Patent Publication Number: US-2023157451-A1

Title: Telescoping slide system with a toolless release feature

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/282,383 filed Nov. 23, 2021, which is expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates to telescoping slide systems for moving equipment between a fully retracted position and an extended position, and particularly to a slide assembly having at least three slide members and lock mechanisms for locking the slide members in various retracted and extended positions. More particularly, the present invention relates to a telescoping slide assembly that contains mechanisms for controlling unlocking of the slide members during telescoping movement of the slide members between extended and retracted positions. 
     A conventional telescoping slide assembly typically includes a stationary slide member, a load-carrying slide member, and an intermediate slide member. The intermediate slide member is positioned and configured to move the load-carrying slide member toward and away from the stationary slide member. Typically, a pair of telescoping slide assemblies are positioned in side-by-side spaced-apart parallel relation so that either a load-carrying platform or one or more pieces of equipment can be carried on the two side-by-side load-carrying slide members. It is also common to use a pair of telescoping slide assemblies to support a cabinet drawer between a retracted position inside the cabinet and an extended position outside the cabinet. 
     The stationary slide member is typically mounted to a fixed frame to anchor the slide assembly. The frame could be a cabinet, a truck bed, or any other suitable platform. For example, it is known to use telescoping slide assemblies to slide heavy pieces of equipment into and out of a truck bed. 
     Various kinds of equipment or loads can be anchored to the movable load-carrying slide members so that such loads can be moved easily relative to the truck bed or the like during telescoping extension and retraction of the intermediate and load-carrying slide members in each slide assembly relative to the stationary slide members that are anchored to the truck bed. Typically, a telescoping slide assembly is extended and retracted manually by an operator and thus must be capable of moving heavy loads easily and quickly under the control of an operator during loading of equipment onto the truck and unloading of equipment from the truck. 
     Locking interconnections between each of the three slide members may be provided to prevent extension or retraction of the slide members relative to each other. This allows a drawer or equipment rack mounted on a pair of telescoping slide assemblies to be extended outward in the extending direction and locked to maintain a desired extended position. 
     Typically, as the telescoping slide assemblies extend to move the equipment or load from the retracted position, the slide members lock automatically in an extended position to maintain the telescoping slide system in the extended position. An operator initiates the extension process by actuating a release mechanism to allow the slide members to extend relative to one another. When the intermediate slide member reaches its fully extended position, the load-carrying slide member automatically locks to the intermediate slide member and thereby stops the slide assembly in the extended position. 
     In some instances, the equipment may need to be separated from the fixed frame to be moved to another location. In many applications, an operator manually detaches the equipment using tools to remove fasteners coupling the equipment to the load-carrying slide members. In other applications, the load-carrying slide members may be coupled to the intermediate slide members to prevent the load-carrying slide member from moving out of a channel formed in the intermediate slide members. Similarly, an operator has to manually detach the load-carrying slide members from the intermediate slide members using tools to remove fasteners coupling the load-carrying slide members to the intermediate slide members. The manual removal of the fasteners makes separating the equipment from the fixed frame difficult. 
     SUMMARY 
     A telescoping slide system in accordance with the present disclosure includes a left-side telescoping slide assembly and a right-telescoping slide assembly. Both telescoping slide assemblies include interconnected slide members moveable to extend and retract among a RETRACTED-STORAGE stage, an EXTENDED-SERVICE stage, a PRE-REMOVAL stage, and a REMOVAL stage. 
     In illustrative embodiments, the telescoping slide system further includes a toolless release feature coupled to the left-side and the right-side telescoping slide assemblies for controlling movement of the telescoping slide assemblies between the RETRACTED-STORAGE, EXTENDED-SERVICE, PRE-REMOVAL, and REMOVAL stages. The toolless release feature enables a technician to remove a piece of equipment mounted to load-carrying slide members of each telescoping slide assembly from a storage rack without the use of any tools 
     In illustrative embodiments, both the left-side and the right-side telescoping slide assemblies include a stationary slide member, an intermediate slide member, and a load-carrying slide member. The intermediate slide member moves relative to the stationary slide member in a channel formed in the stationary slide member. The load-carrying slide member that moves relative to the stationary slide member and the intermediate slide member in a channel formed in the intermediate slide member. 
     In illustrative embodiments, the toolless release feature includes a left-side locking lever and a right-side locking lever. The left-side locking lever is pivotably coupled to the load-carrying slide member of the left-side telescoping assembly, while the right-side locking lever pivotably is coupled to the load-carrying slide member of the right-side telescoping slide assembly. The left-side locking lever and the right-side locking lever are each configured to pivot selectively relative to the corresponding load-carrying slide member to lock or release the load-carrying members between the RETRACTED-STORAGE stage, the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage, PRE-REMOVAL stage, and the REMOVAL stage. 
     Additional features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art in response to consideration of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the disclosure as presently perceived. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which: 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a telescoping slide system in accordance with the present disclosure comprising left-side and right-side telescoping slide assemblies movable to extend and retract among a RETRACTED-STORAGE stage as shown in  FIG.  6   , an EXTENDED-SERVICE stage as shown in  FIG.  7   , a PRE-REMOVAL stage as shown in  FIG.  8   , and a REMOVAL stage as shown in  FIG.  9    and further showing a toolless release feature for controlling movement of the telescoping slide assemblies between the RETRACTED-STORAGE, EXTENDED-SERVICE, PRE-REMOVAL, and REMOVAL stages to enable a technician to remove a piece of equipment mounted to load-carrying slide members of each telescoping slide assembly from a storage rack without the use of any tools; 
         FIG.  1 A  is an enlarged perspective view of the telescoping slide system of  FIG.  1    showing the toolless release feature includes a left-side locking lever pivotably coupled to the load-carrying slide member of the left-side telescoping assembly and a right-side locking lever pivotably coupled to the load-carrying slide member of the right-side telescoping slide assembly, and showing how the left-side locking lever and the right-side locking lever are each configured to pivot selectively relative to the corresponding load-carrying slide member to lock or release the load-carrying members between the RETRACTED-STORAGE stage, the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage, PRE-REMOVAL stage, and the REMOVAL stage; 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective view of the telescoping slide system of  FIG.  1    showing the telescoping slide system has moved from the RETRACTED-STORAGE stage to the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage by changing the left-side locking lever of the toolless release feature from a STORAGE-ENGAGED position as shown in  FIG.  6 L  to a SERVICE-ENGAGED position as shown in  FIG.  7 L  so that the piece of equipment is moved out of the storage rack and the intermediate and load-carrying members of each telescoping slide assembly are blocked from movement relative to the stationary slide members coupled to the storage rack to allow the technician to safely access the piece of equipment; 
         FIG.  3    is a perspective view similar to  FIG.  2    showing the telescoping slide system has moved from the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage to a PRE-REMOVAL stage in an attempt to begin removing the piece of equipment from the storage rack, and showing the telescoping slide system has moved from the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage to the PRE-REMOVAL stage by changing the left-side locking lever of the toolless release feature from the SERVICE-ENGAGED position to a PRE-REMOVAL-RELEASED position as shown in  FIG.  8 L  to allow the telescoping slide system to move toward the REMOVAL stage which causes the right-side locking lever of the toolless release feature to change from a SERVICE-UNRESTRICTED position as shown in  FIG.  7 R  to a PRE-REMOVAL-ENGAGED position as shown in  FIG.  8 R  to block immediate removal of the load-carrying members of each telescoping slide assembly from the intermediate and stationary slide members, thereby preventing any accidental removal of the equipment from the storage rack; 
         FIG.  4    is a perspective view similar to  FIG.  3    showing the telescoping slide system has moved from the PRE-REMOVAL stage to a REMOVAL stage to finish removing the piece of equipment from the storage rack, and showing the telescoping slide system has moved from the PRE-REMOVAL stage to the REMOVAL stage by changing the right-side locking lever of the toolless release feature from the PRE-REMOVAL-ENGAGED position to the RELEASED position as shown in  FIG.  9 R  so that the load-carrying members of each telescoping slide assembly are removed from the intermediate and stationary slide members, thereby allowing the piece of equipment to be fully separated from the storage rack; 
         FIG.  5    is an exploded view of the telescoping slide system of  FIG.  1    showing the left-side locking lever of the toolless release feature is configured to be coupled to the load-carrying slide member of the left-side telescoping slide assembly and the right-side locking lever of the toolless release feature is configured to be coupled to the load-carrying slide member of the right-side telescoping slide assembly, and showing the stationary and intermediate carriers include locking apertures that are configured to be engaged by the left and right-side locking levers at each of the corresponding stages; 
         FIG.  6    is a perspective view of the telescoping slide system of  FIG.  1    showing the telescoping slide system in the RETRACTED-STORAGE stage with portions of the storage rack and the telescoping slide assemblies broken away to show the left-side locking lever of the toolless release feature in the STORAGE-ENGAGED position and the right-side locking lever of the toolless release feature in the STORAGE-UNRESTRICTED position; 
         FIG.  6 L  is a detail view of  FIG.  6    showing the left-side locking lever of the toolless release feature in the STORAGE-ENGAGED position in which a locker head formed on the left-side locking lever extends into a first set of locking apertures formed in the intermediate and stationary slide members on the left-side telescoping slide assembly, thereby locking the telescoping slide system in the RETRACTED-STORAGE stage; 
         FIG.  6 R  is a detail view of  FIG.  6    showing the right-side locking lever of the toolless release feature in the STORAGE-UNRESTRICTED position in which a locker head formed on the right-side locking lever abuts an inner surface of the stationary slide member and does not block the load-carrying and intermediate slide members of the right-telescoping slide assembly from moving relative to the stationary slide member so that when the left-side locking lever is released the telescoping slide system is free to move between the RETRACTED-STORAGE stage and the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage; 
         FIG.  7    is a perspective view similar to  FIG.  6    showing the telescoping slide system in the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage with portions of the telescoping slide assemblies broken away to show the left-side locking lever of the toolless release feature in the SERVICE-ENGAGED position and the right-side locking lever of the toolless release feature in the SERVICE-UNRESTRICTED position; 
         FIG.  7 L  is a detail view of  FIG.  7    showing the left-side locking lever of the toolless release feature in the SERVICE-ENGAGED position in which the locker head of the left-side locking lever extends into a second set of locking apertures formed in the intermediate slide member of the left-side telescoping slide assembly, thereby locking the telescoping slide system in the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage; 
         FIG.  7 R  is a detail view of  FIG.  7    showing the right-side locking lever of the toolless release feature in the SERVICE-UNRESTRICTED position in which the locker head of the right-side locking lever remains free so that the right-side locking lever does not block the load-carrying and intermediate slide members of the right-side telescoping slide assembly from moving relative to the stationary slide member; 
         FIG.  8    is a perspective view similar to  FIG.  7    showing the telescoping slide system in the PRE-REMOVAL stage with portions of the telescoping slide assemblies broken away to show the left-side locking lever of the toolless release feature in the PRE-REMOVAL-RELEASED position and the right-side locking lever of the toolless release feature in the PRE-REMOVAL-ENGAGED position; 
         FIG.  8 L  is a detail view of  FIG.  8    showing the left-side locking lever of the toolless release feature in the PRE-REMOVAL-RELEASED position in which the locker head of the left-side locking lever is spaced apart from the second set of locking apertures formed in the intermediate slide member of the left-side telescoping slide assembly, thereby allowing the telescoping slide system to be moved to the PRE-REMOVAL stage; 
         FIG.  8 R  is a detail view of  FIG.  8    showing the right-side locking lever of the toolless release feature in the PRE-REMOVAL-ENGAGED position in which the locker head of the right-side locking lever extends into a locking aperture formed in the intermediate slide member on the right-side telescoping slide assembly, thereby locking the telescoping slide system in the PRE-REMOVAL stage before the piece of equipment is fully removed from the storage rack to prevent any accidental removal of the equipment from the storage rack; 
         FIG.  9    is a perspective view similar to  FIG.  9    showing the telescoping slide system in the REMOVAL stage in which the piece of equipment has been fully removed and is spaced apart from the storage rack, and showing both the left-side locking lever and the right-side locking lever of the toolless release feature are in the REMOVAL positions in the REMOVAL stage so that the load-carrying slide members are free to be removed from the respective telescoping slide assemblies; 
         FIG.  9 L  is a detail view of  FIG.  9    showing the left-side locking lever of the toolless release feature in the REMOVAL position in which the locker head of the left-side locking lever does not engage either of the intermediate or stationary slide members of the left-side telescoping slide assembly; 
         FIG.  9 R  is a detail view of  FIG.  9    showing the right-side locking lever of the toolless release feature in the REMOVAL position in which the locker head of the right-side locking lever does not engage either of the intermediate or stationary slide members of the right-side telescoping slide assembly; 
         FIG.  10    is a section view of the telescoping slide system in the RETRACTED-STORAGE stage showing the left-side locking lever of the toolless release feature includes an elongated release handle pivotably coupled to the load-carrying slide member of the left-side telescoping slide assembly and the locker head which has locking lugs that cooperate to lock the telescoping slide system in the RETRACTED-STORAGE stage, and further showing the handle is configured to be engaged with a first downward pivot force to pivot the left-side locking lever between the STORAGE-ENGAGED position and an INTERMEDIATE-RELEASED position so that the telescoping slide system may be moved from the RETRACTED-STORAGE stage to the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage; 
         FIG.  10 A  is a detail view of  FIG.  10    showing the locking lugs formed on the locker head of the left-side locking lever extend into corresponding locking apertures included in the first set of locking apertures to block movement of the telescoping slide assembly when the telescoping slide assembly is in the RETRACTED-STORAGE stage; 
         FIG.  11    is a section view similar to  FIG.  10    showing the first downward pivot force has been applied to the handle of the left-side locking lever to cause the left-side locking lever to pivot in a counterclockwise direction to the INTERMEDIATE-RELEASED position so that the load-carrying and intermediate slide members of each slide assembly are free to move to the left relative to the stationary slide member toward the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage; 
         FIG.  11 A  is a detail view of  FIG.  11    showing the locking lugs formed on the locker head of the left-side locking lever are spaced apart from the corresponding locking apertures included in the first set of locking apertures after the first downward pivot force has been applied to the left-side locking lever to allow the load-carrying and intermediate slide members of each slide assembly to move relative to the stationary slide member; 
         FIG.  12    is a section view similar to  FIG.  11    showing one of the locking lugs formed on the locker head of the left-side locking lever of the toolless release feature is shaped to include a lifting ramp that is configured to block the left-side locking lever of the toolless release feature from engaging a locking aperture included in the second set of locking apertures formed in the intermediate slide member, thereby preventing establishment of a locked connection at a partly extended stage during movement of the telescoping slide assembly from the RETRACTED-STORAGE stage to the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage; 
         FIG.  13    is a section view similar to  FIG.  12    showing the left-side locking lever has moved to the SERVICE-ENGAGED position in which the locker head of the left-side locking lever of the toolless release feature extends into the second set of locking apertures formed in the intermediate slide member on the left-side telescoping slide assembly, thereby locking the telescoping slide system in the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage and preventing the load-carrying members of each slide assembly from moving relative to the intermediate slide members back to the RETRACTED-STORAGE stage and/or from being removed from the respective slide assemblies; 
         FIG.  14    is a section view similar to  FIG.  13    showing the release handle of the left-side locking lever of the toolless release feature is configured to be engaged with a second downward pivot force to pivot the left-side locking lever of the toolless release feature between the SERVICE-ENGAGED position and the INTERMEDIATE-RELEASED position so that the telescoping slide assembly may be moved from the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage to either the RETRACTED-STORAGE stage to move the piece of equipment back into the storage rack or the PRE-REMOVAL stage to begin removing the piece of equipment from the storage rack; 
         FIG.  14 A  is a detail view of  FIG.  14    showing the locking lugs formed on the locker head of the left-side locking lever of the toolless release feature extend into corresponding locking apertures included in the second set of locking apertures formed in the intermediate slide member of the left-side slide assembly to block movement of the telescoping slide system when the telescoping slide system is in the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage; 
         FIG.  15    is a section view similar to  FIG.  14    showing the second downward pivot force has been applied to the release handle of the left-side locking lever of the toolless release feature to cause the left-side locking lever to pivot in the counterclockwise direction to the INTERMEDIATE-RELEASED position so that the load-carrying slide members of each slide assembly are free to move to the left relative to the corresponding intermediate slide members toward the PRE-REMOVAL stage; 
         FIG.  15 A  is a detail view of  FIG.  15    showing the locking lugs formed on the locker head of the left-side locking lever of the toolless release feature are spaced apart from the corresponding locking apertures included in the second set of locking apertures after the second downward pivot force has been applied to the left-side locking lever; 
         FIG.  16    is a section view of the telescoping slide assembly in the extended service storage stage showing the right-side locking lever of the toolless release feature in the SERVICE-UNRESTRICTED position, and further showing the right-side locking lever of the toolless release feature includes a release handle pivotably coupled to the load-carrying slide member of the right-side telescoping slide assembly and a locker head that has a hook configured to engage the intermediate slide member of the right-side telescoping slide assembly to lock the telescoping slide system in the PRE-REMOVAL stage; 
         FIG.  17    is a view similar to  FIG.  16    showing the telescoping slide assembly has moved from the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage to the PRE-REMOVAL stage to cause the right-side locking lever of the toolless release feature to pivot in a clock-wise direction so that the hook formed on the locker head of the right-side telescoping slide assembly extends into a locking aperture formed in the intermediate slide member on the right-side telescoping slide assembly, thereby locking the telescoping slide system in the PRE-REMOVAL stage; 
         FIG.  18    is a view similar to  FIG.  17    showing the release handle of the right-side locking lever of the toolless release feature is configured to be engaged with a third downward pivot force to pivot the right-side locking lever of the toolless release feature between the PRE-REMOVAL-ENGAGED position and an INTERMEDIATE-RELEASED position so that the telescoping slide system may be moved from the PRE-REMOVAL stage to the REMOVAL stage, and further showing the locker head of the right-side locking lever further includes a lift ramp that is configured to pivot the right-side locking lever out of the locking aperture formed in the intermediate slide member on the right-side telescoping slide assembly when the telescoping slide system is moved from the PRE-REMOVAL stage back to the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage; 
         FIG.  19    is a view similar to  FIG.  18    showing the third downward pivot force has been applied to the right-side locking lever of the toolless release feature to cause the right-side locking lever to pivot in a counterclockwise direction to the INTERMEDIATE-RELEASED position so that the load-carrying slide members of each slide assembly are free to move to the left relative to the corresponding intermediate slide members toward the REMOVAL stage; 
         FIG.  20    is a section view of the telescoping slide system in the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage showing the telescoping slide system further includes an intermediate locking and unlocking mechanism coupled to the left-side telescoping slide assembly, and further showing the intermediate locking and unlocking mechanism includes a latch blade that is pivotably mounted on the intermediate slide member of the left-side telescoping slide assembly and arranged to extend through an aperture formed in the intermediate slide member to engage a lip formed in the stationary slide member of the left-side telescoping slide assembly to lock the intermediate slide member in a fully extended position relative to the stationary slide member as the telescoping slide system moves from the RETRACTED-STORAGE stage to the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage; 
         FIG.  21    is a sectional view similar to  FIG.  20    showing the mechanism of  FIG.  20    in an UNLOCKED position in which a forwardly-facing camming edge formed on the load-carrying slide member of the left-side telescoping slide assembly engages a forwardly-facing ramping surface formed on the latch blade to lift and pivot the latch blade upwardly away from the stationary slide member of the left-side telescoping slide assembly to disengage the latch blade from the lip in the stationary slide member, thereby allowing the intermediate slide member of the left-side telescoping slide assembly to move with the load-carrying slide member of the left-side telescoping slide assembly to the right relative to the stationary slide member toward the RETRACTED-STORAGE stage; and 
         FIG.  22    is an end view of the left-side and right-side telescoping slide assemblies of the telescoping slide system showing each stationary slide member is mounted to the storage rack, each load-carrying slide member supports a portion of the equipment, and the each intermediate slide member is located therebetween, and further showing the load-carrying slide members are each supported for sliding movement in the corresponding intermediate slide member by rollers coupled to the intermediate slide member and the intermediate slide member is supported for sliding movement in the stationary slide member by rollers attached to the stationary slide member. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A telescoping slide system  10  illustrated in  FIG.  1    includes a left-side telescoping slide assembly  12 , a right-side telescoping slide assembly  14 , and a toolless release feature  16 . The left-side and right-side telescoping slide assemblies  12 ,  14  are movable to extend and retract among a RETRACTED-STORAGE stage as shown in  FIG.  6   , an EXTENDED-SERVICE stage as shown in  FIG.  7   , a PRE-REMOVAL stage as shown in  FIG.  8   , and a REMOVAL stage as shown in  FIG.  9   . The toolless release feature  16  controls movement of the telescoping slide assemblies  12 ,  14  between the RETRACED-STORAGE, EXTENDED-SERVICE, PRE-REMOVAL, and REMOVAL stages to enable a technician to remove a piece of equipment  18  mounted to load-carrying slide members of each telescoping slide assembly  12 ,  14  from a storage rack  11  without the use of any tools. 
     Each of the telescoping slide assemblies  12 ,  14  includes interconnected slide members moveable to extend and retract among the RETRACTED-STORAGE stage, the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage, the PRE-REMOVAL stage, and the REMOVAL stage. The slide members of each assembly  12 ,  14  include a stationary slide member  20 ,  22 , an intermediate slide member  24 ,  26 , and a load-carrying slide member  28 ,  30  as shown in  FIG.  5   . The intermediate slide member  24 ,  26  is configured to move relative to the corresponding stationary slide member  20 ,  22  in a channel  20 C,  22 C formed in the corresponding stationary slide member  20 ,  22 . The load-carrying slide member  28 ,  30  is configured to move relative to the corresponding stationary and intermediate slide members  20 ,  22 ,  24 ,  26  in a channel  24 C,  26 C formed in the corresponding intermediate slide member  24 ,  26 . 
     The toolless release feature  16  includes a left-side locking lever  32  and a right-side locking lever  34  as shown in  FIG.  1 A . The left-side locking lever  32  is pivotably coupled to the load-carrying slide member  28  of the left-side telescoping assembly  12 . The right-side locking lever  34  is pivotably coupled to the load-carrying slide member  30  of the right-side telescoping slide assembly  14 . The left-side locking lever  32  and the right-side locking lever  34  are each configured to pivot selectively relative to the corresponding load-carrying slide member  28 ,  30  to lock or release the load-carrying members  28 ,  30  between the RETRACTED-STORAGE stage, the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage, the PRE-REMOVAL stage, and the REMOVAL stage. 
     In the RETRACTED-STORAGE stage, the left-side locking lever  32  is in a STORAGE-ENGAGED position as suggested in  FIG.  2   , while the right-side locking lever is unrestricted. In the STORAGE-ENGAGED position, the left-side locking lever  32  blocks movement of the intermediate and load-carrying slide members  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30  of each telescoping slide assemblies  12 ,  14  relative to the stationary slide members  20 ,  22  coupled to the storage rack  11 . This prevents the piece of equipment  18  from moving out of a storage space  13  of the storage rack  11  when the piece of equipment  18  is not being accessed by the technician. 
     To access the piece of equipment  18 , the telescoping slide system  10  is moved from the RETRACTED-STORAGE stage to the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage as suggested in  FIG.  2   . The telescoping slide system  10  is moved from the RETRACTED-STORAGE stage to the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage by changing the left-side locking lever  32  of the toolless release feature  16  from the STORAGE-ENGAGED position as shown in  6 L to a SERVICE-ENGAGED position as shown in  FIG.  7 L . By moving the telescoping slide system  10  from the RETRACTED-STORAGE stage to the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage, the piece of equipment  18  is moved out of the storage space  13  of the storage rack  11 . 
     In the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage, the left-side locking lever  32  of the toolless release feature  16  is in the SERVICE-ENGAGED position as shown in  FIG.  2   . In the SERVICE-ENGAGED position, the left-side locking lever  32  blocks the intermediate and load-carrying members  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30  of each telescoping slide assembly  12 ,  14  from movement relative to the stationary slide members  20 ,  22  to allow the technician to safely access the piece of equipment  18 . 
     To begin removing the piece of equipment  18  from the storage rack  11 , the telescoping slide system  10  is moved from the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage to the PRE-REMOVAL stage as shown in  FIG.  3   . The telescoping slide system  10  is moved from the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage to the PRE-REMOVAL stage by changing the left-side locking lever  32  of the toolless release feature  16  from the SERVICE-ENGAGED position to a PRE-REMOVAL-RELEASED position as shown in  FIG.  8 L . 
     In the PRE-REMOVAL-RELEASED position, the left-side locking lever  32  of the toolless release feature  16  is released from the intermediate slide member  24  of the left-side slide assembly  12  to allow the telescoping slide system  10  to move toward the REMOVAL stage. The movement of the telescoping slide system  10  toward the REMOVAL stage causes the right-side locking lever  34  of the toolless release feature to change from a SERVICE-UNRESTRICTED position as shown in  FIG.  7 R  to a PRE-REMOVAL-ENGAGED position as shown in  FIG.  8 R . 
     In the REMOVAL-ENGAGED position, the right-side locking lever  34  blocks immediate removal of the load-carrying members  28 ,  30  of each telescoping slide assembly  12 ,  14  from the intermediate and stationary slide members  20 ,  22 ,  24 ,  26 . By blocking immediate removal of the load-carrying members  28 ,  30 , the right-side locking lever  34  prevents any accidental removal of the equipment  18  from the storage rack  11 . 
     To finish removing the piece of equipment  18  from the storage rack  11 , the telescoping slide system  10  is moved from the PRE-REMOVAL stage to the REMOVAL as shown in  FIG.  4   . The telescoping slide system  10  is moved from the PRE-REMOVAL stage to the REMOVAL stage by changing the right-side locking lever  34  of the toolless release feature  16  from the PRE-REMOVAL-ENGAGED position to a RELEASED position as shown in  FIG.  9 R . In this way, the load-carrying members  28 ,  30  of each telescoping slide assembly  12 ,  14  are removed from the intermediate and stationary slide members  20 ,  22 ,  24 ,  26 , thereby allowing the piece of equipment  18  to be fully separated from the storage rack  11 . 
     In the illustrative embodiment, the left-side locking lever  32  of the toolless release feature  16  is configured to be coupled to the load-carrying slide member  28  of the left-side telescoping slide assembly  12  and the right-side locking lever  34  of the toolless release feature  16  is configured to be coupled to the load-carrying slide member  30  of the right-side telescoping slide assembly  14  as shown in  FIG.  5   . The stationary and intermediate carriers  20 ,  22 ,  24 ,  26  include locking apertures  74 ,  76 ,  78 ,  80 ,  82  that are configured to be engaged by the left and right-side locking levers  32 ,  34  at each of the corresponding stages. 
     In  FIG.  6   , the telescoping slide system  10  is in the RETRACTED-STORAGE stage. Portions of the storage rack  11  and the telescoping slide assemblies  12 ,  14  are broken away to show the left-side locking lever  32  of the toolless release feature  16  in the STORAGE-ENGAGED position as shown in  FIG.  6 L  and the right-side locking lever  34  of the toolless release feature  16  in the STORAGE-UNRESTRICTED position as shown in  FIG.  6 R . 
     When the left-side locking lever  32  is in the STORAGE-ENGAGED position, a locker head  38  formed on the left-side locking lever  32  extends into a first set of locking apertures  74 ,  76  formed in the intermediate and stationary slide members  20 ,  24  on the left-side telescoping slide assembly  12  as shown in  FIGS.  6 L and  10   . The locker head  38  extends into the first set of locking apertures  74 ,  76  to lock the telescoping slide system in the RETRACTED-STORAGE stage. This prevents the telescoping slide system  10  from moving relative to the storage rack  11  when the technician is not accessing the telescoping slide system  10 . 
     When the right-side locking lever  34  is in the STORAGE-UNRESTRICTED position, a locker head  64  formed on the right-side locking lever  34  abuts an inner surface  26 S of the intermediate slide member  26  as shown in  FIG.  6 R . The right-side locking lever  34  does not block the load-carrying and intermediate slide members  30 ,  26  of the right-telescoping slide assembly  14  from moving relative to the stationary slide member  22  so that when the left-side locking lever  32  is released, the telescoping slide system  10  is free to move between the RETRACTED-STORAGE stage and the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage. 
     In  FIG.  7   , the telescoping slide system  10  in the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage. Portions of the telescoping slide assemblies  12 ,  14  are broken away to show the left-side locking lever  32  of the toolless release feature  16  in the SERVICE-ENGAGED position as shown in  FIG.  7 L  and the right-side locking lever  34  of the toolless release feature  16  in the SERVICE-UNRESTRICTED position as shown in  FIG.  7 R . 
     When the left-side locking lever  32  is in the SERVICE-ENGAGED position, the locker head  38  of the left-side locking lever  32  extends into a second set of locking apertures  78 ,  80  formed in the intermediate slide member  24  of the left-side telescoping slide assembly  12  as shown in  FIGS.  7 L and  13   . The locker head  38  extends into the second set of locking apertures  78 ,  80  to lock the telescoping slide system in the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage. This prevents the telescoping slide system  10  from moving relative to the storage rack  11  when the technician is accessing the telescoping slide system  10 . 
     When the right-side locking lever  34  is in the SERVICE-UNRESTRICTED position, the locker head  64  of the right-side locking lever  32  remains free as shown in  FIGS.  7 R and  16   . The locker head  64  remains free so that the right-side locking lever  14  does not block the load-carrying and intermediate slide members  30 ,  26  of the right-side telescoping slide assembly  14  from moving relative to the stationary slide member  22  when the left-side locking lever  32  is released. 
     In  FIG.  8   , the telescoping slide system  10  is in the PRE-REMOVAL stage. Portions of the telescoping slide assemblies  12 ,  14  are broken away to show the left-side locking lever  32  of the toolless release feature  16  in the PRE-REMOVAL-RELEASED position as shown in  FIG.  8 L  and the right-side locking lever  34  of the toolless release feature  16  in the PRE-REMOVAL-ENGAGED position as shown in  FIG.  8 R . 
     When the left-side locking lever  32  is in the PRE-REMOVAL-RELEASED position, the locker head  38  of the left-side locking lever  32  is spaced apart from the second set of locking apertures  78 ,  80  formed in the intermediate slide member  24  of the left-side telescoping slide assembly  12  as shown in  FIGS.  8 L and  15   . This allows the telescoping slide system  10  to be moved to the PRE-REMOVAL stage. 
     When the right-side locking lever  34  is in the PRE-REMOVAL-ENGAGED position, the locker head  64  of the right-side locking lever  34  extends into a locking aperture  82  formed in the intermediate slide member  26  on the right-side telescoping slide assembly  14  as shown in  FIGS.  8 R and  17   . The locker head  64  of the right-side locking lever  34  extends into the locking aperture  82  to lock the telescoping slide system  10  in the PRE-REMOVAL stage before the piece of equipment  18  is fully removed from the storage rack  11  to prevent any accidental removal of the equipment  18  from the storage rack  11 . 
     In  FIG.  9   , the telescoping slide system  10  is in the REMOVAL stage in which the piece of equipment  18  has been fully removed and is spaced apart from the storage rack  11 . Both the left-side locking lever  32  and the right-side locking lever  34  of the toolless release feature  16  are in the REMOVAL positions as shown in  FIGS.  9 L and  9 R  in the REMOVAL stage. With the left-side locking lever  32  and the right-side locking lever  34  in the REMOVAL positions, the load-carrying slide members  28 ,  30  are free to be removed from the respective telescoping slide assemblies  12 ,  14 . 
     When the left-side locking lever  32  of the toolless release feature  16  is in the REMOVAL position, the locker head  38  of the left-side locking lever  32  does not engage either of the intermediate or stationary slide members  24 ,  20  of the left-side telescoping slide assembly  12  as shown in  FIG.  9 L . When the right-side locking lever  34  of the toolless release feature  16  is in the REMOVAL position, the locker head  64  of the right-side locking lever  34  does not engage either of the intermediate or stationary slide members  26 ,  22  of the right-side telescoping slide assembly  14  as shown in  FIG.  9 R . 
     The left-side locking lever  32  includes an elongated release handle  36  and the locker head  38  as shown in  FIG.  10   . A rivet  40  pivotably couples the release handle  36  of the locking lever  32  to the load-carrying slide member  28 . The locking lever  32  is positioned so that a distal end portion  36 E of the handle  36  extends beyond the distal end  28 E of the load-carrying slide member  28 . 
     The locker head  38  is shaped to include locking lugs  42 ,  44  as shown in  FIGS.  10 - 15 A . The locking lugs  42 ,  44  cooperate to lock the telescoping slide system  10  in the RETRACTED-STORAGE stage as shown in  FIGS.  10  and  10 A  and the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage as shown in  FIGS.  13 ,  14 , and  14 A . 
     In the illustrative embodiment, the left-side locking lever  32  is spring loaded so that the left-side locking lever  32  is biased toward the STORAGE-ENGAGED position in the RETRACTED-STORAGE stage and the SERVICE-ENGAGED position in the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage as shown in  FIGS.  10  and  14   . A spring  48  is positioned between the load-carrying slide member  28  and the handle  36  of the locking lever  32  as shown in  FIGS.  10  and  11   . The spring  48  biases the locking lever  32  toward the ENGAGED positions. 
     When the telescoping slide system  10  is in the RETRACTED-STORAGE stage as shown in  FIG.  10 A , the first set of locking apertures  74 ,  76  formed in the stationary slide member  20  are vertically aligned with locking apertures  84 ,  86  formed in the intermediate and load-carrying slide members  24 ,  28 . The locker head  38  of the locking lever  32  is urged downwardly by the action of the spring  48  to extend the locking lugs  42 ,  44  into the locking apertures  74 ,  76 ,  84 ,  86  to engage the stationary slide member  20  to lock the telescoping slide system  10  in the RETRACTED-STORAGE stage as shown in  FIG.  10 A . The spring  48  urges the front-locking lug  42  into the locking aperture  74  and the back-locking lug  44  into the locking aperture  76  to establish the STORAGE-ENGAGED position. 
     The locking lugs  42 ,  44  are situated in spaced-apart relation to form a notch  46  therebetween in the locker head  38  of the left-side locking lever  32  as shown in  FIGS.  10 - 15 A . The notch  46  is defined by a forward vertical edge  52 , a rear angled edge  54 , and a horizontal edge  56  extending between the rear angled edge  54  and the forward vertical edge  52 . The angled edge  54  of the notch  46  meets a bottom edge  58  of the locker head  38  as shown in  FIGS.  10 A and  11 A  to form a forwardly extending rounded lip  60 . The lip  60  engages a complementary shoulder  74 S formed on the stationary slide member  20  when the locking lever  32  is in the STORAGE-ENGAGED position. 
     The back-locking lug  44  is shaped to define an inclined lifting ramp  50  as shown in  FIGS.  10 A and  11 A . The lifting ramp  50  is provided on a forward facing edge of the locking lug  44 . Lifting ramp  50  fits into the locking aperture  76  formed in the stationary slide member  20  whenever the telescoping slide system  10  is moved to the RETRACTED-STORAGE stage as shown in  FIG.  10 A . The lifting ramp  50  cooperates with vertical edge  52  to define a triangular shape of locking lug  44  that extends downwardly away from the locker head  38 . 
     To move the telescoping slide system  10  from the RETRACTED-STORAGE stage to the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage, the handle  36  is configured to be engaged with a first downward pivot force F 1  as shown in  FIGS.  10  and  11   . The first downward pivot force F 1  causes the left-side locking lever  32  to pivot between the STORAGE-ENGAGED position as shown in  FIG.  10    and an INTERMEDIATE-RELEASED position as shown in  FIG.  11   . In the INTERMEDIATE-RELEASED position, the locker head  38  of the left-side locking lever  32  is spaced apart from the locking apertures  74 ,  76 . 
     The first downward pivot force F 1  is applied to the handle  36  of the left-side locking lever  32  to overcome the bias force applied by the spring  48  to the locking lever  32  and to cause the left-side locking lever  32  to pivot in a counterclockwise direction to the INTERMEDIATE-RELEASED position as shown in  FIG.  11   . By pivoting in the counterclockwise direction, the locking lugs  42 ,  44  move out of and away from the locking apertures  74 ,  76  to disengage the locking lever  32  from the stationary slide member  20 . 
     Once the locker head  38  of locking lever  32  has been disengaged from the locking apertures  74 ,  76 , the intermediate and load-carrying slide members  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30  are free to move together relative to the stationary slide members  20 ,  22 . In the INTERMEDIATE-RELEASED position, the locking lugs  42 ,  44  formed on the locker head  38  of the left-side locking lever  32  are spaced apart from the corresponding locking apertures  74 ,  76  as shown in  FIG.  11 A . This allows the intermediate and load-carrying slide members  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30  of each slide assembly  12 ,  14  to move to the left relative to the stationary slide members  20 ,  22  toward the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage to extend the telescoping slide system  10 . 
     In  FIG.  12   , the telescoping slide system  10  is moving to the left, as suggested by the arrow A, toward the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage to extend the telescoping slide system  10 . This moves the locker head  38  of the left-side locking lever  32  toward the second set of locking apertures  78 ,  80  formed in the intermediate slide member  24 . 
     The lifting ramp  50  on the locker head  38  of the left-side locking lever  32  is configured to block the left-side locking lever  32  of the toolless release feature  16  from engaging any other holes formed in the intermediate slide member  24  as the telescoping slide system  10  moves toward the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage. For example, lifting ramp  50  is configured to block the left-side locking lever  32  of the toolless release feature  16  from engaging the locking aperture  78  the included in the second set of locking apertures  78 ,  80  as the telescoping slide system  10  moves toward the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage. The lifting ramp  50  thereby prevents establishment of a locked connection at a partly extended stage during movement of the telescoping slide assembly from the RETRACTED-STORAGE stage to the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage. 
     In  FIG.  13   , the left-side locking lever  32  has moved to the SERVICE-ENGAGED position. In the SERVICE-ENGAGED position, the locker head  38  of the left-side locking lever  32  of the toolless release feature  16  extends into the second set of locking apertures  78 ,  80  formed in the intermediate slide member  24  on the left-side telescoping slide assembly  12 . The locking lugs  42 ,  44  extend into the respective locking apertures  78 ,  80 , thereby locking the telescoping slide system  10  in the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage. With the locking lugs  42 ,  44  engaged with the intermediate slide member  24  in the respective locking apertures  78 ,  80 , the load-carrying members  28 ,  30  of each slide assembly  12 ,  14  is prevented from moving relative to the intermediate slide members  24 ,  26  back to the RETRACTED-STORAGE stage and/or from being removed from the respective slide assemblies  12 ,  14 . 
     From the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage, the telescoping slide system  10  may be moved back to the RETRACTED-STORAGE stage to move the piece of equipment  20  back into the storage rack. Alternatively, the telescoping slide system  10  may be moved to the PRE-REMOVAL stage from the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage to begin removing the piece of equipment  20  from the storage rack  11 . 
     To move the telescoping slide system  10  from the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage to one of the RETRACTED-STORAGE stage or the PRE-REMOVAL stage, the handle  36  of the left-side locking lever  32  is configured to be engaged with a second downward pivot force F 2  as shown in  FIGS.  14  and  15   . The second downward pivot force F 2  is applied to the handle  36  of the left-side locking lever  32  to overcome the bias force applied by the spring  48  to the locking lever  32  while the left-side and right-side telescoping slide assemblies are in the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage. The second downward pivot force F 2  causes the left-side locking lever  32  to pivot between the SERVICE-ENGAGED position as shown in  FIG.  14    and the INTERMEDIATE-RELEASED position as shown in  FIG.  15   . In the INTERMEDIATE-RELEASED position, the locker head  38  of the left-side locking lever  32  is spaced apart from the locking apertures  78 ,  80 . 
     With the left-side locking lever  32  in the INTERMEDIATE-RELEASED position, the intermediate and load-carrying slide members  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30  may be moved to the right back toward the RETRACTED-STORAGE stage. Alternatively, the load-carrying slide members  28 ,  30  may be moved to the left toward the PRE-REMOVAL stage once the left-side locking lever  32  is in the INTERMEDIATE-RELEASED position. 
     When the telescoping slide system  10  is in the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage as shown in  FIG.  14 A , the second set of locking apertures  78 ,  80  formed in the intermediate slide member  24  are vertically aligned with the locking aperture  86  formed in the load-carrying slide member  28 . The locker head  38  of the locking lever  32  is urged downwardly by the action of the spring  48  to extend the locking lugs  42 ,  44  into the locking apertures  78 ,  80 ,  86  to engage the intermediate slide member  24  to lock the telescoping slide system  10  in the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage as shown in  FIG.  14 A . The spring  48  urges the front-locking lug  42  into the locking aperture  78  and the back-locking lug  44  into the locking aperture  80  to establish the SERVICE-ENGAGED position to block movement of the telescoping slide system  10  when the telescoping slide system is in the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage. 
     After the second downward pivot force F 2  has been applied to the release handle  36  of the left-side locking lever  32  of the toolless release feature  16  as shown in  FIG.  15   , the left-side locking lever  32  is pivoted in the counterclockwise direction to the INTERMEDIATE-RELEASED position so that the locker head  38  is spaced apart from the locking apertures  78 ,  80  of the intermediate slide member  24 . In the INTERMEDIATE-RELEASED position, the load-carrying slide members  28 ,  30  of each slide assembly  12 ,  14  are free to move to the left relative to the corresponding intermediate slide members  24 ,  26  toward the PRE-REMOVAL stage. 
     The locking lugs  42 ,  44  formed on the locker head  38  of the left-side locking lever  32  of the toolless release feature  16  are spaced apart from the corresponding locking apertures  78 ,  80  included in the second set of locking apertures  78 ,  80  as shown in  FIG.  15 A . The locking lugs  42 ,  44  are spaced apart from the corresponding locking apertures  78 ,  80  after the second downward pivot force F 2  has been applied to the left-side locking lever  32  as shown in  FIG.  15 A . 
     The right-side locking lever  34  includes a release handle  62  and the locker head  64  as shown in  FIGS.  16 - 19   . A rivet  66  pivotably couples the release handle  62  of the locking lever  34  to the load-carrying slide member  30  of the right-side telescoping slide assembly  14 . Unlike the left-side locking lever  32  of the left-side telescoping slide assembly  12 , the right-side locking lever  34  is positioned so that a distal end portion  62 E of the handle  62  does not extend beyond the distal end  30 E of the load-carrying slide member  30 . In this way, the release handle  62  of the right-side locking lever  34  is not likely to be accidently engaged by the technician trying to work on the piece of equipment  20  coupled to the slide system  10 . Rather, the technician must intentionally engage the release handle  62  of the right-side locking lever  34  to remove the piece of equipment  20  from the storage rack  11 . 
     The locker head  64  is shaped to include a hook  68  as shown in  FIGS.  16 - 19   . The hook  68  is configured to engage the intermediate slide member  26  of the right-side telescoping slide assembly  14  to lock the telescoping slide system  10  in the PRE-REMOVAL stage. 
     In the illustrative embodiment, the right-side locking lever  34  is spring loaded so that the right-side locking lever  34  is biased toward the PRE-REMOVAL-ENGAGED position as shown in  FIGS.  16  and  17   . A spring  70  is positioned between the load-carrying slide member  30  and the locker head  64  of the locking lever  24  as shown in  FIGS.  16 - 19   . The spring  70  biases the locking lever  34  toward the PRE-REMOVAL-ENGAGED position. 
     In the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage, the right-side locking lever  34  is in the SERVICE-UNRESTRICTED position as shown in  FIG.  16   . As the load-carrying slide members  28 ,  30  of each slide assembly  12 ,  14  move to the left relative to the corresponding intermediate slide members  24 ,  26  toward the PRE-REMOVAL stage, the spring  70  urges the locker head  64  of the right-side locking lever  34  to the PRE-REMOVAL-ENGAGED position as shown in  FIG.  17   . 
     As the load-carrying slide members  28 ,  30  of each slide assembly  12 ,  14  move toward the PRE-REMOVAL stage, the locking aperture  88  formed in the load-carrying slide member  30  aligns with the locking aperture  82  formed in the intermediate slide member  26  of the right-side telescoping slide assembly  14 . Upon alignment of the locking apertures  82 ,  88  in the respective slide members  26 ,  30 , the spring  70  causes the right-side locking lever  34  of the toolless release feature  16  to pivot in a clock-wise direction to the PRE-REMOVAL-ENGAGED position. In the PRE-REMOVAL-ENGAGED position, the hook  68  extends into the locking apertures  82 ,  88  and engages the intermediate slide member  26  in the locking aperture  82  as shown in  FIG.  17   , thereby locking the telescoping slide system  10  in the PRE-REMOVAL stage. 
     To move the telescoping slide system  10  from the PRE-REMOVAL stage to the REMOVAL stage, the handle  62  of the right-side locking lever  34  is configured to be engaged with a third downward pivot force F 3  as shown in  FIGS.  18  and  19   . The third downward pivot force F 3  is applied to the handle  62  of the right-side locking lever  34  to overcome the bias force applied by the spring  70  to the locking lever  34  while the left-side and right-side telescoping slide assemblies are in the PRE-REMOVAL stage. The third downward pivot force F 3  causes the right-side locking lever  34  to pivot between the PRE-REMOVAL-ENGAGED position as shown in  FIG.  18    and an INTERMEDIATE-UNRESTRICTED position as shown in  FIG.  19   . 
     Once the third downward pivot force F 3  has been applied to the right-side locking lever  34  of the toolless release feature  16 , the right-side locking lever  34  pivots in a counterclockwise direction to the INTERMEDIATE-UNRESTRICTED position. In the INTERMEDIATE-UNRESTRICTED position, the locker head  64  of the right-side locking lever  34  is spaced apart from the locking aperture  82  so that the telescoping slide system  10  may be moved from the PRE-REMOVAL stage to the REMOVAL stage to separate the piece of equipment  20  from the storage rack  11 . The load-carrying slide members  28 ,  30  of each slide assembly  12 ,  14  are free to move to the left relative to the corresponding intermediate slide members  24 ,  26  toward the REMOVAL stage as shown in  FIG.  19   . 
     By having to engage the release handle  62  of the right-side locking lever  34  with the third downward pivot force F 3 , the toolless locking feature  16  prevents accidental removal of the load-carrying slide members  28 ,  30  from the corresponding slide assemblies  12 ,  14 . Rather, the technician must intentionally engage the release handle  62  of the right-side locking lever  34  to finish removing the piece of equipment  20  from the storage rack  11 . 
     If the release handle  36  of the left-side locking lever  32  was accidently engaged with the second downward pivot force F 2 , the load-carrying slide members  28 ,  30  may moved to the right relative to the intermediate slide members  24 ,  26  from the PRE-REMOVAL stage back to the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage. The telescoping slide system  10  may be moved from the PRE-REMOVAL stage back to the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage without engaging the toolless release feature  16 . 
     In the illustrative embodiment, the locker head  64  of the right-side locking lever  34  further includes a lift ramp  72  as shown in  FIG.  18   . The lift ramp  72  is configured to pivot the locker head  64  of the right-side locking lever  34  out of the locking aperture  86  formed in the intermediate slide member  26  on the right-side telescoping slide assembly  14  when the telescoping slide system  10  is moved from the PRE-REMOVAL stage back to the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage. The lift ramp  72  allows the telescoping slide system  10  to be moved back to the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage if the left-side locking lever  32  was accidently engaged. Alternatively, the lift ramp  72  also provides for easy return of the piece of equipment  20  back to the storage rack  11 . As the load-carrying slide members  28 ,  30  is re-inserted into the corresponding channels  24 C,  26 C on the intermediate slide members  24 ,  26 , the lift-ramp  72  pivots the right-side locking lever  34  so that the load-carrying slide members  28 ,  30  do not get stuck in the PRE-REMOVAL stage. 
     As the load-carrying slide members  28 ,  30  move to the right relative to the intermediate slide members  24 ,  26 , the lift-ramp  72  engages an edge  82 E of the locking aperture  82 . The lift-ram  72  acts as a camming edge to lift and pivot the locker head  64  of the right-side locking lever  34  upwardly away from the intermediate slide member  26  of the right-side telescoping slide assembly  14  to disengage the hook  68  of the locker head  64  from the intermediate slide member  26 . 
     In the illustrative embodiment, the telescoping slide system  10  further includes an intermediate locking and unlocking mechanism  90  as shown in  FIGS.  20  and  21   . The intermediate locking and unlocking mechanism  90  is coupled to the intermediate slide member  24  of the left-side telescoping slide assembly  12 . The intermediate locking and unlocking mechanism  90  is configured to lock the intermediate slide members  24 ,  26  in a fully extended position relative to the stationary slide members  28 ,  30 . 
     The intermediate locking and unlocking mechanism  90  includes a latch blade  92  and a biasing spring  94  as shown in  FIGS.  20  and  21   . The latch blade  92  has a rearward end  100  pivotably mounted on the intermediate slide member  24  of the left-side telescoping slide assembly  12  with a rivet  96  and a forward end  110  arranged to extend through an aperture  118  formed in the intermediate slide member  24  and into an aperture  120  in the stationary slide member  20 . The forward end  110  extends through the apertures  118 ,  120  and engages a lip  120 L formed in the stationary slide member  20  of the left-side telescoping slide assembly  12 . The forward end  118  engages the lip  120 L to lock the intermediate slide member  24  in a fully extended position relative to the stationary slide member  20  as the telescoping slide system  10  moves from the RETRACTED-STORAGE stage to the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage. The biasing spring  94  is positioned between the intermediate slide member  24  and the intermediate locking and unlocking mechanism  90  to urge the latch blade  92  downwardly into engagement with the lip  120 L. 
     The intermediate locking and unlocking mechanism  90  is configured to change between a LOCKED position as shown in  FIG.  20    and an UNLOCKED position as shown in  FIG.  21   . In the LOCKED position, the forward end  110  extends through the apertures  118 ,  120  to engage the lip  120 L formed in the stationary slide member  20 . The forward end  118  engages the lip  120 L to lock the intermediate slide member  24 . In the UNLOCKED position, a forwardly-facing camming edge  28 CE formed on the load-carrying slide member  28  of the left-side telescoping slide assembly  12  engages a forwardly-facing ramping surface  114  formed on the latch blade  92  to lift and pivot the latch blade  92  upwardly away from the stationary slide member  20  of the left-side telescoping slide assembly  12 . 
     In the illustrative embodiment, the forward end  110  is shaped to include a hook  112  as shown in  FIGS.  20  and  21   . The hook  112  forms a notch  112 N in the forward end  100  of the latch blade  92 . The notch  112 N engages the lip  120 L formed in the stationary slide member  20 . 
     The engagement of the forwardly-facing camming edge  28 CE with the forwardly-facing ramping surface  114  disengages the notch  112  of the latch blade  92  from the lip  120 L in the stationary slide member  20  as shown in  FIG.  21   . The disengagement of the notch  112  from the lip  120 L allows the intermediate slide member  24  of the left-side telescoping slide assembly  12  to move with the load-carrying slide member  28  of the left-side telescoping slide assembly  12  to the right relative to the stationary slide member  20  toward the RETRACTED-STORAGE stage. 
     In illustrative embodiment, each stationary slide member  20 ,  22  of the left-side and right-side telescoping slide assemblies  12 ,  14  is mounted to the storage rack  11  as shown in  FIG.  22   . Each load-carrying slide member  28 ,  30  of the left-side and right-side telescoping slide assemblies  12 ,  14  supports a portion of the equipment  20 . Each intermediate slide member  24 ,  26  of the left-side and right-side telescoping slide assemblies  12 ,  14  is nested between the stationary and load-carrying slide members  20 ,  22 ,  28 ,  30 . 
     The load-carrying slide members  28 ,  30  are each supported for sliding movement in the corresponding intermediate slide member  24 ,  26  by rollers  122 ,  124  as shown in  FIG.  22   . The rollers  122 ,  124  are coupled to the corresponding intermediate slide member  24 ,  26 . 
     The intermediate slide members  24 ,  26  are each supported for sliding movement in the corresponding stationary slide members  20 ,  22  by rollers  126 ,  128  as shown in  FIG.  22   . The rollers  126 ,  128  are attached to the corresponding stationary slide member  20 ,  22 . 
     In the illustrative embodiment, each stationary slide member  20 ,  22  includes a bottom portion  130 ,  132  positioned between two spaced-apart vertical side walls  134 A,  134 B,  136 A,  136 B as shown in  FIG.  22   . The bottom portion  130 ,  132  is arranged to mount on a fixed platform of the storage rack  11  or another suitable mounting surface. Horizontal flanges  138 A,  138 B,  140 A,  140 B extend inwardly from the corresponding vertical side walls  134 A,  134 B,  136 A,  136 B to overlie the rollers  126 ,  128  as shown in  FIG.  22   . 
     In the illustrative embodiment, each intermediate slide member  24 ,  26  includes a bottom portion  142 ,  144  positioned between two spaced-apart vertical side walls  146 A,  146 B,  148 A,  148 B as shown in  FIG.  22   . Horizontal flanges  150 A,  150 B,  152 A,  152 B extend outwardly from the corresponding vertical side walls  146 A,  146 B,  148 A,  148 B. The horizontal flanges  150 A,  150 B,  152 A,  152 B of the corresponding intermediate slide members  24 ,  26  are arranged to lie underneath the pair of horizontal flanges  138 A,  138 B,  140 A,  140 B of the corresponding stationary slide member  20 ,  22 . The horizontal flanges  150 A,  150 B,  152 A,  152 B are supported by rollers  126 ,  128  mounted on the vertical side walls  134 A,  134 B,  136 A,  136 B of the corresponding stationary slide member  20 ,  22 . 
     In the illustrative embodiment, each load-carrying slide member  28 ,  30  includes a pair of horizontal load-supporting flanges  154 A,  154 B,  156 A,  156 B and central vertical walls  158 ,  160  as shown in  FIG.  22   . The horizontal load-supporting flanges  154 A,  154 B,  156 A,  156 B extend outwardly in opposite directions from an upper end of the corresponding central vertical walls  158 ,  160 . The piece of equipment  20  to be carried by telescoping slide system  10  is mounted on the load-supporting flanges  154 A,  156 A of the corresponding load-carrying slide member  28 ,  30 , while the bottom flanges  154 B,  156 B lie in spaced-apart parallel relation to the upper flanges  154 A,  156 A. The bottom flanges  154 B,  156 B extend outwardly in opposite directions from a lower end of the central vertical walls  158 ,  160 . The horizontal load supporting flanges  154 A,  156 A are supported by the rollers  122 ,  124  mounted on the vertical side walls  134 A,  134 B,  136 A,  136 B of the corresponding intermediate slide member  24 ,  26 . 
     In the illustrative embodiment, the left-side locking lever  32  is coupled to the vertical side walls  158  of the load-carrying slide member  28  of the left-side telescoping slide assembly  12  as shown in  FIG.  22   . In the illustrative embodiment, the right-side locking lever  34  is coupled to the vertical side walls  160  of the load-carrying slide member  30  of the right-side telescoping slide assembly  14  as shown in  FIG.  22   . 
     A method of extending and retracting the left-side and right-side telescoping slide assemblies  12 ,  14  among the RETRACTED-STORAGE stage as shown in  FIG.  6   , the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage as shown in  FIG.  7   , the PRE-REMOVAL stage as shown in  FIG.  8   , and the REMOVAL stage as shown in  FIG.  9    may include several steps. To move the left-side and right-side telescoping slide assemblies  12 ,  14  from the RETRACTED-STORAGE stage to the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage, the first downward pivot force F 1  is applied to the handle  36  of the left-side locking lever  32 . The first downward pivot force F 1  is applied to the handle  36  of the left-side locking lever  32  to overcome the bias force applied by the spring  48  to the locking lever  32  while the left-side and right-side telescoping slide assemblies are in the RETRACTED-STORAGE stage. This causes the left-side locking lever  32  to pivot between the STORAGE-ENGAGED position as shown in  FIG.  10    and an INTERMEDIATE-RELEASED position as shown in  FIG.  11   . 
     With the first downward pivot force F 1  applied, i.e. with the left-side locking lever  32  in the INTERMEDIATE-RELEASED position, the left intermediate and load-carrying slide members  24 ,  28  and the right intermediate and load-carrying slide members  26 ,  30  are moved relative to the left and right stationary slide members  20 ,  22  in a first direction from the RETRACTED-STORAGE stage to the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage. Once the left intermediate and load-carrying slide members  24 ,  28  and the right intermediate and load-carrying slide members  26 ,  30  being to move, the left-side locking lever  32  may be released. As the left-side and right-side telescoping slide assemblies  12 ,  14  reach the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage, the left side locking lever  32  extends into the second set of locking apertures  78 ,  80  formed in the intermediate slide member  24  of the left-side telescoping slide assembly  12  to lock the telescoping slide system in the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage. 
     To begin removing the piece of equipment  18  from the storage rack  11 , the second downward pivot force F 2  is applied to the handle  36  of the left-side locking lever  32 . The second downward pivot force F 2  is applied to the handle  36  of the left-side locking lever  32  to overcome the bias force applied by the spring  48  to the locking lever  32  while the left-side and right-side telescoping slide assemblies are in the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage. This causes the left-side locking lever  32  to pivot between the SERVICE-ENGAGED position as shown in  FIG.  14    and the INTERMEDIATE-RELEASED position as shown in  FIG.  15   . 
     With the second downward pivot force applied, i.e. with the left-side locking lever  32  in the INTERMEDIATE-RELEASED position, the left and right load-carrying slide members  28 ,  30  are moved relative to the left stationary and intermediate slide members  20 ,  24  and the right stationary and intermediate slide members  22 ,  26  in the first direction from the EXTENDED-SERVICE stage to the PRE-REMOVAL stage. This causes the right-side locking lever  34  to lock the right-side telescoping slide assembly  14  so as to prevent accidental removal of the left and the right load-carrying slide members  28 ,  30  from the corresponding telescoping slide assemblies  12 ,  14 . Alternatively, the load-carrying slide members  28 ,  30  may be moved to in a second direction opposite the first direction back toward the RETRACTED-STORAGE stage after the second downward pivot force F 2  is applied to the left-side locking lever  32 . 
     To fully remove the piece of equipment  18  from the storage rack  11 , the third downward pivot force F 3  is applied to the handle  62  of the right-side locking lever  34 . The third downward pivot force F 3  is applied to the handle  62  of the right-side locking lever  34  to overcome the bias force applied by the spring  70  to the locking lever  34  while the left-side and right-side telescoping slide assemblies are in the PRE-REMOVAL stage. This causes the right-side locking lever  34  to pivot between the PRE-REMOVAL-ENGAGED position as shown in  FIG.  18    and an INTERMEDIATE-UNRESTRICTED position as shown in  FIG.  19   . 
     With the third downward pivot force F 3  applied to the right-side locking lever  34 , the left and right load-carrying slide members  28 ,  30  of left-side and right-side telescoping slide assemblies  14 ,  16  are moved relative to the left and right stationary slide members  20 ,  22  and the left and right intermediate slide members  24 ,  26  in the first direction from the PRE-REMOVAL stage to the REMOVAL stage. The left and right load-carrying slide members  28 ,  30  are moved in the first direction so that the left and right load-carrying slide members  28 ,  30  are spaced apart from the left and right stationary slide members  20 ,  22  and the left and right intermediate slide members  24 ,  26 . 
     The following numbered clauses include embodiments that are contemplated and non-limiting: 
     Clause 1. A telescoping slide system comprising a left-side telescoping slide assembly including interconnected slide members moveable to extend and retract among a retracted-storage stage, an extended-service stage, a pre-removal stage, and a removal stage and a right-side telescoping slide assembly including interconnected, slide members moveable to extend and retract with the left-side telescoping slide assembly among the retracted-storage stage, the extended-service stage, the pre-removal stage, and the removal stage. 
     Clause 2. The telescoping slide system of clause 1, any other suitable clause, or combination of clauses, wherein the slide members of the a left-side telescoping slide assembly include a left stationary slide member, a left intermediate slide member that moves relative to the left stationary slide member in a channel formed in the left stationary slide member, and a left load-carrying slide member that moves relative to the left stationary slide member and the left intermediate slide member in a channel formed in the left intermediate slide member, and the slide members of the right-side telescoping slide assembly include a right stationary slide member, a right intermediate slide member that moves relative to the right stationary slide member in a channel formed in the right stationary slide member, and a right load-carrying slide member that moves relative to the right stationary slide member and the right intermediate slide member in a channel formed in the right intermediate slide member. 
     Clause 3. The telescoping slide system of clause 2, any other suitable clause, or combination of clauses, further comprising a toolless release feature. 
     Clause 4. The telescoping slide system of clause 3, any other suitable clause, or combination of clauses, wherein the toolless release feature comprises a left-side lever means for releasing the left load-carrying slide member and the left intermediate slide member for movement relative to the left stationary slide member to allow the left-side and right-side telescoping slide assemblies to change from the retracted-storage stage to the extended-service stage in response to a first downward pivot force, and for releasing the left load-carrying slide member for movement relative to the left intermediate slide member to allow the left-side and right-side telescoping slide assemblies to change from the extended-service stage to one of the retracted-storage stage and the pre-removal stage in response to a second downward pivot force. 
     Clause 5. The telescoping slide system of clause 4, any other suitable clause, or combination of clauses, wherein the toolless release feature further comprises a right-side lever means for locking the right load-carrying slide member to the right intermediate carrier slide member in response to the left and right load-carrying slide members moving from the extended-service stage to the pre-removal stage to prevent the right and left load-carrying slide members from moving relative to the right and left intermediate slide members so as to prevent accidental removal of the left and the right load-carrying slide members from the corresponding telescoping slide assemblies, and for releasing the right load-carrying slide member for relative movement to the right intermediate slide member to allow the left-side and right-side telescoping slide assemblies to change between the pre-removal stage and the removal stage in response to a third downward pivot force so that the left and right load-carrying slide members are spaced apart from the left and right intermediate and stationary slide members. 
     Clause 6. The telescoping slide system of clause 5, any other suitable clause, or combination of clauses, wherein the left-side lever means includes a left-side locking lever pivotably coupled to the left load-carrying slide member of the left-side telescoping slide assembly and the left-side locking lever is configured to change between (i) a storage-engaged position when the left-side and right-side telescoping slide assemblies are in the retracted-storage stage so that the left load-carrying and intermediate slide members are blocked from movement relative to the left stationary slide member in the retracted-storage stage and (ii) a service-engaged position when the left-side and right-side telescoping slide assemblies are in the extended-service stage so that the left load-carrying slide member is blocked from movement relative to the left intermediate and stationary slide members in the extended-service stage. 
     Clause 7. The telescoping slide system of clause 6, any other suitable clause, or combination of clauses, wherein the left-side locking lever includes a locker head configured to engage the left stationary slide member of the left-side telescoping slide assembly in the retracted-storage stage to prevent movement of the left load-carrying and intermediate slide members relative to the left stationary slide member and to engage the left intermediate slide member of the left-side telescoping slide assembly in the extended-service stage to prevent movement of the left load-carrying slide member relative to the left intermediate slide member and a release handle that extends form the locker head and configured to pivot the left-side locking lever and move the locker head away from one of the left stationary slide member and the left intermediate slide member when one of the first downward pivot force and the second downward pivot force is applied to the release handle to allow the left-side and the right-side telescoping slide assemblies to change between the retracted-storage stage and the extended-service stage. 
     Clause 8. The telescoping slide system of clause 7, any other suitable clause, or combination of clauses, wherein the left-side locking lever is positioned relative to the left load-carrying slide member so that a distal end portion of the release handle extends beyond a distal end of the left load-carrying slide member. 
     Clause 9. The telescoping slide system of clause 7, any other suitable clause, or combination of clauses, wherein the locker head of the left-side locking lever extends into a first set of locking apertures formed in the left stationary and intermediate slide members of the left-side telescoping slide assembly when the left-side and the right-side telescoping slide assemblies are in the retracted-storage stage, wherein the locker head of the left-side locking lever extends into a second set of locking apertures formed in the left intermediate slide member of the left-side telescoping slide assembly when the left-side and the right-side telescoping slide assemblies are in the extended-service stage, and wherein the second set of locking apertures are spaced apart from the first set of locking apertures along the left-side telescoping slide assembly. 
     Clause 10. The telescoping slide system of clause 9, any other suitable clause, or combination of clauses, wherein the locker head is shaped to include locking lugs that extend into the first set of locking apertures in the left stationary and intermediate slide members when the left-side and the right-side telescoping slide assemblies are in the retracted-storage stage and extend into the second set of locking apertures in the left intermediate slide member when the left-side and the right-side telescoping slide assemblies are in the extended-service stage. 
     Clause 11. The telescoping slide system of clause 6, any other suitable clause, or combination of clauses, wherein the right-side lever means includes a right-side locking lever pivotably coupled to the right load-carrying slide member of the right-side telescoping slide assembly and the right-side locking lever is configured to change between (i) a storage-unrestricted position when the left-side and right-side telescoping slide assemblies are in the retracted-storage stage and the extended-service stage so that the right load-carrying and intermediate slide members are free for movement relative to the right stationary slide member to allow the left-side and right-side telescoping slide assemblies change between the retracted-storage stage and the extended-service stage and (ii) a pre-removal-engaged position when the left-side and right-side telescoping slide assemblies are in the pre-removal stage so that the right load-carrying slide member is partially blocked from movement relative to the right intermediate and stationary slide members in the pre-removal stage to prevent accidental removal of the equipment from the storage rack. 
     Clause 12. The telescoping slide system of clause 5, any other suitable clause, or combination of clauses, wherein the right-side lever means includes a right-side locking lever pivotably coupled to the right load-carrying slide member of the right-side telescoping slide assembly and the right-side locking lever is configured to change between (i) a storage-unrestricted position when the left-side and right-side telescoping slide assemblies are in the retracted-storage stage and the extended-service stage so that the right load-carrying and intermediate slide members are free for movement relative to the right stationary slide member to allow the left-side and right-side telescoping slide assemblies change between the retracted-storage stage and the extended-service stage and (ii) a pre-removal-engaged position when the left-side and right-side telescoping slide assemblies are in the pre-removal stage so that the right load-carrying slide member is partially blocked from movement relative to the right intermediate and stationary slide members in the pre-removal stage to prevent accidental removal of the equipment from the storage rack. 
     Clause 13. The telescoping slide system of clause 12, any other suitable clause, or combination of clauses, wherein the right-side locking lever includes a locker head configured to engage the right intermediate slide member of the right-side telescoping slide assembly in the pre-removal stage to prevent movement of the right load-carrying slide member relative to the right intermediate slide member and a release handle that extends form the locker head and configured to pivot the right-side locking lever and move the locker head away from one of the right intermediate slide member when one of the third downward pivot force is applied to the release handle to allow the left-side and the right-side telescoping slide assemblies to change between the pre-removal stage and the removal stage. 
     Clause 14. The telescoping slide system of clause 13, any other suitable clause, or combination of clauses, wherein the right-side locking lever is positioned relative to the right load-carrying slide member so that a distal end of the right load-carrying slide member extends beyond a distal end portion of the release handle. 
     Clause 15. The telescoping slide system of clause 13, any other suitable clause, or combination of clauses, wherein the locker head of the right-side locking lever extends into a locking aperture formed in the right intermediate slide member of the right-side telescoping slide assembly when the left-side and the right-side telescoping slide assemblies are in the pre-removal stage. 
     Clause 16. The telescoping slide system of clause 5, any other suitable clause, or combination of clauses, wherein the left-side lever means includes a left-side locking lever pivotably coupled to the left load-carrying slide member of the left-side telescoping slide assembly and the left-side locking lever is configured to change between (i) a storage-engaged position when the left-side and right-side telescoping slide assemblies are in the retracted-storage stage and (ii) a service-engaged position when the left-side and right-side telescoping slide assemblies are in the extended-service stage, wherein the right-side lever means includes a right-side locking lever pivotably coupled to the right load-carrying slide member of the right-side telescoping slide assembly and the right-side locking lever is configured to change between (i) a storage-unrestricted position when the left-side and right-side telescoping slide assemblies are in the retracted-storage stage and the extended-service stage (ii) a pre-removal-engaged position when the left-side and right-side telescoping slide assemblies are in the pre-removal stage. 
     Clause 17. The telescoping slide system of clause 16, any other suitable clause, or combination of clauses, wherein the left-side locking lever and the right-side locking lever each include a spring configured to apply a bias force to the corresponding locking lever and the first, second, and third downward pivot forces overcome the bias force applied by the spring of the corresponding locking lever. 
     Clause 18. The telescoping slide system of clause 17, any other suitable clause, or combination of clauses, wherein the first downward pivot force and the second downward pivot force are equal. 
     Clause 19. The telescoping slide system of clause 17, any other suitable clause, or combination of clauses, wherein the left-side locking lever further includes a locker head configured to engage the left stationary slide member of the left-side telescoping slide assembly in the retracted-storage stage to prevent movement of the left load-carrying and intermediate slide members relative to the left stationary slide member and to engage the left intermediate slide member of the left-side telescoping slide assembly in the extended-service stage to prevent movement of the left load-carrying slide member relative to the left intermediate slide member and a release handle that extends form the locker head and configured to pivot the left-side locking lever and move the locker head away from one of the left stationary slide member and the left intermediate slide member when one of the first downward pivot force and the second downward pivot force is applied to the release handle to allow the left-side and the right-side telescoping slide assemblies to change between the retracted-storage stage and the extended-service stage. 
     Clause 20. The telescoping slide system of clause 19, any other suitable clause, or combination of clauses, wherein the right-side locking lever further includes a locker head configured to engage the right intermediate slide member of the right-side telescoping slide assembly in the pre-removal stage to prevent movement of the right load-carrying slide member relative to the right intermediate slide member and a release handle that extends form the locker head and configured to pivot the right-side locking lever and move the locker head away from one of the right intermediate slide member when one of the third downward pivot force is applied to the release handle to allow the left-side and the right-side telescoping slide assemblies to change between the pre-removal stage and the removal stage. 
     Clause 21. A telescoping slide system comprising a left-side telescoping slide assembly including interconnected slide members moveable to extend and retract among a retracted-storage stage, an extended-service stage, a pre-removal stage, and a removal stage, the slide members including a left stationary slide member, a left intermediate slide member that moves relative to the left stationary slide member in a channel formed in the left stationary slide member, and a left load-carrying slide member that moves relative to the left stationary slide member and the left intermediate slide member in a channel formed in the left intermediate slide member, a right-side telescoping slide assembly including interconnected, slide members moveable to extend and retract with the left-side telescoping slide assembly among the retracted-storage stage, the extended-service stage, the pre-removal stage, and the removal stage, the slide members including a right stationary slide member, a right intermediate slide member that moves relative to the right stationary slide member in a channel formed in the right stationary slide member, and a right load-carrying slide member that moves relative to the right stationary slide member and the right intermediate slide member in a channel formed in the right intermediate slide member, and a toolless release feature. 
     Clause 22. The telescoping slide system of clause 21, any other suitable clause, or combination of clauses, wherein the toolless release feature comprises a left-side locking lever configured to release the left load-carrying slide member and the left intermediate slide member for movement relative to the left stationary slide member to allow the left-side and right-side telescoping slide assemblies to change from the retracted-storage stage to the extended-service stage in response to a first downward pivot force and configured to release the left load-carrying slide member for movement relative to the left intermediate slide member to allow the left-side and right-side telescoping slide assemblies to change from the extended-service stage to one of the retracted-storage stage and the pre-removal stage in response to a second downward pivot force, and a right-side locking lever configured to lock the right load-carrying slide member to the right intermediate carrier slide member in response to the left and right load-carrying slide members moving from the extended-service stage to the pre-removal stage to prevent the right and left load-carrying slide members from moving relative to the right and left intermediate slide members so as to prevent accidental removal of the left and the right load-carrying slide members from the corresponding telescoping slide assemblies and configured to release the right load-carrying slide member for relative movement to the right intermediate slide member to allow the left-side and right-side telescoping slide assemblies to change between the pre-removal stage and the removal stage in response to a third downward pivot force so that the left and right load-carrying slide members are spaced apart from the left and right intermediate and stationary slide members. 
     Clause 23. The telescoping slide system of clause 22, any other suitable clause, or combination of clauses, wherein the left-side locking lever is pivotably coupled to the left load-carrying slide member of the left-side telescoping slide assembly and the left-side locking lever is configured to change between (i) a storage-engaged position when the left-side and right-side telescoping slide assemblies are in the retracted-storage stage and (ii) a service-engaged position when the left-side and right-side telescoping slide assemblies are in the extended-service stage, 
     Clause 24. The telescoping slide system of clause 23, any other suitable clause, or combination of clauses, wherein the right-side locking lever is pivotably coupled to the right load-carrying slide member of the right-side telescoping slide assembly and the right-side locking lever is configured to change between (i) a storage-unrestricted position when the left-side and right-side telescoping slide assemblies are in the retracted-storage stage and the extended-service stage (ii) a pre-removal-engaged position when the left-side and right-side telescoping slide assemblies are in the pre-removal stage. 
     Clause 25. The telescoping slide system of clause 24, any other suitable clause, or combination of clauses, wherein the left-side locking lever includes a locker head configured to engage the left stationary slide member of the left-side telescoping slide assembly in the retracted-storage stage to prevent movement of the left load-carrying and intermediate slide members relative to the left stationary slide member and to engage the left intermediate slide member of the left-side telescoping slide assembly in the extended-service stage to prevent movement of the left load-carrying slide member relative to the left intermediate slide member and a release handle that extends form the locker head and configured to pivot the left-side locking lever and move the locker head away from one of the left stationary slide member and the left intermediate slide member when one of the first downward pivot force and the second downward pivot force is applied to the release handle to allow the left-side and the right-side telescoping slide assemblies to change between the retracted-storage stage and the extended-service stage. 
     Clause 26. The telescoping slide system of clause 25, any other suitable clause, or combination of clauses, wherein the locker head of the left-side locking lever extends into a first set of locking apertures formed in the left stationary and intermediate slide members of the left-side telescoping slide assembly when the left-side and the right-side telescoping slide assemblies are in the retracted-storage stage, wherein the locker head of the left-side locking lever extends into a second set of locking apertures formed in the left intermediate slide member of the left-side telescoping slide assembly when the left-side and the right-side telescoping slide assemblies are in the extended-service stage, and wherein the second set of locking apertures are spaced apart from the first set of locking apertures along the left-side telescoping slide assembly. 
     Clause 27. The telescoping slide system of clause 25, any other suitable clause, or combination of clauses, wherein the locker head is shaped to include locking lugs that extend into a first set of locking apertures formed in the left stationary and intermediate slide members of the left-side telescoping slide assembly when the left-side and the right-side telescoping slide assemblies are in the retracted-storage stage and extend into a second set of locking apertures formed in the left intermediate slide member of the left-side telescoping slide assembly when the left-side and the right-side telescoping slide assemblies are in the extended-service stage. 
     Clause 28. The telescoping slide system of clause 24, any other suitable clause, or combination of clauses, wherein the right-side locking lever includes a locker head configured to engage the right intermediate slide member of the right-side telescoping slide assembly in the pre-removal stage to prevent movement of the right load-carrying slide member relative to the right intermediate slide member and a release handle that extends form the locker head and configured to pivot the right-side locking lever and move the locker head away from one of the right intermediate slide member when one of the third downward pivot force is applied to the release handle to allow the left-side and the right-side telescoping slide assemblies to change between the pre-removal stage and the removal stage. 
     Clause 29. The telescoping slide system of clause 28, any other suitable clause, or combination of clauses, wherein the locker head of the right-side locking lever extends into a locking aperture formed in the right intermediate slide member of the right-side telescoping slide assembly when the left-side and the right-side telescoping slide assemblies are in the pre-removal stage. 
     Clause 30. The telescoping slide system of clause 22, any other suitable clause, or combination of clauses, wherein the left-side locking lever and the right-side locking lever each include a spring configured to apply a bias force to the corresponding locking lever and the first, second, and third downward pivot forces overcome the bias force applied by the spring of the corresponding locking lever. 
     Clause 31. The telescoping slide system of clause 22, any other suitable clause, or combination of clauses, wherein the left-side locking lever is positioned relative to the left load-carrying slide member so that a distal end portion of the left-side locking lever extends beyond a distal end of the left load-carrying slide member. 
     Clause 32. The telescoping slide system of clause 22, any other suitable clause, or combination of clauses, wherein the right-side locking lever is positioned relative to the right load-carrying slide member so that a distal end of the right load-carrying slide member extends beyond a distal end portion of the right-side locking lever. 
     Clause 33. The telescoping slide system of clause 24, any other suitable clause, or combination of clauses, wherein the first downward pivot force and the second downward pivot force are equal. 
     Clause 34. A method comprising providing a telescoping slide system, the telescoping slide system comprising a left-side telescoping slide assembly including interconnected slide members moveable to extend and retract among a retracted-storage stage, an extended-service stage, a pre-removal stage, and a removal stage, the slide members including a left stationary slide member, a left intermediate slide member that moves relative to the left stationary slide member in a channel formed in the left stationary slide member, and a left load-carrying slide member that moves relative to the left stationary slide member and the left intermediate slide member in a channel formed in the left intermediate slide member, a right-side telescoping slide assembly including interconnected, slide members moveable to extend and retract with the left-side telescoping slide assembly among the retracted-storage stage, the extended-service stage, the pre-removal stage, and the removal stage, the slide members including a right stationary slide member, a right intermediate slide member that moves relative to the right stationary slide member in a channel formed in the right stationary slide member, and a right load-carrying slide member that moves relative to the right stationary slide member and the right intermediate slide member in a channel formed in the right intermediate slide member, and a toolless release feature comprising a left-side locking lever coupled to the left load-carrying slide member of the left-side telescoping slide assembly and a right-side locking lever coupled to the right load-carrying slide member of the right-side telescoping slide assembly. 
     Clause 35. The method of clause 34, any other suitable clause, or combination of clauses, further comprising applying a first downward pivot force to the left-side locking lever to cause the left-side locking lever to pivot relative to the left-side telescoping slide assembly when the left-side and right-side telescoping slide assemblies are in the retracted-storage stage. 
     Clause 36. The method of clause 35, any other suitable clause, or combination of clauses, further comprising moving the left intermediate slide member, the left load-carrying slide member, the right intermediate slide member, and the right load-carrying slide member of left-side and right-side telescoping slide assemblies relative to the left and right stationary slide members in a first direction from the retracted-storage stage to the extended-service stage after applying the first downward pivot force to the left-side locking lever. 
     Clause 37. The method of clause 36, any other suitable clause, or combination of clauses, further comprising applying a second downward pivot force to the left-side locking lever to cause the left-side locking lever to pivot relative to the left-side telescoping slide assembly once the left-side and right-side telescoping slide assemblies are in the extended-service stage. 
     Clause 38. The method of clause 37, any other suitable clause, or combination of clauses, further comprising moving the left load-carrying slide member and the right load-carrying slide member of left-side and right-side telescoping slide assemblies relative to the left and right stationary slide members and the left and right intermediate slide members in the first direction from the extended-service stage to the pre-removal stage after applying the second downward pivot force to the left-side locking lever to cause the right-side locking lever to lock the right-side telescoping slide assembly so as to prevent accidental removal of the left and the right load-carrying slide members from the corresponding telescoping slide assemblies. 
     Clause 39. The method of clause 38, any other suitable clause, or combination of clauses, further comprising applying a third downward pivot force to the right-side locking lever to cause the right-side locking lever to pivot relative to the right-side telescoping slide assembly once the left-side and right-side telescoping slide assemblies are in the pre-removal stage. 
     Clause 40. The method of clause 39, any other suitable clause, or combination of clauses, further comprising moving the left load-carrying slide member and the right load-carrying slide member of left-side and right-side telescoping slide assemblies relative to the left and right stationary slide members and the left and right intermediate slide members in the first direction from the pre-removal stage to the removal stage after applying the third downward pivot force to the right-side locking lever so that the left load-carrying slide member and the right load-carrying slide member are spaced apart from the left and right stationary slide members and the left and right intermediate slide members. 
     Clause 41. The method of clause 40, any other suitable clause, or combination of clauses, wherein the left-side locking lever includes a locker head configured to engage the left stationary slide member of the left-side telescoping slide assembly in the retracted-storage stage to prevent movement of the left load-carrying and intermediate slide members relative to the left stationary slide member and to engage the left intermediate slide member of the left-side telescoping slide assembly in the extended-service stage to prevent movement of the left load-carrying slide member relative to the left intermediate slide member and a release handle that extends form the locker head and configured to pivot the left-side locking lever and move the locker head away from one of the left stationary slide member and the left intermediate slide member when one of the first downward pivot force and the second downward pivot force is applied to the release handle to allow the left-side and the right-side telescoping slide assemblies to change between the retracted-storage stage and the extended-service stage. 
     Clause 42. The method of clause 41, any other suitable clause, or combination of clauses, wherein the locker head of the left-side locking lever extends into a first set of locking apertures formed in the left stationary and intermediate slide members of the left-side telescoping slide assembly when the left-side and the right-side telescoping slide assemblies are in the retracted-storage stage, wherein the locker head of the left-side locking lever extends into a second set of locking apertures formed in the left intermediate slide member of the left-side telescoping slide assembly when the left-side and the right-side telescoping slide assemblies are in the extended-service stage, and wherein the second set of locking apertures are spaced apart from the first set of locking apertures along the left-side telescoping slide assembly. 
     Clause 43. The method of clause 42, any other suitable clause, or combination of clauses, wherein the locker head is shaped to include locking lugs that extend into a first set of locking apertures formed in the left stationary and intermediate slide members of the left-side telescoping slide assembly when the left-side and the right-side telescoping slide assemblies are in the retracted-storage stage and extend into a second set of locking apertures formed in the left intermediate slide member of the left-side telescoping slide assembly when the left-side and the right-side telescoping slide assemblies are in the extended-service stage. 
     Clause 44. The method of clause 40, any other suitable clause, or combination of clauses, wherein the right-side locking lever includes a locker head configured to engage the right intermediate slide member of the right-side telescoping slide assembly in the pre-removal stage to prevent movement of the right load-carrying slide member relative to the right intermediate slide member and a release handle that extends form the locker head and configured to pivot the right-side locking lever and move the locker head away from one of the right intermediate slide member when one of the third downward pivot force is applied to the release handle to allow the left-side and the right-side telescoping slide assemblies to change between the pre-removal stage and the removal stage. 
     Clause 45. The method of clause 44, any other suitable clause, or combination of clauses, wherein the locker head of the right-side locking lever extends into a locking aperture formed in the right intermediate slide member of the right-side telescoping slide assembly when the left-side and the right-side telescoping slide assemblies are in the pre-removal stage. 
     Clause 49. The method of clause 40, any other suitable clause, or combination of clauses, wherein the left-side locking lever and the right-side locking lever each include a spring configured to apply a bias force to the corresponding locking lever and the first, second, and third downward pivot forces overcome the bias force applied by the spring of the corresponding locking lever. 
     Clause 50. The method of clause 49, any other suitable clause, or combination of clauses, wherein the first downward pivot force and the second downward pivot force are equal. 
     Clause 51. The method of clause 40, any other suitable clause, or combination of clauses, wherein the left-side locking lever is positioned relative to the left load-carrying slide member so that a distal end portion of the left-side locking lever extends beyond a distal end of the left load-carrying slide member. 
     Clause 52. The method of clause 40, any other suitable clause, or combination of clauses, wherein the right-side locking lever is positioned relative to the right load-carrying slide member so that a distal end of the right load-carrying slide member extends beyond a distal end portion of the right-side locking lever.