Fastening device for end plate of a drawer

Abstract

A fastening device for securing a drawer end plate, front or back, to metal or plastic sidewalls incorporates a tensioning device to force open split dowels held inside holes made in the interior surface of the drawer plate. The dowels thus spread firmly grip the walls of the hole and clamp the sidewall flanges to secure the plate to the sidewalls. Tensioning takes place by the rotation of an expanding member that has an oval cross sectional configuration with the larger diameter formed by the oval shape forcing open the split dowels.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A fastening device for fastening the end plate of a drawer to a drawer side wall, the end plate having at least one dowel receiving hole therein, the device comprising: a flange having a first side directed toward the end plate, a second side directed away from the end plate and an expanding member receiving aperture therein; a member positioned between the end plate and the flange first side; a capping member positioned adjacent the flange second side; at least one expandable dowel positioned in the end plate hole; an expanding member having a first end positioned in the at least one expandable dowel and a second end extending from the dowel, the expanding member movable within the dowel between an expanding position and a release position, the dowel and expanding member positioned proximate the flange side and the expanding member second end extending through the expanding member receiving aperture in the flange; and at least one tensioning lever positioned at the capping member side and movably connected to the expanding member second end for movement between a released position and a tensioning position, the expanding member first end having a caming exterior surface operable to expand the dowel outwardly and clamp the flange and base member between the dowel and the capping member.  
     
     
         2 . The device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the flange is formed integrally with the front end of a side wall.  
     
     
         3 . The device as claimed in  claim 1  having two dowels, two expanding member receiving apertures in the flange, and an expanding member in each dowel extending through an expanding member receiving aperture in the flange.  
     
     
         4 . The device as claimed in  claim 3  having a tensioning lever connected to each expanding member.  
     
     
         5 . The device as claimed in  claim 2  having two dowels, two expanding member receiving apertures in the flange, and an expanding member in each dowel extending through an expanding member receiving aperture in the flange.  
     
     
         6 . The device as claimed in  claim 5  having a tensioning lever connected to each expanding member.  
     
     
         7 . The device as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising: drawer front adjusting means for selective unidirectional movement of the drawer front with respect to the drawer side.  
     
     
         8 . The device as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the base member has receiving sleeves associated therewith and the drawer front adjusting means includes a camming member extending through the capping member and the flange and into a receiving sleeve and operable to move the drawer front with respect to the side wall upon movement of the camming member.  
     
     
         9 . The device as claimed in  claim 8  wherein a base member receiving sleeve cooperatively receives an expanding member and extends into and is held within a dowel.  
     
     
         10 . The device as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the base member has first and second ends, a receiving sleeve is positioned near each end, and the camming member receiving sleeve is positioned approximately midway between the base member first and second ends.  
     
     
         11 . The device as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the base member and receiving sleeves are integrally formed.  
     
     
         12 . The device as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the camming member is a rotationally movable threaded member and displaces the drawer front with respect to the side wall upon rotation.  
     
     
         13 . The device as claimed in  claim 1  having a tensioning lever connected to the at least one expanding member.  
     
     
         14 . The device as claimed in  claim 13  further comprising: drawer front adjusting means for selective unidirectional movement of the drawer front with respect to the drawer side.  
     
     
         15 . The device as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the base member has one or more receiving sleeves associated therewith and the drawer front adjusting means includes a camming member extending through the capping member and the flange and into a receiving sleeve operable to move the drawer front with respect to the side wall upon movement of the camming member.  
     
     
         16 . The device as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the base member receiving sleeve cooperatively receives the at least one expanding member and extends into and is held within the at least one dowel.  
     
     
         17 . The device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the expanding member first end is substantially oval in cross section wherein the at least one dowel is expanded when the thicker dimension is active and relaxed when the thinner dimension is active.  
     
     
         18 . The device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the base member has first and second ends and each end has latching means securing the base member to the capping member and securing the flange therebetween.  
     
     
         19 . The device as claimed in  claim 17  wherein the base member has first and second ends and each end has latching means securing the base member to the capping member and securing the flange therebetween.  
     
     
         20 . The device as claimed in  claim 18  wherein the at least one expandable dowel and base member are integrally formed.