Slide mechanism

Claim 2

A slide mechanism comprising: a first frame; a pair of bearing elements each located on said first frame in opposed relation to each other and spaced apart in a direction transverse to the direction of desired sliding movement; a second frame having a pair of sliding rail elements each having means for slidably engaging a respective one of said pair of bearing elements to mount said second frame for sliding movement relative to said first frame; at least one of said bearing elements having sufficient resiliency to permit flexing between a normal condition in which said one bearing element is relatively bowed toward said other bearing element and a condition in which the one bearing element is relatively less bowed; and means mounting said one bearing element on said first frame in said relatively less bowed condition; said one bearing element including means normally urging said one bearing element to return to its normal condition, whereby said second frame is held between said bearing elements in a manner which prevents movement of the second frame in a direction transverse to the direction of sliding movement.

Claim 3

A slide mechanism as recited in claim 1 wherein: each of said bearing elements is composed of a self-lubricating, corrosion-resistant, resilient plastic material.

Claim 4

A slide mechanism comprising: a first frame; a pair of bearing elements each located on said first frame in opposed relation to each other and spaced apart in a direction transverse to the direction of desired sliding movement; a second frame having a pair of sliding rail elements each having means for slidably engaging a respective one of said pair of bearing elements to mount said second frame for sliding movement relative to said first frame; each of said sliding rail elements having upper and lower surfaces and an outer edge; each of said bearing elements having a grooved slide track facing the other beariNg element and receiving a respective one of said sliding rail elements; said grooved slide track having upper and lower surfaces and an inner edge; the upper and lower surfaces on said sliding rail element being in surface to surface contact with the upper and lower surfaces, respectively, on the grooved slide track within which the sliding rail element is received; the inner edge on the grooved slide track of said one bearing element being in contact with the outer edge on the received sliding rail element; at least one of said bearing elements having sufficient resiliency to permit flexing between a normal condition in which said one bearing element is relatively bowed towards said other bearing element and a condition in which the one bearing element is relatively less bowed; and means mounting said one bearing element on said first frame in said relatively less bowed condition; said one bearing element including means normally urging said one bearing element to return to its normal condition, whereby said second frame is held between said bearing elements in a manner which prevents movement of the second frame in a direction transverse to the direction of sliding movement.

Claim 5

A slide mechanism comprising: a first frame; a pair of bearing elements each located on said first frame in opposed relation to each other and spaced apart in a direction transverse to the direction of desired sliding movement; a second frame having a pair of sliding rail elements each having means for slidably engaging a respective one of said pair of bearing elements to mount said second frame for sliding movement relative to said first frame; each of said sliding rail elements having upper and lower surfaces and an outer edge; each of said bearing elements having a grooved slide track facing the other beariNg element and receiving a respective one of said sliding rail elements; said grooved slide track having upper and lower surfaces and an inner edge; the upper and lower surfaces on said sliding rail element being in surface to surface contact with the upper and lower surfaces, respectively, on the grooved slide track within which the sliding rail element is received; the inner edge on the grooved slide track of said one bearing element being in contact with the outer edge on the received sliding rail element; at least one of said bearing elements having sufficient resiliency to permit flexing between a normal condition in which said one bearing element is relatively bowed towards said other bearing element and a condition in which the one bearing element is relatively less bowed; and means mounting said one bearing element on said first frame in said relatively less bowed condition; said one bearing element including means normally urging said one bearing element to return to its normal condition, whereby said second frame is held between said bearing elements in a manner which prevents movement of the second frame in a direction transverse to the direction of sliding movement.

Claim 6

A slide mechanism as recited in claim 3: the other of said bearing elements having sufficient resiliency to permit flexing between a normal condition in which said other bearing element is relatively bowed toward siad one bearing element and a condition in which said other bearing element is relatively less bowed; and means mounting said other bearing element on the first frame in said relatively less bowed condition; said other bearing element including means normally urging the other bearing element to return to its normal condition.

Claim 7

A slide mechanism as recited in claim 3 wherein: said means normally urging said one bearing element to return to its normal condition includes means tending to reduce the extent of said edge to edge contact between said grooved slide track and said sliding rail element.

Claim 8

A slide mechanism comprising: a first frame having a pair of opposed frame elements, each frame element having a front surface and a rear surface; a pair of bearing elements each located on the front surface of a respective one of said opposed first frame elements in opposed relation to each other and spaced apart in a direction transverse to the direction of desired sliding movement; a second frame having a pair of sliding rail elements each having means for slidably engaging a respective one of said pair of bearing elements to mount said second frame of sliding movement relative to said first frame; at least one of said bearing elements having sufficient resiliency to permit flexing between a normal condition in which said one bearing element is relatively bowed in said transverse direction and a condition in which the one bearing element is relative less bowed; said one bearing element extending along the front surface of said first frame in the direction of sliding movement, between a pair of opposite bearing element ends; means mounting said one bearing element on said first frame in said relatively less bowed condition, said mounting means comprising means fixing a first end portion of the one bearing element to said first frame and holding said first end portion against movement relative to the first frame during flexing of said one bearing element, the other end portion of said bearing element being in contact with said front surface of the frame in all conditions of flexing of said bearing element; said one bearing element including means normally urging said one bearing element to return to its normal condition, whereby said second frame is held between said bearing elements in a manner which prevents movement of the second frame in a direction transverse to the direction of sliding movement.

Claim 9

A slide mechanism comprising: a first frame having a pair of opposed frame elements, each frame element having a front surface and a rear surface; a pair of bearing elements each located on the front surface of a respective one of said opposed first frame elements in opposed relation to each other and spaced apart in a direction transverse to the direction of desired sliding movement; a second frame having a pair of sliding rail elements each having means for slidably engaging a respective one of said pair of bearing elements to mount said second frame of sliding movement relative to said first frame; at least one of said bearing elements having sufficient resiliency to permit flexing between a normal condition in which said one bearing element is relatively bowed in said transverse direction and a condition in which the one bearing element is relative less bowed; said one bearing element extending along the front surface of said first frame in the direction of sliding movement, between a pair of opposite bearing element ends; means mounting said one bearing element on said first frame in said relatively less bowed condition, said mounting means comprising means fixing a first end portion of the one bearing element to said first frame and holding said first end portion against movement relative to the first frame during flexing of said one bearing element, the other end portion of said bearing element being in contact with said front surface of the frame in all conditions of flexing of said bearing element; said one bearing element including means normally urging said one bearing element to return to its normal condition, whereby said second frame is held between said bearing elements in a manner which prevents movement of the second frame in a direction transverse to the direction of sliding movement.

Claim 10

A slide mechanism as recited in claim 6 wherein said mounting means for said one bearing element comprIses: a pin projecting outwardly, away from said other bearing element, at said first end portion of said one bearing element and means on the first frame for engaging said pin.

Claim 11

A slide mechanism as recited in claim 7 wherein: said first frame comprises a member with a cross-section having a web and a flange; and said means for engaging said pin comprises an opening in said web.

Claim 12

A slide mechanism as recited in claim 6 wherein: said mounting means for said one bearing element comprises means permitting movement of said one bearing element, other than said first end portion thereof, relative to said first frame during flexing of said one bearing element.

Claim 13

A slide mechanism as recited in claim 9 wherein: said one bearing element has end portions at both ends of the bearing element in contact with said first frame; and the second end portion, opposite said first end portion, has a rounded surface in contact with said first frame.

Claim 14

A slide mechanism as recited in claim 10 wherein: said first end portion has a rounded surface in contact with said first frame.