Anti-creep ball bearing retainer for a drawer slide

Claim 2

A slide assembly comprising an elongated first track member, an elongated second track member, load bearing anti-friction means movably supporting said second member for longitudinal movement on said first member, said anti-friction means including a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart anti-friction elements and a longitudinally extending retainer for said elements, and means for urging said retainer in the direction of movement of said second member, said urging means including storage means effective to urge said retainer in said direction of movement.

Claim 3

The slide assembly of claim 1 in which said second member carries stop means, said stop means being positioned and arranged to move against said urging means to store energy in said energy storage means.

Claim 4

The slide assembly of claim 1 in which said urging means is operatively connected to said retainer and positioned such that movement of said second member through a portion of its travel relative to said first member stores energy in said storage means.

Claim 5

The slide assembly of claim 2 in which said urging means includes an engaging portion disposed in the path of said stop means, means for connecting said engaging portion to said retainer for longitudinal movement relative to said retainer, and said energy storage means including spring means yieldably resisting movement of said engaging portion relative to said retainer.

Claim 6

The slide assembly of claim 4 in which said stop means is arranged to move against said retainer, said urging means being disposed on said retainer so that said stop means engages and moves said urging means relative to said retainer before engaging said retainer.

Claim 7

A drawer slide comprising a fixed elongated track member, an extensible elongated track member, load bearing anti-friction means supporting said extensible member for longitudinal movement on said fixed member, said anti-friction means including a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart anti-friction elements and a longitudinally extending retainer for said elements, and spring means for urging said retainer in the direction of extension of said extensible member.

Claim 8

A drawer slide comprising a fixed elongated track member, an extensible elongated track member, load bearing anti-friction means supporting said extensible member for longitudinal movement on said fixed member, said anti-friction means including a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart anti-friction elements and a longitudinally extending retainer for said elements, and spring means for urging said retainer in the direction of extension of said extensible member.

Claim 9

The drawer slide of claim 6 in which said extensible track member is movable a predetermined distance relative to said fixed track member, the last portion of which is against the urging of said spring means, said spring means being disposed such that energy is stored therein to urge said retainer in said direction as said extensible track member moves through said last portion.

Claim 10

The drawer slide of claim 7 in which said spring means includes a compression spring which is compressed as said extensible track member moves through said last portion.

Claim 11

The drawer slide of claim 8 including an engaging portion movable relative to said retainer, said compression spring being disposed to resist such relative movement of said engaging portion, said engaging portion being disposed to be moved by said extensible track member as it moves through said last portion.

Claim 12

A drawer slide comprising a fixed elongated track member, an extensible elongated track member, a plurality of ball bearings for movably supporting said extensible member on said fixed member, an elongated retainer for said bearings, stop means on said extensible member for engaging said retainer, an engaging portion, means for movably connecting said engaging portion to said retainer, spring means for yieldably resisting movement of said engaging portion relative to said retainer, said stop means being disposed to engage said engaging Portion to move it against the urging of said spring means in the direction of movement of said extensible member and relative to said retainer.

Claim 13

A drawer slide comprising a fixed elongated track member, an extensible elongated track member, a plurality of ball bearings for movably supporting said extensible member on said fixed member, an elongated retainer for said bearings, stop means on said extensible member for engaging said retainer, an engaging portion, means for movably connecting said engaging portion to said retainer, spring means for yieldably resisting movement of said engaging portion relative to said retainer, said stop means being disposed to engage said engaging Portion to move it against the urging of said spring means in the direction of movement of said extensible member and relative to said retainer.

Claim 14

A drawer slide as in claim 10 including second stop means on said fixed track member for engaging said retainer and stopping its movement, thereby stopping movement of said extensible track member.

Claim 15

A drawer slide as in claim 11 in which said first mentioned stop means includes first stops adjacent respectively opposite end portions of said extensible member and said second stop means includes second stops adjacent respectively opposite end portions of said fixed member, said retainer providing opposite end portions engageable by said stops, said extensible member being movable in both directions along said fixed member with the movement in both directions being limited by said retainer being engaged at one end by said first stop adjacent one end portion of said extensible member and at its opposite end by said second stop adjacent an opposite end portion of said fixed member.

Claim 16

A drawer slide as in claim 12 in which said engaging portion includes a bar extending longitudinally along said retainer, said bar providing opposite end portions extending respectively longitudinally outwardly from the adjacent end portions of said retainer.

Claim 17

A drawer slide as in claim 13 in which said end portions of said bar and said second stops are proportioned and positioned such that said second stops do not engage said bar, said first stops being proportioned and positioned to engage respectively the adjacent ends of said bar to move said bar relative to said retainer.

Claim 18

A drawer slide comprising a first elongated track member formed to provide a longitudinally and outwardly extending first downwardly facing raceway along its upper edge and a longitudinally and outwardly extending first upwardly facing raceway along its lower edge, a second track member formed to provide a longitudinally and inwardly extending second upwardly facing raceway along its upper edge and a longitudinally and inwardly extending second downwardly facing raceway along its lower edge, ball bearings carried on said first upwardly facing raceway and under and in rolling contact with said second downwardly facing raceway and additional ball bearings carried on said second upwardly facing raceway and under and in rolling contact with said first downwardly facing raceway, a bearing retainer having longitudinally spaced apart apertures therein for receiving, respectively, said ball bearings, stop means on said second track member, an engaging portion, means for movably connecting said engaging portion to said retainer, spring means for yieldably resisting movement of said engaging portion relative to said retainer, said stop means being disposed to engage said engaging portion to move it against the urging of said spring in the direction of movement of said second member and relative to said retainer.

Claim 19

A drawer slide comprising a first elongated track member formed to provide a longitudinally and outwardly extending first downwardly facing raceway along its upper edge and a longitudinally and outwardly extending first upwardly facing raceway along its lower edge, a second track member formed to provide a longitudinally and inwardly extending second upwardly facing raceway along its upper edge and a longitudinally and inwardly extending second downwardly facing raceway along its lower edge, ball bearings carried on said first upwardly facing raceway and under and in rolling contact with said second downwardly facing raceway and additional ball bearings carried on said second upwardly facing raceway and under and in rolling contact with said first downwardly facing raceway, a bearing retainer having longitudinally spaced apart apertures therein for receiving, respectively, said ball bearings, stop means on said second track member, an engaging portion, means for movably connecting said engaging portion to said retainer, spring means for yieldably resisting movement of said engaging portion relative to said retainer, said stop means being disposed to engage said engaging portion to move it against the urging of said spring in the direction of movement of said second member and relative to said retainer.

Claim 20

The drawer slide of claim 15 in which said retainer is formed with a longitudinally extending intermediate section and longitudinally and outwardly extending flange sections along its upper and lower edges, said apertures being disposed in said flange sections, said intermediate section being formed to provide a longitudinally extending channel, said engaging portion being a bar disposed in said channel for longitudinal movement therein.

Claim 21

The drawer slide of claim 16 in which said bar is elongated to provide an abutment portion adjacent each end of said retainer, said stop means being disposed to engage said abutment portions to move said bar relative to said retainer.

Claim 22

The drawer slide of claim 17 in which said bar is formed to provide a longitudinally extending first aperture intermediate its ends, said channel being formed with a longitudinally extending second aperture in registry with said first aperture, said spring means including a coiled compression spring disposed in said apertures to bear against the ends thereof when said bar Is in its normal position relative to said retainer.