Translatable support mechanism
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsJeffrey Lynn Jessie, Stephen Bernard Froelicher
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A translatable support mechanism is provided. The translatable support mechanism includes a storage component, a pair of supports, and a pair of gear sets. The pair of supports and the pair of gear sets support the storage component such that the storage component is translatable between an open and closed position along a transverse direction.
Claims16
A translatable support mechanism, the translatable support mechanism defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the vertical, lateral, and transverse directions being mutually perpendicular, the translatable support mechanism comprising:
- a storage component having a first side portion and a second side portion spaced apart from each other along the lateral direction;
- a pair of supports, each support of the pair of supports positioned proximate a respective one of the first and second side portions of the storage component, each support of the pair of supports having a first geared rack and a second geared rack, the first and second geared racks spaced apart from each other along the vertical direction;
- a pair of gear sets rotatably mounted to the storage component, each gear set of the pair of gear sets positioned proximate a respective one of the pair of supports, each gear set of the pair of gear sets having a first gear that meshes with a respective first geared rack of the pair of supports and a second gear that meshes a respective second geared rack of the pair of supports, the first and second gears of each gear set of the pair of gear sets also meshing with each other;
- a first axle extending between and coupling the first gears of the pair of gear sets together;
- and
- a second axle extenting between and coupling second gears of the pair of gears sets together;
- wherein the pair of supports and the pair of gear sets support the storage component such that the storage component is translatable along the transverse direction between an open and closed position.
A drawer assembly, the drawer assembly defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the vertical, lateral, and transverse directions being mutually perpendicular, the drawer assembly comprising:
- a bin defining a storage volume for receipt of items for storage, the bin extending between a first side portion and a second side portion along the lateral direction;
- a first support positioned proximate the first side portion of the bin, the first support defining a channel that extends between a top portion and a bottom portion, the first support having a first plurality of teeth positioned within the channel of the first support at the top portion of the channel of the first support, the first support also having a second plurality of teeth positioned within the channel of the first support at the bottom portion of the channel of the first support;
- a second support positioned proximate the second side portion of the bin, the second support defining a channel that extends between a top portion and a bottom portion, the second support having a first plurality of teeth positioned within the channel of the second support at the top portion of the channel of the second support, the second support also having a second plurality of teeth positioned within the channel of the second support at the bottom portion of the channel of the second support;
- a first gear set rotatably mounted to the bin and positioned within the channel of the first support, the first gear set having a first gear and a second gear, the first gear of the first gear set meshing with the first plurality of teeth of the first support, the second gear of the first gear set meshing with the second plurality of teeth of the first support, the first and second gears of the first gear set also meshing with each other;
- a second gear set rotatably mounted to the bin and positioned within the channel of the second support, the second gear set having a first gear and a second gear, the first gear of the second gear set meshing with the first plurality of teeth of the second support, the second gear of the second gear set meshing with the second plurality of teeth of the second support, the first and second gears of the second gear set also meshing with each other;
- a first axle extending between and coupling the first gear of the first gear set and the first gear of the second gear set together;
- and
- a second axle extending between and coupling the second gear of the first gear set and the second gear of the second gear set together.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.