Abstract:
A slide member and a slide assembly having the slide member are provided, in particular to a reinforcing structure of the slide member and the slide assembly. The slide member further comprises an automatic retractable device therein and may be in conjunction with a single-section or two-section slide to from a slide assembly in a stronger structure and a steady sliding operation.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a slide member and a slide assembly having the slide member, in particular, to a slide member adapted for an undermount drawer slide and having an automatic retractable device, the slide member may be in conjunction with a single-section or two-section slide to form a slide assembly in a stronger structure and a steady sliding operation. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     There are numerous drawer slides of the prior art for undermount drawers on the market, such as Taiwanese Patent Publication No. 588,611 (U.S. Pat. No. 6,682,160 B)             Taiwanese Patent Publication No. 200,628,097 (U.S. Provisional No. 60/625,555)           U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,854,817 B1           6,945,620 B2           2005/0231083 A1 and 2006/0097609 A1. All of such designs have the same shortcomings, such as the structure is too weak, and the accessories of the slide assembly are exposed outwardly, thus the parts are easy to break and downgrade the quality.
     The present invention provides a slide member and a slide assembly to solve the shortcomings of weak structure and exposure of parts. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a slide member comprising:
         a side wall, said side wall extending vertically;   a bottom wall, said bottom wall extending horizontally to connect with said side wall; and   a track in a reverse U shape, one side wall of said track extending vertically to connect with said bottom wall.       

     According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a slide assembly comprising:
         a slide member comprising a side wall, a bottom wall and a track, said side wall extending vertically, said bottom wall extending horizontally to connect with said side wall, said track in a reverse U shape having one side wall extending vertically to connect with said bottom wall, a first stopper being provided on the top of one end of said track, a pair of first suspension rollers being provided on two side walls of said track; and   a first rail in a reverse U shape, said first rail having a pair of bending sections extending from two side walls thereof, said first rail fitting onto said track of said slide member with said bending sections engaging with said first suspension rollers, a first bearing carrier being provided between said first rail and said track.       

     Preferably, said first stopper comprises a first supporting roller with a portion exposing outward from the top of said first stopper. 
     Preferably, said first bearing carrier comprises a first base in a reverse U shape and first rollers are provided on the top and two sides of said first base. 
     Preferably, a retracting base is provided under said track of said slide member, said retracting base comprising a vertical engaging section and a horizontal bottom board, said engaging section having a tenon and a through hole, said bottom board having a trough, a pulling part being inserted through said trough, a first linking part being provided on one of said side walls of said first rail, an axle being inserted through said track to secure said first suspension rollers, a locking hole being disposed on one of said side walls of said track, said engaging section of said retracting base being inserted into said track, said tenon engaging with said locking hole and said axle being inserted through said through hole of said engaging section. 
     Preferably, an elastic element is provided between said engaging section of said retracting base and said track, said elastic element having two ends connected to said engaging section and said pulling part, respectively, and said first linking part of said first rail being linked with said pulling part. 
     Preferably, a buffering member is provided between said track and said engaging section of said retracting base, said buffering member comprising a fixed end and a buffer rod, said fixed end engaging with said engaging section, said buffer rod facing said pulling part extending automatically. 
     Preferably, said pulling part comprises a block and a hook, said block being connected with said elastic member, said hook being pivotally connected to said block and inserted through said trough, said hook engaging with said first linking part of said first rail. 
     Preferably, a second rail in a reverse U shape is provided on said first rail, said second rail having a pair of bending sections extending from two side walls thereof, a second stopper being provided on the top of one end of said first rail, a pair of second suspension rollers being provided on said two side walls of said first rail, said bending sections of said second rail engaging with said second suspension rollers, a second bearing carrier being provided between said first rail and said second rail. 
     Preferably, said second rail comprises a second linking part on one of said side walls of said second rail. 
     Preferably, said second stopper comprises a second supporting roller with a portion exposing outwardly from the top of said second stopper. 
     Preferably, said second bearing carrier comprises a second base in a reverse U shape, second rollers being provided on the top and two sides of said second base. 
     Compared to the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages: 
     a. having a stronger structure and steady movement. 
     b. providing a reverse U-shaped space to store and protect an automatic retractable device and a buffer device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a slide member of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the slide member in conjunction with a first rail of a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the slide member and the first rail of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a first stopper and a first supporting roller of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the slide member and an automatic retractable device of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded view of the slide member and the automatic retractable device of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the automatic retractable device and a buffering member of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded view of a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a second stopper and a second supporting roller of the second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the present invention in a collapsed status; 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of the present invention showing a second rail in an extension status; and 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of the present invention in a full extension status. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a slide member  1  of a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a side wall  11 , a bottom wall  12  and a track  13 . The side wall  11  extends vertically. The bottom wall  12  extends horizontally to connect with the side wall  11 . The track  13  is in a reverse U shape. One side wall of the track  13  extends vertically to connect with the bottom wall  12 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the slide member  1  is in conjunction with another one-section slide to form a slide assembly. The track  13  of the slide member  1  is provided with a first stopper  14  on one end of the track  13  and a pair of first suspension rollers  15  on two side walls of the track  13 . A first rail  2  fits onto the track  13  of the slide member  1 . The first rail  2  is in a reverse U shape. The first rail  2  has a pair of bending sections  21  extending from two side walls thereof. The bending sections  21  engage with the first suspension rollers  15 . One end of the first rail  2  is provided with a first linking part  22 . A first bearing carrier  16  is provided between the first rail  2  and the track  13 . The first bearing carrier  16  comprises a first base  161  in a reverse U shape. First rollers  162  are provided on the top and two sides of the first base  161 . The first bearing carrier  16  will be stopped by the first stopper  14 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the first stopper  14  may be provided with a first supporting roller  141  with a portion exposed outwardly from the top of the first stopper  14 . 
     The slide assembly further comprises an automatic retractable device. As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a retracting base  4  is provided under the track  13  of the slide  1 . The retracting base  4  comprises a vertical engaging section  41  and a horizontal bottom board  42 . The engaging section  41  has a tenon  411  and a through hole  412 . The engaging section  41  of the retracting base  4  is inserted and secured to the track  13 . The track  13  has a locking hole  131  on one side wall thereof. An axle  15  is inserted through the track  13  to secure the first suspension rollers  15 . The tenon  41  of the engaging section  41  engages with the locking hole  131 , and the axle  151  is inserted through the through hole  412  of the engaging section  4  to secure the retracting base  4 . The bottom board  42  of the retracting base  4  further comprises a trough  421 . A pulling part  43  is inserted through the trough  421 . The pulling part  43  comprises a block  431  and a hook  432 . The hook  432  is pivotally connected to the block  431 , and can be swung slightly. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the first linking part  22  of the first rail  2  engages with the hook  432  of the retracting base  4 . An elastic element  44  is provided on the engaging section  41  of the retracting base  4 . The elastic element  44  has two ends connected to the end of the engaging section  41  and the block  431  of the polling part  43 , respectively. 
     The above-mentioned slide assembly having an automatic retractable device further comprises a buffer device. A buffering member  5  is provided between the track  13  and the engaging section  41  of the retracting device  4 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . The buffering member  5  has a fixed end  51  and a buffer rod  52 . The fixed end  51  engages with the end of the engaging section  41 , and the buffer rod  52  facing the block  431  of the pulling part  43  is designed to extend automatically. 
     Furthermore, the slide member  1  is in conjunction with a two-section slide to form another slide assembly. Other than the slide member  1 , the first stopper  14 , the first bearing carrier  16 , and the first rail  2 , as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the slide assembly further comprises a second rail  3  fitting onto the first rail  2 . The second rail  3  is in a reverse U shape. The second rail  3  has a pair of bending sections  31  extending from two side walls thereof. One of the side walls of the second rail  3  is provided with a second linking part  32 . (In this embodiment, the first linking part  22  of the first rail  2  will not be included.) A second stopper  23  is provided on the top of the first rail  2 . A pair of second suspension rollers  24  is provided on two side walls of the first rail  2 . The bending sections  31  of the second rail  3  engage with the second suspension rollers  24 . A second bearing carrier  25  is provided between first rail  2  and the second rail  3 . The second bearing carrier  25  comprises a second base  251  in a reverse U shape. Second rollers  252  are provided on the top and two sides of the second base  251 . The second bearing carrier  25  will be stopped by the second stopper  23 . As shown in  FIG. 10 , the second stopper  23  may be provided with a second supporting roller  231  with a portion exposed outwardly from the top of the second stopper  23 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , the track  13  of the slide member  1  is overlapped with the first bearing carrier  16 , the first rail  2 , the second bearing carrier  25  and the second rail  3  in sequence. The first rail  2  is linked by the first bearing carrier  16  to slide along the track  13 , while the second rail  3  is linked by the second bearing carrier  25  to slide along the first rail  2 . Meanwhile, the track  13  of the slide member  1  provides a space which is appropriate for installation of the retracting base  4 , the elastic element  44 , and the buffering member  5 . 
     The first bearing carrier  16  and the second bearing carrier  25  can carry the weight of the first rail  2  and the second rail  3  and link the first rail  2  and the second rail  3  to slide with respect to the track  13  of the slide member  1 . 
       FIG. 11  shows the operation of the three-section slide assembly of the present invention. When both the first rail  2  and the second rail  3  are retreated onto the slide member  1 , the second linking part  32  on the side wall of the second rail  3  will be stopped by the hook  432  of the retracting base  4 . That provides a tight collapsing force. 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , the second rail  3  is in an extension status. When the second rail  3  is pulled outward, the second linking part  32  on the side wall of the second rail  3  will link the hook  432  to slide along the trough  421  forward until the hook  432  engages with the front of the retracting base  4  and the second linking part  32  disengages with the hook  432 . When the second rail  3  is pulled outwardly, the first bearing carrier  16  and the second bearing carrier  25  will slide along the track  13  of the slide member  1  and the first rail  2  outwardly. When the hook  432  of the pulling part  43  is pulled outward by the second linking part  32  of the second rail  3 , the block  431  of the pulling part  43  is also linked to move forward, which links the elastic element  44  to be pulled simultaneously. The buffer rod  52  of the buffering member  5  is also linked with the block  431  to extend outwardly, that provides a buffering effect when the second rail  3  and the first rail  2  are pushed inward to slow down the movement. 
     When the first rail  2  and the second rail  3  are in a full extension, as shown in  FIG. 13 , the front of the first bearing carrier  16  will be in touch with the first stopper  14  at the front of the track  13  of the slide member  1 . A stopper (not shown) provided at the rear of the first rail  2  engages with the first bearing carrier  16  to stop the movement. When the second rail  3  is pulled outward in a full extension, the front of the second bearing carrier  25  will be in touch with the second stopper  23  at the front of the first rail  2 . A stopper (not shown) provided at the rear of the second rail  3  engages with the second bearing carrier  25  to stop the movement.