Search

EP-4739166-A1 - DRAWER SLIDING SYSTEM

EP4739166A1EP 4739166 A1EP4739166 A1EP 4739166A1EP-4739166-A1

Abstract

A sliding system (100) is provided, comprising a guiding rail (110) and a sliding member (120) extending longitudinally and configured to together form a sliding connection between a drawer and an associated cabinet. The guiding rail (110) is provided with at least one bulge (114), and the sliding member (120) comprises an integral resilient part (125') arranged to engage with the bulge (114) when the sliding system (100) transitions between a closed state to an open state and vice versa. Together, the integral resilient part (125') and the bulge (114) form a hold-in function of the sliding system.

Inventors

  • NORTHFELL, Johan

Assignees

  • Inter Ikea Systems B.V.

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240705

Claims (20)

  1. 1. A sliding system (100) comprising a guiding rail (110) and a sliding member (120) extending longitudinally and configured to together form a sliding connection between a drawer (200) and an associated cabinet (300); wherein the guiding rail (110) is provided with at least one bulge (114); and wherein the sliding member (120) comprises an integral resilient part (125’) arranged to engage with the bulge (114) when the sliding system (100) transitions between a closed state to an open state and vice versa; whereby the integral resilient part (125’) and the bulge (114) together form a hold-in function of the sliding system.
  2. 2. The sliding system (100) according to claim 1, wherein the guiding rail (110) has a front end region (113) facing a drawer front (DF) of the drawer, and wherein the bulge (114) is arranged at the front end region (113) of the guiding rail (110).
  3. 3. The sliding system (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sliding member (120) has a front end region (123) facing a drawer front (DF) of the drawer, and wherein the integral resilient part (125’) is arranged at the front end region (123) of the sliding member (120).
  4. 4. The sliding system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the sliding member (120) has a uniform material thickness along a majority of its length.
  5. 5. The sliding system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the integral resilient part (125’) is formed by a local material thinning of the sliding member (120).
  6. 6. The sliding system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the sliding member (120) comprises the integral resilient part (125’) and forms the entire sliding interface with the guiding rail (110).
  7. 7. The sliding system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the sliding member (120) comprising the integral resilient part (125’) has a longitudinal extension in the sliding direction.
  8. 8. The sliding system according to claim 7, wherein the longitudinal length (LSM) of the sliding member (120) comprising the integral resilient part (125’) is at least 50% of the longitudinal length (LGR) of the guiding rail (110).
  9. 9. The sliding system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sliding member (120) comprises an expansion space (129), preferably at the front end region (123) thereof, in which the integral resilient part (125’) is free to expand.
  10. 10. The sliding system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the guiding rail (110) has two opposing sliding surfaces (1 I la, 11 lb), at least one of them, preferably each of them, comprising a longitudinally extending ridge (112) configured to impede movement of the sliding member (120) in a transversal direction.
  11. 11. The sliding system (100) according to claim 10, wherein the at least one bulge (114) is arranged at least partly on at least one of the longitudinally extending ridges (112), preferably the bulge (114) being arranged at the front end region (113) of the guiding rail (110).
  12. 12. The sliding system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sliding member (120) is provided with two engagement surfaces (121a, 121b), each comprising a longitudinally extending first protrusion (122a) and, preferably, a longitudinally extending second protrusion (122b), configured for sliding engagement with the respective sliding surface (1 I la, 11 lb), wherein more preferably the second protrusion (122b) is configured to be arranged opposite the ridge (112) of the sliding surface (1 I la, 11 lb) with regard to the first protrusion (122a).
  13. 13. The sliding system (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the sliding member (120) is substantially U-shaped and comprises a first shank (124) and a second shank (125) linked together by a vertically extending web (126), wherein the first shank (124) and the second shank (125) are substantially parallel in the longitudinal direction of the sliding system (100).
  14. 14. The sliding system (100) according to claim 13, wherein at least one of the first shank (124) and the second shank (125) comprises the integral resilient part (125’).
  15. 15. The sliding system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims including at least claim 5, wherein the expansion space (129) extends about 0.5-4 cm, such as 1-2 cm, or 1.5 cm in the longitudinal direction.
  16. 16. The sliding system (100) according to any of claims 13-15, wherein the second shank (125) comprises the integral resilient part (125’).
  17. 17. The sliding system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the integral resilient part (125’) is provided with a projection (128) arranged to engage with the bulge (114) when the sliding system (100) transitions between a closed state to an open state and vice versa.
  18. 18. The sliding system (100) according to claim 17, wherein each one of the bulge (114) and the projection (128) extends in a vertical direction (V).
  19. 19. The sliding system (100) according to claim 17 or 18, wherein the bulge (114) and the projection (128) extend in a direction facing each other.
  20. 20. The sliding system (100) according to claim 13 in combination with any of claims 17-19, wherein, when the bulge (114) engages with the projection (128), the resilient part (125’) is biased towards the first shank (124) in the vertical direction (V).

Description

DRAWER SLIDING SYSTEM TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates in general to a drawer sliding system, particularly a sliding system adapted for use with a drawer and an associated cabinet. BACKGROUND Low friction sliding systems are commonly used in furniture, such as drawers. The main function of a drawer sliding system is to allow a drawer to be pulled out horizontally from a piece of furniture such that its contents can be accessed. Various types of techniques are available for providing sliding systems that are robust, yet easily manoeuvrable. A basic example of such a technique is to attach horizontal bars to inner walls of the piece of furniture, the bars protruding into mating recesses in each sidewall of the drawer. For a more smooth movement, it has been suggested to provide low friction guiding system in which one guide rail is fixedly mounted to the cabinet, while guiding means are fixedly mounted to the drawer. The guiding means, e.g. realized by one or more rollers, are moveable relative the guiding rail, whereby not only a very low friction is ensured, but also it is possible to add stop members such that the drawer does not fall out from the cabinet. Such solutions are well known within the technical area, but they all share the same drawback that rather expensive components, i.e. metal rails, bearings, and low friction rollers, are required to provide the desired functionality. Less complex, yet durable and high-performance sliding systems have been developed by the present applicant for which the guiding means is provided as a longitudinal sliding member configured to slide along the guide rail. The sliding member has proven to run with very low and consistent friction, thereby making it a very attractive alternative to the traditional and much more complex systems. In order to add a defined closed position for drawers, a hold-in function may be implemented with the sliding system. The hold-in function for a drawer sliding system typically refers to a mechanism that keeps the drawer from accidentally sliding towards an open position when it is not intended to do so, thereby aiming to prevent accidental opening of the drawer and potential damage or injury. There are several ways to implement this function; one common method is to use a detent or catch mechanism. In this mechanism, a small metal ball or pin is held in place by a spring-loaded latch. The ball or pin engages with a notch or groove on the drawer slide, creating a small amount of resistance that prevents the drawer from moving. When the drawer is pulled open, the ball or pin is pushed out of the notch or groove, allowing the drawer to slide freely. To close the drawer, the user must apply enough force to overcome the resistance of the detent mechanism and push the drawer back into its closed position. As the drawer slides into place, the ball or pin re-engages with the notch or groove, holding the drawer securely closed until it is intentionally opened again. Available hold-in mechanisms add complexity to the sliding system, and with the improved sliding system described above, which aims to reduce the complexity, there is a need for new and more simple ways of implementing a hold-in function without adding components and cost. SUMMARY An object of the present invention is to solve or at least mitigate the problems related to prior art. This object is achieved by means of the technique set forth in the appended independent claims; preferred embodiments being defined in the related dependent claims. In an aspect, a sliding system is provided, which includes a guiding rail and a sliding member that extend longitudinally and are configured to together form a sliding connection between a drawer and an associated cabinet. The guiding rail is provided with at least one bulge and the sliding member includes an integral resilient part which is arranged to engage with the bulge when the sliding system transitions between a closed state to an open state and vice versa. Together, the integral resilient part and the bulge form a hold-in function of the sliding system. An advantage of the resilient part being integral with the sliding member is that no external parts, acting as biasing means, are required to perform the hold-in function. This reduces the complexity of the hold-in function. Preferably, the sliding member comprising the integral resilient part forms the entire sliding interface engaging with the guiding rail. The sliding member comprising the integral resilient part forms the sole sliding interface with the guiding rail. The parts included in the actual sliding system may thus be formed by only two parts, i.e. a single piece guiding rail and a single piece sliding member. The sliding member comprising the integral resilient part preferably has a longitudinal extension in the sliding direction. Preferably, the sliding member has a substantial length in the sliding direction, in order to provide appropriate stability and