Abstract:
A bracket assembly includes a bracket, an inserting member, an elastic member disposed on the bracket, first and second arms oppositely and pivotally connected to the bracket, and an operation member. The elastic member includes first and second elastic portions correspondingly disposed. The first and second arms each include a first portion having a contact portion abutting against the respective first or second elastic portion and a second portion having a hook portion and a connecting portion oppositely disposed. The operation member is connected between the connecting portions of the first and second arms.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a bracket, particularly to a bracket assembly for a slide which can be manually operated. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    In general, a rack device is assembled on a rack by means of a pair of slide assemblies. That is to say, the rack usually comprises a first pair of supports and a second pair of supports. Wherein, the first pair of supports corresponds in position to the second pair of supports. One side of the rack device is assembled on the first pair of supports by a slide assembly; the other side of the rack device is assembled on the second pair of supports by another slide assembly. Moreover, the supports of the rack each generally include at least one mounting hole; two opposite ends of each slide assembly respectively include a bracket. The bracket has an inserting member which can be inserted into the mounting holes of the supports, whereby the two opposite ends of each slide assembly can be respectively assembled on the supports of the rack for positioning the slide assembly on the rack. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,357,362 discloses a bracket positioning structure for a slide, in which, as shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  5 , the bracket positioning structure for a slide is assembled on holes  71  of a support  7  via a pair of studs  2  formed on an endplate  11 . Wherein, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the studs  2  on the end plate  11  of the bracket  1  are respectively inserted into the holes  71  of the support  7  while the bracket positioning structure is assembled on the support  7 . Moreover, a tooth  43  of an arm  42  of the bracket  1  is allowed to slide along an edge of the support  7  by means of a bevel edge  431  for shifting the arm  42 . While the bracket  1  is moved to a position, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the tooth  43  of the arm  42  of the bracket  1  will hooks the support  7  and is secured thereat, whereby the bracket  1  can be firmly positioned on the support  7 . However, the bracket positioning structure does not have an operation member by which a user can control the movements of the arm  42  of the bracket  1 . As a consequence, the convenience in assembling the bracket  1  on the support  7  and disassembling the bracket  1  from the support  7  is still wanted. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention relates to a manually-operable bracket assembly for a slide. 
         [0007]    In one aspect of the present invention, a bracket assembly comprises a bracket, at least one inserting member, a first arm, and an elastic member. The bracket includes a longitudinal body and an end plate disposed on the longitudinal body. The inserting member is disposed on the end plate of the bracket. The first arm is movably connected to the bracket and has a first hook portion at one end thereof corresponding in position to the end plate of the bracket. The elastic member is configured to urge the first hook portion of the first arm towards the bracket. 
         [0008]    Preferably, the bracket further includes a first connecting base and a second connecting base which are disposed on the longitudinal body of the bracket; the first arm is pivotally connected to the first connecting base; the bracket assembly further comprises a second arm pivotally connected to the second connecting base. 
         [0009]    Preferably, the elastic member is disposed on the bracket and located between the first connecting base and the second connecting base; the second arm has a second hook portion at one end thereof corresponding in position to the endplate of the bracket; the elastic member is also configured to urge the second hook portion of the second arm towards the bracket. 
         [0010]    Preferably, the elastic member further includes a base plate, a first elastic portion, and a second elastic portion, wherein at least one of the first elastic portion and the second elastic portion is uplifted from one end of the base plate. 
         [0011]    Preferably, the bracket assembly further comprises an operation member connected between the first arm and the second arm. 
         [0012]    In another aspect of the present invention, a bracket assembly is adapted to a rack, which includes at least one hole, and comprises a bracket, at least one inserting member, an elastic member, a first arm, a second arm, and an operation member. The bracket includes a longitudinal body and an endplate disposed on the longitudinal body. The inserting member is disposed on the end plate of the bracket. The elastic member is disposed on the bracket and includes a first elastic portion and a second elastic portion. The first arm is movably connected to the bracket and includes a first portion and a second portion opposite to the first portion, wherein the first portion of the first arm includes a first contact portion abutting against the first elastic portion of the elastic member, and the second portion of the first arm corresponds in position to the endplate of the bracket and includes a first hook portion. The second arm is movably connected to the bracket and includes a first portion and a second portion opposite to the first portion, wherein the first portion of the second arm includes a second contact portion abutting against the second elastic portion of the elastic member, and the second portion of the second arm corresponds in position to the end plate of the bracket and includes a second hook portion. The operation member is connected between the first arm and the second arm. When the bracket assembly is mounted on the rack, the at least one inserting member is inserted into the at least one hole of the rack, and meanwhile, the first hook portion of the second portion of the first arm and the second hook portion of the second portion of the second arm clasp the rack due to elastic force against the first contact portion and the second contact portion provided by the first elastic portion and the second elastic portion. 
         [0013]    Preferably, the elastic member further includes a base plate, wherein the first elastic portion and the second elastic portion are uplifted from two opposite ends of the base plate, respectively. 
         [0014]    In yet another aspect of the present invention, a bracket assembly comprises a bracket, at least one inserting member, an elastic member, a first arm, a second arm, and an operation member. The bracket includes a longitudinal body, a first connecting base, a second connecting base corresponding in position to the first connecting base, and an end plate disposed on the longitudinal body, wherein the first connecting base and the second connecting base are disposed on the longitudinal body. The inserting member is disposed on the end plate of the bracket. The elastic member is disposed on the bracket and located between the first connecting base and the second connecting base and includes a first elastic portion and a second elastic portion. The first arm is pivotally connected to the first connecting base of the bracket and includes a first portion and a second portion opposite to the first portion, wherein the first portion of the first arm includes a first contact portion abutting against the first elastic portion of the elastic member, and the second portion of the first arm corresponds in position to the end plate of the bracket and includes a first hook portion and a first connecting portion disposed close to the first hook portion. The second arm is pivotally connected to the second connecting base of the bracket and includes a first portion and a second portion opposite to the first portion, wherein the first portion of the second arm includes a second contact portion abutting against the second elastic portion of the elastic member, and the second portion of the second arm corresponds in position to the end plate of the bracket and includes a second hook portion and a second connecting portion disposed close to the second hook portion. The operation member is connected between the first connecting portion of the first arm and the second connecting portion of the second arm. 
         [0015]    Preferably, the elastic member further includes a base plate, wherein the first elastic portion and the second elastic portion are uplifted from two opposite ends of the base plate, respectively. 
         [0016]    One characteristic of the embodiment of the present invention is that the bracket assembly is adapted to a slide assembly and can be assembled on a rack; moreover, when a user operates the operation member and does not release it until an inserting member of the bracket assembly is inserted into a hole of the rack, a hook portion of a arm can be driven to clasp the rack due to the elastic force provided by an elastic member, thus assembling the bracket assembly on the rack. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a bracket assembly which is disposed on a slide assembly and assembled on a rack; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of  FIG. 1  showing the bracket assembly which is disposed adjacent to one end of the slide assembly; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing a bracket assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view showing a bracket assembly in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is schematic view showing a first contact portion and a second contact portion abut against a first elastic portion and a second elastic portion, respectively, while an operation member has not yet been operated; 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view showing a second portion of a first arm and a second portion of a second arm are moved away from an end plate of the bracket while the operation member is operated; 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a schematic view showing the first contact portion and the second contact portion press against the first elastic portion and the second elastic portion, respectively, while the operation member is operated; 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is a schematic view showing operations of assembling the bracket assembly on the rack; 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  is another schematic view showing operations of assembling the bracket assembly on the rack; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  is a perspective showing the bracket assembly positioned on the rack, wherein the first hook portion of the first arm and the second hook portion of the second arm clasp the rack. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0027]      FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of a bracket assembly  10  adapted to a slide assembly  12  and a rack  14 , wherein the slide assembly  12  can be mounted to the rack  14  by means of the bracket assembly  10 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the bracket assembly  10  can be disposed adjacent to an end of a first rail  16  (e.g., the outer rail) of the slide assembly  12 . 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 to 5 , the bracket assembly  10  comprises a bracket  18 , an elastic member  20 , a first arm  22 , a second arm  24 , and at least one inserting member  40 . The first arm  22  is provided with a first hook portion  54 , and the second arm  24  is provided with a second hook portion  64 . 
         [0029]    The bracket  18  includes a first wall  28 , a second wall  30  disposed opposite to the first wall  28 , and a longitudinal body  32  connected between the first wall  28  and the second wall  30 , wherein the longitudinal body  32  includes at least one assembling portion  33 . 
         [0030]    In more detail, the bracket  18  includes a first connecting base  34 , a second connecting base  36  corresponding in position to the first connecting base  34 , and an end plate  38  disposed on the longitudinal body  32 . Preferably, the end plate  38  is perpendicularly disposed adjacent to an end portion of the longitudinal body  32  of the bracket  18 . The first connecting base  34  and the second connecting base  36  are disposed on the longitudinal body  32  of the bracket  18 , wherein the first connecting base  34  is disposed adjacent to the first wall  28 , and the second connecting base  36  is disposed adjacent to the second wall  30 . The assembling portion  33  is preferably located between the first connecting base  34  and the second connecting base  36 . 
         [0031]    The elastic member  20  is configured to urge at least one of the first hook portion  54  of the first arm  22  and the second hook portion  64  of the second arm  24  towards the bracket  18 . In one preferred embodiment, the elastic member  20  includes a base plate  42 , a first elastic portion  44 , and a second elastic portion  46 . The base plate  42  is correspondingly fit with the assembling portion  33  of the longitudinal body  32  of the bracket  18  so that the elastic member  20  can be disposed on the longitudinal body  32  of the bracket  18  and located between the first connecting base  34  and the second connecting base  36 . The first elastic portion  44  and the second elastic portion  46  are uplifted from two opposite ends of the base plate  42 , respectively. Accordingly, a predetermined included angle is formed between the first elastic portion  44  and the longitudinal body  32  of the bracket  18  for allowing the first elastic portion  44  to be pressed down elastically and thereby generate a first elastic force; also, a predetermined included angle is formed between the second elastic portion  46  and the longitudinal body  32  of the bracket  18  for allowing the second elastic portion  46  to be pressed down elastically and thereby generate a second elastic force. 
         [0032]    The first arm  22  is movably connected to the bracket  18 . Preferably, the first arm  22  is pivotally connected to the first connecting base  34  of the bracket  18  via a connecting element  47  and is rotatable in response to the first elastic force of the first elastic portion  44  of the elastic member  20 . Further, the first arm  22  includes a first portion  48  and a second portion  50  opposite to the first portion  48 . The first portion  48  of the first arm  22  includes a first contact portion  52  correspondingly abutting against the first elastic portion  44  of the elastic member  20 , wherein the first contact portion  52  can be bent to form an L-shape, but is not limited thereto. The second portion  50  of the first arm  22  corresponds in position to the end plate  38  of the bracket  18  and includes a first connecting portion  56 , wherein the first hook portion  54  is also disposed on the second portion  50  of the first arm  22  and located close to the first connecting portion  56 . The first hook portion  54  of the first arm  22  includes a hook surface  57  and extends in a horizontal direction, while the first connecting portion  56  extends in a vertical direction. It is noted that the second portion  50  of the first arm  22  can be moved toward and away from the endplate  38  of the bracket  18  in response to rotation of the first arm  22 . 
         [0033]    The second arm  24  is movably connected to the bracket  18 . Preferably, the second arm  24  is pivotally connected to the second connecting base  36  of the bracket  18  via the connecting element  47  and is rotatable in response to the second elastic force of the second elastic portion  46  of the elastic member  20 . The second arm  24  includes a first portion  58  and a second portion  60  opposite to the first portion  58 . The first portion  58  of the second arm  24  includes a second contact portion  62  correspondingly abutting against the second elastic portion  46  of the elastic member  20 , wherein the second contact portion  62  is bent to form an L-shape, but is not limited thereto. The second portion  60  of the second arm  24  corresponds in position to the end plate  38  of the bracket  18  and includes a second connecting portion  66 , wherein the second hook portion  64  is also disposed on the second portion  60  of the second arm  24  and located close to the second connecting portion  66 . The second hook portion  64  of the second arm  24  includes a hook surface  67  and extends in a horizontal direction, while the second connecting portion  66  extends in a vertical direction. It is noted that the second portion  60  of the second arm  24  can be moved toward and away from the end plate  38  of the bracket  18  in response to rotation of the second arm  24 . 
         [0034]    The inserting member  40  is disposed on the end plate  38  of the bracket  18 , wherein the inserting member  40  can be a circular stud, a square stud, or stud formed in other shapes. In other words, the inserting member  40  is not restricted to be formed as the circular stud illustrated in this embodiment. 
         [0035]    Preferably, the bracket assembly  10  further comprises an operation member  26 . The operation member  26  is assembled to or integrally formed with the first connecting portion  56  of the first arm  22  and the second connecting portion  66  of the second arm  24  and thus extends between the first connecting portion  56  of the first arm  22  and the second connecting portion  66  of the second arm  24 . The operation member  26  can be formed into a rod-like shank with a slightly curved operating surface  68 , whereby user can simply operate the operation member  26  by fingers to rotate the first arm  22  and the second arm  24 , for example, from a first position (as shown in  FIG. 3 ) to a second position (as shown in  FIG. 6 ). 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , when a user exerts a force F on the operating surface  68  of the operation member  26 , the first arm  22  and the second arm  24  are driven to rotate from the first position (as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 ) to the second position (as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 ) and make the second portion  50  of the first arm  22  and the second portion  60  of the second arm  24  be moved away from the end plate  38  of the bracket  18  due to the fact that the first arm  22  and the second arm  24  are pivotally connected to the first connecting base  34  and the second connecting base  36 , respectively; meanwhile, the first elastic portion  44  is pressed against by the first contact portion  52  of the first arm  22  to accumulate the first elastic force, and the second elastic portion  46  of the elastic member  20  is pressed against by the second contact portion  62  of the second arm  24  to accumulate the second elastic force. 
         [0037]    Further, when the operation member  26  is not operated any more (i.e., when the force F is removed from the operating surface  68  of the operation member  26 ), the accumulated first elastic force and second elastic force are released to allow the first elastic portion  44  and the second elastic portion  46  to push against the first contact portion  52  of the first arm  22  and the second contact portion  62  of the second arm  24 , respectively. Therefore, the first arm  22  and the second arm  24  are rotated back and drive the second portion  50  of the first arm  22  and the second portion  60  of the second arm  24  to move toward the end plate  38  of the bracket  18 . Namely, the first arm  22  and the second arm  24  are rotated back from the second position (as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 ) to the first position (as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 ). Simultaneously, the first elastic portion  44  and the second elastic portion  46  of the elastic member  20  return to their respect original states, i.e., uplifted from two opposite ends of the base plate  42  respectively. 
         [0038]      FIGS. 8 and 9  are schematic views showing how the bracket assembly  10  is assembled on the rack  14 . 
         [0039]    Specifically, the bracket assembly  10  is adapted to the rack  14  which includes at least one hole  15 , wherein the hole  15  can be formed in a circle, square, or other shapes. That is to say that the hole  15  is not restricted to be formed in a circle as shown in this embodiment. 
         [0040]    To assemble the bracket  18  on the rack  14 , the user initially operates the operation member  26  (as shown in  FIG. 6 ) to move the second portion  50  of the first arm  22  and the second portion  60  of the second arm  24  away from the endplate  38  of the bracket  18 , and simultaneously, the user moves the bracket assembly  10  toward the rack  14  in a direction D for allowing the inserting member  40  to be aligned with and received in the hole  15  of the rack  14 . Consequently, the second portion  50  of the first arm  22  and the second portion  60  of the second arm  24  are spaced apart from the rack  14  by a distance during the insertion of the inserting member  40  into the hole  15  of the rack  14 . 
         [0041]    Subsequently, referring to  FIG. 10 , the user stops operating the operation member  26  (i.e., releases the operation member  26 ) after the inserting member  40  is inserted into the hole  15  of the rack  14 . As a result, the first elastic portion  44  and the second elastic portion  46  return to their respect original states (as shown in  FIG. 3 ) due to their elasticity, and thus the first contact portion  52  and the second contact portion  62  are pushed against by the first elastic portion  44  and the second elastic portion  46 , respectively, and thereby drive the first hook portion  54  of the second portion  50  of the first arm  22  and the second hook portion  64  of the second portion  60  of the second arm  24  to clasp the rack  14  by means of the hook surface  57  of the first hook portion  54  and the hook surface  67  of the second hook portion  64 . Therefore, the bracket  18  is firmly assembled on the rack  14 . 
         [0042]    While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.