Stress relieving plate

Abstract

The present invention is a stress relieving plate mounted on a drawer track boot, where screws, bolts or similar fastening devices are used to mount the drawer track boot to the drawer cabinet wherein the stress relieving plate transfers the localized stress caused by the fastening devices to a larger area of the drawer track boot, and to prevent loosening of the screws, bolts or other fastening devices during use of the drawer.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A stress relieving plate for a drawer track boot comprising a substantially planar L-shaped body comprising at least one opening formed therein.  
     
     
         2 . The invention according to  claim 1  comprising at least two openings formed therein.  
     
     
         3 . The invention according to  claim 1  comprising at least three openings formed therein.  
     
     
         4 . The invention according to  claim 1  further comprising a locking means adjacent said opening to prevent a fastener from loosening.  
     
     
         5 . The invention according to  claim 4 , said locking means comprising a protrusion adjacent at least one opening in said plate.  
     
     
         6 . The invention according to  claim 4 , said locking means comprising a roughened surface adjacent at least one opening in said plate.  
     
     
         7 . The invention according to  claim 1  wherein at least one of the openings is an inlet.  
     
     
         8 . The invention of  claim 1 , said L-shaped body comprising a major body and a minor body.  
     
     
         9 . A stress relieving plate for a drawer track boot comprising: 
 a substantially planar L-shaped body comprising a major body and a minor body having at least one opening formed therein for receiving a fastener means to secure the drawer track boot to a cabinet surface, said major body being about 1{fraction (11/16)}″ to about 1{fraction (13/16)}″ in length and about 1{fraction (9/16)}″ to about {fraction (11/16)}″ in width and said minor body being about 1{fraction (7/16)}″ to about 1{fraction (9/16)}″ in length and about {fraction (5/16)}″ to about {fraction (7/16)}″ in width.    
     
     
         10 . A system for relieving stress placed upon a cabinet drawer boot comprising: 
 a stress relieving plate that contacts a surface of the boot, the stress relieving bracket having at least one aperture formed therein corresponding to at least one opening formed in the boot, a fastener disposed in the aperture in the stress relieving plate and the opening in the drawer boot, wherein said fastener secures the stress relieving plate to the surface of the boot and the boot to the cabinet.    
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  comprising at least two openings formed in said plate.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10  comprising at least three openings formed in said plate.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10  further comprising a locking means disposed adjacent to at least one said opening.  
     
     
         14 . A method for distributing stress among neighboring fastening means employed for attaching a drawer track boot to an interior surface of a cabinet, the method comprising: 
 providing a stress relieving plate for a drawer track boot comprising a substantially planar L-shaped body comprising at least one opening formed therein;    providing a drawer track boot having a cabinet mounting surface and an opposite plate receiving surface and at least one aperture formed therein for receiving a fastener means;    mounting said L-shaped plate on said plate receiving surface of the drawer track boot such that at least one opening in the stress relieving plate communicates with at least one aperture in the drawer track boot;    placing the cabinet mounting surface of the drawer track boot in contact with a surface of the cabinet;    passing a fastener through the opening of the stress relieving plate and the aperture of the drawer track boot; and    affixing the fastener to the cabinet, whereby the fastener secures the stress relieving plate to the drawer track boot and the drawer track boot to the cabinet surface.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  said plate comprising at least two openings formed therein.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  said plate comprising at least three openings formed therein.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  said plate comprising a locking means adjacent at least one opening.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  said locking means comprising a protrusion adjacent at least one opening in said plate.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  said locking means comprising a roughened surface adjacent at least one opening in said plate.