Patent Description:
Patent number <CIT> discloses a rotational bar for drawer slide latch operation. A drawer slide comprises an outer member (such as an outer rail) and an inner member (such as an inner rail) movable relative to each other. A release leaver is pivotally mounted to the inner member, and the release lever has a tab for being engaged with a predetermined catch of the outer member, such that the inner member is held in a position relative to the outer member. An arm is connected to an end of a rotating bar, and the arm is positioned to engage the release lever. According to such arrangement, when a user applies a force to the rotating bar, the rotating bar is configured to drive the arm to unlock the tab of the release lever from the catch of the outer member.

US patent number <CIT> discloses a drawer release mechanism, which comprises a handle extrusion. A side of the handle extrusion is provided with a first pin (or a second pin) which is engaged with a lever. The lever is pivotally mounted to an inner rail. When a user applies a force to the handle extrusion, the handle extrusion is configured to drive the first pin to move the lever, so as to unlock the inner rail from the outer rail.

The rotating bar and the handle extrusion respectively disclosed in the aforementioned two patents are configured to rotate when the user applies the force. However, there is no change in height when the rotating bar and the handle extrusion are rotated relative to the slide rail (or the drawer). In addition, the rotating bar is engaged with the release lever; similarly, the handle extrusion is also engaged with the lever through the first pin.

However, in order to meet diverse requirements of the market, sometimes it is not desirable to unlock the rail through the arrangement disclosed in the aforementioned patents. Therefore, it is important to develop various products.

<CIT> discloses a slide rail mechanism, comprising: a first slide rail assembly (<NUM>) and a second slide rail assembly, each of the first and second slide rail assemblies comprising a first rail and a second rail movable relative to each other, and a locking member configured to lock the second rail relative to the first rail at a predetermined position; and an unlocking handle movably mounted between the first slide rail assembly and the second slide rail assembly; wherein when the unlocking handle is moved from a first position to a second position, the unlocking handle is configured to drive the locking member to move in order to unlock the second rail relative to the first rail at the predetermined position; wherein the unlocking handle is configured to be linearly moved from the first position to the second position.

Further slide rail mechanisms are known from <CIT>, <CIT>, and <CIT>.

This in mind, the present invention aims at providing a slide rail mechanism having an unlocking handle.

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

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, a slide rail mechanism <NUM> comprises a first slide rail assembly <NUM>, a second slide rail assembly <NUM> and an unlocking handle <NUM> according to a first example not according to the present invention. The first slide rail assembly <NUM> and the second slide rail assembly <NUM> have substantially identical structural configuration. Each of the slide rail assemblies <NUM>, <NUM> comprises a first rail <NUM> and a second rail <NUM>. The first rail <NUM> and the second rail <NUM> are longitudinally movable relative to each other, and the second rail <NUM> can be located relative to the first rail <NUM> at a predetermined position R (such as a retracted position, but the present example is not limited thereto). In the present example not according to the invention, the X-axis is a longitudinal direction (or a length 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).

Preferably, the first rail <NUM> is configured to be fixed to a rack or a cabinet (not shown in figures), and the second rail <NUM> is configured to carry a carried object (not shown in figures).

Preferably, each of the slide rail assemblies <NUM>, <NUM> further comprises a third rail <NUM> movably mounted between the first rail <NUM> and the second rail <NUM> and configured to extend an opening traveling distance of the second rail <NUM> relative to the first rail <NUM>.

The unlocking handle <NUM> is movably mounted between the first slide rail assembly <NUM> and the second slide rail assembly <NUM>. For example, the unlocking handle <NUM> is movable from a first position P1 (as shown in <FIG>) to a second position P2 (as shown in <FIG>). In the present example not according to the invention, the unlocking handle <NUM> is movably mounted between the second rail <NUM> of the first slide rail assembly <NUM> and the second rail <NUM> of the second slide rail assembly <NUM>, such that the unlocking handle <NUM> is movable relative to the second rail <NUM> of the first slide rail assembly <NUM> and the second rail <NUM> of the second slide rail assembly <NUM>.

Preferably, each of the second rails <NUM> has a front part 30a and a rear part 30b, and the unlocking handle <NUM> is arranged adjacent to the front parts 30a of the two second rails <NUM>.

Preferably, the unlocking handle <NUM> comprises two working members (such as a first working member <NUM> and a second working member <NUM>) and a linkage rod <NUM>. The two working members <NUM>, <NUM> have substantially identical structural configuration. The linkage rod <NUM> is arranged between the two working members <NUM>, <NUM>. The two working members <NUM>, <NUM> are rotatably connected to the second rail <NUM> of the first slide rail assembly <NUM> and the second rail <NUM> of the second slide rail assembly <NUM> respectively. For example, a user can apply a force K along a predetermined direction (such as an upward direction) to the linkage rod <NUM> of the unlocking handle <NUM>, such that the two working members <NUM>, <NUM> of the unlocking handle <NUM> are rotated to move from the first position P1 (as shown in <FIG>) to the second position P2 (as shown in <FIG>).

Preferably, when the unlocking handle <NUM> is located at the first position P1, the linkage rod <NUM> of the unlocking handle <NUM> is at a first height H1 relative to each of the slide rail assemblies <NUM>, <NUM> (as shown in <FIG>). When the unlocking handle <NUM> is located at the second position P2, the linkage rod <NUM> of the unlocking handle <NUM> is at a second height H2 relative to each of the slide rail assemblies <NUM>, <NUM> (as shown in <FIG>). The second height H2 is different from the first height H1. For example, the second height H2 is higher than the first height H1. In other words, when the unlocking handle <NUM> is operated, the linkage rod <NUM> of the unlocking handle <NUM> is moved to be at different heights relative to each of the slide rail assemblies <NUM>, <NUM>.

Preferably, each of the working members <NUM>, <NUM> (such as the first working member <NUM>) comprises a first part <NUM> and a second part <NUM> (as shown in <FIG>). A predetermined distance M is defined between the first part <NUM> and the second part <NUM> (as shown in <FIG>). The first part <NUM> is pivotally connected to the second rail <NUM> through a connecting member <NUM>. The linkage rod <NUM> is connected to the second part <NUM>.

Preferably, the unlocking handle <NUM> is detachably connected between the second rail <NUM> of the first slide rail assembly <NUM> and the second rail <NUM> of the second slide rail assembly <NUM>. For example, the connecting member <NUM> can be a screw, a bolt or the like, but the present example is not limited thereto. In other words, the unlocking handle <NUM> can be detachably connected between the second rail <NUM> of the first slide rail assembly <NUM> and the second rail <NUM> of the second slide rail assembly <NUM> through the connecting member <NUM>.

Preferably, each of the working members <NUM>, <NUM> (such as the first working member <NUM>) is arranged with a first limiting feature <NUM>, and each of the second rails <NUM> (such as the second rail <NUM> of first slide rail assembly <NUM>) is arranged with a second limiting feature <NUM>. The two working members <NUM>, <NUM> are configured to rotate within a limited range through interaction between the first limiting feature <NUM> and the second limiting feature <NUM>. For example, one of the first limiting feature <NUM> and the second limiting feature <NUM> is an arc hole (or an arc slot), and the other one of the first limiting feature <NUM> and the second limiting feature <NUM> is a protrusion part extended into a portion of the arc hole (or the arc slot), but the present example is not limited thereto.

As shown in <FIG>, each of the slide rail assemblies (the first slide rail assembly <NUM> and the second slide rail assembly <NUM>) further comprises a locking member <NUM> configured to lock the second rail <NUM> relative to the first rail <NUM> at the predetermined position R.

Preferably, the locking member <NUM> is configured to block one edge S of a blocking structure <NUM> of the first rail <NUM>. In the present example not according to the invention, the blocking structure <NUM> is a protruded structure. However, in other alternative examples, the blocking structure <NUM> can be a recessed (or hole) structure, but the present example is not limited thereto. Furthermore, the locking member <NUM> is movably mounted to the second rail <NUM>. For example, the locking member <NUM> is pivotally connected to the second rail <NUM> through a shaft member <NUM>.

Preferably, each of the slide rail assemblies (the first slide rail assembly <NUM> and the second slide rail assembly <NUM>) further comprises an elastic member <NUM> attached to the second rail <NUM>. The elastic member <NUM> comprises an elastic part <NUM> configured to provide an elastic force to the locking member <NUM>, such that the locking member <NUM> can be held in a state of blocking the blocking structure <NUM> of the first rail <NUM>.

Preferably, each of the slide rail assemblies <NUM>, <NUM> further comprises an operating member <NUM> movably mounted to the second rail <NUM>. For example, the operating member <NUM> is linearly movable relative to the second rail <NUM>. A linearly moving direction of the operating member <NUM> is identical to a moving direction (such as a longitudinal direction) of the second rail <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, when the unlocking handle <NUM> is moved from the first position P1 (as shown in <FIG>) to the second position P2 (as shown in <FIG>), the unlocking handle <NUM> is configured to drive the locking member <NUM> to move in order to unlock the second rail <NUM> relative to the first rail <NUM> at the predetermined location R (as shown in <FIG>), such that the second rail <NUM> can be moved away from the predetermined location R.

Furthermore, when the user applies the force K to the unlocking handle <NUM>, each of the working members <NUM>, <NUM> (such as the second working member <NUM>) of the unlocking handle <NUM> is rotated and moved from the first position P1 (as shown in <FIG>) to the second position P2 (as shown in <FIG>) by the force K, such that each of the working members <NUM>, <NUM> (such as the second working member <NUM>) is configured to drive the locking member <NUM> to move through the operating member <NUM> in order to unlock the second rail <NUM> relative to the first rail <NUM> at the predetermined location R. For example, when the user applies the force K to the linkage rod <NUM> of the unlocking handle <NUM>, the two working members <NUM>, <NUM> of the unlocking handle <NUM> are rotated around the connecting member <NUM> as a rotational axis to be moved from the first position P1 (as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>) to the second position P2 (as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>), such that each of the two working members <NUM>, <NUM> generates a driving force F to drive the operating member <NUM> to move linearly. A first feature <NUM> of the operating member <NUM> is configured to be in contact with a second feature <NUM> of the locking member <NUM> (such as a contact between two inclined portions as shown in <FIG>, or a contact between an inclined portion and an arc portion, or a contact between two arc portions), such that the operating member <NUM> can easily drive the locking member <NUM> to deflect an angle, in order to disengage the locking member <NUM> from the edge S of the blocking structure <NUM> of the first rail <NUM> (as shown in <FIG> ), so as to allow the second rail <NUM> to move relative to the first rail <NUM> along a direction D (such as an opening direction). When the locking member <NUM> is operated to deflect the angle, the elastic part <NUM> of the elastic member <NUM> is elastically bent to be in a state of accumulating an elastic force (as shown in <FIG> ), and the second feature <NUM> of the locking member <NUM> is moved toward a hole <NUM> of the second rail <NUM>. Moreover, when the locking member <NUM> is driven to deflect the angle, a shoulder part <NUM> of the locking member <NUM> is configured to abut against a limiting part <NUM> of the second rail <NUM> (as shown in <FIG>).

Moreover, in other alternative examples, the operating member <NUM> can be omitted. Furthermore, when the unlocking handle <NUM> is operated to move from the first position P1 to the second position P2, each of the working members <NUM>, <NUM> (such as the second working member <NUM>) can directly drive the locking member <NUM> to move in order to unlock the second rail <NUM> relative to the first rail <NUM> at the predetermined position R.

Therefore, the user only needs to apply the force K to the linkage rod <NUM> of the unlocking handle <NUM> with one hand, such that the unlocking handle <NUM> can be moved from the first position P1 to the second position P2 in order to unlock the second rails <NUM> relative to the first rails <NUM> of the two opposite slide rail assemblies <NUM>, <NUM> at the predetermined position R. It is convenient to the user since there is no need to operate with both hands. In addition, the predetermined distance M of each of the working members <NUM>, <NUM> (such as the first working member <NUM>) can be regarded as a length of a moment arm, such that a labor-saving effect can be achieved when the user applies the force K to the linkage rod <NUM> of the unlocking handle <NUM> to drive the locking member <NUM> to move.

As shown in <FIG>, when the locking member <NUM> is disengaged from the blocking structure <NUM> of the first rail <NUM>, the second rail <NUM> can be moved away from the predetermined position R relative to the first rail <NUM>, such that both the second rail <NUM> and the third rail <NUM> are movable relative to the first rail <NUM> along the direction D to make each of the slide rail assemblies <NUM>, <NUM> in an extended state. When the user stops applying the force K to the linkage rod <NUM> of the unlocking handle <NUM>, the two working members <NUM>, <NUM> of the unlocking handle <NUM> return to the first position P1 (as shown in <FIG>) from the second position P2 (please refer to <FIG>).

<FIG> and <FIG> are diagrams showing a slide rail mechanism <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the first example not according to the invention, the unlocking handle <NUM> of the slide rail mechanism <NUM> is moved through rotation of the working member <NUM>. A main difference between the embodiment of the invention and the first example not according to the invention is that an unlocking handle <NUM> of the slide rail mechanism <NUM> of the embodiment is linearly (or longitudinally) moved from a first position P1' (as shown in <FIG>) to a second position P2' (as shown in <FIG>).

Furthermore, one of a second rail <NUM> and the unlocking handle <NUM> of each of the slide rail assemblies (a first slide rail assembly <NUM> and a second slide rail assembly <NUM>) comprises a first predetermined feature <NUM> (such as a longitudinal groove or a longitudinal hole), and the other one of the second rail <NUM> and the unlocking handle <NUM> comprises a second predetermined feature <NUM> (such as a protrusion or an object similar to the connecting member <NUM>, which can be inserted into a portion of the longitudinal slot or longitudinal hole). Through interaction between the first predetermined feature <NUM> and the second predetermined feature <NUM>, the unlocking handle <NUM> can be linearly moved from the first position P1' (as shown in <FIG>) to the second position P2' (as shown in <FIG>) along a linear direction L, so as to provide a driving force F' to drive the operating member <NUM> to move the locking member <NUM>, in order to disengage the locking member <NUM> from a blocking structure <NUM> of the first rail <NUM> (as shown in <FIG>), thus the second rail <NUM> can be moved away from the predetermined position R' relative to the first rail <NUM>. The linear direction L is identical to a moving direction of the second rail <NUM>. For example, both of the linear direction L and the moving direction of the second rail <NUM> are longitudinal directions. In other words, the linear direction L is substantially parallel to the moving direction of the second rail <NUM>. Moreover, configuration of the locking member <NUM> locking the second rail <NUM> relative to the first rail <NUM> of the embodiment of the invention dd is identical to that of the first example not according to the invention. For simplification, no further illustration is provided.

<FIG> is a diagram showing a slide rail mechanism <NUM> according to a second example not according to the present invention. In the first embodiment, the unlocking handle <NUM> of the slide rail mechanism <NUM> is movably mounted between the second rail <NUM> of the first slide rail assembly <NUM> and the second rail <NUM> of the second slide rail assembly <NUM>. A main difference between the second and the first example is that an unlocking handle <NUM> of the slide rail mechanism <NUM> of the second example not according to the invention is movably mounted to a carried object <NUM> mounted between a second rail <NUM> of the first slide rail assembly <NUM> and a second rail <NUM> of the second slide rail assembly <NUM>.

Furthermore, the first rail <NUM> of each of the slide rail assemblies <NUM>, <NUM> can be fixed to a rack or a cabinet (not shown in figures), and the second rail <NUM> of each of the slide rail assemblies <NUM>, <NUM> is configured to carry the carried object <NUM>. Each of working members <NUM> comprises a first part and a second part. The first part is pivotally connected to the carried object <NUM> through a connecting member <NUM>. The connecting member <NUM> can be a screw, a bolt or the like, but the present example is not limited thereto. A linkage rod <NUM> is connected to the second parts of the working members <NUM>.

According to such configuration, the user can also apply a force to drive the unlocking handle <NUM> to move (for example, rotate or pivot) from a first position P1" to a second position P2" in order to unlock the second rails <NUM> relative to the first rails <NUM> of the two opposite slide rail assemblies <NUM>, <NUM> at a predetermined position R".

In addition to the unlocking handle <NUM> of the slide rail mechanism <NUM> of the embodiment according to the present invention being mounted to a slide rail in a linearly movable manner, it is also feasible to mount the unlocking handle to a carried object mounted between the second rail of the first slide rail assembly and the second rail of the second slide rail assembly in a linearly movable manner. According to such configuration, when the unlocking handle is linearly moved from the first position to the second position relative to the second rail (or the carried object), the locking member can be driven to move in order to unlock the second rail relative to the first rail at the predetermined position.

Claim 1:
A slide rail mechanism (<NUM>), comprising:
a first slide rail assembly (<NUM>) and a second slide rail assembly (<NUM>), each of the first and second slide rail assemblies (<NUM>) (<NUM>) comprising a first rail (<NUM>) and a second rail (<NUM>) movable relative to each other, and a locking member (<NUM>) configured to lock the second rail (<NUM>) relative to the first rail (<NUM>) at a predetermined position (R'); and a blocking structure (<NUM>) of the first rail (<NUM>); and
an unlocking handle (<NUM>) movably mounted between the first slide rail assembly (<NUM>) and the second slide rail assembly (<NUM>);
wherein when the unlocking handle (<NUM>) is moved from a first position (P1') to a second position (P2'), the unlocking handle (<NUM>) is configured to drive the locking member (<NUM>) to move in order to unlock the second rail (<NUM>) relative to the first rail (<NUM>) at the predetermined position (R');
wherein the unlocking handle (<NUM>) is configured to be linearly moved from the first position (P1') to the second position (P2');
wherein one of the second rail (<NUM>) and the unlocking handle (<NUM>) of each of the first slide rail assembly (<NUM>) and the second slide rail assembly (<NUM>) comprises a first predetermined feature (<NUM>), and the other one of the second rail (<NUM>) and the unlocking handle (<NUM>) comprises a second predetermined feature (<NUM>), wherein , through interaction between the first predetermined feature (<NUM>) and the second predetermined feature (<NUM>), the unlocking handle (<NUM>) is linearly moved from the first position (P1') to the second position (P2') along a linear direction (L) so as to provide a driving force (F') to drive the operating member (<NUM>) to move the locking member (<NUM>), in order to disengage the locking member (<NUM>) from the blocking structure (<NUM>) of the first rail (<NUM>);
wherein the linear direction (L) is identical to a moving direction of the second rail (<NUM>).