Self-closing slide mechanism with damping
First Claim
1. A self-closing slide movable between an open position and a closed position, comprising:
- a frame;
a linear gear on the frame;
a carriage configured for movement along the frame;
a biasing element operably connecting the frame and the carriage to bias the carriage to the closed position;
a pinion gear carried by the carriage and positioned for movement along the linear gear with movement of the carriage along the frame;
a damper operably connected to the pinion gear and to the carriage; and
an engagement gear operably mounted to the carriage and operably connected to the damper, the engagement gear movable between a first, engaged position in which the engagement gear engages the damper and a second, disengaged position in which the engagement gear disengages the damper, wherein when the carriage is moved from the closed position toward the open position, the engagement gear is in the second, disengaged position to disengage the damper so that the pinion gear rotates, moving along the linear gear in an undampened state, and wherein when the carriage is moved from the open position toward the closed position, the engagement gear is in the first, engaged position to engage the damper, damping rotation of the pinion gear along the linear gear.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A self-closing slide is movable between an open position and a closed position. The slide includes a frame, a linear gear on the frame and a carriage configured for movement along the frame. A biasing element operably connects the frame and the carriage to bias the carriage to the closed position. A pinion gear is carried by the carriage and is positioned for movement along the linear gear with movement of the carriage along the frame. A damper is operably connected to the pinion gear and to the carriage and an engagement gear is operably mounted to the carriage and to the damper. The engagement gear is movable between a first, engaged position in which the engagement gear engages the damper and a second, disengaged position in which the engagement gear disengages the damper. When the carriage is moved from the closed position toward the open position, the engagement gear is in the second, disengaged position to disengage the damper so that the pinion gear rotates. When the carriage is moved from the open position toward the closed position, the engagement gear is in the first, engaged position to engage the damper, damping rotation of the pinion gear along the linear gear.
-
Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A self-closing slide movable between an open position and a closed position, comprising:
-
a frame;
a linear gear on the frame;
a carriage configured for movement along the frame;
a biasing element operably connecting the frame and the carriage to bias the carriage to the closed position;
a pinion gear carried by the carriage and positioned for movement along the linear gear with movement of the carriage along the frame;
a damper operably connected to the pinion gear and to the carriage; and
an engagement gear operably mounted to the carriage and operably connected to the damper, the engagement gear movable between a first, engaged position in which the engagement gear engages the damper and a second, disengaged position in which the engagement gear disengages the damper, wherein when the carriage is moved from the closed position toward the open position, the engagement gear is in the second, disengaged position to disengage the damper so that the pinion gear rotates, moving along the linear gear in an undampened state, and wherein when the carriage is moved from the open position toward the closed position, the engagement gear is in the first, engaged position to engage the damper, damping rotation of the pinion gear along the linear gear. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. 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. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. 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. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
-
-
14. 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. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
-
Specification