Drawer guide with built-in latch

Abstract

A drawer guide has a longitudinally extending outer rail, a longitudinally extending inner rail nested with the outer rail and forming a longitudinally extending space therewith, and a plurality of balls engaged between the rails and allowing the inner rail to move longitudinally relative to the outer rail. A first latch member extending longitudinally in the space is carried on one of the rails. A second latch member in the space fixed to the other of the rails is latchingly engageable with the first member to prevent longitudianl displacement of the rails.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A drawer guide comprising: 
 a longitudinally extending outer rail;    a longitudinally extending inner rail nested with the outer rail and forming a longitudinally extending space therewith;    a plurality of balls engaged between the rails and allowing the inner rail to move longitudinally relative to the outer rail;    a first latch member extending longitudinally in the space and carried on one of the rails;    a second latch member in the space, fixed to the other of the rails, and latchingly engageable with the first member to prevent longitudinal displacement of the rails.    
     
     
         2 . The drawer guide defined in  claim 1  wherein the first latch member is an elongated lever pivoted on the one rail about a transverse axis and carrying a transversely projecting part and the second latch member is a transversely open seat in which the part is engageable.  
     
     
         3 . The drawer guide defined in  claim 2  wherein the part is a pin on an inner end of the lever, the other rail being provided with a hook forming the seat.  
     
     
         4 . The drawer guide defined in  claim 2 , further comprising 
 a spring braced between the lever and the one rail and urging the part transversely toward the seat.    
     
     
         5 . The drawer guide defined in  claim 3  wherein the other rail is provided adjacent the seat with a cam surface engageable with the part and urging the part away from the seat on engagement of the part with the cam.  
     
     
         6 . The drawer guide defined in  claim 2  wherein the lever has a bump engageable with the one rail.  
     
     
         7 . The drawer guide defined in  claim 2  where the lever has an externally accessible outer end projecting out of the space.  
     
     
         8 . The drawer guide defined in  claim 1  wherein the first latch member is an elongated lever centrally pivoted on the one rail about a transverse axis, having an outer end projecting out of the space, and an inner end provided with a transversely projecting pin, the second latch member being a hook fixed on the other rail, open transversely, and positioned to receive the pin, the guide comprising a spring braced between the lever and the one rail and urging the pin transversely toward the seat.