Drawer Closer with Storage Unit

Abstract

A cabinet with sliding drawers has a mechanism for applying motive force in a first direction. The motive force is obtained from motion of the mechanism in an opposite second direction. The mechanism includes a cam and a cam follower. The cam includes a first part, a second part and an inflection point between the first part and the second part. The cam follower engages with the cam. The cam follower is configured to store mechanical energy responsive to translation of the follower and cam relative to each other in the second direction along the first part. The cam follower is also configured to apply motive force in the first direction to urge the follower to continue translation in the second direction along the second part. The motive force is applied after the follower passes the inflection point.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A storage unit comprised of:
 a cabinet;   a drawer;   at least one drawer slide coupled between the cabinet and drawer, the at least one drawer slide configured to enable the drawer to translate between an open position and a closed position relative to the cabinet; and   a drawer closer coupled between the cabinet and drawer, the drawer closer comprised of:   a cam having a first part having an inclined part and a declined part relative to the front of the drawer and an inflection point between them; and   a cam follower being configured to store and release mechanical energy responsive to translation of the cam follower over the inclined and declined parts, relative to the cam, translation of the cam follower relative to the cam corresponding to translation of the drawer into and out of the cabinet.   
     
     
         2 . The storage unit of  claim 1 , wherein the follower is comprised of a lever, a roller and a spring, the lever having first and second ends and pivoting around a first axis of rotation, the roller being attached to the first end of the lever, the spring being attached to the second end of the lever, the roller being configured to engage the cam and rotate the lever around the first axis of rotation responsive to translation of the drawer relative to the cabinet, the spring being coupled to the second end of the lever and configured to store and release mechanical energy responsive to translation of the drawer relative to the cabinet. 
     
     
         3 . The storage unit of  claim 1 , wherein the cam is further comprised of a curved portion between the inclined part and the declined part referenced to the front of the drawer, the curved portion forming an arc, which is comprised of the inflection point, wherein the inclined part is comprised of a first planar portion having a first length and a first angle of inclination, the declined part is comprised of a second inclined planar portion having a second length and a second angle of inclination, the first and second angles of inclination being different from each other. 
     
     
         4 . The storage unit of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second lengths are selected to determine a location along the length of travel where a closing force is applied to the drawer by the drawer closer. 
     
     
         5 . The storage unit of  claim 1 , wherein the cam is attached to the cabinet and the cam follower is attached to the drawer. 
     
     
         6 . The storage unit of  claim 1 , wherein the cam is attached to the drawer and the cam follower is attached to the cabinet.