US3372966A - Sliding shelf - Google Patents

Description

March 12, 1968 E ROY W. DUY

SLIDING SHELF 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

Filed June 13, 1966 INVENTOR. LEROY w. DUY

W flaw,

772114, al yz W ATTY'S.

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SLIDING SHELF 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 13. 1966 United States Patent Oflice 3,372,966 Patented Mar. 12, 1968 3,372,966 SLIDING SHELF Le Roy W. Duy, Aurora, iii, assignor to Lyon Metal Products, Incorporated, Aurora, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed June 13, 1966, Ser. No. 557,134 18 Claims. (Cl. 312341) ABSTRACT 9F THE DISCLGSURE A storage cabinet and sliding shelf construction comprising a cabinet including a body having a front opening therein, a support member disposed in the body and in general longitudinal alignment with the front opening, a pair of spaced apart rails mounted within the body upon the support member with the longitudinal axes of the rails disposed generally parallel to each other and in longitudinal alignment with the front opening, a front pair of lubric glides respectively mounted on the forward ends of the rails in general horizontal alignment, a rear pair of lubric glides respectively mounted on the rails in general horizontal alignment and in general longitudinal alignment with the front pair of lubric glides and spaced a short distance rearwardly thereof, and a shelf disposed in the body and including a main panel and a pair of side panels integral therewith and a pair of support flanges respectively mounted on the side panels and extending inwardly therefrom, each of the glides including a lower support surface extending below the associated one of the support flanges for engagement therewith and an upper support surface extending over the associated one of the support flanges for engagement therewith, the shelf being shiftable longitudinally on the glides relative to the nails between a storage position fully disposed Within the body and an extended position at least partially disposed outwardly with respect to the body, the shelf being supported upon the glides in cantilever fashion in both the storage position thereof and the fully extended position thereof.

The present invention relates to storage cabinets, and particularly to improved sliding shelf assemblies for use therein.

The sliding shelf assembly of the present invention is of general utility and is useful in a wide variety of types of furniture, :but certain of the advantages thereof are more fully realized when the sliding shelf assembly is incorporated in :a storage cabinet or bookcase, and accord ingly, the invention will be so described.

It is a general object of the invention to provide an improved storage cabinet incorporating therein an improved sliding shelf assembly, the various parts of the sliding shelf assembly being essentially formed of sheet metal and being simple in construction and economical in manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide an im proved sliding shelf assembly for use in a cabinet including a body having a front opening therein andya support member disposedin the body and in general longitudinal alignment with the opening, the sliding shelf assembly comprising a pair of spaced apart rails for mounting within the associated cabinet body upon the support member therein with the longitudinal axis of the rails disposed generally parallel to each other land in longitudinal align ment with the associated front opening, a front pair of lubric glides respectively mounted on forward ends of the rails in general horizontal alignment, 2. rear pair of lubric glides respectively mounted on the rails in general horizontal alignment with the front pair of lubric glides and spaced a short distance rearwardly thereof, and a shelf disposed on the rails and including a main panel and a pair of side panels integral therewith and a pair of support flanges respectively mounted on the .side panels and extending inwardly therefrom, each of the glides including a lower support surface extending below the associate one of the support flanges for engagement therewith and an upper support surface extending over the associated one of the support flanges for engagement therewith, the shelf being shifta'ble longtitudinally on the rails between a storage position fully disposed within the associated body and an extended position at least partially disposed outwardly with respect to the associated body, the shelf being supported upon the glides in cantilever fashion in both the storage position thereof and the fully extended position thereof.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved sliding shelf assembly of the type set forth and further including a dependent front panel on the shelf extending between the side panels thereof and engagable with the front glides to establish the storage position of the shelf within the associated body.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved sliding shelf assembly of the type set forth wherein a pair of lubric spacer buttons is mounted on one of the rails and is positioned to be engageable with the adjacent one of the shelf side panels to control the lateral position of the shelf with respect to the rails, the glides and the spacer buttons preferably being formed of an ace-tal resin.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved sliding shelf assembly of the type set forth wherein there is provided a shelf stop mounted on the shelf main panel adjacent to the rear thereof and depending downwardly therefrom and in longitudinal align ment with one of the rear luhric glides, the shelf stop being engageable with the associated one of the rear lubric glides to limit the distance that the shelf can be pulled outwardly with respect to the rails.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved storage cabinet and sliding shelf construction incorporating therein the improved sliding shelf assembly of the present invention.

Further features of the invention pertain to the particul-ar arrangement and construction of the sliding shelf assembly and the various parts thereof, whereby the above-outlined and additional operating features thereof are attained.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further obiects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front perspective view of a storage cabinet or bookcase having mounted therein a sliding shelf assembly made in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the storage cabinet of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical section through the storage cabinet of FIG. 2 along the line 3-3 thereof;

FIG. 4 is a further enlarged view with certain portions broken away illustrating the front of the shelf of FIG. 3, the view being along the line 4-4 therein;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view in yertical section along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view in horizontal section with certain portions broken away along the line 66 of FIG, 4; and

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of the sliding shelf assembly of the present invention.

Referring now particularly to FlGS. 1 to 4 and 6 of the drawings, there is illustrated a storage cabinet or bookcase incorporating therein a Sliding shelf assembly 200 made in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention. The storage cabinet 100 includes a generally rectangular base 101 having a generally rectangular front wall 102, a like rectangular rear wall (not shown) and a pair of parallel generally rectangular side walls 103 interconnecting the front and rear walls, all of the parts named being firmly secured as by welding to provide the rigid base 101. There also is provided on the bottom of the base 101 a plurality of feet 104 (see FIG. 2) for supporting the base 101 upon an underlying support surface. Mounted upon the base 101 is a cabinet body 105, the body 105 including a generally rectangular rear wall 106 extending upwardly from the base 101 and having integral with the vertical side edges thereof forwardly extending side walls 107 extending along the edges of the base 101 to the front thereof. The vertical front edges of the side walls 107 carry front flanges 108 extending inwardly toward each other and the inner edges of the front flanges 100 further carry rearwardly directed inturned flanges 109 (see FIG. 6). The inner edges of the front flanges 108 serve to define the lateral sides of a front opening in the storage cabinet 100.

Disposed within the body 105 is a front frame 110 including a pair of U-shaped channels 111 (see FIG. 6), each of the channels 111 including a main wall 112 extending vertically the entire height of the body 105 and carrying on the vertical edges thereof outwardly directed side flanges 113. The rearmost ones of the side flanges 113 carry vertical and rectangularly shaped slots 114 therein for adjustably receiving a shelf as will be described more fully hereinafter. Closing the bottom of the body 105 and resting upon the base 101 is a bottom shelf 115 essentially rectangular in shape and closing the area bounded by the rear wall 106 and the side walls 107, the bottom wall 115 carrying a dependent front flange 116 thereon disposed substantially in the same plane as the side front flanges 108. The upper end of the storage cabinet 100 is closed by a top 120 generally rectangular in shape and having dimensions slightly greater than that of the base 101 (see FIG. 2), the top 120 having an edging 121 extending downwardly therefrom and around the periphery thereof.

There further is provided on each end of the storage cabinet 100 a finishing panel 125, each of the finishing panels 125 including a main wall 126 (see FIG. 6 also) which is formed substantially flat and rectangular in shape and covering the outer surface of the adjacent side wall 107. Each of the vertical front and rear edges of the main Wall 126 has integral therewith a rounded and inwardly directed end flange 127 that respectively carry on the inner edge thereof an inturned flange 128.

Disposed within the storage cabinet 120 at one of a plurality of adjusted positions vertically thereof is a shelf 130 supported upon a pair of brackets 150. The shelf 130 includes a generally rectangular main panel 131 formed of sheet metal and having integral therewith a forwardly directed forward portion 132 having a width less than that of the main panel 131; preferably the width of the main panel 131 is only slightly less than the distance between the side walls 107 of the cabinet 100, whereas the width of the forward portion 132 is slightly less than the distance between the vertical front channels 111 of the front frame 110. Integral with the forward edge of the forward portion 132 is a depending front flange 133 on the lower edge of which is provided a rearwardly directed bottom flange 134. Each side edge of the main panel 131 has a depending side flange 135 thereon and the rear edge of the main panel 131 also has a depending rear flange 136 thereon. There further is provided for reinforcement purposes a pair of reinforcing channels 140, the channels 140 being disposed on the undersurface of the main panel 131 and being disposed laterally with respect thereto and positioned between the mounting brackets 150. Each of the reinforcing channels 140 includes a main wall 141 spaced downwardly from the underside of the main panel 131 and having on the longitudinally extending edges thereof upwardly directed side flanges 142. The side flanges 142 extend up to the underside of the main panel 131 and have integral therewith outwardly directed attachment flanges 143. The attachment flanges 143 are secured to the shelf main panel 131 also by Welding. As a result of the described construction, the shelf 130 has a very rigid and strong construction.

In order to mount the self 130 upon the front frame 110, a pair of mounting brackets has been provided, the mounting brackets 150 being identical except that one is the mirror image of the other, whereby only one of the brackets 150 will be described in detail and like reference numerals applied to like parts of both. The bracket 150 includes a main wall 151 which has a substantially horizontal upper edge and substantially vertically arranged front and rear edges and an upwardly rearwardly inclined bottom edge. The forward edge has an inturned front flange (not shown) thereon directed inwardly and carrying on the inner edge thereof a pair of vertically spaced apart hooks 153. The hooks 153 are spaced apart and dimensioned such that they will fit into an associated pair of the vertically elongated slots 114 provided in an adjacent channel frame member 111, whereby to mount the bracket 150 and the associated shelf 130 thereon. Integral with the upper edge of the main wall 151 is an inwardly directed top flange (not shown) which carries on the inner edge thereof a depending inner flange 155 which has on the forward end thereof an outwardly extending support arm (not shown) which is disposed against an inner surface of the associated channel 111 when the self 130 is in the mounted position thereof, the support arm being disposed beneath the adjacent edge of the forward portion 132 and extending forwardly substantially to the front flange 133. The brackets 150 are fixedly secured to the main panel 131 and the forward portion 132 as by welding, the inner flanges 155 also being welded to the shelf side flange 135. As a result of the described construction, the brackets 150 carrying the self 130 can be readily mounted upon the front frame 110, the shelf 130 extending rearwardly therefrom and supported in cantilever fashion thereby, no other support being required therefor. More specifically, the hooks 153 on the brackets 150 engage in an adjacent pair of the slots 114 in the rear edges of the front frame 110. The front of each of the brackets 150 bears against the rear side flange 113 of the associated front frame 110, also thereby to assist in the support of the shelf 130. By providing a series of horizontally aligned slots 114 in the front frame 110, the position of the shelf 130 vertically with respect to the front frame 110 can be readily manually adjusted.

Further details of construction of the storage cabinet 100, the body 105 and the front frame 110 and top 120 thereof, and further details of construction of the shelf 130 and the brackets 150 therefor are set forth in the copending application for United States Letters Patent Ser. No. 538,423, filed March 29, 1966, by Kenneth D. Schreyer, for Storage Construction, the description thereof being incorporated herein by reference.

Mounted upon the shelf 130 is the improved sliding shelf assembly 200 made in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention, the sliding shelf assembly 200 including a lefthand rail 201, a righthand rail 211, a plurality of shelf glides 220, a pair of spacer buttons 230, a shelf 240 and a pair of shelf stops 250. As is best illustrated in FIGS. 2, 4, 6 and 7 of the drawings, the rails 201 and 211 are disposed on either side of the sliding shelf 240 and are arranged with the longitudinal axes thereof disposed generally parallel to each other and disposed outwardly toward the lefthand edge of the associated front opening in the cabinet 100 as illustrated.

The lefthand rail 201 is formed of sheet metal bent to provide a bottom wall 202, a side wall 203 and a top wall 204. The bottom wall 202 is relatively narrow and extends substantially the depth of the cabinet 100 and has three mounting holes therein that receive therethrough bolts 218 that extend downwardly through aligned openings in the shelf main panel 131, the lower ends of the bolts 218 carrying nuts 219 thereby to bolt the lefthand rail 201 in the operative position on the shelf 130. Extending upwardly from the outer longitudinally extending edge of the bottorn wall 202 is the side wall 203, the vertical extent of the side wall 203 being less than the width of the bottom wall 202 as illustrated. The upper edge of the side wall 203 carries the inwardly directed top wall 204 that is disposed substantially parallel to the bottom wall 202, both the bottom wall 202 and the top wall 204 being disposed substantially normal to the side wall 203. The righthand rail 211 is formed of sheet metal bent to provide a bottom wall 212, a side wall 213 and a top wall 214. The bottom wall 212 is relatively narrow and extends substantially the depth of the cabient 100 and has three mounting holes therein that receive therethrough bolts 218 that extend downwardly through aligned openings in the shelf main panel 131, the lower ends of the bolts 218 carrying nuts 219 thereby to bolt the righthand rail 211 in operative position on the shelf 130. Extending upwardly from the outer longitudinally extending edge of the bottom wall 212 is the side wall 213, the vertical extent of the side wall 213 being less than the width of the bottom wall 212 as illustrated. The upper edge of the side wall 213 carries the inwardly directed top wall 214 that is disposed substantially parallel to the bottom wall 212, both the bottom wall 212 and the top wall 214 being disposed substantially normal to the side wall 213.

The sliding shelf 240 is mounted upon two pairs of shelf glides 220, the shelf glides 220 all being substantially of the same construction whereby like reference numerals have been applied to all four shelf glides 220. As may be best seen in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, each shelf glide 220 includes a body 221 that is generally block shaped and rectangular in all cross sections, the body 221 having on the outwardly disposed wall thereof a pair of longitudinally spaced apart positioning studs 222 for mounting the shelf glide 220 upon the associated rail 201 or 211, the rail side walls 203 and 213 having pairs of openings therein for receiving the positioning studs 222 therethrough. There further is provided an opening 223 through the body 221 to receive a bolt 224 extending therethrough and engaging a nut, thereby firmly to mount the shelf glides 226 with respect to the associated rail 201 or 211 as the case may be. In this connection it is noted that a front pair of the lubric glides 220 is provided at the front ends of the rails 201 and 211 in both vertical and horizontal alignment with each other, and a rear pair of the lubric glides 220 is mounted on the rails 201 and 211 in general horizontal alignment with each other and in general longitudinal alignment with the front pair of lubric glides 220 and spaced only a short distance rearwardly thereof. The inner upper surface of each of the glide bodies 221 has thereon a lower support surface 225 useful in supporting the associated shelf 246' for sliding movement with respect to the rails 201 and 211. Integral with the inner edge of the glide body 221 is an upstanding flange 226 that extends upwardly from the lower support surface 225 and carries on the upper end thereof an integral and outwardly directed top flange 227. The outer surface of the upstanding flange 226 provides an outwardly directed vertical bearing surface 228 and the underside of the top flange 227 provides an upper support surface 229 spaced a predetermined distance away from and overlying the lower support surface 225. I

There also is associated with the lefthand pair of shelf glides 220 as viewed in FIGS. 6 and 7 a pair of spacer buttons 230 also formed of lubric material and mounted upon the rail side wall 203. More specifically, each of the spacer buttons 230 includes a mounting stud 231 extending into an opening in the lefthand side wall 203 for frictional en agernent therewith and a head 232 integral with the stud 231 and disposed on the inner side of the side wall 203 and providing a bearing surface 233 for engagement with the associated shelf 240. The forward one of the spacer buttons 230 is disposed in horizontal alignment with the forward lefthand shelf glide 220, (see FIG. 4 also) and the rear one of the spacer buttons 230 is disposed slightly to the rear of the rearmost lefthand shelf glide 220.

It is an important feature of the present invention that the shelf glides 220 and the spacer butttons 230' be formed of a lubric material, the preferred material being i a synthetic organic resin, the preferred resin being an acetal resin such as that sold under the trademark Delr1n.

Mounted upon the rails 201 and 211 is the shelf 240, the shelf 240 being formed of sheet metal bent to provide a main panel 241, a front panel 242, side panels 243, lower bearing flanges 244, curved inner panels 245, upper hearing flanges 246 and a rear flange 247. The main panel 241 is essentially rectangular in shape and has a width such that it is equal to about one-third of the distance between the opposed inner surfaces of the front main channels 111, and has a length slightly less than the depth of the cabinet 1th) and more particularly a length approximating the front to back length of the associated shelf 130. Formed on the forward edge of the main panel 241 is the front panel 242 which extends downwardly therefrom and extends the entire length thereof. The longitudinal side edges of the main panel 241 have integral therewith the side panels 243 which also extend downwardly and are disposed substantially normal to the plane of the main panel 241, the lower edges of the side panels 243 respectively carrying the lower bearing flanges 244 extending inwardly therefrom and disposed substantially normal thereto. The undersurfaces of the lower bearing flanges 244 are disposed upon the lower support surfaces 225 of the shelf glides 220 to be supported thereby. The inner edges of the lower bearing flanges 244 carry thereon upwardly and inwardly curved inner panels 245, respectively, the upper edges of the inner panels 245 carrying the outwardly directed upper bearing flanges 246. The distance between the underside of the lower bearing flanges 244 and the upper surface of the upper bearing flanges 246 is just slightly less than the distance between the lower support surface 225 and the upper support surface 229 on the shelf glides 220, whereby the bearing flanges 244 and 246 can be disposed between the support surfaces 225 and 229 on the shelf glides 220. The rear edge of the main panel 241 carries the downturned rear flange 247, the rear flange 247 having the ends thereof spaced inwardly with respect to the inner panels 245.

By the above-described construction, the sliding shelf 240 is mounted for sliding movement with respect to the shelf glides 220 between a storage position disposed within the cabinet and illustrated by solid lines in FIGS, 3, 6 and 7 and an extended position illustrated by dashed lines in FIGS. 3 and 7 wherein a major portion of the shelf 240 is disposed beyond the front of the cabinet 100. When the shelf 24!? is in the storage position thereof illustrated by solid lines in FIGS. 3 and 7, the major portion thereof is disposed rearwardly or to the right with respect to the rear pair of shelf glides 220, whereby the lower bearing flanges 244 rest upon the lower support surfaces 225 on the rear pair of shelf glides 220 and serve as a fulcrum for pivoting the portion of the shelf 240 in front of or to the left of the rear pair of shelf glides 220 upwardly, whereby the upper bearing flanges 246 contact the upper support surfaces 229 on the front pair of shelf glides 220. Conversely, when the shelf 240 is in the fully withdrawn or extended position, illustrated by dashed lines in FIGS. 3 and 7, the lower bearing flanges 244 rest upon the associated lower support surfaces 225 of the front pair of shelf glides 22%), and the upper bearing flanges 246 rest against the upper support surfaces 229. Accordingly, the shelf 24% is supported upon the glides 220 in cantilever fashion in both the storage position thereof and the fully extended position thereof.

The spacer buttons 230 engage the outer surface of the lefthand side panel 243 on the shelf 240, and more specifically the bearing surface 233 is disposed away from the vertical surfaces 228 a distance such as to provide only a slight clearance for the associated side panel 243 and the associated inner panel 245, whereby the spacer buttons 230 in cooperation with the lefthand shelf glides 220 also control the lateral movement of the shelf 240 during the movement thereof between its storage and extended positions. Furthermore, the front panel 242 abutting against the forward surfaces of the front shelf glides 220 establishes the full storage position of the shelf 240. To establish the fully extended position of the shelf 240, a pair of shelf stops 250 is provided adjacent to the rear thereof, the main panel 241 more particularly being provided with a pair of square openings therein in general longitudinal alignment with the top flanges 227 of the rearmost shelf glides 220. Each of the shelf stops 250 has a bifurcated shank 251 having a square periphery frictionally engaged in the associated square openings respectively in the shelf main panel 241 and extending downwardly therethrough, the upper ends of the shank Z51 carrying square heads 252 having peripheries greater than the associated square openings in the main panel 241, thereby to mount the shelf stops 250 upon the shelf 240. The shanks 251 of the shelf stops 250 extend downwardly and are disposed in longitudinal alignment with the top flanges 227 of the rearmost shelf glides 220, and as is illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 3 by dashed lines, abut against the rear surfaces of the top flanges 2.27 when the shelf 240 is pulled to the fully extended position thereof. Preferably the shelf stops 250 are formed of a synthetic organic plastic resin, the preferred resin being an acetal resin such as that sold under the trademark Delrin.

Although the sliding shelf assembly 260 has been illustrated as mounted on the shelf 130 in the cabinet 100, it will be understood that the rails 201 and 211 may be mounted upon any suitable support surface and will sewe equally well when so mounted to support the shelf 240 for sliding movement between a storage position thereof and an extended position thereof with respect to the rails 201 and 211.

From the above description it will be seen that there has been provided an improved sliding shelf assembly and an improved storage cabinet incorporating such a sliding shelf assembly therein which fulfill all of the objects and advantages set forth above. While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A storage cabinet and sliding shelf construction comprising a cabinet including a body having a front opening therein, a support member disposed in said body and in general longitudinal alignment with said front opening, a pair of spaced apart rails mounted within said body upon said support member with the longitudinal axes of said rails disposed generally parallel to each other and in longitudinal alignment with said front opening, a front pair of lubric glides respectively mounted on the forward ends of said rails in general horizontal alignment, a rear pair of lubric glides respectively mounted on said rails in general horizontal alignment and in general longitudinal alignment with said front pair of lubric glides and spaced at short distance rearwardly thereof, and a shelf disposed in said body and including a main panel and a pair of side panels integral therewith and a pair of support flanges respectively mounted on said side panels and extending inwardly therefrom, each of said glides including a lower support surface extending below the associated one of said support flanges for engagement therewith and an upper support surface extending over the associated one of said support flanges for engagement therewith, said shelf being shiftable longitudinally on said guides relative to said rails between a storage position fully disposed within said body and an extended position at least partially disposed outwardly with respect to said body, and shelf being supported upon said glides in cantilever fashion in both the storage position thereof and the fully extended position thereof.

2. The cabinet and sliding shelf construction set forth in claim 1, wherein said lubric glides are formed of an acetal resin.

3. The cabinet and sliding shelf construction set forth in claim 1, and further comprising a dependent panel on the front of said shelf and engageable with said front glides to establish the storage position of said shelf within said body.

4. The cabinet and sliding shelf construction set forth in claim 1, and further comprising a pair of lubric spacer buttons mounted on one of said rails and engageable with the adjacent one of said shelf side panels to control the lateral position of said shelf with respect to said rails.

5. The cabinet and sliding shelf construction set forth in claim 1, and further comprising a shelf stop mounted on said shelf adjacent to the rear thereof and in longitudinal alignment with one of said rear lubric glides and engagable therewith to limit the distance that said shelf can be pulled outwardly with respect to said body.

6. A storage cabinet and sliding shelf construction comprising a cabinet including a body having a front opening therein, a support member disposed in said body and in general longitudinal alignment with said front opening, a pair of spaced apart rails mounted within said body upon said support member with the longitudinal axes of said rails disposed generally parallel to each other and in longitudinal alignment with said front opening, each of said rails including a bottom wall for attachment to said support member and a side wall extending upwardly from the outer edge of said bottom wall, a front pair of lubric glides respectively mounted on the forward portions of said rail side walls in general horizontal alignment, a rear pair of lubric glides respectively mounted on said rail side walls in general horizontal alignment and in general longitudinal alignment with said front pair of lubric glides and spaced a short distance rearwardly thereof, each of said lubric glides including a body mounted on the associated rail side wall and an upstanding flange integral with said glide body and spaced from the inner surface of the associated rail side wall and a top flange on the upper end of said side flange extending outwardly toward the associated rail side wall, said glide body providing a lower support surface and said glide top flange providing an upper support surface and said glide side flange providing an outwardly directed vertical bearing surface, and a shelf disposed in said cabinet body and including a main panel and a pair of side panels integral therewith and extending downwardly therefrom and a pair of lower support flanges respectively on the lower edges of said side panels and extending inwardly therefrom and resting upon said lower support surfaces, an inner panel on the inner edge of said lower support flange and extending upwardly therefrom along said vertical bearing surface carrying an upper support flange on the 9 upper edge thereof and extending outwardly therefrom and adjacent to said upper support surface, said shelf being shiftable longitudinally on said guides relative to said body between a storage position fully disposed within said body and .an extended position disposed outwardly with respect to said body, said shelf being supported upon said glides in cantilever fashion in both the storage position thereof and the fully extended position thereof with said lower support flanges contacting the associated ones of said lower support surfaces and said upper support flanges contacting the associated ones of said upper support surfaces as required.

'7. The cabinet and sliding shelf construction set forth in claim 6, and further comprising a dependent panel on the front of said shelf main panel extending between said side panels and downwardly to said lower support flanges, said front panel being engagable with the forward portion of said front glides to establish the storage position of said shelf within said body.

8. The cabinet and sliding shelf construction set forth in claim 6, and further comprising a pair of lubric spacer buttons mounted on the side wall of one of said rails adjacent to said lubric glides, said spacer buttons being engagable with the adjacent one of said shelf side panels to control the lateral position of said shelf with respect to said rails.

9. The cabinet and sliding shelf construction set forth in claim 6, and further comprising a shelf stop mounted on said main panel adjacent to the rear thereof and extending downwardly therefrom and in longitudinal alignment with one of said rear lubric glides, said shelf stop being engagable with the associated one of said rear lubric glides upon movement of said shelf to the fully extended position thereof to limit the distance that said shelf can be pulled outwardly with respect to said body.

lti. A sliding shelf assembly for use in a cabinet including a body having a front opening therein and support member disposed in the body and in general longitudinal alignment with the front opening, said sliding shelf assembly comprising a pair of spaced apart rails for mounting Within the associated cabinet body upon the support member therein with the longitudinal axes of the rails disposed generally parallel to each other and in longitudinal alignment with the associated front opening, a front pair of lubric glides respectively mounted on the forward ends of said rails in general horizontal alignment, a rear pair of lubric glides respectively mounted on said rails in general horizontal alignment and in general longitudinal alignment with said front pair of lubric glides and spaced a short distance rearwardly thereof, and a shelf disposed on said rails and including a main panel and a pair of side panels integral therewith and a pair of support flanges respectively mounted on said side panels and extending inwardly therefrom, each of said glides including a lower support surface extending below the associated one of said support flanges for engagement therewith and an upper support surface extending over the associated one of said support flanges for engagement therewith, said shelf being shiftable longitudinally oh said guides relative to said rails between a storage position fully disposed within the associated body and an extended position at least partially disposed outwardly with respect to the associated body, said shelf being supported upon said glides in cantilever fashion in both the storage position thereof and the fully extended position thereof.

11. The sliding shelf assembly set forth in claim 10, wherein said lubric glides are formed of an acetal resin.

12. The sliding shelf assembly set forth in claim 1%, and further comprising a dependent panel on the front f said shelf and engagable with said front glides to establish the storage position of said shelf within said rails.

13, The sliding shelf assembly set forth in claim 10, and further comprising a pair of lubric spacer buttons mounted on one of said rails and engagable with the adjacent one 16 of said shelf side panels to control the lateral position of said shelf with respect to said rails.

14. The sliding shelf assembly set forth in claim it), and further comprising a shelf stop mounted on said shelf adjacent to the rear thereof and extending downwardly therefrom and in longitudinal alignment with one of said rear lubric glides, said shelf stop being engagable with the associated one of said rear lubric glide upon movement of said she f to the fully extended position thereof thereby to limit the distance that said shelf can be pulled outwardly with respect to said rails.

15 A sliding shelf assembly for mounting in a cabinet including a body having a front opening therein and a support member disposed in the body and in general longitudinal alignment with the front opening, said sliding shelf assembly comprising a pair of spaced apart rails for mountaing within the associated body upon the support member therein with the longitudinal axes of said rails disposed generally parallel to each other and in longitudinal alignment with the associated front opening, each of said rails including a bottom Wall having structure thereon for attachment to the associated support member and a side wall extending upwardly from the outer edge of said outer wall, a front pair of lubric glides respectively mounted on the forward portions of said rail side walls in general horizontal alignment, a rear pair of lubric glides respectively mounted on said rail side walls in general horizontal alignment and in general longitudinal alignment with said front pair of lubric glides and spaced a short distance rearwardly thereof, each of said lu bric glides including a body mounted on the associated rail side wall and an upstanding flange integral with said glide body and spaced from the inner surface of the associated rail side wall and a top flange On the upper end of said side flange extending outwardly toward the associated rail side wall, said glide body providing a lower support surface and said glide top flange providing an upper support surface and said glide side flange providing an outwardly directed vertical bearing surface, and a shelf disposed on said guide rails and including a main panel and a pair of side panels integral with the longitudinal side edges thereof and extending downwardly therefrom and a pair of lower support flanges respectively on the lower adges of said side panels and extending inwardly therefrom and resting upon said lower suppport surfaces, an inner panel on the inner edge of said lower support flange and extending upwardly therefrom along said vertical bearing surface and carrying an upper support flange on the upper edge thereof and extending outwardly therefrom and adjacent to said upper support surface, said shelf being shiftable longitudinally along said guides relative to said rails "between a storage position fully disposed within the associated body and an extended position disposed outwardly with respect to the associated body, said shelf being supported upon said glides in cantilever fashion in both the storage position thereof and the fully extended position thereof with said lower support flanges contacting the associated ones of said lower support surfaces and said upper support flanges contacting the associated ones of said upper support surfaces as required.

16. A sliding shelf assembly for mounting in a cabinet including a body having a front opening therein and a support member disposed in the body and in general longitudinal alignment with the front opening, said sliding shelf assembly comprising a pair of spaced apart rails for mounting within the associated body upon the support member therein with the longitudinal axes of said rails disposed generally parallel to each other and in longitudinal alignment with the associated front opening, each of said rails including a bottom wall having structure thereon for attachment to the associated support member and a side wall extending upwardly from the outer edge of said outer wall, a front pair of lubric glides respectively mounted on the forward portions of said rail side Walls in general horizontal alignment, a rear pair of lubric glides respectively mounted on said rail side walls in general horizontal alignment and in general longitudinal alignment with said front pair of lubric glides and spaced a short distance rearwardly thereof, each of said lubric glides including a body mounted on the associated rail side Wall and an upstanding flange integral with said glide body and spaced from the inner surface of the associated rail side wall and a top flange on the upper end of said side flange extending outwardly toward the associated rail side wall, said glide body providing a lower support surface and said glide top flange providing an upper support surface and said glide flange providing an outwardly directed vertical bearing surface, and a shelf disposed on said guide rails and including a main panel and a pair of side panels integral with the longitudinal side edges thereof and extending downwardly therefrom and a pair of lower support flanges respectively on the lower edges of said side panels and extending inwardly therefrom and resting upon said lower support surfaces, an inner panel on the inner edge of said lower support flange and extending upwardly therefrom along said vertical bearing surface and carrying an upper support flange on the upper edge thereof and extending outwardly therefrom and adjacent to said upper support surface, and a dependent panel on the front of said shelf main panel extending between said side panels and downwardly to said lower support flanges, said shelf being shiftttble longitudinally along said rails between a storage position fully disposed within the associated body and an extended position disposed outwardly with respect to the associated body, said front panel being engagaible with the forward portions of said front glides to establish the storage position of said shelf with respect to said rails, said shelf being supported upon said glides in cantilever fashion in both the storage position thereof and the fully extended position thereof with said lower support flanges contacting the associated ones of said lower support surfaces and said upper support flanges contacting the associated ones of said upper support surfaces as required.

17. A sliding shelf assembly for mounting in a cabinet including a body having a front opening therein and a support member disposed in the body and in general longitudinal alignment with the front opening, said sliding shelf assembly comprising a pair of spaced apart rails for mounting within the associated body upon the support member therein with the longitudinal axes of said rails disposed generally parallel to each other and in longitudinal alingrnent with the associated front opening, each of said rails including a bottom Wall having structure thereon for attachment to the associated support member and a side wall extending upwardly from the outer edge of said outer wall, a front pair of lubric glides respectively mounted on the forward portions of said rail side walls in general horizontal alignment, a rear pair of lubric glides respectively mounted on said rail side Walls in general horizontal alignment and in general longitudinal alignment with said front pair of lubric glides and spaced a short distance rearwardly thereof, each of said lubric glides including a body mounted on the associated rail side Wall and an upstanding flange integral with said glide body and spaced from the inner surface of the associated rail side wall and a top flange on the upper end of said side flange extending outwardly toward the associated rail side wall, said glide body providing a lower support surface and said glide top flange providing an upper support surface and said glide side flange providing an outwardly directed vertical bearing surface, a pair of lubric spacer buttons mounted on the side wall of one of said rails adjacent to said lubric glides, and a shelf disposed on said guide rails and including a main panel and a pair of side panels integral with the longitudinal side edges thereof and extending downwardly therefrom and a pair of lower support flanges respectively on the lower edges of said side panels and extending inwardly therefrom and resting upon said lower support surfaces, an inner panel on the inner edge of said lower support flange and extending upwardly therefrom along said vertical bearing surface and carrying an upper support flange on the upper edge thereof and extending outwardly therefrom and adjacent to said upper support surface, said shelf being shiftable longitudinally along said rails between a storage position fully disposed within the associated body and an extended position dispose-d outwardly with respect to the associated body, said shelf being supported upon said glides in cantilever fashion in both the storage position thereof and the fully extended position thereof with said lower support flanges contacting the associated ones of said lower support surfaces and said upper support flanges contacting the associated ones of said upper support surfaces as required with said spacer buttons being engagable with the adjacent one of said shelf side panels to control the lateral position of said shelf with respect to said rails.

1%. A sliding shelf assembly for mounting in a cabinet including a body having a front opening therein and a support member disposed in the body and in general longitudinal alingment with the front opening, said sliding shelf assembly comprising a pair of spaced apart rails for mounting within the associated body upon the support member therein with the longitudinal axes of said rails disposed generally parallel to each other and in longitudinal alignment with the associated front opening, each of said rails including a bottom Wall having structure thereon for attachment to the associated support member and a side wall extending upwardly from the outer edge of said outer wall, a front pair of lubric glides respectively mounted on the forward portions of said rail side walls in general horizontal alignment, a rear pair of lubric glides respectively mounted on said rail side walls in general horizontal alignment and in general longitudinal alignment with said front pair of lubric glides and spaced a short distance rearwardly thereof, each of said lubric glides including a body mounted on the associated rail side wall and an upstanding flange integral with said glide body and spaced from the inner surface of the associated rail side wall and a top flange on the upper end of said side flange extending outwardly toward the associated rail side wall, said glide body providing a lower support surface and said glide top flange providing an upper support surface and said glide side flange providing an outwardly directed vertical bearing surface, a shelf disposed on said guide rails and including a main panel and a pair of side panels integral with the longitudinal side edges thereof and extending downwardly therefrom and a pair of lower support flanges respectively on the lower edges of said side panels and extending inwardly therefrom and resting upon said lower support surfaces, an inner panel on the inner edge of said lower support flange and extending upwardly therefrom along said vertical bearing surface and carrying an upper support flange on the upper edge thereof and extending outwardly therefrom and adjacent to said upper support surface, and a shelf stop mounted on said main panel adjacent to the rear thereof and extending downwardly therefrom and in longitudinal alignment with one of said rear lubric glides, said shelf being shiftable longitudinally along said rails between a storage position fully disposed Within the associated body and an extended position disposed outwardly with respect to the associated body, said shelf stop being engagable with the associated one of said rear lubric glides upon movement of said shelf to the fully extended position thereof to limit the distance that said shelf can be pulled outwardly with respect to said rails, said shelf being supported upon said lubric glides in cantilever fashion in both the storage position thereof and the fully extended position thereof with said lower support flanges contacting the associated ones of said lower support surfaces and said upper support flanges contacting the associated ones of said upper support surfaces as required.

(References on following page) 13 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,759,773 References Cited 7/1908 Montague 312-346 X 2872048 Seward 5 7/1950 Miller e-t a1. 312-441 5 5/1951 Drake 312-348 8/1952 Buchy et a1. 312341 Wilmer et a1 312-341 Lhota 312-341 Yorinks 312-343 X Cooper 312-442 Lake 108-402 Abernathy et a1. 312-343 X JAMES T. McCALL, Primary Examiner.

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