Drawer for storage cabinet or storage unit

Abstract

A drawer comprising a pair of sidewalls wherein each sidewall has a pair of widthwise end portions, and an exterior side. The exterior side has a plurality of pairs of tracks extending generally perpendicular to the longitudinally extending axis wherein each pair of tracks defines a channel. Each widthwise end portion defines a channel on the exterior side. Each sidewall has a plurality of openings adjacent the bottom lengthwise end of the sidewall. The draw further includes a pair of insert members. Each insert member is removably attached to a corresponding drawer sidewall. Each insert member has a front side and a rear side that confronts the sidewall, a pair of flanged widthwise ends, a bottom lengthwise end, and a plurality of rails on the rear side. Each rail is slidably disposed within a corresponding channel. Each insert member has a plurality of protrusions that are frictionally and removably inserted into corresponding openings in the corresponding sidewall.

Thus, having described the invention, what is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A drawer comprising: 
 a pair of opposite sidewalls, each sidewall having a longitudinally extending axis, a pair of widthwise end portions, an exterior side, an interior side facing the drawer interior, the exterior side of each sidewall having a plurality of pairs of tracks extending generally perpendicular to the longitudinally extending axis, each pair of tracks defining a channel, each widthwise end portion defining a channel on the exterior side, each sidewall having a plurality of openings; and    a pair of insert members, each of which being removably attached to the exterior side of a corresponding drawer sidewall, each insert member having a longitudinally extending axis, a front side, a rear side confronting the exterior side of the corresponding sidewall, a pair of flanged widthwise ends, a top lengthwise end, a bottom lengthwise end, and plurality of rails on the rear side, each rail being slidably disposed within a corresponding channel on the exterior side of the corresponding sidewall, the insert member further including a plurality of openings, each opening having a perimetrical edge and being located at a predetermined position with respect to the longitudinally extending axis of the insert member, each insert member having a plurality of protrusions extending from the rear side, each protrusion being frictionally and removably inserted into a corresponding one of the openings in the corresponding sidewall, the tracks on the exterior side of the sidewall and the rails of the rear side of the insert member cooperating to define a space between the sidewall and the insert member;    the positioning of the (i) rails of each insert member within the channels of the corresponding sidewall, and (ii) flanged widthwise ends of the insert member within the channels defined by the widthwise ends of the sidewall, and the frictional insertion of the protrusions of the insert member in the openings of the corresponding sidewall cooperating to substantially eliminate upward, downward and lateral movement of the insert member with respect to the corresponding sidewall thereby effecting firm but removable attachment of the insert member to the corresponding drawer sidewall.    
     
     
         2 . The drawer according to  claim 1  further comprising a pair of outer slides, each outer slide being removably attached to the exterior side of a corresponding insert member, each outer slide having a longitudinally extending axis and a plurality of protruding members, each of the protruding members being removably disposed within a corresponding one of the openings of the insert member and engaging a portion of the perimetrical edge of the corresponding opening.  
     
     
         3 . The drawer according to  claim 2  wherein a first one of the protruding members has a lip that laterally extends in a direction that is generally parallel to the longitudinally axis of the outer slide member and which is disposed through a corresponding opening of the insert member and is positioned within the space existing between the insert member and the sidewall, a second one of the protruding members having a lip that extends upward in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the outer slide member and disposed through a corresponding opening of the insert member and positioned within the space existing between the insert member and the sidewall, a third one of the protruding members having a lip that extends upward in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the outer slide member and is disposed through a corresponding opening of the insert member and is positioned within the space existing between the insert member and the sidewall, a forth one of the protruding members comprising a tab that extends outwardly from the exterior side of the insert member and is frictionally inserted into a corresponding one of the openings on the insert member, the orientation and positioning of (i) the openings of each insert member with respect to the longitudinally extending axis of each insert member, and (ii) the protruding members with respect to the longitudinally extending axis of each outer slide cooperating with the frictional insertion of the tab within the corresponding opening in the insert member to effect firm but removable attachment of the outer slides to the insert members.  
     
     
         4 . The drawer according  claim 1  wherein the openings on the sidewall are equidistantly spaced apart.  
     
     
         5 . The drawer according to  claim 2  wherein the insert member further includes a plurality of reinforcing ribs on the rear side thereof, the ribs extending generally parallel to the rails.  
     
     
         6 . The drawer according to  claim 2  wherein the protrusions on the rear side of the insert member are adjacent to the bottom lengthwise end.  
     
     
         7 . The drawer according to  claim 6  wherein the protrusions are equidistantly spaced.  
     
     
         8 . The drawer according to  claim 2  wherein the tab has a perimeter.  
     
     
         9 . The drawer according to  claim 8  wherein each outer slide has a longitudinally extending axis that bisects the outer slide, the protruding members of the outer slide being positioned relative to the longitudinally extending axis of the outer slide such that this axis (i) bisects the first one of the protruding members, (ii) extends through the second one of the protruding members, (iii) extends through the third one of the protruding members, and (iv) generally overlaps a portion of the perimeter of the tab.  
     
     
         10 . The drawer according to  claim 1  wherein the drawer and insert member are fabricated from plastic chosen from the group comprising ABS, GPPS, Crystal Styrene, HDPE, HIPS, Nylon, PC, PCABS, PE, PP and SAN.  
     
     
         11 . An insert member for removable attachment to an exterior side of a drawer sidewall, the insert member having a longitudinally extending axis, a front side, a rear side, a pair of flanged widthwise ends, a top lengthwise end, a bottom lengthwise end, and plurality of rails on the rear side, the rails extending generally perpendicular to the longitudinally extending axis, the insert member further including a plurality of openings, each opening being located at a predetermined position with respect to the longitudinally extending axis, the insert member having a plurality of protrusions that extend from the rear side and which are adjacent the bottom lengthwise end, the insert member further including a plurality of reinforcing ribs on the rear side thereof, the ribs extending generally parallel to the rails.  
     
     
         12 . The drawer according to  claim 10  wherein the protrusions are equidistantly spaced.  
     
     
         13 . A drawer comprising a pair of opposite sidewalls, each sidewall having a longitudinally extending axis, a pair of widthwise end portions, an exterior side, an interior side facing the drawer interior, the exterior side of each sidewall having a plurality of pairs of tracks extending generally perpendicular to the longitudinally extending axis, each pair of tracks defining a channel, each widthwise end portion defining a channel on the exterior side, each sidewall having a plurality of openings.