will no longer be stopped by an out of cycle or skidded ball retainer, and said drawer can always be pulled to its outward limit of normal movement.
Referring to FIGS. 9 to 13 inclusive, the slide outer member is shown with the inner slide member and the ball retainer variously positioned according to the respective positions of the drawer in FIGS. 4-8 inclusive.
It is to be noted that when the slide mechanism is telescoped, the recycle tab 49 of the inner slide member, will engage the counter tab 67 of the ball retainer should the ball retainer be out of cycle and in a too far forward position. The free end of the recycle tab 49 then engages the free end of the counter tab 67 of the ball retainer, and moves the ball retainer to the normal or zero position shown in FIGS. 8 and 13. It is to be understood that the ball retainer in FIGS. 4 and 9 is in its normal 0 position. The ball retainer is in the same position in FIGS. 8 and 13 but in these figures, it has been recycled to its normal or 0 position.
In installing the slides, the inner slide members are attached to the respective sides of the drawer. When the drawer is in its fully extended position, the stops limiting outward movement of the ball retainers are engaged. Closing the drawer to its fully closed position, causes the recycle tab 49 to engage the counter tab 67 of the ball retainer. When the drawer is fully closed, the ball retainer has been moved to its normal or zero position. Opening of the drawer causes the recycle tab 49 to move away from the ball retainer tab 67, and the drawer may be fully opened without any frictional resistance, as the ball retainer was recycled in the closed position. It will be obvious that each time the drawer is fully closed, the ball retainer will be positively reset to its normal or 0 position. Thus, recycling will be effected at either the fully extended or the fully telescoped (closed) positions of the slide.
Referring to FIG. 14, there is shown a cabinet indicated generally having a drawer indicated generally at 98, operably mounted within a drawer opening 100. The drawer 98 includes a front panel 102 and side walls 104. The drawer is mounted in the drawer opening by means of what are termed "three member slides," indicated generally in FIG. 15 attached to the respective side walls 96 and drawer side 104. Each three member slide has an outer slide member 108 and an intermediate member, indicated generally at 110. Intermediate member 110 is in the general shape of a Z and there is an inner slide member 112 secured to the lower arm of the intermediate member. Inner slide member 112 is considered a part of the intermediate member 110. There is a ball retainer, not shown, operably disposed between the outer member 108 and the inner member 112. These parts are arranged in the usual manner.
The upper arm of the intermediate member has what is normally termed an inner slide member 114 attached thereto at the side opposite the slide member 112 and considered part of the intermediate member. A second outer slide member 116 is provided for the inner slide member 114 and there is a ball retainer 120 operably disposed there between.
Slide member 114 has a lanced recycling tab 122 for operable engagement with the counter tab 124 of the ball retainer. There is also a similar arrangement of recycle tab 122 and counter tab 124 for the inner slide member 112 and the outer slide member 108.
As shown in FIG. 15, the parts of the mechanism are in the closed or telescoped position with the inner end of the ball retainer in engagement with the tongues 36, recycle tab 122 being in engagement with the counter tab 124 of the ball retainer, the ball retainer having been moved to this position by the recycle tab when the mechanism has been fully telescoped. While the recycle tabs of the inner members and counter tabs of the ball retainers are shown as within the mechanism, it is to be understood that there could be other arrangements to provide actuation of the ball retainers to the normal or zero position by the moving slide members. In other words, the invention broadly resides in means for actuating or moving the ball retainer to its 0 or normal position by the movable slide member.
Obviously, the recycle tab disengages from the counter tab of the ball retainer when the slide is extended. The recycle tab picks up or engages the counter tab as the moving or movable slide member approaches or reaches its fully telescoped or closed normal position.
The invention and its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit or scope thereof or sacrificing its material advantages. The arrangement hereinbefore described being merely by way of example, and we do not wish to be restricted to the specific form shown or uses mentioned except as defined in the accompanying claims.
FIG. 16 shows a further refinement of a ball retainer recycling method. The methanism shown is of the same general construction as referred to previously, i.e.: there is a moving inner member channel 128 contained by balls in a ball retainer 129 located in an outer member 130 channel. The moving member is capable of moving in two directions, forward and aft.
With such a slide arrangement a fixed inner member recycle tab which mates with a ball retainer counter tab would result in a mechanism which would move only in the forward direction. Aft motion would be prevented by said tab. By making the inner member tab 126 movable it is possible for said tab to clear or bypass the ball retainer when aft travel is desired. Means for moving the tab could be manual, electrical, or mechanical, the important point being that the inner member tab can be moved for aft travel. For forward travel the inner member tab is moved to the normal engaging position such that recycling of the ball retainer occurs in the closed position as described previously.
In FIG. 16 we have also shown a movable inner member tab 127 at the opposite end of the slide mechanism. This tab mates with counter stop tab 125 on the ball retainer. The purpose of these tabs is to recycle the ball retainer when the drawer has been moved aft and closed. These tabs function in the exact same manner as those used for the forward motion.
The invention and its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope thereof or sacrificing its material advantages. The arrangement hereinbefore described being merely by way of example, and we do not wish to be restricted to the specific form shown or uses mentioned except as defined in the accompanying claims.
Applicant: magnus f. hagen and fred a. jordan
Title: precision telescoping ball bearing drawer slide suspension for wood and metal furniture
U.s. pat. No. 3,778,120
Filed: feb. 15, 1972
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to telescoping slide mechanisms and relates more particularly to improvements in telescoping ball bearing mechanisms such as improved movement under cycling of the slide to less than full extension.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Prior to the present invention, it has not been possible to effect an exact recycling position of the ball retainer in relationship to a closed or telescoped position of the slide mechanism.
The problem or difficulty encountered with such prior slide mechanisms results when a drawer mounted on telescoping ball bearing slide mechanisms is pulled forward toward operator, but not to the fully extended position where the recycling of the ball retainer would take place by virtue of slide member outstops hitting the retainer. When a drawer is repeatedly cycled at less than full extension, the ball retainer will creep due to the skidding of the balls into an uncontrolled location. Due to creep, the ball retainer will skid out of the normal position and result in less than full design extension or travel of the slide mechanism. The ball retainer will then effect a stop of the drawer short of its fully open position, and the drawer can only be pulled to the full forward position by dragging or skidding of the moving drawer member through the balls.
Consider a file drawer mounted on ball bearing telescoping slides which is being utilized frequently by file clerks. It is well known that file clerks do not pull out this drawer every time to its fully extended position, so that the full out stops of the slide will properly engage.
The Jordan U.S. Pat. No. 3,205,025 refers to such stops and the proper cycling of the ball retainers in relationship to the fully open slide position. In this patent, there are outer member tongues which are necessary to limit the ball retainer travel to the rear of the slide so that the proper sequencing of the ball retainer in normal use of the slide is assured.
In other words, should you have removed a drawer with attached slide member, when reinserting the slide member into the other slide section by means of engaging the balls, the ball retainer will be stopped by the tongues of the "outer member," and the inner section will then pass by friction through the ball bearings, since they are unable to rotate due to the retainer having been stopped. Once the slide is in the closed position, or what is called the "0" position, the ball retainer is properly cycled. The important point to understand is that this cycle position is only achieved after the drawer has been disconnected and reinserted again.
In case the drawer and attached slide inner member is not removed by pulling the inner sections out completely from the ball bearings, it has been found that various ball bearing slides, not only that of U.S. Pat. No. 3,205,025 but all slides based on this principle, have a considerable problem, namely; skidding of the balls. This is a problem that cannot be overcome in ball bearing slides unless there is synchronization or recycling of the ball retainer and ball bearings with the inner member movement.
Due to this ball skidding, the normal full extension of the slide becomes less, because of the foreshortened travel of the ball retainer. Due to the frictional stop effected by balls which cannot rotate freely, which occurs when the ball retainer engages the slide outer member stop in the extended position, the drawer then stops before the intended full-extension position is reached for full accessibility, unless the operator is familiar with the slide mechanism and pulls hard on the drawer and attached inner member in order to skid the inner member through the stationary balls. Only by overcoming this frictional stop can the operator "drag" the inner member to the maximum extended position with the ball retainer stopped by the slide outer member stop, thereby achieving full drawer extension and full accessibility. When drawers are full of papers, the frictional resistance under such conditions makes it extremely difficult to pull the drawer to its fully extended position, especially for a woman file clerk. There is also the danger of inadvertantly removing the drawer
However, since the file clerks are generally not familiar with such workings of the slide, they cannot be expected to exert such strong drawer pull in order to pull the drawer to its fully extended position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above problem is solved by the present invention. To begin with, it is always certain that a file drawer has a "normal" position which is the closed or "shut" position within the file cabinet or desk pedestal, etc. With this assumption that the normal drawer position is always a closed or shut drawer position, we now provide special ball retainer tab and moving member tab which assure a recycling sequence when the drawer is in the closed (normal) position.
Restating the matter, the slide is so constructed that when the members are in the closed position, the recycling closed position tabs are in exactly such position that the ball retainer is forced to move to its zero or closed position.
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a slide mechanism that will always recycle when the drawer mechanism is in the telescoped or closed position. Consequently, the recycling will be effected when a drawer, carried by such slide mechanisms, is in the closed position.
Another object of the invention is to provide a slide mechanism of this character wherein the ball retainer is always positioned properly with respect to the movable slide member.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a slide mechanism of this character wherein creeping or skidding of the ball retainer is controlled within set limits.
A further object of the invention is to provide a slide mechanism that will allow a drawer to be easily pulled to the fully opened position.
A still further object of the invention is to provide slide mechanisms of this character that will always recycle when the drawer is closed.
The characteristics and advantages of the invention are further sufficiently referred to in connection with the following detailed description of the accompanying drawings, which represent the embodiment. After considering this example, skilled persons will understand that many variations may be made without departing from the principles disclosed, and we contemplate the employment of any structure, arrangements or modes of operation that are properly within the scope of the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring to the drawings which are for illustrative purposes only:
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a portion of a drawer slide with parts broken away.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the drawer slide;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3--3 of FIG. 1;
FIGS. 4-8 are reduced views showing various positions of a drawer carried by slide mechanisms embodying the present invention and showing the respective positions of the slide members;
FIGS. 9-13 are somewhat enlarged elevational views of the slide mechanism with portions broken away to show the position of the various parts of the slide mechanism related to the respective views of FIGS. 4-8;
FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a drawer carried by an alternative slide mechanism embodying the present invention; and
FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the slide mechanism of FIG. 12; and
FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of a slide mechanism employing movable inner member tabs.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring more particularly to FIGS. 1-3, there is shown a slide mechanism, indicated generally at 20, embodying the present invention. It is to be understood, of course, that there are two slide mechanisms for a desk or other drawer, one at each side of the drawer.
Each slide mechanism comprises a pair of slide members, an outer member indicated generally at 24 and an inner slide member indicated generally at 26. One of the slide members is attached to the side of a drawer and the other is attached or secured to the adjacent side of the desk, there being sufficient clearance for the slide between the side of the drawer and the adjacent side wall or parts of the desk defining the drawer opening. Normally, the small or inner slide member is secured to the side of the drawer while the larger or outer slide member is secured to the adjacent part or wall of the desk defining the drawer opening. Slide members 24 and 26 are generally channel shaped and formed of sheet metal by stamping, these parts being made with great accuracy.
Outer member 24 has a longitudinally extending center wall 28 which may be termed the bottom of the channel. Along each side edge of the bottom 28 there is an outwardly and laterally extending ball race 30 that is concave and convex in cross section with a concave surface facing inwardly so that said surfaces are oppositely arranged relative to each other and are spaced apart laterally relative to the length of the wall 28.
At each end of the outer member 24 there is a flange 34 & 37 that is turned laterally at an angle substantially normal to the plane of the bottom wall 28 and in a perpendicular direction to the ball races 30. However, the flange 34 extends but part way across the channel so as to leave clearance space at each side for the ball races of the inner slide member when the device is assembled as described hereinafter.
At its other end, and at a location intermediate to the ends of member 24 there are two tongues 36 cut from the bottom wall, said tongues being apart one-third of the distance from the ball races 30 of the member 24 relative to the length of said member 24. The sides of each tongue are cut parallel to each other in laterally spaced relationship and one end of said tongue is free and formed by a cut connecting the adjacent sides of the tongue. At one end the tongue is integral with the metal of the bottom wall 28 while the other end is free and said tongue is bent inwardly into the channel so that said free end is positioned inwardly of the inner surface of wall 28 and provides stop means of a ball retainer 60. Wall 28 is also provided with various openings 40 for reception of screws, not shown, whereby said member 24 is secured at a support such as the part of the desk defining the side walls of the drawer opening or the like.
Inner slide member 26 also has a bottom wall, indicated at 48, along the longitudinally extending sides or side edges of which are laterally turned ball races 50 which are oppositely arranged and arcuate in cross-section with the concave surfaces arranged oppositely respective adjacent ball races 30 of the outer slide member, said races 50 being spaced from said adjacent races 30.
Both ends of the inner slide member 26 are open. End 54 of slide member 26 is designed to engage flange 37 when the slide members 24 and 26 are fully telescoped together to thereby limit telescopng movement thereof. Thus, the members 24 and 26 have longitudinal movement relative to each other and may be extended and telescoped. Wall 48 of the inner member 26 also has openings 55 therein for screws not shown whereby said member 26 is attached to the side wall of a desk or file drawer. The bottom wall 48 of the inner slide member has a recycle tab 49 that is lanced down or inwardly.
Slide members 24 and 26 are arranged so that their open sides face each other and disposed between said members, in the space between the parallel walls 28 and 48 is a ball retainer, indicated generally at 60.
Ball retainer 60 is also channel shaped and has a bottom wall comprising a shallow, reverse channel portion 62 which extends longitudinally of the retainer and from the outer edges of which there are longitudinally extending wall portions 64 in a plane parallel to the bottom of said channel portion 62. From the outer edges of the wall portions 64 extend a series of ball retaining arms 68, integral with said wall portions 64 and spaced apart longitudinally of the ball retainer 60. The arms 68 at one side of the ball retainer end are parallel to those at the opposite side thereof, said arms being at right angles to the bottom portions 64. The arms 68 are provided with respective aligned openings 70 for reception of ball bearings 72, FIG. 3, said openings 70 being of smaller diameter than the balls 72. The bottom 72 of the ball retainer has a lanced out counter tab 67 that extends outwardly of said bottom and toward the movable or inner slide member 48. The free inturned end of the counter tab 67 and the free end of the recycle tab 49 are designed so that these ends may engage when the slide mechanism is telescoped.
Ball retainer 60 is inserted into the outer member 24 before the tongue 36 and flange 34 are bent inwardly. Tongue 36 and flange 34 prevent said retainer 60 from coming out of the outer member at either end of said member 24, the tongue 36 preventing said retainer from coming out one end while flange 34 prevents said retainer from coming out the opposite end of said member. Thus, the ball retainer has longitudinal movement between said tongue 36 and the flange 34.
When the ball retainer is operably disposed in the outer member the balls 72 are operably positioned in the races 30 and 50, as best shown in FIG. 3. The sides 68 of the ball retainer may exert a slight pressure or tension on the balls against the races to minimize or eliminate retainer vibration and possible noise.
To telescopically assemble the outer and inner members, the ball retainer 60 is moved toward the tongue 36 until the adjacent end engages said tongue. The inner member is then inserted into the outer member to a position whereat the races 50 of said inner member contact the first balls at the end of the ball retainer 60 opposite the tongue 36. At this point there is frictional resistance but the inner race is forced telescopically inwardly until the inner member slide end 54 engages the flange 37 of the outer member and telescopic movement is stopped. When the outer and inner member 24 and 26 are thus telescopically positioned, they may be moved longitudinally apart relative to each other, supported by the balls 72 with a minimum of friction. As said members are moved apart the ball retainer travels toward the flange 34 of the outer member and when the adjacent end of the retainer is stopped and this in turn stops said movement of the inner member due to the frictional resistance of the balls on the races 50 of the inner member. However, by exertion of a sufficient pull to overcome said frictional resistance said inner member may be separated. Replacement of the inner member in the outer member is effected as described previously.
The drawer 80 includes a front member 86 and sides 88. The outer slide member is attached to the adjacent wall, not shown, by screws or the like, while the inner slide member is attached by screws or other suitable means to the side 88 of the drawer. The drawer opening is indicated as 84. The back of the cabinet/enclosure is 82.
In FIGS. 4 and 8, the drawer is shown in the closed position with the inner slide member and the ball retainer in the normal position. In FIGS. 5 and 6, the drawer is shown in different partly open positions. As is well known, file clerks frequently do not pull the drawer out to its fully extended position so that the inner stops of the slide mechanism will not properly engage. In the slide mechanism, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,205,025, there is described stops for the proper cycling of the ball retainers in relationship to the fully open slide position. In this slide mechanism, it is necessary to withdraw the drawer with the attached inner slide members to get the proper effect. When reinserting the inner slide members into the outer slide members by means of engaging the balls within the ball retainer, the ball retainer will be stopped by the ball retainer tongues 36 of what is called the outer member 24 and the inner member 26, will in such case, then pass through the ball bearings once they have stopped rotating due to the retainer being stopped by tongue 36. It is important to understand that this final position of ball retainer 60 is only achieved once the drawer has been disconnected and reinserted again.
In case the drawer is not withdrawn thereby withdrawing the inner slide members from the ball bearings by pulling them out completely from said bearings, it has been found that various ball bearing slides have a considerable problem, in that the balls will skid and the travel of the inner member and of the ball retainer will be shortened. Due to the frictional stop effected by the ball retainer location which prevents ball rotation and which comes into effect as soon as the ball retainer engages the slide outer member stops in the extended position, the drawer cannot be fully extended for full accessibility unless the operator is familiar with the slide mechanism and pulls hard on the drawer in order to overcome this frictional stop. Only by overcoming this frictional stop, will the operator then drag the inner member and the drawer to its normal intended out position.
Overcoming such a frictional drag requires the exertion of very considerable force and in case of drawers being heavily loaded, it is difficult for the operator to pull the drawer to its full extension or its full accessible position. This considerable force may result in accidentally pulling the drawer completely free of the desk or file with resultant damage or injury.
Such a skidding of the balls occurs when a drawer is frequently only pulled to the partly open position. Such actuation of the drawer is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and results in skidding or slipping of the balls in relation to the travel of the inner members. This problem has been solved by the present invention. It is to be understood that the normal position for a file drawer is the closed or shut position within the file drawer cabinet, desk or the like and this position may be considered to be the zero position.
Special ball retainer tabs are incorporated in the moving or inner slide member and the ball retainer such that the ball retainers are recycled to their zero or normal position when the drawer is closed. In other words, the present invention effects recycling of the mechanism in the closed position and this will be effected every time the drawer is closed. Thus, by recycling the ball retainer at the closed position, said retainer is in the original normal or zero position to allow full extension of the drawer so that the drawer will no longer be stopped by an out of cycle or skidded ball retainer, and said drawer can always be pulled to its outward limit of normal movement.
Referring to FIGS. 9 to 13 inclusive, the slide outer member is shown with the inner slide member and the ball retainer variously positioned according to the respective positions of the drawer in FIGS. 4-8 inclusive.
It is to be noted that when the slide mechanism is telescoped, the recycle tab 49 of the inner slide member, will engage the counter tab 67 of the ball retainer should the ball retainer be out of cycle and in a too far forward position. The free end of the recycle tab 49 then engages the free end of the counter tab 67 of the ball retainer, and moves the ball retainer to the normal or zero position shown in FIGS. 8 and 13. It is to be understood that the ball retainer in FIGS. 4 and 9 is in its normal 0 position. The ball retainer is in the same position in FIGS. 8 and 13 but in these figures, it has been recycled to its normal or 0 position.
In installing the slides, the inner slide members are attached to the respective sides of the drawer. When the drawer is in its fully extended position, the stops limiting outward movement of the ball retainers are engaged. Closing the drawer to its fully closed position, causes the recycle tab 49 to engage the counter tab 67 of the ball retainer. When the drawer is fully closed, the ball retainer has been moved to its normal or zero position. Opening of the drawer causes the recycle tab 49 to move away from the ball retainer tab 67, and the drawer may be fully opened without any frictional resistance, as the ball retainer was recycled in the closed position. It will be obvious that each time the drawer is fully closed, the ball retainer will be positively reset to its normal or 0 position. Thus, recycling will be effected at either the fully extended or the fully telescoped (closed) positions of the slide.
Referring to FIG. 14, there is shown a cabinet indicated generally having a drawer indicated generally at 98, operably mounted within a drawer opening 100. The drawer 98 includes a front panel 102 and side walls 104. The drawer is mounted in the drawer opening by means of what are termed "three member slides," indicated generally in FIG. 15 attached to the respective side walls 96 and drawer side 104. Each three member slide has an outer slide member 108 and an intermediate member, indicated generally at 110. Intermediate member 110 is in the general shape of a Z and there is an inner slide member 112 secured to the lower arm of the intermediate member. Inner slide member 112 is considered a part of the intermediate member 110. There is a ball retainer, not shown, operably disposed between the outer member 108 and the inner member 112. These parts are arranged in the usual manner.
The upper arm of the intermediate member has what is normally termed an inner slide member 114 attached thereto at the side opposite the slide member 112 and considered part of the intermediate member. A second outer slide member 116 is provided for the inner slide member 114 and there is a ball retainer 120 operably disposed there between.
Slide member 114 has a lanced recycling tab 122 for operable engagement with the counter tab 124 of the ball retainer. There is also a similar arrangement of recycle tab 122 and counter tab 124 for the inner slide member 112 and the outer slide member 108.
As shown in FIG. 15, the parts of the mechanism are in the closed or telescoped position with the inner end of the ball retainer in engagement with the tongues 36, recycle tab 122 being in engagement with the counter tab 124 of the ball retainer, the ball retainer having been moved to this position by the recycle tab when the mechanism has been fully telescoped. While the recycle tabs of the inner members and counter tabs of the ball retainers are shown as within the mechanism, it is to be understood that there could be other arrangements to provide actuation of the ball retainers to the normal or zero position by the moving slide members. In other words, the invention broadly resides in means for actuating or moving the ball retainer to its 0 or normal position by the movable slide member.
Obviously, the recycle tab disengages from the counter tab of the ball retainer when the slide is extended. The recycle tab picks up or engages the counter tab as the moving or movable slide member approaches or reaches its fully telescoped or closed normal position.
The invention and its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit or scope thereof or sacrificing its material advantages. The arrangement hereinbefore described being merely by way of example, and we do not wish to be restricted to the specific form shown or uses mentioned except as defined in the accompanying claims.
FIG. 16 shows a further refinement of a ball retainer recycling method. The methanism shown is of the same general construction as referred to previously, i.e.: there is a moving inner member channel 128 contained by balls in a ball retainer 129 located in an outer member 130 channel. The moving member is capable of moving in two directions, forward and aft.
With such a slide arrangement a fixed inner member recycle tab which mates with a ball retainer counter tab would result in a mechanism which would move only in the forward direction. Aft motion would be prevented by said tab. By making the inner member tab 126 movable it is possible for said tab to clear or bypass the ball retainer when aft travel is desired. Means for moving the tab could be manual, electrical, or mechanical, the important point being that the inner member tab can be moved for aft travel. For forward travel the inner member tab is moved to the normal engaging position such that recycling of the ball retainer occurs in the closed position as described previously.
In FIG. 16 we have also shown a movable inner member tab 127 at the opposite end of the slide mechanism. This tab mates with counter stop tab 125 on the ball retainer. The purpose of these tabs is to recycle the ball retainer when the drawer has been moved aft and closed. These tabs function in the exact same manner as those used for the forward motion.
The invention and its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope thereof or sacrificing its material advantages. The arrangement hereinbefore described being merely by way of example, and we do not wish to be restricted to the specific form shown or uses mentioned except as defined in the accompanying claims.