Sliding mechanism with spring positioning
AssigneeInterplex NAS, Inc.
InventorJack Seidler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sliding mechanism includes two members, one of which is slidable with respect to the other along an axis. One of the members slides back and forth with respect to the other between a first position and a second position. A leaf spring is used as a positioning element to hold one of the members in either the first position or the second position. The leaf spring is attached to one of the two members and the other of the two members includes a projection. The leaf spring abuts the projection holding the slidable member in either the first position or the second position. When a user pushes one of the members from one position to another, the projection pushes the leaf spring out of the way until it passes an apex of the leaf spring and is held in the other position.
Claims18
A sliding mechanism comprising:
- a first member;
- a second member slidably engaged with the first member and slidable along a first axis;
- a guide mechanism disposed between the first member and the second member, the guide mechanism being operable to limit movement of the first member with respect to the second member in directions other than along the first axis;
- a projection fixedly connected to the first member and slidable between first and second positions with respect to the second member;
- and
- a resilient leaf spring attached to the second member, the leaf spring in sliding engagement with the projection, the leaf spring being operable to restrain the projection in the first position or the second position.
A portable device comprising:
- a bottom member;
- a top member slidably engaged with the bottom member and slidable along a first axis;
- a guide mechanism disposed between the bottom member and the top member operable to limit movement of the top member with respect to the bottom member in directions orthogonal to the first axis;
- a resilient leaf spring attached to the top member at a connection point, the leaf spring defining a second axis passing through the connection point and an end of the leaf spring that is opposite the connection point, the leaf spring having an apex located at a first distance from the second axis;
- and
- a projection fixedly connected to the bottom member that contacts the leaf spring at a contact point, the contact point being disposed at a distance from the second axis that is less than the first distance,
- wherein the projection is slidable between a first position and a second position, the leaf spring is in sliding engagement with said projection and operable to retain the projection in one of the first position and the second position, and the projection is operable to deform the leaf spring as it moves from the first position to the second position.
A portable device comprising:
- a top member;
- a bottom member slidably engaged with the top member and slidable along a first axis between an open position where the top and bottom members do not completely overlap and a closed position where the top and bottom members completely overlap;
- a guide mechanism disposed between the first member and the second member, the guide mechanism being operable to limit movement of the first member with respect to the second member in directions other than along the first axis;
- a projection fixedly connected to the first member and slidable with respect to the second member through a path, the path including a first position at one end corresponding to the open position and a second position at another end corresponding to the closed position;
- and
- a resilient leaf spring attached to the second member and in sliding engagement with the projection, the leaf spring being operable to restrain the projection in the first position or the second position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.