Soft close mechanism in a drawer slide assembly and method of use

Abstract

A linear bearing drawer slide assembly comprised of a spring damper mechanism attached to a fixed member slidingly engaged with a middle member slidingly engaged with a drawer member. The spring damper mechanism is comprised of a base connected to a guide track which includes a longitudinal channel and a pair of opposing catches. A carriage slidingly engages the guide track. A pivotal latch pivots on a column of the carriage and further includes a pair of posts that extend through the carriage to engage the pair of catches in the guide track. The base and the carriage secure a pair of springs providing a balanced closing force against a damper which reduces unwanted wear and prolongs the useable life of the drawer slide assembly.

1 . A method for controlled closure of a drawer slidingly attached to a drawer cabinet with a drawer slide assembly, the method comprising the steps of:
 moving the drawer in a closing direction;   engaging a pivotal latch with a projection extending from the drawer slide assembly;   rotating the pivotal latch;   sliding the pivotal latch and a connected carriage along a track;   pulling the carriage with a pair of springs against the bias of a damper axially aligned with the track; and,   controlling the closure of the drawer.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  where the step of engaging a pivotal latch further includes:
 deflecting a locator spring; 
 overriding the locator spring; and, 
 abutting a catch. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  where the step of engaging a pivotal latch further includes:
 preventing the projection from inadvertently disengaging from the pivotal latch. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  where the step of rotating the pivotal latch further includes:
 moving a first post and a second post extending from the pivotal latch through a first arcuate slot and a second arcuate slot in the carriage. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  where the step of rotating the pivotal latch further includes:
 moving a first post and a second post extending from the pivotal latch out of a first notch and a second notch in the track; and, 
 aligning the first post and the second post within a longitudinal channel in the track. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  where the step of pulling the carriage further includes:
 positioning each spring of the pair of springs equidistantly on each side of the track. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  where the step of pulling the carriage further includes:
 exerting a balanced force on the carriage; and, 
 preventing a rotational moment about the axis of the carriage perpendicular to the track. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  where the step of pulling the carriage further includes:
 minimizing the wear on the carriage, the track, and the damper. 
 
     
     
         9 . A method for initiating a closing sequence for controlling the rate of closure of a drawer by a balanced force, the method comprising the steps of:
 initiating a force in a closing direction;   deflecting a retainer spring with a coupling pin;   abutting a catch located on a pivotal latch with the coupling spring;   rotating the pivotal latch connected to a carriage;   moving a pair of posts connected to the pivotal latch out of a pair of locking notches located on a track;   pulling the carriage along the track with a balanced force provided by a pair of springs located equidistantly on each side of the track; and,   controlling the rate of closure of the drawer with a damper connected to the carriage.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  where the step of moving further includes moving the pair of posts connected to the pivotal latch through a pair of diametrically opposed arcuate slots in the carriage. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising the step of locating the locking notches in diametric opposition from each other on the track. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  where the step of deflecting further comprises preventing the coupling pin from inadvertently disengaging. 
     
     
         13 . A drawer slide assembly, for mounting a drawer to a cabinet and controlling the closing motion of the drawer, comprising:
 a first slide;   a second slide, engaging the first slide;   a third slide, engaging the second slide, and including a coupling pin;   a spring damper mechanism, mounted to the first slide and releasably engaged with the third slide;   the spring damper mechanism further comprising;
 a frame having a track; 
 the track having an opposing pair of locking notches; 
 a carriage mounted on the track; 
 a pivotal latch, mounted to the carriage, having a pair of opposing locking pins, a flexible retainer spring, and a catch; 
 a damper fixed with respect to the frame and connected to the carriage; 
 a pair of linear springs, connected to the frame and the carriage; 
   whereby, when the drawer slide assembly starts the closing motion, the coupling pin overrides the flexible retainer spring and engages the catch, thereby rotating the pivotal latch and moving the locking pins out of engagement with the pair of opposing locking notches, and retracting the pair of linear springs.   
     
     
         14 . The drawer slide assembly of  claim 13  wherein the flexible retainer prevents the coupling pin from inadvertently disengaging the pivotal latch. 
     
     
         15 . The drawer slide assembly of  claim 13  wherein the pair of linear springs are positioned to prevent a moment force on the carriage about an axis perpendicular to the track. 
     
     
         16 . The drawer slide assembly of  claim 13  wherein the damper further comprises:
 a cylinder; 
 a piston, having a piston rod, operatively mounted in the cylinder; 
 the piston rod having a longitudinal axis; 
 the pair of linear springs includes a first coil spring with a first axis and a second coil spring with a second axis; and 
 wherein the longitudinal axis is equidistant from the first axis and the second axis. 
 
     
     
         17 . The drawer slide assembly of  claim 13  wherein the carriage further includes a pair of arcuate slots accommodating the pair of opposing locking pins. 
     
     
         18 . The drawer slide assembly of  claim 13  where, when the drawer slide assembly starts an opening motion, the coupling pin pulls the carriage and the pivotal latch along the track until the locking pins engage the pair of opposing locking notches thereby rotating the pivotal latch and allowing the coupling pin to override the retainer spring and release the coupling pin from engagement with the pivotal latch. 
     
     
         19 . The drawer slide assembly of  claim 13  wherein during the closing motion, the pair of opposing locking pins are linearly aligned within the guide track. 
     
     
         20 . The drawer slide assembly of  claim 13  wherein the pivotal latch is pivotally connected to a post extending from the carriage and where the post is positioned off a longitudinal axis of the track.