Patent ID: 7181257

Claim:
A sliding mechanism that permits relative motion along a path, wherein the sliding mechanism comprises: a first element; a second element, wherein the second element faces the first element and slides with respect to the first element along the path; a guide, which is fixed to one of the first and second elements, for limiting movement of the second element with respect to the first element to the path; a biasing device, wherein the biasing device has a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is pivotally coupled to the first element, and the second end is pivotally coupled to the second element, and wherein the biasing device changes position according to the position of the second element with respect to the first element on the path such that the biasing device has the following modes: a first mode, in which the biasing device urges the second element in a first direction of the path toward a first position; a second mode, in which the biasing device urges the second element in a second direction of the path toward a second position, wherein the first direction is opposite to the second direction; and a neutral mode, in which the force of the biasing device is applied to the second element in a direction that is transverse to the path.