Drawer slide assembly and method of use
A full extension ball bearing drawer slide assembly comprised of a cabinet rail attached to a cabinet piece, an intermediate rail slidingly engaged with the cabinet rail via bearing runners, a drawer rail slidingly engaged with the intermediate rail via a bearing cage, and a cage hold forward device for advantageously positioning the bearing cage for ease of re-insertion of the drawer rail within the intermediated rail. The cage hold forward device is attached to the intermediate rail and comprises a protrusion for engagement with a flexible trigger mounted on the drawer rail and a flexible clip for releasable engagement with the bearing cage.
1. A method of positioning a bearing cage in a drawer slide assembly, the drawer slide assembly comprising a cabinet rail, a telescopic intermediate rail, and a telescopic drawer rail, wherein the telescopic intermediate rail has a mounting hole, the method comprising:
providing a set of holes in the bearing cage;
slidably engaging the bearing cage between the telescopic intermediate rail and the telescopic drawer rail;
providing a cage hold forward device with a generally rectangular body, the generally rectangular body having a first edge and a second edge, a mounting bar extending between the first edge and the second edge, a mounting curve integrally formed with the generally rectangular body, adjacent the mounting bar and configured to engage the mounting hole, a block extending from the generally rectangular body, and not contacting the mounting bar and a flexible clip having a first end integrally formed with the generally rectangular body and adjacent the mounting bar, and a second end extending from the generally rectangular body opposite from the first end;
attaching the cage hold forward device to the telescopic intermediate rail;
moving the telescopic drawer rail in a first direction;
pulling the bearing cage toward the cage hold forward device with the telescopic drawer rail; and,
engaging the flexible clip with a forward most hole of the set of holes whereby the bearing cage is positioned in relation to the telescopic intermediate rail.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
providing a protrusion extending from the second end;
providing a notch in the flexible clip disposed opposite the protrusion;
bending the flexible clip at the notch; and,
engaging the protrusion with the forward most hole of the set of holes in the bearing cage.
3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:
providing the protrusion in a triangular shape.
4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
providing a curved forward edge and a cross bar forward edge to the mounting hole;
engaging the mounting curve with the curved forward edge; and,
engaging the mounting bar with the cross bar forward edge.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
disengaging the telescopic drawer rail from the bearing cage.
6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
moving the telescopic drawer rail in a second direction; and,
disengaging the flexible clip from the forward most hole of the set of holes.
7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:
providing a flange on the telescopic drawer rail;
providing a bumper extended from the first edge to the second edge; and,
abutting the flange to the bumper.
8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
abutting the bearing cage to the generally rectangular body.
9. A method of positioning a bearing cage in a drawer slide assembly, the drawer slide assembly comprising a cabinet rail, an intermediate rail, and a drawer rail, the method comprising:
providing a “T” mounting hole in the intermediate rail;
providing a set of holes in the bearing cage;
slidably engaging the bearing cage between the intermediate rail and the drawer rail,
providing a cage hold forward device having a generally rectangular body, the generally rectangular body further comprising having a first edge and a second edge, a mounting bar extending between the first edge and the second edge, a block extending from the generally rectangular body and not contacting the mounting bar, and a flexible clip extending from the generally rectangular body;
attaching the cage hold forward device to the intermediate rail;
moving the drawer rail in a first direction;
pulling the bearing cage toward the cage hold forward device; and,
engaging the flexible clip with the set of holes.
10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:
providing a protrusion extending from the flexible clip;
providing a notch, in the flexible clip, disposed opposite the protrusion; and,
bending the flexible clip at the notch.
11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:
engaging the protrusion with the set of holes.
12. The method of claim 9 further comprising:
providing a cross bar forward edge in the “T” mounting hole; and,
engaging the mounting bar with the cross bar forward edge.
13. The method of claim 9 further comprising:
disengaging the drawer rail from the bearing cage.
14. The method of claim 9 further comprising:
moving the drawer rail in a second direction; and,
disengaging the flexible clip from the set of holes.
15. The method of claim 9 further comprising:
providing a flange on the drawer rail;
providing a bumper extended from the first edge to the second edge; and,
abutting the flange to the bumper.
16. The method of claim 9 further comprising:
abutting the bearing cage to the generally rectangular body.
17. A method of positioning a bearing cage in a drawer slide assembly, the drawer slide assembly comprising a cabinet rail, telescopically engaged with an intermediate rail and a telescopic drawer rail, the method comprising:
providing a mounting hole, a first inner groove and a second inner groove on the intermediate rail;
providing a set of holes in the bearing cage;
slidably engaging the bearing cage between the intermediate rail and the telescopic drawer rail;
providing a cage hold forward device having a generally rectangular body having a first edge and a second edge wherein the first edge terminates in a first curved tip and the second edge terminates in a second curved tip, a mounting bar extending between the first edge and the second edge, a block extending from the generally rectangular body, not contacting the mounting bar, and a flexible clip extending from the generally rectangular body;
engaging the first curved tip with the first inner groove;
engaging the second curved tip with the second inner groove;
moving the telescopic drawer rail in a first direction;
moving the bearing cage toward the cage hold forward device with the telescopic drawer rail; and,
engaging the flexible clip with a forward most hole of the set of holes, whereby the bearing cage is positioned in relation to the intermediate rail.
18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:
providing the flexible clip with a first end and a second end;
providing a triangular protrusion extending from the second end;
providing a semi-circular notch in the flexible clip, disposed opposite the triangular protrusion;
bending the flexible clip at the semi-circular notch; and,
engaging the triangular protrusion with the forward most hole of the set of holes in the bearing cage.
19. The method of claim 17 further comprising:
providing a cross bar forward edge on the mounting hole; and,
engaging the mounting bar with the cross bar forward edge.
20. The method of positioning the bearing cage of claim 17 further comprising:
abutting the bearing cage to the generally rectangular body.