SLIDE RAIL MECHANISM

A slide rail mechanism is provided and includes a first slide rail assembly, a second slide rail assembly and a connecting member. The first slide rail assembly includes a first rail and a second rail longitudinally displaceable with respect to the first rail. The second slide rail assembly includes a third rail and a fourth rail longitudinally displaceable with respect to the third rail. The connecting member is moved for preventing the fourth rail from displacing with respect to the third rail along an opening direction when the second rail displaces with respect to the first rail along the opening direction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a slide rail product, and more specifically, to a slide rail mechanism capable of preventing two movable rails of two slide rail assemblies from being opened or extended simultaneously by a connecting member.

2. Description of the Prior Art

EP Patent No. 1441092 B1 discloses a blocking device adapted for a drawer cabinet. The drawer cabinet includes a cabinet body, a plurality of drawers and a plurality of slide rail assemblies. The blocking device includes a plurality of self-closing assemblies and a plurality of lifting members. Each of the plurality of self-closing assemblies is arranged on the corresponding drawer or the corresponding slide rail assembly and includes a driving member. When one of the plurality of drawers is opened with respect to the cabinet body, the one of the plurality of drawers drives an interlock mechanism formed by the plurality of lifting members by a blocking catch of a corresponding one of the plurality of driving members to block the other ones of the plurality of driving members for prevent the other ones of the plurality of drawers from being opened with respect to the cabinet body.

However, the aforementioned blocking device has complicated structure. To meet different requirements, it becomes an important topic to provide an improved slide rail product.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a slide rail mechanism capable of preventing two movable rails of two slide rail assemblies from being opened or extended simultaneously by a connecting member.

According to an aspect of the invention, a slide rail mechanism is adapted for a cabinet. The slide rail mechanism includes a first slide rail assembly, a second slide rail assembly and a connecting member. The first slide rail assembly is arranged on the cabinet. The first slide rail assembly includes a first rail and a second rail longitudinally displaceable with respect to the first rail. The second slide rail assembly is arranged on the cabinet. The second slide rail assembly includes a third rail and a fourth rail longitudinally displaceable with respect to the third rail. The connecting member is movably mounted on one of the cabinet and the first rail. The connecting member is moved for preventing the fourth rail from displacing with respect to the third rail along an opening direction when the second rail displaces with respect to the first rail along the opening direction.

According to another aspect of the invention, a slide rail mechanism includes a first slide rail assembly, a second slide rail assembly and a connecting member. The first slide rail assembly includes a first rail, a second rail longitudinally displaceable with respect to the first rail, and a self-closing device arranged on the first rail. The self-closing device includes a resilient member. The second slide rail assembly includes a third rail and a fourth rail longitudinally displaceable with respect to the third rail. The connecting member is moved for preventing the fourth rail from displacing with respect to the third rail along an opening direction and the resilient member is resiliently deformed during a displacement of the second rail with respect to the first rail from a retracted position to an extended position along the opening direction. The second rail is configured to be driven to the retracted position along a retracting direction by the resilient member during a displacement of the second rail with respect to the first rail from the extended position along the retracting direction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. In this regard, directional terminology, such as “top”, “bottom”, “left”, “right”, “front”, “back”, etc., is used with reference to the orientation of the Figure (s) being described. The members of the present invention can be positioned in a number of different orientations. As such, the directional terminology is used for purposes of illustration and is in no way limiting. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions will be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive. Also, if not specified, the term “connect” is intended to mean either an indirect or direct mechanical connection. Thus, if a first device is connected to a second device, that connection may be through a direct mechanical connection, or through an indirect mechanical connection via other devices and connections.

As shown inFIG.1andFIG.2, a cabinet apparatus includes a cabinet22and a slide rail mechanism adapted for the cabinet22. A plurality of drawers are arranged on the cabinet22along a vertical direction, i.e., a height direction of the cabinet22, and/or a transverse direction, i.e., a lateral direction of the cabinet22. In this embodiment, by way of example, a first drawer24aand a second drawer24bcan be arranged on the cabinet22along the vertical direction. The slide rail mechanism includes a first slide rail assembly26and a second slide rail assembly28. The first slide rail assembly26and a second slide rail assembly28are configured to be arranged on a wall W of the cabinet22for supporting the first drawer24aand the second drawer24brespectively. The slide rail mechanism further includes a connecting member30movably mounted on one of the cabinet22, the first slide rail assembly26and the second slide rail assembly28. In this embodiment, by way of example, the connecting member30can be movably mounted on the first slide rail assembly26. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

As shown inFIG.3toFIG.5, the first slide rail assembly26and the second slide rail assembly28can have substantially identical structures. For example, the first slide rail assembly26includes a first rail32, e.g., a fixed rail, and a second rail34, e.g., a movable rail, longitudinal displaceable with respect to the first rail32, and the second slide rail assembly28includes a third rail36, e.g., a fixed rail, and a fourth rail38, e.g., a movable rail, longitudinal displaceable with respect to the third rail36. Preferably, the first slide rail assembly26further includes a first middle rail40movably mounted between the first rail32and the second rail34, and the second slide rail assembly28further includes a second middle rail42movably mounted between the third rail36and the fourth rail38. The first middle rail40and the second middle rail42do not corporate with the connecting member30.

Understandably, in another embodiment, the first middle rail and the second middle rail can be omitted. It should be noticed that, in this embodiment, by way of example, a longitudinal direction, i.e., a length direction or a displacing direction of a rail, can be parallel to an X axis. The transverse direction, i.e., a lateral direction of the rail or the lateral direction of the cabinet22, can be parallel to a Y axis. The vertical direction, i.e., a height direction of the rail or the height direction of the cabinet22, can be parallel to the Z axis.

The connecting member30is movably mounted between the first slide rail assembly26and the second slide rail assembly28.

Preferably, the first rail32of the first slide rail assembly26and the third rail36of the second slide rail assembly28can have substantially identical structures, and the second rail34of the first slide rail assembly26and the fourth rail38of the second slide rail assembly28can have substantially identical structures. Detailed description for the second slide rail assembly28is omitted for simplicity. In this embodiment, by way of example, the first rail32of the first slide rail assembly26can include a first vertical portion44, a first supporting portion46and a first horizontal portion48connected between the first vertical portion44and the first supporting portion46, and the first rail32of the first slide rail assembly26can be configured to be mounted on the wall W of the cabinet22by a plurality of mounting features50of the first vertical portion44. The connecting member30is movably mounted on the first vertical portion44of the first rail32, such that the connecting member30is movable along the height direction of the cabinet22, e.g., the Z axis. Besides, the second rail34of the first slide rail assembly26and the fourth rail38of the second slide rail assembly28can be configured to support the first drawer24aand the second drawer24brespectively.

Preferably, the first vertical portion44and the first supporting portion46are substantially perpendicularly connected to the first horizontal portion48. The first vertical portion44has a first height K1, and the first supporting portion46has a second height K2less than the first height K1. The first vertical portion44and the first supporting portion46are located at two opposite sides of the first horizontal portion48.

Preferably, each of the first slide rail assembly26and the second slide rail assembly28includes a plurality of slide-aiding devices. For example, the first slide rail assembly26includes a first slide-aiding device and a second slide-aiding device. The first slide-aiding device is movably supported between the first rail32and the first middle rail40of the first slide rail assembly26for facilitating a smooth relative displacement of the first middle rail40and the first rail32of the first slide rail assembly26. The second slide-aiding device is movably supported between the second rail34and the first middle rail40of the first slide rail assembly26for facilitating a smooth relative displacement of the second rail34and the first middle rail40of the first slide rail assembly26.

Furthermore, the connecting member30includes a first extending portion52, a second extending portion54and a middle portion56connected between the first extending portion52and the second extending portion54. As shown inFIG.4, a predetermined space S is arranged on the first vertical portion44of the first rail32of the first slide rail assembly26and configured to at least partially accommodate the first extending portion52of the connecting member30. Preferably, a plurality of retaining features58are further arranged on the first vertical portion44of the first rail32of the first slide rail assembly26and configured to retain or support the first extending portion52of the connecting member30, so as to facilitate a stable movement of the connecting member30with respect to the first rail32of the first slide rail assembly26.

Preferably, the connecting member30is a rod, and a longitudinal direction of the connecting member30is substantially parallel to the height direction of the cabinet22.

Preferably, a first self-closing device60and a second self-closing device62are arranged on the first slide rail assembly26and the second slide rail assembly28, respectively. The first self-closing device60and the second self-closing device62can have substantially identical structures. Detailed description for the second self-closing device62is omitted for simplicity. The first self-closing device60is arranged on the first rail32of the first slide rail assembly26and includes a first auxiliary member64, and the second self-closing device62is arranged on the third rail36of the second slide rail assembly28and includes a third auxiliary member70.

Preferably, a first working feature66is arranged on the second rail34of the first slide rail assembly26and movable together with the second rail34of the first slide rail assembly26when the second rail34of the first slide rail assembly26displaces with respect to the first rail32of the first slide rail assembly26, and a second working feature68is arranged on the fourth rail38of the second slide rail assembly28and movable together with the fourth rail38of the second slide rail assembly28when the fourth rail38of the second slide rail assembly28displaces with respect to the third rail36of the second slide rail assembly28. In this embodiment, by way of example, each of the first working feature66and the second working feature68can be a protrusion, a pin or the like. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. As shown inFIG.3andFIG.4, when the first slide rail assembly26is retracted, the second rail34of the first slide rail assembly26is located at a first retracted position R with respect to the first rail32of the first slide rail assembly26, and the first auxiliary member64of the first self-closing device60releasably catches the first working feature66on the second rail34of the first slide rail assembly26. Understandably, when the second slide rail assembly28is retracted, the fourth rail38of the second slide rail assembly28is located at a second retracted position with respect to the third rail36of the second slide rail assembly28, and the third auxiliary member70of the second self-closing device62releasably catches the second working feature68on the fourth rail38of the second slide rail assembly28.

Preferably, the first self-closing device60further includes a second auxiliary member72located adjacent to the first auxiliary member64, and the second self-closing device62further includes a fourth auxiliary member74located adjacent to the third auxiliary member70.

Preferably, as shown inFIG.5, a first through hole76is arranged on the first rail32of the first slide rail assembly26, e.g., the first horizontal portion48of the first rail32of the first slide rail assembly26, and a second through hole82is arranged on the third rail36of the second slide rail assembly28, e.g., a second horizontal portion80of the third rail36of the second slide rail assembly28.

As shown inFIG.4andFIG.5, when the second rail34of the first slide rail assembly26is located at the first retracted position R with respect to the first rail32of the first slide rail assembly26and the fourth rail38of the second slide rail assembly28is located at the second retracted position with respect to the third rail36of the second slide rail assembly28, the connecting member30is located at a first predetermined position H1. Besides, when the connecting member30is located at the first predetermined position H1, the connecting member30, e.g., the second extending portion54of the connecting member30, does not block the fourth auxiliary member74of the second self-closing device62.

As shown inFIG.6, the first self-closing device60further includes a first resilient member84configured to provide a resilient force to the first auxiliary member64and/or the second auxiliary member72. In this embodiment, by way of example, the first resilient member84can be a compression spring or an extension spring. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. As shown inFIG.4, the first auxiliary member64includes a first catch portion86configured to releasably catch the first working feature66on the second rail34of the first slide rail assembly26. In this embodiment, by way of example, as shown inFIG.4, the first catch portion86can be a hook having an auxiliary space configured to receive a portion of the first working feature66. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

Preferably, the first self-closing device60further includes a first base88configured to be connected, e.g., fixedly connected, to the first rail32, e.g., the first horizontal portion48of the first rail32, of the first slide rail assembly26.

Preferably, the first resilient member84includes a first end portion94aconnected to the second auxiliary member72and a second end portion94bconnected to the first base88.

Preferably, one of the first auxiliary member64and the second auxiliary member72includes a first guiding feature96. In this embodiment, by way of example, the second auxiliary member72includes the first guiding feature96. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. Besides, the connecting member30, e.g., the first extending portion52of the connecting member30, includes a second guiding feature98for cooperating with the first guiding feature96to allow the connecting member30to be moved in response to the second auxiliary member72. In this embodiment, by way of example, as shown inFIG.4, at least one of the first guiding feature96and the second guiding feature98can be an inclined surface or an arc surface. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

Preferably, the first slide rail assembly26further includes a first damping device100, and the second slide rail assembly28further includes a second damping device. The first damping device100and the second damping device can have substantially identical structures. Detailed description for the second damping device is omitted for simplicity. The first damping device100includes a first object102and a second object104movable with respect to each other. One of the first object102and the second object104is a cylinder equipped with a buffering medium and/or an auxiliary spring therein, and the other one of the first object102and the second object104is a piston rod. As shown inFIG.6, the first damping device100is located at a position corresponding to the first auxiliary member64. When the second rail34of the first slide rail assembly26is displaced with respect to the first rail32of the first slide rail assembly26to the first retracted position R, one of the first object102and the second object104can abut against the first auxiliary member64to reduce a displacing speed of the second rail34of the first slide rail assembly26. In this embodiment, by way of example, the second object104can be configured to abut against the first auxiliary member64.

As shown inFIG.7andFIG.8, the first auxiliary member64and the second auxiliary member72are connected to each other. In this embodiment, by way of example, the first auxiliary member64and the second auxiliary member72can be pivotally connected to each other via a shaft106. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. Identically, the third auxiliary member70and the fourth auxiliary member74can be pivotally connected to each other. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

Preferably, the first auxiliary member64includes a first supporting section108, and the second auxiliary member72includes a second supporting section110. The first supporting section108and the second supporting section110are configured to cooperate with the first base88. In this embodiment, by way of example, each of the first supporting section108and the second supporting section110can be a protruding portion.

For illustration purpose,FIG.9illustrates the first working feature66, which is arranged on the second rail34of the first slide rail assembly26, and the second working feature68, which is arranged on the fourth rail38of the second slide rail assembly28, without the first middle rail40and the second rail34of the first slide rail assembly26and the second middle rail42and the fourth rail38of the second slide rail assembly28.

When the second rail34of the first slide rail assembly26displaces with respect to the first rail32of the first slide rail assembly26along an opening direction D1, the connecting member30is moved for preventing the fourth rail38of the second slide rail assembly28from displacing with respect to the third rail36of the second slide rail assembly28along the opening direction D1.

For example, when the second rail34of the first slide rail assembly26displaces with respect to the first rail32of the first slide rail assembly26away from the first retracted position R as shown inFIG.3along the opening direction D1to drive the first working feature66from a position as shown inFIG.4to a position as shown inFIG.9, the first working feature66is caught by the first auxiliary member64moving together with the second rail34of the first slide rail assembly26, such that the first auxiliary member64and the second auxiliary member72are moved in response to the displacement of the second rail34of the first slide rail assembly26. Accordingly, the connecting member30can be driven from the first predetermined position H1as shown inFIG.5to a second predetermined position H2as shown inFIG.10along a height direction M by an abutment of the first guiding feature96of the second auxiliary member72and the second guiding feature98of the connecting member30, e.g., the first extending portion52of the connecting member30. When the connecting member30is located at the second predetermined position H2as shown inFIG.10, the connecting member30, e.g., the second extending portion54of the connecting member30, passes through the second through hole82on the third rail36of the second slide rail assembly28, e.g., the second horizontal portion80of the third rail36of the second slide rail assembly28, so as to block the fourth auxiliary member74for preventing the fourth rail38of the second slide rail assembly28from displacing with respect to the third rail36of the second slide rail assembly28along the opening direction D1, i.e., retaining the fourth rail38of the second slide rail assembly28at a second retracted position as shown inFIG.5. Accordingly, the second drawer24bcannot be opened with respect to the cabinet22respectively because the fourth rail38of the second slide rail assembly28is restrained from displacing with respect to the third rail36of the second slide rail assembly28along the opening direction D1.

As shown inFIG.0.11andFIG.12, the first supporting section108of the first auxiliary member64and the second supporting section110of the second auxiliary member72are located in a longitudinal path90of the first base88. Preferably, the first base88further includes a bending path92bent with respect to the longitudinal path90. The first auxiliary member64moves along the longitudinal path90and the bending path92.

When the second rail34of the first slide rail assembly26displaces with respect to the first rail32of the first slide rail assembly26from a position as shown inFIG.11to a first extended position E as shown inFIG.12along the opening direction D1, the first auxiliary member64is driven by the first working feature66caught by the first auxiliary member64to pivot to an engaging position as shown inFIG.12with respect to the second auxiliary member72through the bending path92and then is disengaged from the first working feature66. In this embodiment, by way of example, as shown inFIG.12, the first auxiliary member64can include a corresponding supporting section112configured to engage with a wall of the bending path94to retain the first auxiliary member64at the pivoting position for maintaining a resilient deformation of the resilient member84. Besides, when the second rail34of the first slide rail assembly26is located at the first extended position E, the second object104is fully extended with respect to the first object102, i.e., the first damping device100is in a pre-buffering state.

It should be noticed that, as shown inFIG.12, when the second rail34of the first slide rail assembly26displaces with respect to the first rail32of the first slide rail assembly26away from the first extended position E along a retracting direction D2for a predetermined distance, the corresponding supporting section112of the first auxiliary member64is driven to pivot to a disengaging position as shown inFIG.11by an abutment of the first auxiliary member64and the first working feature66for disengaging from the wall of the bending path92and for catching the first working feature66by the first catch portion86of the first auxiliary member64, such that the second rail34can be driven to the first retracted position R along the retracting direction D2by the resiliently deformed first resilient member84.

Preferably, during a displacement of the second rail34driven by the resilient member84and displacing to the first retracted position R along the retracting direction D2, the first auxiliary member64abuts against the second object104of the first damping device100for driving the second object104of the first damping device100to move with respect to the first object102of the first damping device100, such that the displacing speed of the second rail34is reduced.

It should be noticed that when the second rail34of the first slide rail assembly26is retracted with respect to the first rail32of the first slide rail assembly26and the fourth rail38of the second slide rail assembly28is opened or extended with respect to the third rail36of the second slide rail assembly28, the fourth auxiliary member74moves to a blocking position along the opening direction D1for blocking the connecting member30, such that the connecting member30cannot move along the height direction M, i.e., the connecting member30can be retained at the first predetermined height H1. The connecting member30retained at the first predetermined height H1can block the second auxiliary member72for preventing the second rail34of the first slide rail assembly26from displacing with respect to the first rail32of the first slide rail assembly26along the opening direction D1.

From the above, the slide rail mechanism includes the following characteristics.

1. The connecting member30is movably mounted on one of the cabinet22, the first slide rail assembly26and the second slide rail assembly28. When the connecting member30is movably mounted on the first slide rail assembly26, e.g., the first rail32of the first slide rail assembly26, the cabinet22does not need to be equipped with any additional structure for mounting the connecting member30. Therefore, the slide rail mechanism has an advantage of easy assembly.

2. The connecting member30is configured to cooperate with the second auxiliary member72of the self-closing device60movably connected to the first auxiliary member64. Therefore, the slide rail mechanism has advantages of simplified structure and improved operability.

3. When the second rail34of the first slide rail assembly26is opened or extended with respect to the first rail32of the first slide rail assembly26, the fourth rail38of the second slide rail assembly28cannot be extended with respect to the third rail36of the second slide rail assembly28. When the fourth rail38of the second slide rail assembly28is opened or extended with respect to the third rail36of the second slide rail assembly28, the second rail34of the first slide rail assembly26cannot be extended with respect to the first rail32of the first slide rail assembly26. Accordingly, the first drawer24aand the second drawer24bcannot be opened with respect to the cabinet22at the same time, which prevents falling of the cabinet22caused by the opened first drawer24aand the opened second drawer24b. Therefore, the slide rail mechanism provides an enhanced using safety.