Slide rail clamping device

Abstract

A sliding rail clamping device is arranged on a sliding rail, and the sliding rail comprises an outer rail, a middle rail and an inner rail. The sliding rail clamping device comprises a base unit and a clamping unit. The base unit comprises an outer frame fixedly connected with the outer rail, a base fixedly connected with the inner rail and an inner support fixedly connected with the base, the outer frame is provided with an outer connecting part fixedly connected with the outer rail and a clamping part extending away from the outer rail from the outer connecting part, and the inner support and the base jointly define a movable groove. The clamping unit comprises a clamping piece pivoted to the base, a driving piece connected with the clamping piece and movably contained in the movable groove and an elastic piece arranged between the base and the clamping piece, the clamping piece is provided with a clamping part capable of being clamped to the clamping part, and the driving piece can be driven to move in the movable groove. And the driving part is used for driving the clamping piece to pivot, so that the clamping relation between the clamping part and the clamping part is released, and the inner rail, the base and the inner bracket can move relative to the outer rail.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a latch device, and more particularly to a slide rail latch device. BACKGROUND

[0002] A conventional slide rail latch device is disposed between an inner rail and an outer rail of a slide rail to prevent the inner rail from sliding out relative to the outer rail. The slide rail is disposed in a server cabinet, the outer rail is disposed in the server cabinet, and the inner cabinet is connected to a server. The slide rail latch device includes an outer connecting frame fixed to the outer rail and a latch member pivotally disposed in the inner rail and latchable to the outer connecting frame. When the latch member is latched to the outer connecting frame, the inner rail is prevented from sliding out relative to the outer rail. When the latching relationship between the latch member and the outer connecting frame is released, the inner rail can move relative to the outer rail, so that the server can be removed from the server cabinet for maintenance. However, the latch member of the conventional slide rail latch device is pivotally disposed in the inner rail. The inner rail is relatively long and made of soft steel material. The latch member can not pivot smoothly or can not perform the latching function due to deformation of the inner rail. Therefore, there is still room for improvement. SUMMARY

[0003] The present invention aims to provide a slide rail latch device that can solve at least one of the above problems.

[0004] The slide rail latch device of the present invention is suitable for being disposed in a slide rail, which includes an outer rail, a middle rail movably disposed in the outer rail, and an inner rail movably disposed in the middle rail. The slide rail latch device includes a base unit, which includes an outer frame suitable for being fixed to the outer rail, a base suitable for being fixed to the inner rail, and an inner support fixed to the base. The outer frame has an outer connecting portion suitable for being fixed to the outer rail and a latching portion extending away from the outer rail from the outer connecting portion. The base has a strength greater than that of the inner rail. The inner support and the base jointly define a movable slot. The slide rail latch device also includes a latch unit, which includes a latch member pivotally disposed in the base, a driving member connected to the latch member and movably accommodated in the movable slot, and a resilient member disposed between the base and the latch member. The latch member has a latching portion latchable to the latching portion. The driving member can be driven to move in the movable slot to drive the latch member to pivot so as to release the latching relationship between the latching portion and the latching portion, so that the inner rail, the base, and the inner support can move relative to the outer rail.

[0005] In some embodiments, the latch member further includes a pivoting portion pivotally disposed in the base and connected to the latching portion, and a linkage portion connected to the pivoting portion and the driving member.

[0006] In some embodiments, the driving member has an operation portion and a driving portion connected to the operation portion, the driving portion has a bottom wall connected to the operation portion, a side wall connected to the bottom wall and extending away from the operation portion, and a top wall connected to the side wall and spaced apart from the bottom wall, the driving portion defines an engaging groove for accommodating the linkage portion.

[0007] In some embodiments, the linkage portion forms an elongated linkage groove, and the side wall forms a linkage protrusion movably accommodated in the linkage groove.

[0008] In some embodiments, the base has a base plate portion for pivoting the catch member, a guide portion connected to the base plate portion and away from one side of the outer rail, and an inner engaging portion connected to the base plate portion and adjacent to one side of the inner rail, the base plate portion forms an opening for the catch portion to pass through and catch the engaging portion, the guide portion cooperates with the inner support to define the movable slot, and the inner engaging portion is suitable for fixedly connecting the inner rail.

[0009] In some embodiments, the inner support has a cover portion engaged with the base plate portion and a movable portion connected to the cover portion, the cover portion forms an accommodation groove for accommodating the catch member, the movable portion includes a base wall and a surrounding wall extending from the base wall towards the guide portion, the surrounding wall forms a communication port communicating the accommodation groove for the linkage portion to pass through, and the base wall, the surrounding wall and the guide portion form the movable slot with the opening downward.

[0010] In some embodiments, the surface of the side wall towards the base wall forms a guide groove extending upward and downward, and the base wall forms a guide rib extending upward and downward and correspondingly accommodated in the guide groove.

[0011] In some embodiments, the surface of the guide portion towards the driving member forms a guide groove extending upward and downward, and the top wall forms a guide block extending upward and downward and correspondingly accommodated in the guide groove.

[0012] In some embodiments, the engaging portion has an upper plate segment connected to the outer connecting portion and an engaging segment downwardly extending from the upper plate segment and spaced apart from the outer connecting portion, and the catch portion can be caught in the engaging segment.

[0013] In some embodiments, the engaging portion further has a lower plate segment connected to the outer connecting portion and spaced apart below the upper plate segment, the upper plate segment, the engaging segment and the lower plate segment define a slot, the slot has a first slot portion defined by the engaging segment and the lower plate segment, and a second slot portion defined by the upper plate segment and the lower plate segment, the first slot portion communicates with the second slot portion, the width of the first slot portion is smaller than the width of the second slot portion, the second slot portion movably accommodates the catch portion, and when the catch portion is released from the engaging relationship with the engaging portion, the catch portion can pass through the first slot portion and separate from the outer frame when the inner rail, the base and the inner support move relative to the outer rail.

[0014] In some embodiments, the elastic member is a torsion spring, one end of which is fixed to the clamping member, and the other end of which is fixed to the base. The clamping member further has a positioning portion extending from the pivot portion toward the inner support and bent downward. The positioning portion and the pivot portion can jointly position a portion of the elastic member, preventing displacement of the elastic member.

[0015] In some embodiments, the bottom wall of the driving portion forms an arc-shaped surface protruding toward the top wall, and the operation portion forms an operation surface in the shape of a sphere protruding downward.

[0016] The present application has at least the following advantages: by pivoting the clamping member to the base with higher strength instead of the inner rail, deformation of the inner rail can be avoided, and the clamping member can be prevented from being pivoted disorderly or even losing the clamping function with the clamping portion of the outer frame. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0017] Other features and advantages of the present application will be apparent in the light of the following detailed description of the embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0018] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the sliding rail clamping device of the present application arranged on a sliding rail;

[0019] Figure 2 FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment and the sliding rail;

[0020] Figure 3 FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment;

[0021] Figure 4 FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment from another angle;

[0022] Figure 5 FIG. 5 is a rear view of an inner support of a base unit of the embodiment;

[0023] Figure 6 FIG. 6 is a rear view of the embodiment, illustrating that a clamping portion of a clamping member of a clamping unit clamps a clamping segment of a clamping portion of an outer frame;

[0024] Figure 7 and Figure 8 FIG. 7 is a rear view of the embodiment, illustrating that the clamping portion of the clamping member is pivoted downward by a driving member to release the clamping relationship with the clamping segment of the clamping portion. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] Before the present application is described in detail, it is to be understood that like components are denoted by like numerals in the drawings.

[0026] Referring to Figure 1 and Figure 2An embodiment of the slide rail catch device 10 is suitable for being disposed on a slide rail 100, which is disposed on a server cabinet (not shown) and includes an outer rail 101, a middle rail 102 movably disposed on the outer rail 101, and an inner rail 103 movably disposed on the middle rail 102. The outer rail 101 is fixed to the server cabinet (not shown), and the inner rail 103 is fixed to a server (not shown). The slide rail catch device 10 includes a base unit 1 and a catch unit 2.

[0027] Referring to Figures 2 to 4 The base unit 1 includes an outer frame 11 suitable for being fixed to the outer rail 101, a base 12 suitable for being fixed to the inner rail 103, and an inner bracket 13 fixed to the base 12. The outer frame 11 has an outer connecting portion 111 suitable for being fixed to the outer rail 101, and an engaging portion 112 extending away from the outer rail 101 from the outer connecting portion 111. The engaging portion 112 has an upper plate segment 112a connected to the outer connecting portion 111, an engaging segment 112b extending downwardly from the upper plate segment 112a and spaced from the outer connecting portion 111, and a lower plate segment 112c connected to the outer connecting portion 111 and spaced below the upper plate segment 112a. The upper plate segment 112a, the engaging segment 112b, and the lower plate segment 112c define a slot 113 having a first slot portion 113a defined by the engaging segment 112b and the lower plate segment 112c, and a second slot portion 113b defined by the upper plate segment 112a and the lower plate segment 112c. The first slot portion 113a is in communication with the second slot portion 113b, and the width of the first slot portion 113a is smaller than the width of the second slot portion 113b.

[0028] The base 12 has a base plate portion 121 for being pivoted by the catch unit 2, a guide portion 122 connected to one side of the base plate portion 121 away from the outer rail 101, and an inner engaging portion 123 connected to one side of the base plate portion 121 adjacent to the outer rail 101. The base plate portion 121 forms an opening 121a. The guide portion 122 forms a guide slot 122a extending upwardly and downwardly towards the surface of the inner bracket 13. The inner engaging portion 123 is suitable for being fixed to the inner rail 103.

[0029] Referring to Figure 5The inner bracket 13 has a cover portion 131 connected to the base portion 121 and a movable portion 132 connected to the cover portion 131. The cover portion 131 is connected to the base portion 121 by three fixing members 14, but is not limited thereto. The cover portion 131 forms a receiving groove 131a. The movable portion 132 includes a base wall 132a and a surrounding wall 132b extending from the base wall 132a toward the guide portion 122. The surrounding wall 132b forms a communication port 132c communicating with the receiving groove 131a. The base wall 132a, the surrounding wall 132b and the guide portion 122 form a movable groove 132d opening downward. The base wall 132a forms a guide rib 132a1 extending upward.

[0030] The clamping unit 2 includes a clamping member 21 pivotally connected to the base portion 121 of the base 12, a driving member 22 connected to the clamping member 21 and movably received in the movable groove 132d, and a resilient member 23 disposed between the base 12 and the clamping member 21. The clamping member 21 is received in the receiving groove 131a and has a clamping portion 211 movably received in the second groove portion 113b and passing through the opening 121a to clamp the clamping segment 112b of the engaging portion 112, a pivot portion 212 pivotally connected to the base 12 and connected to the clamping portion 211, a linkage portion 213 connected to the pivot portion 212 and connected to the driving member 22 through the communication port 132c, and a positioning portion 214 extending from the pivot portion 212 toward the inner bracket 13 and bent downward. The linkage portion 213 forms an elongated linkage groove 213a. The positioning portion 214 and the pivot portion 212 can jointly position a portion of the resilient member 23 to prevent displacement of the resilient member 23. The pivot portion 212 is pivotally connected to the base portion 121 by a pivot member 24. The resilient member 23 is a torsion spring and has one end fixed to the clamping portion 211 and the other end fixed to the base 12.

[0031] The driving member 22 is substantially a square column, and has an operation portion 221 and a driving portion 222 connected to the operation portion 221. The operation portion 221 has an operation surface 221a which is a spherical surface protruding downward. The driving portion 222 has a bottom wall 222a connected to the operation portion 221, a side wall 222b extending away from the operation portion 221 and connected to the bottom wall 222a, and a top wall 222c connected to the side wall 222b and spaced from the bottom wall 222a, and the driving portion 222 defines an engaging groove 223 for accommodating the connecting portion 213. The bottom wall 222a of the driving portion 222 has an arc surface 222a1 protruding toward the top wall 222c. The side wall 222b has a connecting protrusion 222d movably accommodated in the connecting groove 213a, and the side wall 222b has a guide groove 222b1 extending upward and downward and accommodating the corresponding guide rib 132a1. The top wall 222c has a guide block 222c1 extending upward and downward and accommodating the corresponding guide groove 122a. By accommodating the guide rib 132a1 in the guide groove 222b1 and accommodating the guide block 222c1 in the guide groove 122a, the driving member 22 can be guided to move smoothly upward and downward in the moving groove 132d.

[0032] Referring to Figure 1 , Figures 6 to 8 , the following briefly describes the operation process of the slide rail catch device 10: when the driving member 22 is not operated and contacted, the catch portion 211 of the catch member 21 is caught on the engagement section 112b of the engagement portion 112 to prevent the inner rail 103 from sliding out relative to the outer rail 101, as shown in Figure 6 . Next, when an external object (not shown) moves toward the operation surface 221a of the driving member 22 in the length direction of the slide rail 100 and abuts against the operation surface 221a, because the operation surface 221a protrudes downward as a spherical surface, the external object can abut against the driving member 22 when moving, so that the driving member 22 can be driven to move upward in the moving groove 132d, and the connecting protrusion 222d of the driving portion 222 is moved in the connecting groove 213a to drive the connecting portion 213 of the catch member 21 to move upward, so that the catch member 21 is pivoted, and the catch portion 211 moves downward in the second groove portion 113b to release the catching relationship with the engagement portion 112, as shown in Figure 7 and Figure 8The inner rail 103, the base 12 and the inner bracket 13 can move relative to the outer rail 101 after the latch portion 211 is disengaged from the engaging section 112b of the engaging portion 112. When the inner rail 103, the base 12 and the inner bracket 13 move relative to the outer rail 101, the latch portion 211 can be separated from the outer frame 11 through the first slot portion 113a, so that the server (not shown) fixed to the inner rail 103 can be removed from the server cabinet (not shown) for maintenance. It should be noted that the driving member 22 is movable in the connecting slot 213a through the connecting protrusion 222d of the driving portion 222, so as to drive the connecting portion 213 of the latch member 21 to move upward. In this way, the cooperation tolerance between the latch member 21 and the driving member 22 can be improved. Even if the sizes of the latch members 21 produced in batches are inconsistent, the driving member 22 can still drive the connecting portion 213 to move upward and make the latch member 21 pivot through the cooperation between the long connecting slot 213a and the connecting protrusion 222d. In addition, the arc-shaped surface 222a1 of the bottom wall 222a can avoid interfering with the connecting portion 213 when the bottom wall 222a moves upward.

[0033] In summary, the latch device 10 of the sliding rail can avoid the deformation of the inner rail 103, so that the latch member 21 can pivot smoothly and can still be engaged with the engaging portion 112 of the outer frame 11. Therefore, the purpose of the present application can be achieved.

[0034] The above description is only an embodiment of the present application, and cannot limit the scope of the present application. Any simple equivalent changes and modifications made according to the claims and description of the present application are still within the scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A slide rail locking device, suitable for installation on a slide rail, the slide rail comprising an outer rail, a middle rail movably disposed on the outer rail, and an inner rail movably disposed on the middle rail, characterized in that: The slide rail locking device includes: The base unit includes an outer frame for fixing the outer rail, a base for fixing the inner rail, and an inner support fixed to the base. The outer frame has an outer connecting portion for fixing the outer rail and a locking portion extending from the outer connecting portion away from the outer rail. The strength of the base is greater than the strength of the inner rail. The inner support and the base together define a movable groove. The locking unit includes a locking member pivotally mounted on the base, a driving member connected to the locking member and movably accommodated in the movable slot, and an elastic member disposed between the base and the locking member. The locking member has a locking portion that can lock onto the engaging portion. The driving member can be driven to move within the movable slot to drive the locking member to pivot and release the locking portion from the engaging portion, so that the inner rail, the base, and the inner support can move relative to the outer rail.

2. The slide rail locking device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The latching component also includes a pivot portion pivotally mounted on the base and connected to the latching portion, and a linkage portion connecting the pivot portion and the driving component.

3. The slide rail locking device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The drive unit has an operating part and a drive portion connected to the operating part. The drive portion has a bottom wall connected to the operating part, a side wall connected to the bottom wall extending away from the operating part, and a top wall connected to the side wall and spaced apart from the bottom wall. The drive portion defines an engagement groove for receiving the linkage part.

4. The slide rail locking device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The linkage part forms an elongated linkage groove, and the side wall forms a linkage protrusion that is movably accommodated in the linkage groove.

5. The slide rail locking device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The base has a base plate portion for pivoting the latching member, a guide portion connecting the side of the base plate portion away from the outer rail, and an inner engagement portion connecting the side of the base plate portion adjacent to the outer rail. The base plate portion forms an opening through which the latching member passes to engage with the engagement portion. The guide portion and the inner support together define the movable groove. The inner engagement portion is suitable for fixing the inner rail.

6. The slide rail locking device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The inner support has a cover portion that engages with the base plate portion and a movable portion that connects to the cover portion. The cover portion forms a receiving groove for accommodating the latching member. The movable portion includes a base wall and a surrounding wall extending from the base wall toward the guide portion. The surrounding wall forms a communication port that communicates with the receiving groove for the linkage portion to pass through. The base wall, the surrounding wall, and the guide portion form the movable groove with the opening facing downward.

7. The slide rail locking device according to claim 6, characterized in that: The sidewall has a vertically extending guide groove on its surface facing the base wall, and the base wall has a vertically extending guide rib that is accommodated in the guide groove.

8. The slide rail locking device according to claim 6, characterized in that: The guide portion forms a vertically extending guide groove on the surface facing the drive member, and the top wall forms a vertically extending guide block that is accommodated in the guide groove.

9. The slide rail locking device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The engaging portion has an upper plate section that connects to the outer connecting portion and an engaging section that extends downward from the upper plate section and is spaced apart from the outer connecting portion, and the locking portion can be engaged in the engaging section.

10. The slide rail locking device according to claim 9, characterized in that: The engaging portion also has a lower plate segment that connects to the outer connecting portion and is located at an interval below the upper plate segment. The upper plate segment, the engaging portion, and the lower plate segment define a slot. The slot has a first groove defined by the engaging portion and the lower plate segment and a second groove defined by the upper plate segment and the lower plate segment. The first groove connects to the second groove, and the width of the first groove is smaller than the width of the second groove. The second groove is used to accommodate the locking portion. After the locking portion releases its engagement relationship with the engaging portion, when the inner rail, the base, and the inner support move relative to the outer rail, the locking portion can separate from the outer frame through the first groove.

11. The slide rail locking device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The elastic element is a torsion spring with one end fixed to the locking part and the other end fixed to the base. The locking element also has a positioning part that extends from the pivot part toward the inner bracket and bends downward. The positioning part and the pivot part can jointly position the part of the elastic element to prevent the elastic element from shifting.

12. The slide rail locking device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The bottom wall of the drive unit forms an arc-shaped surface that protrudes toward the top wall, and the operating unit forms an operating surface that protrudes downward in a spherical shape.

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