Drawer support and closure apparatus

Abstract

A drawer slide support and closure apparatus designed to support a drawer within its supporting frame includes one or more drawer support members connecting the frame front and back each of which has an upstanding member with a ridge formed therewith forming a guide rail. A ridge surrounding slidable member encompasses the guide rail and is movable with respect to it. The ridge surrounding member is affixed to the bottom of the drawer and enables slidable movement between the guide rail supported by the frame and the ridge surrounding member affixed to the drawer. Rollers provide additional support for the drawer in the open position, and a spring enables positive opening and closing of the drawer. A shock absorber minimizes sound and impact when the drawer is firmly closed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . Drawer support and closure apparatus for maintaining a drawer having a front, sides and back in a drawer supporting frame having a front, sides and back and providing for slidable movement by the drawer in and out of the supporting frame, the apparatus comprising: at least one drawer support member connecting the supporting frame front and back and having an upstanding segment with a ridge associated therewith; a ridge-surrounding member cooperatively receiving the ridge in close proximity to the upstanding segment and movable with respect to the ridge; and non-bearing means facilitating slidable movement between the ridge and the ridge-surrounding member wherein the ridge-surrounding member is of substantially the same length as the length of the upstanding segment and associated ridge and the at least one drawer support member doe not engage the supporting frame sides.  
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising: roller means engaging the drawer support member and carried by the frame providing additional support and stability for the drawer.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the roller means rollably engage the drawer sides.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising: spring means urging the drawer into the drawer supporting frame during drawer closure to firmly seat the drawer within the supporting frame.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 2  further comprising: spring means urging the drawer into the drawer supporting frame during drawer closure to firmly seat the drawer within the supporting frame.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the ridge-surrounding member has a plurality of linear interior walls and the slidable facilitating means includes a body portion having an upstanding segment adjacent surface, one or more ridge-surrounding member interior wall adjacent surfaces, and body portion roller means in the ridge-surrounding member interior wall adjacent surfaces, the body portion roller means engaging the ridge-surrounding member interior walls.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the ridge-surrounding member has a plurality of linear interior walls and the slidable facilitating means includes a body portion having an upstanding segment adjacent surface, one or more ridge-surrounding member interior wall adjacent surfaces, and body portion roller means in the ridge-surrounding member interior walls adjacent surfaces, the body portion roller means engaging the ridge-surrounding member interior walls.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the roller means rollably engage the drawer, the upstanding segment and associated ridge extend for substantially the full length of the drawer support member, the ridge-surrounding member has a plurality of linear interior walls, the at least one support member does not engage the supporting frame sides and the slidable facilitating means includes a body portion having an upstanding segment adjacent surface, one or more ridge-surrounding member interior wall adjacent surfaces, and body portion roller means in the one or more ridge-surrounding member interior wall adjacent surfaces, the body portion roller means engaging the ridge-surrounding member interior walls, the apparatus further comprising: spring means urging the drawer into the cabinet during drawer closure to firmly seat the drawer within the supporting frame.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein a load-bearing roller is rotatably affixed to the upstanding segment near the frame front and rotatably engages one or more of the interior surfaces of the ridge-surrounding member.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 4  wherein a load-bearing roller is rotatably affixed to the upstanding segment near the frame front and rollably engages one or more of the interior surfaces of the ridge-surrounding member.  
     
     
         11 . Drawer support and closure apparatus for maintaining a drawer having a front, sides and back and providing for slidable movement by the drawer in and out of the supporting frame, the apparatus comprising: a single drawer support member connecting the supporting frame front and back and having an upstanding segment with a ridge associated therewith; a ridge-surrounding member having interior and exterior walls, the ridge-surrounding member cooperatively receiving the ridge and the upstanding segment and movable with respect thereto; and non-bearing means facilitating slidable movement between the ridge and the ridge-surrounding member wherein the ridge-surrounding member is of substantially the same length as the length of the upstanding segment and associated ridge and the single drawer support member does not engage the supporting frame sides.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 9  wherein a load-bearing roller is rotatably affixed to the upstanding segment near the frame front and rollably engages one or more of the interior surfaces of the ridge-surrounding member.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the ridge-surrounding member has a plurality of linear interior walls and the slidable movement facilitating means includes a body portion having an upstanding segment adjacent surface, one or more ridge-surrounding member interior wall adjacent surfaces, and body portion roller means in the ridge-surrounding member interior walls adjacent surfaces, the body portion roller means engaging the ridge-surrounding member interior walls.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 11  further comprising: roller means engaging the drawer support member and carried by the frame providing additional support and stability for the drawer.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 4  further comprising: shock absorber means engaging the frame to minimize the sound and impact when the drawer is being seated within the frame by the spring means.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 5  further comprising: shock absorber means engaging the frame to minimize the sound and impact when the drawer is being seated within the frame by the spring means.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 10  further comprising: shock absorber means having a housing and a piston slideably movable within the housing, the piston engaging the frame to minimize the sound and impact when the drawer is being seated within the frame by the spring means.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 8  further comprising: shock absorber means having a housing and a piston slideably movable within the housing, the piston engaging the frame to minimize the sound and impact when the drawer is being seated within the frame by the spring means.