Patent Publication Number: US-7210752-B2

Title: Telescoping slide rail with latching and alignment mechanisms

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application is a divisional of and claims priority from application Ser. No. 10/739,240, filed Dec. 18, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,111,913 entitled “TELESCOPING SLIDE RAIL WITH LATCHING ALIGNMENT MECHANISMS”; which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/434,586, filed Dec. 18, 2002, which are both expressly incorporated by reference herein. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
   This invention pertains to a telescoping slide rail assembly for mounting components within a telecommunications rack, and more particularly, to a latching mechanism and alignment device used in connection with the telescoping slide assembly for use in the telecommunications industry. 
   There are numerous prior art telescoping slide rail devices for mounting telecommunications equipment and other various components. One major disadvantage of these prior art telescoping slide rail assemblies is that the latching mechanisms which orient and connect the intermediate slide rail to the stationary slide rail in a fully extended position are complex in design and relatively expensive to manufacture and install. 
   Another major disadvantage of these prior art telescoping slide rail assemblies is that manufacturing and assembly tolerances of the intermediate slide rail and the mounting slide rail are comparatively large and permit unwanted relative movement therebetween. As a result, there is a large tolerance variance between adjacent, parallel, offset pairs of telescoping slide assemblies. Consequently, the mounting slide rail is loosely disposed within the intermediate slide rail. Unwanted movement causes contact between the intermediate and mounting slide rails and friction therebetween is increased. 
   Therefore, there is a need for a latching mechanism which is inexpensive, easy to manufacture and install and simple and reliable to operate. There is also a further need for an improved alignment device which orients the slide rails, minimizes friction between the sliding rails and compensates for manufacturing tolerances. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which like reference numerals identify like elements. 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a telescoping slide rail assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is an elevation view of the one side of a telescoping slide rail assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the telescoping slide rail assembly of  FIG. 1  taken along line  3 — 3  in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the telescoping slide rail assembly of  FIG. 1  taken along line  4 — 4  in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the telescoping slide rail assembly of  FIG. 1  taken along line  5 — 5  in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 6  is a detailed elevation view of the telescoping slide rail assembly of  FIG. 1  indicated as area  6  in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 7  is a detailed elevation view of the telescoping slide rail assembly of  FIG. 6  illustrating a mounting slide rail just prior to disconnecting a latch mechanism. 
       FIG. 8  is a detailed elevation view of the telescoping slide rail assembly of  FIG. 7  illustrating the mounting slide rail disconnecting the latch mechanism. 
       FIG. 9  is a detailed elevation view of the telescoping slide rail assembly of  FIG. 8  illustrating the latch mechanism disconnected. 
       FIG. 10  is an exploded detailed view of a roller including an alignment device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 11  is a broken away detailed view of the roller and alignment device of  FIG. 10  as installed. 
       FIG. 12  is a broken away elevation view of a telescoping slide rail assembly in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view of the telescoping slide rail assembly taken along line  13 — 13  in  FIG. 12 . 
       FIG. 14  is a broken away elevation view of the telescoping slide rail assembly of  FIG. 12  illustrating a mounting slide rail disengaging a latch mechanism. 
       FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view of the telescoping slide rail assembly taken along line  15 — 15  in  FIG. 14 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED  EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION  
     FIG. 1  is an exploded view of the improved telescoping slide rail assembly of the present invention. Generally, the telescoping slide rail assembly includes a stationary slide rail  12 , intermediate slide rail  16  and mounting slide rail  15 . 
   The stationary slide rail  12 , as will be described in more detail below, includes a wall  30 , a top flange  32 , a bottom flange  34 , a top lip  36  and a bottom lip  38 . A bracket may be connected to the wall  30  adjacent an inner end  31  of the stationary slide rail  12  by fasteners which extend through holes  40  defined in the wall  30 . Another bracket may be connected to the wall  30  adjacent an outer end  29  of the stationary slide rail  12  by fasteners which extend through holes  40 . The brackets are useful for mounting or connecting the stationary slide rail  12  to a support. However, it will be recognized by one of skill in the art that the stationary slide rail may be mounted or connected to a support with or without any brackets in any suitable manner. 
   The wall  30 , upper flange  32  and upper lip  36  cooperatively define an upper channel  100 . The wall  30 , lower flange  34  and lower lip  38  cooperatively define a lower channel  102 . The upper and lower channels  100 ,  102  are configured to receive the intermediate slide rail  16  in a nesting relationship for relative movement therebetween as described herein. A retraction stop  104  (see  FIGS. 4 and 5 ) is formed in the lower flange  34  adjacent an inner end  31  of the stationary slide rail  12  for orienting the intermediate slide rail  16  in a fully retracted orientation. A slot  86  is defined in the lower lip  38  for operative engagement with an interlock of the latch mechanism as described herein. 
   The intermediate slide rail  16 , as will be described in more detail below, includes one embodiment of a latch mechanism  50 , including an arm  22  which is connected at a mount portion to an inner end  17  of the intermediate slide rail  16  by a fastener  52 . An interlock  23  is connected to a free end  25  of the arm  22  by a fastener  3 . A stop pivot  24  is connected to the intermediate slide rail  16  for operative contact with the arm  22  in order to enable disconnection of the intermediate slide rail  16  and stationary slide rail  12 , as will be discussed in more detail herein. A slide block  21  is connected to the intermediate slide rail  16  adjacent an inner end  17  for reducing friction between the intermediate and stationary slide rail  16 ,  12  during relative movement. It is within the teachings of the present invention that the arm  22  may be formed from a material suitable for the arm  22  to function as a biasing element. For example, the arm  22  may be formed from any resilient metallic, plastic, natural, synthetic or other suitable material which permits the arm  22  to function to not only position and orient the interlock, but also as a biasing element. 
   The intermediate slide rail  16  includes a wall  90 , an upper element  106  and a lower element  108 . The wall  90  and upper element  106  cooperatively define an upper guide  110 . The wall  90  and the lower element  108  cooperatively define a lower guide  112 . The upper and lower guides  110 ,  112 , engage the mounting slide rail  15  in a nesting relationship as shown in  FIG. 4 . The lower element  108  has an inner flange  192  disposed to engage the interlock as will be discussed below. 
   The inner end  17  of the intermediate slide rail  16  is illustrated in detail in  FIGS. 6–9 . A flange  114  is formed at the inner end  17  to provide a mounting point for the latch mechanism  50 . A stop pivot  24  is connected to the intermediate slide rail  16  in any suitable conventional manner. A tab  94  is formed adjacent the stop pivot  24  to confine a portion of the arm  22  between the tab  94  and the stop pivot  24 . A tab  116  (see  FIGS. 5 and 6 ) is defined on the intermediate slide rail  16  adjacent the flange  114  (see  FIG. 6 ) for engaging the slide block  21  in order to orient the slide block  21  in operation. An extension stop  118  is formed in the wall  90  of the intermediate slide rail  16  adjacent the outer end  84  for operatively engaging the mounting slide rail  15  as discussed herein. A slot  120  is defined in the upper element  106  for a passageway to facilitate a component (not shown) to engage the mounting slots  70 , as described in more detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/318,850, incorporated fully herein. 
   The mounting slide rail  15 , as will be discussed in more detail below, includes a wall  60 , a top flange  62 , a bottom flange  64 , a top lip  66  and a bottom lip  68 . A plurality of slots  70  are defined in the top flange  62  and wall  60  which preferably, operatively engage mounting posts disposed on a component for mounting hereto. Another bracket may be connected to an inner end  17  of the mounting slide rail  15  via fasteners which engage holes  72 . 
   A pair of rollers  13  are connected to the wall  60  by hubs  14  which engage holes  74  in a conventional manner which may include a press fit, fastener or other suitable mechanical connection including bonding, welding, adhering or in any other suitable manner. A bearing  11  is disposed within the free end enlarged head element of the hub  14 , as will be discussed in more detail herein. Preferably, the bearing  11  is retained within the hub  14 . It is within the teachings of the present invention that the bearing may be in ball bearing, fixed bearing or any other suitable bearing element. It will be recognized by those of skill in the art that the bearing may be configured in any suitable shape and from any suitable material such as any metallic, plastic, synthetic, composite or any other suitable material. 
   A mounting post engaging latch  18  is connected to the wall  60  and biased into position by spring  19 . A mounting slide rail retraction stop  20  is connected to the wall  60  by fastener  17 . A spring may be provided to bias the retraction stop  20  into a position to engage the outer end  84  of the intermediate slide rail  16 . 
   A notch  140  is formed in the lower flange and lip  64 ,  68  to provide clearance for the roller  13  secured to hole  74 . A tab  144  is formed in the lower lip and flange  68 ,  64  and the wall  60  for engaging the extension stop  118  formed on the intermediate slide rail  16  in order to prevent the mounting slide rail  15  from disconnection with the intermediate slide rail  16 . A tongue  146  is defined at the inner end  143  of the mounting slide rail  15 . The tongue  146  has a tab  148  formed at the distal end thereof for engaging a bearing portion of the arm  22  of the latch mechanism  50  to enable disengagement of the intermediate slide rail  16  from the stationary slide rail  12  for retraction of the intermediate slide rail  16 , as will be described in detail herein. 
     FIG. 2  illustrates an elevation view of one embodiment of the telescoping slide rail assembly of the present invention assembled and disposed in a fully extended orientation. A flange  80  of the retraction stop  20  extends through a slot  82  formed in the mounting slide rail  15  to engage an outer end  84  of the intermediate slide rail  16  to prevent unintended retraction of the mounting slide rail  15 . Movement of the retraction stop handle against the spring bias moves the flange  80  to another operative position out of engagement with the outer end  84  in order to enable retraction of the mounting slide rail  15  within the intermediate slide rail  16 . 
   The interlock  23  of the latch mechanism  50  engages a first opening  86  formed in the lip  38  of the stationary slide rail  12  to lock the intermediate slide rail  16  in a fully extended position with respect to the stationary slide rail  12 . The retraction stop  20  and mounting post engaging latch  18  are connected to the mounting slide rail  15  such that each respective handle is available for operative movement by a user when the mounting slide rail is disposed in the fully extended position as is described in more detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/318,850 incorporated fully herein. 
     FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  3 — 3  in  FIG. 2 , which illustrates the stationary slide rail  12  and the intermediate slide rail  16  disposed in a nesting relationship. 
     FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  4 — 4  in  FIG. 2 , which illustrates the mounting slide rail  15  in a nesting relationship with intermediate slide rail  16 , which is in a nesting relationship with the stationary slide rail  12 . Roller  13  is connected to the mounting slide rail  15  by a hub  14 . A bearing  11  is disposed in an enlarged head element  154  free end of the hub  14 . Bearing  11  is disposed such that a portion is immediately adjacent an inner surface of wall  90  of the intermediate slide rail  16  so that minimal lateral movement in the directions of arrow  92  is permitted. 
     FIGS. 10 and 11  illustrate the improved roller and hub  13 ,  14  of the present invention. The hub  14  includes a mounting element  150 , a support element  152 , an enlarged head element  154  and a receptacle  156 . The mounting element  150  engages one of the holes  74  (see  FIG. 1 ) to connect the roller  13  to the mounting slide rail  15 . The support element  152  supports the roller  13  for relative rotational movement when the mounting slide rail  15  is moved relative to the intermediate slide rail  16 . The enlarged head element  154  retains the roller  13  connected to the mounting slide rail and to a certain degree prevents unwanted lateral movement of the roller  13  in the direction of arrow  92  with respect to the mounting slide rail  15 . The receptacle  156  is configured to receive and retain the bearing  11 . 
   The roller  13  includes an opening  160  which is configured to receive the hub  14 . A first portion  162  of the opening  160  is configured to receive the enlarged head element  154 . A recessed face  164  is formed in the roller  13  to reduce rolling friction with respect to an adjacent wall of the intermediate slide rail  16 . 
     FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  5 — 5  in  FIG. 2 , which shows one embodiment of the latch mechanism  50  including the interlock  23  disposed within the first opening  86  formed in the stationary slide rail  12 . Stop pivot  24  and tab  94  cooperatively retain the arm  22  therebetween and confine movement of the arm  22  during release of the interlock  23  from the first opening  86  as will be discussed in detail below. The slide block  21  is connected to an upper tab portion  116  of the intermediate slide rail  16  and functions to stabilize the intermediate slide rail  16  at the inner end  17  thereof and to reduce friction between the intermediate and stationary slide rails  16 ,  12 . 
     FIGS. 6–9  illustrate the structural and functional aspects of one embodiment of the latch mechanism  50  of the present invention. The arm  22  is preferably configured from spring steel. However, it is within the teachings of the present invention that any suitable resilient material may be substituted therefor. For example, any resilient synthetic or natural material, plastic or any other suitable resilient material may be used. Arm  22  includes a main element  124  having a bearing portion  123  defined thereon and a pair of mirror image opposed ends  26 ,  28 . A hole is formed in each of the ends  26 ,  28  for engaging a fastener  52 ,  3  to connect the arm  22  to the flange  114  at the mount portion of the interlock  23 . One advantage of the present invention is that it is irrelevant which opposing end  26 ,  28  is attached to the flange  114  or the interlock  23 . As a result, manufacture and installation are greatly simplified. 
   The stop pivot  24  includes a mounting portion, a bearing portion ( 134 , see  FIG. 5 ) and an enlarged head portion  136 . The main element  124  of the arm  22  contacts the bearing portion  134  when the arm  22  is deflected as a result of contact between an inner end  143  of the mounting slide rail  15  and the bearing portion  123  of the main element  124 , as will be discussed in detail herein. The stop pivot mounting portion engages a hole defined in the intermediate slide rail  16  for connection thereto in a conventional manner. 
   The interlock  23 , in one embodiment of the present invention, is generally configured as a block for engaging the first opening  86  formed in the stationary slide rail  12 , the lower lip  38  and the inner flange  192 , which defines a second opening  87 , to prevent relative movement between the intermediate and stationary slide rails  16 ,  12 . The first opening  86  and inner flange  192 , which defines the second opening  87 , cooperatively engage opposing sides of the interlock  23  in order to prevent retracting movement of the intermediate slide rail  16  from the fully extended position. It is within the teachings of the present invention that the interlock  23  may be configured in a suitable shape to provide the intended function and from any suitable material for an intended application. 
     FIGS. 12–15  illustrate the structural and functional aspects of another embodiment of the latch mechanism  50  of the present invention. The arm  22  is preferably configured from a metallic material. However, it is within the teachings of the present invention that any suitable metallic, plastic, synthetic or natural material may be used. 
   Arm  22  includes a generally centrally disposed mount portion  150  and an interlock  23  disposed at an outer end of the arm  22  and a flange  152  disposed at an inner end of the arm  22 , defining a bearing portion  123 , both the interlock  23  and the flange  152  extending from the mount portion  150 . In this embodiment of the present invention the mount portion  150  is configured generally tubular such that a pin  156  passing therethrough along a longitudinal axis or engaging openings at opposite ends of the mount portion  150  aligned on the longitudinal axis enables the mount portion  150  to move about the pin  156 . The arm  22  may also then be connected to the intermediate slide rail  16 . 
   The interlock  23  in this embodiment of the present invention is generally configured as a hooked finger  158  extending away from the mount portion  150  in the direction of the mounting slide rail  15 . The interlock  23  preferably bends back generally toward the mount portion  150  and in the direction of the wall of the intermediate slide rail  16  to form the “hooked” portion at the distal end of the interlock  23 , or outer end of the arm  22 , which defines a catch in the “hooked” portion. It is within the teachings of the present invention that the interlock may take any suitable form or configuration to secure the intermediate and stationery slide rails as described in more detail below. 
   The flange  152  extends away from the mount portion  150  in a generally normal orientation to the intermediate slide rail  16  when the intermediate slide rail is disposed in a fully extended position, as shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 . As also shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , a front face of the flange  152  defines the bearing portion  123  which extends generally normal to the intermediate slide rail  16  beyond the wall of the mounting slide rail  15  and is disposed and oriented for contact by the free end of the tongue  146 , which free end is formed offset and spaced away from the wall of the mounting slide rail  15 , opposite the direction of the intermediate  16  and stationary  12  slide rails, as shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15  and as will be described in more detail below. 
   A biasing element  160  in this embodiment of the present invention is generally configured as a coil spring bearing against a side of the flange  152  opposite the bearing portion  123  at one end  162  and against the intermediate slide rail  16  at another end  164 . It is within the teachings of the present invention that any other suitable type of biasing element may be used. For example, flat springs, contour spring element and any other suitable biasing device may be used. As shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , the spring  160  biases the flange  152  in the direction of the mounting slide rail  15  such that the arm  22  rotates about the mount portion  150 . As a result, the interlock  23  is continuously biased in the direction of the wall  90  of the intermediate slide rail  16 . 
   The latch mechanism  50  further includes a first opening  86  formed in the wall  30  of the stationary slide rail  12  and a second opening  87  formed in the wall of the intermediate slide rail  16 . The first and second openings  86 ,  87  are aligned when the intermediate slide rail  16  is disposed in a fully extended position. The interlock  23  may then engage the aligned openings  86 ,  87  and prevent unwanted movement of the intermediate slide rail  16  toward the fully retracted position. The spring  160  biases the arm  22  such that after disengagement of the interlock  23  from the first opening  86  and movement of the intermediate slide rail  16  toward a fully retracted position, the hooked finger  158  extends through the second opening  87  in a non-operative position sliding against the wall  30  of the stationary slide rail  12 . 
   In operation, the telescoping slide assembly of the present invention when disposed in a fully retracted position may be moved to a fully extended position (see  FIG. 2 ) for servicing or installing a component which may be connected to the mounting slide rail  15  as discussed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/318,850 incorporated fully herein. In this process, an operator grasps the component or outer end  141  of the mounting slide rail  15  and pulls outwardly away from the support to which the telescoping slide assembly is connected, generally in the direction of arrow  300 , shown in  FIG. 2 . The intermediate slide rail  16  also moves from a fully retracted position to a fully extended position relative to the stationary slide rail  12  which does not move relative to the support. In one embodiment of the present invention, the intermediate slide rail  16  remains in a fully retracted position, until the mounting slide rail  15  extends to the fully extended position. In another embodiment of the present invention, the mounting and intermediate slide rails  15 ,  16  move together as a unit from a fully retracted position. In such embodiment, the mounting slide rail  15  remains in a fully retracted position with respect to the intermediate slide rail  16  until the intermediate slide rail  16  is disposed in a fully extended position. At such time, the mounting slide rail  15  is then moved to its fully extended position. 
   Further discussion of the operation of the telescoping slide rail assembly of the present invention will be with reference to the first embodiment described above. However, it will be recognized by those of skill in the art that the second embodiment described above operates in the same manner, except as noted above. 
   In one embodiment of the present invention, when the intermediate and mounting slide rails  16 ,  15  are disposed in a fully retracted position, the mounting slide rail  15  may be extended from the fully retracted position to the fully extended position. The latching mechanism  50 , particularly the interlock  23 , is disposed in a non-operative position, either above the lower lip  38  or sliding against the wall of the stationary slide rail, and remains unassociated with the first opening  86 . The mounting slide rail  15  is moved further outward in the direction of arrow  300  until disposed in a fully extended position where the flange  80  of retraction stop  20  engages slot  82  and outer end  84 . The intermediate slide rail  16  is then also moved to a fully extended position where the interlock  23  engages the first opening  86  as shown in  FIGS. 6 ,  12  and  13 . 
     FIGS. 6 ,  12  and  13  illustrate the intermediate slide rail  16  disposed in the fully extended position with respect to the stationary slide rail  12 . The interlock  23  engages the first opening  86  and the second opening  87  (defined by the inner flange  192  in one embodiment) to lock or secure the intermediate and stationary slide rails  16 ,  12  together. When an operator desires to retract the telescoping slide rail assembly of these embodiments of the present invention, such that the mounting slide rail  15  is retracted into the intermediate slide rail  16 , the retraction stop  20  is disengaged so that the mounting slide rail  15  moves opposite arrow  300  (see  FIG. 2 ) relative to the intermediate slide rail  16 . When the mounting slide rail  15  is disposed nearly at the fully retracted position, the tongue  146  will contact the bearing portion  123  of the arm  22  to disengage the latch mechanism  50  from the first opening  86  and stationary slide rail  12 . 
     FIG. 7  illustrates the intermediate slide rail  16  disposed in a fully extended position. The mounting slide rail  15  has been moved from the fully extended position after release of the retraction stop  20 . The tab ( 148 , see  FIGS. 1 and 4 ) formed at the free end of the tongue  146  has moved into contact with the bearing portion  123  of the main element  124  on the arm  22 . 
     FIGS. 8 ,  14  and  15  illustrate the further movement of the mounting slide rail  15  with respect to intermediate slide rail  16 . The mounting slide rail  15  has been moved inwardly, opposite arrow  300  (see  FIG. 2 ), such that the tab  148  (see  FIGS. 1 and 4 ) formed at the free end of the tongue  146  contacts the bearing portion  123  of the arm  22 . In  FIG. 8 , the tab  148  (see  FIGS. 1 and 4 ) formed at the free end of the tongue  146  moves the bearing portion  123  of the main element  124  into contact with the bearing portion  134  of the stop pivot  24 . Because the end of the arm  22  opposite the interlock  23  is fixed and the tab  148  (see  FIGS. 1 and 4 ) formed at the free end of the tongue  146  contacts the bearing portion  123  of the main element  124  between the end fixed at the mount portion and the stop pivot  24 , the arm  22  bends such that the interlock  23  moves out of engagement with the first opening  86  and the inner flange  192 , i.e. second opening  87 . As a result, the intermediate slide rail  16  may then be moved from the fully extended position to the fully retracted position. Likewise in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , the free end of the tongue  146  is moved inwardly in the direction of the latch arm  22 . 
   In  FIGS. 14 and 15 , the free end of the tongue  146  passes over the outer end of the arm  22  that defines the hooked finger  158  and the mount portion  150  and contacts the bearing portion  123  and moves the flange  152  in a direction toward the inner end  17  of the intermediate slide rail  16  such that the mount portion  150  rotates about the pin  156  in a direction toward the inner end  17  of the intermediate slide rail  16  against the bias of spring  160  so that the interlock  23  disengages the first opening  86 . As a result, the intermediate slide rail  16  may then be moved from the fully extended position to the fully retracted position. One particular advantage of this embodiment is a robust engagement of the first opening which does not fail. Another advantage is exceptional operational reliability. 
     FIG. 9  illustrates the intermediate slide rail  16  moved from the fully extended position relative to the stationary slide rail  12 . The interlock  23  has been moved out of engagement with the first opening  86  to permit movement of the intermediate slide rail  16  to the fully retracted position. The arm  22  remains bowed and the main element  124  remains in contact with stop pivot  24  such that the interlock  23  is disposed above the lower lip  38 . 
   It will be recognized by those of skill in the art that the element identifiers “stationary”, “intermediate” and “mounting”, when used in connection with the slide rails, merely serve to identify the different rails rather than strictly defining any of their functions. Other element identifiers may have been first, second and third slide rails. However, those element identifiers were not used in order to eliminate confusion and mistakes in understanding the present invention. 
   Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of the invention as described and defined in the following claims. For example, the latch arm and interlock may be formed from a single element and use fewer fasteners.