# US 2010/0164341 A1 · Sliding supports > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0164341 A1 - Document ID: US20100164341A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/063,401 - Filed: 2006-08-10 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Earliest claimed: 2005-08-11 - Assignees: Accuride International, Inc. - Inventors: Andrew Neil Craddock - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100164341A1 ## CPC - A47B 88/493: with rollers, ball bearings, wheels, or the like - A47C 27/07: Attaching, or interconnecting of, springs in spring inlays - B60N 2/773: {Longitudinal adjustment} - A47B 2210/001: having a roller on the intermediate drawer rail, between the upper and lower rail - A47B 2210/0032: Balls - A47B 2210/0035: cages therefor, e.g. for telescopic slides - A47B 2210/004: cages therefor, e.g. for telescopic slides - A47B 2210/0056: Guide located at the bottom of the drawer - A47B: TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE (furniture jointing F16B) - A47C: CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS - B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract The present invention relates to sliding supports and particularly sliding supports having two elongate members of channel section which slide one within the other. The invention address the problem of using such sliding supports in an orientation where the channels of the elongate members open vertically rather than horizontally. The sliding support preferably includes a damping mechanism for resisting relative sliding movement of the elongate members. The sliding support also preferably includes a mechanism for defining one or more intermediate positions between extended and shortened positions of the sliding support. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sliding support comprising a first elongate slide member of channel section, a second elongate slide member slidable in the channel defined by the first slide member, and locating means positioned between the first and second slide members to locate and align the first and second slide members for sliding without contact therebetween, the channel section of the first slide member having a base, side walls extending from the base, and a retaining lip extending from each side wall partly across the channel section opening to define an elongate gap between the two lips, the gap between the two lips and the lateral dimension of the second, slide member being such that, in the absence of the locating means such that the second slide member contacts one channel side wall of the first slide member, the second slide member is retained in the first channel by the lip extending towards the channel side wall with which the second slide member is in contact. ### Claim 2 A sliding support comprising a first elongate slide member of channel section, a second elongate slide member slidable in the channel defined by the first slide member, and locating means positioned between the first and second slide members to locate and align the first and second slide members for sliding without contact therebetween, the channel section of the first slide member having a base, side walls extending from the base, and a retaining lip extending from each side wall partly across the channel section opening to define a gap between the two lips, engagement surfaces of the second slide member and the lips of the first slide member being parallel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1, 2) A sliding support as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the sliding support includes a damping mechanism for resisting relative sliding movement of the first and second slide members. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A sliding support as claimed in claim 3 wherein the damping mechanism includes a friction member mounted on one of the slide members and movably biased towards the other slide member, the other member including a surface along which the friction member can ride as the slide members slide relative to one another. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A sliding support as claimed in claim 4 wherein the friction member is rotatably mounted. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) A sliding support as claimed in claim 4 wherein the friction member is a roller. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A sliding support as claimed in claim 6 wherein the roller is mounted on a spring member to provide bias towards the surface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) A sliding support as claimed in claim 4 wherein the friction member comprises a polyurethane member having a protrusion for riding along the surface of the other slide member. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A sliding support as claimed in claim 8 wherein the polyurethane member is formed from a rubber polyurethane having a Shore harness of 90. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) A sliding support as claimed in claim 8 wherein the friction member has a cross section comprising a rectangle with a smooth protrusion formed from a fragment of a circle formed on a first side thereof. ### Claim 11 (depends on 4) A sliding support as claimed in claim 4 wherein the friction member comprises a member having a sprung portion for riding along the surface of the other slide member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 4) A sliding support as claimed in claim 4 wherein the surface is knurled. ### Claim 13 (depends on 3) A sliding support as claimed in claim 3 wherein the damping mechanism comprises a rotary damper. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A sliding support as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sliding support includes a mechanism for defining one or more intermediate positions between extended and shortened positions of the sliding support. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A sliding support as claimed in claim 14 wherein the intermediate position defining mechanism includes a friction member rotatably mounted on one of the slide members and movably biased towards the other slide member, the other slide member including a surface, the surface including one or more discontinuities, the or each discontinuity providing a stable position for the friction member to rest. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A sliding support as claimed in claim 15 wherein the friction member is a roller. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) A sliding support as claimed in claim 15 wherein the or each surface discontinuity is a gap in the surface, the arrangement being such that the friction member rides along the surface until it engages the gap, and is movable out of the gap if a threshold force is applied to cause further relative movement of the slide members. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) A sliding support as claimed in claim 15 wherein the or each surface discontinuity is an indentation formed in the surface, the arrangement being such that the friction member rides along the surface until it engages the indentation, and is movable out of the indentation if a threshold force is applied to cause further relative movement of the slide members. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A sliding support as claimed in claim 18 wherein the indentation is formed by a first pair of ramped surfaces extending from the plane of the surface to below the plane of the surface. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) A sliding support as claimed in claim 15 wherein the surface has ramp portions on each side of the or each surface discontinuity. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) A sliding support as claimed in claim 18 wherein the indentation is formed by a first pair of ramped surfaces extending above the plane of the surface, and a second pair of ramped surfaces separating the first pair of ramped surfaces and extending above the plane of the surface. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) A sliding support as claimed in claim 18 wherein the indentation is formed by a first pair of ramped surfaces extending above the plane of the surface, and a second pair of ramped surfaces separating the first pair of ramped surfaces and extending from above to below the plane of the surface. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) A sliding support as claimed in claim 22 wherein the gradient of the first pair of ramped surfaces is shallower than the gradient of the second pair of ramped surfaces. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) A sliding support as claimed in claim 1 wherein the locating means comprises a plastics strip arranged between the first slide member and the second slide member on each side of the second slide member to locate slidingly the second slide member within the first slide member. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) A sliding support as claimed in claim 24 wherein the plastics strip is of self-lubricating plastics material. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) A sliding support as claimed in claim 24 wherein each plastics strip includes an elongate spacer element located between the associated lip of the first slide member and second slide member. ### Claim 27 (depends on 1) A sliding support as claimed in claim 1 wherein the locating means comprises a multiplicity of ball bearings and a retainer for retaining the ball bearings in two parallel rows, one row on each side of the second slide member, between the second slide member and the first slide member, to locate slidingly the second slide member within the first slide member. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) A sliding support as claimed in claim 27 wherein the profile of the second slide member within the first slide member includes a ball engaging channel at each side thereof which faces outwardly towards the first slide member, the ball channels facing away from one another. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) A sliding support as claimed in claim 27 wherein the ball bearing retainer includes a spaced apart pair of elongate spacer elements, each spacer elements being located between the associated lip of the first slide member and the second slide member. ### Claim 30 (depends on 27) A sliding support as claimed in claim 27 wherein the ball bearing retainer is of polymeric material. ### Claim 31 (canceled)