Abstract: A drawer closing mechanism includes a toothed rack fixed in position with respect to a furniture frame member, a toothed drive gear mounted to a drawer for engaging the teeth on the rack, and a spring with two ends, one end being fixedly attached to the drive gear and rotatable therewith and the opposite end being fixed, wherein as the drawer is pulled open, the teeth on the drive gear engage the teeth on the rack and rotate the drive gear, and as the drive gear rotates, the spring is wound and potential energy is stored in the tension therein. The spring can be a flat wire spring wound circumferentially about a central point in a spiral.

Abstract: A drawer closing mechanism comprising a rack fixed in position with respect to a furniture frame member and comprising a plurality of teeth a drive gear mounted to a drawer and comprising a plurality of teeth for engaging the teeth on the rack, and a spring with two ends, one end fixedly attached to said drive gear and rotatable therewith and the opposite end fixed, wherein as the drawer is pulled open, the teeth on the drive gear engage the teeth on the rack and rotate the drive gear, and as the drive gear rotates, the spring is wound and potential energy is stored in the tension therein. The drawer slide is mounted to the furniture frame member, and the rack is mounted to the drawer slide. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the spring comprises a flat wire spring wound circumferentially about a central point in a spiral.

Abstract: An automatic closure mechanism, particularly adapted for use with a toilet seat is described. The mechanism will automatically lower a toilet seat that has been rotated to a raised position after a time interval determined by the viscosity of a damper fluid in a dashpot of the mechanism. The mechanism is simply constructed and preferably integral with a rear edge of the toilet seat so that it provides a clean, neat appearance which is aesthetically pleasing and does not interfere with cleaning or maintenance of the toilet fixture. The mechanism includes a dry coil spring section and a hydraulic dashpot section. The dashpot includes a primary flap valve and a relief flap valve which permit the toilet seat to be raised with very little resistance and automatically returned to a lowered position after about 1-5 minutes, depending on the viscosity of the damper fluid in the dashpot.