Slide rail assembly

A slide rail assembly includes at least two slide rails, a slide-facilitating device, and a supporting structure. The slide-facilitating device enables the two slide rails to be displaced smoothly with respect to each other. The supporting structure serves to support a rail section of one of the two slide rails.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a slide rail assembly and more particularly to one with a plurality of supporting mechanisms between two slide rails.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Generally, a slide rail assembly includes at least two rails that can be displaced with respect to each other to bring the slide rail assembly into an extended or retracted state. The at least two rails are typically supported with respect to each other via a supporting mechanism (e.g., a slide-facilitating device) provided therebetween, wherein the slide-facilitating device has rolling balls or rollers configured to facilitate relative displacement of the at least two rails.

However, a single supporting mechanism sometimes cannot satisfy the need of support between two slide rails. It is therefore an important issue in the slide rail industry to develop a novel slide rail product that has multiple supporting mechanisms.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a slide rail assembly with a plurality of supporting mechanisms between two slide rails.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a slide rail assembly includes at least two slide rails, a slide-facilitating device, and a supporting structure. The at least two slide rails are movably connected to each other. One of the at least two slide rails includes a front end, a rear end, and a separating member located between the front end and the rear end. The slide-facilitating device is mounted between the separating member and the front end of said slide rail so as to provide support for the other one of the at least two slide rails. The supporting structure is located between the separating member and the rear end of said slide rail.

Preferably, the slide rail assembly includes a first rail, a second rail, and a third rail, in which the second rail and the third rail are movably connected to each other, and the second rail includes the front end, the rear end, and the separating member located between the front end and the rear end. The slide-facilitating device is movably mounted between the separating member and the front end of the second rail so as to provide support for the third rail. The supporting structure is located between the separating member of the second rail and the rear end of the second rail and is configured for supporting the third rail when the third rail is retracted with respect to the second rail. Moreover, the second rail can be displaced with respect to the first rail, and the third rail can be displaced with respect to the second rail.

Preferably, the third rail includes an upper wall, a lower wall, and a longitudinal wall connected between the upper wall and the lower wall; the supporting structure includes an upper portion and a lower portion; and at least one rolling member is arranged on each of the upper portion and the lower portion in order to support a corresponding one of the upper wall and the lower wall of the third rail. Alternatively, the supporting structure includes an upper portion and a lower portion for supporting the upper wall and the lower wall of the third rail respectively

Preferably, the slide rail assembly further includes a first engaging mechanism movably mounted on the second rail. When the second rail is displaced with respect to the first rail from a first position to a second position in a first direction and the third rail is displaced with respect to the second rail to a third position in the first direction and thus moved beyond the second rail, a rear end of the first rail and a front end of the third rail define a first length therebetween. When the second rail is displaced from the second position to a fourth position in a second direction, the first length between the rear end of the first rail and the front end of the third rail is reduced to a second length, and the second rail is at the fourth position with respect to the first rail thanks to the first engaging mechanism.

Preferably, the slide rail assembly further includes a first working member and a blocking base. The first working member is mounted on the third rail and can be displaced between a first working position and a second working position by operation. The blocking base is arranged on the second rail and includes a blocking portion. When the third rail is displaced to a predetermined position in the first direction, the first working member is at the first working position and pressed against a lateral side of the blocking portion of the blocking base. Once displaced from the first working position to the second working position by operation, the first working member is no longer pressed against the blocking portion of the blocking base; as a result, the third rail can be detached from the second rail.

Preferably, the slide rail assembly further includes a second working member elastically mounted on the third rail. While the third rail is being displaced to the predetermined position in the first direction, the second working member is displaced along the blocking portion of the blocking base. Once moved past the blocking portion of the blocking base, the second working member is pressed against another lateral side of the blocking portion of the blocking base.

Preferably, the slide rail assembly further includes a switching member mounted on the third rail. The switching member can be displaced between a first switching position and a second switching position by operation, wherein the switching member is offset from the blocking portion of the blocking base when at the first switching position and is not offset from the blocking portion of the blocking base when at the second switching position.

Preferably, the third rail includes a front stopper spaced from the switching member.

Preferably, the slide rail assembly further includes a first blocking member arranged on the first rail, and the second rail is pressed against the first blocking member via the first engaging mechanism when at the fourth position.

Preferably, the first engaging mechanism includes a first engaging member and a first elastic member for applying an elastic force to the first engaging member. The first engaging member is pressed against the first blocking member by the elastic force of the first elastic member when the second rail is at the fourth position.

Preferably, the slide rail assembly further includes a second blocking member and a second engaging mechanism, and the third rail includes a rear stopper. The second blocking member is arranged on the first rail and includes a disengaging portion. The second engaging mechanism is movably mounted on the second rail. The third rail can be pressed against the second engaging mechanism via the rear stopper and thus simultaneously displace the second rail from the first position in the first direction until the second engaging mechanism is disengaged from the rear stopper by the disengaging portion of the second blocking member.

Preferably, the second engaging mechanism includes a second engaging member and a second elastic member for applying an elastic force to the second engaging member, and the third rail can be pressed against the second engaging member via the rear stopper.

Preferably, the second blocking member further includes a position-limiting portion, and the slide rail assembly further includes a third engaging mechanism movably mounted on the second rail. When the second rail is displaced to the second position, the third engaging mechanism is adjacent to the position-limiting portion of the second blocking member. The first engaging mechanism, the second engaging mechanism, and the third engaging mechanism are located between the separating member of the second rail and the rear end of the second rail.

Preferably, the third engaging mechanism includes a third engaging member and a third elastic member for applying an elastic force to the third engaging member. When the second rail is displaced to the second position, the third engaging member is adjacent to the position-limiting portion of the second blocking member in response to the elastic force of the third elastic member.

Preferably, the slide rail assembly is adapted for mounting an object to a rack, wherein the first rail is mountable to the rack, and the third rail is configured for supporting the object.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIG. 1, a pair of slide rail assemblies20according to an embodiment of the present invention are used to mount an object22to a rack24. More specifically, each slide rail assembly20is mounted to a first post28aand a second post28bof the rack24via a first bracket26aand a second bracket26brespectively. As the mechanism of mounting a slide rail assembly to a rack is well known in the art, further description is omitted herein for the sake of brevity.

As shown inFIG. 2, the slide rail assembly20includes a first rail30, a second rail32, and a third rail34. The first rail30, on which the corresponding first bracket26aand second bracket26bare arranged, has a front end36aand a rear end36b. More specifically, the first rail30includes an upper wall37a, a lower wall37b, and a longitudinal wall39connected between the upper wall37aand the lower wall37b. The upper wall37a, the lower wall37b, and the longitudinal wall39of the first rail30jointly define a first channel31. Preferably, the first rail30has at least one contact portion40, e.g., two projections, adjacent to the rear end36b. In this embodiment, the slide rail assembly20further includes a first blocking member42and a second blocking member44. The first blocking member42is arranged adjacent to the rear end36bof the first rail30while the second blocking member44is arranged away from the rear end36bof the first rail30.

The second rail32can be displaced with respect to the first channel31of the first rail30. For example, the second rail32can partially extend out of the first channel31(i.e., extend with respect to the first rail30) and be retracted into the first channel31(i.e., be retracted with respect to the first rail30). The second rail32has a front end46aand a rear end46b. More specifically, the second rail32includes an upper wall47a, a lower wall47b, and a longitudinal wall49connected between the upper wall47aand the lower wall47b. The upper wall47a, the lower wall47b, and the longitudinal wall49of the second rail32jointly define a second channel33. The second rail32also includes a separating member51located between the front end46aand the rear end46bof the second rail32. In this embodiment, the separating member51is arranged on and protrudes from the longitudinal wall49of the second rail32by way of example. Preferably, the slide rail assembly20further includes a first engaging mechanism50, a second engaging mechanism52, a third engaging mechanism54, and a blocking base56. The first engaging mechanism50, the second engaging mechanism52, and the third engaging mechanism54are all mounted on the second rail32but are at different positions. For example, the second engaging mechanism52is located between the first engaging mechanism50and the third engaging mechanism54, wherein the first engaging mechanism50is adjacent to the rear end46bof the second rail32. The first engaging mechanism50includes a first engaging member58and a first elastic member60for applying an elastic force to the first engaging member58. The second engaging mechanism52includes a second engaging member62and a second elastic member64for applying an elastic force to the second engaging member62. The third engaging mechanism54includes a third engaging member66and a third elastic member68for applying an elastic force to the third engaging member66. Preferably, a first pivotal connection member70, a second pivotal connection member72, and a third pivotal connection member74are also provided to pivotally connect the first engaging member58, the second engaging member62, and the third engaging member66to the second rail32respectively. The blocking base56(as can be seen more clearly inFIG. 3) is arranged on the second rail32, e.g., at a position adjacent to the front end46aof the second rail32. The blocking base56has a blocking portion76.

Preferably, the slide rail assembly20further includes a first slide-facilitating device77, a supporting structure79, and a second slide-facilitating device81. The first slide-facilitating device77(which is also referred to herein as the slide-facilitating device) is movably mounted between the separating member51of the second rail32and the blocking base56at the front end46aof the second rail32. Moreover, the first slide-facilitating device77is in the second channel33of the second rail32. The supporting structure79is located between the separating member51of the second rail32and the rear end46bof the second rail32and is also in the second channel33of the second rail32. The second slide-facilitating device81, on the other hand, is in the first channel31of the first rail30.

The third rail34is mounted in the second channel33of the second rail32and is configured to support the object22(not shown inFIG. 2). As the mechanism by which the third rail34supports the object22is well known in the art, further description is omitted herein for the sake of brevity.

Referring toFIG. 4andFIG. 5, the third rail34has a front end78aand a rear end78b. In addition, the third rail34includes an upper wall80a, a lower wall80b, and a longitudinal wall82connected between the upper wall80aand the lower wall80b. Please note that the third rail34is shown upside down inFIG. 4(as compared with the third rail34inFIG. 5), and that therefore the upper wall80a, the lower wall80b, and all the other components inFIG. 4are also upside down. The third rail34includes a rear stopper84and a front stopper86. The rear stopper84is adjacent to the rear end78bof the third rail34while the front stopper86is adjacent to the front end78aof the third rail34. In this embodiment, both the rear stopper84and the front stopper86are projections by way of example.

Preferably, a first working member88and a second working member90are mounted on the longitudinal wall82of the third rail34, and in this embodiment, a fourth pivotal connection member92and a fifth pivotal connection member94are also provided to pivotally connect the first working member88and the second working member90to the longitudinal wall82of the third rail34respectively.

This embodiment further includes an elastic base96, a first operating member98, a second operating member100, a first auxiliary elastic member102, and a second auxiliary elastic member104. The elastic base96is connected to the longitudinal wall82of the third rail34and is configured to provide elastic support for at least a portion of the first working member88and at least a portion of the second working member90. The first operating member98and the second operating member100are configured to operate the first working member88and the second working member90respectively. The first auxiliary elastic member102and the second auxiliary elastic member104are configured to apply an elastic force to the first operating member98and the second operating member100respectively. Moreover, it is preferable that a switching member106is mounted on the third rail34, and that the switching member106is spaced from the front stopper86by a longitudinal distance. More specifically, the switching member106is movably connected (e.g., pivotally connected via a sixth pivotal connection member108) to the longitudinal wall82of the third rail34. Preferably, the third rail34further includes a supporting feature110, and the switching member106includes two switching features112. The supporting feature110can support either one of the switching features112, depending on the position of the switching member106. The supporting feature110and the two switching features112are corresponding structures such as a recess and two projections, or a projection and two recesses, or a projection and two other projections.

Referring toFIG. 6, the first engaging member58, the second engaging member62, and the third engaging member66have a first extension portion113, a second extension portion115, and a third extension portion117respectively. These extension portions extend through the longitudinal wall49of the second rail32to correspond to the first rail30. The second blocking member44includes a disengaging portion114and a position-limiting portion116extending from and bent with respect to the disengaging portion114. The disengaging portion114may be an inclined or curved surface. When the slide rail assembly20is in a retracted state, the second rail32is retracted with respect to the first rail30and is at a first position P1, where the rear end46bof the second rail32is pressed against the at least one contact portion40of the first rail30. On the other hand, the third rail34is also retracted with respect to the second rail32such that the front stopper86of the third rail34is pressed against the blocking portion76of the blocking base56of the second rail32(seeFIG. 7). In this state, two opposite portions of the first engaging member58are respectively supported by the first elastic member60and the third rail34(e.g., the lower wall80bof the third rail34) to keep the first engaging member58in a predetermined state, and each of the second engaging member62and the third engaging member66is also kept in a predetermined state by the elastic force of the corresponding second elastic member64or third elastic member68. While in the predetermined state, the second engaging member62corresponds in position to the rear stopper84of the third rail34. In this embodiment, the rear stopper84is spaced from the second engaging member62, and there is a first distance between the second extension portion115of the second engaging member62and the disengaging portion114of the second blocking member44of the first rail30. Besides, while the third engaging member66is in the predetermined state, there is a second distance between the third extension portion117of the third engaging member66and the disengaging portion114of the second blocking member44of the first rail30.

Referring toFIG. 8, when the third rail34is displaced with respect to the second rail32in a first direction D1, the second rail32is simultaneously driven by the third rail34into displacement in the first direction D1from the first position P1due to the fact that the rear stopper84is pressed against the second engaging member62. Once the second rail32is displaced to a certain position, the third extension portion117of the third engaging member66is pressed against the second blocking member44under the guidance of the disengaging portion114of the second blocking member44. As a result, the third elastic member68stores an elastic force, and the second extension portion115of the second engaging member62is in contact with the disengaging portion114of the second blocking member44.

Referring toFIG. 9, when the third rail34is further displaced in the first direction D1to a predetermined position, the second engaging member62is rotated by a certain angle under the guidance of the disengaging portion114of the second blocking member44and is consequently disengaged from the rear stopper84of the third rail34, thereby terminating simultaneous displacement of the second rail32and the third rail34, and the second rail32ends up at a second position P2with respect to the first rail30. In addition, once moved past the second blocking member44, the third engaging member66is rotated by an angle in response to the elastic force of the third elastic member68and becomes adjacent to the position-limiting portion116of the second blocking member44, thus allowing the second rail32to stay temporarily at the second position P2. When the third rail34is further displaced with respect to the second rail32in the first direction D1, the first engaging member58will no longer be supported by the third rail34(e.g., by the lower wall80bof the third rail34) but will be rotated by an angle in response to the elastic force of the first elastic member60such that the first engaging member58corresponds to the first blocking member42of the first rail30.

More specifically, when the third rail34reaches a third position P3(e.g., an extended position) after being displaced with respect to the second rail32in the first direction D1, with the front end78aof the third rail34protruding beyond the front end46aof the second rail32, the first, second, and third rails30,32,34jointly define a first length L1; in other words, the distance between the rear end36bof the first rail30and the front end78aof the third rail34is defined as the first length L1.

Referring toFIG. 10, when the third rail34is at the third position P3, the first working member88is at a first working position X1, where the first working member88is pressed against a lateral side S1(hereinafter referred to as the first lateral side S1) of the blocking portion76of the blocking base56. And in the course in which the third rail34approaches the third position P3, the second working member90generates an elastic force while being displaced along the blocking portion76of the blocking base56, releases the elastic force upon moving past the blocking portion76of the blocking base56, and ends up at a first working position Y1, where the second working member90is pressed against the opposite lateral side S2(hereinafter referred to as the second lateral side S2) of the blocking portion76of the blocking base56. The third rail34in this state cannot be extended or retracted with respect to the second rail32.

Referring toFIG. 11andFIG. 12, an operator may now displace the second operating member100by applying a force F1thereto, in order to rotate the second working member90from the first working position Y1to a second working position Y2, where the second working member90is not pressed against the second lateral side S2of the blocking portion76, thus allowing the third rail34to be retracted with respect to the second rail32in a second direction D2.

Referring toFIG. 13andFIG. 14, the operator may also operate the switching member106so as to switch it from a first switching position W1to a second switching position W2. The switching member106is offset from the blocking portion76of the blocking base56when at the first switching position W1and is not offset from the blocking portion76of the blocking base56when at the second switching position W2.

InFIG. 14, the third rail34has reached a certain position after being displaced with respect to the second rail32from the extended position in the second direction D2. At this position, the third rail34(e.g., the lower wall80bof the third rail34) is pressed against the third engaging member66such that the third engaging member66is rotated by an angle and thus disengaged from the position-limiting portion116of the second blocking member44.

As shown inFIG. 14andFIG. 15, the first blocking member42has a guiding portion118and an engaging portion120extending from and bent with respect to the guiding portion118, wherein the guiding portion118may be an inclined or curved surface. When the third rail34is further displaced in the second direction D2, the second rail32is displaced by the third rail34(or more particularly by the switching member106at the second switching position W2, i.e., pressed against the second lateral side S2of the blocking portion76of the blocking base56, as can be seen more clearly inFIG. 16) from the second position P2in the second direction D2. During displacement in the second direction D2, the first engaging member58is rotated by an angle under the guidance of the guiding portion118and is pressed against the engaging portion120of the first blocking member42in response to the elastic force of the first elastic member60, thereby keeping the second rail32at a fourth position P4, e.g., a retracted position. The second rail32in this state cannot be displaced with respect to the first rail30in the second direction D2or the first direction D1(which is the opposite direction of the second direction D2).

It is worth mentioning that, with the switching member106, rather than the front stopper86of the third rail34, being adjacent to the second lateral side S2of the blocking portion76of the blocking base56, the rear stopper84of the third rail34will stay spaced from the second engaging member62when the third rail34is retracted with respect to the second rail32; that is to say, the third rail34in this state cannot drive the second rail32when displaced.

Referring toFIG. 17, when the second rail32is at the fourth position P4, the third rail34can be displaced with respect to the second rail32in the first direction D1until the first working member88is pressed against the first lateral side S1of the blocking portion76of the blocking base56, at which time the rear end36bof the first rail30and the front end78aof the third rail34define a second length L2therebetween. The second length L2is shorter than the first length L1(seeFIG. 9). In other words, by retracting the second rail32with respect to the first rail30to the fourth position P4, the first length L1is reduced to the second length L2.

Referring toFIG. 18andFIG. 19, when the second length L2prevails, the operator may displace the first operating member98by applying a force F2thereto, in order to displace the first working member88from the first working position X1to a second working position X2, where the first working member88is disengaged from the first lateral side S1of the blocking portion76of the blocking base56to allow detachment of the third rail34from the second rail32.

In an environment where space is limited, as shown inFIG. 20, there may be a first space d1between the slide rail assembly20in an extended state and an ambient article122(e.g., a door or wall). The first space d1, however, can be so narrow that maintenance of the slide rail assembly20(e.g., that involving detachment of the third rail34) is made difficult, if not impossible.

In that case, referring toFIG. 21, an operator may carry out the foregoing operation to retract the second rail32with respect to the first rail30and keep the second rail32engaged with the first rail30for the time being, thereby shortening the overall length of the slide rail assembly20and creating a second space d2between the slide rail assembly20and the ambient article122, wherein the second space d2is wider than the first space d1. By doing so, the operator is provided with more room for operation, which facilitates maintenance of the slide rail assembly20or detachment of the third rail34from the second rail32.

Referring toFIG. 22, when the slide rail assembly20is in the retracted state, the second rail32is retracted with respect to the first rail30to the first position P1, where the rear end46bof the second rail32is pressed against the at least one contact portion40of the first rail30, and the third rail34is also retracted with respect to the second rail32. Preferably, the supporting structure79supports the third rail34(e.g., a rail section, such as a rear rail section, of the third rail34) when the third rail34is retracted with respect to the second rail32. The supporting structure79includes an upper portion83aand a lower portion83b. Preferably, at least one rolling member (e.g., ball or roller)85, such as a plurality of rolling members85, is arranged on each of the upper portion83aand the lower portion83bin order to support the corresponding upper wall80aor lower wall80bof the third rail34. The first engaging mechanism50, the second engaging mechanism52, and the third engaging mechanism54are located between the separating member51of the second rail32and the rear end46bof the second rail32. Preferably, the supporting structure79is fixedly mounted on the second rail32to provide stable support for the rear rail section of the third rail34. More specifically, the supporting structure79further includes a middle portion83cextending between and connecting the upper portion83aand the lower portion83b, and the supporting structure79is fixedly mounted on the second rail32via a fixing member87(e.g., a rivet as shown inFIG. 23) passing through the middle portion83c. Please note that the rivet is only a preferred embodiment of the fixing member87; the present invention has no limitation on how the supporting structure79is mounted on the second rail32.

Furthermore, the first slide-facilitating device77provides support for a front rail section of the third rail34. When the third rail34is retracted with respect to the second rail32, the first slide-facilitating device77is pressed against the separating member51of the second rail32and therefore kept from displacing toward the rear end46bof the second rail32. The second slide-facilitating device81, on the other hand, provides support for the second rail32. In this embodiment, each of the first slide-facilitating device77and the second slide-facilitating device81includes a plurality of balls (or rollers) by way of example.

Referring toFIG. 23, when the third rail34is displaced with respect to the second rail32in the first direction D1, the third rail34is gradually displaced with respect to the supporting structure79, and the rolling members85of the upper portion83aand of the lower portion83bof the supporting structure79make it easier to displace the third rail34with respect to the second rail32. The balls (or rollers) of the first slide-facilitating device77also make it easier to displace the third rail34with respect to the second rail32. When the second rail32is displaced with respect to the first rail30in the first direction D1, the balls (or rollers) of the second slide-facilitating device81facilitate displacement of the second rail32with respect to the first rail30.

FIG. 24shows a slide rail assembly200according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment (seeFIG. 22for example) substantially in that the supporting structure202includes an upper portion204and a lower portion206for supporting the upper wall210and the lower wall212of the third rail208respectively and can therefore support a rail section (e.g., a rear rail section) of the third rail208(please note that the first engaging mechanism50, the second engaging mechanism52, and the third engaging mechanism54are not shown inFIG. 24). The third rail208in the second embodiment may also include a middle portion214extending between and connecting the upper portion204and the lower portion206.

While the present invention has been disclosed herein by way of the foregoing preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the embodiments described above are not intended to be restrictive of the scope of the invention. The scope of patent protection sought by the applicant is defined by the appended claims.