Slidable pantry pullout apparatus and method of use

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016128474-A1
Application number	US-201514797643-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 13, 2015
Priority date	Nov 7, 2014
Publication date	May 12, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Disclosed is a pantry pullout apparatus having side access and designed for simple, adjustable, and accurate installation within a pre-existing cabinet space. The apparatus, slidably mounted within the cabinet space, comprises a top slide assembly mounted to a cabinet carcass and a drawer box. The drawer box is automatically centered on a base slide box. The base slide box is comprised of a slotted template shdingly engaged with a frame, where the frame is mounted to the cabinet carcass. Slide rail assemblies connect the slotted template to the frame. A pin block on the underside of a fixed shelf of the drawer box automatically centers the drawer box on the slotted template. A face plate adjustment mechanism provides for three dimensional alignment of the face plate with surrounding cabinets.

First claim

1 . A self centering, open-sided side drawer apparatus for slidable movement within a cabinet, the apparatus comprising:
a generally rectangular drawer box adjustably connected to a rail assembly; a base slide box fixedly attached to the drawer box, where the base slide box comprises a frame slidably engaged with a slotted template; and, a pin block extending from the drawer box and slidably engagable with the slotted template to center the drawer box over the base slide box.

2 . The self centering, open-sided drawer apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rail assembly further comprises:
a drawer slide attached to the drawer box;
a cabinet slide telescopically engaged with the drawer slide;
a bracket adjustably attached to the cabinet slide and the cabinet, where the bracket comprises a web connecting two sides;
a plurality of flexible extensions extending from the two sides and abutting the cabinet slide; and,
a plurality of flexible tabs extending from the web and releasably engaging the cabinet slide.

3 . The self centering, open-sided drawer apparatus of claim 1 wherein the slotted template further comprises:
a centrally positioned longitudinal slot having a longitudinal axis;
a first end a the slot defining a set of redirecting surfaces; and,
wherein during installation of the drawer box on the base slide box, the pin block abuts the set of redirecting surfaces and moves through the length of the slot.

4 . The self centering, open-sided drawer apparatus of claim 3 wherein the set of redirecting surfaces are oriented generally 45° from the longitudinal axis.

5 . The self centering, open-sided drawer apparatus of claim 1 wherein the drawer box further comprises:
a front panel connected to a rear panel by a top panel;
a set of adjustable shelves releasably connected to the front panel and the rear panel;
a set of fixed shelves fixedly connected to the front panel and the rear panel; and,
the pin block attached to and extending from a fixed shelf of the set of fixed shelves.

6 . The self centering, open-sided drawer apparatus of claim 1 wherein the drawer box further comprises:
a front panel connected to a rear panel by a top panel:
a set of shelves extending between the front panel and the rear panel;
the pin block attached to and extending from a shelf of the set of shelves.

7 . A method for installing a pantry pullout apparatus within a cabinet carcass, the method comprising:
attaching a base slide box to the cabinet carcass, wherein the base slide box defines a. centrally positioned longitudinal slot; attaching a rail assembly to a drawer box; providing a pin block extending from the drawer box; positioning the drawer box over the base slide box; positioning the pin block at a first end of the slot: moving the pin block through the length of the slot, attaching the drawer box to the base slide box; and, attaching the rail assembly to the cabinet carcass.

8 . The method of installing a pantry pullout apparatus of claim 6 wherein the step of positioning the pin block further comprises directing the pin block with a set of redirecting surfaces.

9 . The method for installing a pantry pullout apparatus of claim 6 further comprising:
attaching a first bracket to the cabinet carcass; and,
adjustably sliding the rail assembly into the first bracket.

10 . The method for installing a pantry pullout apparatus of claim 8 further comprising:
attaching a second bracket to the rail assembly; and,
attaching the second bracket to the cabinet carcass.

11 . The method for installing a pantry pullout apparatus of claim 9 further comprising:
engaging a set of hooked tabs extending from the second bracket with the rail assembly.

12 . The method for installing a pantry pullout apparatus of claim 6 further comprising:
adjusting a position of the rail assembly with respect to the cabinet carcass.

13 . The method for installing a pantry pullout apparatus of claim 6 further comprising:
adjusting a position of the rail assembly with respect to the drawer box.

14 . The method for installing a pantry pullout apparatus of claim 6 further comprising:
adjusting a position of a plurality of adjustable shelves within the drawer box.

15 . A self centering, drawer apparatus for slidable movement within a cabinet comprising:
a generally rectangular pullout box adjustably connected to a rail assembly; a base slide box fixedly attached to the pullout box, where the base slide box comprises a frame slidably engaged with a slotted template: a pin block extending from the pullout box and slidably cooperating with the slotted template centering the pullout box over the base slide box; a first mounting hole in the pullout box and a second mounting hole in the pullout box, where the first mounting hole is spaced from the second mounting hole by a distance; a bracket defining a slot and an attachment hole; a standoff assembly slidably engaged with the slot and inserted into the first mounting hole and the second mounting hole; and, a face plate attached to the bracket.

16 . The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the standoff assembly further comprises:
a first standoff mounted in the first mounting hole:
a fastener engaged with the first standoff; and,
a pin mounted in the second mounting hole.

17 . The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the standoff assembly further comprises:
a first standoff spaced apart the distance from a second standoff;
a first fastener engaged with the first standoff; and,
a second fastener engaged with the second standoff.

18 . The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising:
a first lateral position of the face plate relative to the pullout box when the standoff assembly is in a first position along the slot; and,
a second lateral position of the face plate relative to the pullout box when the standoff assembly is in a second position along the slot.

19 . The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising:
a first vertical position of the face plate relative to the pullout box when the face plate is in a first position along the attachment hole; and,
a second vertical position of the face plate relative to the pullout box when the face plate is in a second position along the attachment hole.

20 . The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising:
a bore hole through the pullout box;
a fastener fixedly attached to the pullout box in the bore hole;
a set screw adjustably engaged with the fastener and adjacent the bracket;
a first depth position of the face plate relative to the pullout box when the set screw is in a first position within the fastener; and,
a second depth position of the face plate relative to the pullout box when the set screw is in a second position within the fastener.

Assignees

• Hardware Resources Inc

Inventors

• Chen Alan
• Hahnle Christopher

Classifications

• A47B88/57

  preventing complete withdrawal of the drawer · CPC title

• A47B88/42

  Vertically-oriented drawers, i.e. drawers where the height exceeds the width · CPC title

• A47B88/43

  at cabinet side · CPC title

• A47B88/969

  Drawers having means for organising or sorting the content · CPC title

• A47B2088/422

  Fittings for connecting the front panel · CPC title