Patent Description:
<CIT> discloses a two-way retainer for a slide track assembly including a first slide track and a second slide track. The two-way retainer includes a retaining mechanism and a stop member respectively disposed on the first slide track and the second slide track. The retaining mechanism includes at least two retaining arms, and the stop member includes a blocking portion. When the first slide track is located at a predetermined operating position, such as an extended position, with respect to the second slide track, the blocking portion of the stop member disposed on the second slide track is located between and engaged by the two retaining arms for bi-directionally positioning the first slide track with respect to the second slide track. Furthermore, the two retaining arms can be operated by at least one linkage to pivotally disengage from the blocking portion of the stop member to allow the first slide track to move with respect to the second slide track from the predetermined operating position toward a retracting direction for retracting the first slide track into the second slide track, or toward an opening direction for detaching the first slide track from the second slide track.

However, when the at least one linkage is accidentally touched, an unintentional movement of the first slide track with respect to the second slide track may cause device damage or personal injury. Therefore, it becomes an important topic to provide to a slide rail product with enhanced using safety.

For example, in <CIT>, it disclose an inner sliding rail mounting structure including a control plate pivotally connected to an inner sliding rail of a sliding track assembly and for engaging with a stop block of an intermediate sliding rail of the sliding track assembly to secure the inner sliding rail to the intermediate sliding rail, a slide pivotally connected to the control plate and coupled to the inner sliding rail by a slip joint, and a carriage affixed to the slide and configured to be operated to drive the slide to disengage the control plate from the stop block of the intermediate sliding rail for allowing removal of the inner sliding rail from the intermediately sliding rail.

This is mind, the present invention aims at providing a slide rail assembly.

This is achieved by a slide rail assembly according to claim <NUM>. The dependent claims pertain to corresponding further developments and improvements.

As will be seen more clearly from the detailed description following below, the claimed slide rail assembly includes a first rail, a second rail, a first working member, a first operating member and a blocking member. The first rail includes a blocking feature. The second rail is movable with respect to the first rail. The first working member is arranged on the second rail. The first operating member is configured to operate the first working member. The blocking member is arranged on the second rail. When the second rail is located at a predetermined position with respect to the first rail and the first working member is in a first state, the first working member and the blocking feature block each other for restraining the second rail from moving toward a first predetermined direction from the predetermined position. When the blocking member is in a blocking state, the blocking member blocks the first operating member for restraining the first operating member from driving the first working member to disengage from the first state. When the blocking member is in a non-blocking state, the blocking member does not block the first operating member for allowing the first operating member to drive the first working member from the first state to a second state, and when the first working member is in the second state, the first working member and the blocking feature do not block each other for allowing the second rail to move toward the first predetermined direction from the predetermined position. Furthermore, the claimed slide rail assembly further includes a second working member and a second operating member. The second working member is arranged on the second rail. The second operating member is configured to operate the second working member. When the second rail is located at the predetermined position with respect to the first rail and the second working member is in a third state, the second working member and the blocking feature block each other for restraining the second rail from moving toward a second predetermined direction from the predetermined position.

In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. In this regard, directional terminology, such as "top", "bottom", "left", "right", "front", "back", etc., is used with reference to the orientation of the Figure(s) being described. The members of the present invention can be positioned in a number of different orientations. As such, the directional terminology is used for purposes of illustration and is in no way limiting. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions will be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive. Also, if not specified, the term "connect" is intended to mean either an indirect or direct mechanical connection. Thus, if a first device is connected to a second device, that connection may be through a direct mechanical connection, or through an indirect mechanical connection via other devices and connections.

Please refer to <FIG> and <FIG>. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, in a first embodiment of the present invention, a slide rail assembly <NUM> includes a first rail <NUM> and a second rail <NUM>. Preferably, the slide rail assembly <NUM> further includes a third rail <NUM>. The first rail <NUM> is movably mounted between the third rail <NUM> and the second rail <NUM> and configured to extend a travelling distance of the second rail <NUM> with respect to the third rail <NUM>. In this embodiment, the third rail <NUM>, the first rail <NUM> and the second rail <NUM> can respectively be an outer rail, a middle rail longitudinally movable with respect to the outer rail and an inner rail longitudinally movable with respect to the middle rail, i.e., the slide rail assembly <NUM> can be a three-segment type slide rail assembly. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, in another embodiment, the slide rail assembly can include the first rail and the second rail only, and the first rail and the second rail can respectively be the outer rail and the inner rail longitudinally movable with respect to the outer rail, i.e., the slide rail assembly can be a two-segment type slide rail assembly.

The third rail <NUM> includes a first wall 28a, a second wall 28b and a longitudinal wall <NUM> connected between the first wall 28a and the second wall 28b of the third rail <NUM>. The first wall 28a, the second wall 28b and the third wall <NUM> of the third rail <NUM> cooperatively define a channel <NUM> of the third rail <NUM> for at least partially accommodating the first rail <NUM>. The third rail <NUM> includes a front portion 26a and a rear portion <NUM>.

The first rail <NUM> includes a first wall 34a, a second wall 34b and a longitudinal wall <NUM> connected between the first wall 34a and the second wall 34b of the first rail <NUM>. The first wall 34a, the second wall 34b and the longitudinal wall <NUM> of the first rail <NUM> cooperatively define a channel <NUM> of the first rail <NUM> for at least partially accommodating the second rail <NUM>. The first rail <NUM> includes a front portion 22a and a rear portion 22b. Besides, the first rail <NUM> further includes a blocking feature <NUM> located inside the channel <NUM> of the first rail <NUM>. Preferably, in this embodiment, the blocking feature <NUM> can be a protruding portion laterally or transversally protruding from the longitudinal wall <NUM> of the first rail <NUM> and located adjacent to the front portion 22a of the first rail <NUM>. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

The second rail <NUM> includes a first wall 40a, a second wall 40b and a longitudinal wall <NUM> connected between the first wall 40a and the second wall 40b of the second rail <NUM>. The second rail <NUM> includes a front portion 24a and a rear portion 24b.

Preferably, at least one first slide facilitation device <NUM> is arranged inside the channel <NUM> of the third rail <NUM>. The first slide facilitation device <NUM> includes a plurality of balls for facilitating the first rail <NUM> to slide with respect to the third rail <NUM> smoothly. On the other hand, at least one second slide facilitation device <NUM> is arranged inside the channel <NUM> of the first rail <NUM>. The second slide facilitation device <NUM> includes a plurality of balls for facilitating the second rail <NUM> to slide with respect to the first rail <NUM> smoothly. However, present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, in another embodiment, the first slide facilitation device and/or the second slide facilitation device can be omitted.

Please refer to <FIG>. As shown in <FIG>, the slide rail assembly <NUM> further includes a first working member <NUM>, which also can be named as a working member, a first operating member <NUM>, which also can be named as an operating member, and a blocking member <NUM> arranged on the second rail <NUM>, which also can be named as a slide rail. The second rail <NUM>, the first working member <NUM> and the first operating member <NUM> and the blocking member <NUM> can cooperatively form a slide rail kit. The first operating member <NUM> is configured to operate the first working member <NUM>. The blocking member <NUM> is configured to cooperate with the first operating member <NUM>. In this embodiment, the blocking member <NUM> is a resilient structure which is resiliently recoverable. In this embodiment, the blocking member <NUM> can be a resilient plate. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. Furthermore, the blocking member <NUM> includes a connecting segment 48a and a blocking segment 48b. The connecting segment 48a is connected, e.g., fixedly connected, to the second rail <NUM>, and the blocking segment 48b extends from the connecting segment 48a. Preferably, in this embodiment, the blocking member <NUM> further includes an operating segment 48c connected to the blocking segment 48b. The operating segment 48c is configured to allow a user to operate the blocking segment 48b to resiliently move with respect to the connecting segment 48a easily. However, present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, in another embodiment, the operating segment can be omitted. In another embodiment, the first rail can be omitted, and the second rail can be mounted on another component, e.g., a bracket or a frame, rather than the first rail.

Preferably, the first working member <NUM> is pivotally connected to the second rail <NUM> through a first pivoting shaft <NUM>.

Preferably, the first operating member <NUM> is movably mounted on the second rail <NUM>. In this embodiment, the first operating member <NUM> can be moved with respect to the second rail <NUM> along a longitudinal direction of the second rail <NUM>, and the second rail <NUM> can include at least one first retaining feature <NUM> configured to support the first operating member <NUM> for enhancing moving stability of the first operating member <NUM> when the first operating member <NUM> is operated to move. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, in another embodiment, the first operating member can be pivoted with respect to the second rail without any support provided by the first retaining feature.

Preferably, the first operating member <NUM> includes a first operating portion 51a, a first driving portion 51b and a first extending portion 51c connected between the first operating portion 51a and the first driving portion 51b.

Preferably, the slide rail assembly <NUM> further includes a resilient member <NUM> arranged on the second rail <NUM> and configured to resiliently force the first working member <NUM> for resiliently retaining the first working member <NUM> in a first state S1. In this embodiment, the resilient member <NUM> can include a first resilient portion 54a configured to provide a first resilient force to the first working member <NUM>. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

The slide rail assembly <NUM> further includes a second working member <NUM> and a second operating member <NUM> arranged on the second rail <NUM> and configured to operate the second working member <NUM>. The second operating member <NUM> includes a second operating portion 59a, a second driving portion 59b and a second extending portion 59c connected between the second operating portion 59a and the second driving portion 59b.

Preferably, the second working member <NUM> is pivotally connected to the second rail <NUM> through a second pivoting shaft <NUM>.

Preferably, the second operating member <NUM> is movably mounted on the second rail <NUM>. In this embodiment, the second operating member <NUM> can be moved with respect to the second rail <NUM> along a longitudinal direction of the second rail <NUM>, and the second rail <NUM> can include at least one second retaining feature <NUM> configured to support the second operating member <NUM> for enhancing moving stability of the second operating member <NUM> when the second operating member <NUM> is operated to move. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the second operating member <NUM> also can be supported by at least one of the first wall 40a and the second wall 40b of the second rail <NUM>, e.g., by the first wall 40a of the second rail <NUM>. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, in another embodiment, the second operating member can be pivoted with respect to the second rail without any support provided by the second retaining feature or the wall of the second rail.

Preferably, the resilient member <NUM> is also configured to resiliently force the second working member <NUM> for resiliently retaining the second working member <NUM> in a third state S3. In this embodiment, the resilient member <NUM> can further include a second resilient portion 54b configured to provide a second resilient force to the first working member <NUM>. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

Please refer to <FIG> and <FIG>. When the blocking member <NUM> is in a blocking state K1, the blocking member <NUM> blocks the first operating member <NUM> for restraining the first operating member <NUM> from driving the first working member <NUM> to disengage from the first state as shown in <FIG>. When the blocking member <NUM> is in a non-blocking state K2 as shown in <FIG>, e.g., when the blocking member <NUM> is driven by a first external force F1 provided by the user to switch from the blocking state K1 to the non-blocking state K2, the blocking member <NUM>, e.g., the blocking segment 48b of the blocking member <NUM>, is resiliently deformed to generate a recovering resilient force J opposite to the first external force F1, so that the blocking member <NUM> does not block the first operating member <NUM>. When the blocking member <NUM> does not block the first operating member <NUM>, the first operating member <NUM> is allowed to be driven by a second external force F2 as shown in <FIG> to move from a first position X1 as shown in <FIG> to a second position X2 as shown in <FIG> for driving the first working member <NUM> to switch from the first state S1 as shown in <FIG> to a second state S2 as shown in <FIG>.

Specifically, when the blocking member <NUM> is in the blocking state K1 as shown in <FIG>, the blocking segment 48b of the blocking member <NUM> is located in a moving path of the first operating member <NUM> and blocks the first operating member <NUM> for restraining the first operating member <NUM> from driving the first working member <NUM> to disengage from the first state S1. When it is desired to operate the first operating member <NUM>, the user can operate the blocking segment 48b of the blocking member <NUM>, e.g., apply the first external force F1 onto the operating segment 48c of the blocking member <NUM> as shown in <FIG>, to drive the blocking segment 48b of the blocking member <NUM> to resiliently move with respect to the connecting segment 48a to switch the blocking member <NUM> from the blocking state K1 as shown in <FIG> to the non-blocking state K2 as shown in <FIG>, so that the blocking segment 48b of the blocking member <NUM> and the first operating member <NUM> are misaligned from each other, i.e., the blocking segment 48b of the blocking member <NUM> is not located in the moving path of the first operating member <NUM> and cannot block the first operating member <NUM>, for allowing the first operating member <NUM> to be operated , e.g., by the second external force F2 applied onto the first operating portion 51a of the first operating member <NUM>, to drive the first operating member <NUM> to move from the first position X1 as shown in <FIG> to the second position X2 as shown in <FIG>.

It should be noted that when the first operating member <NUM> moves from the second position as shown in <FIG> back to the first position as shown in <FIG> and the first external force F1 is removed, the blocking member <NUM> is driven by the recovering resilient force J to recover to the blocking state as shown in <FIG> from the non-blocking state as shown in <FIG>, so that the blocking segment 48b of the blocking member <NUM> moves back in the moving path of the first operating member <NUM> and blocks the first operating member <NUM>.

From the above, understandably, the user has to switch the blocking member <NUM> to the non-blocking state, e.g., move the blocking segment 48b of the blocking member <NUM> out of the moving path of the first operating member <NUM> for not blocking the first operating member <NUM>, so that the first operating member <NUM> is not restrained by the blocking member <NUM> and operable to drive the first working member <NUM>.

Please refer to <FIG>. When the slide rail assembly <NUM> is in a retracted state as shown in <FIG>, the first rail <NUM> and the second rail <NUM> are respectively retracted with respect to the third rail <NUM> and the first rail <NUM>. At this moment, the second rail <NUM> can be located at a retracted position with respect to the first rail <NUM>, and the first working member <NUM> and the second working member <NUM> can respectively be resiliently retained in the first state S1 and the third state S3 in response to the first resilient force and the second resilient force provided by the first resilient portion 54a and the second resilient portion 54b of the resilient member <NUM>. Besides, the first operating member <NUM> can be located at the first position X1, and the blocking member <NUM> can be in the blocking state K1 which is the same as <FIG>.

Please refer to <FIG>. When the slide rail assembly <NUM> is in a state as shown in <FIG>, the first rail <NUM> is extended with respect to the third rail <NUM>, i.e., the front portion <NUM> of the first rail <NUM> protrudes from the front portion 26a of the third rail <NUM>, and the second rail <NUM> is movable with respect to the first rail <NUM> toward a first predetermined direction D1, which also can be named as a predetermined direction. In this embodiment, the first predetermined direction D1 can be an opening direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. Furthermore, when the second rail <NUM> is located at a position as shown in <FIG> with respect to the first rail <NUM>, the second working member <NUM> in the third state S3 is in contact with a first end portion 39a of the blocking feature <NUM> on the first rail <NUM>.

Please further refer to <FIG>. When the second rail <NUM> continues to move with respect to the first rail <NUM> toward the first predetermined direction D1 from the position as shown in <FIG> to a position as shown in <FIG>, the blocking feature <NUM> can force the second working member <NUM> to drive the second working member <NUM> to pivot by a predetermined angle, e.g., to switch to a fourth state S4, for allowing the second working member <NUM> to pass over the first end portion 39a of the blocking member <NUM>. Furthermore, at this moment, the second resilient portion 54b of the resilient member <NUM> is resiliently deformed to generate the second resilient force.

Please refer to <FIG>. When the second rail <NUM> further continues to move with respect to the first rail <NUM> toward the first predetermined direction D1 to a predetermined position P as shown in <FIG>, e.g., an extended position, it increases a protruding length of the front portion 24a of the second rail <NUM> from the front portion 22a of the first rail <NUM>, so that the slide rail assembly <NUM> is in an extended state, e.g., fully extended state. At this moment, the second working member <NUM> is not forced by the blocking feature <NUM> and is driven to switch back to the third state S3 in response to the second resilient force provided by the second resilient portion 54b of the resilient member <NUM>. Furthermore, when the second rail <NUM> is located at the predetermined position P with respect to the first rail <NUM>, the second working member <NUM> in the third state and the first working member <NUM> in the first state S1 are located adjacent to the second end portion 39b and the first end portion 39a of the blocking feature <NUM>.

From the above, understandably, when the second rail <NUM> is located at the predetermined position P with respect to the first rail <NUM> and the first working member <NUM> and the second working member <NUM> are respectively in the first state S1 and the third state S3, the first working member <NUM> and the second working member <NUM> can respectively block the first end portion 39a and the second end portion 39b of the blocking feature <NUM>. Since the first working member <NUM> and the first end portion 39a of the blocking feature <NUM> block each other, the second rail <NUM> is restrained from moving from the predetermined position P toward the first predetermined direction. Furthermore, since the second working member <NUM> and the second end portion 39b of the blocking feature <NUM> block each other, the second rail <NUM> is restrained from moving from the predetermined position P toward a second predetermined direction D2. In this embodiment, the second predetermined direction D2 can be a retracting direction opposite to the first predetermined direction D1. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

It should be noted that as shown in <FIG>, when the second rail <NUM> is located at the predetermined position P with respect to the first rail <NUM> and the blocking member <NUM> is in the blocking state K1, which is the same as <FIG>, the blocking member <NUM> blocks the first operating member <NUM> for restraining the first operating member <NUM> from driving the first working member <NUM> to disengage from the first state.

Please refer to <FIG>. As shown in <FIG>, when the second rail <NUM> is located at the predetermined position P with respect to the first rail <NUM> and the blocking member <NUM> is in the non-blocking state, which is the same as <FIG>, the blocking segment 48b of the blocking member <NUM> and the first operating member <NUM> are misaligned from each other, so that the blocking member <NUM> does not block the first operating member <NUM> to allow the first operating member <NUM> to be driven by the second external force F2 to move from the first position X1 as shown in <FIG> to the second position X2 as shown in <FIG> for driving the first working member <NUM> to switch from the first state S1 as shown in <FIG> to the second state S2 as shown in <FIG>. When the first working member <NUM> is in the second state S2, the first working member <NUM> and the first end portion 39a of the blocking feature <NUM> do not block each other, so that the second rail <NUM> is allowed to be detached from the channel <NUM> of the first rail <NUM> by moving the second rail <NUM> toward the first predetermined direction D1 from the predetermined position P.

Please refer to <FIG>. As shown in <FIG>, when the second rail <NUM> is detached from the channel <NUM> of the first rail <NUM>, the first operating member <NUM> can be moved back to the first position X1, so that the blocking member <NUM> can recover to the non-blocking state from the blocking state to move the blocking segment 48b of the blocking member <NUM> in the moving path of the first operating member <NUM> for blocking the first operating member <NUM>. Furthermore, at this moment, the first working member <NUM> is driven by the first resilient force provided by the first resilient portion 54a of the resilient member <NUM> to switch from the second state S2 to the first state S1.

Please refer to <FIG> and <FIG>. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, when the second rail <NUM> is located at the predetermined position P with respect to the first rail <NUM>, the second operating member <NUM> is operable to drive the second working member <NUM> to switch from the third state S3 as shown in <FIG> to the fourth state S4 as shown in <FIG>, so that the second working member <NUM> and the second end portion 39b of the blocking feature <NUM> do not block each other for allowing the second rail <NUM> to move toward the second predetermined direction D2 from the predetermined position P.

Specifically, when the second rail <NUM> is located at the predetermined position P with respect to the first rail <NUM>, the user can operate the second operating member <NUM>, e.g., apply a third external force F3 onto the second operating portion 59a of the second operating member <NUM>, to move the second operating member <NUM> with respect to the second rail <NUM> for driving the second working member <NUM> to switch from the third state S3 as shown in <FIG> to the fourth state S4 as shown in <FIG>. When the second working member <NUM> is in the fourth state S4, the second working member <NUM> and the second end portion 39b of the blocking feature <NUM> do not block each other for allowing the second rail <NUM> to move toward the second predetermined direction D2 from the predetermined position P.

Understandably, in another embodiment, the second working member and the second operating member can be omitted, so that the slide rail assembly can only selectively restrain or allow the second rail to move toward the first predetermined direction from the predetermined position by cooperation of the first working member and the second operating member.

Please refer to <FIG> and <FIG>. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, in a second embodiment of the present invention, a blocking member <NUM> can be loaded by an auxiliary resilient member <NUM>, such as a spring, so that the blocking member <NUM> is recoverable by the auxiliary resilient member <NUM>.

Specifically, when the blocking member <NUM> is in a blocking state K1' as shown in <FIG>, the blocking member <NUM> blocks the first operating member <NUM> for restraining the first operating member <NUM> from driving the first working member <NUM> to disengage from the first state S1. Preferably, the second rail <NUM> includes a predetermined wall <NUM>. In this embodiment, the predetermined wall <NUM> can be a protruding object. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. The predetermined wall <NUM> can facilitate the blocking member <NUM> to block the first operating member <NUM> and enhance blocking strength of the blocking member <NUM> against the first operating member <NUM>.

When the blocking member <NUM> is forced by a first external force F1' provided by the user to switch to a non-blocking state K2' as shown in <FIG>, the blocking member <NUM> and the first operating member <NUM> are misaligned from each other, so that the blocking member <NUM> does not block the first operating member <NUM> for allowing the first operating member <NUM> to disengage from the first position X1, e.g., move from the first position X1 to the second position X2, so as to drive the first working member <NUM> to switch from the first state S1 to the second state S2.

It should be noted that when the blocking member <NUM> is in the non-blocking state K2' as shown in <FIG>, the auxiliary resilient member <NUM> is resiliently deformed to generate a recovering resilient force J'. When the first external force F1' is removed, the blocking member <NUM> can be driven by the recovering resilient force J' provided by the auxiliary resilient member <NUM> to switch from the non-blocking state K2' as shown in <FIG> to the blocking state K1' as shown in <FIG> to block the first operating member <NUM>.

From the above, understandably, the present invention includes the following feature:.

Claim 1:
A slide rail assembly (<NUM>) comprising:
a first rail (<NUM>) comprising a blocking feature (<NUM>);
a second rail (<NUM>) movable with respect to the first rail (<NUM>);
a first working member (<NUM>) arranged on the second rail (<NUM>);
a first operating member (<NUM>) configured to operate the first working member (<NUM>); and
a blocking member (<NUM>, <NUM>) arranged on the second rail (<NUM>);
wherein when the second rail (<NUM>) is located at a predetermined position (P) with respect to the first rail (<NUM>) and the first working member (<NUM>) is in a first state (S1), the first working member (<NUM>) and the blocking feature (<NUM>) block each other for restraining the second rail (<NUM>) from moving toward a first predetermined direction (D1) from the predetermined position (P);
wherein when the blocking member (<NUM>, <NUM>) is in a blocking state (K1, K1'), the blocking member (<NUM>, <NUM>) blocks the first operating member (<NUM>) for restraining the first operating member (<NUM>) from driving the first working member (<NUM>) to disengage from the first state (S1);
wherein when the blocking member (<NUM>, <NUM>) is in a non-blocking state (K2, K2'), the blocking member (<NUM>, <NUM>) does not block the first operating member (<NUM>) for allowing the first operating member (<NUM>) to drive the first working member (<NUM>) from the first state (S1) to a second state (S2), and when the first working member (<NUM>) is in the second state (S2), the first working member (<NUM>) and the blocking feature (<NUM>) do not block each other for allowing the second rail (<NUM>) to move toward the first predetermined direction (D1) from the predetermined position (P);
further characterized by a second working member (<NUM>) and a second operating member (<NUM>), the second working member (<NUM>) being arranged on the second rail (<NUM>), the second operating member (<NUM>) being configured to operate the second working member (<NUM>), when the second rail (<NUM>) is located at the predetermined position (P) with respect to the first rail (<NUM>) and the second working member (<NUM>) is in a third state (S3), the second working member (<NUM>) and the blocking feature (<NUM>) blocking each other for restraining the second rail (<NUM>) from moving toward a second predetermined direction (D2) from the predetermined position (P).