Patent Publication Number: US-2015063729-A1

Title: Automatic full-open type sliding box mounting structure

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to sliding rail assembly mounting technology, and more particularly to an automatic full-open type sliding box for use in a furniture for enabling a sliding box to be fully and automatically opened. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Sliding track assemblies are widely used with sliding boxes in storage cabinets for storing things. These sliding track assemblies commonly use slidably coupled rails to support a sliding box in a cabinet for enabling the sliding box to be moved in and out of the cabinet, and elastic means for automatically pushing the sliding box out of the cabinet after having been released from the constrain. However, the functioning of the elastic means can simply push the sliding box out of the cabinet, it cannot push the sliding box to the full open position. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide an automatic full-open type sliding box mounting structure, which enables the user to automatically open the sliding box to the fully opened status simply by pressing the sliding box with less effort, facilitating use. 
     To achieve this and other objects of the preset invention, an automatic full-open type sliding box mounting structure of the invention comprises a sliding track assembly, a first opening and closing device, a second opening and closing device, and a reset device. The sliding track assembly is mounted at the bottom side of the sliding box, comprising a first track member and a second track member. The second track member is slidably coupled to the bottom side of the first track member. The first track member has a stop block located at one end thereof. The second track member defines a retaining hole adjacent to the stop block. The first opening and closing device comprises a first sliding member, a stop member connected to one end of the first sliding member for engaging the stop block, and a first elastic member having one end thereof connected to one end of the first sliding member remote from the stop member and an opposite end thereof connected to the second track member. The second opening and closing device comprises a second sliding member slidably coupled to one lateral side of the second sliding member and engageable into the retaining hole of the second track member, and a second elastic member having one end thereof connected to one end of the second sliding member and an opposite end thereof connected to the second track member. The reset device comprises a first push member, a second push member, a first transmission wheel, a second transmission wheel, a third transmission wheel, a first transmission belt, and a second transmission belt. The first transmission wheel is pivotally mounted at one end of the second track member. The second transmission wheel and the third transmission wheel are pivotally mounted at an opposite end of the second track member remote from the first transmission wheel. The first transmission belt is mounted around the first endless groove of the first transmission wheel and the second transmission wheel. The second transmission belt is mounted around the second endless groove of the first transmission wheel and the third transmission wheel. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a partial elevational view of an automatic full-open type sliding box mounting structure in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a partial exploded view of the automatic full-open type sliding box mounting structure in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the first opening and closing device of the automatic full-open type sliding box mounting structure in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic top view of the automatic full-open type sliding box mounting structure in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic bottom view of the automatic full-open type sliding box mounting structure in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic drawing of the present invention, illustrating the automatic full-open type sliding box mounting structure installed in the sliding box. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic drawing illustrating an operation status of the automatic full-open type sliding box mounting structure in accordance with the present invention (I). 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic drawing illustrating an operation status of the automatic full-open type sliding box mounting structure in accordance with the present invention (II). 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic drawing illustrating an operation status of the automatic full-open type sliding box mounting structure in accordance with the present invention (III). 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic drawing illustrating an operation status of the automatic full-open type sliding box mounting structure in accordance with the present invention (IV). 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic drawing illustrating an operation status of the automatic full-open type sliding box mounting structure in accordance with the present invention (V). 
         FIG. 12  is a schematic drawing illustrating an operation status of the automatic full-open type sliding box mounting structure in accordance with the present invention (VI). 
         FIG. 13  is an enlarged view of part A of  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 14  is a schematic drawing illustrating an operation status of the automatic full-open type sliding box mounting structure in accordance with the present invention (VII). 
         FIG. 15  is a schematic drawing illustrating an operation status of the automatic full-open type sliding box mounting structure in accordance with the present invention (VIII). 
         FIG. 16  is a schematic drawing illustrating an operation status of the automatic full-open type sliding box mounting structure in accordance with the present invention (IX). 
         FIG. 17  is a schematic drawing illustrating an operation status of the automatic full-open type sliding box mounting structure in accordance with the present invention (X). 
         FIG. 18  is a schematic drawing illustrating an operation status of the automatic full-open type sliding box mounting structure in accordance with the present invention (XI). 
         FIG. 19  is a schematic drawing illustrating an operation status of the automatic full-open type sliding box mounting structure in accordance with the present invention (XII). 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-7  and  FIG. 10 , an automatic full-open type sliding box mounting structure in accordance with the present invention is shown. The automatic full-open type sliding box mounting structure comprising a sliding track assembly  1 , a first opening and closing device  2 , a second opening and closing device  3 , a reset device  4 , and a sliding box  5 . 
     The sliding track assembly  1  is mounted at a bottom side of the sliding box  5 , comprising a first track member  11  and a second track member  12  coupled to a bottom side of the first track member  11 . The first track member  11  comprises a first longitudinal sliding slot  111 , a stop block  112  located at a front end thereof, a plurality of runners  113  pivotally mounted near a rear end thereof remote from the stop block  112 , a damper  114  disposed at one lateral side thereof, a piston  115  mounted in the damper  114 , two fourth transmission wheels  116  pivotally mounted at the same lateral side and respectively disposed adjacent to opposing ends of the damper  114 , and a third transmission belt  117  mounted around the fourth transmission wheels  116  and connected with the piston  115 . The second track member  12  comprises a second longitudinal sliding slot  121  corresponding to the first longitudinal sliding slot  111  of the first track member  11 , a third longitudinal sliding slot  122  disposed at one lateral side relative to the second longitudinal sliding slot  121 , and a retaining hole  123  disposed at one lateral side thereof adjacent to the stop block  112  of the first track member  11 . 
     The first opening and closing device  2  comprises a first sliding member  21  slidably coupled to the first longitudinal sliding slot  111  of the first track member  11  and defining opposing front and rear ends, a stop member  22  connected to the front end of the first sliding member  21  and defining a middle stop rod  221  and two opposing lateral hook rods  222  for engagement with the stop block  112  of the first track member  11 , a push block  24  supported on the first sliding member  21  and adapted to push the stop member  22 , and a first elastic member  23  mounted at the rear end of the first sliding member  21  and connected to the second track member  12  for preserving elastic potential energy upon engagement between the stop member  22  and the stop block  112 . 
     The second opening and closing device  3  comprises a second sliding member  31  coupled to one lateral side of the second track member  12  and fastened to the third transmission belt  117  and engageable into the retaining hole  123  of the second track member  12  and movable back and forth relative to the second track member  12  in the same sliding direction of the first sliding member  21 , and a second elastic member  32  having its one end connected to one end of the second sliding member  31  and its other end extending mover the runners  113  and affixed to the second track member  12  for preserving elastic potential energy upon engagement between the second sliding member  31  and the retaining hole  123 . The second sliding member  31  comprises a side frame  311  connected to the third transmission belt  117  and slidably coupled to one lateral side of the second track member  12 , a pivot  312  mounted in the side frame  311 , and a retaining plate  313  pivotally mounted at the pivot  312 . The retaining plate  313  comprises a retaining notch  314  located at a bottom side thereof, and a protruding stop portion  315  disposed at one lateral side of the retaining notch  314  and positioned in the retaining hole  123  of the sliding track assembly  1 . Further, the second elastic member  32  is connected to the retaining plate  313  opposite to the retaining notch  314 . 
     The reset device  4  comprises a first push member  41  set in the second longitudinal sliding slot  121 , a second push member  42  set in the third longitudinal sliding slot  122 , a first transmission wheel  43 , a second transmission wheel  44 , a third transmission wheel  45 , a first transmission belt  46 , a second transmission belt  47 , and a third elastic member  48 . The first transmission wheel  43  comprises a first endless groove  431  and a second endless groove  432  disposed in a concentric manner. The diameter of the first endless groove  431  is smaller than the diameter of the second endless groove  432 . The first transmission wheel  43  is pivotally mounted at the rear end of the second track member  12  adjacent to the second longitudinal sliding slot  121 . The second transmission wheel  44  and the third transmission wheel  45  are pivotally mounted at the opposing front end of the second track member  12  and kept away from the second longitudinal sliding slot  121 . The first transmission belt  46  is mounted around the first endless groove  431  of the first transmission wheel  43  and the second transmission wheel  44 . The second transmission belt  47  is mounted around the second endless groove  432  of the first transmission wheel  43  and the third transmission wheel  45 . The first push member  41  is connected to the first transmission belt  46 . The second push member  42  is connected to the second transmission belt  47 . Further, the third elastic member  48  has its two opposite ends respectively connected to the first push member  41  and the second longitudinal sliding slot  121 . Further, the second push member  42  comprises a body  421 , and an elastically retractable stop component  422  elastically movable in and out of the body  421 . 
     The sliding box  5  is located at the top side of the sliding track assembly  1 , comprising a press member  51  facing toward the push block  24  of the first opening and closing device  2 , and a push rod  52  facing toward the second sliding member  31  of the second opening and closing device  3  and spaced from the press member  51  at a predetermined distance. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4-8 , when the user wishes to open the sliding box  5  from the close position shown in  FIG. 6 , push the press member  51  of the sliding box  5  to force the push block  24  against the stop rod  221  of the stop member  22 , thereby biasing the stop rod  221  and causing the hook rods  222  to be disengaged from the stop block  112 . After disengagement between the hook rods  222  and the stop block  112 , the preserved elastic potential energy of the first elastic member  23  immediately pulls the first sliding member  21  and the sliding box  5  in direction away from the stop block  112 . When the sliding box  5  is being moved in direction away from the stop block  112 , as shown in  FIGS. 9-11 , the push rod  52  of the sliding box  5  will be moved toward the second sliding member  31  of the second opening and closing device  3  and then into the retaining notch  314  of the second sliding member  31  to bias the retaining plate  313  and to further move the protruding stop portion  315  out of the retaining hole  123 . After disengagement of the protruding stop portion  315  from the retaining hole  123 , the preserved elastic potential energy of the second elastic member  32  immediately pulls the second sliding member  31  in direction away from the stop block  112 , thereby carrying the sliding box  5  to the full open position. Referring to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , when the sliding box  5  reaches the full open position, the protruding stop portion  315  of the second sliding member  31  will push the elastically retractable stop component  422  of the second push member  42  back to the inside of the body  421  and then pass over the elastically retractable stop component  422 . After the protruding stop portion  315  passes over the elastically retractable stop component  422 , the elastically retractable stop component  422  immediately extends to the outside of the body  421  again. Referring to  FIGS. 14 and 15 , when going to close the sliding box  5 , push the sliding box  5  in direction toward the stop block  112 . At this time, the push rod  52  of the sliding box  5  will push the second sliding member  31  in direction toward the stop block  112  and simultaneously force the second push member  42  to move the second transmission belt  47 , causing the first transmission wheel  43  to carry the first push member  41  in moving the first sliding member  21  back to its former position and forcing the stop member  22  into engagement with the stop block  112 . Because the two opposite ends of the third elastic member  48  are respectively connected to the first push member  41  and the second longitudinal sliding slot  121 , the first push member  41  will be forced to push the first sliding member  21  back to its former position, letting the third elastic member  48  to return to its former shape. Referring to  FIGS. 14-19 , when the second sliding member  31  is carried by the push rod  52  to move the protruding stop portion  315  to the bottom side of the retaining hole  123  upon closing of the sliding box  5 , the retaining plate  313  will be biased by the second elastic member  32 , causing the protruding stop portion  315  to be forced into the retaining hole  123 . At this time, the protruding stop portion  315  will be released from the constraint of the elastically retractable stop component  422  of the second push member  42 . Immediately after the protruding stop portion  315  is released from the constraint of the elastically retractable stop component  422 , the third elastic member  48  pulls the first push member  41  back to its former position, causing the first transmission wheel  43  to carry the second push member  42  back to its former position. Thus, one opening and closing cycle of the sliding box  5  is done. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 9 and 14  again, when opening or closing the sliding box  5 , the second sliding member  31  will carry the piston  115  to move in the damper  114 , imparting a damping resistance to the second sliding member  31  and avoiding sliding box impact. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 14  again, because the diameter of the first endless groove  431  of the first transmission wheel  43  is smaller than the diameter of the second endless groove  432 , the second push member  42  will be forced to rotate the first transmission wheel  43  when closing the sliding box  5 . Thus, the user can close the sliding box  5  to reset the first elastic member  23  and the second elastic member  32  with less effort. 
     In conclusion, the automatic full-open type sliding box mounting structure of the present invention has the features as follows: 
     1. The invention uses the first opening and closing device  2  and the second opening and closing device  3  to automatically open the sliding box  5  to the full open position in a two-stage manner, and the reset device  4  to let the sliding box  5  be closed and the first opening and closing device  2  and second opening and closing device  3  be returned to their former status, facilitating user operation without space constraints and minimizing the structure dimension. 
     2. The first endless groove  431  and second endless groove  432  of the first transmission wheel  43  of the reset device  4  have different diameters and are arranged in a concentric manner such that the user can easily drive the reset device  4  to reset the first opening and closing device  2  and the second opening and closing device  3 , thereby closing the sliding box  5  accurately with less effort.