Slidable pantry pullout apparatus and method of use
View Patent ↗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 slidingly 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.
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;
wherein the slotted template includes a centrally positioned longitudinal slot having a longitudinal axis;
a first end of the slot defining a set of redirecting surfaces;
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; 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.
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 set of redirecting surfaces are oriented generally 45° from the longitudinal axis.
4. 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.
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 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.
6. 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.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 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.
8. The apparatus of claim 6 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.
9. The apparatus of claim 6 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.
10. The apparatus of claim 6 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.
11. The apparatus of claim 6 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.