Patent Description:
US patent number <CIT> discloses a slide rail assembly, which comprises a first rail, a second rail, a blocking base, a ball retainer and a blocking member. The second rail is movable relative to the first rail. The blocking base is arranged on the first rail and has a limiting part. The ball retainer is configured to facilitate movement between the second rail and the first rail. The ball retainer has a contact part. The contact part of the ball retainer is a fixed portion (non-movable portion). The blocking member is configured to be operatively moved relative to the second rail from a first state to a second state. When the blocking member is in the first state, the blocking member is configured to push the contact part of the ball retainer to move the ball retainer in response to a movement of the second rail along an opening direction until the blocking member abuts against the limiting part of the blocking base. Meanwhile, an engagement feature of the ball retainer is engaged with an elastic arm on the blocking base of the first rail, such that the ball retainer can be temporarily held and stopped at a predetermined position, and the contact part of the ball retainer and the limiting part of the blocking base are separated from each other.

However, such separation requires more space. Once a manufacturing tolerance is over the limit, such as a specific dimension is too large or a specific position is too close, movement smoothness of the ball retainer will be affected. Therefore, for different market requirements, it is important to develop various products. Other similar slide rail assemblies can be found for example in <CIT> and <CIT>.

This in mind, the present invention aims at providing a slide rail assembly capable of forcibly driving a slide assisting device to move to a predetermined position.

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

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

The third rail <NUM> comprises 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>. A passage <NUM> is defined by the first wall 28a, the second wall 28b and the longitudinal wall <NUM> of the third rail <NUM> in order to accommodate the first rail <NUM>. The third rail <NUM> has a front part 26a and a rear part 26b.

The first rail <NUM> comprises 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>. A passage <NUM> is defined by the first wall 34a, the second wall 34b and the longitudinal wall <NUM> of the first rail <NUM> in order to accommodate the second rail <NUM>. The first rail <NUM> has a front part 22a and a rear part 22b.

The second rail <NUM> comprises 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> has a front part 24a and a rear part 24b.

Preferably, at least one slide assisting member <NUM> is arranged in the passage <NUM> of the third rail <NUM>. The slide assisting member <NUM> comprises a plurality of rolling balls to improve smoothness of relative movement between the first rail <NUM> and the third rail <NUM>. On the other hand, the slide rail assembly <NUM> further comprises a slide assisting device <NUM> movably mounted between the first rail <NUM> and the second rail <NUM>. Moreover, the slide assisting device <NUM> is arranged in the passage <NUM> of the first rail <NUM>, and the slide assisting device <NUM> comprises a plurality of rolling members <NUM>, such as rolling balls (please refer to <FIG>), in order to improve smoothness of relative movement between the second rail <NUM> and the first rail <NUM>.

Preferably, the slide assisting device <NUM> comprises a main body <NUM>. The plurality of rolling members <NUM> are arranged on the main body <NUM> and configured to support the first rail <NUM> and the second rail <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the first rail <NUM> comprises a blocking feature <NUM> and is formed with a predetermined space <NUM>. The blocking feature <NUM> is located inside the passage <NUM> of the first rail <NUM>.

Preferably, the blocking feature <NUM>, such as a protrusion part, is transversely (or laterally) protruded relative to the longitudinal wall <NUM> of the first rail <NUM>, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In the present embodiment, the blocking feature <NUM> is located adjacent to the front part 22a of the first rail <NUM>.

Preferably, the longitudinal wall <NUM> of the first rail <NUM> is formed with the predetermined space <NUM>. For example, the longitudinal wall <NUM> of the first rail <NUM> comprises a groove to provide the predetermined space <NUM>. Or, in the present embodiment, the predetermined space <NUM> is provided by an opening, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In the present embodiment, the predetermined space <NUM> is laterally communicated with a first side L1 and a second side L2 of the longitudinal wall <NUM> of the first rail <NUM>. The first side L1 is opposite to the second side L2. The first side L1 of the longitudinal wall <NUM> of the first rail <NUM> faces the longitudinal wall <NUM> of the third rail <NUM>, and the second side L2 of the longitudinal wall <NUM> of the first rail <NUM> faces the longitudinal wall <NUM> of the second rail <NUM> (please also refer to <FIG>).

Preferably, the slide assisting device <NUM> is located inside the passage <NUM> of the first rail <NUM>.

Preferably, the main body <NUM> of the slide assisting device <NUM> comprises a first part 54a, a second part 54b and a longitudinal part <NUM> connected between the first part 54a and the second part 54b of the main body <NUM>. The plurality of rolling members <NUM> are arranged on the first part 54a and the second part 54b of the main body <NUM> (due to the viewing angle, <FIG> only shows the rolling members <NUM> on the second part 54b of the main body <NUM> without showing the rolling members <NUM> on the first part 54a of the main body <NUM>). The first part 54a, the second part 54b and the longitudinal part <NUM> respectively correspond to the first wall 34a, the second wall 34b and the longitudinal wall <NUM> of the first rail <NUM>.

The slide rail assembly <NUM> further comprises an elastic member <NUM> arranged on the main body <NUM> of the slide assisting device <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the elastic member <NUM> and the main body <NUM> are two independent components, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

Preferably, the elastic member <NUM> is arranged on the longitudinal part <NUM> of the main body <NUM>. The elastic member <NUM> comprises a connecting part <NUM>, an elastic part <NUM> and a predetermined part <NUM>. The connecting part <NUM> of the elastic member <NUM> is connected (such as fixedly connected) to the longitudinal part <NUM> of the main body <NUM>. The elastic part <NUM> is extended from the connecting part <NUM>, and the predetermined part <NUM> is located on the elastic part <NUM>. The predetermined part <NUM> (such as a protrusion) is transversely protruded relative to the elastic part <NUM>, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The elastic part <NUM> is configured to be supported by the longitudinal wall <NUM> of the first rail <NUM> to hold the elastic member <NUM> to be in an initial state K1 to accumulate an elastic force F.

Preferably, the longitudinal part <NUM> of the main body <NUM> is formed with a space <NUM> (such as an opening) communicating with two sides of the longitudinal part <NUM> of the main body <NUM>. The elastic part <NUM> transversely penetrates through the space <NUM>, so that the elastic part <NUM> is supported by the longitudinal wall <NUM> of the first rail <NUM> to hold the elastic member <NUM> to be in the initial state K1 and accumulate the elastic force F.

Preferably, the slide rail assembly <NUM> further comprises an engaging member <NUM> arranged on the first rail <NUM>. The engaging member <NUM> comprises a fixed part <NUM> and an elastic arm <NUM>. The fixed part <NUM> is fixed to the longitudinal wall <NUM> of the first rail <NUM>. The elastic arm <NUM> is extended from the fixed part <NUM>, and the elastic arm <NUM> comprises a fastening section <NUM>. On the other hand, the main body <NUM> of the slide assisting device <NUM> further comprises a fastening part <NUM> configured to interact with the fastening section <NUM>. The fastening part <NUM> is located adjacent to a front end of the main body <NUM>, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

As shown in <FIG>, the slide rail assembly <NUM> further comprises a working member <NUM> arranged on the second rail <NUM>. Furthermore, the working member <NUM> is movably mounted to the second rail <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the working member <NUM> is pivotally connected to the second rail <NUM> through a shaft member <NUM>.

Preferably, the slide rail assembly <NUM> further comprises an operating member <NUM> and an auxiliary base <NUM>. The operating member <NUM> is configured to be operated to move the working member <NUM>. The operating member <NUM> is movably mounted to the second rail <NUM>. For example, the operating member <NUM> is movable relative to the second rail <NUM> along the length direction of the second rail <NUM>. The second rail <NUM> comprises at least one holding feature <NUM> configured to support the operating member <NUM> in order to improve stability when the operating member <NUM> is operated to move.

Preferably, the operating member <NUM> comprises an operating part 86a, a driving part 86b and an extension part 86c connected between the operating part 86a and the driving part 86b.

Preferably, the auxiliary base <NUM> is arranged on the second rail <NUM>, and the auxiliary base <NUM> is configured to provide an elastic force to the working member <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the auxiliary base <NUM> comprises an elastic section <NUM> configured to provide the elastic force to the working member <NUM>. The working member <NUM> is held in a first state S1 in response to the elastic force of the elastic section <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the first rail <NUM> is extended relative to the third rail <NUM>, and the front part 22a of the first rail <NUM> is extended beyond the front part 26a of the third rail <NUM>. The working member <NUM> is held in the first state S1 in response to the elastic force of the elastic section <NUM> of the auxiliary base <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, during a process of the second rail <NUM> (the second rail <NUM> is omitted in <FIG> and <FIG>) being moved relative to the first rail <NUM> from a retracted position along an opening direction D1, the working member <NUM> in the first state S1 is configured to contact the predetermined part <NUM> of the elastic member <NUM> in the initial state K1 (as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>), in order to forcibly drive the slide assisting device <NUM> to move along the opening direction D1 to a predetermined position P (as shown in <FIG>). When the slide assisting device <NUM> is located at the predetermined position P, the elastic member <NUM> releases the elastic force F through the predetermined space <NUM> of the first rail <NUM> (the elastic part <NUM> of the elastic member <NUM> transversely extended into the predetermined space <NUM> of the first rail <NUM>) to be switched from the initial state K1 (as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>) to a non-initial state K2 (as shown in <FIG>), such that the working member <NUM> no longer contacts the elastic member <NUM>.

Moreover, during the process of the second rail <NUM> being moved relative to the first rail <NUM> along the opening direction D1, the working member <NUM> is configured to contact the predetermined part <NUM> on the elastic part <NUM> of the elastic member <NUM> (as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>) in order to forcibly drive the slide assisting device <NUM> to move along the opening direction D1, such that the slide assisting device <NUM> can be ensured to be close to the front part 22a of the first rail <NUM>. Thereby, the first wall 40a and the second wall 40b of a predetermined section (such as a middle section and/or a rear section, but the present invention is not limited thereto) of the second rail <NUM> can be properly supported by the slide assisting device <NUM> (the rolling members <NUM> of the slide assisting device <NUM>) as shown in <FIG>.

When the slide assisting device <NUM> is forcibly driven to move to the predetermined position P (as shown in <FIG>), the elastic part <NUM> of the elastic member <NUM> releases the elastic force F through the predetermined space <NUM> of the longitudinal wall <NUM> of the first rail <NUM>, such that the elastic part <NUM> of the elastic member <NUM> is transversely (or laterally) moved to switch the elastic member <NUM> from the initial state K1 (as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>) to the non-initial state K2 (as shown in <FIG>). Therefore, the working member <NUM> is separated from the predetermined part <NUM> on the elastic part <NUM> of the elastic member <NUM>, such that the working member <NUM> no longer contacts the predetermined part <NUM> on the elastic part <NUM> of the elastic member <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, when the second rail <NUM> (the second rail <NUM> is omitted in <FIG> and <FIG>) is further moved relative to the first rail <NUM> along the opening direction D1 to an extension position E, the blocking feature <NUM> of the first rail <NUM> is configured to block the working member <NUM> in the first state S1, in order to prevent the second rail <NUM> from being moved from the extension position E along the opening direction D1 (as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>).

Preferably, when the second rail <NUM> is further moved relative to the first rail <NUM> along the opening direction D1 to the extension position E, the slide assisting device <NUM> is moved (differentially moved) along with the second rail <NUM> along the opening direction D1 by a predetermined distance J (as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>), such that the engaging member <NUM> (the fastening section <NUM> of the engaging member <NUM>) is configured to engage with the slide assisting device <NUM> (the fastening part <NUM> of the slide assisting device <NUM>) to temporarily hold the slide assisting device <NUM> at a position close to the front part 22a of the first rail <NUM> (as shown in <FIG>).

Moreover, the aforementioned differential movement is a movement of the rolling members <NUM> of the slide assisting device <NUM> being driven to roll in response to the movement of the second rail <NUM> relative to the first rail <NUM>, so that displacement of the slide assisting device <NUM> is smaller than actual displacement of the second rail <NUM>. Such configuration is well known to those skilled in the art, for simplification, no further illustration is provided.

In addition, the second rail <NUM> can be moved relative to the first rail <NUM> from the extension position E along a retraction direction D2. During a process of the second rail <NUM> being moved from the extension position E along the retraction direction D2, the engaging member <NUM> (the fastening section <NUM> of the engaging member <NUM>) can be disengaged from the slide assisting device <NUM> (the fastening part <NUM> of the slide assisting device <NUM>) through a predetermined feature <NUM> or a predetermine portion of the second rail <NUM> (such as an inclined surface or an arc surface as shown in <FIG>). For example, the predetermined feature <NUM> is configured to drive the elastic arm <NUM> of the engaging member <NUM> to deflect, in order to disengage the engaging member <NUM> (the fastening section <NUM> of the engaging member <NUM>) from the slide assisting device <NUM> (the fastening part <NUM> of the slide assisting device <NUM>). Such configuration is well known to those skilled in the art, for simplification, no further illustration is provided. Moreover, after the engaging member <NUM> (the fastening section <NUM> of the engaging member <NUM>) is disengaged from the slide assisting device <NUM> (the fastening part <NUM> of the slide assisting device <NUM>), the rolling members <NUM> of the slide assisting device <NUM> is configured to be driven to roll in response to movement of the second rail <NUM> along the retraction direction D2, such that the slide assisting device <NUM> is moved (differentially moved) along the retraction direction D2. During such process, the elastic member <NUM> (the elastic part <NUM> of the elastic member <NUM>) is configured to be moved away from the predetermined space <NUM> of the first rail <NUM> to return to the initial state K1 from the non-initial state K2.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the operating member <NUM> is configured to be operated to drive the working member <NUM> to switch from the first state S1 (as shown in <FIG>) to a second state S2 (as shown in <FIG>), such that the blocking feature <NUM> of the first rail <NUM> no longer blocks the working member <NUM> in order to allow the second rail <NUM> to move from the extension position E along the opening direction D1.

Moreover, a user can apply an operating force F' to the operating part 86a of the operating member <NUM> to move the operating member <NUM> from a first operating position X1 (as shown in <FIG>) to a second operating position X2 (as shown in <FIG>), such that driving part 86b of the operating member <NUM> is configured to drive the working member <NUM> to rotate from the first state S1 (as shown in <FIG>) to the second state S2 (as shown in <FIG>). Therefore, the blocking feature <NUM> of the first rail <NUM> no longer blocks the working member <NUM>, so as to allow the second rail <NUM> to move from the extension position E along the opening direction D1 to be detached from the passage <NUM> of the first rail <NUM> (as shown in <FIG>).

<FIG> shows a first rail <NUM> according to another embodiment of the present invention. Different from the first rail <NUM>, the first rail <NUM> is configured to have an elastic member <NUM> being integrated to the main body <NUM> of the slide assisting device <NUM>. Such configuration can achieve the same technical effect as the aforementioned embodiment.

Claim 1:
A slide rail assembly (<NUM>), comprising:
a first rail (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprising a blocking feature (<NUM>) and being formed with a predetermined space (<NUM>);
a second rail (<NUM>) longitudinally movable relative to the first rail (<NUM>, <NUM>);
a slide assisting device (<NUM>) movably mounted between the first rail (<NUM>, <NUM>) and the second rail (<NUM>);
an elastic member (<NUM>, <NUM>) arranged on the slide assisting device (<NUM>); and
a working member (<NUM>) arranged on the second rail (<NUM>);
wherein during a process of the second rail (<NUM>) being moved relative to the first rail (<NUM>, <NUM>) along an opening direction, the working member (<NUM>) is configured to contact the elastic member (<NUM>, <NUM>) in an initial state in order to drive the slide assisting device (<NUM>) to move along the opening direction to a predetermined position;
characterized in that:
when the slide assisting device (<NUM>) is located at the predetermined position, the elastic member (<NUM>, <NUM>) is configured to release an elastic force through the predetermined space (<NUM>) of the first rail (<NUM>, <NUM>) to be switched from the initial state to a non-initial state, such that the working member (<NUM>) no longer contacts the elastic member (<NUM>, <NUM>) in the non-initial state; and
when the second rail (<NUM>) is further moved relative to the first rail (<NUM>, <NUM>) along the opening direction to an extension position, the blocking feature (<NUM>) of the first rail (<NUM>, <NUM>) is configured to block the working member (<NUM>) in order to prevent the second rail (<NUM>) from being moved from the extension position along the opening direction.