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US 2009/0021129 A1Published application
Self Closing Mechanism for Drawer Slides
AssigneeAccuride International, Inc.
InventorsThomas Sheng-Shyong Hu, John Tyler Wright
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A self-closing mechanism for drawer slides includes a stationary housing, a slider, and a latch. The slider is configured to slide relative to the housing, and the latch is configured to translate along with the slider and to rotate within the slider to lock and unlock the slider at predetermined locations. The housing may be coupled to a cabinet member, with a drawer member adapted to engage the latch as the drawer is opened and/or closed. In embodiments of the invention, the self-closing mechanism may include a damper mechanism, such as, e.g., a cylindrical damper or a rotary gear damper.
Claims35
A drawer slide comprising:
- a first slide member;
- a second slide member, said second slide member being slidable with respect to the first slide member;
- and
- a self-closing mechanism comprising:
- a stationary housing coupled to the first slide member, said housing having a back end, a front end, and a pair of parallel rails extending from the housing's front end toward the back end thereof;
- a slider having a back end and a front end, said slider being configured to slide along said parallel rails and relative to the first slide member;
- a first spring having a back end coupled to said back end of the housing, and a front end coupled to the slider;
- and
- a latch rotatably disposed within, and extending transversely through, said slider, wherein the latch is engageable with the second slide member and is configured to slide between said parallel rails, and wherein the latch and slider move linearly between a first, drawer-closed position in which the latch and slider are disposed towards the back end of the housing and a second position in which the latch and slider are disposed proximate the front end of the housing.
6 more elements
A drawer slide comprising:
- a first slide member;
- a second slide member, said second slide member including a transverse pin and being slidable with respect to the first slide member;
- and
- a self-closing mechanism comprising:
- a slider having a back end, a front end, and first and second spring posts disposed proximate laterally-opposite sides of the slider's back end;
- a stationary housing coupled to the first slide member, said housing having a back end, a front end, a pair of parallel rails extending from the housing's front end toward the back end thereof, and third and fourth spring-posts disposed, respectively, proximate laterally opposite sides of the back end thereof, wherein the slider is configured to slide along said parallel rails and relative to the first slide member;
- first and second springs, each spring having a back end and a front end, wherein the front end of the first spring is coupled to the first spring post, the back end of the first spring is coupled to the third spring post, the front end of the second spring is coupled to the second spring post, and the back end of the second spring is coupled to the fourth spring post, such that the first and second springs are disposed in parallel and laterally spaced-apart relationship with respect to one another;
- a latch rotatably disposed within, and extending transversely through, said slider, wherein the latch is configured to receive said pin so as to engage with the second slide member;
- and
- a damping mechanism configured to dampen the motion of the slider.
7 more elements
A drawer slide comprising:
- a first slide member;
- a second slide member, said second slide member being slidable with respect to the first slide member;
- and
- a self-closing mechanism comprising:
- a stationary housing coupled to the first slide member, said housing having a back end and a front end;
- a slider having a back end and a front end, said slider being configured to slide along said housing and relative to the first slide member;
- a first spring having a back end coupled to said back end of the housing, and a front end coupled to the slider;
- a second spring having a back end coupled to said back end of the housing, and a front end coupled to the slider;
- a latch rotatably disposed within, and extending transversely through, said slider;
- and
- a rotary damper having at least one gear, wherein the damper is housed within the housing.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.