Pressure release slide latch mechanism

A drawer slide assembly for mounting a drawer to a cabinet comprising:

• a first slide;
• a second slide, engaging the first slide;
• a third slide, engaging the second slide;
• a pressure release mechanism, attached to the first slide and the third slide;
• the pressure release mechanism further comprising:
• a channel plate having a track and a guide block, attached to the first slide;
• the guide block further comprising a ramp leading to an inlet shoulder having a first redirecting surface and an inlet peak and an outlet shoulder having a second redirecting surface and an outlet peak, a latch member between the inlet and outlet shoulders and having a third redirecting surface, the inlet peak adjacent an inlet channel, the inlet channel leading to a first positioning recess, a fourth redirecting surface between the first positioning recess and a second positioning recess, the second positioning recess leading to an outlet channel, and the outlet channel adjacent the outlet peak;
• the inlet peak and the outlet peak are offset such that the inlet peak is closer to the latch member;
• a carriage slidably mounted on the track;
• a follower having a pin and a guide post and a range of entry positions, pivotally attached to the third slide;
• the pin engaging the guide block;
• the guide post engaging a guide slot in the third slide;
• and
• a pair of springs fixed to the channel plate and the carriage, biasing the carriage against the channel plate.

A push to open mechanism attached to a drawer slide assembly for releasably maintaining a drawer of a piece of furniture in a closed position, the push to open mechanism comprising:

• a channel plate having a track and a guide block;
• the guide block further comprising a ramp leading to an inlet shoulder having a first redirecting surface and an inlet peak and an outlet shoulder having a second redirecting surface and an outlet peak, a latch member between the inlet shoulder and the outlet shoulder and having a third redirecting surface, the inlet peak adjacent an inlet channel, the inlet channel leading to a first positioning recess, a fourth redirecting surface between the first positioning recess and a second positioning recess, the second positioning recess leading to an outlet channel, and the outlet channel adjacent the outlet peak;
• a carriage slidingly engaged with the track;
• a pair of springs connected to the track and the carriage, biasing the carriage along the track;
• a follower having a range of entry positions and pivotally connected to the drawer slide assembly;
• and
• the follower including a pin for releasable engagement with the latch member and a guide post, wherein the guide post slidingly engages with the drawer slide assembly.

A pressure release mechanism attached to a drawer slide assembly including an outer slide, an intermediate slide telescopically mounted to the outer slide, and an inner slide telescopically mounted to the intermediate slide, comprises:

• a channel plate having a track and a guide block, connected to the outer slide, where an entrance to the guide block includes a first redirecting surface having an inlet peak and a second redirecting surface having an outlet peak;
• the guide block defines a circuitous path having a latch surface and an inlet path adjacent the inlet peak and an outlet path adjacent the outlet peak;
• a pivoting follower attached to the inner slide and having a latch pin and a range of entry positions;
• a guide post attached to the pivoting follower and slidingly engaged with a guide slot in the inner slide;
• a carriage slidingly engaged with and biased along a linear path on the track;
• whereby the intermediate slide and the inner slide urge the carriage along the linear path and the latch pin follows the circuitous path to the latch surface to a closed retracted position in a closing sequence, and the latch pin disengages from the latch surface and follows the circuitous path to an open position in an opening sequence.