CN109419190B

CN109419190B - Slide rail assembly and slide rail external member thereof

Info

Publication number: CN109419190B
Application number: CN201710723710.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 陈庚金; 杨顺和; 叶至欣; 王俊强
Original assignee: King Slide Works Co Ltd; King Slide Technology Co Ltd
Current assignee: King Slide Works Co Ltd; King Slide Technology Co Ltd
Priority date: 2017-08-22
Filing date: 2017-08-22
Publication date: 2021-04-27
Anticipated expiration: 2037-08-22
Also published as: CN109419190A

Abstract

The invention relates to a slide rail assembly and a slide rail kit thereof. The first rail comprises a blocking part; the second rail can move relative to the first rail; the locking device is positioned on the second rail, the locking device comprises a first part and a second part, a first space is defined between the first part and the second part and can be adjusted to be changed into a second space, and the locking device is used for enabling the first part and the second part of the locking device to respectively lock two sides of the blocking part of the first rail through the second space when the second rail is positioned at a preset position relative to the first rail.

Description

Slide rail assembly and slide rail external member thereof

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a slide rail assembly, and more particularly, to a slide rail assembly with a locking mechanism.

Background

Generally, the slide assembly includes a first rail and a second rail capable of moving relative to the first rail. When the second rail moves to a predetermined position relative to the first rail in one direction, the second rail cannot move relative to the first rail in the one direction and can only stay at the predetermined position by a blocking structure between the second rail and the first rail. With the advancement of technology, in addition to a blocking mechanism for positioning the second rail at a predetermined position relative to the first rail, an operating member can be used to release the blocking mechanism, so that the second rail can be continuously displaced in one direction relative to the first rail. In related art, for example, U.S. patent publication No. US6,412,891B1 discloses a slide rail assembly including an outer rail (20), an inner rail (30), a blocking member (50), and a locking member (70). The locking member (70) is pivoted to the inner rail (30), and when the inner rail (30) is at a position relative to the outer rail (20), the inner rail (30) cannot be displaced relative to the outer rail (20) due to the mutual blocking between the locking member (70) and the blocking member (50).

However, with different market demands, how to develop a different slide rail product to meet the related demands of users for equipment maintenance in a limited environment space becomes an issue worth discussing.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention relates to a sliding rail assembly with a locking mechanism and a sliding rail kit thereof.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a sliding rail assembly includes a first rail, a second rail, a first locking device and a second locking device. The first rail comprises a blocking part; the second rail can move relative to the first rail; the first locking device is positioned on the second rail and comprises a first member and a second member, the first member comprises a first part, the second member comprises a second part, and a first space is defined between the first part and the second part; the second locking device is positioned on the second rail and comprises a third component and a fourth component, wherein the third component comprises a third part, and the fourth component comprises a fourth part; when the second rail moves to a first preset position from a folding position to a first direction relative to the first rail, the second part of the second member can be blocked by the blocking part of the first rail, and when the first member moves to the first preset position along with the second rail to the first direction, the first space is adjusted to be changed into a second space which is used for accommodating the blocking part of the first rail, so that the first locking device locks the blocking part; when the first locking device is unlocked and the second rail moves relative to the first rail to a second preset position in the first direction, the blocking part of the first rail is accommodated through a third space between the third part and the fourth part, so that the second locking device locks the blocking part.

Preferably, when the second locking device is unlocked from the blocking portion, the second rail is capable of moving from the second predetermined position to a second direction toward the retracted position relative to the first rail.

Preferably, the first member is fixed to the second rail, and the second member and the second rail are displaceable relative to each other within a limited range through a guide feature.

Preferably, the first member further comprises a first resilient section, the first portion being located in the first resilient section, the second member further comprises a second resilient section, the second portion being located in the second resilient section.

Preferably, the first elastic section is located between the second rail and the second elastic section, and the first elastic section and the second elastic section are tilted relative to the second rail.

Preferably, the second member further comprises a first extension section connected to the second elastic section, and the second rail further comprises a first support section for the first extension section to abut against.

Preferably, the third member further comprises a third elastic section, the third portion is located in the third elastic section, and the fourth member further comprises a fourth elastic section, the fourth portion is located in the fourth elastic section.

Preferably, the third elastic section is located between the second rail and the fourth elastic section, and the third elastic section and the fourth elastic section are tilted relative to the second rail.

Preferably, the fourth member further comprises a second extending section connected to the fourth elastic section, and the second rail further comprises a second supporting section for the second extending section to abut against.

Preferably, the first rail includes a front portion and a rear portion, and the blocking portion is located adjacent to the front portion.

Preferably, the first locking means and the second locking means are at a distance from each other.

Preferably, the slide rail assembly further comprises a third rail, and the first rail is movably installed between the third rail and the second rail.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a sliding rail assembly includes a first rail, a second rail and a first locking device. The first rail comprises a blocking part; the second rail can move relative to the first rail; the first locking device is positioned on the second rail, a first space is defined between a first part and a second part and can be adjusted to be changed into a second space, and the first locking device is used for enabling the first part and the second part of the first locking device to respectively lock two sides of the blocking part of the first rail through the second space when the second rail is positioned at a first preset position relative to the first rail.

Preferably, the slide rail assembly further comprises an elastic member for providing elastic force to the second member.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a slide rail kit includes a slide rail and a first locking device. The first locking device is arranged on the slide rail and comprises a first component and a second component, wherein one of the first component and the second component can be adjusted and displaced, so that a first space between the first component and the second component is adjusted to be changed into a second space, and the first space is used for providing the slide rail to be locked to an object.

Drawings

For further explanation of the above objects, structural features and effects of the present invention, the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a slide rail assembly of a first embodiment of the present invention mounted to a side of a rack.

Fig. 2 is an exploded view of a slide rail assembly according to a first embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged schematic view of the region a of fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a slide rail set according to a first embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a schematic view illustrating a slide rail assembly in a retracted state according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a schematic view illustrating the second rail of the slide rail assembly according to the first embodiment of the invention being displaced in a first direction.

Fig. 7 is a schematic view illustrating the second rail of the first embodiment of the present invention locking the first rail through the first locking device to make the second rail at a first predetermined position.

Fig. 8 shows a schematic view of the first locking means of the first embodiment of the present invention being operated.

Fig. 9 is a schematic view showing the first locking device of the first embodiment of the present invention in which the second member is displaced so that the first locking device fails to lock the first rail.

Fig. 10 is a schematic view illustrating the second rail of the first embodiment of the present invention continuously displaced toward the first direction.

Fig. 11 is a schematic view showing the second rail of the first embodiment of the present invention locking the first rail through the second locking device to make the second rail at a second predetermined position.

Fig. 12 is a schematic view illustrating the second locking device of the first embodiment of the present invention being operated to displace the second rail in a second direction relative to the first rail.

Fig. 13 is a schematic view showing the first locking device contacting the stopping portion of the first rail during the displacement of the second rail of the slide rail assembly according to the second embodiment of the invention in the second direction.

Fig. 14 is a schematic view showing that the second member of the first locking device of the slide rail assembly according to the second embodiment of the present invention is pushed and displaced by the blocking portion of the first rail, so that the first locking device fails to lock the first rail.

Fig. 15 is a schematic view illustrating the second rail being displaced in the second direction relative to the first rail according to the second embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, a slide rail assembly 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first rail 24 and a second rail 26 that are movable relative to the first rail 24. Preferably, a third rail 28 is also included. The first rail 24 is movably mounted between the third rail 28 and the second rail 26. The third rail 28 can be mounted to a first column 22a and a second column 22b of a rack 22 by a first bracket 30 and a second bracket 32.

As shown in fig. 2, the first rail 24 is movably mounted to the third rail 28. The first rail 24 includes at least one stop 34 (see also fig. 3). Further, the first rail 24 has a front portion 36 and a rear portion 38, and the first rail 24 includes a first wall 40a, a second wall 40b, and a side wall 42 connected between the first wall 40a and the second wall 40 b. The first wall 40a, the second wall 40b and the sidewall 42 define a channel. Preferably, the at least one stop 34 is located on the sidewall 42 adjacent the front portion 36 of the first rail 24. Wherein, the at least one blocking portion 34 may be a protrusion directly formed on the sidewall 42 of the first rail 24; alternatively, a fitting 44 may be fixedly connected to the first rail 24 by riveting, welding or screwing, and the fitting 44 includes the at least one blocking portion 34 protruding relative to the side wall 42 of the first rail 24, which is not limited in implementation.

The second rail 26 (also referred to simply as a slide rail) is movably mounted to the channel of the first rail 24. The second rail 26 has a front portion 46 and a rear portion 48, and the second rail 26 includes a first wall 50a, a second wall 50b, and a side wall 52 connected between the first wall 50a and the second wall 50 b.

As shown in fig. 2 and 4, the slide rail assembly 20 includes a first locking device 54, and preferably, a second locking device 56.

The first locking device 54 and the second locking device 56 are both located on the second rail 26, such as on the sidewall 52 of the second rail 26. Wherein the first locking device 54 comprises a first member 58 and a second member 60; on the other hand, the second locking device 56 includes a third member 62 and a fourth member 64.

The second rail 26, the first locking device 54 and/or the second locking device 56 can form a sliding rail set. The first locking device 54 and the second locking device 56 are spaced apart and at a distance from each other, preferably the first locking device 54 is disposed proximate the front portion 46 of the second rail 26 and the second locking device 56 is disposed distal the front portion 46 of the second rail 26.

Specifically, the first member 58 of the first locking device 54 includes a first portion 66 and the second member 60 includes a second portion 68. A first space S1 is defined between the first portion 66 and the second portion 68. Preferably, the first member 58 is fixed to the second rail 26, for example, the first member 58 may be fixedly connected to the second rail 26 by riveting, welding, or screwing, and may be considered as a part of the second rail 26, and the second member 60 is superposed on the first member 58. The second member 60 and the second rail 26 are displaceable relative to each other within a limited range through a guide feature 70. In detail, the second member 60 and the second rail 26 can be displaced relative to each other, so that the first space S1 between the first portion 66 and the second portion 68 can be adjusted to be changed into a second space S2 (see fig. 6 and 7). Here, the second member 60 includes a bounded slot 70a (or elongated slot), and the second member 60 is movably mounted to the second rail 26 by at least one connector 70b (e.g., two connectors) passing through a portion of the slot 70 a. It can be seen that the slot 70a (or elongated slot) and the at least one link 70b constitute the guide feature. Preferably, the slide assembly further comprises an elastic member 71, and the elastic member 71 is used for providing elastic force to the second member 60.

The first member 58 further includes a first resilient section 72, the first portion 66 being located in the first resilient section 72; the second member 60 further includes a second resilient section 74, and the second portion 68 is located on the second resilient section 74. Preferably, the first elastic section 72 is located between the second rail 26 and the second elastic section 74, the first elastic section 72 and the second elastic section 74 slightly tilt relative to the sidewall 52 of the second rail 26, the second member 60 further includes a first extending section 76 connected to the second elastic section 74, and the second rail 26 further includes a first supporting portion 78 for abutting against the first extending section 76 to prevent the second member 60 and/or the first member 58 from tilting excessively.

On the other hand, the third member 62 of the second locking device 56 includes a third portion 80 and the fourth member 64 includes a fourth portion 82. A third space S3 is defined between the third portion 80 and the fourth portion 82. Preferably, the third member 62 is fixed to the second rail 26, for example, the third member 62 may be fixedly connected to the second rail 26 by riveting, welding, screwing or the like and may be considered as a part of the second rail 26. Preferably, the third member 62 further comprises a third resilient segment 84, the third portion 80 being located on the third resilient segment 84; the fourth member 64 is stacked on the third member 62, the fourth member 64 further includes a fourth elastic section 86, and the fourth portion 82 is located on the fourth elastic section 86.

Preferably, the third elastic segment 84 is located between the second rail 26 and the fourth elastic segment 86, the third elastic segment 84 and the fourth elastic segment 86 slightly tilt relative to the sidewall 52 of the second rail 26, the fourth member 64 further includes a second extending segment 88 connected to the fourth elastic segment 86, and the second rail 26 further includes a second supporting portion 90 for supporting the second extending segment 88, so as to prevent the fourth member 64 and/or the third member 62 from tilting excessively.

As shown in fig. 5, the second rail 26 and the first rail 24 are in a retracted position R relative to the third rail 28. The first locking device 54, the second locking device 56 and the elastic member 71 are in an initial state respectively. Further, the first space S1 is formed between the first portion 66 of the first member 58 and the second portion 68 of the second member 60; on the other hand, the third space S3 is provided between the third portion 80 of the third member 62 and the fourth portion 82 of the fourth member 64.

As shown in fig. 6 and 7, when the second rail 26 and the first rail 24 are pulled out from the retracted position R to a first direction D1 relative to the third rail 28 until the first rail 24 and the third rail 28 are in a predetermined extended state, the second rail 26 can be continuously operated by the user to be displaced in the first direction D1 relative to the first rail 24 and the third rail 28.

During the process of the second rail 26 moving to the first direction D1 to a first predetermined position P1, the second portion 68 of the second member 60 of the first locking device 54 can be blocked by one side of the stop 34 of the first rail 24, and, on the other hand, the first member 58 can be temporarily pressed by the stopping portion 34 through the first elastic segment 72 to store an elastic energy (see fig. 6), until the force applied to the second rail 26 by the user is enough to overcome the elastic force of the elastic member 71, so that the second rail 26 attached with the first member 58 is continuously displaced toward the first direction D1 to the first predetermined position P1 (see fig. 7), the first space S1 between the first portion 66 of the first member 58 and the second portion 68 of the second member 60 can be adjusted to change to the second space S2, so that the first elastic segment 72 is no longer pressed by the stopping portion 34 to release the elastic energy, such that the first portion 66 of the first member 58 is positioned on the other side of the stop 34 of the first rail 24. The second space S2 is larger than the first space S1, and the second space S2 is used for accommodating the stopper 34 of the first rail 24, so that the first locking device 54 can lock the stopper 34 (or object) of the first rail 24. In other words, the first portion 66 and the second portion 68 of the first locking device 54 can lock the two sides of the stop portion 34 of the first rail 24. Thus, the second rail 26 is prevented from being displaced in the first direction D1 or a second direction (opposite to the first direction D1) relative to the first rail 24. In this state, the slide rail assembly 20 has a first extension length, and the second rail 26 is in a first extension state relative to the first rail 24 (as shown in fig. 7). When the first locking device 54 locks the stopping portion 34, the elastic member 71 is in a state of accumulating and maintaining an elastic force.

As shown in fig. 8, when the first locking device 54 locks the stopper 34, a user can apply a force F to the second elastic segment 74 of the second member 60 and the first elastic segment 72 of the first member 58 to separate the second portion 68 of the second member 60 and the first portion 66 of the first member 58 from two sides of the stopper 34, so as to release the first locking device 54 from locking the stopper 34, and the second rail 26 can be continuously displaced from the first predetermined position P1 to the first direction D1 relative to the first rail 24.

As shown in fig. 8 and 9, when the first locking device 54 is unlocked from the stopper 34, the elastic member 71 releases the elastic force, so that the second member 60 can be adjusted and displaced relative to the first member 58 in response to the elastic force, and the second space S2 is restored to the first space S1. The first space S1 cannot accommodate the stopper 34 of the first rail 24. In this state, the first locking device 54 cannot lock the stopper 34 of the first rail 24.

As shown in fig. 10 and 11, after the first locking device 54 is unlocked from the stopper 34, the second rail 26 can be continuously displaced from the first predetermined position P1 to the first direction D1 relative to the first rail 24, in the process, the third elastic segment 84 of the third member 62 and the fourth elastic segment 86 of the fourth member 64 are temporarily pressed by the stopper 34 to store elastic energy, until the second rail 26 is displaced to a second predetermined position P2, the third elastic segment 84 of the third member 62 and the fourth elastic segment 86 of the fourth member 64 release the elastic energy and the stopper 34 of the first rail 24 is accommodated through the third space S3 between the third portion 80 of the third member 62 and the fourth portion 82 of the fourth member 64, so that the second locking device 56 locks the stopper 34. In other words, the third portion 80 and the fourth portion 82 of the second locking device 56 can lock the two sides of the stopping portion 34 of the first rail 24 respectively. Thus, the second rail 26 is prevented from being displaced in the first direction D1 or a second direction (opposite to the first direction D1) relative to the first rail 24. In this state, the slide rail assembly 20 has a second extension length, and the second rail 26 is in a second extension state, such as a fully extended state (as shown in fig. 11), relative to the first rail 24.

As shown in fig. 12, a user can apply a force F to the fourth resilient segment 86 of the fourth member 64 and the third resilient segment 84 of the third member 62 to unlock the second locking device 56 from the blocking portion 34, and since the first member 58 and the second member 60 of the first locking device 54 are already in the first space S1 (this portion can be referred to as fig. 9), the second rail 26 can be directly displaced from the second predetermined position P2 toward the retracted position R in a second direction D2 relative to the first rail 24.

As shown in fig. 13, 14 and 15, in another embodiment, the difference between the slide rail assembly 200 and the above embodiment is substantially as follows: the slide rail assembly 200 does not include the elastic member 71.

Specifically, in the case where the elastic member 71 is not provided, the second space S2 between the first portion 66 of the first member 58 and the second portion 68 of the second member 60 may be adjusted to be the first space S1, so that the second rail 26 can be directly displaced from the second predetermined position P2 toward the second direction D2 toward the retracted position R with respect to the first rail 24.

For example, when the second rail 26 is displaced from the second predetermined position P2 to the second direction D2 to approach the stopper 34 of the first rail 24, the second portion 68 of the second member 60 can be abutted against the stopper 34 (preferably, one of the second portion 68 of the second member 60 and the stopper 34 of the first rail 24 has a guiding inclined surface or an arc surface), so as to generate a force F1 to push the second member 60 to displace in the opposite second direction D2, thereby the second space S2 is adjusted to the first space S1 and cannot accommodate the stopper 34 of the first rail 24. That is, the first locking device 54 cannot lock the stopping portion 34 of the first rail 24, so that the second rail 26 can be folded directly toward the folded position R in the second direction D2 relative to the first rail 24.

From the above description, it can be seen that the enhanced efficacy and advantages of the present invention are:

a. the first locking device 54 and the second locking device 56 can provide for locking the track (e.g., second track) of the track assembly 22 at different extended lengths, thereby enabling the track assembly 20 to meet specific installation environment space and user specific requirements for equipment maintenance.

b. One of the first member 58 and the second member 60 of the first locking device 54 can be adjusted and displaced to change the size of the space (the first space S1 or the second space S2) for accommodating an object (e.g., the stopper 34 of the first rail 24).

c. Even if the slide rail is at the second predetermined position P2, the slide rail can be completely folded by releasing the locking device at the position when folded, which is convenient for operation.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the present specific embodiments, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that the above embodiments are illustrative only, and various equivalent changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and therefore, it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A slide rail assembly comprises a first rail, a second rail, a first locking device and a second locking device, wherein the second rail can move relative to the first rail, and the slide rail assembly is characterized in that:

the first rail comprises a blocking part;

the first locking device is positioned on the second rail and comprises a first member and a second member, the first member comprises a first part, the second member comprises a second part, and a first space is defined between the first part and the second part; and

the second locking device is positioned on the second rail and comprises a third member and a fourth member, wherein the third member comprises a third part, and the fourth member comprises a fourth part;

when the second rail moves to a first preset position from a folding position to a first direction relative to the first rail, the second part of the second member can be blocked by the blocking part of the first rail, and when the first member moves to the first preset position along with the second rail to the first direction, the first space is adjusted to be changed into a second space which is used for accommodating the blocking part of the first rail, so that the first locking device locks the blocking part;

when the first locking device is unlocked and the second rail is continuously moved to a second preset position relative to the first rail in the first direction, the blocking part of the first rail is accommodated through a third space between the third part and the fourth part, so that the second locking device locks the blocking part;

the first member further comprises a first elastic section, the first portion is located in the first elastic section, the second member further comprises a second elastic section, and the second portion is located in the second elastic section; the first elastic section is positioned between the second rail and the second elastic section, and the first elastic section and the second elastic section are tilted relative to the second rail; the second member further comprises a first extension section connected with the second elastic section, and the second rail further comprises a first supporting part for supporting the first extension section;

the third member further comprises a third elastic section, the third portion is located in the third elastic section, the fourth member further comprises a fourth elastic section, and the fourth portion is located in the fourth elastic section; the third elastic section is positioned between the second rail and the fourth elastic section, and the third elastic section and the fourth elastic section are tilted relative to the second rail; the fourth member further comprises a second extending section connected with the fourth elastic section, and the second rail further comprises a second supporting part for supporting the second extending section.

2. The slide rail assembly of claim 1 wherein the second rail is capable of moving from the second predetermined position to the retracted position in a second direction relative to the first rail when the second locking device is unlocked from the blocking portion.

3. The slide assembly of claim 1 wherein the first member is fixed to the second rail and the second member and the second rail are displaceable relative to each other within a limited range through a guide feature.

4. The slide rail assembly of claim 1 wherein the first rail includes a front portion and a rear portion, the stop portion being located adjacent the front portion.

5. The slide rail assembly of claim 1 wherein the first locking device and the second locking device are spaced apart from each other.

6. The slide rail assembly of claim 1 further comprising a third rail, wherein the first rail is movably mounted between the third rail and the second rail.

7. A slide rail kit comprises a slide rail and a first locking device, and is characterized in that:

the first locking device is arranged on the slide rail and comprises a first component and a second component, one of the first component and the second component can be adjusted and displaced, so that a first space between the first component and the second component is adjusted to be changed into a second space, and the slide rail can be locked to an object;

the first member comprises a first elastic section and a first part positioned in the first elastic section, the second member comprises a second elastic section and a second part positioned in the second elastic section, the first space is defined between the first part and the second part, the first elastic section is positioned between the slide rail and the second elastic section, and the first elastic section and the second elastic section are tilted relative to the slide rail, wherein the second member further comprises a first extension section connected with the second elastic section, and the slide rail further comprises a first supporting part for the first extension section to abut against;

the slide rail kit further comprises a second locking device located on the slide rail, the second locking device comprises a third component and a fourth component, the third component comprises a third elastic section and a third portion located on the third elastic section, the fourth component comprises a fourth elastic section and a fourth portion located on the fourth elastic section, a third space is defined between the third portion and the fourth portion, the third elastic section is located between the slide rail and the fourth elastic section, the third elastic section and the fourth elastic section are tilted relative to the slide rail, the fourth component further comprises a second extending section connected with the fourth elastic section, and the slide rail further comprises a second supporting portion for supporting the second extending section.

8. The slide rail assembly of claim 7 further comprising a resilient member, wherein the first member is fixed to the slide rail, and the resilient member is configured to provide a resilient force to the second member.