Assisted-motion systems and methods

Abstract

A system for assisting the linear opening and closing movement of a pull-out component relative to a housing includes a first bracket coupled to a slide member of the housing, a second bracket coupled to the pull-out component, and a strut that, at one end, is pivotally coupled to the first bracket and, at a second end, is pivotally coupled to the second bracket. The strut includes an elongate hollow member that houses a spring and a cylindrical piston, as well as a rod sub-assembly that translates through one end of the hollow member. The cylindrical piston is situated between, and at its respective ends is coupled to, the spring and the rod sub-assembly. The free end of the spring is held inside the hollow member by a clevis for the first bracket, and the free end of the rod sub-assembly includes a clevis for the second bracket.

1 . A system for assisting the opening and closing movement of a pull-out component relative to a housing, said housing having a slide member coupled to an interior wall thereof, and said pull-out component being linearly slidable into and out of said housing, the system comprising:
 a first bracket coupled to said slide member of the housing;   a second bracket coupled proximate a rear end of said pull-out component; and   a strut having a first end coupled to the first bracket and an opposing second end coupled to the second bracket, said strut comprising:
 a straight hollow member having opposing first and second ends; 
 a spring having opposing first and second ends and being housed within said straight hollow member; 
 a cylindrical piston having first and second longitudinal portions, wherein the second longitudinal portion extends axially through the spring's second end and the first longitudinal portion extends axially outside of the spring's second end, said first longitudinal portion having a larger diameter than said second longitudinal portion; and 
 a rod sub-assembly that is coupled to said piston and translates axially through said second end of the straight hollow member. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first bracket includes a lower horizontal surface and a clevis pin extending vertically upwards from said lower horizontal surface. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said housing is a cabinet, and said slide member is a cabinet slide member. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the strut further includes a cabinet bracket clevis, said cabinet bracket clevis being coupled to said first end of the straight hollow member and being configured to pivotally engage said clevis pin. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the cabinet bracket clevis detachably engages the clevis pin. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the cabinet bracket clevis includes a substantially C-shaped coupling member and the first bracket's clevis pin is configured to snap into said cabinet bracket clevis. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the coupling member is configured to pivot about the clevis pin during linear opening and closing movement of the pull-out component. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein, opposite said coupling member, the cabinet bracket clevis has a substantially flat portion, and wherein said first end of the compression spring is disposed on said flat portion of the cabinet bracket clevis. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the cabinet bracket clevis is detachably coupled to said straight hollow member via a first locking clip. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said first locking clip has a U-shaped brace that is configured to contact the periphery of the straight hollow member. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the first bracket's lower horizontal surface is configured to be coupled to the cabinet slide member. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the first bracket further includes an upper horizontal surface and a vertical spine connecting said lower and upper horizontal surfaces, said upper horizontal surface being configured to be coupled to said cabinet slide member. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the spring is a compression spring. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second bracket includes a horizontal section, a vertical section, and a clevis pin extending vertically downwards from an undersurface of said horizontal section. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the vertical section includes transverse attachment holes for coupling the second bracket to the rear end of the pull-out component. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said rod sub-assembly includes an elongate stem, with a rod tail at a first end thereof and a pull-out component bracket clevis at a second end thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the rod sub-assembly is a unitary component. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the pull-out component is a drawer having a rear panel at its rear end;   the stem has a first axial receptacle proximate its first end and a second axial receptacle proximate its second end;   the rod tail is matingly received within said first receptacle; and   the drawer bracket clevis is matingly received within said second receptacle.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the drawer bracket clevis includes a press-fit member that is received within said second receptacle, and a coupling portion that is oriented away from the stem's second end. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the second bracket includes a horizontal section, a vertical section that is configured to be attached to the drawer's rear panel, and a clevis pin extending vertically downwards from an undersurface of the horizontal section; and   the coupling portion of the drawer bracket clevis detachably engages the second bracket's clevis pin.   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the coupling portion of the drawer bracket clevis is substantially U-shaped and the second bracket's clevis pin is configured to snap into said drawer bracket clevis. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the coupling portion of the drawer bracket clevis is configured to pivot about the second bracket's clevis pin during linear opening and closing movement of the drawer. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the rod tail is coupled to the piston. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the rod tail includes a press-fit member that is received in said first receptacle and an anchor that is configured to secure the rod tail to the piston. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the anchor includes a clip member, and the piston includes a longitudinal slot through a length of the periphery thereof to slidably receive said clip member. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , further including a longitudinal portion between the press fit member and the anchor, wherein the clip member is made of flexible material so as to be capable of flexing towards said longitudinal portion. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 16 , further including a cap, said cap having an axial orifice and being coupled to said second end of the straight hollow member. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein said stem of the rod sub-assembly is configured to translate through said axial orifice along the majority of the length thereof. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the cap is detachably coupled to said straight hollow member via a second locking clip. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first bracket is coupled to the slide member of the housing so as to be positioned thereon at approximately the longitudinal midpoint of the pull-out component travel. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the strut is oriented such that, when the pull-out component is in a middle region of travel, the strut is substantially perpendicular to the slide member of the housing. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second bracket includes a horizontal section and a clevis pin extending vertically downwards from an undersurface of said horizontal section. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the second bracket's horizontal section includes transverse attachment holes for coupling the second bracket to an undersurface of the pull-out component. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein said rod sub-assembly includes an elongate stem, with a rod tail at a first end thereof and a pull-out component bracket clevis at a second end thereof, said pull-out component bracket clevis including a coupling portion that is oriented away from the stem's second end and detachably engages the second bracket's clevis pin. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the coupling portion of the pull-out component bracket clevis is configured to pivot about the second bracket's clevis pin during linear opening and closing movement of the pull-out component. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the first bracket is coupled to the slide member of the housing so as to be positioned thereon at approximately the longitudinal midpoint of the pull-out component travel.