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 method for closing and opening a drawer using a pressure release slide latch mechanism, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a guide block, where an entrance to the guide block includes a first redirecting surface and a second redirecting surface;   initiating a closing force in a proximal direction;   urging a carriage against a spring bias in the proximal direction;   directing a pin of a follower with the entrance;   engaging the guide block with the pin;   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.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of engaging a guide block with a pin of a follower further comprises the step of:
 engaging a ramp of the guide block.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of engaging a guide block with a pin of a follower further comprises the step of:
 redirecting the pin through an inlet channel of the guide block.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the step of engaging a guide block with a pin of a follower further comprises the step of:
 redirecting the pin into a first positioning recess of the guide block.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the step of engaging a guide block with a pin of a follower further comprises the step of:
 moving the pin in the distal direction.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the step of engaging a guide block with a pin of a follower further comprises the step of:
 redirecting the pin to engage the latch member.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of disengaging the pin from the guide block in a distal direction with the spring bias further comprises the step of:
 redirecting the pin into a second positioning recess of the guide block.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the step of disengaging the pin from the guide block in a distal direction with the spring bias further comprises the step of:
 moving the pin in the distal direction.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of disengaging the pin from the guide block in a distal direction with the spring bias further comprises the step of:
 redirecting the pin through an outlet channel of the guide block.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of disengaging the pin from the guide block in a distal direction with the spring bias further comprises the step of:
 redirecting the pin into the ramp.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of disengaging the pin from the guide block in a distal direction with the spring bias further comprises the step of:
 disengaging the pin from the ramp.   
     
     
         12 . A method for releasably maintaining a drawer of a piece of furniture in a closed position using push to open mechanism attached to a drawer slide assembly, the method comprising:
 providing a channel plate having a track and a guide block;   providing the guide block with a ramp leading to an inlet shoulder having a first redirecting surface and an outlet shoulder having a second redirecting surface;   providing the guide block with a latch member between the inlet shoulder and the outlet shoulder and having a third redirecting surface;   providing the inlet shoulder adjacent an inlet channel;   providing the inlet channel to lead to a first positioning recess;   providing the guide block with a fourth redirecting surface between the first positioning recess and a second positioning recess;   providing the second positioning recess to lead to an outlet channel;   providing the outlet channel adjacent the outlet shoulder;   slidingly engaging a carriage with the track;   biasing the carriage along the track with a pair of springs connected to the track and the carriage;   pivotally connecting a follower to the drawer slide assembly;   releasably engaging a pin of the follower with the latch member; and,   slidingly engaging a guide post of the follower with the drawer slide assembly.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the step of slidingly engaging the guide post with the drawer slide assembly further comprises:
 limiting the pivotal movement of the follower. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein an opening sequence of the push to open mechanism comprises the steps of:
 releasing the pin from engagement with the latch member in response to a proximal force against the bias of the pair of springs; 
 directing the pin into the second positioning recess with the fourth redirecting surface; 
 pulling the pin through the outlet channel with the bias of the pair of springs; 
 directing the pin to the ramp with the outlet shoulder; and, 
 rotating the follower and positioning the pin for further engagement with the ramp. 
 
     
     
         15 . A method using a pressure release mechanism that is 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, comprising:
 connecting a channel plate having a track and a guide block to the outer slide;   providing an entrance to the guide block that includes a first redirecting surface and a second redirecting surface;   defining a circuitous path with the guide block, the circuitous path having a latch surface;   attaching a pivoting follower to the inner slide, the pivoting follower having a latch pin;   attaching a guide post to the pivoting follower;   slidingly engaging the guide post with a guide slot in the inner slide;   slidingly engaging a carriage with a linear path on the track;   biasing the carriage along the linear path on the track;   urging the carriage along the linear path with the intermediate slide and the inner slide and following, by the latch pin, the circuitous path to the latch surface to a closed retracted position during a closing sequence; and,   disengaging the latch pin from the latch surface and following, by the latch pin, the circuitous path to an open position during an opening sequence.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 limiting the pivotal movement of the pivoting follower with the guide slot;   providing a ramp adjacent the circuitous path at the entrance; and,   directing the latch pin into the circuitous path with the ramp, the first redirecting surface, and the second redirecting surface.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 surrounding the circuitous path with a plurality of redirecting surfaces of the channel plate;   defining the latch surface with a latch member protruding from the channel plate; and,   guiding the latch pin along the circuitous path with the plurality of redirecting surfaces.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 providing the circuitous path with an inlet path and an outlet path;   following, by the latch pin, the inlet path during the closing sequence; and,   following, by the latch pin, the outlet path during the opening sequence.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 applying a proximal force to the inner slide to disengage the latch pin from the latch surface during the opening sequence.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 releasably maintaining the latch pin adjacent the latch surface with the bias of the carriage along the linear path.