Patent ID: 8277002

Claim:
A slide assembly comprising: a first slide segment defining a wall portion and a pair of bearing surfaces spaced from one another on opposite sides of the wall portion; a second slide segment operably supported by the bearing surfaces of the first segment, the second slide segment being movable relative to the first slide segment between an extended position and a retracted position; a self-closing mechanism coupled to the first slide segment and configured to automatically move the second slide segment in a closing direction towards the retracted position when the second segment is moved to within a predetermined distance from the retracted position, the self-closing mechanism comprising: a carrier configured with surfaces that engage the bearing surfaces to support the carrier relative to the second slide segment, the carrier being movable relative to the first segment; a pin carried by the carrier and rotatable relative to the carrier; a pair of springs configured to urge the carrier in the closing direction; a dampener coupled to the carrier and configured to produce a dampening force tending to oppose the movement of the carrier; a guide slot defined by an opening passing completely through the wall of the first slide segment and having an edge surface of a portion of the wall that defines the opening configured to guide the movement of the pin; an engagement surface defined by the second slide segment that releases the pin from a set position and engages the pin such that the second segment is moved along with the movement of the carrier towards a closed position as the carrier is urged by the springs against the dampening force of the dampener.