Self-moving slides and self-moving mechanisms

Abstract

Self-moving mechanisms and slides incorporating the same are provided. A slide has a first member and a second member slidably coupled to the first member. A self moving mechanism is coupled to the second slide members and engages the first slide member for moving the first slide member relative to the second slide member.

1 . A self-moving slide comprising: 
 a first slide member;    a second slide member slidably coupled to the first slide member, wherein the first slide member slides to retract and expand relative to the second slide member along a first path; and    a self-moving mechanism coupled to the second slide member comprising, 
 a housing,  
 a first spring within the housing, an actuator engageable by the first slide member, wherein the actuator is moveable response to a force generated by the first spring along the first path, wherein the first slide member slides over the first spring and the housing, and  
 a second spring for moving the actuator in a direction transverse to the first path.  
   
   
   
       2 . The self-moving slide as recited in  claim 1  wherein the second spring is coupled to the housing.  
   
   
       3 . The self-moving slide as recited in  claim 1  wherein the housing comprises a first wall comprising a slot guiding the actuator and a side wall, wherein the second spring extends from the side wall.  
   
   
       4 . The self-moving slide as recited in  claim 3  wherein the second spring is a leaf spring.  
   
   
       5 . The self-moving slide as recited in  claim 4  wherein the second spring is integral with the housing.  
   
   
       6 . The self-moving slide as recited in  claim 5  wherein the housing with the second spring are formed from a metallic material.  
   
   
       7 . The self-moving slide as recited in  claim 1  wherein the housing comprises a first wall comprising a slot having a first wider portion at a first end and a second wider portion at a second end, wherein the actuator slides along said slot, wherein the second spring moves the actuator across the slot second wider portion.  
   
   
       8 . The self-moving slide as recited in  claim 7  wherein the second spring moves the actuator across the slot second wider portion to reengage the first slide member when the actuator has disengaged from the first slide member.  
   
   
       9 . A self-moving slide comprising: 
 a first slide member;    a second slide member slidably coupled to the first slide member, wherein the first slide member slides relative to the second slide member; and    a self-moving mechanism coupled to the second slide member comprising, 
 a housing, and  
 an actuator comprising two arms engageable by the first slide member, said arms being biased away from each other.  
   
   
   
       10 . The self-moving slide as recited in  claim 9  wherein the housing comprises two slots, wherein an actuator arm slides along each slot.  
   
   
       11 . The self-moving slide as recited in  claim 10  wherein each slot has a first portion and a second portion wider than the first portion, wherein a slot shoulder is defined between the first and second portions of each slot.  
   
   
       12 . The self-moving slide as recited in claim  111  further comprising a spring for urging the actuator from the second slot portions toward the first slot portions.  
   
   
       13 . The self-moving slide as recited in  claim 12  wherein when in the second slot portions, the arms are biased away from each other and the arms are urged by the spring against the slot shoulders.  
   
   
       14 . The self-moving slide as recited in  claim 13  wherein the first slide member comprises an end portion comprising: 
 an arrow shape comprising an arrowhead extending from a neck, said head defining two arrowhead shoulders, one arrowhead shoulder extending from either side of the neck; and    two edges, one on either side of the arrow and spaced apart from the arrow, wherein the edges incline toward each other in a direction from the arrowhead toward the arrow neck.    
   
   
       15 . The self-moving slide as recited in  claim 14  wherein when the arms are engaging the slot shoulders the arrowhead is slideable between the arms.  
   
   
       16 . The self-moving slide as recited in  claim 15  wherein when the arrowhead slides past the arms, the first slide member edges engage the arms and compress them toward each other aligning them with the first portion of the slots, wherein the spring force urges the actuator and the arms along the first portions of the slots, and wherein the arms engage the arrowhead shoulders causing the actuator to exert a force on the arrowhead shoulders and the slide to move.  
   
   
       17 . The self-moving slide as recited in  claim 12  further comprising a pin coupled to the housing, wherein the pin penetrates the spring and wherein the spring is sandwiched between the actuator and a cap at a pin end.  
   
   
       18 . The self-moving slide as recited in  claim 12  wherein the spring is a compression spring.  
   
   
       19 . The self-moving slide as recited in  claim 11  wherein a portion of the housing proximate each slot end opposite each slot second portion flexs to allow the arms to expand away from each other.  
   
   
       20 . The self-moving slide as recited in  claim 9  wherein at least one of the housing and actuator is made of metal.  
   
   
       21 . A self-moving slide comprising: 
 a first slide member;    a second slide member slidably coupled to the first slide member, wherein the first slide member slides relative to the second slide member; and    a self-moving mechanism coupled to the second slide member, wherein the first slide member comprises an end portion comprising, 
 an arrow shape comprising an arrowhead extending from a neck, and  
 two edges, one on either side of the arrow and spaced apart from the arrow, wherein the edges incline toward each other in a direction from the arrowhead toward the arrow neck, wherein the self-moving mechanism engages the arrowhead for self-moving the first slide member.