Abstract:
A slide assembly includes a catch assembly secured to a first rail member, and a second rail member in sliding engagement with the first rail member. The second rail member includes a post extending laterally towards the first rail member. The catch assembly includes a catch member pivotable between a post retaining position and a post releasing position. When the catch member is in the post releasing position, movement of the second rail member from an extended position to a retracted position causes the post to engage a bearing surface of the catch member to pivot the catch member from the post releasing position to the post retaining position. The bearing surface of the catch member is contoured to provide substantially continuous and uniform engagement between the bearing surface and the post as the post pivots the catch member from the post releasing position to the post retaining position.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/968,922, entitled “SLIDE ASSEMBLY” and filed Aug. 30, 2007, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference, to the extent that it is not conflicting with the present application. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Telescoping track slide assemblies are commonly used, for example, in desks, cabinets or other furniture items, for providing a smooth and consistent mechanism for sliding operation (e.g., opening and closing) of a drawer or other such component. One conventional design for a slide assembly includes outer rails affixed to the structure of the furniture item, inner rails affixed to the sliding component (typically one on either side of the sliding component), and intermediate rails disposed between the outer rails and inner rails, which may provide additional support for the sliding component when the sliding component is in an extended position. Sliding bearings including, for example, ball bearings, may be disposed between the outer rails and intermediate rails, and between the intermediate rails and inner rails, to prevent binding between the rails and to provide for a smooth sliding motion. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present application describes slide assemblies having features directed to improved durability of the slide assembly, for example, to withstand wear associated with vibration and with repeated opening and closing. 
     Accordingly, in one embodiment, a slide assembly includes a catch assembly secured to a first rail member, and a second rail member in sliding engagement with the first rail member. The second rail member includes a post extending laterally towards the first rail member. The catch assembly includes a catch member pivotable between a post retaining position and a post releasing position. When the catch member is in the post releasing position, movement of the second rail member from an extended position to a retracted position causes the post to engage a bearing surface of the catch member to pivot the catch member from the post releasing position to the post retaining position. The bearing surface of the catch member is contoured to provide substantially continuous and uniform engagement between the bearing surface and the post as the post pivots the catch member from the post releasing position to the post retaining position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description made with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a partial side view of a slide assembly in an extended condition; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a partial side view of the slide assembly of  FIG. 1 , with the inner rail in a movable block engaging position; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a partial side view of the slide assembly of  FIG. 1 , shown in a retracted condition; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of a rail and catch member arrangement for a slide assembly; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an opposite side perspective view of the catch member and fixed block of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an opposite side perspective view of the rail and catch member arrangement of  FIG. 4 , with the rail member shown in phantom to illustrate additional features of the arrangement; and 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a slide assembly, with the rail member shown in phantom to illustrate additional features of the arrangement. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In some applications, for example, when used with cabinets that may be exposed to jostling, vibration, and other movement, it may be desirable to provide a detent, catch, or other secure engagement of the telescoping slides when in a closed or retracted condition, to prevent inadvertent opening of the drawers or other sliding components during movement of the cabinet, as such opening may pose a safety risk or result in a loss of contents of the cabinet drawers. 
     Many different catch or slide positioning mechanisms may be utilized to secure the sliding mechanism against inadvertent outward sliding or extension. One such embodiment is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,224,177 (the “&#39;177 patent”), the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein, to the extent it is not conflicting with the present application. In the device of the &#39;177 patent, as shown in  FIGS. 1-3  (corresponding to FIGS. 6-8 of the &#39;177 patent), a positioning mechanism  5  includes a fixed block  51  and a movable block or catch member  52  pivotally connected to the fixed block  51  for movement between a perpendicular (to the fixed block  51 ) or slide disengaged position and a parallel (to the fixed block  51 ) or slide engaged position. The movable block  52  includes flexible arms or clamping arms  521 ,  522  spaced to receive an end wall of the fixed block  51  between them when the movable block  52  is in the slide disengaged position. When a pivoting force is applied to the movable block  52 , the arms  521 ,  522  spread to allow the movable block  52  to move with respect to the end wall of the fixed block  51 . As the movable block nears the slide engaged or slide disengaged position, inward biasing forces from the flexed arms  521 ,  522  bias the movable block  52  into the corresponding slide engaged or disengaged position, and the arms  521 ,  522  snap back to the non-flexed condition. The arms  521 ,  522  of the illustrated embodiment are configured to be rigid enough to resist inadvertent movement of the movable block  52  between the slide engaged and slide disengaged positions (for example, from vibration, jostling, or other movement), yet flexible enough to allow pivoting of the movable block  52  when user applied force is imparted on the movable block  52  via the drawer (not shown) and inner rail  8 . 
     When moving the sliding track assembly of the &#39;177 patent into a closed or retracted position, the inner rail  8  is pushed or telescoped inward with respect to the outer rail  6 . A locating flange  84  at the end of the inner rail  8  engages a front edge or upper part  5221  of the movable block  52  to impart a pivoting force on the movable block  52 . As the movable block  52  is pivoted to the slide engaged position, the locating flange  84  is accommodated by a flat angular notch or guide groove  85  in the movable block  52 . When the slide assembly is fully retracted, the locating flange  84  is retained in the retracted position by a locating flange  523  of the movable block  52 . To extend the slide assembly and open the drawer, the inner rail  8  is pulled or telescoped outward with respect to the outer rail  6 . The locating flange  84  imparts a pivoting force on the locating flange  523  of the movable block  52  to pivot the movable block  52  to the slide disengaged position, thereby releasing the locating flange  84  and allowing the inner rail  8  to slide outward to an extended position. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the movable block  52  of the illustrated slide assembly includes a sloping guide face  5230  on the locating flange  523 . When the movable block  52  is inadvertently placed in the slide engaging position while the inner rail  8  is extended, the sloping guide face  5230  allows the inner rail locating flange  84  to slip past the movable block locating flange  523  for retention of the inner rail  8  in the retracted position. 
     While the slide assembly of the &#39;177 patent prevents inadvertent opening of a cabinet drawer due to vibration, jostling, or other such movement, this type of movement may still contribute to wear or damage to the movable block  52 , particularly to the locating flange  523 , as the metal inner rail flange  84  repeatedly bumps against the plastic movable block  52 . Over time, this damage may cause the locating flange  523  of the movable block  52  to fracture or fail, compromising secure retention of the inner rail  8  in the retracted position. 
     The present application contemplates a slide assembly configured such that engagement between a rail member and a catch member or movable block is adapted to minimize wear or impact-related damage resulting both from inadvertent movement of the rail member with respect to the catch member (for example, due to vibration, jostling, and other such movements) and from repeated opening and closing of the slide assembly. 
     According to one inventive aspect of the present application, a catch member and a catch engaging portion of a sliding rail member may be configured to more evenly distribute the impact forces resulting from movement of the catch engaging portion against the catch member. In one embodiment, a catch engaging portion of a rail member may be provided with a rounded or arcuate engaging surface contoured to reduce wear or abrasion of a contacting or bearing surface of the catch member. While the engaging surface may be integrally formed with the rail member (for example, by rounding or bending a leading edge of a locating flange  84  of an inner rail  8 , as shown in the assembly of  FIGS. 1-3 ), a contoured catch engaging portion may be affixed to the rail member, for example, by welding, fastening (with adhesives or mechanical fasteners), or a press fit engagement. 
     In the illustrated embodiment of  FIGS. 4-7 , a rail member  110  includes a catch engaging post  112  affixed to a catch facing side of the rail member  110 . In one exemplary embodiment, the post  112  is pressed and spun into place. While the post  112  may be provided in many different shapes, the cylindrical shaped post  112  of the illustrated embodiment provides a rounded or arcuate engaging surface contoured to distribute impact forces between the post  112  and a catch member  120  to reduce wear or abrasion of the catch member  120 . While the post  112  may be constructed of many different materials or by many different methods, in one embodiment, a hardened cold rolled steel pin may be used to form the post  112 . 
     According to another inventive aspect of the present application, a catch member may be provided with a guide groove or bearing surface contoured to allow a catch engaging portion to impart substantially continuous, uniform engagement with the catch member through a range of pivoting motion of the catch member between slide engaged (or post retaining) and slide disengaged (or post releasing) positions, for example, to provide for smooth movement and reduced wear when moving the rail member into or out of the fully retracted position. In the illustrated embodiment, the catch member  120  includes a J-shaped or ladle-shaped guide groove or bearing surface  122  contoured or otherwise shaped to provide substantially continuous, uniform engagement between the post  112  and the catch member  120  as the catch member is pivoted (with respect to fixed block or catch retainer  130 ) between post retaining and post releasing positions. During pivoting of the catch member  120 , the post  112  rides along the bearing surface  122 , thereby minimizing uneven, rough, or jerky operation of the slide into or out of the fully retracted position, as well as reducing point-to-point impact between the post  112  and catch member  120  during pivoting. 
     According to another inventive aspect of the present application, a bearing surface of a catch member may be provided in a more durable material, to better withstand repeated impacts between the catch member and an engaging portion of a rail member. While a catch member may be provided in a more durable or wear resistant material, such as steel, in another embodiment, a catch member may be provided with a wear resistant bearing member (made of steel or some other wear resistant material) affixed to the catch member on at least a portion of the bearing surface of the catch member. This may, for example, allow for a more flexible material for portions of the catch member that flex during pivoting, while retaining a more wear resistant bearing surface to better withstand impact from an engaging portion of the rail member. Many different materials and manufacturing methods may be used to construct the bearing surface, including, for example, die-formed spring steel material. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, a bearing plate  125  is affixed to a rail contacting (or post engaging) portion of the catch member  120  to provide a wear resistant bearing surface. While many different configurations may be used to affix the bearing plate  125  to the catch member  120 , including, for example, use of an adhesive or fastener, in the illustrated embodiment, the bearing plate  125  is pressed into the catch member  120  and snapped into place. As shown, portions of the bearing plate  125  may be bent or folded to assist in securing the plate  125  to the catch member  120 . For example, one end  126  of the bearing plate  125  may be folded and press fit into a corresponding recess  121  in the catch member  120 . As shown, the bearing plate  125  may, but need not, provide a contoured bearing surface for continuous, uniform engagement between the catch member  120  and engaging portion  112  during pivoting of the catch member  120 , as described in greater detail above. 
     As with the movable block  52  of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-3 , the exemplary catch member  120  of the present application may also be provided with a sloped or chamfered front edge  128 , opposite the bearing surface. When the illustrated catch member  120  is inadvertently placed in the post retaining position while the rail member  110  is extended, the chamfered front edge  128  allows the post  112  to slip past the catch member  120  for retention of the rail member  110  in the retracted position. While the chamfered portion  5230  of the movable block  52  of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-3  is provided as a narrow groove, in the embodiment of  FIGS. 4-7 , the chamfered edge  128  extends along a greater portion of the catch member  120  to ensure full engagement of the wider post  112  with the chamfered edge  128 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates an exemplary slide assembly  100  incorporating inventive features of the present application. It should be noted that other aspects and components of the slide assembly  100  may, but need not, be consistent with the slide assembly of the &#39;177 patent. For example, while the illustrated slide assembly  100  includes a catch member  120  assembled with an outer rail member  150  for selective engagement with an inner rail member  110 , in another embodiment (not shown), a catch member may be assembled with an outer rail member for selective engagement with an inner rail member. As another example, while the illustrated slide assembly  100  includes an intermediate rail member  140  disposed between an inner rail member  110  and an outer rail member  150  for sliding engagement of the inner rail member  110  with the outer rail member  150 , in another embodiment (not shown), a slide assembly may be provided without an intermediate rail member, with an inner rail member (affixed to a drawer or other sliding component) in direct sliding engagement with an outer rail member (affixed to a cabinet or other structure). 
     While various inventive aspects, concepts and features of the inventions may be described and illustrated herein as embodied in combination in the exemplary embodiments, these various aspects, concepts and features may be used in many alternative embodiments, either individually or in various combinations and sub-combinations thereof. Unless expressly excluded herein all such combinations and sub-combinations are intended to be within the scope of the present inventions. Still further, while various alternative embodiments as to the various aspects, concepts and features of the inventions—such as alternative materials, structures, configurations, methods, circuits, devices and components, software, hardware, control logic, alternatives as to form, fit and function, and so on—may be described herein, such descriptions are not intended to be a complete or exhaustive list of available alternative embodiments, whether presently known or later developed. Those skilled in the art may readily adopt one or more of the inventive aspects, concepts or features into additional embodiments and uses within the scope of the present inventions even if such embodiments are not expressly disclosed herein. Additionally, even though some features, concepts or aspects of the inventions may be described herein as being a preferred arrangement or method, such description is not intended to suggest that such feature is required or necessary unless expressly so stated. Still further, exemplary or representative values and ranges may be included to assist in understanding the present disclosure; however, such values and ranges are not to be construed in a limiting sense and are intended to be critical values or ranges only if so expressly stated. Moreover, while various aspects, features and concepts may be expressly identified herein as being inventive or forming part of an invention, such identification is not intended to be exclusive, but rather there may be inventive aspects, concepts and features that are fully described herein without being expressly identified as such or as part of a specific invention. Descriptions of exemplary methods or processes are not limited to inclusion of all steps as being required in all cases, nor is the order that the steps are presented to be construed as required or necessary unless expressly so stated.