Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
`, ;
The invention relates to drawers and to parts and
components thereof. The invention is particularly
concerned with so-called "knock-down" drawers of plastic
construction comprising hollow extruded wall panels having
slots therein for accommodation of the drawer floor and
adapted to be interconnected at right angles to one another
by corner pieces having projecting spigots engageable in
the ends of the wall panels. The invention is however also
applicable to other forms of drawer.
Drawers are conventionally mounted either on fixed
runners or on roller runners. The former provide a simple
means of mounting drawers in cabinets or the like but suffer
from the disadvantage that relatively high friction forces
are present between the drawer and the runners and drawers
mounted in this way are not generally suitable for carrying
heavy loads. Roller runn0r assemblies, -though more compli-
cated, eliminate or reduce friction between the drawer
and its runners, thereby enabling greater loads to be
carried.
A disadvantage of roller runner assemblies is that
separate guide or runner members require to be mounted both in
the supporting cabinet and on the drawer itself in order -to
accommodate the roller assembly between them and the extent
to which such runner assemblies project from the opposite
sides of the drawer reduces the overall width of drawer which
can be accommodated in a cabinet having an opening of a pre
determined size~ Additionally, the working parts of the
2 -- ~
~L1180~ ,'
roller assembly itself are liable to become foul-
ed by dirt and other foreign matter which can cause
malfunctioning.
It is an object of the present invention to ob-
viate or mitigate these disadvantages.
According to the present invention there is pro-
vided a drawer having a pair of tracks formed one in
each of the sides thereof, a front guide and bearing
; member retained in each of the tracks for movement
therealong, a rear guide and bearing member at the
rear,of each of the tracks, and locking means on the
Pront guide and bearing member operable for automatic
locking engagement with a drawer runner on insertion
of same into the track. ' ,
Preferably each of the front guide and bearing
members is retained in the associated track b~ longi-
tudinally extending lips projecting across the entrance
to the track from the opposite longitudinal edges
thereof.
According to another aspect of -the present inven-
tion there is provided a drawer assembly comprising a
drawer having integral tracks formed in the sides
thereof, a pair of drawer runners adapted for engage-
ment with the tracks and dimensioned so as to leave a
clearance above and below same when located in the
tracks, a frong guide a~d bearing member interposed
between each runner and the associated track at the
forward end of the runner and a rear guide and bear-
ing member incorporated in each rear corner of the
drawer to guide and support the rear end of the drawer
. ~
on the respective runner, wherein the front guide and
bearing member comprises a body member adapted for slid-
ing engagement in the track formed in the associated draw-
er side, bearing means mounted on the body member so as
to project from the upper surface thereof and locking
means incorporated in the body member for locking engage-
ment with a drawer runner.
According to a further aspect of the present
invention there is provided a drawer assembly comprising
a drawer having tracks formed in the sides thereof adapt-
ed to receive any one of a plurality of interchangeable
drawer runners of different form and a plurality of alter-
natively useable guide and bearing members adapted to slid-
ingly support and guide the rear end of the drawer on the
respective forms of runner, wherein one form of runner
is of angle section having a mounting flange by means
of which the runner may be mounted at a suitable location
in a drawer supporting structure and a drawer-engaging
flange projecting at right angles to the mounting flange
: 2 n and adapted to extend into the track in the associated
drawer side, a front guide and bearing member being de-
tachably mounted at the forward end of the runner for
sliding movement longi-tudinally of the track and the rear
guide and bearing member being disposed in vertical align-
ment with the associated rear corner of the drawer and
having a slot dimensioned to slidingly receive the drawer~
engaging flange of the runner.
According to a s-till further aspect of the
present invention there is provided a drawer assembly com-
prising a drawer having tracks formed in the sides thereof
adap-ted to receive any one of a plurality of interchange-
able drawer runners of different form and a plurality o~
alternatively useable guide and bearing members adap-ted
to slidingly support and guide the rear end of the drawer
on the respective forms of runner wherein the rear guide
and bearing members comprise inserts adapted to be remov-
ably mounted at the rear end of each of the tracks and
wherein the inserts are adapted to be located in posi
tion by locking means engageable with complementary
locking means on the drawer.
Embodim0nts of the invention will now be des-
cribed, by way of.example only, with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:-
Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing
part of one ~orm of drawer and runner construction in-
corporating features of the invention and comprises
Figs. lA to lG;
Fig. lA is a perspective view of a drawer side
panel;
; 20 Fig. lB is a perspective vie~ of a guide and
bearing member adapted for slidiny engagement in a
track formed in the drawer panel shown in Fig. lA;
Fig. lC is a perspective view of a drawer
runner;
~r~
. .
~8~3~
Fig. lD is a perspective view of a corner connector
used in connecting the drawer back and side panels;
Fig. lE is a scrap view showing a modification of the
corner connector shown in Fig. lD;
Fig. ]F is a perspective view of a front connector
for use in connecting the side panel to the drawer front;
Fig. lG is a perspective view of drawer side panel
of larger size than that shown in Fig. lA;
Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the guide
and bearing member shown in Fig. lB;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a modified construc-
tion comprising a modified drawer runner shown in Fig. 3A and a
modified corner construction shown in Fig. 3B;
Fig. 4 is an e~ploded perspective view of modified
forms of drawer and runner construction incorporating features
of the invention and comprises Figs. 4~ to 4L;
Fig. 4A is a perspective view of a drawer side panel;
Fig. 4B is a perspective view of a guide and bearing
member adapted to be received in a track formed in the drawer
panel shown in Fig. 4A;
Fig. 4C shows one form of runner on which the drawer
construction may be mounted;
Fig. 4D shows a corner connector for use in connecting
the drawer back and side panels;
Fig. 4E is a perspective view showing the internal
construction of the corner connector shown in Fig. 4D;
Fig. 4F is a perspective view showing one form of
removable fitment used in association with the corner connector
shown in Figs. 4D and 4E and the runner shown in Fig. 4C;
' `~
O~
Fig. ~G is a perspective view of a front connector for
use in connecting the drawer side panel to the drawer front;
Fig. 4H i5 a perspective view showing the internal
construction of the front connector shown in Fig. 4G;
Fig. 4J shows a fitment for use in assisting closing
of the drawer;
Fig. 4K is a perspective view of an alternative form of
runner on which the drawer may be mounted;
Fig. 4L is a perspective view of an alternative fitment
for use in association with the corner connector shown in Figs.
4D and 4E and the runner shown in Fig. 4K;
Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a drawer
and runner constructed from the components shown in Figs. 4A to
41~; and
Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a drawer
and runner constructed from the componlents shown in Figs. 4A, 4D,
4E, 4G, 4H, 4K and 4L.
The drawer constructions shown in the drawings are of
so-called "knock-down" construction, the sides and back
comprising identical extruded hollow panels interconnected at
right angles to one another by corner pieces. The forward ends
of the side panels are connected to the drawer front by means of
end connectors, and inwardly directed slots are provided adjacent
the lower edges of the panels to receive the edges of a drawer
bottom.
Figs. lA and lG show two alternative sizes of side
panel 5A and 5B, both of extruded plastics construction and of
hollow section. The corner pieces 3 by means of which the side
and back panels are interconnected are shown in Fig. lD and -the
end connectors 4 serving to connect the drawer sides to a
3~$8~
suitable facia panel are shown in Fig. lF.
The drawer panel 5A shown in FigO lA comprises upper,
intermediate and lower hollow sections 6A, 6B and 6C separated
by internal webs 7. The larger side p~nel 5B shown in Fig. lG
incorporates an additional intermediate section 6B but is
otherwise of similar construction. An inwardly directed recess
8 is formed adjacent the lower longitudinal edge of the panel to
accommodate an edge of a drawer bottom (not shown). The lower
hollow section 6C of the panel incorporates a longitudinal
channel 9 the entrance to which comprises a narrow slot lO
defined between upper and lower longitudinal lips llA, llB
extending across the channel 9 -towards one another so as to
partially enclose same. The channel 9 constitutes an integral
runner track designed to accommodate a guide and bearing assembly
member 14 (Fig. lB).
The guide and bearing member is shown in greater detail
in Fig. 2 and comprises a body portion or carriage 15 formed
with a through track or slot 16 and surmounted b~ a rotatable
roller 17. A curved leaf spring 18 is located in the bottom of
the track 16 between inturned lips 18A, and a further curved
; leaf spring l9 engages with the portion of the body 15 defining
the back or inner wall of the recess 16 so as to project there-
from in the opposite direction from the recess. Pips 15A
project from the faces of the body portion which engage the lips
llA, llB of the track 9 to reduce frictional contact. Similar
pips (not shown) are provided on the underside of the body
portion.
In use the guide and bearing member is located in the
track 9 with the roller 17 uppermost and the recess or slot 16
in alignment with the narrow entrance 10 to the track 9. The
19a~
member is retained in the trac]~ by the lips llA, llB and by
the corner piece 3 and front connector 4 which are located in the
ends of the drawer panel when the drawer is assembled.
The guide and bearing member is adapted for engagement
with a fixed drawer runner 20 (Fig. lC) of angle form and L-
shaped cross-section having a mounting flange 21 by means of
which the runner may be mountecl in a suitable posltion in a
cabinet or like housing in which the drawer is to be slidably
located, and a drawer-engaging flange 22 which projects at right
angles from the securing flange and is adapted to extend into
the channel 9 for locking engagement with the guide and bearing
member. For this purpose a notch 23 is formed adjacent the
forward end of the drawer-engaging flange 22 and i5 adapted to
engage with the yuide and bearing memher to retain same in a
fixed position on the runner 20. A downwardly directed projection
25 is formed on the upper surface of l:he slot 16 in the guide and
bearing member and engages with the notch 23 in the runner 20,
engagement being maintained by virtue of the spring 18 urging
the guide and bearing member downwardly and thereby retaining
the projection 25 in the notch.
The spring 19 serves to urge the guide and bearing
member bodily away from the back or inner wall of the track 9 and
accommodates for differences in tolerance of the drawer
components introduc~d during manufacture by allowing the guide
and bearing member to adopt different positions in the track 9
dependent on the extent to which the runner flange 22 extends
into the track.
The corner pieces 3 tFig. lD) each comprise an up-
standing corner post 30 having spigot members 31 projecting
therefrom at right angles and spaced and dimensioned so as to
6)3~
form a tight push fit in the upper, intermediate and lower
cavities of the associated wall panels. Detents 32 are provided
on the two uppermost projections 31 and engage in holes 33 formed
in the outer face of the wall panel adjacent to the end -thereof.
Towards its lower end the post 30 is provided with a through slot
34 for accommodation of the flange 22 of the runner 20. Opposed
curved bearing surfaces 35A, 35B are formed at the recess 34
to facilitate sliding movement and reduce wear. If desired
these bearing surfaces may be replaced by separate inserts 36A,
36B of wear-resistant material as shown in Fig. lE.
Alternatively, a roller or rollers could be incorporated. The
slot 34 thus provides a guide and bearing member for supporting
the rear end of the drawer during sliding movement.
The front connecting member 4 (Fig. lF) comprises a
face plate 40 provided with spigot members 41 similar to the
spigots or projections 31 formed on the corner connectors 3 and
adapted for engagement in the hollow ends of the associated side
wall panel. Prior to insertion of the front connectors into the
wall panel they are secured to a suitable facia panel by screws
~assed through holes 42 in the face plate 40, whereupon the
assembly comprising the ~acia panel and the two front connectors
is engaged with the open forward ends of the side panels, the
drawer bottom having been inserted in the meantime.
In use, the drawer is supplied to the customer in
disassembled condition and is erected by inserting the corner
pieces 3 in the open ends of the side and back panels thereby
joining same together at right angles to one another. Thereafter,
the guide and bearing members 14 may be inserted in the tracks 9
in the side walls and the drawer bottom engaged in the slots 8.
The front connectors 4 are then secured to the facia panel in
-- 10 --
suitable positions corresponding to -the spacing of the drawer
sides and the assembly comprising the facia panel and the front
connectors is then engaged with the remainder of the drawer by
pushing the front connectors into the hollow ends of the side
wall panels~ The guide and bearing members are then trapped
within the tracks 9 at opposite sides of the drawer but are free
to slide longitudinally thereof~
The drawer may then be inserted in the cabinet or the
like in which it is to be housed and which is first of all
provided with opposed runners of the kind shown in Fig. lC. The
drawer may be engaged with the runners by simply pushing it into
the opening in the cabinet to its fully closed position in which
the projec-tions 25 on the guide and bearing members reach the
notches 23 in the respective runners. The guide and bearing
members then lock on to the associatecl runners and are retained
in position, the drawer being free to slide along the runners
between the limits defined by engagement of the guide and bearing
members with the corner pieces and front mouldings which are
disposed at opposite ends of the tracks 9. If it is desired to
release the drawer from the cabinet the springs 18 are depressed
by lifting the front of the drawer, thereby allowing the guide
and bearing members to be disengaged from the slots 23 whereupon
the drawer can be drawn completely out of the cabinet.
It will be appreciated that the arrangement described
provides a drawer construction at least partially mounted on
roller runner assemblies which is of simple and compact construc-
tionO By virtue of the provision of the channels or tracks
within the dimensions of the side panels themselves, the overall
width of the drawer which can be accommodated in an opening of
a given size is increased compared with similar drawers utilising
-- 11 --
~ .
3~
conventional roller runner assemblies. The moving parts are also
wholly enclosed within the drawer panels themsel~es and thereby
protected from damage.
Fig. 3 shows a modification enabling the drawer to
be used with a fixed runner system~ For this purpose the runner
20 shown in Fig. lC is replaced by an alternative runner 45
shown in Fig. 3A having a vertical or mounting flange 46 enabling
the runner to be attached -to a drawer cabinet or the like in a
suitable position, and a horizontal or drawer-engaging flange 47
which, in use, extends into the track 9 through the narrow
entrance slot 10. The runner also incorporates a supporting and
guiding flange 48 extending at right angles to the flange 47 and
providing an upwardly directed bearinq surface on which the
drawer runs. In use the flange 48 is trapped within the track 9
in the drawer side thereby retaining t.he drawer against lateral
movement and providing a bearing surface on which the drawer may
run.
A modified form of corner connector 49 (Fig. 3B) is
utilised in association with the runner 45. This connector is
generally similar to that shown at 3 in Fig. lD but incorporates
a generally T-shaped recess 50 to accommodate the flange 48 as
the drawer slides along the runner. In other respects the
corner piece is constructed and functions in the same manner as
that described with reference to Fig. lD.
The drawer assembly may thus be utilised in association
with either fixed or roller runners without requiring any
modification of the drawer itself other than the substitution
of the modified form of corner connector. In practice, the
connector shown in Fig. 3B will normally be utilised so that the
drawer may be used with fixed or roller runners wi-thout
- 12 -
~.
3~
modification. Alternatively/ different forms of insert of -the
kind shown in Fig. lE could be provided to enable conversion
from one form to the other.
Figs. 4 to 6 show modifications of the arrangements
shown in Figs. 1 to 3 and wherever possible similar parts are
designated by similar reference numbers increased by 100.
Referring to Fig. 4A a side panel is shown at 105, a corner piece
at 103 and an~end connector for connecting the drawer side to a
suitable facia panel at 104. The drawer panel 105 comprises
upper, intermediate and lower hollow sections 106A, 106B and 106C
separated by internal webs 106D. An inwardly directed recess 108
is formed in the hollow section 106C adjacent the lower
longitudinal ed~e of the panel to accommodate an edge of a drawer
bottom (not shown~. The lower hollow section 106C of the panel
also incorporates a longitudinal channel 109 the entrance to
wh:ich is narrower than the channel i-tself and comprises a slot
110 defined between upper and lower longitudinal lips lllA, lllB
extending across the channel 109 towards one another so as to
partially close same. The channel 109 constitutes an integral
runner track designed to accommodate a guide and bearing member.
One form of guide and bearing member 114 which may be
accommodated in the channel 109 is shown in Fig. 4B and comprises
a body portion 115 formed with a through track or slot 116 and
surmounted by a pair of rotatable wheels or rollers 117. A
curved leaf spring 118 is located in the bottom of the track 116
between inturned lips 118A. Pips 115A project from`~he faces of
the body portion which engage the lips lllA, lllB of the track
109 to reduce frictional contact. Similar pips are provided on
the underside of the body portion.
In use the guide and bearing member is loca-ted in the
..~.,
31
track 109 with the rollers 117 uppermost and the recess or slot
116 in alignment with the entrance slot 110 to the track 109.
The roller assembly is retained in the track by the lips lllA,
lllB and by the corner piece 103 and front connector 104 which
are located in the ends of the drawer panel when the drawer is
assembled.
It should be noted that the extents to which the lips
lllA and lllB extend across the channel 109 differ slightly.
This is designed to ensure that the guide and bearing member 114
cannot be inserted into the channel upside down.
The guide and bearing member 114 is adapted for
engagement with a drawer runner 120 shown in Fig. 4C which is of
angle form and L-shaped cross-section having a securing flange
121 by means of which the runner may be mounted in a suitable
position in a cabinet or like housing in which the drawer is to
be slidably located. The runner also has a drawer-engaging
flange 122 which projects at right angles from the securing
flange and is adapted to extend into the channel 109 for
; locking engagement with the guide and bearing member. For this
purpose a notch 123 is formed adjacent the forward end of the
drawer-engaging flange 122 and is adapted to engage with the
guide and bearing member to retain same in a fixed position on
the runner 120. A downwardly directed projection 125 is formed
on the upper surface of the slot 116 in the guide and bearing
member and engages with the notch 123 in the runner 120, engage-
ment being maintained by virtue of the spring 118 urging the
guide and bearing member downwardly and thereby retaining the
projection 125 in the notch. A similar arrangement is of course
provided at the other side of the drawer.
The corner pieces 103 (Fig. ~) each comprise an
- 14 -
i
3~
upstanding corner post 130 having spigot members 131 projecting
therefrom at right angles and spaced and dimensioned so as to
form a tight push fit in the upper, intermediate and lower
cavities of the associated wall panels~ Detents 132 are provided
on the projections 131 and engage in holes 133 formed in the
outer face of the wall panel adjacent to the end thereof.
Towards its lower end the post 130 is provided with a through
opening 134 for accommodation of an insert 135 which cooperates
with the runner 120 in use.
The insert 135 comprises a locking part 136 and a
bearing or body part 137. The insert is located in the opening
134 in the corner post 130 after the drawer has been assembled
and the locking part 136 extends beyond the corner post into
the channel 109. A detent (not shown) similar to the detent 132
is provided on the surface of the locking par-t 136 which locates
against the back or inner wall of the channel 109 for engagement
with a hole 138 provided therein. The body part 137 incorporates
à pair of rollers 138 which are spaced apart sufficiently to
accommodate the flange 122 of the runner 120 and provide opposed
bearing surfaces therefor. The rollers could alternatively be
replaced by fixed bearing surfaces of the kind incorporated in
the alternative insert to be described hereafter. The body or
bearing part 137 thus provides a guide and bearing member for
supporting the rear end of the drawer during sliding movement.
When the insert is in position it closes the rear end
of the channel 109 and prevents withdrawal of the front guide
and bearing member 114. A spring tongue 139 is bent outwardly
from the back wall of the locking part 136 of the insert and
serves as a spring to reduce side movement. This accommodates
differences in tolerance of the drawer components introduced
03~
during manufacture and can be used alone or in conjunction with
a spring of the kind shown at 19 in Fig. 2.
It will be noted that the corner connectors serve a
number of functions. Firstly, they serve to interconnect the
side and back wall panels at right angles to one another.
Secondly, they incorporate supporting and guiding means for
the rear of the drawer during its movement along the runners.
Thirdly, they provide end stops serving to limit the ex-tent to
which the drawer can be drawn out of the cabinet.
Each of the front connecting members 104 (Fig. 4G~
comprises a face plate 140 provided with spigot members 141,
similar to the spigots or projections 131 formed on the corner
connectors 103, and adapted for engagement in the hollow end of
the associated side wall panel. Prior to insertion of the front
connectors into the respective wall panels the front connectors
are secured to a suitable facia panel by screws passed through
holes 142 in the face plates 140, whereupon the assembly com-
prising the facia panel and the two front connectors is engaged
with the open forward ends of the side wall panelsl the drawer
bottom having been inserted in the meantime.
A raised rim 140A is provided round the peripheral
edge of the face plate 140. This provides a slight clearance
between the surface of the face plate and the surface of the
drawer front to which it is attached so that the face plate
contacts the drawer front at all points on its periphery
despite any slight surface irregularities on the drawer front.
The clearance provided at the central region of the face plate
also accommodates material displaced from the drawer front in the
region of the screw holes when the front connecting member is
secured in position.
- 16 -
X
a33,~
It should be noted that the detents provided on the
corner and facia connectors and on the corner connector inserts
are of D-shape and slope upwardly from their narrow to their
wider ends. This is advantageous in providing a gradual
increase in resistance both due to the increasing dimension
of the D-form from the point towards the base and due to the
sloping formation. Detents of this form do not present undue
resistance to interconnection of the components but at the same
time provide a secure connection when engaged.
The construction of the corner pieces 103 and front
connecting members 104 is such that they cannot be wrongly
inserted in the ends of the wall panels. For this purpose
flange-like extensions 131A are provided on the upper and
central spigot members of the corner pieces 103 and similar
extensions 141A are provided on the central spigot member of the
front connecting member. These extensions interfere with the
internal webs 107 of the wall panels iE the corner pieces or
front connecting members are offered to the wall panels in an
inverted or reversed position. Incorrect assembly is also
prevented in some cases by interference between the spigot
members and the recesses 10~ in the panels.
In use, the drawer is supplied to the customer in
disassembled or knocked-down condition and is erected by
inserting the corner pieces 103 in the open ends of the side
and back wall panels thereby joining same together at right
angles to one another. The inserts 136 are then fitted and
thereafter the guide and bearing members 114 may be inserted in
the respective tracks or channels 109 in the side walls and the
drawer bottom engaged in the slots 10~. The front connectors
104 are then secured to the facia panel in suitable positions
,
3~
corresponding to the spacing of the drawer sides and the
assembly comprising the facia panel and the front connectors is
then engaged with the remainder of the drawer by pushing the
spigots on the front connectors into the hollow ends of the side
wall panels. The guide and bearing members 114 are then trapped
within the tracks 109 at opposite sides of the drawer but are
free to slide longitudinally therealong. The assembled construc-
tion is shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings.
The drawer may then be inserted in the cabinet or the
like in which it is to be housed and which is first of all
provided with opposed runners of the kind shown at 120 in the
drawings. The drawer may be engaged with the runners by simply
pushing it into the opening in the cabinet to its fully closed
position, in which position the projections 125 on the guide
and bearing members reach the notches 123 in the respective
runners. The guide and bearing members then lock on to the
associated runners and are retained in position, the drawer
being free to slide along the runners between the limits defined
by engagement of the guide and bearing members with the inserts
135 and the front mouldings which are disposed at opposite
ends of the tracks 109. If it is desired to release -the drawer
from the cabinet the springs 118 are depressed by lifting the
front of the drawer, thereby enabling the guide and bearing
members to be disengaged from the slots 123 whereupon the drawer
can be drawn completely out of the cabinet.
The drawer is constructed to enable it to be modified
for use in association with an alternative form of runner. The
modified runner is shown at 145 in Fiy. 4K and has a vertical
or mounting flange 146 enabling it to be attached to a drawer
cabinet or the like in a suitable position, and a horizontal
- 18 -
!
3~
or drawer-engaging flange 147 which in use extends into the
track 109 through the entrance slot 110. At its forward end
the vertical flange 146 is extended and carries a roller 148
rotatable about a horizontal pin 149. A modified insert 150 is
used in association with the runner 145 and is generally similar
to that shown at 135 but has an extended body portion 151
terminating in a shoulder 152 which abuts the corner piece and
limits the extent to which the inser-t can be pushed into the
opening 134 in the corner piece 130. rrhe locking portion is
provided with a detent (not shown) which engages with the hole
138 in the rear wall of the channel 109, but when the insert is
in position the body portion projects to the rear of the drawer
leaving a downwardly directed opening 155 forming an entrance to
the channel 109. In this way, the drawer may be mounted on the
runners by engaging the rollers 148 with the openings 155 and
pushing the drawer into the cabinet so that the rollers travel
along the channels 109 at opposite sides of the drawer.
A downwardly projecting lip 156 is provided at the
forward end of each insert 150. This is engaged by the roller
148 when the drawer is opened and acts as a stop to prevent
complete removal of the drawer from the cabinet. If required
the drawer may be completely removed by lifting it slightly to
enable the rollers 148 at each side to clear the lips 156 on
the respective inserts 150, following which the drawer can be
drawn forward until the rollers are located above the openings
155, enabling the drawer to be lifted clear and withdrawn from
the cabinet.
In order to provide a self-closing effect a metal clip
160 locates over the horizontal web separating the hollow
sections 106B and 106C of the panel at one or both sides of the
-- 19 ~
03~.
~,
drawer~ The clip is provided with a slightly domed region 161
which, by interaction with the associated roller, urges the
drawer towards its closed position.
It will be appreciated that the drawer assembly may be
utilised in association with either of the runner arrangements
described without requiring any modification of the drawer itself
other than the substitution of the revised corner connector
fitment and the use of the alternative runner. The same wall
panels, front and corner connectors are used in both cases and
the drawers themselves are completely interchangeable as between
one system and the other.
Various modifications may be made without departing
from the invention. For example, the construc-tion of the guide
and bearing member may be altered and it could incorporate a
fixed bearing surface of curved or other form instead of rollers.
If desired, a plurality of such guide and bearing members could
be provided at spaced intervals along -the associated runner;
in this event it may be possible to dispense with the rear guide
and bearing members. The drawer panels may also be of different
construction provided they incorporate integral tracks for
engagement with the drawer runners. The track is preferably
contained within the dimensions of the wall panel itself but
could in some instances be fitted to the outer surface thereof.
Moreover while in the arrangements described the connecting
pieces are held in engagement with the panels by projecting
detents engaging in holes in the panels, alternative means of
securing the connecting pieces may be used; for example they
could be secured in place by adhesive. Moreover, though
particularly beneficial when used in association wi-th hollow
extruded plastics drawer constructions in knock-down form, the
- 20 -
~L8~)3~
invention is also applicable to other forms of drawer.
It should be appreciated that a number of the features
described above may be used independently of the others in
drawers or drawer components of different construction and such
features constitute separate inventions in their own right~
21 -
