Patent ID: 12232614

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As shown inFIG.1andFIG.2, a slide rail assembly20comprises a first rail22and a second rail24according to an embodiment of the present invention. Preferably, the slide rail assembly20further comprises a third rail26. The first rail22is movably mounted between the third rail26and the second rail24, and the first rail22is configured to extend a traveling distance of the second rail24relative to the third rail26. In the present embodiment, the third rail26(such as an outer rail), the first rail22(such as a middle rail) and the second rail24(such as an inner rail) are longitudinally movable relative to each other. InFIG.1andFIG.2, the X axis is a longitudinal direction (or a length direction) of the slide rail assembly20, the Y axis is a transverse direction (or a lateral direction) of the slide rail assembly20, and the Z axis is a vertical direction (or a height direction) of the slide rail assembly20.

The third rail26comprises a first wall28a, a second wall28band a longitudinal wall30connected between the first wall28aand the second wall28bof the third rail26. A passage32is defined by the first wall28a, the second wall28band the longitudinal wall30of the third rail26in order to accommodate the first rail22. The third rail26has a front part26aand a rear part26b.

The first rail22comprises a first wall34a, a second wall34band a longitudinal wall36connected between the first wall34aand the second wall34bof the first rail22. A passage38is defined by the first wall34a, the second wall34band the longitudinal wall36of the first rail22in order to accommodate the second rail24. The first rail22has a front part22aand a rear part22b.

The second rail24comprises a first wall40a, a second wall40band a longitudinal wall42connected between the first wall40aand the second wall40bof the second rail24. The second rail24has a front part24aand a rear part24b.

Preferably, at least one slide assisting member44is arranged in the passage32of the third rail26. The slide assisting member44comprises a plurality of rolling balls to improve smoothness of relative movement between the first rail22and the third rail26. On the other hand, the slide rail assembly20further comprises a slide assisting device46movably mounted between the first rail22and the second rail24. Moreover, the slide assisting device46is arranged in the passage38of the first rail22, and the slide assisting device46comprises a plurality of rolling members48, such as rolling balls (please refer toFIG.3), in order to improve smoothness of relative movement between the second rail24and the first rail22.

Preferably, the slide assisting device46comprises a main body33. The plurality of rolling members48are arranged on the main body33and configured to support the first rail22and the second rail24.

As shown inFIG.3, the first rail22comprises a blocking feature50and is formed with a predetermined space52. The blocking feature50is located inside the passage38of the first rail22.

Preferably, the blocking feature50, such as a protrusion part, is transversely (or laterally) protruded relative to the longitudinal wall36of the first rail22, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In the present embodiment, the blocking feature50is located adjacent to the front part22aof the first rail22.

Preferably, the longitudinal wall36of the first rail22is formed with the predetermined space52. For example, the longitudinal wall36of the first rail22comprises a groove to provide the predetermined space52. Or, in the present embodiment, the predetermined space52is provided by an opening, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In the present embodiment, the predetermined space52is laterally communicated with a first side L1and a second side L2of the longitudinal wall36of the first rail22. The first side L1is opposite to the second side L2. The first side L1of the longitudinal wall36of the first rail22faces the longitudinal wall30of the third rail26, and the second side L2of the longitudinal wall36of the first rail22faces the longitudinal wall42of the second rail24(please also refer toFIG.1).

Preferably, the slide assisting device46is located inside the passage38of the first rail22.

Preferably, the main body33of the slide assisting device46comprises a first part54a, a second part54band a longitudinal part56connected between the first part54aand the second part54bof the main body33. The plurality of rolling members48are arranged on the first part54aand the second part54bof the main body33(due to the viewing angle,FIG.3only shows the rolling members48on the second part54bof the main body33without showing the rolling members48on the first part54aof the main body33). The first part54a, the second part54band the longitudinal part56respectively correspond to the first wall34a, the second wall34band the longitudinal wall36of the first rail22.

The slide rail assembly20further comprises an elastic member58arranged on the main body33of the slide assisting device46. In the present embodiment, the elastic member58and the main body33are two independent components, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

Preferably, the elastic member58is arranged on the longitudinal part56of the main body33. The elastic member58comprises a connecting part60, an elastic part62and a predetermined part64. The connecting part60of the elastic member58is connected (such as fixedly connected) to the longitudinal part56of the main body33. The elastic part62is extended from the connecting part60, and the predetermined part64is located on the elastic part62. The predetermined part64(such as a protrusion) is transversely protruded relative to the elastic part62, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The elastic part62is configured to be supported by the longitudinal wall36of the first rail22to hold the elastic member58to be in an initial state K1to accumulate an elastic force F.

Preferably, the longitudinal part56of the main body33is formed with a space65(such as an opening) communicating with two sides of the longitudinal part56of the main body33. The elastic part62transversely penetrates through the space65, so that the elastic part62is supported by the longitudinal wall36of the first rail22to hold the elastic member58to be in the initial state K1and accumulate the elastic force F.

Preferably, the slide rail assembly20further comprises an engaging member66arranged on the first rail22. The engaging member66comprises a fixed part68and an elastic arm70. The fixed part68is fixed to the longitudinal wall36of the first rail22. The elastic arm70is extended from the fixed part68, and the elastic arm70comprises a fastening section72. On the other hand, the main body33of the slide assisting device46further comprises a fastening part74configured to interact with the fastening section72. The fastening part74is located adjacent to a front end of the main body33, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

As shown inFIG.4, the slide rail assembly20further comprises a working member76arranged on the second rail24. Furthermore, the working member76is movably mounted to the second rail24. In the present embodiment, the working member76is pivotally connected to the second rail24through a shaft member78.

Preferably, the slide rail assembly20further comprises an operating member80and an auxiliary base82. The operating member80is configured to be operated to move the working member76. The operating member80is movably mounted to the second rail24. For example, the operating member80is movable relative to the second rail24along the length direction of the second rail24. The second rail24comprises at least one holding feature84configured to support the operating member80in order to improve stability when the operating member80is operated to move.

Preferably, the operating member80comprises an operating part86a, a driving part86band an extension part86cconnected between the operating part86aand the driving part86b.

Preferably, the auxiliary base82is arranged on the second rail24, and the auxiliary base82is configured to provide an elastic force to the working member76. In the present embodiment, the auxiliary base82comprises an elastic section88configured to provide the elastic force to the working member76. The working member76is held in a first state S1in response to the elastic force of the elastic section88.

As shown inFIG.5, the first rail22is extended relative to the third rail26, and the front part22aof the first rail22is extended beyond the front part26aof the third rail26. The working member76is held in the first state S1in response to the elastic force of the elastic section88of the auxiliary base82.

As shown inFIG.5,FIG.6andFIG.7, during a process of the second rail24(the second rail24is omitted inFIG.6andFIG.7) being moved relative to the first rail22from a retracted position along an opening direction D1, the working member76in the first state S1is configured to contact the predetermined part64of the elastic member58in the initial state K1(as shown inFIG.5andFIG.6), in order to forcibly drive the slide assisting device46to move along the opening direction D1to a predetermined position P (as shown inFIG.7). When the slide assisting device46is located at the predetermined position P, the elastic member58releases the elastic force F through the predetermined space52of the first rail22(the elastic part62of the elastic member58transversely extended into the predetermined space52of the first rail22) to be switched from the initial state K1(as shown inFIG.5andFIG.6) to a non-initial state K2(as shown inFIG.7), such that the working member76no longer contacts the elastic member58.

Moreover, during the process of the second rail24being moved relative to the first rail22along the opening direction D1, the working member76is configured to contact the predetermined part64on the elastic part62of the elastic member58(as shown inFIG.5andFIG.6) in order to forcibly drive the slide assisting device46to move along the opening direction D1, such that the slide assisting device46can be ensured to be close to the front part22aof the first rail22. Thereby, the first wall40aand the second wall40bof a predetermined section (such as a middle section and/or a rear section, but the present invention is not limited thereto) of the second rail24can be properly supported by the slide assisting device46(the rolling members48of the slide assisting device46) as shown inFIG.5.

When the slide assisting device46is forcibly driven to move to the predetermined position P (as shown inFIG.7), the elastic part62of the elastic member58releases the elastic force F through the predetermined space52of the longitudinal wall36of the first rail22, such that the elastic part62of the elastic member58is transversely (or laterally) moved to switch the elastic member58from the initial state K1(as shown inFIG.5andFIG.6) to the non-initial state K2(as shown inFIG.7). Therefore, the working member76is separated from the predetermined part64on the elastic part62of the elastic member58, such that the working member76no longer contacts the predetermined part64on the elastic part62of the elastic member58.

As shown inFIG.8,FIG.9andFIG.10, when the second rail24(the second rail24is omitted inFIG.8andFIG.9) is further moved relative to the first rail22along the opening direction D1to an extension position E, the blocking feature50of the first rail22is configured to block the working member76in the first state S1, in order to prevent the second rail24from being moved from the extension position E along the opening direction D1(as shown inFIG.9andFIG.10).

Preferably, when the second rail24is further moved relative to the first rail22along the opening direction D1to the extension position E, the slide assisting device46is moved (differentially moved) along with the second rail24along the opening direction D1by a predetermined distance J (as shown inFIG.8andFIG.9), such that the engaging member66(the fastening section72of the engaging member66) is configured to engage with the slide assisting device46(the fastening part74of the slide assisting device46) to temporarily hold the slide assisting device46at a position close to the front part22aof the first rail22(as shown inFIG.10).

Moreover, the aforementioned differential movement is a movement of the rolling members48of the slide assisting device46being driven to roll in response to the movement of the second rail24relative to the first rail22, so that displacement of the slide assisting device46is smaller than actual displacement of the second rail24. Such configuration is well known to those skilled in the art, for simplification, no further illustration is provided.

In addition, the second rail24can be moved relative to the first rail22from the extension position E along a retraction direction D2. During a process of the second rail24being moved from the extension position E along the retraction direction D2, the engaging member66(the fastening section72of the engaging member66) can be disengaged from the slide assisting device46(the fastening part74of the slide assisting device46) through a predetermined feature90or a predetermine portion of the second rail24(such as an inclined surface or an arc surface as shown inFIG.10). For example, the predetermined feature90is configured to drive the elastic arm70of the engaging member66to deflect, in order to disengage the engaging member66(the fastening section72of the engaging member66) from the slide assisting device46(the fastening part74of the slide assisting device46). Such configuration is well known to those skilled in the art, for simplification, no further illustration is provided. Moreover, after the engaging member66(the fastening section72of the engaging member66) is disengaged from the slide assisting device46(the fastening part74of the slide assisting device46), the rolling members48of the slide assisting device46is configured to be driven to roll in response to movement of the second rail24along the retraction direction D2, such that the slide assisting device46is moved (differentially moved) along the retraction direction D2. During such process, the elastic member58(the elastic part62of the elastic member58) is configured to be moved away from the predetermined space52of the first rail22to return to the initial state K1from the non-initial state K2.

As shown inFIG.10andFIG.11, the operating member80is configured to be operated to drive the working member76to switch from the first state S1(as shown inFIG.10) to a second state S2(as shown inFIG.11), such that the blocking feature50of the first rail22no longer blocks the working member76in order to allow the second rail24to move from the extension position E along the opening direction D1.

Moreover, a user can apply an operating force F′ to the operating part86aof the operating member80to move the operating member80from a first operating position X1(as shown inFIG.10) to a second operating position X2(as shown inFIG.11), such that driving part86bof the operating member80is configured to drive the working member76to rotate from the first state S1(as shown inFIG.10) to the second state S2(as shown inFIG.11). Therefore, the blocking feature50of the first rail22no longer blocks the working member76, so as to allow the second rail24to move from the extension position E along the opening direction D1to be detached from the passage38of the first rail22(as shown in FIG.

FIG.12shows a first rail200according to another embodiment of the present invention. Different from the first rail22, the first rail200is configured to have an elastic member202being integrated to the main body33of the slide assisting device46. Such configuration can achieve the same technical effect as the aforementioned embodiment.

Therefore, the slide rail assembly20according to the embodiment of the present invention has the following technical features:1. During the process of the second rail24being moved relative to the first rail22along the opening direction D1, the working member76is configured to contact the elastic member58to forcibly drive the slide assisting device46to move along the opening direction D1to a predetermined position, such that the slide assisting device46can be ensured to be close to the front part22aof the first rail22. Thereby, the predetermined section of the second rail24can be properly supported by the slide assisting device46(the rolling members48of the slide assisting device46) to provide effective slide assisting effect to the second rail24.2. The first rail22(the longitudinal wall36of the first rail22) is formed with the predetermined space52. The elastic member58is arranged on the slide assisting device46. The elastic member58is configured to release the elastic force F through the predetermined space52of the first rail22to be switched (such as transversely moved) from the initial state K1to the non-initial state K2, such that the working member76no longer contacts the elastic member58.

Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.