Patent Publication Number: US-2021161294-A1

Title: Slide Rail Assembly and Bracket Device Thereof

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a bracket device, and more particularly, to a bracket device applicable to a slide rail assembly. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Generally, a bracket device is applicable to a slide rail assembly, such that the slide rail assembly can be mounted to a post of a rack through the bracket device. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 9,930,805 B2 discloses a bracket and a foolproof device thereof. The foolproof device comprises a sliding block and a positioning member. As shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5  of the patent, when a mounting base of the bracket is rotated 180 degrees, the positioning member falls into an engagement feature of the sliding block due to gravity, such that the sliding block is not movable relative to the mounting base. When the bracket is placed at a first mounting angle relative to a post, the bracket is not interfered by the foolproof device and is able to be mounted to a rack. When the bracket is placed at a second mounting angle relative to the post, the sliding block of the foolproof device is not movable relative to the mounting base, such that the bracket is blocked by the foolproof device to be prevented from being mounted to the rack. However, the sliding block of the patent is not configured to be mounted to a mounting hole of the post. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 9,801,467 B2 discloses a bracket device including a bracket, at least one mounting member, a locking member, and a fool-proofing member. The at least one mounting member is mounted on the bracket. The locking member is movable with respect to the bracket. The fool-proofing member is located at a first position or a second position with respect to the bracket. When the bracket is at a first mounting angle, the fool-proofing member is located at the first position and is unable to block the locking member from moving with respect to the bracket. When the bracket is flipped from the first mounting angle to a second mounting angle, the fool-proofing member is displaced from the first position to the second position and ends up blocking the moving path of the locking member with respect to the bracket. However, in this patent, a foolproof function cannot be achieved without the locking member. 
     Therefore, for different market requirements, it is important to develop various products with a foolproof function. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a bracket device of a slide rail assembly with a foolproof function. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, a bracket device comprises a longitudinal wall and a mounting member. The mounting member is movable relative to the longitudinal wall along a height direction of the longitudinal wall to be located at one of a first position and a second position. When the bracket device is rotated a predetermined angle to be switched from a first state to a second state, the mounting member is configured to be moved from the first position to the second position. 
     Preferably, the predetermined angle is substantially 180 degrees. 
     Preferably, when the bracket device is in the first state, the mounting member is located at the first position and is configured to be mounted to a post. 
     Preferably, when the bracket device is in the second state, the mounting member is located at the second position and is prevented from being mounted to the post. 
     Preferably, the bracket device further comprises a connecting member fixed relative to the longitudinal wall. When the bracket device is in the first state, the mounting member is located at the first position and configured to be mounted to a first mounting hole of the post, and the connecting member is configured to be mounted to a second mounting hole of the post. 
     Preferably, the bracket device further comprises an extension wall connected to the longitudinal wall. The mounting member is movable relative to the longitudinal wall along the height direction through the extension wall. 
     Preferably, the extension wall is substantially perpendicularly connected to the longitudinal wall. The extension wall comprises a first part and a second part. A path is defined between the first part and the second part, and the path is arranged along the height direction. 
     Preferably, the path is an elongated hole. 
     Preferably, the mounting member is configured to pass through a portion of the elongated hole. The mounting member comprises a first feature and a second feature respectively located at a front side and a rear side of the extension wall. 
     Preferably, the height direction is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the longitudinal wall. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, a slide rail assembly comprises a rail member. The rail member has a first end part, a second end part and a longitudinal body arranged between the first end part and the second end part. The rail member is arranged with a first bracket device and a second bracket device respectively adjacent to the first end part and the second end part. The first bracket device comprises a longitudinal wall and a mounting member. The mounting member is movable relative to the longitudinal wall along a height direction of the longitudinal wall to be located at one of a first position and a second position. 
     Preferably, when the mounting member of the first bracket device is located at the first position, the mounting member of the first bracket device is configured to be mounted to a first post of a rack, and the second bracket device is configured to be mounted to a second post of the rack. 
     Preferably, when the mounting member of the first bracket device is located at the second position, the mounting member of the first bracket device is prevented from being mounted to the first post. 
     Preferably, the first bracket device further comprises an extension wall connected to the longitudinal wall, and the mounting member is movable relative to the longitudinal wall along the height direction through the extension wall. 
     Preferably, the extension wall of the first bracket device is substantially perpendicularly connected to the longitudinal wall. 
     Preferably, the extension wall comprises a first part and a second part. A path is defined between the first part and the second part, and the path is arranged along the height direction. 
     Preferably, the path is an elongated hole. 
     Preferably, the mounting member is configured to pass through a portion of the elongated hole, and the mounting member comprises a first feature and a second feature respectively located at a front side and a rear side of the extension wall. 
     Preferably, a middle part is arranged between the first feature and the second feature, and the middle part is located a corresponding position between the first part and the second part. 
     Preferably, the slide assembly comprises a movable rail longitudinally movable relative the rail member. 
     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 a diagram showing a slide rail assembly being in a first state according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the slide rail assembly and a first bracket device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of a mounting member of the first bracket device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram showing the slide rail assembly being in a second state according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram showing the slide rail assembly in the first state being configured to be mounted to a rack according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram showing the slide rail assembly in the first state before being mounted to a post of the rack according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram showing the slide rail assembly in the first state after being mounted to the post of the rack according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram showing the slide rail assembly in the second state and unable to be mounted to the post of the rack according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram showing the slide rail assembly in the second state being prevented from being mounted to the post of the rack according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , a slide rail assembly  20  comprises a rail member  22  according to an embodiment of the present invention. Preferably, the slide rail assembly  20  further comprises a movable rail  23  retractably connected to the rail member  22  and longitudinally movable relative to the rail member  22 . The rail member  22  has a first end part  24   a , a second end part  24   b  and a longitudinal body  26  arranged between the first end part  24   a  and the second end part  24   b . The rail member  22  is arranged with a first bracket device  28  adjacent to the first end part  24   a , and a second bracket device  30  adjacent to the second end part  24   b.    
     Preferably, the rail member  22  is arranged with a reinforcing member  34  configured to enhance structural strength of the rail member  22 , and the second bracket device  30  is connected to the rail member  22  and adjacent to the reinforcing member  34 . On the other hand, the first bracket device  28  is connected to the rail member  22 . The first bracket device  28  comprises a longitudinal wall  36  and a mounting member  38 . The longitudinal wall  36  is configured to be connected to the rail member  22  through fixing features  39 . In addition, the first bracket device  28  further comprises an extension wall  40  connected to the longitudinal wall  36 . In the present embodiment, the extension wall  40  is substantially perpendicularly connected to the longitudinal wall  36 , but the present invention is not limited thereto. 
     The mounting member  38  is movable relative to the longitudinal wall  36  along a height direction H of the longitudinal wall  36 . The height direction H is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction L of the longitudinal wall  36  (or a longitudinal direction of the rail member  22 ). 
     Preferably, the mounting member  38  is movable relative to the longitudinal wall  36  along the height direction H through the extension wall  40 . Moreover, the extension wall  40  comprises a first part  42  and a second part  44 . A path  46  is defined between the first part  42  and the second part  44 , and the path  46  is arranged along the height direction H. In the present embodiment, the path  46  is an elongated hole, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The mounting member  38  is configured to pass through a portion of the elongated hole. The mounting member  38  comprises a first feature  48  and a second feature  50  (please also refer to  FIG. 3 ) respectively located at a front side and a rear side of the extension wall  40 . Both transverse dimensions of the first feature  48  and the second feature  50  of the mounting member  38  are greater than a transverse dimension of the path  46  of the extension wall  40 , in order to prevent the mounting member  38  from being moved relative to the extension wall  40  along the longitudinal direction L (such as forward or backward). 
     Preferably, the mounting member  38  has an extension section  52  extended from the second feature  50 , and the extension section  52  has a mounting structure  54  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ). The mounting structure  54  can be a groove, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The first feature  48  can be a fastening ring, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The fastening ring is configured to engage with the mounting structure  54 . A middle part  56  is located between the first feature  48  and the second feature  50 . The middle part  56  of the mounting member  38  passes through a portion of the path  46  (such as the elongated hole) of the extension wall  40  to be located a corresponding position between the first part  42  and the second part  44 . 
     Preferably, the first bracket device  28  further comprises at least one connecting member  58  fixed relative to the longitudinal wall  36 . In the present embodiment, the extension wall  40  of the first bracket device  28  is arranged with a plurality of connecting members  58 , and the plurality of the connecting members  58  and the mounting member  38  are arranged on the extension wall  40  along the height direction H. On the other hand, the second bracket device  30  comprises at least one connecting feature  60 . In the present embodiment, the second bracket device  30  comprises a plurality of connecting features  60 , and the plurality of connecting features  60  are arranged on the second bracket device  30  along the height direction H. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 4 , when the slide rail assembly  20  (the first bracket device  28 ) is rotated a predetermined angle R to be switched from a first state (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) to a second state (as shown in  FIG. 4 ), the mounting member  38  is configured to be moved from a first position P 1  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) to a second position P 2  (as shown in  FIG. 4 ). For example, the mounting member  38  can be moved from the first position P 1  to the second position P 2  by gravity. Preferably, the predetermined angle R is substantially 180 degrees. (That is, the slide rail assembly  20  in the first state shown in  FIG. 1  is flipped upside-down to become the slide rail assembly  20  in the second state shown in  FIG. 4 .) 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the slide rail assembly  20  is applicable to a first post  62  and a second post  64  of a rack. The first post  62  has a plurality of mounting holes  66  arranged along the height direction H. Similarly, the second post  64  has a plurality of connecting holes  68  arranged along the height direction H. Preferably, the rack can be a cabinet complying with a specification defined by the Electronic Industries Association (EIA) or the Open Compute Project (OCP). Furthermore, when the slide rail assembly  20  (or the first bracket device  28 ) is in the first state, the mounting member  38  of the first bracket device  28  is located at the first position P 1  and configured to be mounted to one of the mounting holes  66  of the first post  62 , and the connecting member  58  of the first bracket device  28  is configured to be mounted to another mounting hole  66  of the first post  62 . On the other hand, the connecting feature  60  of the second bracket device  30  is configured to be mounted to the connecting hole  68  of the second post  64 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the cabinet can comply with the specification defined by the Electronic Industries Association (EIA) or the Open Compute Project (OCP). In the present embodiment, the cabinet complies with the specification defined by EIA. Each three mounting holes among the plurality of mounting holes of the first post  62  are defined as a rack unit, that is,  1 U. (Two rack units are called  2 U, and so on.) A first standard spacing is defined between two adjacent mounting holes in each rack unit, and a second standard spacing is defined between each two adjacent rack units. 
     For example, a first rack unit comprises a first mounting hole  66   a , a second mounting hole  66   b  and a third mounting hole  66   c  ; and a second rack unit comprises a fourth mounting hole  66   d , a fifth mounting hole  66   e  and a sixth mounting hole  66   f . The first standard spacing is defined between the first mounting hole  66   a  and the second mounting hole  66   b  (and between the second mounting hole  66   b  and the third mounting hole  66   c  ) . The second standard spacing is defined between the third mounting hole  66   c  and the fourth mounting hole  66   d.    
     As shown in  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 , when the slide rail assembly  20  (or the first bracket device  28 ) is in the first state, the mounting member  38  of the first bracket device  28  is located at the first position P 1  to be aligned with the first mounting hole  66   a  of the first post  62  for mounting into the first mounting hole  66   a , and the connecting member  58  of the first bracket device  28  is configured to be mounted to the second mounting hole  66   b  of the first post  62 . When the slide rail assembly  20  (or the first bracket device  28 ) is in the first state, the mounting member  38  is located at the first position P 1 , and the mounting member  38  can be supported by the second part  44  in the path  46  through the middle part  56  (as shown in  FIG. 6 ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 , when the slide rail assembly  20  (or the first bracket device  28 ) is in the second state, the mounting member  38  of the first bracket device  28  is located at the second position P 2  and prevented from being mounted to the first mounting hole  66   a  of the first post  62 . Specifically, when the mounting member  38  of the first bracket device  28  is located at the second position P 2 , the mounting member  38  is not aligned with the first mounting hole  66   a  of the first post  62 , and the mounting member  38  is configured to contact (such as abut against) a wall surface W of the first post  62  (that is, the mounting member  38  contacts the wall surface W on the first standard spacing between two adjacent mounting holes of the first post  62 ) to cause interference. Accordingly, a gap G (as shown in  FIG. 9 ) is formed between the first bracket device  28  (or the extension wall  40  of the first bracket device  28 ) and the first post  62  (or the wall surface W of the first post  62 ), such that the mounting member  38  cannot be mounted to the first mounting hole  66   a  of the first post  62 . On the other hand, since the mounting member  38  contacts the wall surface W of the first post  62  to cause the interference, the connecting member  58  of the first bracket device  28  cannot be mounted to the second mounting hole  66   b  of the first post  62 . When the slide rail assembly  20  (or the first bracket device  28 ) is in the second state, the mounting member  38  is located at the second position P 2 , and the mounting member  38  is supported by the first part  42  in the path  46  through the middle part  56  (as shown in  FIG. 8 ). 
     In other words, for the specification of EIA or OCP, a plurality of holes specified by the EIA or OCP can only allow the plurality of connecting members arranged at predetermined intervals to insert therein. Once the interval between each two adjacent connecting members does not match the spacing between two adjacent holes specified by EIA or OCP, the plurality of connecting members on the bracket cannot be mounted to the holes specified by EIC or OCP. 
     Therefore, the first bracket device  28  of the slide rail assembly  20  according to the embodiments of the present invention is characterized in that: 
     1. The first bracket device  28  can provide a foolproof function by using the movement of the mounting member  38  along the height direction H. In contrast to the prior art, the first bracket device  28  according to the embodiments of the present invention has a simpler structure for a foolproof mechanism. In addition to foolproof function, the mounting member  38  also provides mounting and supporting functions. 
     2. The mounting member  38  of the first bracket device  28  is configured to be located at the first position P 1  or the second position P 2 . When the mounting member  38  is located at the first position P 1 , the mounting member  38  is configured to be mounted to the mounting hole  66  of the first post  62 ; or when the mounting member  38  is located at the second position P 2 , the mounting member  38  is prevented from being mounted to the mount hole  66  of the first post  62 . 
     3. When the slide rail assembly  20  (or the first bracket device  28 ) is in the second state, the mounting member  38  of the first bracket device  28  is located at the second position P 2  and configured to contact the wall surface W of the first post  62  to cause interference. Accordingly, the mounting member  38  of the first bracket device  28  cannot be mounted to the mounting hole  66  of the first post  62 , such that the first bracket device  28  can provide a foolproof effect. According to such arrangement, the slide rail assembly  20  (or the first bracket device  28 ) can be prevented from being mounted to the rack having posts at left and right sides incorrectly. 
     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.