Abstract:
A self-closing drawer slide includes a cabinet member, a drawer member, a plurality of bearings interfitted between the cabinet and drawer members, a generally planar surface having a channel defined therein, which extends in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of the drawer member, and a slider positioned in the channel and adapted to selectively engage the drawer member. A spring is connected to the slider and adapted to exert a pulling force that tends to pull the slider toward the back end of the channel. In addition, a holding notch is defined in the planar surface adjacent the front end of the channel, which is adapted to releasably hold the slider near the front end of the channel. The slider is adapted to engage a surface on the drawer member that causes the slider to move into the holding notch when the drawer member is moved to the extended position and to move out of the holding notch when the drawer member is moved to the closed position, with the spring causing the slider to move to the back end of the channel when the slider is moved out of the holding notch and to thereby move the drawer member to the closed position.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application Serial No. 60/456,200, filed Mar. 20, 2003, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention generally relates to drawer slides and, more particularly, to drawer slides that include self-closing features that automatically close the drawer slide when the attached drawer has been pushed almost all the way back into the cabinet.  
           [0003]    Drawer slides are customarily used to support drawers in cabinets. Typically, one drawer slide member is attached to each side of the drawer and each side of the internal wall in the cabinet. The drawer slides support the drawer as it is pulled out of the cabinet to an extended position and pushed back into the cabinet to a closed position. The drawer slides typically include some kind of bearings which allow the smooth movement of the drawer into and out of the cabinet. Conventional drawer slides can also be mounted underneath the drawer in a concealed fashion so that they are not visible when the drawer is pulled open. Other types of mountings of drawer slides are also known in the art.  
           [0004]    In some prior art drawer slides, there has been nothing incorporated into the drawer slide that maintains the drawer within the cabinet after it has been pushed therein other than friction. In other words, after a person pushes a drawer back into the cabinet, there is no structure to guarantee that the drawer will stay pushed all the way into the cabinet other than the friction of the drawer slide and the drawer within the cabinet. In some instances, this friction is insufficient to maintain the drawer within the cabinet. In those instances, the drawer may slide partially back out of the cabinet or roll forward out of the cabinet. The drawer will thus not stay in a closed position. In order to overcome these problems, drawer slides have been created that automatically pull the drawer to the closed position and exert a biasing force against the drawer to maintain it in the closed position. These drawer slides are generally known as self-closing drawer slides.  
           [0005]    In the past, self-closing drawer slides have suffered from several disadvantages. In some cases, the self-closing mechanism of the drawer slide has tended to operate in a noisy or squeaky fashion. This can occur when the self-closing mechanism includes moving parts with metal to metal contact. In other cases, the self-closing mechanism has not been constructed as economically as possible. In still other cases, it has been difficult to properly position the self-closing mechanism in relation to the drawer slide in a space efficient manner. The need for a self-closing drawer slide that alleviates some of these types of disadvantages can therefore be seen.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    Accordingly, the present invention provides an improved drawer slide with a self-closing mechanism. The improved drawer slide operates in a quiet manner and is constructed in a robust, cost efficient, and space efficient manner.  
           [0007]    According to one aspect of the present invention, a self-closing drawer slide is provided. The self-closing drawer slide includes a cabinet member, a drawer member, a plurality of bearings, a generally planar surface, a slider, a spring, and a holding notch. The cabinet member is adapted to be stationarily mounted to the inside of a cabinet. The drawer member is adapted to be mounted to the drawer. Both the drawer member and the cabinet members have bearing surfaces which contact the bearings. The bearings are interfitted between the cabinet member and the drawer member and adapted to allow the drawer member to move between a closed position and an extended position. The drawer member has all of its bearing surfaces nested within the cabinet member. The generally planar surface has a channel defined therein that extends in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of the drawer member. The channel has a front end and a back end and a substantially uniform width between the front and back ends. The front end is positioned nearer than the back end to an opening in the cabinet out of which the drawer member exits when in the extended position. The slider is positioned in the channel and adapted to selectively engage the drawer member. The spring is connected to the slider and adapted to exert a pulling force that tends to pull the slider toward the back end of the channel. The holding notch is defined in the planar surface adjacent the front end of the channel and adapted to releasably hold the slider near the front end of the channel. The slider is adapted to engage a surface on the drawer member that causes the slider to move into the holding notch when the drawer member is moved to the extended position and to move out of the holding notch when the drawer member is moved to the closed position. The spring causes the slider to move to the back end of the channel when the slider is moved out of the holding notch and to thereby move the drawer member to the closed position.  
           [0008]    According to another aspect of the present invention, a self-closing mechanism for a drawer slide is provided. The drawer slide is mountable within a cabinet and movable between a closed position and an extended position. The self-closing mechanism is adapted to automatically move the drawer slide completely to the closed position when the drawer slide has been moved nearly to the closed position. The self-closing mechanism includes a planar surface, a channel defined in the planar surface, a slider positioned in the channel, a spring connected to the slider, and a holding notch defined in the planar surface. The channel extends in a direction generally parallel to the direction of movement of the drawer slide and includes a front end and a back end. The channel has a substantially uniform width between the front and back ends. The front end is positioned nearer than the back end to an opening in the cabinet out of which the drawer slide exits when in the extended position. The slider is adapted to selectively engage the drawer slide and includes a top portion and a bottom. The top portion and bottom portion are both wider than the channel width and are separated by an intermediate portion having a width that is narrower than the channel width such that the intermediate portion can travel in the channel in the direction of movement of the drawer slide. The spring is connected to the slider and adapted to bias the slider toward the back end of the channel. The holding notch is defined in the planar surface adjacent the front end of the channel and adapted to releasably hold the slider near the front end of the channel. The slider is adapted to engage a surface on the drawer slide that causes the slider to move into the holding notch when the drawer slide is moved to the extended position and to move out of the holding notch when the drawer slide is moved to the closed position. The spring causes the slider to move to the back end of the channel when the slider is moved out of the holding notch and to thereby move the drawer slide to the closed position.  
           [0009]    According to other aspects of the present invention, the drawer slide may include an intermediate member positioned between the drawer member and the cabinet members which is adapted to move between an extended position and a closed position. The intermediate member may include a plurality of bearing surfaces in contact with the bearings wherein all of these bearing surfaces are nested within the cabinet member. The planar surface may be made of plastic and the spring may be positioned such that it is not in contact with any other metal structures. The planar surface may include an enlarged opening in communication with the channel. The enlarged opening may have a width greater than the width of at least one of the top portion and bottom portion of the slider whereby the slider can be inserted into the enlarged opening to allow the intermediate portion to fit into the channel. The enlarged opening may be positioned at the back end of the channel. The spring may be cylindrically shaped and define an interior that is free of any structures. The self-closing drawer slide of the present invention provides a smooth, quiet, and efficient self-closing drawer slide. These and other advantages of the present invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon review of the following specification and accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a drawer having a pair of drawer slides according to one aspect of the present invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a plan view photograph of a self-closing mechanism of the present invention illustrated detached from a drawer slide;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a partial, perspective view of the self-closing drawer slide of the present invention illustrated in the closed or retracted position;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is a partial, perspective view of the self-closing drawer slide of the present invention illustrated in a partially extended position;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the self-closing mechanism of the present invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 is a perspective, exploded view of the self-closing mechanism of FIG. 5;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6A is an enlarged perspective view of the slider of the closing mechanism;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 6B is a side elevation view of the slider of FIG. 6A;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 6C is an end elevation view of the slider of FIG. 6B;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 6D is a top plan view of the slider of FIG. 6B;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 7 is a plan view photograph of the drawer slide of the present invention illustrated in a closed position;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 8 is a plan view photograph of substantially all of the drawer slide of FIG. 7 illustrated in an extended position and with the self-closing mechanism removed;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 9 is a photograph of a back end of the drawer slide showing the drawer slide in the closed position;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 10 is a photograph of the back end of the drawer slide showing the drawer slide in a partially extended position;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 11 is a photograph of the back end of the drawer slide showing the drawer slide in a completely extended position;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 12 is a close-up photograph of a portion of the drawer slide and self-closing mechanism illustrating the engagement of the slider with the drawer slide;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 13 is a close-up photograph of a portion of the drawer slide and self-closing mechanism illustrated in the closed position;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 14 is a close-up photograph of a portion of the drawer slide and self-closing mechanism illustrating the drawer member after it has disengaged from the slider;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 15 is a close-up photograph of a portion of the drawer member and its surfaces that engage the slider;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 16 is a close-up photograph of the self-closing mechanism in the extended position;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 17 is a close-up photograph of the self-closing mechanism in the retracted position;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 18 is a close-up photograph of the underside of the self-closing mechanism in the extended position;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 19 is a close-up photograph of the underside of the self-closing mechanism in the extended position taken from a different angle than that of FIG. 18;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 20 is a close-up photograph of a portion of the self-closing mechanism illustrated in the retracted position with the drawer slide in the extended position;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 21 is a close-up photograph of the underside of a portion of the drawer slide and self-closing mechanism;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 22 is a photograph of the front end of the drawer slide illustrated in its closed or retracted position;  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 23 is a photograph of the front end of the drawer slide illustrated in a partially extended position;  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 24 is a photograph of the underside of the front portion of the drawer slide illustrated in the partially extended position;  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 25 is a close-up photograph of a middle portion of the drawer slide;  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 26 is a photograph of the front portion of the drawer slide illustrated in a partially extended position;  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 27 is a side elevational view of the self-closing mechanism removed from the drawer slide;  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 28 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the body of the self-closing mechanism of the present invention;  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 29 is an end elevation view of the body of FIG. 28;  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 30 is a side elevation view of the body of FIG. 29; and  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 31 is an plan view of the cabinet member illustrating the relative position of the closing mechanism tab.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0045]    The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein the reference numerals appearing in the following written description correspond to like numbered elements in the drawings and photographs. A drawer  30  is depicted in FIG. 1 being supported by two drawer slides  32  according to one aspect of the present invention. Each drawer slide  32  is attached to a side  34  of drawer  30 . Each drawer slide  32  is further attached to the inside of a cabinet  36 . More specifically, drawer slides  32  are attached to each sidewall  38  of the cabinet  36 . Each drawer slide  32  includes a self-closing mechanism  40  positioned adjacent a back end  42  of the drawer slide  32 .  
         [0046]    Each drawer slide  32  includes a plurality of members that are telescopingly interfitted between each other. These members allow the drawer slide to move between an extended position, in which the drawer is open, and a closed position in which the drawer is closed within cabinet  36 . FIG. 1 illustrates the drawer in a partially opened position. As the drawer  30  is moved in a rearward direction  44 , it moves closer and closer to a closed position. Within approximately one inch of being in its completely closed position, self-closing mechanism  40  automatically pulls the drawer  30  to its completely closed position. The user of the drawer therefore only has to close the drawer to within approximately one inch of its closed position and the self-closing mechanism  40  will take over and completely close the drawer automatically. The self-closing mechanism  40  further ensures that the drawer  30  will remain in the closed position until a user pulls it outwardly to an extended position. It will be understood, of course, that the precise distance at which self-closing mechanism  40  initiates a closing force on the drawer can be varied substantially from the approximately one inch distance described above.  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 2 illustrates the self-closing mechanism  40  detached from drawer slide  32 . When assembled, self-closing mechanism  40  is attached to a cabinet member  46  of drawer slide  32 . Cabinet member  46  includes four mounting holes  48  in its central web  46   a , which receive four flexible tabs  50  positioned on a body  52  of self-closing mechanism  40 . Each flexible tab  50  includes a generally vertical portion  50   a  (with respect to its mounting orientation shown in FIG. 1) and a generally horizontal portion  50   b  (with respect to its mounting orientation shown in FIG. 1). Each vertical portion  50   a  has a lateral extent that is sufficient to extend into and be seated in a respective mounting opening  48 , as will be more fully described below. Horizontal portion  50   b  includes a lateral extent that forms a profile generally commensurate in shape with the inner surface of cabinet rail  46  and, further, has a height that is sufficient to form a snap fit with rail  46  when inserted in rail  46 . The cabinet member  46  includes a pair of flanges  54  that contact flexible tabs  50  and with which portions  50   b  provide snap-fit connections and, further, cause portions  50   a  to be pushed or inserted, at least partially, into mounting holes  48  when portions  50   b  are aligned in rail  46  between flanges  48 . Once portions  50   a  of flexible tabs  50  have been inserted into mounting holes  48 , self-closing mechanism  40  is securely held in place and affixed to cabinet member  46 . Its release can then be accomplished by manually pushing each of the portions  50   a  out of mounting holes  48  and sliding self-closing mechanism  40  out of cabinet member  46  in rearward direction  44 .  
         [0048]    Self-closing mechanism  40  includes a slider  56  that is slidable within body  52  between a retracted position and an extended position. FIG. 3 depicts slider  56  in the retracted position while FIG. 4 depicts slider  56  in the extended position. Slider  56  includes a tab  58  that interacts with a drawer member  60  that is part of drawer slide  32 . In the illustrated embodiment, tab  58  comprises a round cylindrical member. Drawer member  60  is the portion of drawer slide  32  that attaches to the drawer. Drawer member  60  is slidable with respect to cabinet member  46  of drawer slide  42 .  
         [0049]    As illustrated in FIGS. 14-20, self-closing mechanism  40  further includes a planar surface  62 . A generally straight channel  64  is defined in planar surface  62 . Straight channel  64  provides a runway or guide structure for the movement of slider  56 . Straight channel  64  includes a front end  66  and a back end  68 . A holding notch  70  is defined adjacent the back end  68  of straight channel  64  and planar surface  62  (FIG. 17). As will be described in more detail below, holding notch  70  allows slider  56  to be maintained in an extended position while the drawer is opened. When the drawer is almost closed, tab  58  engages a portion of the drawer slide which causes slider  56  to move out of holding notch  70  and into straight channel  64 . When positioned in straight channel  64 , slider  56  is pulled by way of a spring  72  toward back end  68  of channel  64 . Spring  72  comprises a coil spring that is mounted on one end to slider and on another end to body  52 . As best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, body  52  includes an end wall  52   a  with a tab  52   b , with the proximal end of spring  72  mounted to tab  52   b , such that spring  72  is fully enclosed in body  72 . Because tab  58  is still engaged with the drawer slide while it is pulled toward back end  68 , this rearward movement of slider  56  causes drawer member  60  to be pulled toward the closed position, as well as the attached drawer. The rearward movement of slider  56  toward back end  68  therefore causes the drawer to automatically be closed. As noted, this movement is caused by spring  72 , which is stretched when slider  56  is held in holding notch  70 . Spring  72  returns to its substantially unstretched condition when slider  56  has moved completely toward back end  68  of channel  64 .  
         [0050]    Slider  56  is depicted in more detail in FIGS. 6, and  6 A- 6 D. Slider  56  includes, in addition to tab  58 , a spring attachment flange  74 , a top portion  76 , a bottom portion  78 , and an intermediate portion  80 . Top portion  76  comprises a generally planar member with generally planar upper and lower surfaces. Bottom portion  78 , which is spaced from upper portion  76 , has a generally planar upper surface that faces the lower planar surface of upper portion  76 , which together provide guide surfaces for slider  56  on body  52 . Top and bottom portions  76  and  78  are both wider than the width of straight channel  64 , while intermediate portion  80  is at least somewhat narrower than the width of straight channel  64 . Intermediate portion  80  therefore fits within straight channel  64 . Because top and bottom portions  76  and  78  are wider than the width of straight channel  64 , slider  56  is prevented from being moved out of straight channel  64  in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of straight channel  64  and the plane defined by planar surface  62 . Intermediate portion may comprise a solid member or, as illustrated, may comprise a pair of spaced members  80   a  and  80   b , which extend between upper and bottom portions  76 ,  78  and guide slider  56  along channel  64 . Furthermore, spaced members  80   a  and  80   m  may comprise round cylindrical members to provide a smooth gliding action for slider  56  along channel  64 .  
         [0051]    As best seen in FIG. 6A, bottom portion  78  of slider  56  includes an elongate depending portion  78   a , which provides reinforcement to bottom portion  78  and also provides to some degree of lateral support for spring  72 . Portion  78   a  is offset from flange  74  to provide a recess  52   c  in body  52  through which spring  72  extends to be mounted on flange  74 , which includes a retaining lip  74   a  for retaining the end of spring  72  on flange  74 .  
         [0052]    In order to position slider  56  within straight channel  64 , slider  56  is first moved into an enlarged opening  82  defined in planar surface  62  (FIGS. 16-17). Enlarged opening  82  is sufficiently large to allow slider  56  to fit therein. Once positioned in enlarged opening  82 , slider  56  is moved toward back end  68  of straight channel  64 . As slider  56  is moved in this direction, the width of enlarged opening  82  tapers to a width generally corresponding to that of straight channel  64 . Enlarged opening  82  eventually tapers to an intermediate channel  84  that intersects straight channel  64  at an angle. A stop surface  86  is defined adjacent the intersection of intermediate channel  84  with straight channel  64 . By appropriately pivoting slider  56 , it can be inserted through intermediate channel  84  and into straight channel  64 . Thereafter, slider  56  cannot be removed from straight channel  64  without pivoting it out through intermediate channel  84 . In normal operation, such pivoting through intermediate channel  84  does not take place and must be accomplished by manual intervention. In normal operation, slider  56  therefore slides between holding notch  70  and stop surface  86 .  
         [0053]    As depicted in FIGS. 7 and 8, as well as FIGS. 22-26, drawer slide  32  is a three-member drawer slide. Drawer slide  32  includes drawer member  60  which is mountable to a drawer. It further includes cabinet member  46  which is mountable to the inside of a cabinet. Further, it includes an intermediate member  88  that is mounted and slidable in between drawer member  60  and cabinet member  46 . The movement of intermediate member  88  and drawer member  60  with respect to cabinet member  46  is facilitated by way of a plurality of bearings  90 . An example of one type of bearing  90  is depicted in more detail in FIG. 25. Bearings  90  in FIG. 25 are ball bearings that are held in proper position between intermediate member  88  and drawer member  60  by way of a cage  92   a . Bearings  90  are in contact with bearing surfaces on both intermediate member  88  and drawer member  60 . Further, ball bearings  90  are positioned between intermediate member  88  and the flanges  54  of cabinet member  46 . These additional ball bearings are not visible in FIG. 25, but are maintained in their proper position by way of a cage  92   b  positioned between intermediate member  88  and cabinet member  46 . As illustrated more clearly in FIG. 22, all of the drawer members  60  and intermediate member  88  are positioned or nested within cabinet member  46 . That is, flanges  54  of cabinet member  46  completely surround all of the components and bearing surfaces of drawer member  60  and intermediate member  88 . Drawer member  60  and intermediate member  88  thus telescopingly slide within cabinet member  46 .  
         [0054]    While drawer slide  32  has been described herein as comprising three different members, it will be appreciated that the self-closing mechanism of the present invention can be applied to drawer slides having different numbers of drawer members, such as two, or greater than three. Further, while drawer member  60  illustrated in the accompanying photographs includes a plurality of apertures  94  for mounting it to a drawer, it will be understood that the particular manner in which drawer member  60  is attached to a drawer is not part of the present invention. In fact, the present invention finds equal application to drawer slides that are mounted to both the drawer and the drawer cabinet in different manners from that illustrated in the accompanying drawings.  
         [0055]    The interaction of tab  58  of slider  56  with drawer member  60  can best be understood with reference to FIGS. 12-15. As can be seen in these figures, drawer member  60  includes an angled channel  96 . Angled channel  96  includes a first surface  98  that contacts tab  58  as the drawer is initially moved from the completely closed position toward an extended position. As drawer member  60  is pulled outwardly out of the cabinet  36 , first surface  98  engages tab  58  and pulls tab  58 , as well as slider  56 , from back end  68  of straight channel  64  toward front end  66 . When slider  56  has reached the front end  66  of straight channel  64 , tab  58  and slider  56  can no longer be pulled any farther in straight channel  64 . At this point, first surface  98 , due to its angled nature, pushes against tab  58  and forces slider  56  to move into holding notch  70 . After slider  56  has been moved into holding notch  70 , angled surface  98  disengages from tab  58 . Drawer member  60  can thereafter be moved completely to its extended position. When drawer member  60  is in the completely extended position, such as is illustrated in FIG. 11, slider  56  is frictionally held in holding notch  70  by way of the shape of holding notch  70  and the rearward biasing force exerted by spring  72  against it.  
         [0056]    As drawer member  60  is moved back toward its retracted position in rearward direction  44 , a second surface  100  in angled channel  96  eventually comes in contact with tab  58 . Because of the angled nature of second surface  100 , second surface  100  pushes slider  56  out of holding notch  70 . Once slider  56  has been pushed out of holding notch  70 , the force of spring  72  on slider  56  causes slider  56  to be pulled backward toward back end  68  of channel  64 . This backward movement of slider  56  also causes drawer member  60  to be pulled backward because of tab  58 &#39;s engagement with first surface  98  of angled channel  96 . This backward movement causes drawer member  60  to automatically move to a completely closed position. Self-closing mechanism  40  thereby completely closes the drawer after slider  56  has moved out of holding notch  70 .  
         [0057]    In certain situations, slider  56  may inadvertently move out of holding notch  70  before drawer member  60  has been moved into contact with tab  58 . An example of this situation is depicted in FIG. 20. FIG. 20 illustrates slider  56  moved all the way back to back end  68  of channel  64  while drawer member  60  is still in an extended position (not visible). When self-closing mechanism  40  is in the state depicted in FIG. 20, it will not automatically pull drawer member  60  toward the closed position. This is because slider  56  has already been pulled toward its rear most position by spring  72 . When the drawer is closed and slider  56  is in the position illustrated in FIG. 20, a third surface  102  (FIG. 13) of angled channel  96  will eventually come into contact with tab  58  as the drawer is closed. Because third surface  102  is angled, its contact with tab  58  will cause slider  56  to pivot such that tab  58  can move into angled channel  96  as the drawer is completely closed. Once tab  58  is completely moved into angled channel  96 , normal operation of self-closing mechanism  40  returns.  
         [0058]    As can be seen in FIGS. 6B and 27, tab  58  includes an angled top surface  104 . Angled top surface  104  helps prevent any interference from a drawer with tab  58 . Optimally, the angle of the surface  104  is such that surface  104  extends below flanges  54  of cabinet member  46 , with the back edge  104   a  of surface  104  recessed below the outer edges of flanges  54  as best seen in FIG. 31. Because drawer member  60  can flex somewhat toward and away from cabinet member  46 , it is possible in some situations for the drawer attached to drawer member  60  to come into contact with the top surface of tab  58 . The sloped nature of top surface  104  helps to minimize any interference that this contact might otherwise create, as well as to reduce any potential this interaction might have for damaging tab  58 .  
         [0059]    Referring to FIGS. 28-30, the numeral  140  generally designates another embodiment of a self-closing mechanism of the present invention. Self-closing mechanism  140  is of similar construction to mechanism  40  and includes slider  56  and a body  152 . For further details of slider  56  and of how slider  56  is mounted in body  152 , reference is made to the previous embodiment.  
         [0060]    In the illustrated embodiment, body  152  includes planar surface  62  and channel  64 , similar to body  52 , and further includes a pair of ramps provided by a pair of projecting tabs or flanges  152   d  and  152   e . Tabs  152   d  and  152   e  project from end wall  152   c  of body  152  and project above planar surface  62 . The upper portions of tabs  152   d  and  152   e  include sloped surfaces  153   d  and  153   e  that form an acute angle with respect to planar surface  62 . Surfaces  153   d  and  153   e  provide ramp surfaces to raise the level of the drawer member  60 . In this manner, tab  58  is properly engaged by member  60  when drawer member  60  is pushed into its retracted position.  
         [0061]    To minimize the potential for a jam, as best seen in FIGS. 29 and 30, the uppermost portions of surfaces  153   d  and  153   e  align at least at or above the base  58   a  of tab  58 . In this manner, the lower surface of member  60  will be raised at or above the base  58   a  of tab  58  and so that channel  96  will engage tab  58  at or above base  58   a.    
         [0062]    Though illustrated with two tabs ( 152   d  and  152   e ), it should be understood that a single, preferably centered tab or more than two tabs may also be used. However, where two or more ramps are provided, the ramps are preferably arranged to straddle channel or notch  96 . In this manner, drawer member  60  will be raised before tab  58  enters channel  96 .  
         [0063]    While a wide variety of different materials may be used within the scope of the present invention, the self-closing mechanism is preferably entirely made of plastic with the exception of spring  72 . Further, spring  72  is preferably cylindrically shaped and defines an interior that is free of any structures. Stated alternatively, spring  72  is not wrapped around any elongated member. Thus, when spring  72  flexes and retracts, it does not slidingly contact any interior member positioned inside its cylindrical shape. This reduces any noise or wear that might otherwise be created by an internal member positioned within the cylindrical shape of spring  72 .  
         [0064]    While the present invention has been described in terms of the embodiments depicted in the drawings and discussed above, it will be understood by one skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to these particular embodiments, but includes any and all such modifications that are within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.