[0001] This invention relates to a runner for a tray or drawer, said runner being adapted
to be fitted into a tray or drawer unit as a pair of such runners for receiving and
supporting a tray or drawer.
[0002] According to the present invention there is provided a runner for a tray or drawer,
said runner comprising a lower guide surface for receiving a sliding element of a
said tray or drawer and, spaced from said lower guide surface, an upper guide surface
arranged to cooperate with the lower guide surface to constrain the freedom of movement
of a said tray or drawer, the upper guide surface being provided with a downwardly
depending detent and the lower guide surface being discontinuous at a position opposite
said detent to provide a path for an end of said tray or runner, the arrangement being
such that, in use, a pair of runners is so spaced to receive between them a said tray
or drawer and such that the end of said tray or drawer may be introduced between the
runners by tilting the end under and past the respective detents so that the sliding
elements of a said tray or drawer are received between the upper and lower guide surfaces
of said runners and supported on the lower guide surfaces.
[0003] In a preferred embodiment the runner is moulded from polypropylene but it will be
appreciated that the runner may be formed in any convenient manner and from any suitable
material.
[0004] Preferably spacing between the upper and lower guide surfaces of the runner is such
that a pair of suitably spaced runners in a drawer or tray unit can receive a tray
of the type or dimensions widely produced and sold by the applicant, samples of which
may be viewed at the applicant's website at http://www.gratnells.com.
[0005] Preferably the detent is positioned at or adjacent a first end of the upper guide
surface.
[0006] The runners of the present invention allow for the simple and convenient insertion
and removal of a tray or drawer into/from the runner (and in-use between a pair of
runners) whilst ensuring that in-use with a conventional inwards/outwards sliding
movement of the tray or drawer, the tray or drawer is maintained in position with
the detent preventing movement of the end of the tray or drawer beyond it outwards
of the runner.
[0007] In particular, the tray or drawer can be inserted/removed by tilting it at a convenient
angle from the horizontal. Preferably, the tray or drawer can in-use be inserted/removed
(i.e. the end of the tray or drawer is in-use introduced between or removed from the
runners) by tilting the tray or drawer at an angle of less than sixty degrees from
the horizontal (i.e. the axis along which the upper and lower guide surfaces of the
runner generally extend). Preferably, this can be done by tilting the tray or drawer
at an angle of less than fifty five degrees from the horizontal, more preferably less
than fifty degrees from the horizontal, more preferably less than forty five degrees
from the horizontal, more preferably less than forty degrees from the horizontal,
more preferably less than thirty five degrees from the horizontal, more preferably
less than thirty degrees from the horizontal, more preferably less than twenty five
degrees from the horizontal, more preferably less than twenty degrees from the horizontal,
more preferably less than fifteen degrees from the horizontal.
[0008] An embodiment of a runner according to the present invention will now be described,
by way of example only, by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
- Figure 1
- is a side elevation of a runner according to the present invention;
- Figure 2
- is an end elevation of the runner of Figure 1 when viewed from the left in Figure
1;
- Figure 3
- is an end elevation of the runner of Figure 1 when viewed from the right in Figure
1;
- Figure 4
- is a side elevation of the back of the runner of Figure 1; and
- Figure 5
- is a plan view from beneath of the runner of Figure 1.
[0009] Referring to the drawings, a runner 1 includes an upright wall 2 from which protrude
a lower guide surface 3 and upper guide surface 4. The upper guide surface 4 is provided
with a downwardly depending detent 5 and at position 6 the lower guide surface 3 is
discontinuous at a position opposite the detent 5 of the upper guide surface 4.
[0010] The runner shown in the drawing is in fact a left hand runner, adapted to be mounted
on the left of a drawer or tray recess in a drawer or tray unit and in practice adapted
to cooperate with a mirror image right hand runner to provide a rail system for receiving
a tray or drawer.
[0011] Thus, the left hand end of the runner 1 shown in Figure 1 is an in-use outwards-facing
or -located end, and the right hand end of the runner 1 shown in Figure 1 is an in-use
inwards-facing or -located end.
[0012] In use, the end of a tray or drawer (not shown) is introduced into the space between
detent 5 and discontinuity 6 by moving it downwardly and forwardly from left hand
end of the runner of Figure 1 until the end of the said tray or drawer has passed
beneath and beyond the detent, at which point the tray or drawer is moved into a horizontal
position or tilted into a horizontal position such that the sliding element of a said
tray or drawer can be received and supported between the guide surfaces.
[0013] It will be appreciated that the invention may be performed otherwise than has been
particularly described and the invention includes within its scope modifications and
improvements which would be apparent to one skilled in the art without departing from
the scope of the appended claims.
1. A runner for a tray or drawer, said runner comprising a lower guide surface for receiving
a sliding element of a said tray or drawer and, spaced from said lower guide surface,
an upper guide surface arranged to cooperate with said lower guide surface to constrain
the freedom of movement of a said tray or drawer, said upper guide surface being provided
with a downwardly depending detent and said lower guide surface being discontinuous
at a position opposite said detent to provide a path for an end of said tray or runner,
the arrangement being such that, in use, a pair of runners is so spaced to receive
between them a said tray or drawer and such that the end of said tray or drawer may
be introduced between said runners by tilting said end under and past the respective
detents so that the sliding elements of a said tray or drawer are received between
said upper and lower guide surfaces of said runners and supported on said lower guide
surfaces.
2. A runner for a tray or drawer according to claim 1, said runner being moulded from
polypropylene.
3. A runner for a tray or drawer according to either of the preceding claims, said detent
being positioned at or adjacent a first end of said upper guide surface.
