Front-release lock arrangement for slide assembly

Abstract

A slide assembly including at least a first slide segment and a second slide segment. A bearing assembly is provided between the segments to facilitate sliding movement therebetween. A split lock arm attached to the first slide segment includes a first arm and a second arm. The first arm has a notch, and the second arm has a notch and an angled portion. The notches receive and lock a stop of the second slide segment when the second slide segment is moved to a fully extended state relative to the first slide segment. The second slide segment is releasable from the fully extended state by actuating a spring-biased release member such that the release member engages the angled portion of the second arm. The release member is configured to bias the second arm such that the notch is moved out of alignment with the stop. Accordingly, retraction of the second slide within the first slide is permitted. Simultaneously, the notch on the first arm remains in alignment with the stop and prevents unintentional removal of the second slide segment from the first slide segment.

1 . A slide assembly, comprising: 
 a first slide segment including an upper portion, a lower portion, and a web extending between said upper portion and said lower portion;    a second slide segment including an upper portion, a lower portion, and a web extending between said upper portion and said lower portion, said second slide segment telescopingly engaged with the first slide segment;    a slide lock arrangement movable in a transverse direction relative to said web of said first slide segment between a locked position, wherein said first slide segment is secured in a substantially fixed position with respect to said second slide segment, and an unlocked position, wherein said first slide segment is movable relative to said second slide segment;    a slide lock release comprising a release body and a biasing arrangement, said release body movable along a longitudinal axis of said first slide segment, in response to a force applied in a first direction, to contact and move said slide lock arrangement in said transverse direction to said unlocked position, said biasing arrangement configured to move said release body in a second direction, upon removal of said force, to allow said slide lock arrangement to move from said unlocked position, toward said locked position, wherein said biasing arrangement comprises a cam surface defined by one of said first slide segment and said release body, an arm supported by the other of said first slide segment and said release body and including a cam follower, said arm biased to move along said cam surface, said cam surface configured to move said release body in said second direction in response to said biasing of said arm.    
   
   
       2 . The slide assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said cam surface is defined by an angled slot in said one of said first slide segment and said release body, wherein said arm moves in a direction from a relaxed position, toward a biased position, when said release body moves in said first direction.  
   
   
       3 . The slide assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising a leaf spring having a first end and a second end, said first end supported by said other of said first slide segment and said release body and said second end arranged to apply a biasing force to said arm.  
   
   
       4 . The slide assembly of  claim 3 , wherein said arm is configured to move in a plane substantially parallel to a web of said first slide segment, and said leaf spring is configured to inhibit movement of said arm in a direction perpendicular to said plane and away from said first slide segment.  
   
   
       5 . The slide assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said release body is supported within a channel defined by said first slide segment, and between said first slide segment and said second slide segment.  
   
   
       6 . The slide assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a rearward end of said release body contacts said slide lock arrangement, said rearward end including a chamfered surface configured to contact an engagement surface of said slide lock arrangement.  
   
   
       7 . The slide assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a surface of said release body facing a web of said first slide segment includes a central groove.  
   
   
       8 . The slide assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said slide lock arrangement is configured to permit movement of said first slide segment in only one direction with respect to said second slide segment said unlocked position.  
   
   
       9 . A slide assembly, comprising: 
 a first slide segment having a forward end and a rearward end;    a second slide segment having a forward end and a rearward end, said second slide segment telescopingly engaged with the first slide segment;    a slide lock arrangement movable between a locked position, wherein said first slide segment is secured in a substantially fixed position with respect to said second slide segment, and an unlocked position, wherein said first slide segment is movable relative to said second slide segment;    a slide lock release comprising a release body and a biasing arrangement, said release body movable relative to said first slide segment between a first position, wherein said slide lock arrangement is permitted to move to said locked position, and a second position, wherein said slide lock arrangement is moved to said unlocked position, said biasing arrangement configured to bias said release body toward said first position;    wherein said release body is positioned toward said forward end of said first slide segment relative to said slide lock arrangement, and wherein a rearward-most end of said release body is spaced from a forward-most end of said slide lock arrangement in said first position of said release body, and wherein said first slide segment is movable relative to said second slide segment in only one direction in said unlocked position of said slide lock arrangement.    
   
   
       10 . The slide assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said slide lock arrangement includes a substantially planar lock arm, wherein said release body and said lock arm are positioned substantially coplanar with one another.  
   
   
       11 . The slide assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said slide lock arrangement is further movable to a released position in which said first slide segment is moveable in both directions relative to said second slide segment, said slide assembly additionally comprising an actuator configured to move said slide lock arrangement to said released position without movement of said release body.  
   
   
       12 . The slide assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said release body is accessible from forward end of said first slide segment in said first position and moves rearwardly relative to first slide segment to second position.  
   
   
       13 . The slide assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said biasing arrangement comprises a cam surface defined by one of said first slide segment and said release body, an arm supported by the other of said first slide segment and said release body, said arm including a cam follower and being biased to move along said cam surface, said cam surface configured to move said release body in said second direction in response to said biasing force.  
   
   
       14 . The slide assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said cam surface is defined by angled slot in said one of said first slide segment and said release body, wherein said arm moves in a direction from a relaxed position, toward a biased position, when said release body moves in said first direction.  
   
   
       15 . The slide assembly of  claim 14 , further comprising a leaf spring having a first end and a second end, said first end supported by said other of said first slide segment and said release body and said second end arranged to apply a biasing force to said arm.  
   
   
       16 . The slide assembly of  claim 15 , wherein said arm is configured to move in a plane substantially parallel to a web of said first slide segment, and said leaf spring is configured to inhibit movement of said arm in a direction perpendicular to said plane and away from said first slide segment.  
   
   
       17 . The slide assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said release body is supported within a channel defined by said first slide segment, and between said first slide segment and said second slide segment.  
   
   
       18 . The slide assembly of  claim 9 , wherein a rearward end of said release body contacts said slide lock arrangement, said rearward end including a chamfered surface configured to contact an engagement surface of said slide lock arrangement.  
   
   
       19 . The slide assembly of  claim 9 , wherein a surface of said release body facing a web of said first slide segment includes a central groove.  
   
   
       20 . The slide assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said slide lock arrangement is configured to permit movement of said first slide segment in only one direction with respect to said second slide segment said unlocked position.  
   
   
       21 . A slide assembly, comprising: 
 at least one slide segment including an upper portion, a lower portion and a web extending between said upper portion and said lower portion;    an actuator comprising an elongate, planar body configured to be supported between said upper and lower portions of said slide segment and moveable along a longitudinal axis of said slide segment, an arm extending from said body and biased in a first direction, said arm including a cam follower configured to engage a cam surface of said slide segment to move said actuator relative to said slide segment in response to said biasing of said arm.    
   
   
       22 . The slide assembly of  claim 21 , wherein said arm is unitarily formed with body.  
   
   
       23 . The slide assembly of  claim 21 , wherein said cam surface is linear and defined by angled slot in said slide segment.  
   
   
       24 . The slide assembly of  claim 21 , additionally comprising a leaf spring held by body and applying a biasing force to said arm.  
   
   
       25 . The slide assembly of  claim 24 , wherein said leaf spring substantially prevents arm from moving out of plane with body to maintain cam follower in contact with cam surface.