Two-way extended travel slide suspension

An assembly, comprising:

• an outer segment fixable to a surrounding frame;
• a middle segment slidable with respect to the outer segment;
• an inner segment slidable with respect to the middle segment;
• an interlock positioned generally between the middle segment and the inner segment, the interlock including at least a first portion movable toward and away from said inner segment, said first portion being movable between a first position in which the inner segment and the middle segment are locked to move together, and a second position in which the inner segment is free to move with respect to the middle segment, wherein said interlock further comprises a second portion fixed with respect to one of said inner segment and said middle segment, said interlock comprises a single piece, said first portion is cantilevered with respect to said second portion and said interlock is resilient, said first portion defines a camming surface which cooperates with one of said outer segment and said inner segment to move said interlock between one of said first position and said second position and said second position and said first position, said inner segment defines a first edge which defines a first aperture within which said first portion is located when said interlock is in said first position and wherein said middle segment defines a second edge which defines a second aperture within which said camming surface of said first portion extends when said interlock is in said second position.

An assembly, comprising:

• an outer segment fixable to a surrounding frame;
• a middle segment slidable with respect to the outer segment;
• an inner segment slidable with respect to the middle segment;
• an interlock positioned generally between the middle segment and the inner segment, the interlock including at least a first portion movable toward and away from said inner segment, said first portion being movable between a first position in which the inner segment and the middle segment are locked to move together in a first direction and second direction, and a second position in which the inner segment is free to move with respect to the middle segment in said first direction and said second direction, wherein said interlock further comprises a second portion fixed with respect to one of said inner segment and said middle segment, wherein said interlock comprises a single piece, wherein said first portion is cantilevered with respect to said second portion and said interlock is resilient, wherein said first portion defines a camming surface which cooperates with one of said outer segment and said inner segment to move said interlock between one of said first position and said second position and said second position and said first position, wherein said inner segment defines a second edge which defines a second aperture within which said second portion is located when said interlock is in said first position and said second position.

An assembly, comprising:

• an outer segment fixable to a surrounding frame;
• a middle segment slidable with respect to the outer segment;
• an inner segment slidable with respect to the middle segment;
• an interlock positioned generally between the middle segment and the inner segment, the interlock including at least a first portion movable toward and away from said inner segment, said first portion being movable between a first position in which the inner segment and the middle segment are locked to move together in a first direction and second direction, and a second position in which the inner segment is free to move with respect to the middle segment in said first direction and said second direction wherein said inner segment defines a first edge which defines an aperture within which said first portion is located when said interlock is in said first position.

An assembly, comprising:

• an outer segment fixable to a surrounding frame;
• a middle segment slidable with respect to the outer segment;
• an inner segment slidable with respect to the middle segment;
• an interlock positioned generally between the middle segment and the inner segment, the interlock including at least a first portion movable toward and away from said inner segment, said first portion being movable between a first position in which the inner segment and the middle segment are locked to move together, and a second position in which the inner segment is free to move with respect to the middle segment, wherein said inner segment defines a first edge which defines an aperture within which said first portion is located when said interlock is in said first position and wherein said middle segment defines a second edge which defines an aperture through which said first portion extends when said interlock is in said second position.

An assembly, comprising:

• an outer segment fixable to a surrounding frame, said outer segment having a first end and a second end;
• a middle segment slidable with respect to the outer segment;
• an inner segment slidable with respect to the middle segment;
• an interlock, said inner segment and said middle segment movable in a first direction beyond said first end of said outer segment and in a second direction beyond said second end of said outer segment, said interlock preventing relative movement between said inner segment and said middle segment when said middle segment is less than fully extended in said first direction beyond said first end of said outer segment and interlock preventing relative movement between said inner segment and said middle segment when said middle segment is less than fully extended in said second direction beyond said second end of said outer segment, wherein said actuating portion is moved between one of said first position and said second position and said second position and said first position through the direct interaction of force between said interlock and one of said inner segment said middle segment and said outer segment.

A slide assembly, comprising:

• an outer segment fixable to a surrounding frame;
• a middle segment slidable with respect to the outer segment;
• an inner segment slidable with respect to the middle segment;
• an interlock comprising a single piece positioned generally between the middle segment and the inner segment, the interlock including an actuating portion and a fixed portion, said actuating portion being movable between a first position in which the inner segment and the middle segment are locked to move together, and a second position in which the inner segment is free to move with respect to the middle segment, wherein one of said inner segment and said middle segment define a first edge defining a first aperture, and wherein said fixed portion of said interlock is fixed to said one of said inner segment and said middle segment solely through the positioning of said interlock generally between said inner segment and said middle segment and through abutment against said first edge.

A slide assembly, comprising:

• an outer segment fixable to a surrounding frame;
• a middle segment slidable with respect to the outer segment;
• an inner segment slidable with respect to the middle segment;
• an interlock comprising a single piece positioned generally between the middle segment and the inner segment, the interlock including an actuating portion and a fixed portion, said actuating portion being movable between a first position in which the inner segment and the middle segment are locked to move together, and a second position in which the inner segment is free to move with respect to the middle segment, wherein said actuating portion is moved between one of said first position and said second position and said second position and said first position through the direct interaction of force between said interlock and one of said inner segment, said middle segment and said outer segment.

An assembly, comprising:

• a first slide assembly, comprising:
• a first outer segment fixable to a surrounding frame;
• a first middle segment slidable with respect to the outer segment;
• a first inner segment slidable with respect to the middle segment;
• a first interlock positioned generally between the first middle segment and the first inner segment, the first interlock including at least a first portion movable toward and away from said first inner segment, said first portion of said first interlock being movable between a first position in which the first inner segment and the first middle segment are locked to move together, and a second position in which the first inner segment is free to move with respect to the first middle segment, wherein said first portion is moved between one of said first position and said second position and said second position and said first position through the direct interaction of force between said interlock and one of said inner segment, said middle segment and said outer segment;
• a second slide assembly, comprising:
• a second outer segment fixable to a surrounding frame;
• a second middle segment slidable with respect to the outer segment;
• a second inner segment slidable with respect to the middle segment;
• a second interlock positioned generally between the second middle segment and the second inner segment, the second interlock including at least a first portion movable toward and away from said second inner segment, said first portion of said second interlock being movable between a first position in which the second inner segment and the second middle segment are locked to move together, and a second position in which the second inner segment is free to move with respect to the second middle segment, wherein said first portion is moved between one of said first position and said second position and said second position and said first position through the direct interaction of force between said interlock and one of said inner segment, said middle segment and said outer segment;
• and
• a slidable member having a first side and a second side, said first inner segment secured to said first side of said slidable member and said second inner segment secured to said second side of said slidable member.

A method of sequencing the opening of an assembly having a first outer segment, a middle segment slidable with respect to said first outer segment, and an inner segment slidable with respect to said middle segment, comprising:

• positioning an interlock generally between said middle segment and said inner segment;
• moving, through the direct interaction of force between said interlock and one of said inner segment, said middle segment and said outer segment, at least a first portion of said interlock one of toward and away from said inner segment to a first position to lock said inner segment with respect to said middle segment;
• and
• moving, through the direct interaction of force between said interlock and one of said inner segment, said middle segment and said outer segment, at least said first portion of said interlock one of toward and away from said inner segment to a second position to permit relative movement between said inner segment and said middle segment.

An assembly, comprising:

• an outer segment fixable to a surrounding frame;
• a middle segment slidable with respect to the outer segment;
• an inner segment slidable with respect to the middle segment;
• an interlock positioned generally between the middle segment and the inner segment, the interlock including at least a first portion movable toward and away from said inner segment, said first portion being movable between a first position in which the inner segment and the middle segment are locked to move together, and a second position in which the inner segment is free to move with respect to the middle segment, wherein said first portion defines a camming surface which cooperates with one of said outer segment and said inner segment to move said interlock between one of said first position and said second position and said second position and said first position, wherein said inner segment defines a first edge which defines a first aperture within which said first portion is located when said interlock is in said first position and wherein said middle segment defines a second edge which defines a second aperture within which said camming surface of said first portion extends when said interlock is in said second position.