Table of Contents

- Patented FDR Background

Click here for Front Drawer Release Products

 

Heavy duty industrial drawer systems almost always incorporate a means to latch the drawers shut - especially in a moving vehicle where turns can cause unlatched drawers to slide open. Creating this latching feature has been problematic for years. 

To improve this issue, Austin Hardware introduced our 7650 series "LILO" (Lock-In, Lock Out) heavy duty drawer slides. These innovative drawer slides have a built-in latching mechanism that locks the slide in both the fully closed and the fully open positions. A yellow Trigger on the front of the slide can be depressed to unlock the slide from either position. 

These new slides have been a good improvement; however, some mounting arrangements can sometimes be a bit less user-friendly to use and operate. For instance: The trigger can be hard to reach if mounted near the edge inside a compartment.  The trigger is pressed downward with a finger or thumb, so pulling the drawer outward requires the other hand to grab the drawer or a separately attached handle.  

A wide drawer requires a lock-in, lock-out slide on both sides of the drawer. Often a user cannot even reach both triggers simultaneously to unlock and open the drawer.

The Solution: The Austin Hardware Front Drawer Release (FDR) System

FDR_-_Front_Drawer_Release

The FDR system is a new patented solution that works in conjunction with the Austin Hardware lock-in, lock-out 7650 series drawer slides.  Key features include: 

Allows One-Handed Operation. 
With the FDR, the drawer can be unlatched and opened from the "latched closed" position; likewise, it can be unlatched & closed from the "latched open" position. A 
300# rated drawer can be pulled open with a single finger!


Intuitive to Use
The design, location, and function make operation easy.


Leverage
The operation of the FDR increases the leverage applied to the triggers to make unlatching easy. Potential binding of the latch triggers is minimized.


Flexible
Works with LILO slides on both sides (for wide drawers) or with a single lock­in/lockout slide on only one side only (and a standard slide on the other side).

- How to Order the Part You Need

It is easy to order the FDR part you need. Simply determine the nominal overall width of the drawer (from the left outside face to the right outside face).  The FDR part number is based on this dimension.

FDR_Width

The FDR part number is structured as follows:

FDR_Part_Number-_Image

 

- How the FDR Works

  • The aluminum Handle has steel Pins that extend outward on each side into the covered area of the End Caps. These Pins locate just above the yellow Trigger of the drawer slides.
  • When the Handle is pulled outward, it causes the Pins to rotate downward and simultaneously depress the Yellow Triggers which unlocks the slides. The drawer opens in a continuous motion.
  • To close the drawer from the locked-out position, pulling out on the handle depresses the triggers which unlock the slides and allows the user to push the drawer closed to lock it in.
    How_FDR_Works

    Applications and Uses: 

    • Fire and Rescue Vehicles
    • Drawer Packs
    • Tool Boxes
    • Display Cases
    • Medical Carts
      FDR_-_Applications

 

- How to Install the Unit:

Step 1: Mount Drawer Slides.  The centerline of the 7650 slides must be mounted 1.50” above the bottom of the drawer. This ensures that the trigger is properly located when the FDR is mounted.

FDR_Mount_1

Step 2: Identify the Fastening Areas: The thick ribs on the back surface of the extrusion are where the fasteners will be located. The lower rib is 1.25” above the bottom of the drawer and the upper rib is .95” above the lower rib.

FDR_Mount_2

Step 3: Prepare the Drawer: Pre-punching holes (or horizontal slots) in the front wall of the drawer is not required, but doing so will make installation easier and faster. Typically, drawers 30” wide or less only need four (4) fasteners. Wider drawers may require more fasteners in the middle (determined at the discretion of the installer).

PU-1179

Step 4: Choose the Fastener: Austin Hardware supplies a wide variety of fasteners that will work to secure the FDR to your drawer:

TEK Screws: A #8 or #10 x 5/8 self-drilling screws eliminate the need to pre-drill holes in the FDR ribs prior to mounting.

TEK_Screw

Pop Rivets: A 3/16” aluminum rivet is ideal in pre-drilled holes.

Pop_Rivett

Machine Screws: #10 or 1/4” screws can be used if the drawer has clearance holes and the FDR ribs holes are drilled and tapped.

Machine_Screw

Step 5: Install and Secure:
  • Slide the pins of the FDR over the top of the triggers on the drawer slides.
  • As the FDR contacts the drawer face, locate the lower lip of the FDR against the bottom front corner of the drawer
  • Press/hold the back of the extrusion against the front of the drawer, and secure the FDR to the drawer with your fastener of choice.
    Install_FDR

 

- FDR Locking Option

New Feature!

Now Available with an Optional Cam Lock

 FDR-Tstyle-Closed         FDR-Lstyle-Closed

Features and Benefits:

  • Locks by preventing the handle from being able to be pulled outward which prevent the locking tabs from being compressed.
  • Secondary trigger cradles tie the trigger to the handle so that the trigger can't be pressed down independently.
  • Locking system can be added to any FDR style (L or T)
  • Can be done in low volume quantities (as low as ONE piece)
  • Standard key codes available are 1250, CH510, and CH545
  • Key cylinder can be changed out while installed into FDR
  • Installs to drawer face the same way as standard non-locking FDRs

Locking FDR pic 01

Locking_FDR-2T-style FDR  L-style FDR

 

 

 

- Additional Accessories and Information:

FDR Hooks: Used for "Lock-In Only" applications, the hooks allow the FDR to slam closed and then hold the FDR closed. This arrangement can allow the use of standard non­locking drawer slides. Note: this requires a different FDR length calculation than the standard shown above.

FDR_Hook

 

 

- Other Applications

Strut Nut Assembly: Drawer slides mount to the Strut Nut Assembly which slides in Austin Hardware Strut Channel. A screw at the bottom allows easy adjustment and clamping of the Strut Nut Assembly at any position in the channel.

Strut_Nut_Assembly

Feel free to contact our Sales Team for technical assistance or help with any application development needs.

- Drawer Release Pro (DRP)

Drawer Release Pro

Click Here For Product Literature

DRP-Shop-Now

Additional Features and Benefits of the Drawer Release Pro:

Simple and sleek, this drawer release is more than functional - it’s intentional. The Drawer Release Pro installs directly to Austin’s 7650 drawer slides using two self-tapping 1/4" shoulder bolts. The Genesis­™ Drawer Release system does not require a pro to install properly. Paired with our 7650 drawer slides, this install is quick and easy. Designed to give the user a convenient one-handed operation similar to our Front Drawer Release (FDR) system. One kit, and you’re all set. This is the cost-effective, functional drawer release option you’ve been looking for.  

  • Quick Installation
  • Bolt-On
  • Zinc Plated Steel Fasteners
  • Extruded Aluminum Handle
  • One-Handed Actuation

Also available in a knurled aluminum extrusion handle

 

- Drawer Release Lite (DRL)

Drawer Release Lite

Click Here For Product Literature

DRL-Shop-Now

Additional Features and Benefits of the Drawer Release Lite:

Simple and sleek, this drawer release is more than functional - it’s intentional. The Drawer Release Lite installs directly to Austin’s 7650 drawer slides using 2 stainless steel 1/4-20 hex head cap screws and nylon lock nuts. The Genesis­™ Drawer Release system does not require a pro to properly install. Paired with our 7650 drawer slides, this install is quick and easy. Designed to give the user a convenient two-handed operation. One kit and you’re all set. This is the cost-effective functional drawer release option you’ve been looking for.

  • Quick Installation
  • Bolt-On
  • 1/4-20 Stainless Steel Hex Head Cap Screw
  • 1/4-20 Standard Zinc Plated Steel Nyloc Nut
  • Extruded Aluminum Handle
  • Only available up to 36"

Also available in a knurled aluminum extrusion handle

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