Abstract:
An adjustable coupling device includes a base member fastened to a sliding rail assembly, a sliding block connected to the base member to support a sliding box, a first adjustment member rotatable to adjust the position of the sliding box horizontally subject to the constraint of a limiter member, and a second adjustment member rotatable to adjust the position of the sliding box vertically subject to the constraint of a push member.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to sliding rail assembly mounting technology and more particularly, to an adjustable coupling device for coupling between a sliding rail assembly and a sliding box sliding rail assembly that allows adjustment of the position of the sliding box horizontally as well as vertically relative to the sliding rail assembly. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Sliding rail assemblies are intensively used with sliding boxes in storage cabinets for storing things. Conventionally, horizontal and vertical mounting holes are located at sliding rail assemblies, and fastening members are selectively mounted in the horizontal and vertical mounting holes to affix a sliding box to a pair of sliding rail assemblies. When going to adjust the position of a sliding box relative to the respective sliding rail assemblies, the user must unfasten the fastening members from the respective horizontal and vertical mounting holes of the sliding rail assemblies and then fasten the fastening members to other selected horizontal and vertical mounting holes of the sliding rail assemblies. This sliding box position adjustment procedure is complicated. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide an adjustable coupling device, which is practical for use to couple a sliding box to a sliding rail assembly, allowing adjustment of the position of the sliding box relative to the sliding rail. 
         [0006]    It is another object of the present invention to provide an adjustable coupling device for connection between a sliding box and a sliding rail assembly, which allows adjustment of the position of the sliding box relative to the sliding rail horizontally as well as vertically in a stepless manner. 
         [0007]    To achieve these and other objects of the present invention, an adjustable coupling device is designed for coupling between a sliding rail assembly and a sliding box. The adjustable coupling device comprises a base member comprising a base portion, an accommodation chamber defined in the base portion, a post extended from the base portion and a sliding rail disposed at one side of the base portion. A sliding block comprising a block body, a sliding way located at a bottom side of the block body and slidably coupled to the sliding rail of the base member and a coupling shank extended from the block body, a first adjustment member comprising a coupling hole pivotally coupled to the coupling shank of the sliding block and a scroll groove located at a bottom side thereof, and a limiter member affixed to the base portion of the base member and comprising a guide rib coupled to the scroll groove of the first adjustment member for guiding the first adjustment member toward or away from the limiter member to carry the sliding block forward or backward along the sliding rail during rotation of the first adjustment member relative to the coupling shank by an external force, a push member mounted in the accommodation chamber of the base member and comprising a plurality of push plates disposed at one lateral side thereof and a bevel face located at a front side thereof, and a second adjustment member pivotally coupled to the post of the base member and comprising a thrust groove spirally extending around the periphery thereof and coupled with the push plates of the push member. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is an elevational view of an adjustable coupling device in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the adjustable coupling device in accordance with the present invention (I). 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the adjustable coupling device in accordance with the present invention (II). 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the adjustable coupling device in accordance with the present invention (III). 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a schematic installed view of the present invention, illustrating the base member of the adjustable coupling device fastened to a sliding rail assembly before installation of a sliding box. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  illustrates the relationship between the adjustable coupling device and the top rail of a sliding rail assembly in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a bottom view of the present invention, illustrating the adjustable coupling device affixed to a sliding rail assembly. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a schematic applied view of the present invention, illustrating the position of the sliding box adjusted horizontally (I). 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a schematic applied view of the present invention, illustrating the position of the sliding box adjusted horizontally (II). 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is a schematic applied view of the present invention, illustrating the position of the sliding box adjusted vertically (I). 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  is a schematic applied view of the present invention, illustrating the position of the sliding box adjusted vertically (II). 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0019]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , an adjustable coupling device  10  in accordance with the present invention is shown comprising a base member  1 , a sliding block  2 , a first adjustment member  3 , a limiter member  4 , a push member  5  and a second adjustment member  6 . 
         [0020]    The base member  1  comprises a base portion  11 , a sliding rail  12  disposed at one side of the base portion  11 , a plurality of locating grooves  111  located at the base portion  11  and facing toward the sliding rail  12 , an accommodation chamber  13  defines in the base portion  11 , a post  14  disposed at one lateral side relative to the accommodation chamber  13 , an elongated groove  131  disposed in the accommodation chamber  13 , a serrated engagement portion  15  extended from the base portion  11  opposite to the sliding rail  12 , and a bearing portion  16  located at the base portion  11  at one side relative to the serrated engagement portion  15 . 
         [0021]    The sliding block  2  comprises a block body  21 , a limiter space  24  defined in the block body  21 , a sliding way  22  located at a bottom wall of the block body  21  and coupled to the sliding rail  12  of the base member  1  for enabling the sliding block  2  to be moved back and forth along the sliding rail  12 , and a coupling shank  23  extended from the block body  21  at one side of the limiter space  24 . 
         [0022]    The first adjustment member  3  comprises a coupling hole  31  coupled to the coupling shank  23  of the base member  2 , and a scroll groove  32  located at a bottom side thereof. 
         [0023]    The limiter member  4  is mounted in the limiter space  24 , comprising a plurality of retaining portions  42  clamped on the sliding rail  12  of the base member  1  and positioned in the locating grooves  111  to fixedly secure the limiter member  4  to the base portion  11  of the base member  1 , and a guide rib  41  coupled to the scroll groove  32  of the first adjustment member  3 . 
         [0024]    The push member  5  is mounted in the accommodation chamber  13 , comprising a bevel face  51  located at one end thereof, a plurality of push plates  52  disposed at one lateral side thereof in a parallel manner, and a hook  53  extended from a bottom side thereof and coupled to the elongated groove  131  for enabling the push member  5  to be moved back and forth in the accommodation chamber  13 . 
         [0025]    The second adjustment member  6  is pivotally coupled to the post  14  of the base member  1 , comprising a thrust groove  61  extending around the periphery and coupled with the push plates  52  of the push member  5 . 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIGS. 5-7 , the adjustable coupling device  10  is coupled between a sliding rail assembly  70  and a sliding box  80 . The sliding box  80  comprises a bottom panel  81 , a side panel  83  at each of two opposite lateral sides of the bottom panel  81 , and a face panel  83  connected with the side panels  83  and the bottom panel  81  at a front side. The sliding rail assembly  70  comprises a top rail  71  slidably supported on a bottom rail (not shown). The bottom panel  81  of the sliding box  80  is supported on the top rail  71 . The top rail  71  comprises a connection end piece  72  at a front end thereof. The connection end piece  72  comprises a serrated engagement portion  721  located at one lateral side thereof and engaged with the serrated engagement portion  15  of the base member  1 , a receiving chamber  722  defined in a bottom side thereof that receives the bearing portion  16  of the base member  1 , and a bevel face  723  at a distal end thereof. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9  and  FIGS. 1 and 3  again, when going to adjust the position of the sliding box  80  horizontally, the user can rotate the first adjustment member  3  of the adjustable coupling device  10 . Because the guide rid  41  of the limiter member  4  is coupled to the scroll groove  32  of the first adjustment member  3 , the first adjustment member  3  will move toward or away from the limiter member  4  to carry the sliding block  2  forward or backward along the sliding rail  12  of the base member  1  to the desired position when it is rotated by the user, thereby adjusting the position of the sliding box  80  horizontally in a stepless manner. 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIGS. 10 and 11  and  FIGS. 1 and 7  again, when going to adjust the position of the sliding box  80  vertically, the user can rotate the second adjustment member  6  of the adjustable coupling device  10 . Because the push plates  52  of the push member  5  is coupled to the spirally extended thrust groove  61  of the second adjustment member  6 , the push plates  52  will be moved toward or away from the connection end piece  72  of the sliding rail assembly  70 . Further, when the push member  5  is moved toward the connection end piece  72 , the bevel face  51  of the push member  5  will be abutted against the bevel face  723  of the connection end piece  72 , causing the push member  5  to be lifted or lowered, and therefore the elevation of the bottom panel  81  of the sliding box  80  is relatively adjusted.