Patent Description:
<CIT> discloses a retaining structure for a slide-aiding member of a track device of a drawer. The track device includes a first track, a second track, a slide-aiding member, and a retaining member. The slide-aiding member is movably mounted between the first track and the second track and is provided with an engaging notch at the front end. The retaining member is provided at an opening of a channel of the first track. When the second track is moved out of the channel of the first track after being displaced in an opening direction with respect to the first track, a resilient hook rod (or more particularly a hook thereof) of the retaining member is engaged with the engaging notch of the slide-aiding member to prevent the slide-aiding member from sliding arbitrarily with respect to the first track, and this allows the second track to be reinserted into the channel of the first track stably or in a supported manner.

<CIT> discloses a positioning device for a drawer slide bearing carrier. The positioning device includes a carrying rail, a sliding rail, and a bearing carrier. The carrying rail is provided at the front end with a support on which the sliding rail leans and along which the sliding rail can slide. The support is provided with a hook unit. The hook unit is pivotally connected to a block and is able to swing. The block is secured to the front end of the carrying rail and covers a portion of the support. The support has a through hole and an elastic rod formed at an inner side of the through hole. The elastic rod can apply an elastic force that urges the hook unit to restore its original position after swinging. The bearing carrier is provided between the sliding rail and the carrying rail and has rollers that serve as a sliding medium between the sliding rail and the carrying rail. The bearing carrier is also provided with a hook portion at the front end. Once the bearing carrier is moved to the support, the front end of the bearing carrier is pressed by the block, with the hook portion engaged with the hook unit to secure the bearing carrier in position.

While the patents cited above have disclosed the technical features of the retaining structure for the slide-aiding member and of the positioning device for the bearing carrier, different user needs make it worthwhile to develop a different slide rail product.

<CIT> discloses a slide rail assembly, comprising: a first rail including a channel; a second rail movably mounted in the channel of the first rail, the second rail being displaceable with respect to the first rail; and a slide-facilitating device movably mounted between the first rail and the second rail, the slide-facilitating device including an engaging feature; and a working member provided on the first rail, the working member including a main body portion, an elastic portion, and a predetermined portion, wherein the elastic portion is configured to support the main body portion, and the predetermined portion is connected to the main body portion; wherein when the second rail is moved out of the channel of the first rail after displacement in an opening direction with respect to the first rail, the slide-facilitating device is at a predetermined position, and the engaging feature of the slide-facilitating device is engaged with the predetermined portion of the working member; wherein the first rail includes a first wall, a second wall, and a longitudinal wall connected between the first wall and the second wall of the first rail; and the first wall, the second wall, and the longitudinal wall of the first rail jointly define the channel.

Another slide rail assembly is known form <CIT>.

The present invention provides a slide rail assembly that is reliable in use.

The objective of the invention is achieved by the subject-matter of the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments are disclosed by the dependent claims.

According to the present invention, a slide rail assembly includes a first rail, a second rail, a slide-facilitating device, and a working member. The first rail includes a channel. The second rail is movably mounted in the channel of the first rail and can be displaced with respect to the first rail. The slide-facilitating device is movably mounted between the first rail and the second rail and includes an engaging feature. The working member is provided on the first rail and includes a main body portion, an elastic portion, and a predetermined portion. The elastic portion is configured to support the main body portion, and the predetermined portion is connected to the main body portion. The first rail is provided with a supporting portion for supporting the elastic portion of the working member. When the second rail is moved out of the channel of the first rail after being displaced in an opening direction with respect to the first rail, the slide-facilitating device is at a predetermined position, and the engaging feature of the slide-facilitating device is engaged with the predetermined portion of the working member.

The first rail includes a first wall, a second wall, and a longitudinal wall connected between the first wall and the second wall of the first rail; and the first wall, the second wall, and the longitudinal wall of the first rail jointly define the channel.

The working member is movably mounted on the longitudinal wall of the first rail. Preferably, the main body portion of the working member is pivotally connected to the longitudinal wall of the first rail.

Preferably, the elastic portion of the working member has a first section and a second section. The first section of the elastic portion of the working member is connected to the main body portion, and a predetermined space is defined between the second section of the elastic portion of the working member and the main body portion of the working member.

The predetermined portion of the working member includes a first guiding feature, a second guiding feature, and a hole located between the first guiding feature and the second guiding feature, and the hole is defined by a plurality of hole walls and is configured for engagement with the engaging feature of the slide-facilitating device.

Preferably, the hole is substantially larger in size than the engaging feature.

Preferably, the second rail includes a releasing feature, and in the course in which the second rail is reinserted into the channel of the first rail from outside the channel of the first rail in a retracting direction, the releasing feature of the second rail contacts one of the first guiding feature and the second guiding feature and thereby moves the predetermined portion of the working member such that the engaging feature of the slide-facilitating device is disengaged from the hole of the predetermined portion of the working member to allow the slide-facilitating device to be displaced from the predetermined position in the retracting direction. The second rail has a front end and a rear end; the releasing feature is adjacent to the rear end of the second rail; the first rail has a front end and a rear end; the working member is adjacent to the front end of the first rail; and a distance between the releasing feature and the rear end of the second rail is greater or slightly greater than a distance between the working member and the front end of the first rail.

Preferably, the engaging feature of the slide-facilitating device is configured to extend into the hole of the predetermined portion of the working member to prevent the slide-facilitating device from arbitrary displacement with respect to the first rail. The predetermined portion of the working member is provided with an extension section adjacent to the hole, and the engaging feature of the slide-facilitating device corresponds to the extension section when extending into the hole of the predetermined portion of the working member.

Preferably, the slide-facilitating device further includes a first portion, a second portion, and a longitudinal portion connected between the first portion and the second portion; and the first portion, the second portion, and the longitudinal portion correspond to the first wall, the second wall, and the longitudinal wall of the first rail respectively. Preferably, the first portion of the slide-facilitating device is provided with a plurality of rolling balls for supporting the first wall of the first rail, and the second portion of the slide-facilitating device is provided with a plurality of rolling balls for supporting the second wall of the first rail.

Preferably, the engaging feature of the slide-facilitating device is an engaging hook.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the slide rail assembly <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first rail <NUM>, a second rail <NUM>, a slide-facilitating device <NUM>, a working member <NUM>, and preferably also 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> serves to increase the distance for which the second rail <NUM> can be displaced with respect to the third rail <NUM>. In this embodiment, the third rail <NUM> (e.g., an outer rail), the first rail <NUM> (e.g., a middle rail), and the second rail <NUM> (e.g., an inner rail) can be longitudinally displaced with respect to one another. Herein, the longitudinal direction (or the length direction of the slide rails) is defined by the X axis in <FIG>, the transverse direction (or the lateral direction of the slide rails) by the Y axis, and the vertical direction (or the height direction of the slide rails) by the Z axis.

The first rail <NUM> includes a channel <NUM>. The first rail <NUM> includes a first wall 34a, a second wall 34b, and a longitudinal wall <NUM> connected between the first wall 34a and the second wall 34b of the first rail <NUM>. The first wall 34a, the second wall 34b, and the longitudinal wall <NUM> of the first rail <NUM> jointly define the channel <NUM>. The first rail <NUM> has a front end 22a and a rear end 22b.

The second rail <NUM> is movably mounted in the channel <NUM> of the first rail <NUM>, and the second rail <NUM> can be longitudinally displaced with respect to the first rail <NUM>. The second rail <NUM> includes a first wall 38a, a second wall 38b, and a longitudinal wall <NUM> connected between the first wall 38a and the second wall 38b of the second rail <NUM>. The second rail <NUM> includes a releasing feature <NUM> such as a projection, and the releasing feature <NUM> includes a first guiding structure 39a and a second guiding structure 39b. Each of the first guiding structure 39a and the second guiding structure 39b may be an inclined surface or a curved surface; the present invention has no limitation in this regard. The second rail <NUM> has a front end 24a and a rear end 24b, and the releasing feature <NUM> is adjacent to the rear end 24b of the second rail <NUM>.

The slide-facilitating device <NUM> is movably mounted between the first rail <NUM> and the second rail <NUM>, and the slide-facilitating device <NUM> includes an engaging feature <NUM> such as an engaging hook. Preferably, the slide-facilitating device <NUM> further includes a first portion 44a, a second portion 44b, and a longitudinal portion <NUM> connected between the first portion 44a and the second portion 44b. The first portion 44a, the second portion 44b, and the longitudinal portion <NUM> correspond to the first wall 34a, the second wall 34b, and the longitudinal wall <NUM> of the first rail <NUM> respectively. Each of the first portion 44a and the second portion 44b of the slide-facilitating device <NUM> is provided with a plurality of rolling balls <NUM> (only the rolling balls <NUM> on the second portion 44b being visible in <FIG> and <FIG> due to limitations of the viewing angle). The rolling balls <NUM> on the first portion 44a are used to support the first wall 34a of the first rail <NUM> and the first wall 38a of the second rail <NUM>, and the rolling balls <NUM> on the second portion 44b are used to support the second wall 34b of the first rail <NUM> and the second wall 38b of the second rail <NUM>. The rolling balls <NUM> help increase the smoothness with which the second rail <NUM> and the first rail <NUM> can be displaced with respect to each other.

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, the working member <NUM> is provided on the longitudinal wall <NUM> of the first rail <NUM>, and the working member <NUM> is adjacent to the front end 22a of the first rail <NUM>. The distance between the releasing feature <NUM> and the rear end 24b of the second rail <NUM> is greater (or slightly greater) than the distance between the working member <NUM> and the front end 22a of the first rail <NUM>. The working member <NUM> includes a main body portion <NUM>, an elastic portion <NUM>, and a predetermined portion <NUM> (see <FIG>).

The working member <NUM> is movably mounted on the longitudinal wall <NUM> of the first rail <NUM>. For example, the main body portion <NUM> of the working member <NUM> is pivotally connected to the longitudinal wall <NUM> of the first rail <NUM> through a shaft <NUM>; the present invention, however, has no limitation in this regard.

The elastic portion <NUM>, such as but not limited to an elastic arm, is configured to support the main body portion <NUM>. The predetermined portion <NUM> is connected to the main body portion <NUM>.

Preferably, the longitudinal wall <NUM> of the first rail <NUM> is provided with a supporting portion <NUM> for supporting the elastic portion <NUM> of the working member <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>).

Preferably, the main body portion <NUM> of the working member <NUM> has two opposite ends defined respectively as a first end E1 and a second end E2, and the predetermined portion <NUM> is adjacent to the first end E1 of the main body portion <NUM> (see <FIG>).

Preferably, the elastic portion <NUM> of the working member <NUM> has a first section 60a and a second section 60b extending from the first section 60a. The first section 60a is connected to the main body portion <NUM> and is adjacent to the second end E2 of the main body portion <NUM>. The second section 60b and the main body portion <NUM> define a predetermined space J therebetween (see <FIG>). When the working member <NUM> is in a first state S1, the main body portion <NUM> of the working member <NUM> and the second section 60b of the elastic portion <NUM> are spaced apart by a distance G due to the predetermined space J.

The predetermined portion <NUM> of the working member <NUM> includes a first guiding feature <NUM>, a second guiding feature <NUM>, and a hole <NUM> located between the first guiding feature <NUM> and the second guiding feature <NUM>. Each of the first guiding feature <NUM> and the second guiding feature <NUM> may be an inclined surface or a curved surface. The hole <NUM> is defined by a plurality of hole walls. For example, the predetermined portion <NUM> includes a first hole wall 68a, a second hole wall 68b, a third hole wall 68c, and a fourth hole wall 68d, and the hole walls 68a, 68b, 68c, and 68d jointly define the hole <NUM> (see <FIG>).

Preferably, the main body portion <NUM>, the elastic portion <NUM>, and the predetermined portion <NUM> are integrated into one unit so that the working member <NUM> exists as a single component (see <FIG>).

Referring to <FIG>, the engaging feature <NUM> of the slide-facilitating device <NUM> is located at the longitudinal portion <NUM> and has a guiding section <NUM>, which may be an inclined surface or a curved surface. The working member <NUM> is shown in <FIG> as in the first state S1, with the supporting portion <NUM> of the longitudinal wall <NUM> of the first rail <NUM> supporting at least a portion of the second section 60b of the elastic portion <NUM> of the working member <NUM>. In addition, the predetermined portion <NUM> of the working member <NUM> is provided with an extension section <NUM> adjacent to the hole <NUM>. For example, the extension section <NUM> extends from the first hole wall 68a toward the second wall 34b of the first rail <NUM>.

When the second rail <NUM> reaches a predetermined position after being displaced from a retracted position with respect to the first rail <NUM> in an opening direction D1, the first guiding structure 39a of the releasing feature <NUM> contacts the first guiding feature <NUM> so that the releasing feature <NUM> can move past the predetermined portion <NUM> of the working member <NUM> with ease, and the slide-facilitating device <NUM> will respond to the displacement of the second rail <NUM> by moving in the opening direction D1 too, during which process the engaging feature <NUM> (or more particularly the guiding section <NUM> thereof) of the slide-facilitating device <NUM> contacts the first guiding feature <NUM> of the predetermined portion <NUM> of the working member <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>). The foregoing movements can be readily understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art and therefore will not be described in more detail.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, when the second rail <NUM> is further displaced in the opening direction D1 with respect to the first rail <NUM>, the contact between the engaging feature <NUM> (or more particularly the guiding section <NUM> thereof) of the slide-facilitating device <NUM> and the first guiding feature <NUM> of the predetermined portion <NUM> of the working member <NUM> produces an action force that moves the working member <NUM> from the first stat S1 to a second state S2, e.g., by pivoting the working member <NUM> from the first state S1 to the second state S2 in a predetermined rotation direction R. The elastic portion <NUM> of the working member <NUM> stores an elastic force in the second state S2.

Preferably, the mutual support between the supporting portion <NUM> of the longitudinal wall <NUM> of the first rail <NUM> and the second section 60b of the elastic portion <NUM> of the working member <NUM> creates a fulcrum around which the working member <NUM> can be pivoted from the first state S1 to the second state S2, and in the course in which the working member <NUM> is pivoted to the second state S2, the predetermined space J allows the main body portion <NUM> of the working member <NUM> and the second section 60b of the elastic portion <NUM> to get closer to each other such that the first section 60a of the elastic portion <NUM> of the working member <NUM> is tilted up at a predetermined angle with respect to the second section 60b (or the supporting portion <NUM> of the longitudinal wall <NUM> of the first rail <NUM>), with the aforesaid elastic force stored in the elastic portion <NUM> of the working member <NUM>.

Preferably, the working member <NUM> further includes a bent section <NUM> extending from the first end E1 of the main body portion <NUM>, and the longitudinal wall <NUM> of the first rail <NUM> is provided with a corresponding space <NUM> into which the bent section <NUM> can extend in order for the longitudinal wall <NUM> of the first rail <NUM> to support the bent section <NUM> and thereby allow the working member <NUM> to move (e.g., pivot) stably.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, when the second rail <NUM> is moved out of the channel <NUM> of the first rail <NUM> after being further displaced in the opening direction D1 with respect to the first rail <NUM>, the slide-facilitating device <NUM> is displaced to a predetermined position K adjacent to the front end 22a of the first rail <NUM>, with the engaging feature <NUM> of the slide-facilitating device <NUM> engaged with the hole <NUM> of the predetermined portion <NUM> of the working member <NUM>.

More specifically, when the slide-facilitating device <NUM> reaches the predetermined position K, the engaging feature <NUM> of the slide-facilitating device <NUM> corresponds to the hole <NUM> of the predetermined portion <NUM> such that the elastic portion <NUM> of the working member <NUM> releases the elastic force stored therein and thereby brings the working member <NUM> from the second state S2 back to the first state S1 (e.g., a locking state), with the engaging feature <NUM> of the slide-facilitating device <NUM> extending into the hole <NUM> of the predetermined portion <NUM> of the working member <NUM> and corresponding to the first hole wall 68a (and the extension section <NUM>) to prevent the slide-facilitating device <NUM> from arbitrary displacement with respect to the first rail <NUM>. For example, the first hole wall 68a (together with the extension section <NUM>) can block the engaging feature <NUM> and thereby prevent the slide-facilitating device <NUM> from being displaced from the predetermined position K in a retracting direction D2 with respect to the first rail <NUM> (see <FIG>).

In <FIG>, the slide-facilitating device <NUM> is at the predetermined position K, and the working member <NUM> is in the first state S1 (e.g., the locking state) to lock the engaging feature <NUM> of the slide-facilitating device <NUM> in place. When the second rail <NUM> is reinserted into the channel <NUM> of the first rail <NUM> from outside the channel <NUM> of the first rail <NUM> in the retracting direction D2, the first wall 38a and the second wall 38b of the second rail <NUM> can, at the beginning of the insertion process, be supported respectively by the rolling balls <NUM> on the first and the second portions 44a and 44b of the slide-facilitating device <NUM> because the distance between the releasing feature <NUM> and the rear end 24b of the second rail <NUM> is greater (or slightly greater) than the distance between the working member <NUM> and the front end 22a of the first rail <NUM>, and this allows the second rail <NUM> to be inserted stably or smoothly into the channel <NUM> of the first rail <NUM> in the retracting direction D2.

In the course in which the second rail <NUM> continues being inserted into the channel <NUM> of the first rail <NUM> in the retracting direction D2, referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, the releasing feature <NUM> of the second rail <NUM> moves the working member <NUM> and thereby disengages the engaging feature <NUM> of the slide-facilitating device <NUM> from the hole <NUM> of the predetermined portion <NUM> of the working member <NUM>; in consequence, the slide-facilitating device <NUM> is allowed to be displaced from the predetermined position K in the retracting direction D2.

More specifically, while the second rail <NUM> continues being inserted into the channel <NUM> of the first rail <NUM> in the retracting direction D2, the second guiding structure 39b of the releasing feature <NUM> of the second rail <NUM> contacts the second guiding feature <NUM> of the predetermined portion <NUM> of the working member <NUM> and thereby produces an action force that moves the working member <NUM> from the first state S1 (e.g., the locking state as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>) to the second state S2 (e.g., an unlocking state as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>), e.g., by pivoting the working member <NUM> from the first state S1 to the second state S2 in the predetermined rotation direction R. As a result, the engaging feature <NUM> of the slide-facilitating device <NUM> is disengaged from the hole <NUM> of the predetermined portion <NUM> of the working member <NUM>.

Preferably, the mutual support between the supporting portion <NUM> of the longitudinal wall <NUM> of the first rail <NUM> and the second section 60b of the elastic portion <NUM> of the working member <NUM> creates a fulcrum around which the working member <NUM> can be pivoted from the first state S1 (see <FIG> and <FIG>) to the second state S2 (see <FIG> and <FIG>), and in the course in which the working member <NUM> is pivoted to the second state S2, the predetermined space J allows the main body portion <NUM> of the working member <NUM> and the second section 60b of the elastic portion <NUM> to get closer to each other (see <FIG> and <FIG>) such that the first section 60a of the elastic portion <NUM> of the working member <NUM> is tilted up at a predetermined angle with respect to the second section 60b (or the supporting portion <NUM> of the longitudinal wall <NUM> of the first rail <NUM>), with an elastic force stored in the elastic portion <NUM> of the working member <NUM>.

When the second rail <NUM> is further displaced in the retracting direction D2 with respect to the first rail <NUM>, the slide-facilitating device <NUM> responds to the displacement of the second rail <NUM> by moving from the predetermined position K in the retracting direction D2, and the elastic portion <NUM> of the working member <NUM> releases the elastic force stored therein and thereby brings the working member <NUM> from the second state S2 (see <FIG> and <FIG>) back to the first state S1 (see <FIG> and <FIG>).

It is worth mentioning that, referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the hole <NUM> of the predetermined portion <NUM> is substantially larger in size than the engaging feature <NUM> of the slide-facilitating device <NUM>. More specifically, the first hole wall 68a and the second hole wall 68b define the longitudinal dimension of the hole <NUM> therebetween, and the longitudinal dimension of the hole <NUM> is substantially greater (or slightly greater) than the longitudinal dimension of the engaging feature <NUM> (e.g., an engaging hook) so that the engaging feature <NUM> can be received in the hole <NUM> with a predetermined degree of looseness. The predetermined degree of looseness allows the engaging feature <NUM> of the slide-facilitating device <NUM> to be easily disengaged from the hole <NUM> of the predetermined portion <NUM> of the working member <NUM> when the working member <NUM> is moved from the first state S1 to the second state S2 by the releasing feature <NUM> (or more particularly the second guiding structure 39b thereof) of the second rail <NUM> in response to the insertion of the second rail <NUM> into the channel <NUM> of the first rail <NUM> in the retracting direction D2. If the engaging feature <NUM> and the hole <NUM> are so sized that the engaging feature <NUM> and the hole walls (e.g., the first hole wall 68a and the second hole wall 68b) of the hole <NUM> may engage with each other too tightly to allow easy disengagement or may disengage from each other because of excessive tightness of engagement, the engaging feature <NUM> of the slide-facilitating device <NUM> and the predetermined portion <NUM> of the working member <NUM> may be deformed or damaged as a result.

It can be known from the above that the slide rail assembly <NUM> according to the foregoing embodiment of the present invention preferably has the following features:.

Claim 1:
A slide rail assembly (<NUM>), comprising:
a first rail (<NUM>) including a channel (<NUM>);
a second rail (<NUM>) movably mounted in the channel (<NUM>) of the first rail (<NUM>), the second rail (<NUM>) being displaceable with respect to the first rail (<NUM>); and
a slide-facilitating device (<NUM>) movably mounted between the first rail (<NUM>) and the second rail (<NUM>), the slide-facilitating device (<NUM>) including an engaging feature (<NUM>); and
a working member (<NUM>) provided on the first rail (<NUM>), the working member (<NUM>) including a main body portion (<NUM>), an elastic portion (<NUM>), and a predetermined portion (<NUM>), wherein the elastic portion (<NUM>) is configured to support the main body portion (<NUM>), and the predetermined portion (<NUM>) is connected to the main body portion (<NUM>);
wherein when the second rail (<NUM>) is moved out of the channel (<NUM>) of the first rail (<NUM>) after displacement in an opening direction (D1) with respect to the first rail (<NUM>), the slide-facilitating device (<NUM>) is at a predetermined position (K), and the engaging feature (<NUM>) of the slide-facilitating device (<NUM>) is engaged with the predetermined portion (<NUM>) of the working member (<NUM>);
wherein the first rail (<NUM>) includes a first wall (34a), a second wall (34b), and a longitudinal wall (<NUM>) connected between the first wall (34a) and the second wall (34b) of the first rail (<NUM>); and the first wall (34a), the second wall (34b), and the longitudinal wall (<NUM>) of the first rail (<NUM>) jointly define the channel (<NUM>);
wherein said first rail (<NUM>) is provided with a supporting portion (<NUM>) for supporting the elastic portion (<NUM>) of the working member (<NUM>);
wherein the working member (<NUM>) is movably mounted on the longitudinal wall (<NUM>) of the first rail (<NUM>);
wherein the predetermined portion (<NUM>) of the working member (<NUM>) includes a first guiding feature (<NUM>), a second guiding feature (<NUM>),
characterized in that
said predetermined portion (<NUM>) further includes a hole (<NUM>) located between the first guiding feature (<NUM>) and the second guiding feature (<NUM>), the hole (<NUM>) is defined by a plurality of hole walls (68a, 68b, 68c, 68d), and the hole (<NUM>) is configured for engagement with the engaging feature (<NUM>) of the slide-facilitating device (<NUM>).