Pressure Release Slide Latch Mechanism

Abstract

A pressure release slide latch mechanism for a drawer slide assembly comprises an outer slide, an intermediate slide mounted in the outer slide, and an inner slide mounted in the intermediate slide, a channel plate having a track portion and a guide block attached to the outer slide and a carriage slidingly engaged and biased along the track portion. A pin of a follower pivotally attached to the inner slide engages the guide block to releasably maintain the drawer slide assembly in a closed position and releases upon an inward force applied to the drawer slide assembly.

1 . A pressure release slide latch mechanism for a drawer slide assembly comprising:
 an outer slide member;   an intermediate slide member telescopically mounted to the outer slide member;   an inner slide member having a guide slot, telescopically mounted to the intermediate slide member;   a follower pivotally connected to the inner slide member;   a channel plate having a track and a guide block, connected to the outer slide member;   a carriage slidingly engaged with the track;   a biasing means, creating a bias between the carriage and the channel plate;   whereby the inner slide member and the intermediate slide member are releasably maintained in a locked position with respect to the outer slide member by the follower engaging the guide block against the bias and released upon a proximal force applied to the inner slide member, thereby disengaging the follower from the guide block.   
     
     
         2 . The pressure release slide latch mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the guide block further comprises:
 a ramp;   a plurality of channels adjacent the ramp;   a plurality of redirecting surfaces adjacent the ramp and the plurality of channels;   a latch member adjacent the plurality of channels; and   wherein the plurality of redirecting surfaces and the latch member define the plurality of channels.   
     
     
         3 . The pressure release slide latch mechanism of  claim 2 , wherein the follower further comprises:
 a pin connected to the follower; and   a guide post connected to the follower and extends into and slidingly engages with the guide slot;   whereby the guide slot and the guide post control a pivotal movement of the follower.   
     
     
         4 . The pressure release slide latch mechanism of  claim 3 , wherein a set of dimensions of the guide slot limit an arcuate path through which the follower pivotally moves thereby enabling the pin to consistently engage the ramp. 
     
     
         5 . A drawer slide assembly for mounting a drawer to a cabinet comprising:
 a first slide;   a second slide, engaging the first slide;   a third slide, engaging the second slide;   a pressure release mechanism, attached to the first slide and the third slide; the pressure release mechanism further comprising:
 a channel plate having a track and a guide block, attached to the first slide; 
 the guide block having a ramp, a plurality of channels, a plurality of redirecting surfaces, and a latch member; 
 a carriage slidably mounted on the track; 
 a follower having a pin and a guide post, pivotally attached to the third slide; 
 the pin engaging the guide block; 
 the guide post engaging a guide slot in the third slide; and 
 a pair of springs fixed to the channel plate and the carriage, biasing the carriage against the channel plate. 
   
     
     
         6 . The drawer slide assembly of  claim 5 , wherein a set of dimensions of the guide slot directs the rotation of the follower thereby guiding the pin to consistently enter the ramp. 
     
     
         7 . The drawer slide of  claim 5 , wherein when the drawer slide assembly enters a closing sequence, the pin enters the ramp, the plurality of redirecting surfaces redirects the pin into the plurality of channels, thereby rotating the follower, moving the pin into releasable engagement with the latch member, and the pair of springs biasing the carriage maintain the pin in releasable engagement with the latch member. 
     
     
         8 . The drawer slide of  claim 5 , wherein when the drawer slide assembly enters an opening sequence, a proximal force against the bias of the pair of springs releases the pin from engagement with latch member, the bias of the pair of springs pulls the pin through the plurality of channels, the plurality of redirecting surfaces guides the pin to exit the guide block through the ramp, thereby rotating the follower and positioning the pin for further engagement with the ramp. 
     
     
         9 . A push to open mechanism attached to a drawer slide assembly for releasably maintaining a drawer of a piece of furniture in a closed position, the push to open mechanism comprising:
 a channel plate having a track and a guide block;   the guide block having a ramp, a plurality of channels adjacent the ramp, a latch member projecting from the plurality of channels, and a plurality of redirecting surfaces;   a carriage slidingly engaged with the track;   a pair of springs connected to the track and the carriage, biasing the carriage along the track;   a follower pivotally connected to the drawer slide assembly; and   the follower including a pin for releasable engagement with the latch member and a guide post, wherein the guide post slidingly engages with the drawer slide assembly.   
     
     
         10 . The push to open mechanism of  claim 9 , wherein the sliding engagement of the guide post with the drawer slide assembly determines the pivotal movement of the follower. 
     
     
         11 . The push to open mechanism of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of channels includes an inlet groove and an outlet groove. 
     
     
         12 . A pressure release mechanism attached to a drawer slide assembly including an outer slide, an intermediate slide telescopically mounted to the outer slide, and an inner slide telescopically mounted to the intermediate slide, comprises:
 a channel plate attached to the outer slide;   the channel plate defines a circuitous path having a latch position;   a pivoting follower having a latch pin attached to the inner slide, following the circuitous path;   a carriage slidingly engaged with and biased along a linear path on the channel plate;   whereby the intermediate slide and the inner slide urge the carriage along the linear path and the latch pin follows the circuitous path in a closing sequence, and the latch pin disengages from the latched position and follows the circuitous path to an open position in an opening sequence.   
     
     
         13 . The pressure release mechanism of  claim 12 , further comprises:
 a guide post attached to the pivoting follower and slidingly engages with a guide slot in the inner slide;   the guide slot having a set of dimensions;   a ramp adjacent the circuitous path; and   wherein the ramp and the set of dimensions direct the latch pin into the circuitous path.   
     
     
         14 . The pressure release mechanism of  claim 12 , wherein the channel plate further comprises:
 a plurality of redirecting surfaces surrounding the circuitous path;   a latch member protruding from the channel plate and defining the latched position; and   wherein the redirecting surfaces guide the latch pin along the circuitous path.   
     
     
         15 . The pressure release mechanism of  claim 12 , wherein the circuitous path includes an inlet path and an outlet path; and wherein the latch pin follows the inlet path during the closing sequence and the latch pin follows the outlet path during the opening sequence. 
     
     
         16 . The pressure release mechanism of  claim 12 , wherein during the opening sequence a proximal force is applied to the inner slide to disengage the latch pin from the latched position. 
     
     
         17 . The pressure release mechanism of  claim 12 , wherein the bias of the carriage along the linear path releasably maintains the latch pin in the latched position. 
     
     
         18 . A method for closing and opening a drawer using a pressure release slide latch mechanism, the method comprising the steps of:
 initiating a closing force in a proximal direction;   urging a carriage against a spring bias in the proximal direction;   engaging a guide block with a pin of a follower;   abutting the pin with a latch member of the guide block;   maintaining the pin abutment with the spring bias of the carriage;   initiating a secondary force in the proximal direction to disengage the pin from the latch member; and   disengaging the pin from the guide block in a distal direction with the spring bias.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the step of engaging a guide block with a pin of a follower further comprises the steps of:
 engaging a ramp of the guide block;   redirecting the pin through an inlet channel of the guide block;   redirecting the pin into a first positioning recess of the guide block;   moving the pin in the distal direction; and   redirecting the pin to engage the latch member.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the step of disengaging the pin from the guide block in a distal direction with the spring bias further comprises the steps of:
 redirecting the pin into a second positioning recess of the guide block;   moving the pin in the distal direction;   redirecting the pin through an outlet channel of the guide block;   redirecting the pin into the ramp; and   disengaging the pin from the ramp.