Sliding friction reducer
AssigneeWaterloo Industries, Inc.
InventorGregory Jon Holcomb
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A friction reducer is positioned between a bar component and a channel in which an edge of the bar is enclosed during relative motion between the bar and the channel. The friction reducer is made of a material that presents a lower friction surface upon which the relative motion occurs.
Claims21
A friction reducer for use with a sliding bar mechanism that permits constrained relative motion between a bar component and a guide channel wherein the bar component includes an edge that is slideably engaged within the guide channel, the friction reducer comprising:
- an inner surface contoured to match an outer surface of the bar component edge;
- and
- an outer surface contoured to match an inner surface portion of the guide channel that engages the bar component edge;
- wherein at least one of the inner and outer surfaces includes a reduced friction surface upon which the relative motion between the bar component and guide channel occurs.
A sliding lock bar mechanism for use with a chest having a top wall, a bottom wall, a pair of spaced side walls and a rear wall that define a drawer cavity in which one or more drawers are housed, the drawers being moveable between an open and a closed position, sliding lock bar mechanism comprising:
- a vertical lock bar slideably mounted to the back wall within a guide channel and moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position, the lock bar including a catch aligned with a striker on a corresponding drawer that engages and retains the striker retention feature when the lock bar is in the locked position;
- an actuator coupled to the lock bar configured to move the lock bar within the guide channel between the locked and unlocked position in response to movement of a chest lock mechanism;
- and
- a friction reducer installed between the lock bar and guide channel, the friction reducer comprising:
- an inner surface contoured to match an outer surface of an edge of the lock bar;
- and
- an outer surface contoured to match an inner surface portion of the guide channel that engages the lock bar edge;
- wherein at least one of the inner and outer surfaces includes a reduced friction surface upon which the relative motion between the lock bar and guide channel occurs.
A tool storage assembly comprising:
- a) a container having a top wall, a bottom wall, a pair of spaced side walls and a rear wall that define a drawer cavity in which one or more drawers are housed, each drawer being moveable horizontally between an open and a closed position;
- b) sliding lock bar mechanism comprising a vertical lock bar slideably mounted to the back wall within a guide channel and moveable vertically between a locked position, in which drawer movement is inhibited, and an unlocked position;
- and
- c) a plurality of friction reducing reducers installed at spaced locations on the lock bar in an orientation between the lock bar and guide channel, wherein at least one of said plurality of friction reducers includes a reduced friction surface upon which the relative motion between the lock bar and guide channel occurs.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.