US2179138A - Furniture construction - Google Patents

Description

NOV. 7, 1939. s ic 2,179,138

FURNITURE CONSTRUCTION Filed April 15, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1N VENTOR. %W

ATTORNEYS Nov. 7, 1939. L. STICKLEY FURNITURE CONSTRUCTION Filed April 15, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lf/ INVENTOR. BY

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 7, 1939 UNITED eATENT orriea FURNITURE CONSTRUCTION I Leopold Stickley, Fayetteville, N. Y.

Application April 15, 1937, Serial No. 137,085

1 Claim. (01. -77) This invention relates in general to furniture construction, and more particularly to the construction of articles of furniture equipped with drawers, such as desks, bureaus, chest of drawers etc.

The invention has as an object a construction by which the drawer is guided, during sliding movement thereof, in such manner that the drawer will not bind and accordingly, may be moved inwardly and outwardly by grasping the drawer at any point along the front side thereof.

The invention has as a further object, a construction by which the drawer is maintained in substantially horizontal position during sliding movement thereof, and by which the drawer is accurately fitted to the framework with no perceptible play between the drawer and the framework, and by which construction the drawer will not become bound in the framework because of change in atmospheric conditions.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a drawer and contiguous portion of the framework with parts shown in section.

Figure 2 is a View taken on line 22, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view taken on line 3-3, Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a front, elevational view of the drawer and contiguous portion of the frame" work with parts shown in section.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary, plan view of one rear corner of the drawer illustrating a modified form of guide member.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary, elevational of the structure shown in Figure 5.

Figure '7 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of the drawer receiving framework and contiguous portion of the drawer with parts shown in section and illustrating a modified form of the lateral guide member.

It is well appreciated by those familiar with the art of constructing furniture that the use of drawers creates a considerable problem. This is particularly true in the construction of the better grades of furniture where the entire article is formed of wood. Due to the inherent characteristic of wood changing in dimension because of change in atmospheric conditions, .dilliculty is encountered in manufacturing an article equipped with sliding drawers. If the drawers are acview . and bottom edges of the sides of the drawer.

curately and properly fitted into the drawer receiving framework at the furniture manufacturing plant, the drawers will bind and stick during damp weather. The greatest trouble is encountered by the drawer sticking alo-ng the top This is due to the fact that wood swells and shrinks crosswise of the grain, and does not change to any noticeable extent lengthwise, or with the grain. To overcome this difficulty, it is conventional practice to so construct the drawer and fit the same to the framework with an appreciable amount of clearance between the drawer and the framework, the clearance being sufficient to allow the wood to expand and swell without bind-;

. ing in the framework. However, when the article of furniture so constructed is used in an ordinary or dry atmosphere, the drawer is extremely loose in the framework and the front of the drawer sags or drops downward when the drawer is pulled out.

The feature of this invention is to so construct the drawer and framework that there is a small amount of clearance between the drawer and the framework, whereby the drawer properly fits the framework and will not sag when it is drawn outwardly, and at the same time the drawer will not bind or stick in damp atmospheric conditions. The framework may be of any suitable size or construction, depending upon the type of article itis incorporated in.

For convenience of illustration, the framework herein disclosed includes vertical side members l0 and arear wall I l. The side members H] are formed with dove-tail slots extending from the rear wall ll forwardly to, a point adjacent the front of the framework. Drawer supporting rails I? are arranged in these slots and extend from the rear wall H forwardly to a front cross rail E3, the ends of which are also located in the slots in the side Ill. The drawer is slidably mounted in the opening between the side rails l2 and cross rails l3, and consists of a front end member it, a rear end member l5, and side members l6, and a bottom Ill. The drawer illustrated isof conventional construction. The sides and end pieces are formed with a rabbet spaced apart from their lower edges to receive the peripheral margin of the bottom ll. It will be understood that the sides It of the drawer are slidably mounted upon the rails l2, and the top edges of the sides I6 usually coact with the supporting rails of the drawer above to prevent the drawer from tilting when pulled outward.

In order that the drawer may slide freely, it is necessary that it be guided both laterally and vertically. Heretofore, it has been conventional practice to rely upon the sides I6 of the drawer coacting with the sides of the framework [0 for lateral guidance. In such construction, if the drawer is grasped at one forward corner, or the drawer is of appreciable length and provided with a pair of spaced apart handles, and one handle only is pulled, the drawer becomes canted with one side thereof engaging one side of the framework adjacent the front thereof, and the rear portion of the opposite side of the drawer engaging the opposite side of the framework at the rear thereof, with the result that it is necessary to apply considerable effort to pull the drawer out, or push the same back in place.

This invention has to do in part with a particularly novel construction for laterally guiding the drawer, and by which the drawer will not become canted, and by which the drawer is freely slidable regardless of the load carried thereby, or whether the force is being applied in the center or at one end of the front side of the drawer.

This guide means is here shown in. the nature of a pair of guide strips I8 mounted upon the supporting rails I2 and yieldingly pressed against the inner surface of the side members I6 below the bottom members I'I. Preferably, the guide strips I8 are p-ivotally mounted between their ends to the supporting rails l2, as by screws I9. The lateral guide strips I8 are mounted on the rails I2 in spaced apart relationship to the inner surface of the sides IU of the framework, the spacing being such as to receive the lower edges of the drawer side I6. The guide strips I8 and rails I2 are provided with counterbores 20, 2|, respectively to receive the coiled portion of a torsion spring 22, one end of which is arranged in a slot 23 formed on the upper surface of the rail I2, and the opposite end of the spring is arranged in a slot 24 formed in the under surface of the guide strip IS. The guide strip I8 is also formed with an enlarged aperture 25, through which the screws I9 extend.

The arrangement of the spring 22 is such as to effect yielding movement of the strip I8 throughout its entire length toward the inner surface of the drawer sides I6, and to particularly move the guide strip about the pivot screw I8 to urge the outer ends of the guide strips toward the walls It of the framework.

It will be observed that it is not necessary to cut any notches in the front of the framework or drawer in connection with the guide strips I8. The forward ends 26 of the guide strips are tapered, as at 28, so that the drawer may be readily and conveniently inserted in the framework.

In operation, the rear ends of the sides l6 of the drawer coact with the tapered surfaces 28 and move the forward ends 26 of the lateral guide strips l8 inwardly, or toward each other, whereby the drawer may be pushed inwardly with the lower edges of the sides I6 overlapping the outer edges of the guide strips I8, and the guide strips I8 are yieldingly pressed against the inner surfaces of the sides I6, as previously described. Accordingly, any tendency of the drawer to become canted is resisted in both directions by the action of the springs 22.

It will be observed that with this lateral guide construction, the drawer is yieldingly maintained in parallel relationship with the framework, with the result that the drawer is freely slidable in the framework.

This invention further includes means for guiding the drawer vertically, or for maintaining the drawer in horizontal position during sliding movement of the same. The sides I6 and the rear wall I5 of the drawer are slightly less in width than the front pieces 14. The clearance between the upper edge of the sides I6 and the rail I 2 above is sufficient to accommodate for any expansion or swelling of the sides I6, because of atmospheric changes.

With this construction, it is obvious that when the drawer is pulled out, the forward end will drop or tilt downwardly until the rear end of the upper edge of the sides I6 coacts with the under side of the rails I2 above.

I provide means to prevent this tilting in the nature of vertically arranged guide pieces 30. In keeping with the remainder of the structure, the guide pieces 30 are also formed of wood and are mounted on the inner surface of each side I6 of the drawer adjacent the rear end thereof, and with the grain extending vertically or transversely of the sides I6. The guide pieces are of such length that when they rest upon the bottom I'I they project upwardly from the upper edge of the sides of the drawer and terminate adjacent the under side of the rails I2 above, there being a, slight clearance between the upper ends of the guide pieces 30 and the rails I2 to permit free sliding movement of the drawer.

Due to the fact that the grain of the guide pieces 36 extends transversely of the drawer side I6, or vertically, these pieces will not change in length with atmospheric changes and accordingly, the clearance between the upper ends of the guide pieces 30 and the rails I2 above will not vary. Accordingly, the drawer is maintained in substantially horizontal position at all times during sliding movement of the drawer. Due to the fact that the side members I6 of the drawer will swell and expand an appreciable amount, the guide pieces 36 are secured to the side members I6 in such manner that the side pieces of the drawer are free to expand or swell without effecting vertical movement of the guide pieces.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4, the inner surfaces of the drawer sides I6 are formed with transversely extending dovetail slots, and the guide pieces 30 are provided with complemental dovetail ribs of slightly less width than the slots. That is, the guide pieces 30 are slidably mounted in the slots in the sides of the drawer. The guide pieces 36 may be secured at their lower ends to the drawer by being glued to the bottom IT, or by a screw 3| extending through the bottom ll into the lower end of the guide piece 30.

In Figures 5 and 6, the guide pieces 30 are arranged in the rear corners of the drawer, and are secured to the side members I6 thereof so as to permit the side members to swell and shrink without eifecting movement of the guide pieces. As here shown, the guide pieces 36 are formed with vertical slots 32 through which a screw 33 extends, and which is threaded or screwed into the side member I6. Pivotal movement of the guide member 30 about the screw 32 is prevented by contact of the guide members with the rear end member I5 of the drawer.

If desired, the projecting or upper ends of the guide pieces 30 may also be used as part of a lateral guide mechanism for smaller drawers which have a small load carrying capacity, and which are not likely to become canted. This guide structure comprises a guide piece 35 mounted on the under side of the rail l2 above the drawer and coacts with the inner surface or sides of the guide piece 30. The guide strips are provided with oneor more enlarged holes to receive screws 36. The screws 36 are located in the rails l2 to approximately position the guide strips 35, and the guide strips subsequently adjusted toward or from the side members of the drawer, and the screws 36 then tightened to secure the guide strip in adjusted position.

The guide strips l8 may also serve as a stop to limit the inward movement of the drawer. Preferably however, the outer or front ends of the guide strips I8 are provided with adjustable stop means, here shown in the nature of screws 40, the heads of which coact with the inner side of the drawer front M. The screws 49 are particularly convenient to adjust inasmuch as they are accessible from the front of the framework when the drawer is removed.

It will be observed that my construction does not add to the cost of the article of furniture in which it is incorporated. The guide pieces 30, attached in the manner shown in Figures 5 and 6, do not add anything substantial to the cost of the drawer, and the yielding lateral guide strips l8 effect a saving over conventional guide means now in use, for example the center strip guide commonly employed toguide drawers laterally, and in addition thereto considerable time is saved in that it is not necessary for the cabinet maker to make a series of adjustments before the drawer finally operates in a satisfactory manner. This is due to the yielding movement of the guide strips.

What I claim is:

In a furniture construction, the combination of a drawer receiving frame and a drawer slidably mounted therein, said frame including a pair of spaced apart drawer supporting rails, an upper rail arranged above one side member of the drawer, a guide piece formed of wood and being arranged vertically on the inner side of said side member of the drawer adjacent the back member thereof and extending from the bottom member of the drawer upwardly above-the upper edge of said side member and engaging said upper rail to maintain the drawer in horizontal position, the grain of said guide piece extending lengthwise thereof and means cooperable with said side member of the drawer and said guide piece to maintain the same in vertical position and to permit vertical expansion and contraction of the side member of the drawer relative to said guide piece.

LEOPOLD STICKLEY.

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