Patent Description:
A traditional retainer has ends unconnected. Therefore, when a transmission element is under a load, a load capacity is significantly reduced. After years of development, a retainer having an end-to-end connected chain belt structure emerges. An existing transmission element has many connection types, such as a bolt connection, a concave-convex piece connection, a ball joint connection, and the like.

However, the end-to-end connected chain belt formed by using the foregoing structure has much less flexibility at a joint. As a result, at a circular turning point or a place where the traveling is slightly unsmooth, the transmission element cannot operate, or the joint may crack and elements may fall off, affecting operation of other elements.

<CIT> discloses a ball retainer having a chain belt with welded connecting portions. <CIT> discloses a ball retainer having a chain belt with connecting portions consisting of connecting pins and connecting holes. <CIT> discloses a ball holder having connecting hook parts.

According to the present invention, a ball retainer according to claim <NUM> is provided. Preferred embodiments of the ball retainer are further defined in the dependent claims.

In view of the above, the present invention provides a ball retainer in an embodiment, including a chain belt, a hook portion, and a recess portion. The chain belt has a first end and a second end respectively located at two opposite end portions and a plurality of accommodation portions between the first end and the second end. Each of the accommodation portions is configured to accommodate a ball. The hook portion is disposed at the first end of the chain belt. The recess portion is disposed at the second end of the chain belt corresponding to the hook portion. An outer circumferential side and an inner circumferential side are formed after the hook portion of the ball retainer is snapped into the recess portion. The hook portion extends toward the outer circumferential side, and the recess portion extends toward the inner circumferential side. When an acting force is applied to the chain belt during operation of the ball retainer such that the first end and the second end are moved away from each other after the hook portion is snapped into the recess portion, the hook portion is disengaged from the recess portion. During operation of the ball retainer after the acting force disappears, the first end and the second end of the chain belt approach each other so that the hook portion is accordingly snapped into the recess portion.

In some embodiments, the recess portion has a groove and an abutting portion. After the hook portion is snapped into the recess portion, the abutting portion is correspondingly disposed on the outer circumferential side of the second connecting section of the hook portion and abuts against a first connecting section, and the first connecting section is accommodated in the groove.

In some embodiments, the hook portion has the first connecting section and a second connecting section. The second connecting section connects the first end of the chain belt to the first connecting section, and a side of the first connecting section away from the second connecting section has an inclined plane.

In some embodiments, the second connecting section has an amount of elastic deformation. When an acting force is applied to the chain belt so that the first end and the second end are moved away from each other after the hook portion is snapped into the recess portion, the second connecting section is elastically deformed, so that the hook portion is disengaged from the recess portion.

In some embodiments, the hook portion is deformed to be disengaged from the recess portion.

In some embodiments, a joint between the recess portion and the chain belt is deformed, so that the hook portion is disengaged from the recess portion.

In some embodiments, the ball retainer further includes a plurality of hook portions disposed between the hook portion and the chain belt. One of the hook portions and the hook portion is snapped into the recess portion.

In some embodiments, the ball retainer further includes a plurality of additional recess portions disposed between the recess portion and the chain belt. The hook portion is snapped into the recess portion or one of the additional recess portions.

In some embodiments, the ball retainer is made of plastic.

In conclusion, according to the ball retainer provided in the present invention, by means of the hook-like structure disposed at the end of the chain belt, the hook portion is disengaged from the recess portion at a turning point or a place where the traveling is slightly unsmooth, which can not only prevent the hook portion and the recess portion from cracking at a joint with the chain belt, but also improve flexibility of the j oint. In addition, when a transmission element operates smoothly since the disengagement, the hook portion may be accordingly snapped into the recess portion again to restore to an initial connection status, so as to drive the whole ball retainer to operate smoothly. In this way, an overall load capacity can be improved, damage caused by an excessive acting force or obstruction can be avoided, unsmooth operation that may occur at a turning point can also be avoided, and a service life of the ball retainer can be increased.

Detailed features and advantages of the present invention are described in detail in the following implementations, which are sufficient for any person skilled in the art to understand the technical content of the present invention and implement the operations accordingly. According to the content disclosed in this specification, the scope of patent application, and the drawings, any person skilled in the art can easily understand related objectives and advantages of the present invention.

<FIG> show a ball retainer according to an embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> is a partial schematic outside diagram of the ball retainer according to an embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> is a partial enlarged schematic top exploded view of the ball retainer according to an embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> is a partial enlarged schematic bottom exploded view of the ball retainer according to an embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> is a partial cross-sectional view of actions of the ball retainer according to an embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> is a partial schematic cross-sectional view of the ball retainer to which an acting force is applied according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in <FIG>, a ball retainer <NUM> in this embodiment includes a chain belt <NUM>, a hook portion <NUM>, and a recess portion <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the chain belt <NUM> has a first end <NUM> and a second end <NUM> respectively located at two opposite end portions and a plurality of accommodation portions <NUM> between the first end <NUM> and the second end <NUM>. Each of the accommodation portions <NUM> is configured to accommodate a ball. The chain belt <NUM> in <FIG> is a partial illustration. In actual use, the accommodation portions <NUM> between the first end <NUM> and the second end <NUM> of the chain belt <NUM> are connected end to end to form a long string. For an actual overall structure, refer to <FIG> and <FIG>.

The accommodation portion <NUM> of the chain belt <NUM> is configured to accommodate a ball. In this embodiment, the ball is a square ball, but it the present invention is not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the ball may be a round ball. As shown in <FIG>, the accommodation portion <NUM> may clamp and fix the ball by using a stop portion <NUM> extending upward and downward, so as to maintain a proper distance among the balls, thereby avoiding excessive noise caused by continuous collision during operation.

Referring to <FIG> together, the hook portion <NUM> is disposed at the first end <NUM> of the chain belt <NUM>, and the recess portion <NUM> is disposed at the second end <NUM> of the chain belt <NUM> corresponding to the hook portion <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, and <FIG> together, an outer circumferential side <NUM> and an inner circumferential side <NUM> are formed after the hook portion <NUM> of the ball retainer <NUM> of this embodiment is snapped into the recess portion <NUM>. The hook portion <NUM> extends toward the outer circumferential side <NUM>, and the recess portion <NUM> extends toward the inner circumferential side <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the hook portion <NUM> extends toward the outer circumferential side <NUM>, and the recess portion <NUM> extends toward the inner circumferential side <NUM>, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In some embodiments, relative positions of the hook portion <NUM> and the recess portion <NUM> may be transposed, that is, the hook portion <NUM> extends toward the inner circumferential side <NUM>, and the recess portion <NUM> extends toward the outer circumferential side <NUM>. The side toward which the hook portion <NUM> extends herein means a direction in which a hook to be snapped into the recess portion <NUM> extends.

Specifically, as shown in <FIG>, the hook portion <NUM> has a first connecting section <NUM> and a second connecting section <NUM>. Two sides of the second connecting section <NUM> are respectively connected to the first end <NUM> of the chain belt <NUM> and the first connecting section <NUM>. The first connecting section <NUM> extends upward as shown in <FIG> to protrude from an upper surface of the second connecting section <NUM>, so as to form a hook structure that may be snapped into the recess portion <NUM>. A side of the first connecting section <NUM> away from the second connecting section <NUM> has an inclined plane <NUM>. By means of the inclined plane <NUM>, engagement at the joint is easier. After the hook portion <NUM> and the recess portion <NUM> are disengaged from each other, when an acting force or an obstacle resulting in the disengagement is removed so that the hook portion <NUM> and the recess portion <NUM> approach each other to be snapped, the recess portion <NUM> may be pushed up along the inclined plane <NUM> to be snapped with the hook portion <NUM>, for example. By means of the inclined plane <NUM>, the hook portion <NUM> and the recess portion <NUM> can be more easily connected again since the disengagement.

Next, referring to <FIG> and <FIG> together, the recess portion <NUM> has a groove <NUM> and an abutting portion <NUM>. After the hook portion <NUM> is snapped into the recess portion <NUM>, the abutting portion <NUM> is correspondingly disposed above the second connecting section <NUM> of the hook portion <NUM> and abuts against the first connecting section <NUM>. The first connecting section <NUM> is accommodated in the groove <NUM>. Therefore, during operation, the abutting portion <NUM> of the recess portion <NUM> drives the first connecting section <NUM> accommodated in the groove <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG> is a partial schematic cross-sectional view of a hook portion and a recess portion of the ball retainer disengaged from each other according to an embodiment of the present invention, and <FIG> is a partial schematic cross-sectional view of the hook portion and the recess portion of the ball retainer to be snapped with each other according to an embodiment of the present invention. It can be learned from <FIG> that, in actual use, the ball retainer <NUM> in this embodiment operates clockwise. A traveling direction is shown by an arrow A in <FIG>. The recess portion <NUM> at the second end <NUM> of the chain belt <NUM> drives the hook portion <NUM> accommodated in the groove <NUM>. The first connecting section <NUM> of the hook portion <NUM> is accommodated in the groove <NUM>, and the abutting portion <NUM> of the recess portion <NUM> abuts against the first connecting section <NUM> located above the second connecting section <NUM>. Next, various actions of disengagement between the hook portion <NUM> and the recess portion <NUM> are described.

Still referring to <FIG>, in this embodiment, the second connecting section <NUM> of the hook portion <NUM> has an amount of elastic deformation. When an acting force is applied to the chain belt <NUM> so that the first end <NUM> and the second end <NUM> are moved away from each other after the hook portion <NUM> is snapped into the recess portion <NUM>, the second connecting section <NUM> is elastically deformed, so that the hook portion <NUM> is disengaged from the recess portion <NUM>. It can be learned from <FIG> that, when the recess portion <NUM> drives the hook portion <NUM> to operate in a device, for example, to travel clockwise in the direction shown by the arrow A, the chain belt <NUM> is pulled by an acting force when the hook portion travels to a turning point or travels slightly unsmoothly. However, since the hook portion <NUM> and the recess portion <NUM> are weakly connected with specific flexibility, when the acting force is applied to the chain belt <NUM>, the second connecting section <NUM> of the hook portion <NUM> is elastically deformed and bend toward the inner circumferential side <NUM> (as shown by an arrow B in <FIG>). In this way, the first connecting section <NUM> of the hook portion <NUM> is moved out of the groove <NUM> of the recess portion <NUM>, and the hook portion <NUM> is completely disengaged from the recess portion <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. It can be learned from <FIG> that, the hook portion <NUM> is free of the acting force after being disengaged from the recess portion <NUM>. Therefore, the hook portion <NUM> can be restored from the deformation due to material characteristics, so that hook portion <NUM> and the recess portion <NUM> are not permanently deformed. Then the ball retainer <NUM> can still operate smoothly in the device without being affected by the foregoing acting force.

Next, it can be learned from <FIG> that, when the acting force or the obstacle resulting in the disengagement disappears, during the continuous operation of the ball retainer <NUM>, the first end <NUM> and the second end <NUM> of the chain belt <NUM> approach each other, until the hook portion <NUM> is about to be snapped into the recess portion <NUM>. The hook portion <NUM> approaches the abutting portion <NUM> at a front end of the recess portion <NUM>, and is elastically deformed at the second connecting section <NUM> under the action of the inclined plane <NUM>. When the first connecting section <NUM> is completely accommodated in the groove <NUM>, the hook portion is restored again to the status shown in <FIG> by virtue of the elastic restoring force (shown by an arrow C in <FIG>) of the material, so that the hook portion <NUM> is accordingly snapped into the recess portion <NUM>, and the ball retainer <NUM> continues operating after restoring to the snapped status.

In some other implementations, the hook portion <NUM> may have an amount of elastic deformation as a whole. When an acting force is applied to the chain belt <NUM> so that the first end <NUM> and the second end <NUM> are moved away from each other, a portion of the hook portion <NUM> bearing a greater acting force is elastically deformed, so that the hook portion <NUM> is disengaged from the recess portion <NUM>. More specifically, when the ball retainer <NUM> of this embodiment operates to a turning point or operates slightly unsmoothly in the device, the hook portion <NUM> and the recess portion <NUM> are pulled by an acting force. Since the hook portion <NUM> has a specific amount of elastic deformation, the hook portion <NUM> is elastically deformed and bends toward the inner circumferential side <NUM>, so that the first connecting section <NUM> of the hook portion <NUM> is moved out of the groove <NUM> of the recess portion <NUM>. In this way, the hook portion <NUM> is deformed to be disengaged from the recess portion <NUM>, so as to prevent the hook portion <NUM> and the recess portion <NUM> from being permanently deformed or even cracked as a result of being continuously pulled. The hook portion <NUM> is free of any acting force after being disengaged from the recess portion <NUM>. Therefore, the hook portion <NUM> can be restored from the deformation due to material characteristics, so that the hook portion <NUM> is not permanently deformed. Then the ball retainer <NUM> can still operate smoothly in the device without being affected by the foregoing acting force. Snapping the hook portion <NUM> into the recess portion <NUM> after subsequent continuous operation is the same that described above, and therefore details are not described herein again.

In some still other implementations, a joint between the recess portion <NUM> and the chain belt <NUM> may have an amount of elastic deformation. When an acting force is applied to the chain belt <NUM> so that the first end <NUM> and the second end <NUM> are moved away from each other, the joint between the recess portion <NUM> and the chain belt <NUM> is elastically deformed, so that the hook portion <NUM> is disengaged from the recess portion <NUM>. More specifically, when the ball retainer <NUM> of this embodiment operates to a turning point or operates slightly unsmoothly in the device, the hook portion <NUM> and the recess portion <NUM> are pulled by an acting force. Since the joint between the recess portion <NUM> and the chain belt <NUM> has a specific amount of elastic deformation, the joint between the recess portion <NUM> and the chain belt <NUM> is elastically deformed and bends toward the outer circumferential side <NUM>, so that the first connecting section <NUM> of the hook portion <NUM> is disengaged from the groove <NUM> of the recess portion <NUM>. In this way, the joint between the recess portion <NUM> and the chain belt <NUM> is deformed to be disengaged from the recess portion <NUM>, so as to prevent the hook portion <NUM> and the recess portion <NUM> from being permanently deformed or even cracked as a result of being continuously pulled. After the hook portion <NUM> is disengaged from the recess portion <NUM>, the joint between the recess portion <NUM> and the chain belt <NUM> is restored from the deformation due to the material characteristics without being affected by any acting force, so that the joint between the recess portion <NUM> and the chain belt <NUM> is not permanently deformed. Then the ball retainer <NUM> can still operate smoothly in the device without being affected by the foregoing acting force. Snapping the hook portion <NUM> into the recess portion <NUM> after subsequent continuous operation is the same that described above. The joint between the recess portion <NUM> and the chain belt <NUM> is deformed again, so that the hook portion <NUM> is snapped into the recess portion <NUM> again.

It can be learned that, according to the ball retainer <NUM> in this embodiment, by means of the hook portion <NUM> and the recess portion <NUM> disposed at the ends, the end-to-end connection of the chain belt <NUM> is achieved. The hook portion <NUM> at the first end <NUM> hooks the recess portion <NUM> at the second end <NUM>, and the hook portion <NUM> and the recess portion <NUM> are weakly connected. Therefore, when the transmission element travels through the circular turning point or travels slightly unsmoothly in the device, the hook portion <NUM> and the recess portion <NUM> disposed at the two ends of the chain belt <NUM> are disengaged from each other, which can not only prevent the hook portion <NUM> and the recess portion <NUM> from cracking at the joint with the chain belt <NUM>, but also improve flexibility of the joint. In addition, when the transmission element operates smoothly since the disengagement, the hook portion <NUM> may be snapped into the recess portion <NUM> again to restore to an initial connection status, so as to drive the whole ball retainer <NUM> to operate smoothly. In this way, an overall load capacity can be improved, damage caused by an excessive acting force or obstruction can be avoided, unsmooth operation that may occur at a turning point can also be avoided, and a service life of the ball retainer <NUM> can be increased.

In actual use, a length of a circulation channel in the device and a size of the ball retainer <NUM> may be calculated to match each other according to requirements of a user. When the ball retainer operates to a turning point or encounters a foreign matter in the channel, the hook portion <NUM> and the recess portion <NUM> disposed at the two ends of the chain belt <NUM> may be slightly disengaged from each other. After the chain belt <NUM> of the ball retainer <NUM> automatically adjusts to a smooth status in the channel, the structures disposed at the ends automatically restore to the status in which the hook portion <NUM> and the recess portion <NUM> are snapped with each other. In addition, the first connecting section <NUM> of the hook portion <NUM> has an inclined plane <NUM>. After the hook portion <NUM> and the recess portion <NUM> are disengaged from each other, when an acting force or an obstacle resulting in the disengagement is removed so that the hook portion <NUM> and the recess portion <NUM> approach each other to be snapped, the recess portion <NUM> is snapped with the hook portion <NUM> along the inclined plane <NUM>. Therefore, by means of the inclined plane <NUM>, the hook portion <NUM> and the recess portion <NUM> can be more easily connected again since the disengagement.

In addition, it can be learned from <FIG> that, according to the ball retainer <NUM> in this embodiment, a width of the hook portion <NUM> is approximately equal to a width of the recess portion <NUM>. Therefore, when the hook portion <NUM> is snapped into the recess portion <NUM>, the hook portion <NUM> can be completely accommodated in the recess portion <NUM>.

Since the ball retainer <NUM> in this embodiment is made of plastic, the hook portion <NUM> and the recess portion <NUM> have a specific amount of elastic deformation. During operation in the device, when the chain belt <NUM> is pulled by an acting force, the second connecting section <NUM> of the hook portion <NUM> and the joint between the hook portion <NUM> or the recess portion <NUM> and the chain belt <NUM> can be elastically deformed simultaneously or individually, so that the hook portion <NUM> is disengaged from the recess portion <NUM>, and the ball retainer <NUM> can continue operating in the device.

The ball retainer <NUM> in this embodiment is made of plastic, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the ball retainer <NUM> may be made of other materials that can provide a specific amount of elastic deformation.

Next, referring to <FIG> is a partial enlarged schematic view of a ball retainer according to another embodiment of the present invention, and <FIG> is a partial enlarged schematic view of a ball retainer according to still another embodiment of the present invention. In the two embodiments, parts corresponding to those in the previous embodiment are named with the same element symbols, and corresponding structures and connection relationships are not be repeated. It can be learned from <FIG> that a ball retainer <NUM> according to another embodiment of the present invention further includes a plurality of hook portions, which are named as first hook portions <NUM> below for ease of description. In <FIG>, four first hook portions <NUM> are exemplified, but the number may be set as required, and the present invention is not limited thereto. The first hook portions <NUM> are all disposed between the hook portion <NUM> and the first end <NUM> of the chain belt <NUM>. One of the plurality of first hook portions <NUM> and the hook portion <NUM> is snapped into the recess portion <NUM>. In this way, the hook portion <NUM> or the plurality of first hook portions <NUM> and the recess portion <NUM> can also approach each other to be snapped with each other after the acting force or the obstacle resulting in the disengagement is removed. By means of the hook portion <NUM> and the plurality of first hook portions <NUM>, even if the chain belt <NUM> is disengaged from a first one of the first hook portions <NUM> during use, the plurality of subsequent first hook portions <NUM> and the last hook portion <NUM> can provide a snapping function to avoid instantaneous complete disengagement, thereby ensuring smooth operation in the device. In addition, according to a length of a corresponding rolling channel, a required length may be adjusted for snapping during mounting for slide rails of different sizes.

Next, referring to <FIG>, which shows still another embodiment of a ball retainer <NUM> according to the present invention. The ball retainer further includes a plurality of recess portions, which are named as first recess portions <NUM> for ease of description. The first recess portions <NUM> are disposed between the recess portion <NUM> and the second end <NUM> of the chain belt <NUM>. The hook portion <NUM> is snapped into one of the plurality of first recess portions <NUM> and the recess portion <NUM>. In this way, the hook portion <NUM> and the recess portion <NUM> or the first recess portions <NUM> can also approach each other to be snapped with each other after the acting force or the obstacle resulting in the disengagement is removed. By means of the recess portion <NUM> and the first recess portions <NUM>, even if the chain belt <NUM> is disengaged from a first one of the first recess portions <NUM> during use, the plurality of subsequent first recess portions <NUM> and the last recess portion <NUM> can provide a snapping function to avoid instantaneous complete disengagement, thereby ensuring smooth operation in the device. In addition, according to a length of a corresponding rolling channel, a required length may be adjusted for snapping during mounting for slide rails of different sizes.

In some embodiments, the ball retainer <NUM> may also include both the first hook portion <NUM> and the first recess portion <NUM>. A number of first recess portions <NUM> correspondingly increases with an increase of a number of first hook portions <NUM>, which can improve a connecting ability between the ends of the chain belt <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A ball retainer (<NUM>), comprising:
a chain belt (<NUM>), having a first end (<NUM>) and a second end (<NUM>) respectively located at two opposite end portions and a plurality of accommodation portions (<NUM>) between the first end (<NUM>) and the second end (<NUM>), wherein each of the accommodation portions (<NUM>) is configured to accommodate a ball,
characterized in that the ball retainer (<NUM>) further comprises:
a hook portion (<NUM>), disposed at the first end (<NUM>) of the chain belt (<NUM>); and
a recess portion (<NUM>), disposed at the second end (<NUM>) of the chain belt (<NUM>) corresponding to the hook portion (<NUM>); wherein
an outer circumferential side (<NUM>) and an inner circumferential side (<NUM>) are formed after the hook portion (<NUM>) of the ball retainer (<NUM>) is snapped into the recess portion (<NUM>), wherein the hook portion (<NUM>) extends toward the outer circumferential side (<NUM>), and the recess portion (<NUM>) extends toward the inner circumferential side (<NUM>); when an acting force is applied to the chain belt (<NUM>) during operation of the ball retainer (<NUM>) such that the first end (<NUM>) and the second end (<NUM>) are moved away from each other after the hook portion (<NUM>) is snapped into the recess portion (<NUM>), the hook portion (<NUM>) is disengaged from the recess portion (<NUM>) since the hook portion (<NUM>) and the recess portion (<NUM>) are weakly connected; and during operation of the ball retainer (<NUM>) after the acting force disappears, the first end (<NUM>) and the second end (<NUM>) of the chain belt (<NUM>) approach each other so that the hook portion (<NUM>) is accordingly snapped into the recess portion (<NUM>).