초록 ▼

A drawer seal includes a magnetic coupler, a bellows filled or substantially filled with a vibration dampening material and which is affixed to either a drawer or cabinet by a base member. The base member can be embodied as a dart that extends into a hole formed into the drawer or cabinet. A refrige

A drawer seal includes a magnetic coupler, a bellows filled or substantially filled with a vibration dampening material and which is affixed to either a drawer or cabinet by a base member. The base member can be embodied as a dart that extends into a hole formed into the drawer or cabinet. A refrigerated food storage cabinet includes a self-closing drawer provided with the drawer seal whereby the drawer is less likely to rebound open.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A drawer seal for a cabinet mounted on wheels, the cabinet having at least one self-closing drawer, the self-closing drawer having an open position and a closed position, the self-closing drawer adapted to move from the open position to the closed position by itself, responsive to the weight of t

1. A drawer seal for a cabinet mounted on wheels, the cabinet having at least one self-closing drawer, the self-closing drawer having an open position and a closed position, the self-closing drawer adapted to move from the open position to the closed position by itself, responsive to the weight of the self-closing drawer and to thereby acquire kinetic energy, the drawer impacting the cabinet when it moves from the open position to the closed position and imparting kinetic energy on impact with the cabinet, the drawer seal comprised of: a flexible bellows at least partially filled with a non-gaseous, compressible kinetic energy-absorbing material; and a magnet coupled to the flexible bellows, the magnet being opposite a base member;wherein the flexible bellows and the kinetic energy-absorbing material are selected and adapted to eliminate drawer rebound, when the at least one self-closing drawer moves by itself from the open position to the closed position to impact the cabinet. 2. The drawer seal of claim 1, wherein the flexible bellows is comprised of a plastic material capable of corrugating upon impact and thereafter returning to its original shape, the corrugating and return to its original shape absorbing at least some of the kinetic energy imparted to the drawer seal by the self-closing drawer. 3. The drawer seal of claim 1, wherein the kinetic energy-absorbing material is adapted to absorb kinetic energy upon the impact of the self-closing drawer against the cabinet and to prevent the cabinet from rolling on said wheels responsive to the impact. 4. The drawer seal of claim 2, wherein the base member includes a dart configured to attach the drawer seal to at least one of: a self-closing drawer and a cabinet. 5. The drawer seal of claim 1, wherein the magnet is enclosed in a jacket comprised of plastic material, the magnet adapted to provide a force that retains the drawer in the closed position. 6. The drawer seal of claim 1, wherein the kinetic energy-absorbing material is a solid material selected to deform upon impact and slowly release kinetic energy absorbed during impact and return to its original shape. 7. The drawer seal of claim 1, wherein the kinetic energy-absorbing material is comprised of cotton. 8. The drawer seal of claim 1, wherein the kinetic energy-absorbing material is cotton rope. 9. The drawer seal of claim 1, wherein the kinetic energy-absorbing material is compressible foam rubber. 10. The drawer seal of claim 1, wherein the kinetic energy-absorbing material is silicone. 11. The drawer seal of claim 5, wherein the flexible bellows and the kinetic energy-absorbing material are selected and adapted to eliminate drawer rebound and prevent the cabinet on wheels from rolling, when the at least one self-closing drawer impacts the cabinet after moving from the open position to the closed position, said magnet holding the drawer closed. 12. A storage cabinet comprised of: self closing drawer comprised of: wheels, which are attached to the cabinet and which are adapted to allow the storage cabinet to be rolled on a floor;a drawer having a front with first and second opposing surfaces, the drawer having a weight and being adapted to be able to move between a closed position whereat the drawer is inside the storage cabinet and the drawer front is against the cabinet, and an open position whereat the drawer is substantially outside the storage cabinet;a drawer closing mechanism coupled between the drawer and the storage cabinet, the drawer closing mechanism configured to permit the drawer to be moved between the open position and the closed position, the drawer closing mechanism being additionally adapted to allow the drawer to move by itself, from the open position to the closed position and to thereby acquire kinetic energy;a drawer seal attached to at least one of: the storage cabinet and the first surface of the drawer front, such that the drawer seal is between the first surface of the drawer front and the storage cabinet, the drawer seal comprised of: a base member; a flexible bellows at least partially filled therein with a non-gaseous, compressible material capable of absorbing kinetic energy acquired by the drawer, when it moves by itself from the open position to the closed position; and a magnet coupled to the flexible bellowswherein said material capable of absorbing kinetic energy, is selected to be able to absorb kinetic energy, when said drawer front impacts said cabinet and to thereby prevent the drawer from rebounding away from the cabinet when the drawer reaches its closed position. 13. The drawer of claim 12, wherein the drawer closing mechanism is comprised of an inclined drawer slide attached to at least one of the drawer and the cabinet. 14. The drawer of claim 13, wherein the inclined drawer slide is comprised of a detent, adapted to hold the drawer in the open position. 15. The drawer of claim 14, wherein the open position is between the detent and the closed position. 16. The drawer of claim 12, wherein the wherein the magnet is adapted to provide a force to hold the drawer in the closed position after the drawer reaches the closed position from its open position. 17. The drawer of claim 12, wherein the material capable of absorbing kinetic energy acquired by the drawer is cotton. 18. The drawer of claim 12, wherein the material capable of absorbing kinetic energy acquired by the drawer is cotton rope. 19. The drawer of claim 12, wherein the material capable of absorbing kinetic energy acquired by the drawer is compressible foam rubber. 20. The drawer of claim 12, wherein the material capable of absorbing kinetic energy acquired by the drawer is silicone. 21. The drawer of claim 12, wherein the material capable of absorbing kinetic energy acquired by the drawer has a substantially circular cross section when it is in an uncompressed state. 22. The drawer of claim 12, wherein the bellows has a corrugated shape when the drawer seal impacts an object. 23. The drawer of claim 13, wherein the base member, bellows and plastic jacket are a unitary structure. 24. A food storage cabinet comprised of: a) a cabinet on wheels and comprised of a front face;b) a drawer comprised of: i) a drawer front having first and second opposing surfaces, the drawer having an open position whereat the drawer is substantially outside the cabinet, and having a closed position whereat the drawer is inside the cabinet and the first surface of the drawer front, is against the front face of the cabinet, the drawer also having a weight;c) a drawer seal comprised of: a flexible bellows being substantially filled therein with a non-gaseous, compressible vibration dampening material selected to absorb impact energy; and a magnet coupled to the flexible bellowsd) a drawer self-closing mechanism configured to enable the drawer to move from the open position to the closed position responsive to the weight of the drawer; wherein the drawer acquires kinetic energy as it moves from the open position to the closed position and wherein,the drawer seal is adapted to absorb said kinetic energy such that the drawer does not re-open after impact of the first surface of the drawer front with the front face of the cabinet. 25. The food storage cabinet of claim 24, wherein the closing mechanism is comprised of a drawer slide having a detent, adapted to hold the drawer in the open position and wherein the open position is between the detent and the closed position. 26. The food storage cabinet of claim 24, wherein the drawer seal is attached to the drawer. 27. The food storage cabinet of claim 24, wherein the drawer seal is attached to the cabinet.