FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a drawer guide. More particularly this invention concerns a drawer guide having a pair of nested rails that ride on each other via rollers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] A drawer guide as described in EP 1,110,482 has an outer longitudinally extending rail, an inner longitudinally extending rail, and arrays of balls between the rails so that they can move smoothly longitudinally relative to each other. The outer rail is typically secured to the support or stationary part of the piece of furniture or cabinet and the inner rail to the slidable drawer, which term here is intended to include any slidable part such as a keyboard, cutting board, or the like.

[0003] Such guides are standard items that can support considerable weight yet that allow the supported part to move very easily relative to its support. The arrays of balls typically ride in inwardly open grooves formed between flanges of the outer rail and engage flat surfaces of the inner rail, so that the inner rail cannot move significantly transversely of the outer rail.

[0004] It is frequently convenient to be able to latch the slidable part relative to its support, for instance when the guide is used in something that is portable, so that the drawer or the like cannot accidentally slide open. A latch of some variety is therefore provided adjacent the above-described guide, and is normally separately attached to the support and supported part. Such a latch therefore adds considerably to the cost of the assembly, not only by the cost of its own parts, but also because of the extra costs entailed in mounting it in place. In addition space must be provided for the latch, taking away from space usable by the supported part, e.g. the drawer.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved drawer guide.

[0006] Another object is the provision of such an improved drawer guide which overcomes the above-given disadvantages, that is which has an inexpensive and easily installed latch.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] A drawer guide has according to the invention a longitudinally extending outer rail, a longitudinally extending inner rail nested with the outer rail and forming a longitudinally extending space therewith, and a plurality of balls engaged between the rails and allowing the inner rail to move longitudinally relative to the outer rail. A first latch member extending longitudinally in the space is carried on one of the rails. A second latch member in the space fixed to the other of the rails is latchingly engageable with the first member to prevent longitudinal displacement of the rails.

[0008] With this system the latch is wholly integrated in the guide, occupying space not normally otherwise used. Thus it does take any space away from the other structure, allowing the drawer otherwise to fill its slot. Since it is almost wholly housed between the two normally steel rails, the latch is very well protected and can be counted on to have a long service life. What is more, it does not add to the difficulty of installing the guide itself.

[0009] In accordance with the invention the first latch member is an elongated lever pivoted on the one rail about a transverse axis and carrying a transversely projecting part and the second latch member is a transversely open seat in which the part is engageable. The part is a pin on an inner end of the lever. The other rail is provided with a hook forming the seat.

[0010] According to the invention a spring braced between the lever and the one rail urges the part transversely toward the seat. The other rail is provided adjacent the seat with a cam surface engageable with the part and urging the part away from the seat on engagement of the part with the cam.

[0011] The lever according to the invention has a bump engageable with the one rail and defining a rest position for the lever. In this rest position the pin is aligned longitudinally with the cam surface so that, as the lever moves toward the hook, the pin is first cammed down and, once the pin passes the cam surface and aligns transversely with the seat, it snaps up into the seat and locks the two rails together.