Rail mounting structure

A rail mounting structure includes a rail member, an auxiliary member, and a resilient member. The rail member includes first and second mounting slots. The auxiliary member is movably mounted to the rail member and includes first and second portions. The resilient member provides a resilient force acting on the auxiliary member such that the auxiliary member is kept at a predetermined position relative to the rail member where the first and second portions of the auxiliary member are adjacent to the first and second mounting slots respectively.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a slide rail and more particularly to a rail mounting structure to which objects of different length specifications can be mounted.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Generally, a slide rail assembly includes a first rail and a second rail, wherein the second rail can be longitudinally displaced relative to the first rail in order to be located at a retracted or extended position. Also, the second rail can be mounted with an object (e.g., apiece of electronic equipment, a drawer, or the like), and the way in which the object is mounted to the second rail may vary, depending on actual mounting requirements. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,938,967 B2 discloses a slide rail assembly having a rail member with a mounting slot, wherein the mounting slot is adapted to engage with a mounting post of an object. The disclosure of the aforesaid patent is incorporated herein by reference.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a rail mounting structure applicable to objects of different length specifications.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a rail mounting structure includes a rail member, an auxiliary member, and a resilient member. The rail member includes a first mounting slot and a second mounting slot. The auxiliary member is movably mounted to the rail member and includes a first portion and a second portion. The resilient member provides a resilient force acting on the auxiliary member. The auxiliary member is kept at a predetermined position relative to the rail member by the resilient force of the resilient member. While the auxiliary member is at the predetermined position, the first portion of the auxiliary member is adjacent to the first mounting slot, and the second portion of the auxiliary member is adjacent to the second mounting slot.

The first mounting slot preferably includes an entrance portion and a positioning portion, wherein the entrance portion of the first mounting slot extends downward from the top of the rail member and forms an entrance while the positioning portion of the first mounting slot extends substantially perpendicularly from the bottom of the entrance portion for a distance. The first portion of the auxiliary member preferably further includes an extended section which extends to a position corresponding to the positioning portion of the first mounting slot.

The second mounting slot preferably includes an entrance portion and a positioning portion, wherein the entrance portion of the second mounting slot extends downward from the top of the rail member and forms an entrance while the positioning portion of the second mounting slot is located at the bottom of the entrance portion. The second portion of the auxiliary member preferably further includes an extended section which extends to a position corresponding to a position between the entrance portion and the positioning portion of the second mounting slot.

Preferably, each of the rail member and the auxiliary member further includes a connecting portion, and the resilient member is connected between the two connecting portions. In addition, it is preferable that the auxiliary member further includes an elongated aperture, and that the resilient member is located in the elongated aperture.

Preferably, the rail member further includes a contact portion, and the resilient member is connected to the auxiliary member and pressed against the contact portion.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a rail mounting structure is provided for use with an object including a first mounting member and a second mounting member. The rail mounting structure includes a rail member, an auxiliary member, and a resilient member. The rail member includes a first mounting slot and a second mounting slot. The auxiliary member is movably mounted to the rail member and includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is adjacent to the first mounting slot and the second portion is adjacent to the second mounting slot. The resilient member provides a resilient force acting on the auxiliary member. In the course in which the first mounting member of the object is mounted to the first mounting slot of the rail member, the first mounting member of the object pushes the first portion of the auxiliary member and overcomes the resilient force of the resilient member such that the auxiliary member is displaced to a position, allowing the second mounting member of the object to be mounted to the second mounting slot of the rail member.

Preferably, the first mounting slot includes an entrance portion and a positioning portion; the entrance portion of the first mounting slot extends downward from the top of the rail member and forms an entrance; the positioning portion of the first mounting slot extends substantially perpendicularly from the bottom of the entrance portion for a distance; the first portion of the auxiliary member further includes an extended section which is adjacent to one side of the positioning portion of the first mounting slot; and the first mounting member further includes a head section and a body section connected to the head section. In the course in which the body section of the first mounting member is mounted to the positioning portion of the first mounting slot, the head section of the first mounting member pushes the extended section of the first portion of the auxiliary member and thereby displaces the auxiliary member.

Preferably, the second mounting slot includes an entrance portion and a positioning portion, the entrance portion of the second mounting slot extends downward from the top of the rail member and forms an entrance, the positioning portion of the second mounting slot is located at the bottom of the entrance portion, and the second portion of the auxiliary member further includes an extended section which is adjacent to a position between the entrance portion and the positioning portion of the second mounting slot.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a rail mounting structure includes a rail member, an auxiliary member, and a resilient member. The rail member includes a first mounting slot including an entrance portion and a positioning portion, wherein the entrance portion extends downward from a top of the rail member and font's an entrance, and the positioning portion extends substantially perpendicularly from a bottom of the entrance portion for a distance. The auxiliary member is movably mounted to the rail member and includes a first portion adjacent to the first mounting slot. The resilient member is configured to provide a resilient force acting on the auxiliary member.

One of the advantageous features of applying the present invention is that the rail mounting structure can be applied to objects of different length specifications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIG. 1andFIG. 2, the rail mounting structure20according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a rail member22, an auxiliary member24, and a resilient member26.

The rail member22has a first end portion28aand a second end portion28bopposite the first end portion28a. The rail member22also includes a first mounting slot30and a second mounting slot32, both of which are located between the first end portion28aand the second end portion28b. In this embodiment, the rail member22further includes another mounting slot (e.g., a third mounting slot34). The first mounting slot30and the second mounting slot32are adjacent to the first end portion28aof the rail member22while the third mounting slot34is adjacent to the second end portion28bof the rail member22. Preferably, the second mounting slot32and the third mounting slot34are of similar slot configurations different from that of the first mounting slot30. In practice, the locations of the mounting slots are not limited to those disclosed herein, and each two adjacent mounting slots can be spaced by a predetermined distance depending on practical needs.

As shown inFIG. 2andFIG. 3, the auxiliary member24is mounted to the rail member22and includes a first portion36and a second portion38. The first portion36and the second portion38have an extended section40and an extended section42respectively. Preferably, the auxiliary member24further includes at least one guide groove44and an elongated aperture46. In this embodiment, two guide grooves44are provided by way of example for use with two connecting elements48respectively, and the elongated aperture46is located between the two guide grooves44. The auxiliary member24is movably connected to the rail member22by the two connecting elements48. More specifically, each connecting element48has a body50and a head52connected to the body50, wherein the body50has a width W1less than a width W2of each guide groove44and the head52has a height H1greater than a height H2of each guide groove44. With this arrangement, the body50of each connecting element48can be passed through one of the guide grooves44and connected to the rail member22, with the head52of the connecting element48blocked outside the guide groove44, so that the auxiliary member24can be displaced relative to the rail member22within the limited range defined by the guide grooves44. The resilient member26serves to provide a resilient force acting on the auxiliary member24. Here, the resilient member26is mounted between the rail member22and the auxiliary member24. For example, each of the rail member22and the auxiliary member24further includes a connecting portion54, and the resilient member26is connected between the two connecting portions54and located in the elongated aperture46of the auxiliary member24. The structural arrangement described above allows the auxiliary member24to be displaced relative to the rail member22in a stable manner.

As shown inFIG. 3, the auxiliary member24is kept at a predetermined position P1relative to the rail member22by the resilient force of the resilient member26. While the auxiliary member24is at the predetermined position P1, the first portion36of the auxiliary member24is adjacent to the first mounting slot30, and the second portion38of the auxiliary member24is adjacent to the second mounting slot32. In a preferred embodiment, the extended section40of the first portion36of the auxiliary member24extends in such a way that it covers the first mounting slot30partially, and the extended section42of the second portion38of the auxiliary member24extends in such a way that it covers the second mounting slot32partially.

The first mounting slot30preferably includes an entrance portion56and a positioning portion58. The entrance portion56extends downward from the top of the rail member22and forms an entrance. The positioning portion58extends substantially perpendicularly from the bottom of the entrance portion56for a distance D. The entrance portion56and the positioning portion58jointly constitute a generally J-shaped groove. More specifically, the extended section40of the first portion36of the auxiliary member24extends to a part of the positioning portion58of the first mounting slot30. The second mounting slot32, on the other hand, includes an entrance portion60and a positioning portion62. The entrance portion60also extends downward from the top of the rail member22and forms an entrance. The positioning portion62is located at the bottom of the entrance portion60. The entrance portion60and the positioning portion62jointly constitute a generally U-shaped groove. The extended section42of the second portion38of the auxiliary member24extends to a position between the entrance portion60and the positioning portion62of the second mounting slot32.

InFIG. 4, the rail mounting structure20is applied to an object64such as the chassis of a piece of electronic equipment, a drawer, or the like. The object64has a length L1and can be mounted to the rail member22.

FIG. 5AandFIG. 5Bshow how the object64is mounted to the rail member22of the rail mounting structure20. When it is desired to mount the object64to the rail member22, the plural mounting members (e.g., a first mounting member68, a second mounting member70, and a third mounting member72) mounted on a sidewall66of the object64are respectively aligned with the first mounting slot30, the second mounting slot32, and the third mounting slot34of the rail member22. For example, the assembly process begins by putting the first mounting member68of the object64into the entrance portion56of the first mounting slot30. After that, referring toFIG. 5CandFIG. 5D, the first mounting member68of the object64is moved from the entrance portion56to the positioning portion58of the first mounting slot30, during which time the first mounting member68pushes the first portion36of the auxiliary member24and overcomes the resilient force of the resilient member26such that the auxiliary member24is displaced relative to the rail member22from the aforesaid predetermined position P1to a position P2. On the other hand, the object64is lowered, allowing the second mounting member70of the object64to enter the entrance portion60of the second mounting slot32of the rail member22and be mounted in the positioning portion62of the second mounting slot32. The third mounting member72is mounted in the third mounting slot34in a similar manner. Thus, the object64is mounted to the rail member22. It is worth mentioning that, once the auxiliary member24is displaced to the position P2, the extended section40of the first portion36of the auxiliary member24is pressed against the first mounting member68by virtue of the resilient force of the resilient member26, and vertically upward displacement of the first mounting member68is limited due to the shape of the first mounting slot30. In practice, an engaging mechanism (not shown) can be provided between the third mounting member72and the rail member22to ensure that the object64is mounted securely. When it is desired to remove the object64from the rail member22, the engagement between the third mounting member72and the rail member22is released first. Then, a lifting force is applied to a portion of the object64that is adjacent to the third mounting member72to raise that portion of the object64. Once the object64forms a proper inclination angle with the rail member22, the first mounting member68and the second mounting member70of the object64can be removed from the first mounting slot30and the second mounting slot32of the rail member22respectively, allowing the entire object64to be detached from the rail member22with ease.

InFIG. 6, the rail mounting structure20is applied to another object200, which has a length L2different from the length L1of the object64shown inFIG. 4, and which can be mounted to the rail member22.

FIG. 7AandFIG. 7Bshow how the object200is mounted to the rail member22of the rail mounting structure20. When it is desired to mount the object200to the rail member22, one of the mounting members (e.g., the mounting member202) on a sidewall of the object200is aligned with the second mounting slot32of the rail member22. More specifically, the mounting member202of the object200is put into the entrance portion60of the second mounting slot32and, as shown inFIG. 7CandFIG. 7D, is subsequently moved from the entrance portion60to the positioning portion62of the second mounting slot32such that the mounting member202is pressed against the extended section42of the second portion38of the auxiliary member24. Afterward, by lowering the object200, another mounting member204of the object200is mounted in the third mounting slot34of the rail member22. Thanks to the resilient force of the resilient member26, the extended section42of the second portion38of the auxiliary member24is now pressed against the mounting member202, and the object200is thus mounted to the rail member22. As with the first mounting slot30of the rail member22and the first mounting member68in the previous case, the engagement between the mounting member202of the object200and the extended section42of the second portion38of the auxiliary member24limits vertically upward displacement of the mounting member202, thereby ensuring that the object200is mounted securely. Detachment of the object200can be carried out in a way similar to that of the object64and therefore is not described repeatedly.

FIG. 8shows the rail mounting structure300in another embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is different from the previous one substantially in that the rail member302of the rail mounting structure300includes a contact portion304, and that the resilient member306is connected to the auxiliary member308and pressed against the contact portion304. Thus, the auxiliary member308is displaceable relative to the rail member302when pushed by an article (e.g., a mounting member of an object to be mounted to the rail member302).

FIG. 9shows the rail mounting structure400in yet another embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is different from the embodiment inFIG. 3substantially in that the first portion404of the auxiliary member402includes an extended section406which is adjacent to, and on one side of, the positioning portion410of the first mounting slot408. On the other hand, the second portion412of the auxiliary member402includes an extended section414adjacent to a position between the entrance portion418and the positioning portion420of the second mounting slot416. The auxiliary member402is shown inFIG. 9as at a predetermined position P3.

Referring toFIG. 10, the first mounting member424of the object mounted to the rail member430of the rail mounting structure400includes a head section426and a body section428connected to the head section426. The head section426has a greater diameter than the body section428. The body section428can enter the first mounting slot408. In the course in which the body section428of the first mounting member424of the object is mounted to the positioning portion410of the first mounting slot408, the head section426of the first mounting member424pushes the extended section406of the first portion404of the auxiliary member402such that the auxiliary member402is displaced relative to the rail member430from the predetermined position P3to a position P4. The second mounting member432of the object, on the other hand, is correspondingly mounted to the second mounting slot416of the rail member430.

As shown inFIG. 11, when the rail mounting structure400is applied to another object, one of the mounting members (e.g., the mounting member434) of this object is correspondingly mounted to the second mounting slot416of the rail member430. More specifically, the mounting member434includes a head section436and a body section438connected to the head section436. The head section436has a greater diameter than the body section438, and the body section438can enter the second mounting slot416. Once the body section438of the mounting member434of the object is mounted to the positioning portion420of the second mounting slot416, a portion of the head section436of the mounting member434is blocked by the extended section414of the second portion412of the auxiliary member402.

While the present invention has been disclosed through the foregoing preferred embodiments, the embodiments are not intended to be restrictive of the present invention. The scope of patent protection sought by the applicant is defined by the appended claims.