Abstract:
A telescoping slide rail assembly includes a stationary slide rail including a wall having an outer surface, the stationary slide rail adapted for engaging a pair of uprights in a rack at opposing ends of the stationary slide rail wall. The telescoping slide rail assembly further includes a mounting slide rail operatively coupled to the stationary slide rail so that the mounting slide rail is movable relative to the stationary slide rail between a fully extended position and a fully retracted position. A reinforcing element is connected to the outer surface of the wall, and a mounting element adapted for operative coupling with one of the uprights of the rack that is operatively coupled to the reinforcing element for movement between a first operative position and a second operative position.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     This disclosure pertains to a telescoping slide rail assembly adapted for use in a telecommunications rack, and more particularly, to a bracket which reinforces the telescoping slide rail assembly and provides for adjustable connection with different telecommunications racks.  
         [0002]     Telecommunications or computing devices can be mounted in a telecommunications rack in a vertical stack configuration. Such racks typically include at least four uprights that form a rectangular frame for the rack. To mount a telecommunications or computing device in the rack, a pair of telescoping slide assemblies can be mounted in the rack at the same height. Each telecommunications or computing device is then mounted to the telescoping slide assemblies. The telescoping slide assemblies allow a user to pull the telecommunications or computing device out of the rack and push the telecommunications or computing device back in the rack when desired.  
         [0003]     To provide full extraction of the telecommunications or computing device out of the rack while still being mounted on the telescoping slide assemblies, typical telescoping slide assemblies include more than two nested telescoping components. Such telescoping slide assemblies can include an outer rail that connects to the uprights, an intermediate rail, and an inner rail that supports the telecommunications or computing device. The noted rails typically have C-shaped cross sections and are slidably attached to each other by being nested. Typically, the intermediate rail is nested inside and supported by the outer rail, and the inner rail is nested inside and supported by the intermediate rail. Accordingly, the outer rail must support both the intermediate rail and the inner rail when connected to the uprights. Additionally, the outer rail is typically sized to connect with a corresponding rack. Accordingly, the outer rail may be only connectable to a rack that has a depth corresponding to the length of the outer rail.  
         [0004]     With the above-described nesting, the intermediate rail must be large and structurally adequate to not only structurally support the inner rail but to provide a sliding track for the inner rail. Similarly, the outer rail must be large and structurally adequate to structurally support both the inner rail and the intermediate rail and to provide a sliding track for the intermediate rail. Therefore, the outer rail of a typical telescoping slide rail can be quite large and heavy. Additionally, different racks having different depths may require correspondingly sized outer rails to be connected thereto. Therefore, for each size rack, a particular telescoping slide rail must be manufactured.  
         [0005]     Furthermore, because the telescopic slide assembly supports the weight of a telecommunication or computing device, the weight of the telecommunication or computing device directly affects the size of the telescopic slide assembly. Telescopic slide assemblies are categorized by widely accepted size standards that are set by the Electronic Industries Association. Accordingly, the weight of a telecommunication or computing device may dictate a minimum standard size of a telescopic slide assembly that can be used to support the telecommunication or computing device in the rack. Although telescopic slide assemblies that are larger than the minimum standard size can be used, such use may not be cost effective or convenient. However, telescopic slide assemblies that are smaller than the minimum standard size may not be used because they may not be able to provide adequate support for a telecommunication and computing device.  
         [0006]     Therefore, there exists a need for a telescoping slide rail that is smaller and lighter than existing telescoping slide rails, can support a higher load than similarly sized standard telescopic slide assembly, and can be adjusted for mounting to different size racks.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0007]     In accordance with one principle aspect to the present disclosure, a telescoping slide rail assembly includes a stationary slide rail including a wall having an outer surface, the stationary slide rail adapted for engaging a pair of uprights in a rack at opposing ends of the stationary slide rail wall. The telescoping slide rail assembly further includes a mounting slide rail operatively coupled to the stationary slide rail so that the mounting slide rail is movable relative to the stationary slide rail between a fully extended position and a fully retracted position. A reinforcing element is connected to the outer surface of the wall, and a mounting element adapted for operative coupling with one of the uprights of the rack that is operatively coupled to the reinforcing element for movement between a first operative position and a second operative position.  
         [0008]     In accordance with another principle aspect to the present disclosure, a telescoping slide rail assembly configurable for connection to a pair of uprights in one of a first rack and a second rack includes a stationary slide rail including a wall and opposing first and second ends, a mounting slide rail operatively coupled to the stationary slide rail so that the mounting slide rail is movable relative to the stationary slide rail between a fully extended position and a fully retracted position, and a reinforcing element connected to the wall along an outer surface of the wall. The telescopic slide rail assembly further includes a first mounting element operatively coupled to the reinforcing element for movement between a first operative position and a second operative position including a first flange to facilitate connection with one of the pair of uprights of one of the first and second racks, and a second mounting element connected to the second end of the stationary slide rail including a second flange to facilitate connection with one of the pair of uprights of one of the first and second racks, whereby when the first mounting element is oriented in the first operative position the first and second flanges are configured for connection to the pair of uprights of the first rack and when the first mounting element is oriented in the second operative position the first and second flanges are configured for connection to the pair of uprights of the second rack. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     Certain embodiments are shown in the drawings. However, it is understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in the attached drawings, wherein:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a slide rail assembly constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure shown in a first operative position.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a slide rail assembly constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure shown in a second operative position.  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a top view of a rack supporting a telecommunications or computing device with a slide rail assembly constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure.  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of a slide rail assembly constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure shown in a fully retracted position.  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of a slide rail assembly constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure shown in a fully extended position.  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged fragmentary opposing view of region  6  of  FIG. 1   
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged fragmentary view of region  7  of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0017]      FIG. 8  is a partial cross-sectional view of a slide rail assembly constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0018]     For the purposes of promoting and understanding the principles disclosed herein, reference will now be made to the preferred embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope is thereby intended. Such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device and such further applications are the principles disclosed as illustrated therein as being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which this disclosure relates.  
         [0019]     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a telescoping slide rail assembly  20  constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure is shown. The telescoping slide rail assembly  20  includes a stationary slide rail  22  having an outer surface  24 . A first mounting element  26  is provided at a first end  27  of the stationary slide rail  22  to provide attachment of the stationary slide rail  22  to a first upright  28  of a rack  30  (shown in  FIG. 3 ). A reinforcing element  32  is attached to the outer surface  24  of the stationary slide rail  22 . The reinforcing element  32  slideably supports a mounting slide rail  34 , which slides over the reinforcing element  32  along the length of the stationary slide rail  22 . The mounting slide rail  34  includes a first end  36  and a second end  38 . Attached to the second end  38  is a second mounting element  40  that provides connection of the mounting slide rail  34  to a second upright  28  of the rack  30 . Accordingly, the telescoping slide rail assembly  20  can be mounted to the first and second uprights  28  with the first mounting element  26  and the second mounting element  40 , respectively. As will be described in detail in the following, the slidable engagement of the mounting slide rail  34  with the reinforcing element  32  provides connection of the stationary slide rail  22  to a pair of uprights  28  that may be apart by a distance within a range of possible distances.  
         [0020]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a typical rack  30  that is designed to hold one or more telecommunication or computing devices  42  is shown. The rack  30  typically includes four uprights  28  that are arranged to form a vertically rectangular frame. Each upright  28  includes a plurality of apertures  44  (shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) that are arranged as to receive any one of the mounting elements  26 ,  40 . When a pair of telescoping slide rail assemblies  20  are connected to the uprights  28  of the rack  30  at the same height, the pair of telescoping slide rail assemblies  20  can support the telecommunication or computing device  42 , which is mounted to the pair of telescoping slide rail assemblies  20 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the telecommunication or computing device  42  can be pulled out of the rack  30  while still mounted and supported on the pair of telescoping slide rail assemblies  20 . The telecommunications or computing device  42  may be any electronic device, that includes a rectangular enclosure for being mounted to the telescoping slide rail assemblies  20 . Such telecommunications or computing devices  42  may include servers, arrays of storage devices, routers, switches, or an array of telephone modems.  
         [0021]     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the telescoping slide rail assembly  20  is shown in the fully retracted position and the fully extended position, respectively. Each telescoping slide rail assembly  20  includes the stationary slide rail  22 , an intermediate slide rail  50 , and an inner slide rail  52 . The intermediate slide rail  50  is slideably mounted to an interior surface  54  of the stationary slide rail  22 . Accordingly, the intermediate slide rail  50  slides relative to the stationary slide rail  22 . The inner slide rail  52  is slideably mounted to an inner surface  56  of the intermediate slide rail  50 . Accordingly, the inner slide rail  52  slides relative to the intermediate slide rail  50 . Therefore, the combination of the stationary slide rail  22 , the intermediate slide rail  50 , and the inner slide rail  52  provide the telescoping slide rail assembly  20 , which can be placed in the retracted position, as shown in  FIG. 4 , or the fully extended position, as shown in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0022]     Each inner slide rail  52  includes a plurality of mounting slots  60  that can receive a corresponding plurality of pins (not shown) that may be attached to the sides of the telecommunication or computing device  42 . Accordingly, the telecommunication or computing device  42  can be supported in the rack  30  by the inner slide rails  52  of a pair of telescoping slide rail assemblies  20 . Each inner slide rail  52  includes a first release tab  62  that engages an outer end  63  of the intermediate slide rail  50  when the inner slide rail  52  is in the fully extended position. Accordingly, when the inner slide rail  52  is in the fully extended position, the first release tab  62  does not allow the inner slide rail  52  to be retracted in the intermediate slide rail  50 . The first release tab  62  is spring loaded such that a user can press the first release tab  62  downward to disengage the first release tab  62  from the outer end  63  of the intermediate slide rail  50 .  
         [0023]     The intermediate slide rail  50  includes a locking tab  64  that engages an aperture (not shown) in the stationary slide rail  22  to lock the intermediate slide rail  50  to the stationary slide rail  22  when the intermediate slide rail  50  is in the fully extended position. The inner slide rail  52  includes a second release tab  66  that engages the locking tab  64  when the inner slide rail  52  is moved toward the fully retracted position. Engagement of the second release tab  66  with the locking tab  64  releases the locking tab  64  to provide sliding of the intermediate slide rail  50  relative to the stationary slide rail  22 . Therefore, when the telescoping slide rail assembly  20  is fully extended, the inner slide rail  52  cannot be retracted in the intermediate slide rail  50 , and the intermediate slide rail  50  cannot be retracted into the stationary slide rail  22 . Once the first release tab  62  is disengaged from the outer end  63  of the intermediate slide rail  50 , and the inner slide rail  52  is retracted into the intermediate slide rail  50 , the second release tab  66  releases the locking tab  64 , so that the inner slide rail  52 , the intermediate slide rail  50  and can both be fully retracted into the stationary slide rail  22  to place the telecommunication or computing device  42  fully back in the rack  30 .  
         [0024]     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 6 , the telescoping slide rail assembly  20  is shown in a first operative position, where the mounting slide rail  34  is in a fully extended position over the reinforcing element  32  and relative to the stationary slide rail  22 . As shown in  FIG. 6  in more detail, when the mounting slide rail  34  is in the first operative position, a tab  70  disposed at the first end  36  of the mounting slide rail  34  engages a tab  72  disposed at a first end  74  of the reinforcing element  32 . Accordingly, the tab  72  stops the movement of the mounting slide rail  34  by engaging the tab  70 . Thus in the first operative position as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 6 , the mounting slide rail  34  cannot be extended farther outward relative to the stationary slide rail  22 .  
         [0025]     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 7 , the telescoping slide rail assembly  20  is shown in a second operative position, where the mounting slide rail  34  is fully retracted over the reinforcing element  32  and relative to the stationary slide rail  22 . As shown in FIGS.  7  in more detail, when the mounting slide rail  34  is in the fully retracted position relative to the reinforcing element  32 , a shoulder  80  at the second end  38  of the mounting slide rail  34  engages a second end  82  of the reinforcing element  32 . Accordingly, the second end  82  of the reinforcing element  32  stops further retraction of the mounting slide rail  34  over the reinforcing element  32  and relative to the stationary slide rail  22 . Therefore, as shown by  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the range of slidable movement of the mounting slide rail  34  on the stationary slide rail  22  can defined by the length of the reinforcing element  32 .  
         [0026]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , when the mounting slide rail  34  is in the second operative position or the fully retracted position, the second mounting element  40  is nearest to the first mounting element  26 . Because the second mounting element  40  and the first mounting element  26  are used to connect the telescoping slide rail assembly  20  to a pair of uprights  28 , the distance between the second mounting element  40  and the first mounting element  26  defines the distance between the uprights  20 . Additionally, because the distance between the uprights  28  defines the depth of the rack  30 , the fully retracted position of the slide rail assembly  20  represents the shallowest rack  30  in which the slide rail assembly  20  can be mounted.  
         [0027]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , when the mounting slide rail  34  is in the first operative position or the fully extended position, the second mounting element  40  is farthest from the first mounting element  26 . Because the second mounting element  40  and the first mounting element  26  are used to connect the telescoping slide rail assembly  20  to a pair of uprights  28 , the distance between the second mounting element  40  and the first mounting element  26  defines the distance between the uprights  20 . Additionally, because the distance between the uprights  28  defines the depth of the rack  30 , the fully extended position of the slide rail assembly  20  represents the deepest rack  30  in which the slide rail assembly  20  can be mounted. Therefore, based on the foregoing, the telescoping slide rail assembly  20  can be placed anywhere between the first operative position and the second operative position so as to be mounted in any rack  30  having a depth within the range of the fully retracted position to the fully extended position.  
         [0028]      FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate how the telescoping slide rail assembly  20  can be installed on a pair of uprights  28 . Referring first to  FIG. 2 , the first mounting element  26  can be connected to the first upright  28  of a rack  30 . The first mounting element  26  includes a pair of locking tabs  90  that can be inserted in a pair of the corresponding apertures  44  on the first upright  28 . The locking tabs  90  are spring loaded and shaped so that insertion of each locking tab  90  into a corresponding aperture  44  prevents the locking tab  90  from being pulled out from the corresponding aperture  44 . To remove the first mounting element  26  from the pair of corresponding apertures  44 , the pair of locking tabs  90  of the first mounting element  26  can be moved toward each other against the force of the spring (not shown) so that the locking tabs  90  disengage from the apertures  44 .  
         [0029]     After mounting the first mounting element  26  to the first upright  28 , the position of the mounting slide rail  34  can be adjusted relative to the stationary slide rail  22  so that the second mounting element  40  can be connected to the second upright  28 . The noted adjusting of the mounting slide rail  34  involves sliding the mounting slide rail  34  over the reinforcing element  32  until the second mounting element  40  reaches the second upright  28 . Referring to  FIG. 1 , which shows the first operative position, the mounting slide rail  34  is fully extended over the reinforcing element  32  such that the second mounting element  40  has engaged the upright  28  and has been connected to the upright  28 . The components of the second mounting element  40  may be identical to the components of the first mounting element  26 . Accordingly the above described connection of the first mounting element  26  to the first upright  28  is fully applicable to the connection of the second mounting element  40  to the second upright  28  and is not repeated herein for brevity.  
         [0030]     Although the mounting slide rail  34  is shown in the fully extended position in  FIG. 1 , the second upright  28  may be closer to the rear upright  28  than shown in  FIG. 1 , such that the mounting slide rail  34  does not have to be fully extended over the reinforcing element  32  to have the second mounting element  40  engage the second upright  28 . Therefore, by initially connecting the first mounting element  26  to the first upright  28 , the position of the second mounting element  40  can be adjusted relative to the second upright  28  so as to connect to the second upright  28 . As described in the foregoing, the distance between the second mounting element  40  and the first mounting element  26  may be dictated by the length of the reinforcing element  32 , which in turn provides the slidable range of distance by which the mounting slide rail  34  can be positioned relative to the stationary slide rail  22 . Although in the above description the first mounting element  26  is connected to first upright  28  first and the second mounting element  40  is connected to the second upright  28  second, the mounting elements  26  and  40  can also be mounted to their corresponding uprights  28  in a reversible order than that described above.  
         [0031]     Referring to  FIG. 8 , a cross-section of the stationary slide rail  22 , the reinforcing element  32 , and the mounting slide rail  34  is shown. The reinforcing element  32  includes a base  100  and a pair of oppositely extending arms  102 . The base  100  is attached to the outer surface  24  of the stationary slide rail  22  with fasteners  104 . The fasteners  104  are shown as rivets in  FIG. 8 , although any type of fastener that is known may be used. The oppositely extending arms  102  are offset from the base  100  so as to define two gaps  106  between each oppositely extending arm  102  and the outer surface  24  of the stationary slide rail  22 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , the mounting slide rail  34  has a C-shaped cross-section. Accordingly, the inwardly extending ends  108  of the mounting slide rail  34  are slideably supported in the gaps  106  so as to provide sliding of the mounting slide rail  34  over the reinforcing element  32 .  
         [0032]     As described above, the reinforcing element  32  provides the structural support necessary for the slidable connection between the mounting slide rail  34  and the stationary slide rail  22 . Additionally, because the base  100  of the reinforcing element  32  is attached to the stationary slide rail  22  with fasteners  104 , the reinforcing element  32  provides additional structural stiffness for the stationary slide rail  22 . Therefore, the reinforcing element  32  provides slidable engagement of the mounting slide rail  34  with the stationary slide rail  22 , structurally supports the mounting slide rail  34 , and provides additional stiffness for the stationary slide rail  22 .  
         [0033]     As described in the foregoing, the reinforcing element  32  provides additional structural stiffness and support for the stationary slide rail  22 . Accordingly, the disclosed telescopic slide rail assembly  20  can support a heavier telecommunication or computing device  42  than a typical slide rail assembly that is categorized by size under the same standard as the disclosed telescopic slide rail assembly  20 . Therefore, the disclosed telescopic slide assembly  20  can also provide cost savings and convenience when used to support a telecommunications or computing device  42  instead of a typical telescopic slide assembly that may have to be larger and heavier (i.e., is in a higher standardized size category) to support the same telecommunication or computing device  42 .  
         [0034]     The stationary slide rail  22 , the mounting slide rail  34 , the reinforcing element  32 , and the remaining above-described components of the telescoping slide rail assembly  20  can be constructed from metals, rigid plastics, composite materials, or combinations thereof. The disclosed stationary slide rail  22 , the mounting slide rail  34 , and the reinforcing element  32  may be constructed from aluminum to provide structural support, rigidity, and light weight for the telescoping slide rail assembly  20 .  
         [0035]     Furthermore, while the particular preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the teaching of the disclosure. The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as limitation. The actual scope of the disclosure is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on the related art.