Patent Publication Number: US-2017354055-A1

Title: Quick Release Device for a Slide Track

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a quick release device for a slide track and, more particularly, to a quick release device including a retaining device having a hook member pivotable relative to a frame to permit rapid assembly and disassembly of the frame and a rack of a server. 
     When installing a slide track on a rackmount server system, the slide track is connected to a frame which is coupled to a rack of the server system. A plurality of sets of slide tracks and frames can be disposed on the rack and arranged in a vertical direction. However, it is impossible to disassemble one of the plurality of sets of slide tracks and frames from a top side or a bottom side thereof. A mechanism permitting disassembly from a front side of the rack is complicated and inconvenient to assemble and use. 
     Thus, a need exists for a novel device that mitigates and/or obviates the above disadvantages. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a quick release device including a retaining device having a hook member biased to pivot in a desired direction relative to a frame, such that when the frame is positioned by a positioning device to a rack of a server, the frame can be rapidly assembled to and disassembled from the rack, providing convenience use and having a simple structure. 
     To fulfill the above objective, the present invention provides a quick release device for a slide track including a frame having a positioning portion. An abutment section extends transversely from a side of the positioning portion. A positioning seat includes a connecting portion fixed to the positioning portion of the frame. The connecting portion includes a first side having a fixing section located adjacent to the abutment section. The connecting portion further includes a second side having a first sleeve. A plurality of positioning devices is mounted to the fixing section of the positioning seat and extends beyond the abutment section of the frame. A retaining device includes a retaining member, an elastic element, and an axle. The retaining member includes a base having first and second sides. At least one arm extends from the first side of the base and includes a hook. A second sleeve and a limiting portion are formed on the second side of the base. The axle is pivotably received in the first sleeve of the positioning seat and the second sleeve to pivotably connect the retaining member to the positioning seat. The abutment section of the frame is located between the hook and the positioning seat. The elastic element is pivotably mounted to the axle and includes first and second tangs respectively attached to the connecting portion of the positioning seat and the limiting portion of the retaining member. 
     The hook of the engagement device can include an inclined guiding face. 
     The elastic element can be a torsion spring and can include a body and the first and second tangs extending from two sides of the body. The connecting portion can include a fixing plate. The limiting portion of the retaining member can include a fixing groove. The first and second tangs are respectively coupled to the fixing plate and the fixing groove. 
     Each of the plurality of positioning devices can include a positioning rod having a first end fixed to the fixing section of the positioning seat and a second end. Each of the plurality of positioning devices can further include a limiting rod connected to the second end of the positioning rod and a spring mounted between the positioning rod and the limiting rod. The limiting rod extends beyond the abutment section of the frame. 
     The limiting rod can include a first section and a second section. The first section has an outer diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the second section. The second section is located between the first section and the first end of the positioning rod. 
     The present invention will become clearer in light of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments of this invention described in connection with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a quick release device for a slide track of an example according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is another perspective view of the quick release device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a partly-exploded perspective view of the quick release device of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating assembly of the quick release device on a rack. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the quick release device and the rack of  FIG. 4 , illustrating detachment of the quick release device from the rack. 
         FIG. 6  is another perspective view, partly-cutaway, of a quick release device of another example according to the present invention and a rack after assembly. 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the quick release device and the rack of  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-3 , a quick release device for a slide track of an example according to the present invention includes a frame  1 , a positioning seat  2 , a plurality of positioning devices  3 , and a retaining device  4 . The frame  1  includes a positioning portion  11 . An abutment section  12  extends transversely from a side of the positioning portion  11  and includes a plurality of limiting holes  121 . 
     The positioning seat  2  includes a connecting portion  21  fixed to the positioning portion  11  of the frame  1  by fasteners  5 . The connecting portion  21  includes a first side having a fixing section  22  located adjacent to the abutment section  12 . The connecting portion  21  further includes a second side having a first sleeve  23 . A fixing plate  211  is formed on the connecting portion  21  (see  FIG. 3 ). 
     The positioning devices  3  are mounted to the fixing section  22  of the positioning seat  2  and extend beyond the abutment section  12  of the frame  1 . In this example, each positioning device  3  includes a positioning rod  31  having a first end fixed by a retaining ring  6  to the fixing section  22  of the positioning seat  2 . Each positioning device  3  further includes a limiting rod  32  is connected to a second end of the positioning rod  31  and a spring  33  mounted between the positioning rod  31  and the limiting rod  32 . The limiting rod  32  includes a first section  321  and a second section  322 . An outer diameter of the first section  321  is smaller than an outer diameter of the second section  322 . The second section  322  is located between the first section  321  and the first end of the positioning rod  31 . The limiting rod  32  extends beyond the abutment section  12  of the frame  1  via a corresponding limiting hole  121 . 
     The retaining device  4  includes a retaining member  41 , an elastic element  42 , and an axle  43 . The retaining member  41  includes a base  411  having first and second sides. At least one arm  412  extends from the first side of the base  411  and includes a hook  413 . In this example, two arms  412  extend from the first side of the base  411  in the same direction, and a hook  413  is formed on the distal end of each arm  412  and has an inclined guiding face  417 . A second sleeve  414  and a limiting portion  415  are formed on the second side of the base  411 . The limiting portion  415  includes a fixing groove  416 . In this example, the elastic element  42  is a torsion spring and includes a body  421  and first and second tangs  422  and  423  extending from two sides of the body  421 . The first and second tangs  422  and  423  are respectively coupled to the fixing plate  211  and the fixing groove  416 . 
     In assembly of the retaining device  4  and the positioning seat  2 , the body  421  of the elastic element  42 , the second sleeve  414  of the retaining member  41 , and the first sleeve  23  of the positioning seat  2  are aligned with each other, and the axle  43  extends through the first sleeve  23 , the body  421 , and the second sleeve  414  to pivotably connect the retaining member  41  to the positioning seat  2 . The abutment section  12  of the frame  1  is located between the hook  413  and the positioning seat  2 . The first and second tangs  422  and  423  of the elastic element  42  are respectively coupled to the fixing plate  211  and the fixing groove  416 . The elasticity of the elastic element  42  biases the limiting portion  415  and the fixing groove  416  of the retaining member  41  towards the positioning portion  11 , such that the hooks  413  are pivotable towards the abutment section  12  under the bias of the elastic element  42 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 3-5 , a rack  7  for a server (not shown) extends in a vertical direction and includes a plurality of positioning holes  71 . In assembly with the rack  7 , the limiting rod  32  of each positioning device  3  extends from a side of the rack  7  through a corresponding positioning hole  71  in the rack  7  to the other side of the rack  7 . In this example, each positioning hole  71  has a diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the second section  322  of the limiting rod  32  to retain the second section  322  in the positioning hole  71 . When the limiting rod  32  extends through the positioning hole  71  of the rack  7 , the inclined guiding face  417  of the retaining member  41  abuts a lateral side of the rack  7 , such that the hooks  413  of the retaining member  41  pivot away from the abutment section  12 . After the inclined guiding face  417  has passed through the rack  7 , the elasticity of the elastic element  42  pivot the hooks  413  to a position adjacent to the abutment section  12  and the other side of the rack  7 , accomplishing the assembly. 
     When it is desired to disassemble the quick release device from the rack  7 , a user can directly press the base  411  of the retaining member  41  or push the hooks  413  away, causing the retaining member  41  to pivot relative to the second sleeve  414  and the axle  43 . Thus, the hooks  413  pivot away from the abutment section  12  of the frame  1  (see  FIGS. 4 and 5 ). After the hooks  413  have left the abutment section  12  of the frame  1  and the other side of the rack  7 , the limiting rod  32  of each positioning device  3  can be pulled out of a corresponding positioning hole  71  of the rack  7 , accomplishing the disassembly. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 3, 6, and 7 , in a case that the positioning holes  72  of the rack  7  have a smaller diameter equal to the outer diameter of the first section  321  of each limiting rod  32 , when each limiting rod  32  is inserted through a corresponding positioning hole  72  of the rack  7 , the first section  321  is positioned in the positioning hole  72 . Assembly and disassembly of the retaining member  41  of the retaining device  4  and the rack  7  are identical to the first example. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , the quick release device is mounted to an end  81  of a telescopic track  8 , and another quick release device is mounted to the other end  82  of the telescopic track and can be coupled with another rack parallel to and spaced from the rack  7  shown in  FIG. 4 . The another quick release device does not have to include the retaining device  4  and can be of another type if desired. A fixed track (not shown) of a slide track (not shown) of a server (not shown) can be fixed to a side of the telescopic track  8 . 
     Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications and variations are still possible without departing from the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is limited by the accompanying claims.