Abstract:
A track assembly, adapted to be mounted in a housing, having first and second rail members aligned with one another and allowed limited relative longitudinal movement with respect to the other. The joined first and second rail members have a mounting bracket attached to distal ends of the rail members. A spring, positioned between the rail members, provides a force extending the distance between the distal ends of the rail members. A locking mechanism interacts with the rail members and has a locked position resisting inward movement of the distal ends. The method of installing the track assembly in a rack is accomplished by compressing the track assembly to reduce its overall length prior to positioning it between opposing rack members. The track assembly is released to securely engage the opposing rack members and locked in position.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/955,720 filed on Sep. 19, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,702,412, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
   STATEMENTS REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not applicable. 
   REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
   Not applicable. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a slide and rail assembly and method for installation in a rack, more particularly, to a slide and rail assembly and method for use in mounting a server in a rack. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   There are numerous incidences where a slide and rail assembly is used. For example, a slide and rail assembly is used pull out drawers or shelves. Typically, the rail is mounted in a case, rack or other framed assembly and the slide is attached to the drawer, shelf or other device. The slide cooperates with the rail and provides the extension mechanism for the drawer or shelf. 
   Typically, the mounting and installation of the slide and rail assembly involves mechanical fasteners requiring hand tools. This requires time and organization and is cumbersome. Additionally, there are many instances in which it may be desirable to make vertical adjustments in the arrangement of the drawers, shelves, etc. supported by the slide and rail assembly. For example, there are racks used to house servers for computer networks. The variation in the number, size and arrangement of the servers to be installed in the rack requires versatility in placement of the slide and rail assemblies. Furthermore, it is desirable to be able to install or adjust the assemblies with ease and with a minimum of mounting hardware and tools. A system is needed that will accommodate a variety of servers in a rack, both in size and quantity. 
   There is a need for a slide and rail assembly for installation in a rack that does not require the use of tools or fasteners. Additionally, it is desirable that the slide and rail assembly be simple to install and requires little time for the installation. Further, it is desirable that the slide and rail assembly be easy to remove, if desired. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is a slide and rail assembly and method of installation in a rack that does not require the use of tools or fasteners. The invention includes a track assembly, adapted to be mounted in a rack or housing, having first and second rail members aligned and joined with one another and allowed limited relative longitudinal movement with respect to each other. The joined first and second rail members have a mounting bracket attached to distal ends of the rail members. The mounting brackets have a tab or tabs for insertion in slots in the rack. A spring, positioned between the rail members, provides a force extending the distance between the distal ends of the rail members. 
   The present invention includes a locking mechanism interacting with the rail members. The locking mechanism has a locked position resisting inward movement of the distal ends of the rail members. The locking mechanism includes a catch attached to one of the rail members and a trigger mounted to the other rail member. In the locked position, the relative inward movement of the rail members is limited by the trigger engaging the catch. 
   The method of installing the track assembly to the rack or housing is very simple and requires very little time. Additionally, the track assembly can also be very easily and quickly removed from the rack or housing, if desired. To install the track assembly to the rack, the mounting tab or tabs at one end of the rail assembly, for example the first rail member tabs, are inserted into the slots of the rack. The locking mechanism trigger is depressed and the rail assembly and spring is compressed longitudinally. The second rail member tabs are then aligned and inserted into the appropriate slots in the rack. As the spring expands forcing the second rail to extend with the member tabs in the appropriate slots, the catch moves relative to the trigger to a point where the spring-biased trigger engages the catch. When the rail assembly is installed in the rack, the trigger captures the catch such that they are contacting or in close proximity, thus preventing disengagement of the tabs from the rack slots unless the trigger is depressed to unlock the locking mechanism and allow inward relative movement of the support rail members. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The objects, advantages and features of the invention will become more apparent by reference to the drawings which are appended hereto and wherein like numerals indicate like parts and wherein illustrated embodiments of the invention are shown, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a rail assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the rail assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the rail assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a locking mechanism of the rail assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged elevation view of the locking mechanism prior to installation of the rail assembly in a rack; 
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged elevation view of the locking mechanism during the installation of the rail assembly in the rack; 
       FIG. 7  is an enlarged elevation view of the locking mechanism after installation of the rail assembly in the rack; 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a slide assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the sliding track assembly in the assembled condition with a portion of the slide assembly removed for clarity; and 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the sliding track assembly installed in a rack. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
   The present invention will now be described in greater detail with specific reference to the drawings. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the track assembly, generally designated as  10 , includes a rail assembly  20  and a slide assembly  60  as shown in FIG.  10 . The rail and slide assemblies,  20  and  60  respectively, are preferably adapted to quickly and easily attach securely together without the use of tools or other fasteners. However, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the preferred embodiment as shown and described with respect to the attachment of the slide assembly  60  to the rail assembly  20 . In fact, the present invention is directed primarily to the features of the rail assembly  20  and the method of installation of the rail assembly  20  to a rack R. Thus, the track assembly  10  of the present invention does not even require the inclusion of a detachable slide assembly or a slide assembly mounted to the rail assembly  20 . For the sake of completeness in describing the use of the track assembly  10  to mount a device, such as a server, in a rack, the slide assembly  60  is shown and described. 
   In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the rail assembly  20  includes a support rail  22  adapted to span between opposing members M of a rack, stand or other device as shown in FIG.  10 . In some instances it may be desirable to be able to adjust the elevation of the rail assemblies  20  in the rack R or other device or simply allow installation without the use of tools. Thus, the preferred embodiment of the rail assembly  20 , shown in  FIGS. 1-3 ,  9  and  10 , is easy and quick to install and requires no tools for installation in the rack or removal from the rack R. It is to be understood that certain of the described features are not required for the track assembly  10  of the present invention but may be desirable. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the support rail  22  of the preferred embodiment comprises cooperating first and second rail members,  24  and  26  respectively. The support rail members  24  and  26  are generally C-shaped in cross-section with the second rail member  26  slightly smaller in height and width than the first rail member  24  so as to allow the second rail member  26  to slide within the first rail member  24 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , the distal ends  24   a  and  26   a  of the rail members  24  and  26 , respectively, include mounting brackets  24   b  and  26   b . Each mounting bracket  24   b ,  26   b  includes one or more mounting tabs  24   c ,  26   c , respectively. The mounting tabs  24   c ,  26   c  are adapted to be received in mounting slots S in the rack R (FIG.  10 ), stand, or other device in which the track assembly  10  is being installed. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the rail assembly  20  has a limited overall length adjustment. In an uninstalled condition, the rail assembly  20  is preferably slightly longer than the distance between opposing rack members M, whereas during installation the rail assembly  20  is preferably shorter than the distance of the opposing rack members M. In the preferred embodiment, the first and second rail members  24  and  26  are allowed limited longitudinal movement relative to each other. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the second rail member  26  is shown as having one or more longitudinal elongated slots  26   d . A fastener  24   d , such as a screw, having a head larger than the slot height is inserted through the elongated slot  26   d  and fastened to the first rail member  24 , preferably via a threaded connection. The fasteners  24   d  secure the rail members  24  and  26  to each other and allow sliding longitudinal movement limited to the length of the elongated slot  26   d.    
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , the rail assembly  20  includes a spring  28 , preferably a compression spring, positioned between opposing folded tabs  24   f  and  26   e  of the first and second rail members  24  and  26 , respectively, to provide a spring-biased force to extend the rail members  24  and  26  in an outwardly direction along their length. The spring  28  is compressed during the installation of the mounting tabs  24   c ,  26   c  in the rack slots S and thus serves to exert an outward force against each of the rail members  24 ,  26  to maintain the mounting tabs  24   c ,  26   c  in their respective slots S. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1-7 , the preferred embodiment of the rail assembly  20  may include a locking mechanism  30  comprised of a trigger  32 , a catch  34  and a spring  36 .  FIG. 4  shows an enlarged view of the locking mechanism  30 . Referring to  FIGS. 5-7 , the catch  34  is securely mounted to the inside portion of the second rail member  26  and the trigger  32  is pin or pivotally connected to the first rail member  24 . The catch  34  includes an angled face  34   a  adapted to engage a correspondingly angled trigger face  32   a  at the front  32   b  of the trigger  32  when the rail assembly  20  is installed as explained below. The trigger  32  has a rear  32   c  which extends through a window  24   e  ( FIG. 1 ) in the first rail member  24 . The trigger spring  36  exerts a spring force to cause the front  32   b  of the trigger  32  to rotate towards the catch  34  and the rear  32   c  of the trigger  32  to extend through the window  24   e.    
   Installation of the rail assembly  20  described above will now be explained in detail. The rail assembly  20  and the locking mechanism  30  is initially in the position as shown in FIG.  5 . In the initial position of the rail assembly  20 , the compression spring  28  forces the first and second rail members  24  and  26  to the extended position and the catch  34  is not engaged by the trigger  32  as shown in FIG.  5 . The mounting tab or tabs at one end of the rail assembly  20 , for example the first rail member tabs  24   c , are inserted into the slots S ( FIG. 10 ) of the rack R. Referring next to  FIG. 6 , the trigger rear  32   c  is depressed and the rail assembly  20  is compressed longitudinally compressing the spring  28  and allowing the catch face  34   a  to pass below the raised trigger front  32   b . The second rail member tabs  26   c  are then aligned and inserted into the appropriate slots S in the rack R as shown in FIG.  10 . As the spring  28  expands forcing the second rail to extend with the member tabs  26   c  in the appropriate slots S, the catch  34  moves relative to the trigger  32  to a point where the catch  34  travels beyond the trigger face  32   a , thus permitting the face  32   a  of the spring-biased trigger  32  to engage the catch face  34   a  as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  7 . It is important to understand that when the rail assembly  20  is installed in the rack R, the trigger  32  captures the catch  34  and the faces  32   a  and  34   a  are contacting or in close proximity such that none of the tabs  24   c  and  26   c  can be disengaged from the rack slots S unless the trigger rear  32   c  is depressed to allow inward relative movement of the support rail members  22  and  24 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 9 , the rail assembly  20  may include one or more shoulder standoffs  40  extending beyond a face  20   a  of the rail assembly  20 . The shoulder standoff  40  includes a short shaft  40   a  (FIG.  3 ), preferably cylindrical, and a head  40   b . Preferably, the head  40   b  is circular and has a diameter greater than the diameter of the short shaft  40   a . The short shaft  40   a  extends generally perpendicularly from the rail assembly face  20   a  and the head  40   b  preferably includes a lower flat face  40   c  that is generally parallel with the rail assembly face  20   a.    
   With reference to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the slide assembly  60  may include a slide member  62  having a generally flat surface  62   a  with a keyhole-shaped opening  62   b  for each shoulder standoff  40 . It is to be understood that in  FIG. 9  a portion of the slide assembly  60  has been removed for purposes of clarity. The opening  62   b  includes a slotted portion  62   c  which expands to an enlarged circular portion  62   d . The slotted portion  62   c  has a height slightly greater than the short shaft  40   a  and the circular portion  62   d  is slightly greater than the diameter of the head  40   b  of the shoulder standoff  40 . Thus, to mount the slide assembly  60  to the rail assembly  20  the heads  40   b  of the shoulder standoffs  40  are inserted through the enlarged circular portions  62   d  of the slide member  62  and the slide member  62  slid such that the short shafts  40   a  are received in the slotted portion  62   c  and retained therein by the head  40   b  lower face contacting the slide member  62 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the rail assembly  20  may include a latch mechanism  50  mounted to the rail assembly  20 . The latch mechanism  50  includes a spring plate  50   a  having a raised portion  50   b  which is allowed to extend through a window  20   b  in the rail assembly  20 . Preferably, the spring plate  50   a  is mounted to the rail assembly  20  near a first end  50   c  of the spring plate  50   a . Referring to  FIG. 9 , the slide member  62  includes a latch opening  62   e  having an edge portion  62   f  adapted to engage a spring latch edge  50   d  of the raised portion  50   b  to lock the slide assembly  60  to the rail assembly  20 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , the spring latch edge  50   d  springs through the latch opening  62   e  adjacent the opening edge portion  62   f  upon the shoulder standoffs  40  becoming seated in the slotted portions  62   c  of the keyhole-shaped openings  62   b.    
   As described above, the method of assembling the slide assembly  60  to the rail assembly  20  is very simple and requires very little time. Furthermore, the slide assembly  60  can also be very easily and quickly removed from the rail assembly  20 , if desired. To install the slide assembly  60  to the rail assembly  20 , the keyhole-shaped openings  62   b  of the slide member  62  are positioned onto the shoulder standoffs  40 . The raised portion  50   b  of the spring latch mechanism  50  extending through window  20   b  is depressed by the slide member  62  contacting the rail assembly  20 . The slide member  62  is slid along the rail assembly  20  with the shoulder standoffs  40  within the keyhole-shaped openings  62   b  until the spring latch edge  50   d  of the raised portion  50   b  reaches the latch opening  62   e  and springs into the latch opening  62   e . Once in position, the attached slide assembly  60  cannot be removed unless the raised portion  50   b  of the spring latch mechanism  50  is depressed below the latch opening  62   e  and the slide member  60  slid off of the shoulder standoffs  40 . 
   It is to be understood that the track assembly  10  has been described as a single assembly. However, it is to be understood that the track assembly  10  typically includes a left track assembly and right track assembly. Thus, a pair of track assemblies  10  will typically be used together to support a drawer, shelf, tray or other type of housing. 
   Furthermore, it is to be understood that the track assembly  10  of the present invention may or may not include the slide assembly  60  as shown and described. While the intended usage of the present invention typically includes a slide assembly  60 , a different type of slide assembly may be used in conjunction with the track assembly  10 . It is also to be understood that the slide assembly need not mount or be removed in the manner described above. 
   The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention is illustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the size, shape, and materials, as well as in the details of illustrative construction and assembly, may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.