Pressure release slide latch mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9648952-B2
Application number	US-201414566917-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 11, 2014
Priority date	Apr 30, 2012
Publication date	May 16, 2017
Grant date	May 16, 2017

Abstract

A pressure release slide latch mechanism for a drawer slide assembly comprises an outer slide, an intermediate slide mounted in the outer slide, and an inner slide mounted in the intermediate slide, a channel plate having a track portion and a guide block attached to the outer slide and a carriage slidingly engaged and biased along the track portion. A pin of a follower pivotally attached to the inner slide engages the guide block to releasably maintain the drawer slide assembly in a closed position and releases upon an inward force applied to the drawer slide assembly.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A pressure release slide latch mechanism for a drawer slide assembly comprising:
an outer slide member;
an intermediate slide member telescopically mounted to the outer slide member;
an inner slide member having a guide slot, telescopically mounted to the intermediate slide member;
a follower having a range of entry positions and pivotally connected to the inner slide member, the follower comprising a pin and a guide post slidingly engaged with the guide slot;
a channel plate having a track and a guide block, connected to the outer slide member, where an entrance to the guide block includes a first redirecting surface and a second redirecting surface;
the guide block further comprising:
an inlet shoulder, having an inlet peak, defining the first redirecting surface;
an outlet shoulder, having an outlet peak, defining the second redirecting surface;
an inlet channel adjacent the inlet peak and the first redirecting surface; and,
an outlet channel adjacent the outlet peak and the second redirecting surface;

a carriage slidingly engaged with the track;
a biasing means, creating a bias between the carriage and the channel plate;
whereby the inner slide member and the intermediate slide member are releasably maintained in a locked position with respect to the outer slide member by the follower engaging the guide block against the bias and released upon a proximal force applied to the inner slide member, thereby disengaging the follower from the guide block.

2. The pressure release slide latch mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the guide block further comprises:
a ramp adjacent the inlet channel and the outlet channel;
a plurality of redirecting surfaces adjacent the inlet channel and the outlet channel;
a latch member adjacent the inlet channel and the outlet channel; and
wherein the plurality of redirecting surfaces and the latch member define the inlet channel and the outlet channel.

3. The pressure release slide latch mechanism of claim 2 further comprising:
where the inlet shoulder and the outlet shoulder are adjacent the ramp; and,
whereby the guide slot and the guide post limit a pivotal movement of the follower.

4. The pressure release slide latch mechanism of claim 1 , wherein a set of dimensions of the guide slot limit an arcuate path through which the follower pivotally moves thereby enabling the pin to consistently engage the entrance.

5. 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.

6. The drawer slide assembly of claim 5 , wherein a set of dimensions of the guide slot limits the rotation of the follower thereby guiding the pin to consistently enter the ramp.

7. The drawer slide assembly of claim 5 , wherein when the drawer slide assembly enters a closing sequence, the pin enters the ramp, the first redirecting surface or the second redirecting surface directs the pin to the third redirecting surface, the third redirecting surface directs the pin through the inlet channel and into the first positioning recess, thereby rotating the follower, moving the pin into releasable engagement with the latch member, and the pair of springs biasing the carriage maintain the pin in releasable engagement with the latch member.

8. The drawer slide assembly of claim 5 , wherein when the drawer slide assembly enters an opening sequence, a proximal force against the bias of the pair of springs releases the pin from engagement with the latch member, the fourth redirecting surface directs the pin into the second positioning recess, the bias of the pair of springs pulls the pin through the outlet channel, the outlet shoulder directs the pin to exit the guide block through the ramp, thereby rotating the follower and positioning the pin for further engagement with the ramp.

9. 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.

10. The push to open mechanism of claim 9 , wherein the sliding engagement of the guide post with the drawer slide assembly limits the pivotal movement of the follower.

11. The push to open mechanism of claim 9 , wherein when the push to open mechanism enters an opening sequence, a proximal force against the bias of the pair of springs releases the pin from engagement with the latch member, the fourth redirecting surface directs the pin into the second positioning recess, the bias of the pair of springs pulls the pin through the outlet channel, the outlet shoulder directs the pin to the ramp, thereby rotating the follower and positioning the pin for further engagement with the ramp.

12. 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 i

Assignees

• Hardware Resources Inc

Inventors

• Nuckolls Grant

Classifications

• A47B88/487 Primary

  with rollers, ball bearings, wheels, or the like · CPC title

• A47B88/46

  operated by mechanically-stored energy, e.g. by springs · CPC title

• A47B88/453

  Actuated drawers · CPC title

• Y10T29/49764

  with testing or indicating · CPC title

• Y10T29/49

  Method of mechanical manufacture · CPC title