Connection device for cable management arm and slide assembly

A connection device for a cable management arm and a slide assembly includes a connection member, an engaging member and an insertion piece. The connection member is fixedly connected to the cable management arm and includes a passage and a window. The engaging member is fixedly connected to the connection member and has a resilient arm and an engaging portion. The resilient arm is located corresponding to the window. The insertion piece is fixedly connected to the slide assembly and has two insertion arms. One of the insertion arms has a contact section located corresponding to the engaging portion. When the insertion piece is inserted into the passage, the engaging portion of the engaging member contacts the contact section of the insertion arm to position the insertion piece to the connection member.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a connection device, and more particularly, to a connection device for a cable management arm and a slide assembly, and the connection device occupies less space and can be operated from two sides thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

U.S. Pat. No. 7,473,846 to Doerr discloses a reversible cable support arm andFIG. 7of the disclosure discloses a cable support arm24connected to the rails108and a mounting bracket92is connected to an end of the cable support arm. The lower portion100of the mounting bracket has multiple keyholes slots94and a plunger98. The connection between the rails and the cable support arm is made by inserting the plungers98,132to holes of the corresponding objects.

However, the plungers98,132protrude beyond the chassis and which restrict the width and space when the chassis is installed in the rack. When the cable support arm is removed from the rails, the plungers provide only one removal direction. This restriction of direction, especially when the chassis is to be removed from the rack from the storage position, the restriction of the available space makes it more difficult for pulling the plungers to release the connection between the cable support arm and the rails.

The present invention intends to provide a connection device between the cable management arm and the slide assembly, wherein the connection between the cable management arm and the slide assembly can be released from two sides.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the aspect of the present invention, the present invention relates to a connection device for a cable management arm and a slide assembly. The connection device comprises a connection member fixedly connected to the cable management arm. The connection member comprises a pair of bent portions and a sidewall which is connected between the bent portions. A passage is defined by the bent portions and the sidewall. The sidewall has a window. An engaging member is fixed to the sidewall of the connection member and has a resilient arm and an engaging portion, wherein the resilient arm extends to the window of the connection member. An insertion piece is fixed to the slide assembly and has two insertion arms and a body which is connected between the two insertion arms. The thickness of each of the insertion arms is sized to match with the width of the passage so that the insertion arms are inserted into the passage. One of the insertion arms has a contact section located corresponding to the engaging portion. When the insertion arms of the insertion piece are completely inserted into the passage, the engaging portion of the engaging member is located between the body of the insertion piece and the contact section of the insertion arm to maintain the insertion piece to be positioned on the connection member.

Preferably, the window is a T-shaped opening and has an enlarged hole and a narrow hole which communicates with the enlarged hole. The sidewall has at least one stop which is in contact with the insertion piece to restrict the depth that the insertion piece is inserted into the connection member.

Preferably, the engaging portion extends from the insertion piece and reaches the enlarged hole of the window.

Preferably, the engaging portion has a protruding contact piece which is located corresponding to the contact section. The contact section has a contact end with which the contact piece is in contact so as to position the insertion piece by the engaging member.

Preferably, the engaging portion has a bent section located in opposite to the contact piece. The bent section is located corresponding to the insertion arm which has an inclined guiding surface with which the bent section is slidably in contact.

Preferably, a button with two faces is connected to the resilient arm of the engaging member.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides a cable management system which comprises a cable management arm, a slide assembly and a connection device. The cable management arm comprises a first arm and a second arm which is pivotably connected to the first arm. The slide assembly has a first rail and a second rail which is slidable relative to the first rail. The connection device has a connection member fixedly connected to one of the first and second arms. The connection member has a pair of bent portions and a sidewall which is connected between the bent portions. A passage is defined by the bent portions and the sidewall. The sidewall has a window. An engaging member is fixed to the sidewall of the connection member and has a resilient arm and at least one engaging portion, wherein the resilient arm extends to the window of the connection member. The at least one engaging portion extends from the resilient arm and reaches the window. The at least one engaging portion has a bent section. An insertion piece is fixed to one of the first rail and the second rail of the slide assembly. The insertion piece has two insertion arms and a body which is connected between the two insertion arms. The insertion arms are inserted into the passage. One of the insertion arms has a contact section located corresponding to the at least one engaging portion. When the insertion arms of the insertion piece are inserted into the passage, the insertion arms contact the bent section and lift the at least one engaging portion. The contact section is moved relative to the at least one engaging portion to keep the engaging portion being supported by the contact section. The insertion piece is completely inserted into the passage and the contact section of the insertion piece does not contact the at least one engaging portion of the engaging member. The at least one engaging portion returns to an original position and contacts the contact section to stop the insertion arms from disengaging from the passage. The insertion piece is maintained to be positioned on the connection member.

Preferably, the insertion arm has an inclined guiding surface which is located corresponding to the bent section of the at least one engaging portion.

Preferably, the sidewall has at least one stop which is in contact with the insertion piece to restrict the depth that the insertion piece is inserted into the connection member.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the present invention further provides a connection device for a cable management arm and a slide assembly. The connection device comprises a connection member which has a pair of bent portions and a sidewall which is connected between the bent portions. A passage is defined by the bent portions and the sidewall. The sidewall has a window and at least one stop. The window has an enlarged hole and a narrow hole which communicates with the enlarged hole and is located on one side of the enlarged hole. An engaging member is fixed to the sidewall of the connection member and has a resilient arm and at least one engaging portion. The resilient arm extends from the narrow hole of the window and reaches the enlarged hole. The at least one engaging portion has a bent section. An insertion piece has two insertion arms and a body which is connected between the two insertion arms. The thickness of each of the insertion arms is sized to match with the width of the passage so that the insertion arms are inserted into the passage. One of the insertion arms has a contact section located corresponding to the at least one engaging portion. The contact section has a contact end which is located corresponding to the at least one engaging portion. The insertion arm has an inclined guiding surface which is located corresponding to the bent section of the at least one engaging portion. When the insertion arms are inserted into the passage, the at least one engaging portion is lifted by the contact section and the insertion piece is completely inserted into the passage. The insertion arms contact the stop. The contact section is separated from the at least one of the engaging portion of the engaging member. The at least one of the engaging portion of the engaging member returns to its initial position thereof. The contact end of the contact section contacts the at least one engaging portion of the engaging member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring toFIG. 1, the preferable embodiment of the connection device14of the present invention is cooperated with a cable management arm10and a slide assembly12. The cable management arm10comprises a first arm16and a second arm18which is pivotably connected to the first arm16. The slide assembly12has a first rail20and a second rail22which is slidable relative to the first rail20. Preferably, a third rail24is slidably connected between the first and second rails20,22, so that the second rail22can be extended a further distance relative to the first rail20by the third rail24.

FIGS. 2 and 3show that the connection device14comprises a connection member26, an engaging member28and an insertion piece30.

The connection member26is fixedly connected to the cable management arm10. As shown inFIG. 1, preferably, the connection member26is fixedly connected to one of the first and second arms16,18of the cable management arm10. The connection member26has a pair of bent portions32and a sidewall34connected between the bent portions32. A passage36is defined by the bent portions32and the sidewall34. The sidewall34has a window38and one or two stops40. Preferably, the window38is a T-shaped opening and has an enlarged hole42and a narrow hole44which communicates with one side of the enlarged hole42.

The engaging member28is fixed to the sidewall34of the connection member26and has a resilient arm46and an engaging portion48or two engaging portions48. The resilient arm46extends to the window38of the connection member26. In detail, the resilient arm46extends through the narrow hole44of the window38and reaches the enlarged hole42. The engaging portion48extends from the resilient arm46and reaches the enlarged hole42of the window38. In a preferable embodiment, the engaging portion48has a bent section50.

The insertion piece30is fixed to the slide assembly12. Further referring toFIG. 1, the insertion piece30is fixed to one of the first rail20and the second rail22of the slide assembly12. The insertion piece30has two insertion arms52and a body54which is connected between the two insertion arms52. The thickness of each of the insertion arms52is sized to match with the width of the passage36and the insertion arms52is inserted into the passage36. One of the insertion arms52has a contact section56located corresponding to the engaging portion48. In a preferable embodiment, the contact section56has a contact end58. One of the insertion arms52or the two insertion arms52have an inclined guiding surface60which is located corresponding to the bent section50of the engaging portion48. In a preferable embodiment, the engaging portion48has a protruding contact piece62which is located corresponding to the contact end58. The bent section50is located in opposite to the contact piece62and located corresponding to one of the insertion arms52or the inclined guiding surface60. A plastic button64with two faces is connected to the resilient arm46of the engaging member28so that the button64can be operated from both sides.

As shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, when the insertion arms52of the insertion piece30are inserted into the passage36, the bent section50of the insertion arm52is guided by the inclined guiding surface60and pushed by the contact section56so that the engaging portion48of the engaging member28is in contact with the contact section56of the insertion arm52by the resilient force from the resilient arm46. Along with the insertion of the insertion piece30inserted into the passage36and moved toward the engaging member28, the engaging portion48is kept lifted by the contact section56until the contact section56of the insertion arm52is completely inserted into the passage36of the connection member26. As shown inFIGS. 6 and 7, the engaging portion48is disengaged from the contact section56which is no longer contact with the engaging portion48of the engaging member28. The resilient force from the resilient arm46of the engaging member28is released to return the engaging portion48to its initial position where the engaging portion48contacts the contact end58or the engaging portion48is located corresponding to the contact end58. That is to say, when the connection member26and the engaging member28are pulled and separated from each other in two opposite directions, the contact piece62of the engaging portion48of the engaging member28stops the contact end58of the contact section56of the insertion arm52. In this status, the engaging portion48of the engaging member28is restricted between the body54of the insertion piece30and the contact section56of the insertion arm52. Therefore, the insertion arm52of the insertion piece30cannot be removed from the passage36of the connection member26. The insertion piece30is maintained to be positioned on the connection member26.

It is noted that the user can push the button64of the resilient arm46of the engaging member28to assist the insertion of the insertion arm52of the insertion piece30to the passage36of the connection member26without the help from the bent section50of the engaging portion48or the inclined guiding surface60of the contact section56, the insertion piece30can be completely inserted into the connection member26.

In a preferable embodiment, the insertion piece30can contact the stop40of the connection member26to restrict the depth of the insertion of the insertion piece30in the connection member26. The engaging portion48of the engaging member28stops at the pre-set position relative to the insertion piece30.

As shown inFIGS. 8 and 9, when removing the insertion piece30from the connection member26, the user may push the button64of the engaging member28via either direction of the window38of the connection member26to operate the resilient arm46so that the contact piece62of the engaging portion48of the engaging member28does not stop the contact end58of the contact section56. The insertion piece30can be removed from the connection member26.

The connection device provides convenient connection between the slide assembly12and the cable management arm10, especially, the user may push the button64of the engaging member28via either direction of the window38of the connection member26to release the connection between the slide assembly12and the cable management arm10. The connection device uses the window to accommodate parts to reduce the parts that protrude so as to be slim and thin, and occupy less space.