SINGULAR DRAWER SLIDE-MOUNTING BRACKET PREASSEMBLY UNIT

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a one-piece (singular) drawer slide-mounting bracket preassembly unit composed of two parts that are preassembled before being transported as a single unit for direct installation in any furniture body, such as a cabinet, that accommodates movable furniture members, such as drawers.

Background Art

Many different types of furniture bodies, such as cabinets, dressers, armoires, and multi-purpose shelving units include movable parts, such as drawers. The drawers are movably affixed to an inner portion of the furniture body via a slide rail mechanism that facilitates a sliding movement for smoothly opening and closing the drawer. Typically, a number of different production and assembly processes are required to provide various aspects of the drawer slide rail, and the drawer slide rails are mounted to the furniture body using a non-adjustable mounting mechanism, i.e., via the sidewall screws and/or fixed-end mounting brackets that are also attached to the furniture using screws.

For example, the drawer slide members and the associated mounting brackets are made, in many cases, by different manufacturers, and are usually sold separately. This involves separate purchasing and acquisition steps that require multiple coordination steps. During production, the individual drawer slide rails and mounting brackets, which are produced and received separately, are transported separately to an initial assembly location, and are then temporarily attached together, which involves manual labor steps. The temporarily attached drawer slide rails are then transported to yet another location, prior to further distribution to a cabinet manufacturer, where the drawer slide rails are then manually installed in the cabinets.

One drawback is that this multi-step process involves numerous acquisition, attachment and transportation steps before the drawer slide rail is ultimately mounted to the cabinet. Further, most of these steps are performed manually, incurring labor time and costs, and introducing human error. Additionally, since the drawer slide rails and brackets are only preliminarily (temporarily) connected before installation, it is possible for the brackets and drawer slide rails to separate and/or malalignment during the subsequent transportation steps, causing costly damage/displacement of drawer slide components that require replacement and/or re-assembly before use, which introduces additional human intervention and costs both time and money.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in order to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art discussed above. Specifically, the drawer slide-mounting bracket preassembly unit according to the present invention, also referred to herein simply as a singular preassembly unit or preassembly unit, offers many benefits over the prior art process and structures. For example, the singular preassembly unit according to the present invention reduces time and costs otherwise associated with acquiring and using multiple components and requiring multiple assembly steps that are performed at different facilities by different people prior to shipping and delivery to the installer/user for installation. Instead, the preassembly unit according to the present invention is provided in one step, and then the preassembly unit is sent as a single unit directly to the installer/user for installation. The singular preassembly unit according to the present invention provides structural stability during handling and transport as one unit without risking component separation or damage or requiring manual re-assembly or replacement.

Further, while the mounting bracket portion of the preassembly unit is securely mechanically fastened to the drawer slide member of the preassembly unit, the mating of the two parts is achieved in a secure snap-fit (press-fit), yet releasable manner. Since adhesive is not needed, and not preferred, one can manually release the secured connection between the two parts of the preassembly unit with a simple press and twist (rotation) motion of the mounting bracket portion, so that either component can easily be replaced, if needed. No tools or machinery are required.

In addition, the singular preassembly unit further facilitates easy snap-fit/press-fit installation on an inner rear cabinet wall via integrated mounting members provided on the mounting bracket portion of the preassembly unit, further eliminating the need to use any tools for this step. The singular preassembly unit easily adjusts to fit different cabinets within a tolerance, and side-to-side adjustment is available for leveling and positioning, also without needing any extra tools.

Since the preassembly unit according to the present invention is provided as a single unit that has the durability to withstand transport without separating, and which is delivered as a single part directly to the final installation site, the present invention reduces the number of steps involved, particularly manual steps, ensures stable one-step transport, reduces acquisition time and costs, transportation time and costs, and simplifies the installation and adjustment process of the preassembly unit on the cabinet. In this manner, the preassembly unit according to the present invention offers many advantages over the prior art.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a singular drawer slide-mounting bracket preassembly unit is provided, comprising a drawer slide member, including a drawer slide member bracket part and a drawer slide member sliding part, and a mounting bracket portion mechanically affixed to a rear end portion of the drawer slide member, specifically a rear end of the drawer slide member bracket part, via one or more connection mechanisms having corresponding mating structures respectively provided on the drawer slide member and the mounting bracket portion.

A lower/bottom side of the drawer slide member bracket part includes a raised stamped-up part proximate a rear end part of the drawer slide member bracket part. The raised stamped part includes one or more detents extending outwardly and downwardly from a bottom/outer surface of the stamped part of the lower/bottom side of the drawer slide member bracket part. An upper portion of a cabinet facing side of the drawer slide member bracket part includes a notch proximate the rear end part of the drawer slide member bracket part. The notch includes a first channel part extending a distance along a longitudinal extension direction of the drawer slide member bracket part, a second channel part defining a substantially vertical or angled channel whose extension path deviates from the path of the first channel part, and a transition ledge defined between the first and second channel parts. Preferably, the bottom surface of the drawer slide member bracket part is flush with a bottom surface of the mounting bracket portion.

The mounting bracket portion includes a latch having a first end extending outwardly and away from a portion of a front side surface of the mounting bracket portion toward an opposed terminal end having a hook portion, which extends in a direction that deviates from an extension direction of a remainder of the latch, which is otherwise substantially parallel to the longitudinal extension direction of the drawer slide member. The mounting bracket portion further includes a mounting bracket channel that is open at a front side of the mounting bracket portion and which extends inwardly along a bottom inner surface toward an inner rear side surface of the mounting bracket portion proximate a bottom side thereof. The bracket channel preferably includes two laterally opposed side portions and a central portion sandwiched therebetween. The bracket channel also includes at least one upwardly sloped detent entering path extending into the bracket channel from the channel opening at the front side toward the rear inner surface of the mounting bracket portion, and one or more transversely extending detent recess channel(s) are provided immediately adjacent to an uppermost end of the upwardly sloped detent entering path inside the bracket channel. The extension direction of the detent recess channel(s) non-parallel, preferably arranged perpendicular, with respect to the extension direction of the detent entering path(s).

It is also preferred that the mounting bracket portion includes one or more securing dowels extending outwardly from a back/outer surface thereof, whereby the singular slide member-mounting bracket preassembly unit is adapted to be securely installed in a cabinet for slidably accommodating drawers via the securing dowels without using any tools. The securing dowels are selected from the group consisting of a double securing wing dowel, solid post securing dowel, a single latch securing dowel, and a mushroom securing dowel.

According to a second aspect of the singular slide-mounting bracket preassembly unit according to the present invention, the rear end part of the drawer slide member bracket part includes an extension part having one or more notches provided in an upper surface thereof and running along at least a portion of a longitudinal length of the extension part. The one or more bracket channels of the mounting bracket portion include one or more convex locking members formed on an upper inner surface of the one or more bracket channels, extending downwardly therefrom, to lockingly engage with a corresponding shape of the one or more notches situated in the bracket channel(s).

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for producing a singular drawer slide-mounting bracket preassembly unit is provided, comprising the steps of providing a drawer slide member, including a drawer slide member bracket part and a drawer slide member sliding part, providing a mounting bracket portion, and mechanically connecting the mounting bracket portion to an end part of the drawer slide member via one or more connection mechanisms having corresponding mating structures, so that a bottom surface of the drawer slide member is flush with a bottom surface of the mounting bracket portion, whereby the singular drawer slide-mounting bracket preassembly unit can be handled and transported prior to being installed in a furniture unit that accommodates sliding parts without disengaging or misaligning. Preferably, the mounting bracket portion includes one or more securing dowels extending outwardly from a back outer surface thereof, whereby the singular drawer slide-mounting bracket preassembly unit is adapted to be securely installed in the furniture unit via the securing dowels without using any tools.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is described in more detail below, in connection with the accompanying drawing figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a pre-attachment perspective view of a drawer slide member and mounting bracket portion according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the singular preassembly unit including the drawer slide member and mounting bracket portion shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial cut-away perspective view of a cabinet having the singular preassembly unit shown in FIG. 2 installed therein;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are perspective front views showing two different structural variations of the mounting bracket portion according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective bottom view of the rear end portion of the drawer slide member bracket part shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a rear end part of the singular preassembly unit shown in FIG. 2 according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the upper inner side of the rear end of the drawer slide member shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a vertically cut, side perspective opposite end view of the singular preassembly unit shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a drawer slide member and mounting bracket portion of a singular preassembly unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the singular preassembly unit shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a partial cut-away perspective view of a cabinet having the singular preassembly unit shown in FIG. 10 installed therein;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged perspective side view of the upper inner surface of the rear end of drawer slide member shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a perspective front view of the mounting bracket portion shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a vertically cut, side perspective view of the drawer slide member and the mounting bracket portion shown in FIG. 10 forming the singular preassembly unit according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged view of the mating structures shown in circle A of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a partially cut, perspective top and rear end view of a cabinet showing the singular preassembly unit according to either embodiment installed therein via predrilled holes receiving a double wing securing dowel of the mounting bracket portion;

FIG. 17 is an enlarged view of the structures shown in circle B of FIG. 16; and

FIGS. 18A-18D are perspective rear views of the mounting bracket portions of the singular preassembly unit showing various securing dowels configurations according to either embodiment of the present invention, wherein:

FIG. 18A shows a double wing securing dowel configuration according to one aspect of the present invention,

FIG. 18B shows a solid post securing dowel configuration according to another aspect of the present invention,

FIG. 18C shows a single latch securing dowel configuration according to another aspect of the present invention, and

FIG. 18D shows a mushroom securing dowel configuration according to another aspect of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is described in more detail below in connection with the related drawing figures. Like reference numbers have been used to designate like parts among the various drawings, and repeat descriptions are omitted.

Embodiment 1

The first embodiment of the preset invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1-8 and 16-18D. FIGS. 1-3 show a singular drawer slide-mounting bracket portion preassembly unit 10 (“preassembly unit”) according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The preassembly unit 10 is a single unit, which is transported and installed as a single unit in a cabinet or furniture unit/body designed to accommodate one or more sliding members, such as drawers or pull-out shelves (see, e.g., FIG. 3).

The preassembly unit 10 includes a rear mounting bracket portion 1 (hereinafter also referred to simply as mounting bracket portion 1) and a drawer slide member 2.

The drawer slide member 2 includes a drawer slide member bracket part 20 and a sliding part 5. The mounting bracket portion 1 is mechanically affixed to a rear end part 2D of the drawer slide member bracket part 20. The drawer slide member 2 also includes a stop latch 24, situated on the sliding part 5 as shown in FIG. 7, to provide additional drawer-slam prevention, which is an optional feature. The drawer slide member bracket part 20 also includes a first side 2A (cabinet facing side), a bottom/lower side 2B, a second side 2C, transversely opposing the first side 2A for accommodating the sliding part 5, and the rear end part 2D. The bottom/lower side 2B includes an upper inner surface portion 2B1, and a bottom outer surface portion 2B2.

An upper portion of the first side 2A of the drawer slide member bracket part 20 includes a notch 21 proximate the rear end part 2D. The notch 21 includes a substantially horizontal channel part 21A extending a distance along a longitudinal extension direction of the (overall) drawer slide member 2, and a downwardly extending hook portion 21B defining a substantially vertical or angled channel whose extension direction deviates from the extension path of the channel part 21A. A transition portion (ledge) is defined between the two channel parts 21A, 21B.

A raised step-up (stamped) part 25 is provided on the lower side 2B of the drawer slide bracket member 20 proximate the rear end part 2D (see, e.g., FIG. 5). The raised, stamped part 25 is indented upwardly, deviating from a remainder of a longitudinal extension plane of the lower side 2B of the drawer slide member bracket part 20, which coincides with the overall longitudinal extension direction of the drawer slide member 2. The stamped part 25 includes one or more detents 26 extending outwardly and downwardly from the bottom outer surface 2B2. As described in more detail below in connection with the second connection mechanism, the detents 26 are slidably received and retained in one or more portions of the mounting bracket portion 1.

The mounting bracket portion 1 of the singular preassembly unit 10 includes a top/upper side 1A, a bottom/lower side 1B, a front side 1C, which is arranged to face the rear end part 2D of the drawer slide member bracket part 20, and a rear/back surface 1D (which faces the inner rear wall of the cabinet/furniture 30 to which the preassembly unit 10 is attached-see, e.g., FIG. 3). The mounting bracket portion 1 includes a latch 11 extending outwardly, in a substantially horizontally or angled manner, away from a first end proximate a portion of the front side 1C, toward an opposed terminal end having a hook portion 11A. The hook portion 11A extends in a direction that deviates from the extension direction of the remainder of the latch 11, i.e., downwardly as shown, in a straight (i.e., substantially perpendicular) or angled manner.

The mounting bracket portion 1 also includes a mounting bracket channel 12 that is open at the front side 1C, and which extends inwardly along a bottom inner surface 12B toward an inner surface of the rear side 1D of the mounting bracket portion 1, proximate the bottom side 1B. As shown, the bracket channel 12 includes two laterally opposed side portions and a central portion 12C sandwiched therebetween. A height h of the central portion 12C extends between an inner surface of the bottom side 1B toward the top side 1A of the mounting bracket portion 1 (substantially vertically), and has a dimension that is less than a height of either of the side portions of the bracket channel 12. The height h of the central portion 12C is preferably sized to accommodate the thickness of the stamped part 25 of the rear end part 2D of the drawer slide bracket member 20 in a press-fit manner, without causing deformation or permanent affixation.

At least one detent entering path portion 13 formed in a portion of the bottom inner surface 12B proximate the opening on the front-receiving portion (front surface 1C) of the mounting bracket portion 1. The detent entering path portion 13 is sloped upwardly extending into the bracket channel 12 from the channel opening at the front side 1C toward the back side 1D of the mounting bracket 1. One or more transversely extending detent recess channel(s) 14 are provided, located immediately adjacent, but positioned more inwardly (closer to the inner surface of the back side 1D), which extend deeper into the bottom inner surface 12B than an uppermost end of the upwardly sloped path of 13 inside the bracket channel 12.

As shown in FIG. 4B, the mounting bracket portion 1 can also include one or more through holes 19 to accommodate alternative fixation means, such as screws, to facilitate fixation. This feature is also discussed in detail in connection with FIGS. 18B and 18C, for example. The present invention is not limited to this feature, which is merely provided as a convenience for installers, depending on particular needs. It is preferred, however, for the back side 1D of the mounting bracket portion 1 to be equipped with one or more securing dowels, extending outwardly from the outer surface of the back side 1D, to facilitate installation without the need for screws through holes 19.

The drawer slide member 2 is preferably made of a standard metal material, formed by methods including, but not limited to, machining and stamping, whereas the mounting bracket portion 1 is preferably a rigid yet resilient material, which is made of plastic, resin or the like, and which is formed by methods including, but not limited to, molding or 3D-printing, for example. The drawer slide member 2 and the mounting bracket portion 1 can be made of any materials that can assume the desired structure and which provide sufficient strength and resiliency for installation and long-term performance of the singular preassembly unit 10.

The mounting bracket portion 1 is affixed to the drawer slide member 2 mechanically via at least one or more, preferably at least two, different mechanical connection mechanisms to provide the preassembly unit 10. Two such connection mechanisms are described below with respect to the related structures responsible for providing the stable, yet releasable, connection between the two members composing the singular preassembly unit 10 shown in the drawings.

Connection Mechanism 1 (Embodiment 1)

According to the first connection mechanism of the first embodiment of the present invention, the notch 21 proximate the rear end part 2D of the drawer slide member 2 receives and retains the latch 11 of the mounting bracket portion 1 via corresponding mechanical mating features of the interlocking parts (see, e.g., FIGS. 1-7). For example, as noted above and as shown, the notch 21 includes the first (substantially horizontal) receiving channel part 21A and the seating channel part 21B defining a substantially vertical or angled channel. A transition (ledge) is defined between the two channel parts 21A, 21B, into and over which the hooked end 11A of the latch 11 passes to be retained and secured in the channel seating part of channel 21B as the two components of the preassembly unit are pressed together. The particular shapes of the channel parts 21A, 21B of notch 21 and the shape/angle of the hook end 11A of latch 11 are not limited to the structures shown, so long as the respective shapes and angles correspond to receive, retain and secure the latch 11 within the notch 21.

The first connection mechanism described above therefore effectively secures the mounting bracket portion 1 and the drawer slide member 2 together to define the preassembly unit 10. It should be noted, however, that because this interlocking structural arrangement is not permanently affixed, it is still possible to remove the mounting bracket portion 1 from the drawer slide member 2 of the preassembly unit 10 by performing deliberate mechanical (manual) effort to the mounting bracket portion 1, but the respective parts 1, 2 of the preassembly unit 10 will not otherwise disengage, detach, or misalign during normal transport, installation and use practices.

While it is preferable to provide a standard drawer slide member 2 having a standard notch 21 depth (length in the running/longitudinal extension direction of the drawer slide member 2), the length of the latch 11 can be modified (increased, decreased) to adjust the overall length of the preassembly unit 10 in order to accommodate varying cabinet depths. Because the width of the latch 11 is greater than the width of the notch 21, for example, by a dimension of ¼″ on both sides, it is possible to provide side-to-side adjustment of the preassembly unit 10. For example, if the overall length of the notch 21 is about ½″, and the width of the bracket side surface 2A of the drawer slide member 20 is about 1/16″, the width and the length of the latch 11 can be appropriately selected to provide the best attachment configuration in view of the overall desired length of the preassembly 10 and the desired amount of side-to-side play for adjustment. The relative dimensions are not limited to the specific dimensions noted above.

It is also critical that the connection between the mounting bracket portion 1 and the drawer slide member 2 of the preassembly unit 10 is accomplished such that the lowermost outer surface 2B2 of 2B of the drawer slide bracket member 20 is flush with the outermost surface of the bottom/lower side 1B of the mounting bracket portion 1 (see, e.g., FIGS. 2 and 8). This feature ensures that the preassembly unit 10 can be installed in a stable and level manner, even for use in connection with a bottom/lowermost drawer opening in a cabinet, proximate a bottom inner surface of the cabinet (on which the surface 2B of the slide portion 2 rests).

In addition to the first connection mechanism described above, the structural features of the components defining the preassembly unit 10 also preferably, but not necessarily, include a second connection mechanism to securely connect the mounting bracket portion 1 and the drawer slide member 2 together to define the singular preassembly unit 10.

Connection Mechanism 2 (Embodiment 1)

To facilitate the second connection mechanism, the detents 26 extending from the bottom outer surface 2B2 on the stamped part 25 at the rear end part 2D of the drawer slide bracket part 20 are slidably received in and retained in one or more portions of the mounting bracket portion 1, e.g., the laterally opposed side portions of the bracket channel 12 that sandwich the bracket channel central portion 12C. Specifically, upon assembly, the detents 26 are first received in the detent entering path(s) 13, the lower surface of which is sloped upwardly into the channel 12 from the channel opening at the front side 1C toward the back side 1D of the mounting bracket portion 1. As the one or more detents 26 pass through the detent entering path 13, the detents 26 then pass over the raised (upwardly sloped) end of the detent entering path 13 to enter the detent recess channel(s) 14, at which point and the detents 26 snap into place in channel(s) 14 to be securely seated and retained therein, but not permanently affixed thereto.

Additional features that can be associated with the second connection mechanism include providing a plurality of ribs 12C2 that extend downwardly from the upper inner surface 12A of the central portion 12C of the mounting bracket channel 12 (see, e.g., modified mounting bracket portion 1 shown in FIG. 4A). A portion of the bottom surface 2B of the slide member bracket part 20, such as the stamped part 25 of the bottom surface 2B of drawer slide member bracket part 20, is received in the central portion 12C of the mounting bracket channel 12. The provision of the ribs 12C2 extending downwardly from the bottom surface 12C1 of the central portion 12C toward the bottom surface 12B of the mounting bracket channel 12 further facilitates a tight press-fit connection between the mounting bracket portion 1 and the stamped part 25 of the bottom surface 2B of drawer slide member bracket part 20 proximate the rear end 2D thereof. A height of the ribs 12C2 similarly corresponds to the height h described above. Again, this press-fit structural arrangement is also not permanently affixed, so it is still possible to manually remove the mounting bracket portion 1 from the drawer slide member 2 of the preassembly unit 10 by performing deliberate mechanical effort to the bracket portion 1, but the respective parts will not otherwise disengage or detach during normal transport and installation practices.

It should also be noted that while the mounting bracket portion 1 shown in FIGS. 4A and 6, for example, includes three vertically oriented interior dividing walls 121, 122, 123 in the central portion thereof (i.e., located above the central portion 12C of the bracket channel 12), the mounting bracket portion 1 shown in FIG. 4B includes only two such internal dividing walls 121, 122. Indeed, the present invention is not limited by the number of vertical interior walls in the mounting bracket portion 1. The vertically oriented interior dividing walls are merely stabilizing mechanisms that address structural issues related to varying thicknesses of the drawer material. That is, three interior walls provide more structural stability to the mounting bracket portion 1 than two, particularly for drawer materials having a greater thickness. Thinner drawer materials require less additional support, so two interior walls are sufficient.

As described above, once connected, the outermost surface 2B2 of the bottom/lower side 2B of the drawer slide member 2 is flush with the outermost surface of the bottom/lower side 1B of the mounting bracket portion 1 to ensure that the preassembly 10 can be installed in a stable and level manner, even on a bottom inner surface of the cabinet (on which the bottom side 2B of the drawer slide member bracket part 20 rests).

Because the interlocking structural arrangement facilitated by the first and/or second connection mechanisms is secure but not permanently affixed, it is still possible to remove the mounting bracket portion 1 from the drawer slide member 2 of the preassembly unit 10 by performing deliberate mechanical (manual) effort to the bracket portion 1, however the respective parts will not otherwise disengage or detach during normal transport, installation and use practices.

Embodiment 2

A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 9-15 in connection with FIGS. 16-18D. It should be noted that structures shown in FIGS. 16-18D that are common with respect to embodiment 1 are labeled accordingly, as discussed below, and repeat descriptions are omitted.

FIGS. 9-15 show a singular preassembly unit 10′ according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The preassembly unit 10′ is transported as a single preassembly unit for direct installation in a piece of furniture designed to accommodate one or more sliding drawers/roll-out trays (see, e.g., FIGS. 9-11).

The preassembly unit 10′ includes a mounting bracket portion 100 and a drawer slide member 2′, which includes a drawer slide member bracket part 20′ and a sliding part 5′. The mounting bracket 100 is mechanically attached to a rear end part 2D of the drawer slide bracket member 20′ to provide the preassembly unit 10′. The mounting bracket 100 attaches to the drawer slide member 2′ mechanically via connection mechanism 3, which is described in more detail below.

The rear end part 2D of the drawer slide bracket part 20′ of the drawer slide member 2′ includes an extension part 22 having one or more notches 23 (shown as half-round in shape, but which can be any desired shape) provided in a top/upper surface thereof. Providing a plurality of notches 23 along the longitudinal length of the extension part 22 enables the length of the overall assembly unit 10′ to be adjusted (see, e.g., FIGS. 12-15).

The mounting bracket portion 100 includes one or more bracket channels 102, the depth of which (from a front side 100C of the mounting bracket portion 100 toward a back side 100D of the mounting bracket portion 100) is sized to accommodate any length of the extension part 22 that would reside within the mounting bracket channels 102 of the preassembly unit 10′.

The mounting bracket portion 100 also includes one or more convex locking members 104 formed on an upper inner surface of the bracket channels 102 which sandwich a central bracket channel 102C. The convex locking members 104 are also shown as half-round, like the shape of the notches 23, but can be any desired shape that corresponds to and lockingly engages with a corresponding shape of the notches 23.

In addition, a small clearance is provided on either side of the convex locking members 104 on the upper/inner surface(s) 102A of the bracket channel(s) 102, and a width of the convex locking members 104 is wider than the width of the extension part 22 to provide side-to-side adjustment capability.

Connection Mechanism 3

In the preassembly unit 10′ of the second embodiment of the present invention, the preassembly unit is achieved according to a third connection mechanism, wherein the notches 23 engage with the convex locking members 104 to provide a secure engagement between the mounting bracket portion 100 and the drawer slide bracket part 20′ of the drawer slide member 2′. The position of the engagement between notches 23 and the convex locking members 104 along the length of the extension part 22 determines the overall length of the preassembly unit 10′, and is adjustable in that manner to correspond to varying depths of cabinets into which the drawers will be installed. For example, if the depth of the cabinet is shorter, and the overall length of the preassembly unit 10′ is desired to match that depth, more of the extension part 22 will reside within the bracket channel 102 (i.e., the engagement between 23 and 104 will be in one of the notches 23 on the extension 22 that is located closer to the rear end part 2D of the drawer slide bracket 20′).

While embodiment 1 is shown and described above as including a combination of the structures responsible for facilitating connecting mechanism 1 and connecting mechanism 2, and embodiment 2 is shown and described as including connecting mechanism 3, it should be noted that the present invention is not so limited, and additional embodiments could be envisioned to include any combination of connection mechanisms 1, 2 and 3, within reason and so long as the corresponding structural features are provided.

Cabinet Mounting Mechanism (All Embodiments)

The preassembly unit 10, 10′ is mounted to the inner surface of the rear wall 31 of the cabinet 30 using conventional mounting means, such as screws, or by using the preferred dowel configurations shown in FIGS. 16-18D, which do not require the use of tools to achieve secure fixation to the cabinet 30. This preferred mounting mechanism can be applied to any of the embodiments according to the present invention.

The back side 1D, 100D of the mounting bracket portions 1, 100 include one or more securing dowels (15, 16, 17, 18 in FIGS. 16-18D) extending outwardly therefrom, and which enter predrilled holes 33 passing through the cabinet rear wall from the inner rear surface 31 to engage with the outer rear surface 32 of the cabinet 30. The securing dowels 15, 16, 17, 18 are spaced/positioned depending on a specific predrilled hole configuration in a cabinet rear wall, and can have a plurality of different dowel profiles (FIGS. 18A-18D, for example) that pass through the holes 33 and snap into position to secure the preassembly unit 10, 10′ in the proper position on the cabinet rear wall and along the inner side wall of the cabinet 30 (including, but not limited to the configurations shown in FIGS. 16-18B). For example, securing dowels 15 represent double securing wing dowels, securing dowels 16 represent solid post securing dowels, securing dowels 17 represent single latch securing dowels, and securing dowels 18 represent mushroom securing dowels.

This mechanism for installing the preassembly unit 10, 10′ according to the present invention does not require any tools, and provides a secure connection between the cabinet 30 and the preassembly unit 10, 10′ that enables further alignment, leveling, and side-to-side adjustment capabilities during installation, as described above. It should also be noted that the securing bracket dowels could be omitted from mounting bracket portions 1, 100, which can then instead be mounted using traditional fixation means, such as screws, via fixation reception holes 19 formed therein, as shown in FIGS. 4B, 18B and 18C, for example.

Additional Features

It should be noted that the first side 2A of the drawer slide members 2, 2′ that abuts the cabinet inner side wall is also provided with a plurality of openings to receive one or more additional attachment mechanisms (i.e., screws) to secure the assembly units 10, 10′ along the length of inner side wall of the cabinet 30, if desired. This additional attachment feature is not needed in connection with installing the preassembly units 10, 10′ according to the present invention, but is often present on the drawer slide members 2, 2′ merely as a convenience feature to enable other or additional mounting options if needed or desired according to the particular installer/cabinet situation.

REFERENCE NUMERAL DESIGNATION LIST

The following is a list of the various components of the present invention, as shown in the accompanying drawings and as described above. Some elements are different for Embodiment 1 (FIGS. 1-8 and 16-18D) and Embodiment 2 (FIGS. 9-15 and 16-18D), as noted below.

• • 10 drawer slide member-mounting bracket preassembly unit—embodiment 1
  • 10′ drawer slide member-mounting bracket preassembly unit—embodiment 2
  • 1 bracket portion—embodiment 1
    • 1A mounting bracket portion 1 top/upper side
    • 1B mounting bracket 1 bottom/lower side
    • 1C mounting bracket portion 1 front side
    • 1D mounting bracket portion 1 rear/back side
  • 11 latch
    • 11A hook end part of latch 11
  • 12 bracket channel
    • 12A upper inner surface of bracket channel 12
  • 12B bottom inner surface of bracket channel 12 of mounting bracket portion 1
  • 12C central portion of bracket channel 12 of mounting bracket portion 1
    • • 12C1 upper inner surface in central portion 12C
      • 12C2 ribs extending downwardly from 12C1
      • h height of 12C
  • 13 detent entering path (slope up) on 12B
  • 14 detent recess channel (step down) on 12B behind (and further inward than) 13
  • 15 double securing wing dowel
  • 16 solid post securing dowel
  • 17 single latch securing dowel
  • 18 mushroom securing dowel
  • 19 openings to accommodate alternate fixation means
  • 100 mounting bracket portion—embodiment 2
    • 100A mounting bracket portion 100 top/upper side
    • 100B mounting bracket portion 100 lower/bottom side
    • 100C mounting bracket portion 100 front side
    • 100D mounting bracket 100 rear/back side
  • 102 mounting bracket channel(s)
    • 102A upper/top inner surface of mounting bracket channel 102
    • 102B lower/bottom inner surface of mounting bracket channel 102
  • 104 convex locking member
  • 2 drawer slide member—embodiment 1
  • 2′ drawer slide member—embodiment 2
  • 20 drawer slide member bracket part—embodiment 1
  • 20 drawer slide member bracket part—embodiment 2
  • 21 notch—embodiment 1
    • 21A horizontal/angled receiving channel part of 21
    • 21B downward/vertical seating channel part of 21
  • 22 extension part—embodiment 2
  • 23 notches—embodiment 2
  • 24 additional stop feature
  • 25 stamped part at rear end 2D on the bottom side 2B of drawer slide member bracket part 20—embodiment 1
  • 26 detents extending downwardly from bottom surface 2B of drawer slide member bracket part 20 in stamped part 25—embodiment 1
  • 2A drawer slide member bracket part 20, 20′ first side (cabinet facing)
  • 2B drawer slide member bracket part 20, 20′ bottom/lower side
    • 2B1 upper inner surface of 2B
    • 2B2 bottom outer surface of 2B
  • 2C opposed second side of drawer slide member bracket part 20, 20′ (transversely opposite to first side surface 2A) for accommodating sliding part 5, 5′
  • 2D rear end part of drawer slide member bracket part 20, 20′
  • 5,5′ sliding part of a respective drawer slide member 2, 2′
  • 30 cabinet (furniture unit, body)
  • 31 cabinet rear wall inner surface
  • 32 outer surface of cabinet rear wall
  • 33 pre-drilled holes in cabinet rear wall