Self-closing slide mechanism with damping

A self-closing slide movable between an open position and a closed position, comprising:

• a frame;
• a frame gear on the frame;
• a carriage configured for movement along the frame;
• a carriage gear carried by the carriage and positioned for movement along the frame gear;
• a damper operably connected to the carriage gear and to the carriage;
• and
• a moveable engaging element operably mounted to the carriage and to the damper, the engaging element movable between a first, engaged position in which the damper is engaged and a second, disengaged position in which the damper is disengaged,
• wherein when the carriage is moved from the closed position toward the open position, the engaging element is in the second, disengaged position and the carriage gear freely rotates on the frame gear, and wherein when the slide is moved from the open position toward the closed position, the engaging element is in the first, engaged position to dampen rotation of the carriage gear.

A self-closing slide movable between an open position and a closed position, the slide being dampened in movement from the open position to the closed position and undampened in movement from the closed position to the open position, comprising:

• a frame having a linear gear thereon;
• a pinion gear/damper assembly including a damper, moveable along the frame, the damper being engaged when the slide is moved from the open position to the closed position and disengaged when the slide is moved from the closed position to the open position;
• a biasing element for biasing the pinion gear damper assembly to the closed position;
• and
• a moveable engaging element for selectively engaging the damper when the slide is moved from the open position to the closed position and for disengaging the damper when the slide is moved from the closed position to the open position.

A self-closing slide moveable between an open position and a closed position, the slide being dampened in movement from the open position to the closed position and undampened in movement from the closed position to the open position, comprising:

• a frame having a linear gear thereon;
• a pinion gear/damper assembly including a damper, moveable along the frame, the damper being engaged when the slide is moved from the open position to the closed position and disengaged when the slide is moved from the closed position to the open position, wherein the pinion gear/damper assembly includes a shaft extending therefrom providing an axis of rotation for the assembly;
• a carriage configured for movement along the frame, wherein the pinion gear/damper assembly is carried by the carriage;
• a biasing element for biasing the pinion gear damper assembly to the closed position;
• and
• a moveable engaging element for selectively engaging the damper when the slide is moved from the open position to the closed position and for disengaging the damper when the slide is moved from the closed position to the open position, wherein the engaging element includes an engagement gear carried by the carriage and operably mounted to the pinion gear/damper assembly shaft.