Patent Description:
US publication number <CIT> discloses a handle module arranged on a server. Furthermore, the handle module comprises a handle having a sliding column assembly. The sliding column assembly is pivotally arranged relative to a plate member and movable relative to the plate member. The plate member comprises two plates stacked one above the other. Each of the plates is provided with holes in different directions for mounting the sliding column assembly. With such arrangement, a user can push the handle to mount the server in a rack.

However, in order to meet diverse requirements of the market, it is important to develop various products.

A known handle locking device is described in <CIT>.

This in mind, the present invention aims at providing a slide rail assembly with a supporting feature and a handle.

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 comprises a first rail, a bracket, a supporting feature, a second rail and a handle. The bracket is arranged on the first rail. The supporting feature is arranged on one of the bracket and the first rail. The second rail is movable relative to the first rail. The handle is movable relative to the second rail. When the handle is moved from a first operating position to a second operating position, the handle is configured to contact the supporting feature in order to drive the second rail to move from a first predetermined position to a second predetermined position relative to the first rail.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, a slide rail assembly <NUM> comprises a first rail <NUM>, a bracket <NUM>, a supporting feature <NUM>, a second rail <NUM> and a handle <NUM> according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Preferably, the slide rail assembly <NUM> further comprises a third rail <NUM> (such as a middle rail) movably mounted between the first rail <NUM> (such as an outer rail) and the second rail <NUM> (such as an inner rail), and the third rail <NUM> is configured to extend a longitudinal moving distance of the second rail <NUM> relative to the first rail <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the X axis is a longitudinal direction (or a length direction or moving direction of the slide rail), the Y axis is a transverse direction (or a lateral direction of the slide rail), and the Z axis is a vertical direction (or a height direction of the slide rail).

The bracket <NUM> is arranged on the first rail <NUM>, and the first rail <NUM> is configured to be mounted to at least one post (such as a first post 36a and a second post 36b) of a rack <NUM> through the bracket <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the bracket <NUM> has a first side L1 and a second side L2 opposite to each other. The first side L1 of the bracket <NUM> is configured to be mounted to at least one corresponding feature (such as a mounting hole) of the rack <NUM> through at least one mounting feature <NUM> (such as an extension part, a bolt or the like as shown in <FIG>). Such configuration is well known to those skilled in the art, for simplification, no further illustration is provided. The second side L2 of the bracket <NUM> is connected to a first side (such as a back side) of the first rail <NUM>, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The third rail <NUM> and the second rail <NUM> are located on a second side of the first rail <NUM>. Moreover, since the bracket <NUM> is connected (such as fixedly connected) to the first rail <NUM>, the bracket <NUM> can be seen as a part of the first rail <NUM>, or the bracket <NUM> and the first rail <NUM> can be seen as one piece.

The supporting feature <NUM> is arranged on one of the first rail <NUM> and the second rail <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the supporting feature <NUM> is arranged on the bracket <NUM> of the first rail <NUM>, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The bracket <NUM> has a first end part 24a (such as a front end part) and a second end part 24b (such as a rear end part) opposite to each other. The supporting feature <NUM> is adjacent to the first end part 24a of the bracket <NUM>.

The second rail <NUM> is configured to be located at a first predetermined position P1 (such as a retracted position as shown in <FIG>, but the present invention is not limited thereto) relative to the first rail <NUM>.

The handle <NUM> is movable relative to the first rail <NUM> and the second rail <NUM>. In the first embodiment, the handle <NUM> is movably mounted on the second rail <NUM>.

Preferably, in the first embodiment, the supporting feature <NUM> is fixed to one of the bracket <NUM> and the first rail <NUM>. For example, the supporting feature <NUM> is fixed to the bracket <NUM>. Furthermore, the supporting feature <NUM> is a protrusion, and the supporting feature <NUM> can be an additional part fixed to the bracket <NUM>; or the supporting feature <NUM> can be directly integrated onto the bracket <NUM>, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

Preferably, the first rail <NUM> has a first predetermined height H1. The bracket <NUM> comprises a first part 42a, a second part 42b and a longitudinal part <NUM> connected between the first part 42a and the second part 42b of the bracket <NUM>. A second predetermined height H2 is defined between the first part 42a and the second part 42b of the bracket <NUM> and is greater than the first predetermined height H1 (as shown in <FIG>).

Preferably, the bracket <NUM> is connected to the first rail <NUM> through the longitudinal part <NUM>.

Preferably, the supporting feature <NUM> is arranged on the longitudinal part <NUM> of the bracket <NUM>, and the supporting feature <NUM> is located adjacent to the second part 42b of the bracket <NUM>.

Preferably, the supporting feature <NUM> is located adjacent to the first end part 24a of the bracket <NUM>.

Preferably, the second rail <NUM> comprises a first wall 46a, a second wall 46b and a longitudinal wall <NUM> connected between the first wall 46a and the second wall 46b of the second rail <NUM>. On the other hand, the second rail <NUM> has a first end part 28a and a second end part 28b opposite to each other. The handle <NUM> is movably mounted on the longitudinal wall <NUM> of the second rail <NUM>. The handle <NUM> is pivotally connected to the longitudinal wall <NUM> of the second rail <NUM> through a shaft member <NUM>, and, for example, the handle <NUM> is adjacent to the first end part 28a (such as a front end part) of the second rail <NUM> for convenience of a user.

The handle <NUM> comprises an operating part <NUM>, a corresponding part <NUM> and a main body part <NUM> connected between the operating part <NUM> and the corresponding part <NUM>. At least one portion of the operating part <NUM> exceeds (or is higher than) the first rail <NUM>. The corresponding part <NUM> is configured to interact with the supporting feature <NUM>. The main body part <NUM> is pivotally connected to the longitudinal wall <NUM> of the second rail <NUM> through the shaft member <NUM>.

The shaft member <NUM> is arranged on the longitudinal wall <NUM> of the second rail <NUM> transversely (or in a lateral direction of the slide rail, that is, the Y-axis direction), such that the user can easily move the handle <NUM> through the operating part <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the corresponding part <NUM> of the handle <NUM> comprises a first corresponding section <NUM> and a second corresponding section <NUM>, and a predetermined space S is defined between the second corresponding section <NUM> and the first corresponding section <NUM>. When the second rail <NUM> is located at the first predetermined position P1 relative to the first rail <NUM> and when the handle <NUM> is located at a first operating position K1 (such as an initial position or a position before being operated), the supporting feature <NUM> is located in the predetermined space S.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, during a process of moving the handle <NUM> from the first operating position K1 (as shown in <FIG>) to a second operating position K2 (a non-initial position or a position after being operated as shown in <FIG>), the handle <NUM> is configured to contact the supporting feature <NUM>, in order to drive the second rail <NUM> to move away from the first predetermined position P1 along an opening direction D1 (as shown in <FIG>). For example, the second rail <NUM> is driven to move from the first predetermined position P1 to a second predetermined position P2 (as shown in <FIG>).

For example, during a process of the user applying a force on the handle <NUM> (the operating portion <NUM> of the handle <NUM>) to move the handle <NUM> from the first operating position K1 (as shown in <FIG>) to the second operating position K2 (as shown in <FIG>) along a predetermined rotation direction R, the handle <NUM> is configured to continuously contact the supporting feature <NUM> through the first corresponding section <NUM> to generate an acting force, such that the second rail <NUM> is configured to be moved relative to the first rail <NUM> from the first predetermined position P1 (as shown in <FIG>) to the second predetermined position P2 (as shown in <FIG>) along the opening direction D1 in response to the acting force. Therefore, the user can easily open the second rail <NUM> from the first predetermined position P1 to the second predetermined position P2. For example, when the second rail <NUM> carries a carried object (such as electronic device, not shown figures), and when the carried object has a loading weight or an electronic plug (or socket) behind the carried object is required to be unplugged from a predetermined device or a predetermined power source, the user can use the handle <NUM> to open the second rail <NUM> from the first predetermined position P1 to the second predetermined position P2 with less effort.

Preferably, the first corresponding section <NUM> of the handle <NUM> has an inclined surface or an arc surface. Thereby, during the processing of moving the handle <NUM> from the first operating position K1 to the second operating position K2, the handle <NUM> can easily cross the support feature <NUM> through the first corresponding section <NUM>. On the other hand, the second corresponding section <NUM> of the handle <NUM> has a wall (such as a vertical wall, but the present invention is not limited thereto).

Moreover, when the second rail <NUM> is moved relative to the first rail <NUM> from the second predetermined position P2 (as shown in <FIG>) along a retracting direction D2 to the first predetermined position P1 (as shown in <FIG>), the handle <NUM> continuously contacts the supporting feature <NUM> through the first corresponding section <NUM> to generate another acting force, such that the handle <NUM> is moved from the second operating position K2 back to the first operating position K1.

<FIG> and <FIG> are diagrams showing a slide rail assembly <NUM> according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Different from the slide rail assembly <NUM> of the first embodiment, a supporting feature <NUM> of the slide rail assembly <NUM> of the second embodiment is movably mounted to one of a bracket <NUM> and a first rail <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the supporting feature <NUM> is movably mounted to the bracket <NUM>, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

Furthermore, the bracket <NUM> is configured to be mounted to a rack <NUM>. The supporting feature <NUM> can be a roller, a ball or the like. In the present embodiment, the supporting feature <NUM> is a roller. For example, the supporting feature <NUM> is pivotally connected to a longitudinal part <NUM> of the bracket <NUM> through an auxiliary shaft <NUM>, such that the supporting feature <NUM> is pivoted relative to the bracket <NUM>. Preferably, the supporting feature <NUM> comprises a guiding section <NUM>. The guiding section <NUM> has an arc surface. In the present embodiment, the supporting feature <NUM> has a circular profile to provide the arc surface.

During a processing of moving the handle <NUM> from a first operating position K1' (as shown in <FIG>) to a second operating position K2' (as shown in <FIG>) along a predetermined rotation direction R' through a shaft member <NUM>, the handle <NUM> is configured to contact the supporting feature <NUM> in order to drive the second rail <NUM> to move from a first predetermined position P1' (as shown in <FIG>) to a second predetermined position P2' (as shown in <FIG>). For example, during a process of the user applying a force on the handle <NUM> to move the handle <NUM> from the first operating position K1' to the second operating position K2', the handle <NUM> is configured to continuously contact the supporting feature <NUM> through a first corresponding section <NUM> to generate an acting force, such that the second rail <NUM> is configured to be moved relative to the first rail <NUM> from the first predetermined position P1' (as shown in <FIG>) to the second predetermined position P2' (as shown in <FIG>) along the opening direction D1 in response to the acting force. Therefore, the second embodiment can achieve substantially the same technical effect as that of the first embodiment.

Moreover, in the second embodiment, the supporting feature <NUM> can be a movable (such as rotatable) roller. When the handle <NUM> is moved from the first operating position K1' to the second operating position K2', and when the first corresponding section <NUM> of the handle <NUM> contacts the supporting feature <NUM>, the supporting feature <NUM> is configured to be rotated along a predetermined working direction r through the auxiliary shaft <NUM> (as shown in <FIG>, the predetermined working direction r is counterclockwise, but the present invention is not limited thereto), such that it is easier to move the handle <NUM> from the first operating position K1' to the second operating position K2'. For the user, the handle <NUM> can be operated with less effort.

<FIG> and <FIG> are diagrams showing a slide rail assembly <NUM> according to a third design not having all features of claim <NUM>. Different from the slide rail assembly <NUM> of the first embodiment, a second rail <NUM> of the slide rail assembly <NUM> of the third embodiment is configured to carry a carried object <NUM>, and a handle <NUM> is movably mounted to the carried object <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the handle <NUM> is pivotally connected to the carried object <NUM> through a shaft member <NUM>, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Moreover, the carried object <NUM> is fixed on the second rail <NUM>, such that the carried object <NUM> can be seen as a part of the second rail <NUM>, or the carried object <NUM> and the second rail <NUM> can be seen as one piece.

During a process of moving the handle <NUM> from a first operating position Ka (as shown in <FIG>) to a second operating position Kb (as shown in <FIG>) along a predetermined rotation direction, the handle <NUM> is configured to contact the supporting feature <NUM>, in order to drive the second rail <NUM> (and the carried object <NUM>) to move from a first predetermined position Pa (as shown in <FIG>) to a second predetermined position Pb (as shown in <FIG>). For example, during a process of the user applying a force on the handle <NUM> to move the handle <NUM> from the first operating position Ka to the second operating position Kb, the handle <NUM> is configured to continuously contact the supporting feature <NUM> through the first corresponding section <NUM> to generate an acting force, such that the second rail <NUM> is configured to be moved relative to the first rail <NUM> from the first predetermined position Pa (as shown in <FIG>) to the second predetermined position Pb (as shown in <FIG>) along the opening direction D1. Therefore, the third embodiment can achieve substantially the same technical effect as that of the first embodiment. For example, the user can move the second rail <NUM> (and the carried object <NUM>) from the first predetermined position Pa to the second predetermined position Pb with less effort through the handle <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> are diagrams showing a slide rail assembly <NUM> according to a fourth design not having all features of claim <NUM>. Different from the slide rail assembly <NUM> of the second embodiment, a second rail <NUM> of a slide rail assembly <NUM> of the fourth embodiment is configured to carry a carried object <NUM>, and a handle <NUM> is movably mounted to the carried object <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the handle <NUM> is pivotally connected to the carried object <NUM> through a shaft member <NUM>, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Moreover, the carried object <NUM> is fixed on the second rail <NUM>, such that the carried object <NUM> can be seen as a part of the second rail <NUM>, or the carried object <NUM> and the second rail <NUM> can be seen as one piece.

During a process of moving the handle <NUM> from a first operating position Ka' (as shown in <FIG>) to a second operating position Kb' (as shown in <FIG>) along a predetermined rotation direction, the handle <NUM> is configured to contact a supporting feature <NUM>, in order to drive the second rail <NUM> (and the carried object <NUM>) to move from a first predetermined position Pa' (as shown in <FIG>) to a second predetermined position Pb' (as shown in <FIG>). For example, during a process of the user applying a force on the handle <NUM> to move the handle <NUM> from the first operating position Ka' to the second operating position Kb', the handle <NUM> is configured to continuously contact the supporting feature <NUM> through the first corresponding section <NUM> to generate an acting force, such that the second rail <NUM> is configured to be moved relative to the first rail <NUM> from the first predetermined position Pa' (as shown in <FIG>) to the second predetermined position Pb' (as shown in <FIG>) along the opening direction D1. Therefore, the fourth embodiment can achieve substantially the same technical effect as that of the second embodiment.

Moreover, in the fourth embodiment, the supporting feature <NUM> can be a movable (rotatable) roller. When the handle <NUM> is moved from the first operating position Ka' to the second operating position Kb', and when the first corresponding section <NUM> of the handle <NUM> contacts the supporting feature <NUM>, the supporting feature <NUM> is configured to rotated along a predetermined working direction r' through an auxiliary shaft <NUM> (as shown in <FIG>), such that it is easier to move the handle <NUM> from the first operating position Ka' to the second operating position Kb'. For the user, the handle <NUM> can be operated with less effort.

Claim 1:
A slide rail assembly (<NUM>, <NUM>), comprising:
a first rail (<NUM>, <NUM>);
a bracket (<NUM>, <NUM>) arranged on the first rail (<NUM>, <NUM>);
a supporting feature (<NUM>, <NUM>) arranged on one of the bracket (<NUM>, <NUM>) and the first rail (<NUM>, <NUM>);
a second rail (<NUM>, <NUM>) movable relative to the first rail (<NUM>, <NUM>); and
a handle (<NUM>, <NUM>) movable relative to the second rail (<NUM>, <NUM>);
wherein when the handle (<NUM>, <NUM>) is moved from a first operating position to a second operating position, the handle (<NUM>, <NUM>) is configured to contact the supporting feature (<NUM>, <NUM>) in order to drive the second rail (<NUM>, <NUM>) to move from a first predetermined position to a second predetermined position relative to the first rail (<NUM>, <NUM>) ;
the assembly characterized in that the handle (<NUM>, <NUM>) is movably mounted on a longitudinal wall (<NUM>) of the second rail (<NUM>, <NUM>); wherein the handle (<NUM>, <NUM>) is pivotally connected to the longitudinal wall (<NUM>) of the second rail (<NUM>, <NUM>) through a shaft member (<NUM>, <NUM>);
the handle (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprises an operating part (<NUM>), a corresponding part (<NUM>) and a main body part (<NUM>) connected between the operating part (<NUM>) and the corresponding part (<NUM>);
the shaft member (<NUM>, <NUM>) is arranged on the longitudinal wall (<NUM>) of the second rail (<NUM>, <NUM>) transversely, such that the user can easily move the handle (<NUM>, <NUM>) through the operating part (<NUM>).