Sliding door systems

A movement assistance mechanism for a door, the movement assistance mechanism comprising:

• a housing defining a first track and a second track, the second track including a longitudinally-extending portion and a proximal jog that extends at an angle relative to the longitudinally-extending portion;
• a latch mounted for movement relative to the housing and engaged with the first track such that the first track guides the latch for movement between a proximal home position, a distal cocked position, and an intermediate position between the proximal home position and the distal cocked position, wherein the latch is engaged with the second track such that the proximal jog causes retraction of the latch during movement of the latch from the intermediate position to the proximal home position;
• a spring engaged between the housing and the latch, the spring exerting a biasing force urging the latch toward the home position;
• a pinion gear rotatably mounted to the housing and positioned at least partially outside the housing;
• an intermediate gear rotatably mounted to the housing and positioned inside the housing, wherein the exterior pinion gear is operable to rotate the intermediate gear;
• and
• a rack engaged with the intermediate gear such that rotation of the pinion gear causes a corresponding linear movement of the rack;
• wherein the rack is coupled with the latch such that rotation of the pinion gear in a first rotational direction distally drives the latch from the home position toward the cocked position, thereby storing mechanical energy in the spring;
• and
• wherein the first track is configured to retain the latch in the cocked position against the biasing force of the spring.

A movement assistance mechanism, comprising:

• a housing extending along a longitudinal axis defining a proximal direction and an opposite distal direction;
• a latch mechanism movably mounted in the housing, the latch mechanism comprising:
• a carriage movably connected to the housing;
• and
• a latch movably mounted to the carriage;
• wherein the latch mechanism is movable between a proximal home position and a distal cocked position, and has an intermediate position between the home position and the cocked position;
• and
• a spring urging the latch mechanism toward the home position;
• wherein the housing further comprises a first track configured to guide the carriage during movement of the latch mechanism, and to retain the latch mechanism in the cocked position against the urging of the spring;
• and
• wherein the housing further comprises a second track configured to guide the latch during movement of the latch mechanism, and to cause the latch to retract relative to the carriage as the latch mechanism travels from the intermediate position to the home position.