Patent Publication Number: US-2021195784-A1

Title: Support assembly and cable management kit

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/197,300, filed on Nov. 20, 2018. This application claims the benefit of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/197,300, which was filed on Nov. 20, 2018, and is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a support assembly and a cable management kit thereof, and more particularly, to a support assembly comprising two cable management devices and a cable management kit thereof. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Slide rail assemblies have a wide range of applications, such as in furniture drawers or rack systems. Within such rack systems, a slide rail assembly is commonly used to carry an object (such as an electronic apparatus). The carried object typically contains cables that require a cable management device to support. Wherein, the cable management device typically has two movable cable management arms that can be connected to two slide rails of the aforementioned slide rail assembly. 
     A support slide assembly ( 1 ) for a cable management arm, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,712,615 B2, can be used with a first slide assembly ( 30 A) and a second slide assembly ( 30 B). The support slide assembly ( 1 ) includes a first rod ( 11 ) and a second rod ( 12 ) slidably connected to the first rod ( 11 ), and the support slide assembly ( 1 ) can be used to support a cable management arm ( 2 ). When the slide rails ( 312 ,  313 ) of the two aforementioned slide assemblies ( 30 A,  30 B) move toward an opening direction relative to the first rail ( 311 ), the two cable management arms ( 2 ) will be extended from a retracted status. 
     However, as market demands change, it may not be sufficient to support parts of the cables of a carried object using cable management arms ( 2 ). In other words, other parts of the cables of the aforementioned carried object may not be sufficiently supported. Therefore, the development of a novel product to satisfy such particular market demands has become an important topic. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention discloses a support assembly and a cable management kit thereof. 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, a support assembly is disclosed and includes a first slide rail assembly, a second slide rail assembly, a carried object, a first cable management device and a second cable management device. The first slide rail assembly includes a first rail and a second rail movable relative to the first rail. The second slide rail assembly includes a third rail and a fourth rail movable relative to the third rail. The carried object is mounted between the first slide rail assembly and the second slide rail assembly. The first cable management device is configured to arrange a front cable section of the carried object. The first cable management device includes a first cross bar and a second cross bar movably connected to the first cross bar. The first cross bar is detachably mounted to the rear end of the second rail through a first connecting member, and the second cross bar is detachably mounted to the rear end of the fourth rail through a second connecting member. The second cable management device is configured to arrange a rear cable section of the carried object. Both the first connecting member and the second connecting member are between the carried object and the second cable management device. 
     According to another embodiment, the first slide rail assembly further comprises a first middle rail movably connecting the first rail and the second rail, so as to extend a movement range of the second rail relative to the first rail, the second slide rail assembly further comprises a second middle rail movably connecting the third rail and the fourth rail, so as to extend a movement range of the fourth rail relative to the third rail. 
     According to another embodiment, the second cable management device includes at least one support bar. The at least one support bar is configured to support one of the first cable management arm and the second cable management arm. One of two ends of the at least one support bar is mounted to the first middle rail of the first slide rail assembly. The other one of the two ends of the at least one support bar is mounted to one of a channel of the third rail of the second slide rail assembly or the second middle rail of the second slide rail assembly, or pivotally connected to the third rail of the second slide rail assembly. 
     According to another embodiment, the at least one support bar further comprises a first support bar and a second support bar movably connected to the to the first support bar. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, a cable management kit is disclosed and includes a first cable management device and a second cable management device. The first cable management device includes a first cross bar and a second cross bar movably connected to the first cross bar. The second cable management device includes a first cable management arm, a second cable management arm and at least one support bar, wherein the second cable management arm is pivotally connected to the first cable management arm, and the at least one support bar is configured to support one of the first cable management arm and the second cable management arm. The first cable management device is separate from the second cable management device, and the first cable management device, the first cable management device and the second cable management device are arranged in an order of the first cable management device, the first cable management device and the second cable management device are arranged. 
     These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded schematic diagram illustrating a support assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram illustrating the support assembly implemented on a rack system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram illustrating the support assembly implemented on the rack system, and the support assembly being at a first predetermined status according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram illustrating the support assembly implemented on the rack system, and the support assembly being at a second predetermined status according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram illustrating the support assembly implemented on the rack system, and a cable management device of the support assembly being adjusted to a first length according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram illustrating the support assembly implemented on the rack system, and the cable management device of the support assembly being adjusted to a second length according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram illustrating the support assembly implemented on the rack system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram illustrating the support assembly implemented on the rack system, and another cable management device of the support assembly being at a first status according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic diagram illustrating the support assembly implemented on the rack system, and the another cable management device of the support assembly being at a second status according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a support assembly  20  of the first embodiment of the present invention comprises a first slide rail assembly  22 , a second slide rail assembly  24 , a first cable management device  26  and a second cable management device  28 , wherein the first cable management device  26  and the second cable management device  28  comprise a cable management kit. 
     The first slide rail assembly  22  comprises a first rail  30  and a second rail  32 , wherein the second rail  32  is movable in a longitudinal direction relative to the first rail  30 . Preferably, the first slide rail assembly  22  further comprises a first middle rail  34  movably connecting the first rail  30  and the second rail  32 , so as to extend a movement range of the second rail  32  relative to the first rail  30 . 
     The second slide rail assembly  24  comprises a third rail  36  and a fourth rail  38 , and the fourth rail  38  is movable in a longitudinal direction relative to the third rail  36 . Preferably, the second slide rail assembly  24  further comprises a second middle rail  40  movably connecting the third rail  36  and the fourth rail  38 , so as to extend a movement range of the fourth rail  38  relative to the third rail  36 . 
     The first cable management device  26  is mounted to the second rail  32  of the first slide rail assembly  22  and the fourth rail  38  of the second slide rail assembly  24 . Preferably, the first cable management device  26  comprises a first crossbar  42  and a second cross bar  44 , and the second cross bar  44  is movably connected to the first cross bar  42 . Preferably, the second cross bar  44  is connected to the first cross bar  42  in an extendable and retractable manner. For example, one of the first cross bar  42  and the second cross bar  44  has a channel for mounting the other one of the first cross bar  42  and the second cross bar  44 , so that the first cross bar  42  and the second cross bar  44  can extend or retract relative to each other. Wherein, the first cross bar  42  is detachably mounted to the second rail  32  of the first slide rail assembly  22 . Preferably, the first cross bar  42  is detachably mounted to the rear end  32   a  of the second rail  32  that is close to the first slide rail assembly  22 , through a first connecting member  46  by insertion, snapping or latching, the manner of mounting in the present invention is not limited thereto. On the other hand, the second cross bar  44  is detachably mounted to the fourth rail  38  of the second slide rail assembly  24 . Preferably, the second cross bar  44  is detachably mounted to the rear end  38   a  of the fourth rail  38  that is close to the second slide rail assembly  24  through a second connecting member  48  by insertion, snapping or latching, the manner of mounting in the present invention is not limited thereto. 
     The second cable management device  28  comprises a first cable management arm  50  and a second cable management arm  52 . A cable management feature  51  is disposed on the first cable management arm  50  and the second cable management arm  52  to store or support cable (s). The aforementioned cable management feature  51  can be a containing slot or a containing box detachably disposed on the first cable management arm  50  and the second cable management arm  52 , the present invention is not limited thereto. Furthermore, the first cable management arm  50  is mounted on the first rail  30  of the first slide rail assembly  22 , and the second cable management arm  52  is mounted on the second rail  32  of the first slide rail assembly  22 . Preferably, one end E 1  of the first cable management arm  50  is pivotally connected to one end E 2  of the second cable management arm  52 . Herein, the aforementioned end E 1  of the first cable management arm  50  is pivotally connected to the end E 2  of the second cable management arm  52  through a pivoting base  54  using a shaft  53  (one of the shafts is not shown). Preferably, another end E 3  of the first cable management arm  50  is pivotally connected to a third connecting member  56 , and the end E 3  is detachably mounted to the rear end  30   a  of the first rail  30  that is close to the first slide rail assembly  22  through the third connecting member  56  by insertion, snapping or latching, the manner of mounting in the present invention is not limited thereto. On the other hand, another end E 4  of the second cable management arm  52  is pivotally connected to the first connecting member  46 , and as mentioned previously, the first connecting member  46  is detachably mounted to the rear end  32   a  of the second rail  32  of the first slide rail assembly  22 . 
     Preferably, the second cable management device  28  further comprises at least one support bar  58 , the at least one support bar  58  is configured to support one of the first cable management arm  50  and the second cable management arm  52 . Supporting the bottom of the first cable management arm  50  and the bottom of the second cable management arm  52  using the at least one support bar  58  through the pivoting base  54  is illustrative of an example hereinafter. Preferably, the at least one support bar  58  comprises two ends, e.g., a first end T 1  and a second end T 2 , wherein the first end T 1  is detachably mounted to the rear end  34   a  of the first middle rail  34  that is close to the first slide rail assembly  22  through a first mounting member  60  by insertion, snapping or latching, the manner of mounting in the present invention is not limited thereto. On the other hand, the second end T 2  is arranged with a second mounting member  62 , and the second mounting member  62  is movably mounted to a channel  64  of the third rail  36  of the second slide rail assembly  24  so as to be behind the second middle rail  40 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the support assembly  20  is suitable for a rack system. The rack system comprises a rack, and the first slide rail assembly  22  is mounted to a first side S 1  of the rack. On the other hand, the second slide rail assembly  24  is mounted to a second side S 2  of the rack. Preferably, the first slide rail assembly  22  is mounted to a first post  70   a  and a second post  70   b  of the first side S 1  of the rack via a first bracket  66  and a second bracket  68 . On the other hand, the second slide rail assembly  24  is mounted to a third post  70   c  and a fourth post  70   d  of the second side S 2  of the rack via a third bracket  72  and a fourth bracket  74 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the first slide rail assembly  22  is mounted to the first side S 1  of the rack, and the second slide rail assembly  24  is mounted to the second side S 2  of the rack. Herein, a carried object  76  (such as an electronic apparatus or a chassis) is mounted between the first slide rail assembly  22  and the second slide rail assembly  24 . The two sides of the carried object  76  being mounted to the second rail  32  of the first slide rail assembly  22  and the fourth rail  38  of the second slide rail assembly  24  is illustrative of an example hereinafter, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The first cable management device  26  is positioned between the carried object  76  and the second cable management device  28 ; e.g., the carried object  76  is in front of the first cable management device  26 , and the second cable management device  28  is behind the first cable management device  26 ; wherein the first cable management device  26  is separate from the second cable management device  28 . In other words, the first cable management device  26  and the second cable management device  28  are two independent cable support devices. That is, the first cable management device  26  is configured to arrange or support a front cable section  78   a  of cables  78  coming from the carried object  76 , and the second cable management device  28  is configured to arrange or support a rear cable section  78   b  of cables coming from the carried object  76 . Furthermore, the second rail  32  and the fourth rail  38  can be retracted relative to the first rail  30  and the third rail  36  respectively, such that the carried object  76  is at a retracted position inside the rack. On the other hand, the first cable management arm  50  and the second cable management arm  52  of the second cable management device  28  are at a retracted status relative to each other. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the second rail  32  and the fourth rail  38  can move toward an opening direction D relative to the first rail  30  and the third rail  36 , respectively, such that the carried object  76  leaves the aforementioned retracted position and extend outside the rack; wherein the first cable management device  26  is led to move toward the opening direction D by the second rail  32  and the fourth rail  38 . On the other hand, as a response to the second rail  32  moving toward the opening direction D, the second cable management arm  52  of the second cable management device  28  is led to move such that the second cable management arm  52  and the first cable management arm  50  become extended relative to each other. Preferably, the at least one support bar  58  comprises a first support bar  58   a  and a second support bar  58   b . The second support bar  58   b  is movably connected (such as being connected in an extendable and retractable manner) to the first support bar  58   a . Herein, the first end T 1  is located on the second support bar  58   b . On the other hand, the second end T 2  is located on the first support bar  58   a.    
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , a rack width W between the two sides of a rack in a rack system (such as the rack width W between the first post  70   a  and the third post  70   c ) typically has a predetermined specification. In order to accommodate the aforementioned carried object  76  with a first type of width, it is sometimes necessary to use a slide rail assembly (such as the first slide rail assembly  22  or the second slide rail assembly  24 ) with a first width W 1  to accommodate said width of the carried object  76 . Here, the second cross bar  44  of the first cable management device  26  with an adjustable (via extension or retraction relative to the first cross bar  42 ) first length L 1  can be configured to adapt to or accommodate the slide rail assembly with the first width W 1 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , sometimes the carried object  76  can have a second width under different requirements. Therefore, a slide rail assembly (such as the first slide rail assembly  22  or the second slide rail assembly  24 ) with a second width W 2  (different from the aforementioned first width W 1 ) is needed to accommodate the said second width of the carried object  76 . Here, the second cross bar  44  of the first cable management device  26  with an adjustable (via extension or retraction relative to the first cross bar  42 )second length L 2  that is different from the aforementioned first length L 1  can be configured to adapt to or accommodate the slide rail assembly with the second width W 2 . 
       FIG. 7  shows a support assembly according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The substantial difference between the support assembly of the second embodiment and the support assembly  20  of the first embodiment is the following: a first end T 1  of at least one support bar  202  of a second cable management device  200  of the second embodiment is detachably mounted to the rear end  34   a  of the first middle rail  34  that is close to the first slide rail assembly  22  through a first mounting member  204  by insertion, snapping or latching; on the other hand, a second end T 2  of at least one support bar  202  is detachably mounted to the rear end  40   a  of the second middle rail  40  that is close to the second slide rail assembly  24  through a second mounting member  206  by insertion, snapping or latching. Such arrangement allows the at least one support bar  202  to move along with the first middle rail  34  and the second middle rail  40 . 
       FIGS. 8 and 9  show a support assembly according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The substantial difference between the support assembly of the third embodiment and the support assembly  20  of the first embodiment is the following: a first end T 1  of a first support bar  302   a  of at least one support bar  302  of a second cable management device  300  of the third embodiment is detachably mounted to the rear end of the first middle rail  34  that is close to the first slide rail assembly  22  through a first mounting member  304  by insertion, snapping or latching; on the other hand, a second end T 2  of a second support bar  302   b  of at least one support bar  302  is mounted to the rear end of the third rail  36  (fixed rail) that is close to the second slide rail assembly  24  through a second mounting member  306 . Preferably, the second end T 2  is pivotally connected to a mounting base  308  of a rear end of the third rail  36 . In such arrangement, a second support bar  302   b  can pivot and swing when the first middle rail  34  moves in the opening direction D relative to the first rail  30 , and a first support bar  302   a  can change from a retracted status into an extended status relative to the second support bar  302   b , so as to accommodate the extension of a first cable management arm  310  relative to a second cable management arm  312 . It is worth noting that the aforementioned first cable management device  26  is not illustrated in the third embodiment shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . 
     It can be seen from the aforementioned embodiments according to the present invention that the support assembly herein includes the following advantages: 
     1. The first cable management device  26  is mounted to the second rail  32  of the first slide rail assembly  22  and the fourth rail  38  of the second slide rail assembly  24 , and the second cable management device  28  comprises the first cable management arm  50  and the second cable management arm  52 . The first cable management arm  50  is mounted to the first rail  30  of the first slide rail assembly  22 , and the second cable management arm  52  is mounted to the second rail  32  of the first slide rail assembly  22 . 
     2. The first cable management device  26  and the second cable management device  28  are two independent cable supporting devices configured to support the different sections of cables (such as the front cable section  78   a  and the rear cable section  78   b ) behind the carried object  76 . 
     3. The length of the first cable management device  26  can be adjusted to accommodate slide rail assemblies with varying widths. 
     4. The second cable management device  28  comprises at least one support bar, the at least one support bar is configured to support one of the first cable management arm  50  and the second cable management arm  52 . 
     Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.