Slide rail assembly

A slide rail assembly includes a first rail, a bracket, a second rail and a locking device. The bracket is arranged on the first rail and has a locking part. The second rail is movable relative to the first rail from a retracted position to an extended position. The locking device is arranged on the second rail. The locking device comprises a locking base and a locking member. The locking base is configured to be operated relative to the second rail to be in one of an open state and a closed state. When the locking base is in the closed state, the locking member corresponds to the locking part of the bracket. When the locking base is in the open state, the locking member is away from the locking part of the bracket.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a slide rail assembly, and more particularly, to a slide rail assembly with a locking device.

2. Description of the Prior Art

U.S. Pat. No. 6,644,481 B2 discloses an apparatus for rackmounting a chassis, which includes a mounting shelf and a sliding bracket. The mounting shelf is attached to a rack through at least one connector. The sliding bracket is configured to position the chassis in the rack through a flange. As shown inFIG. 1of the patent, the flange is not movable relative to the sliding bracket, and the flange is configured to connect to the mounting shelf or the rack.

However, for different market requirements, it is important to develop various slide rail products with brackets.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a slide rail assembly with a locking device.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a slide rail assembly comprises a first rail, a bracket, a second rail and a locking device. The bracket is arranged on the first rail. The bracket has a locking part. The second rail is movable relative to the first rail from a retracted position to an extended position. The locking device is arranged on the second rail. The locking device comprises a locking base and a locking member. The locking base is configured to be operated relative to the second rail to be in one of an open state and a closed state. When the locking base is in the closed state, the locking member corresponds to the locking part of the bracket. When the locking base is in the open state, the locking member is away from the locking part of the bracket. When the second rail is located at the retracted position relative to the first rail with the locking base being in the closed state, the locking member is able to be fastened into the locking part of the bracket, so as to prevent the second rail from being moved relative to the first rail from the retracted position to the extended position.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a slide rail assembly comprises a first rail, a bracket, a second rail and a locking device. The bracket is arranged on the first rail. The bracket comprises a fastening member and a locking part arranged on the fastening member. The second rail is movable relative to the first rail from a retracted position to an extended position. The locking device is arranged on the second rail. The locking device comprises a locking base and a locking member. The locking base is configured to be operated relative to the second rail to be in one of an open state and a closed state. When the locking base is in the closed state, the locking member corresponds to the locking part of the bracket. When the locking base is in the open state, the locking member is away from the locking part of the bracket. When the second rail is located at the retracted position relative to the first rail with the locking base being in the closed state, the locking base has a feature configured to abut against a front end part of the second rail or to shorten a gap between the locking base and the front end part of the second rail. When the second rail is located at the retracted position relative to the first rail with the locking base being in the closed state, the locking member is able to be fastened into the locking part of the bracket.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a slide rail assembly comprises a first rail, a bracket, a second rail and a locking device. The bracket is arranged on the first rail. The bracket comprises a locking part. The second rail is movable relative to the first rail from a retracted position to an extended position. The second rail comprises a first wall, a second wall and a longitudinal wall connected between the first wall and the second wall of the second rail. The longitudinal wall of the second rail has a first side and a second side opposite to the first side. The locking device is arranged on the second rail. The locking device comprises a locking base and a locking member. The locking base is transversely movable relative to the longitudinal wall of the second rail between a first transverse position and a second transverse position. The locking base is configured to be operated relative to the second rail to be in one of an open state and a closed state. When the locking base is located at the second transverse position and in the closed state, a side part of the locking base is not extended beyond the second side of the longitudinal wall of the second rail. When the second rail is located at the retracted position relative to the first rail with the locking base being in the closed state, the locking member is able to be fastened into the locking part of the bracket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 2, a slide rail assembly20comprises a first rail22, a bracket, a second rail26and a locking device28according to an embodiment of the present invention. The bracket can be a front bracket24, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Preferably, the slide rail assembly20further comprises another bracket, such as a rear bracket30.

The first rail has a first end part and a second end part away from the first end part, such as a front end part and a rear end part. The first rail22comprises a plurality of walls defining a passage32configured to movably mount the second rail26. In the present embodiment, a predetermined portion of the first rail22is arranged with a first wall34a, a second wall34band a longitudinal wall36connected between the first wall34aand the second wall34b. The passage32is defined by the first wall34a, the second wall34band the longitudinal wall36.

The front bracket24is arranged on the first rail22, and the front bracket24has a locking part38. Preferably, the front bracket24is arranged adjacent to the front end part of the first rail22. On the other hand, the rear bracket30is arranged adjacent to the rear end part of the first rail22. Preferably, one of the front bracket24and the rear bracket30is longitudinally adjustable relative to the first rail22. Preferably, the front bracket24comprises a side plate44and an end plate46adjacent to the side plate44. In the present embodiment, the end plate46is substantially perpendicularly connected to the side plate44. Two mounting members48are arranged on the end plate46, and the locking part38is located between the two mounting members48.

The second rail26is longitudinally movable relative to the first rail22. The second rail26has a first end part and a second end part away from the first end part, such as a front end part26aand a rear end part26b. Moreover, in the present embodiment, an X-axis direction is defined as a longitudinal direction (or a length direction or moving direction of the rail), a Y-axis direction is defined as a transverse direction (or a lateral direction of the rail), and a Z-axis direction is defined as vertical direction (or a height direction of the rail).

The locking device28is arranged adjacent to the second rail26. The locking device28comprises a locking base40and a locking member42.

Preferably, the locking device28is arranged adjacent to the front end part26aof the second rail26.

Preferably, a fixing base50is connected to an inner side of the front end part26aof the second rail26. When the second rail26is located at a retracted position, the fixing base50is extended beyond the end plate46of the front bracket24(as shown inFIG. 1). The fixing base50has a hole H (it also can be regarded that the second rail26has the hole H). The locking base40has a connecting section52passing through the hole H of the fixing base50, in order to connect (such as movably connect) the locking base40to the fixing base50. On the other hand, the locking member42is arranged on the locking base40.

As shown inFIG. 3toFIG. 5, the locking base40is configured to be operated relative to the second rail26to be in one of an open state K1(as shown inFIG. 3) and a closed state K2(as shown inFIG. 5). In the present embodiment, the locking base40is configured to be rotated relative to the second rail26from the open state K1to the closed state K2; or the locking base40is configured to be rotated relative to the second rail26from the closed state K2to the open state K1.

When the locking base40is in the open state K1, the locking member42is away from (or misaligned with) the locking part38of the front bracket24(as shown inFIG. 3); when locking base40is in the closed state K2, the locking member42corresponds to (or is aligned with) the locking part38of the front bracket24(as shown inFIG. 5).

Preferably, the locking part38is a screw hole. The locking member42comprises an operating part54and a threaded part56connected to the operating part54. The threaded part56and the locking part38have screwing structures matching each other.

Moreover, when the second rail26is located at a predetermined position, such as a retracted position P1, relative to the first rail22, the locking base40can be operated to rotate in a predetermined direction R (as shown inFIG. 4) from the open state K1(as shown inFIG. 3) to the closed state K2, such that the locking member42can be fastened into the locking part38of the front bracket24through the threaded part56to prevent the second rail26from being moved relative to the first rail22from the retracted position P1(as shown inFIG. 5). That is, when the locking member42is fastened into the locking part38of the front bracket24, the second rail26is fixed at the retracted position P1. Moreover, when the locking base40is in the closed state K2and the locking member42corresponds to (or is aligned with) the locking part38of the front bracket24, a user can apply a force to the operating part54by hand or by a tool (such as a screw driver) to rotate the locking member42, so as to fasten the threaded part56into the locking part38of the front bracket24(as shown inFIG. 5).

Preferably, the locking base40has a bending section58. When the locking base40is in the closed state K2, the bending section58of the locking base40is adjacent to a side edge60of the end plate46of the front bracket24(as shown inFIG. 5).

Preferably, the slide rail assembly20further comprises a fastening member62movably mounted to the front bracket24(as shown inFIG. 3). For example, the fastening member62is pivotally connected to the front bracket24through a shaft64, such that the fastening member62is movable between a locking position C (as shown inFIG. 3) and an unlocking position (not shown in figures). When the fastening member62is located at the locking position C, a fastening part65of the fastening member62is in front of the end plate46of the front bracket24. Preferably, the fastening member62can be held at the locking position C by an elastic force of an elastic part. Configuration of the fastening member62is well known to those skilled in the art, for simplification, no further illustration is provided.

As shown inFIG. 6andFIG. 7, two slide rail assemblies20are mounted to a rack. Specifically, the rack comprises at least one pair of posts, such as a pair of front posts66aand a pair of rear posts66b. Each front post66aand each rear post66bare mounted with a corresponding slide rail assembly20. The first rail22of the slide rail assembly20is mounted to the front post66aand the rear post66brespectively through the front bracket24and the rear bracket30, and the second rail26is configured to carry a carried object68, such as an electronic device. The second rail26is located at the retracted position P1relative to the first rail22. Arrangement of the front bracket24being mounted to the front post66ais substantially identical to arrangement of the rear bracket30being mounted to the rear post66b. For example, the front post66acomprises a plurality of mounting holes (such as a first mounting hole70a, a second mounting hole70band a third mounting hole70clocated between the first mounting hole70aand the second mounting hole70b). The front bracket24is configured to be mounted to the first mounting hole70aand the second mounting hole70bof the front post66athrough the two mounting members48, and the fastening member62located at the locking position C is configured to lock a front edge of the front post66athrough the fastening part65(as shown inFIG. 7). The locking base40can be operated relative to the second rail26to be in the open state K1. In such state, the second rail26is movable relative to the first rail22along a first direction D1from the retracted position P1.

As shown inFIG. 8, when the second rail26is located at the retracted position P1relative co the first rail22, the locking base40can be operated to be in the closed state K2, such that the threaded part56of the locking member42can be fastened into the locking part38of the front bracket24in order to hold the carried object68in the rack without being freely moved outside the rack. Moreover, once the locking base40is operated relative to the second rail26to be in the closed state K2with the threaded part56being fastened into the locking part38of the front bracket24, the second rail26is prevented from being moved relative to the first rail22from the retracted position P1along the first direction D1. That is, the carried object68is fixed at the retracted position P1.

As shown inFIG. 9, when the locking base40is no longer in the closed state K2relative to the second rail26(such as in the open state K1), the second rail26can be moved relative to the first rail22along the first direction D1from the retracted position P1to an extended position P2to be located outside the rack. Moreover, the second rail26can be moved relative to the first rail22along a second direction D2opposite to the first direction D1from the extended position P2to the retracted position P1to return into the rack.

Please refer toFIG. 10andFIG. 11, the fastening member62is omitted in the figures. The fixing base50has a predetermined thickness T (as shown inFIG. 10), and the connecting section52of the locking base40defines a bounded connecting space S. An internal width of the connecting space S is greater than the predetermined thickness T, to allow the locking base40to be transversely adjustable relative to the fixing base50of the second rail26. For example, the locking base40can be transversely adjusted to move from a first transverse position Y1(as shown inFIG. 10) to a second transverse position Y2(as shown inFIG. 11).

Preferably, when the locking base40is located at the second transverse position Y2to be in the closed state K2with the locking member42being fastened into the locking part38of the front bracket24(as shown inFIG. 11), one lateral side of the locking base40and one lateral side of the second rail26are substantially located on a same longitudinal plane L. Such arrangement has an advantage in that the locking base40is prevented from blocking in front of the carried object68when the second rail26is located at the retracted position P1relative to the first rail22. For example, the locking base40is prevented from blocking an electronic connector, a cable, a warning light or a related sign arranged in front of the carried object68, so as to allow an operator to easily perform related maintenance operation on the carried object68or the rails. Moreover, the locking member42can be easily aligned with or fastened into the locking part38of the front bracket24when the locking base40is located at the second transverse position Y2. Preferably, the bending section58of the locking base40is configured to correspondingly abut against a front surface (as shown inFIG. 11) of the post (such as the front post66a) to improve fastening effect for mounting the front bracket24to the post.

FIG. 12toFIG. 14show another embodiment of the present invention. Most arrangements in the present embodiment are substantially identical or similar to those in the aforementioned embodiment. One main difference is that the locking part202of the front racket200is arranged on the fastening part of the fastening member204, and another one main difference is that the locking device206is arranged on the second rail208. InFIG. 13andFIG. 14, the locking base210is in the open state K1and the locking-member212is away from (not corresponding to) the locking part202, On the other hand, as shown in figures, when the front bracket200is mounted to a post214, the locking dart202is located in front of the end plate2017or the post214. In the aforementioned embodiment as shown inFIG. 7, the locking part38is located behind the front post66awhen the front bracket24is mounter to the front Post66a, such that the locking member42in the aforementioned embodiment is farther from the locking part38. However, in the present embodiment, the locking part202is moved forward to be located in front of the end plate201or the post214, such that a distance between the threaded part of the locking member212and the locking part202is reduced.

If the user is going to lock the locking member212of the locking device206, the user can manually operate the locking base210, such as applying an external force F (as shown inFIG. 14) to push the locking base210to move transversely from the open state K1to the closed state K2, so that the threaded part of the locking member212corresponds to the locking part202(as shown inFIG. 15andFIG. 16) in order to fasten the locking member212to the locking part202(as shown inFIG. 1). Preferably, the connecting section211of the locking base210passes through a hole H′ of the second rail208(as shown inFIG. 15), and the locking base210is provided with a feature216(such as a bending part). When the locking member212is fastened to the locking part202or corresponds to the locking part202(without being fastened into the locking part202), the feature216of the locking base210is configured to abut against the front end part208aof the second rail208, and the connecting section211of the locking base210is configured to abut against an inner wall of the hole H′ of the second rail208, so as to block the locking base210from moving along the longitudinal direction. Or, even if the locking base210does not abut against the second rail208, a gap along the longitudinal direction between the locking base210and the front end part208aof the second rail208can be reduced through the feature216. As such, when the second rail208is extended and moved relative to the front bracket200, the locking base210is prevented from being longitudinally moved relative to the second rail208due to the gap (longitudinal gap) between the locking base210and the second rail208.

FIG. 18andFIG. 19show another embodiment of the present invention. Most arrangements in the present embodiment are substantially identical or similar to those in the aforementioned embodiments. A main difference is in structural arrangement between the second rail and the locking device. Specifically, the second rail300comprises a first wall302a, a second wall302band a longitudinal wall304connected between the first wall302aand the second wall302b. The longitudinal wall304of the second rail300has a first side M1and a second side M2opposite to the first side M1. On the other hand, the locking base306of the locking device is movably mounted to the second rail300, and the locking member308is arranged on the locking base306.

Preferably, the longitudinal wall304of the second rail300is formed with a predetermined space309communicated with the first side M1and the second side M2, and the locking base306is transversely movable relative to the longitudinal wall304of the second rail300through the predetermined space309. The predetermined space309is a hole, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

Preferably, the slide rail assembly further comprises an auxiliary member310movably mounted to the first side M1of the longitudinal wall304of the second rail300. The auxiliary member310has a supporting part312adjacent to the predetermined space309, and the supporting part312of the auxiliary member310has a predetermined thickness T′. On the other hand, the locking base306has a connecting section314. The connecting section314of the locking base306defines a bounded connecting space S′ configured to accommodate the supporting part312of the auxiliary member310. An internal width of the connecting space3′ is greater than the predetermined thickness T′, to allow the locking base306to be transversely adjustable relative to the auxiliary member310(or the longitudinal wall304of the second rail300).

Preferably, the connecting section314of the locking base306is located at position corresponding to the predetermined space309of the longitudinal wall304of the second rail300.

Preferably, the auxiliary member310and the longitudinal wall304of the second rail300are longitudinally movable relative to each other within a limited range through arrangement of a first connecting feature316and a second connecting feature318. In the present embodiment, the auxiliary member310has the first connecting feature316, and the first connecting feature316is a bounded longitudinal feature (such as a hole or a groove). On the other hand, the second connecting feature318is a protrusion (such as a pin, a rivet or a bolt) configured to be inserted into a portion of the longitudinal feature and connected to the first side M1of the longitudinal wall304of the second rail300, so as to mount the auxiliary member310to the second rail300.

As shown inFIG. 20andFIG. 21, the locking base306is located at a second transverse position Y2′ relative to the longitudinal wall304of the second rail300, and the locking base306is in the closed state relative to the second rail300. On the other hand, the auxiliary member310is located at a first longitudinal position L1relative to the longitudinal wall304of the second rail300(as shown inFIG. 20). When the locking base306is located at the second transverse position Y2′ and in the closed state, a side part320of the locking base306is not extended beyond the second side M2of the longitudinal wall304of the second rail300(as shown inFIG. 21). In the present embodiment, the side Part320of the connecting section314of the locking base306corresponds to the predetermined space309of the longitudinal wall304of the second rail300, and the side part320of the connecting section314of the locking base306is not extended beyond the second side M2of the longitudinal wall304of the second rail300(as shown inFIG. 21), but the present invention is not limited thereto.

Preferably, when the locking base306is located at the second transverse position Y2′, a bending feature322of the connecting section314of the locking base306and an edge wall324of the predetermined space309of the longitudinal wall304of the second rail300are configured to block each other, in order to hold the locking base306in the closed state (as shown inFIG. 20), such that the locking base306is prevented from being moved from the closed state to the open state.

As shown inFIG. 22andFIG. 23, when an external force F′ is applied to the locking base306, the locking base306is transversely moved relative to the longitudinal wall304of the second rail300from the second transverse position Y2′ to the first transverse position Y1′. Specifically, the locking base306can be moved from the second transverse position Y2′ to the first transverse position Y1′ through the predetermined space309. When the locking base306is located at the first transverse position Y1′, the side part320of the locking base306is extended beyond the second side M2of the longitudinal wall304of the second rail300. In such state, the bending feature322of the connecting section314of the locking base306and the edge wall324of the predetermined space309of the longitudinal wall304of the second rail300no longer block each other (as shown inFIG. 23).

As shown inFIG. 24andFIG. 25, when the locking base306is located at the first transverse position Y1′, the bending feature322of the connecting section314of the locking base306and the edge wall324of the predetermined space309of the longitudinal wall304of the second rail300no longer block each other, such that the locking base306can be operated to rotate in a predetermined direction R′ from the closed state to the open state (as shown inFIG. 25). Moreover, during a process of the locking base306being moved from the closed state to the open state, a portion317of the connecting section314of the locking base306(such as an inner wall surface of the connecting space S′ of the connecting section314) can drive the auxiliary member310to move from the first longitudinal position L1(as shown inFIG. 24) to a second longitudinal position L2(as shown inFIG. 25).

As shown inFIG. 26, the second side M2of the second rail300is configured to carry a carried object328. When the second rail300is located at a predetermined position (such as a retracted position) relative to the first rail326, the locking base306can be operated to be located at the second transverse position Y2′ and in the closed state. Since the side part320of the locking base306is not extended beyond the second side M2of the longitudinal wall304of the second rail300, the side part320of the locking base306does not interfere with a lateral surface330of the carried object328carried by the second rail300. Such arrangement has an advantage in that the lateral surface330of the carried object328can be as close as possible to the second side M2of the longitudinal wall304of the second rail300, so as to prevent a transverse gap from forming between the lateral surface330of the carried object328and the second side M2of the longitudinal wall304of the second rail300. Therefore, when the carried object328is going to be mounted to the second rail300, the lateral surface330of the carried object328can be easily fastened to the second side M2of the longitudinal wall304of the second rail300through a fastening member (such as a screw or a bolt).

Moreover, when the second rail300is located at the retracted position relative to the first rail326with the locking base306being in the closed state, the locking member308(or the threaded part of the locking member308) is configured to be correspondingly fastened into the locking para of the front bracket332(such arrangement is disclosed in the two aforementioned embodiments, for simplification, no further illustration is provided). For pulling the carried object328out of the front post340, the user only needs to detach the locking member308from the locking part of the front bracket332before pulling out the carried object328.

Preferably, the fastening member334of the slide rail assembly is movably mounted to the front bracket332. When the fastening member334is located at the locking position, the fastening part336of the fastening member334is in front of the end plate338of the front bracket332or the front post340, so as to lock the front post340.

Therefore, the slide rail assembly20according to the embodiments of the present invention is characterized in that:1. When the second rail26is located at the retracted position P1relative to the first rail22with the locking base40being in the closed state K2, the locking member42is able to be fastened into the locking part38of the front bracket24, so as to prevent the second rail26from being moved relative to the first rail22from the retracted position P1to the extended position P2. According to such arrangement, when the slide rail assembly20is applied to the rack, the second rail26is prevented from being moved relative to the first rail22from the retracted position P1to the extended position P2, such that the carried object68is held in the rack without being freely moved outside the rack.2. The locking base40is transversely adjustable relative to the second rail26.3. The locking part202of the front bracket200is arranged on the fastening part of fastening member, such that the locking part202is in front of the end plate201or the post214in order to reduce the distance between the threaded part of the locking member212and the locking part202.4. The locking base306can be operated to be located at the second transverse position Y2′ and in the closed state. Since the side part320of the locking base306is not extended beyond the second side M2of the longitudinal wall304of the second rail300, the side part320of the locking base306does not interfere with the lateral surface330of the carried object328carried by the second rail300. Such arrangement has an advantage in that the lateral surface330of the carried object328can be as close as possible to the second side M2of the longitudinal wall304of the second rail300, so as to prevent a transverse gap from forming between the lateral surface330of the carried object328and the second side M2of the longitudinal wall304of the second rail300.