Detent mechanism for a cabinet having a pull-out drawer

Claim 2

A cabinet structure comprising in combination; a cabinet having at least one pull-out drawer slidably mounted therein upwardly inclined towards the front of the cabinet; a ball bearing assembly for slidably mounting said pull-out drawer, in said cabinet for movement of the drawer between closed and open positions, said ball bearing assembly including a stationary guide member mounted to said cabinet at an upwardly inclined angle, a slide member mounted to said drawer and positioned in said stationary guide member and forming therewith channel-like ball bearing track means, a sliding ball bearing cage ball bearing assembly having a plurality of ball bearings disposed for rollable movement therein; said ball bearings positioned in said channel-like ball bearing track means for slidable movement of said slidable ball bearing cage therein whereby as said drawer is pulled out or released said sliding ball bearing cage and said slide member move along said stationary guide member; the upward inclination of the drawer providing an automatic gravity return of a released open drawer toward its closed position, with said ball bearing assembly assisting such return; and detent means comprising two cooperating members independent of said ball bearings for releasably holding said drawer at a predetermined extended position against the gravity return force acting on the drawer from which on release said drawer automatically returns to its closed position.

Claim 3

The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein said two cooperating members of said detent means comprise a stop member for preventing sliding movement of said stationary guide member beyond a predetermined point, and means for releasable engagement with said stop member, said means for releasable engagement holding said drawer in an extended position until disengaged by pushing the drawer in towards said cabinet.

Claim 4

A cabinet structure comprising in combination; a cabinet having at least one pull-out drawer slidably mounted therein; a ball bearing assembly for slidably mounting said pull-out drawer in said cabinet said ball bearing assembly including a stationary guide member mounted to said cabinet at an upwardly inclined angle, a slide member mounted to said drawer and positioned in said stationary guide member and forming therewith channel-like ball bearing track means, a sliding ball bearing cage ball bearing assembly having a plurality of ball bearings disposed for rollable movement therein; said ball bearings positioned in said channel-like ball bearing track means for slidable movement of said slidable ball bearing cage therein whereby as said drawer is pulled out or released said sliding ball bearing cage and said slide member move along said stationary guide member; the detent means comprising two cooperating members independent of said ball bearings for releasably holding said drawer at a predetermined extended position from which on release said drawer returns in said cabinet said two cooperating members of said detent means comprise a stop member for preventing sliding movement of said stationary guide member beyond a predetermined point, and means for releasable engagement with said stop member, said means for releasable engagement holding said drawer in an extended position until disengaged by pushing the drawer in towards said cabinet; said stop member comprises an upward protrusion on the base of said stationary guide member and said releasable engagement means comprises a leaf spring mounted on said sliding ball cage which engages said protrusion when said drawer is fully extended.

Claim 5

A cabinet structure comprising in combination; a cabinet having at least one pull-out drawer slidably mounted therein; a ball bearing assembly for slidably mounting said pull-out drawer in said cabinet said ball bearing assembly including a stationary guide member mounted to said cabinet at an upwardly inclined angle, a slide member mounted to said drawer and positioned in said stationary guide member and forming therewith channel-like ball bearing track means, a sliding ball bearing cage ball bearing assembly having a plurality of ball bearings disposed for rollable movement therein; said ball bearings positioned in said channel-like ball bearing track means for slidable movement of said slidable ball bearing cage therein whereby as said drawer is pulled out or released said sliding ball bearing cage and said slide member move along said stationary guide member; the detent means comprising two cooperating members independent of said ball bearings for releasably holding said drawer at a predetermined extended position from which on release said drawer returns in said cabinet said two cooperating members of said detent means comprise a stop member for preventing sliding movement of said stationary guide member beyond a predetermined point, and means for releasable engagement with said stop member, said means for releasable engagement holding said drawer in an extended position until disengaged by pushing the drawer in towards said cabinet; said stop member comprises an upward protrusion on the base of said stationary guide member and said releasable engagement means comprises a leaf spring mounted on said sliding ball cage which engages said protrusion when said drawer is fully extended.

Claim 6

The structure set forth in claim 3 wherein said leaf spring includes a radiused downward end which radiused end engages a portion of said upward protrusion for releasably holding said drawer in its extended position.

Claim 7

A cabinet structure comprising in combination, a cabinet having at least one pull-out drawer mounted therein upwardly inclined towards the front of the cabinet; a ball bearing assembly for slidably mounting said pull-out drawer in said cabinet for movement of the drawer between closed and open positions, said ball bearing assembly including a stationary guide member having a base mounted at an upwardly inclined angle on said cabinet and two laterally opposed legs extending vertically from said base, the upper portions of said legs recessed to form the outer races for ball bearings; a slide member having a base mounted on the bottom of said pull-out drawer and two laterally opposed a sliding ball-bearing cage having a base and two vertically extending legs having openings therein in which ball bearings are disposed, said ball bearings being positioned between said races for longitudinal movement of said sliding ball bearing cage along said races, an upwardly extending protrusion positioned along a preselected area of the base of said stationary guide member for contacting the front of said sliding ball cage when said drawer is extended, thereby providing a stop means for said drawer, and a leaf spring positioned on and projecting out from the base of said sliding ball cage which engages said protrusion when said drawer is extended for releasably holding said drawer in its extended position.

Claim 8

A cabinet structure comprising in combination, a cabinet having at least one pull-out drawer mounted therein upwardly inclined towards the front of the cabinet; a ball bearing assembly for slidably mounting said pull-out drawer in said cabinet for movement of the drawer between closed and open positions, said ball bearing assembly including a stationary guide member having a base mounted at an upwardly inclined angle on said cabinet and two laterally opposed legs extending vertically from said base, the upper portions of said legs recessed to form the outer races for ball bearings; a slide member having a base mounted on the bottom of said pull-out drawer and two laterally opposed a sliding ball-bearing cage having a base and two vertically extending legs having openings therein in which ball bearings are disposed, said ball bearings being positioned between said races for longitudinal movement of said sliding ball bearing cage along said races, an upwardly extending protrusion positioned along a preselected area of the base of said stationary guide member for contacting the front of said sliding ball cage when said drawer is extended, thereby providing a stop means for said drawer, and a leaf spring positioned on and projecting out from the base of said sliding ball cage which engages said protrusion when said drawer is extended for releasably holding said drawer in its extended position.