Slide rail assembly and furniture

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of furniture, and discloses a sliding rail assembly and furniture. The sliding rail assembly comprises a fixed rail, a movable rail, a middle rail and a gear assembly. The fixed rail is provided with a lower gear rack extending along a first direction. The movable rail is located above a sliding part and can slide through the sliding part along the first direction. The movable rail is provided with an upper gear rack. The middle rail is located between the fixed rail and the movable rail. The top wall of the middle rail is provided with an opening. The gear assembly comprises a middle rail frame inserted into the opening and a gear rotatably arranged on the frame. The gear penetrates through the middle rail frame. The upper part of the gear is engaged with the upper gear rack, and the lower part of the gear is engaged with the lower gear rack. A support member extending along a second direction is fixedly connected to the middle rail frame. The support member abuts against the lower part of the lower gear rack. The sliding rail assembly can effectively prevent the lower gear rack from sagging and deforming due to lack of support, and can prevent the engagement position of the lower gear rack of the fixed rail and the gear of the middle rail from deviating and being unable to be synchronously driven.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of furniture technology, and more particularly to a slide rail assembly and furniture. Background Technology

[0002] Drawer slides are commonly used accessories in the furniture industry. They are used to install sliding parts of furniture, such as drawers in storage cabinets, tabletops in dining tables, and doors in wardrobes. Furniture with three-section drawer slides can be fully extended, making it convenient for users to access items, and is therefore increasingly widely used.

[0003] Currently, the three-section slide rail assembly consists of a movable rail, a fixed rail, and a middle rail located between the movable and fixed rails. To achieve multi-rail linkage, racks are installed on the movable rail, middle rail, and fixed rail, and the sliding of the movable and middle rails is achieved by the interaction of the racks. However, because the rack on the fixed rail lacks support, it will sag under the influence of gravity, causing misalignment between the rack teeth on the fixed rail and the rack on the middle rail. This prevents synchronous driving and affects the operational reliability of the slide rail assembly. Utility Model Content

[0004] In order to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, or at least partially solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this application provides a slide rail assembly and furniture to solve the problem of poor synchronous driving performance of the slide rail assembly caused by the rack on the fixed rail sagging.

[0005] In a first aspect, this application provides a slide rail assembly having a first direction, a second direction, and a third direction that are mutually perpendicular to each other, the slide rail assembly comprising:

[0006] A fixed rail, on which a lower rack extending along the first direction is mounted;

[0007] A movable rail that can slide along the fixed rail in the first direction, and the movable rail is equipped with an upper rack.

[0008] The middle rail is located between the fixed rail and the movable rail, and the top wall of the middle rail has an opening;

[0009] A gear assembly includes a middle rail wheel frame inserted into the opening and a gear rotatably mounted on the wheel frame. The gear passes through the middle rail wheel frame, and the upper part of the gear meshes with the upper rack, and the lower part of the gear meshes with the lower rack. A support member extending along the second direction is fixedly connected to the middle rail wheel frame.

[0010] The support member includes a connecting part and a support part fixedly connected to the middle rail wheel frame. The support part is fixedly connected to the side of the connecting part near the lower rack and extends along the third direction. The lower part of the lower rack has a stepped groove extending along the first direction. When the middle rail is assembled between the fixed rail and the movable rail, the support part extends into the stepped groove and abuts against the lower rack to provide support to the lower rack.

[0011] In one embodiment, the fixed rail has a sliding portion extending along the first direction, the lower rack is connected to the sliding portion, and the movable rail slides through the sliding portion.

[0012] In one embodiment, a plurality of clamping blocks are spaced apart on the inner side of the top wall of the movable rail along the first direction, and each clamping block defines a clamping space between itself and the top wall of the movable rail.

[0013] The upper rack includes a body part and a gear part. The gear part is disposed on the surface of the body part facing the middle rail. The surface of the body part away from the middle rail is provided with a plurality of locking blocks spaced apart along the first direction.

[0014] When the upper rack is fixed to the movable rail, the snap-fit ​​block extends into the clamping space and abuts against the inner side of the top wall of the movable rail.

[0015] In one embodiment, the top wall of the movable rail has an extension hole at a position corresponding to the clamping block, so that after the snap-fit ​​block extends into the clamping space, the snap-fit ​​block extends out of the movable rail from the extension hole.

[0016] In one embodiment, the slide rail assembly further includes at least one upper wheel frame, the movable rail has a receiving cavity, the upper wheel frame is disposed between the movable rail and the middle rail and is housed in the receiving cavity, and the upper wheel frame has an extension extending along the second direction, the extension is spaced with mounting portions, an installation space is defined between two adjacent mounting portions, and a ball bearing is rotatably disposed in the installation space.

[0017] The surface of the middle rail facing the movable rail is provided with a guide groove extending in the first direction, and the ball bearing is connected to the guide groove so that the movable wheel slides relative to the middle rail.

[0018] In one embodiment, the movable rail has a protrusion extending along the first direction on the surface of the middle rail, and the upper surface of the protrusion has an arc-shaped groove, which makes rolling contact with the portion of the ball that is exposed outside the mounting space.

[0019] In one embodiment, the top wall of the middle rail is provided with an upwardly curved limiting block, which is located on the moving path of the upper wheel frame, so that when the movable rail extends to its maximum stroke relative to the middle rail, the limiting block abuts against the upper wheel frame.

[0020] In one embodiment, the movable rail has a first abutment block bent downward at one end extending outward, and the middle rail has a second abutment block at one end away from the first abutment block in a first direction, the second abutment block being located on the movement path of the first abutment block.

[0021] In one embodiment, the slide rail assembly further includes a damping unit, the damping unit comprising:

[0022] A bracket is mounted on the fixed rail and located on the side of the sliding part opposite to the lower rack;

[0023] A slider, which is slidably disposed on the bracket along the first direction;

[0024] A connecting piece is provided on the outer side of the movable part. The upper end of the connecting piece is connected to the movable rail, and the lower end of the connecting piece is connected to the slider, so that when the movable rail slides, it can drive the slider to slide along the first direction.

[0025] A damping element is provided on the bracket along the first direction, and one end of the damping element is connected to a connecting block, which is located on the sliding path of the slider.

[0026] Secondly, this application also provides a piece of furniture, including the slide rail assembly described in the above embodiments.

[0027] The technical solutions provided in this application have the following advantages compared with the prior art:

[0028] By setting a support member extending in the second direction on the middle rail wheel frame and using the support member to abut against the lower part of the lower rack, a supporting force can be provided to the lower rack. This can effectively prevent the lower rack from sagging and deforming due to lack of support, which would cause the meshing position of the lower rack of the fixed rail and the gear of the middle rail to deviate and fail to drive synchronously. Attached Figure Description

[0029] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present invention.

[0030] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, for those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0031] In the attached image:

[0032] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a slide rail assembly in a closed state according to this application;

[0033] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a slide rail assembly in its unfolded state according to this application;

[0034] Figure 3 This is a front view schematic diagram of a slide rail assembly according to this application;

[0035] Figure 4 This is an exploded view of a slide rail assembly according to this application;

[0036] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the upper rack, gear assembly and lower rack in a slide rail assembly according to this application;

[0037] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the lower rack and lower wheel frame in a slide rail assembly according to this application;

[0038] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 Enlarged view of point A in the middle;

[0039] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the gear assembly in a slide rail assembly according to this application;

[0040] Figure 9 This is a partial schematic diagram of the movable rail in a slide rail assembly according to this application;

[0041] Figure 10 yes Figure 9 Enlarged view of point B in the middle;

[0042] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the upper rack in a slide rail assembly according to this application;

[0043] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the upper wheel frame in a slide rail assembly according to this application;

[0044] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a slide rail assembly in this application, showing the connection between the damping unit and the movable rail;

[0045] Figure 14This is a schematic diagram of the damping unit in a slide rail assembly according to this application.

[0046] Icon labels:

[0047] 10. Fixed rail; 11. Sliding part; 12. Side plate; 13. Base plate; 20. Movable rail; 21. Extension hole; 30. Middle rail; 30a. Guide groove; 31. Limiting block; 40. Damping unit; 41. Bracket; 42. Damping component; 43. Connecting piece; 44. Slider; 45. Connecting block; 50. Lower rack; 51. Connecting strip; 511. Extension strip; 511a. Slide groove; 52. Tooth; 60. Upper rack; 61. Body part; 61a. Snap-fit ​​block; 62. Gear part; 70. Gear assembly; 71. Middle 72. Rail frame; 73. Gear; 74. Support member; 75. Connecting part; 76. Support part; 80. Upper wheel frame; 81. Extension part; 82. Mounting part; 90. Ball bearing; 100. Raised bar; 110. Arc groove; 120. Lower wheel frame; 120a. Sliding bar; 120b. Slot; 130. Mounting cavity; 140. First roller; 150. Receiving cavity; 160. Clamping block; 170. Clamping space; 180. Mounting space; 190. Second roller; X, First direction; Y, Second direction; Z, Third direction. Detailed Implementation

[0048] To provide a clearer understanding of the technical features, objectives, and effects of this utility model, the specific embodiments of this utility model are now described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, it should be understood that the orientations or positional relationships indicated by terms such as "front," "rear," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "longitudinal," "horizontal," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "head," and "tail" are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are constructed and operated in a specific orientation. They are only for the convenience of describing this technical solution and do not indicate that the device or component referred to must have a specific orientation; therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this utility model.

[0049] It should also be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, terms such as "installation," "connection," "joining," "fixing," and "setting" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. When an component is referred to as being "on" or "below" another component, the component can be located "directly" or "indirectly" on the other component, or there may be one or more intermediary components. The terms "first," "second," "third," etc., are only for the convenience of describing this technical solution and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Therefore, features defined with "first," "second," "third," etc., may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0050] In the following description, specific details such as particular system structures and techniques are set forth for illustrative purposes and not for limitation, in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the present invention. However, those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention can be implemented in other embodiments without these specific details. In other instances, detailed descriptions of well-known systems, apparatuses, circuits, and methods are omitted so as not to obscure the description of the present invention with unnecessary detail.

[0051] In this embodiment, the first direction X, the second direction Y, and the third direction Z are defined for ease of describing the positional relationship between components. Specifically, a specific component in this application can be used as a reference for description. The first direction X, the second direction Y, and the third direction Z are defined below using the fixed rail 10 as a reference. The first direction X refers to the length direction of the fixed rail 10 (refer to...). Figure 1 The X direction in the diagram refers to the direction of the fixed rail 10, and the second direction Y refers to the height direction (see reference). Figure 1 The Y direction in the text refers to the width direction of the fixed rail 10 (see reference). Figure 1 (Z direction in the text). Furthermore, the slide rail assembly of this application is applied to the furniture industry, specifically to wardrobes, cabinets, bathroom vanities, bedside tables, and other furniture requiring sliding mechanisms. The following description uses a wardrobe as an example to illustrate the slide rail assembly in this application. For other types of furniture, the structure can be referenced from the wardrobe embodiment, and will not be elaborated further here.

[0052] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a slide rail assembly in a closed state according to this application; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a slide rail assembly in its unfolded state according to this application; Figure 3 This is a front view schematic diagram of a slide rail assembly according to this application; Figure 4 This is an exploded view of a slide rail assembly according to this application;

[0053] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the upper rack, gear assembly, and lower rack in a slide rail assembly according to this application. Please refer to it as well. Figures 1 to 5 This application discloses a schematic diagram of the structure of a slide rail assembly in which the upper rack 60, gear assembly 70, and lower rack 50 cooperate. Please refer to the diagram as well. Figures 1 to 5 This application provides a slide rail assembly having a first direction X, a second direction Y, and a third direction Z that are mutually perpendicular. The slide rail assembly includes a fixed rail 10, a movable rail 20, a middle rail 30, and a gear assembly 70.

[0054] A lower rack 50 extending along the first direction X is mounted on the fixed rail 10. The lower rack 50 can be detachably fixed to the fixed rail 10 to facilitate subsequent replacement of the worn lower rack 50, but is not limited to this. A movable rail 20 can slide along the first direction X through the fixed rail 10, and an upper rack 60 is mounted on the movable rail 20. A middle rail 30 is located between the fixed rail 10 and the movable rail 20, and an opening is provided in the top wall of the middle rail 30. A gear assembly 70 is mounted on the middle rail 30 and meshes with the upper rack 60 and the lower rack 50. That is, the gear assembly 70 simultaneously meshes with the upper rack 60 and the lower rack 50 to transmit power, so that the middle rail 30 can slide relative to the fixed rail 10 along the first direction X, and the movable rail 20 can slide relative to the middle rail 30 along the first direction X.

[0055] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the lower rack 50 and the lower wheel frame 120 in a slide rail assembly according to this application; Figure 7 yes Figure 6 Enlarged view of point A in the middle; Figure 8 This is a structural schematic diagram of the gear assembly 70 in a slide rail assembly according to this application. Please refer to it as well. Figures 6 to 8Specifically, the gear assembly 70 includes a middle rail wheel frame 71 inserted into an opening (not shown) and a gear 72 rotatably mounted on the wheel frame. The middle rail wheel frame 71 is inserted into the opening by means of a snap-fit ​​or other auxiliary component, allowing it to be fixed within the opening to connect with the middle rail 30 to form a single unit. The gear 72 passes through the middle rail wheel frame 71, with its upper part meshing with the upper rack 60 and its lower part meshing with the lower rack 50. In other words, the gear assembly 70 uses a combination of a middle rail frame 71 and a gear 72. First, the gear 72 is rotatably mounted on the middle rail frame 71, with its upper and lower parts protruding from the frame. Then, the middle rail frame 71 and gear 72 are inserted into the opening for fixation, thus completing the installation of the gear assembly 70 on the middle rail 30. This design is simple, easy to assemble and disassemble, and facilitates replacement of damaged gears 72 without replacing the entire middle rail 30, saving costs. Since the middle rail 30 is installed between the fixed rail 10 and the movable rail 20, after the gear assembly 70 is installed on the middle rail 30, the upper and lower parts of the gear 72 mesh with the upper rack 60 and lower rack 50 respectively, allowing the movable rail 20 to slide relative to the middle rail 30, and the middle rail 30 to slide relative to the fixed rail 10.

[0056] In practical applications, due to the lack of support structure, the rack on the fixed rail 10 will sag and deform under the action of gravity, which will cause the meshing position of the lower rack 50 on the fixed rail 10 and the gear 72 of the middle rail 30 to deviate, ultimately causing the synchronous drive function to fail. To address this, this application provides a support member 73 extending along the second direction Y on the middle rail wheel frame 71. The support member 73 abuts against the lower part of the lower rack 50 to provide support for the lower rack 50. In other words, the slide rail assembly of this application, by fixing the support member 73 extending along the second direction Y to the middle rail wheel frame 71 and using the support member 73 to abut against the lower part of the lower rack 50, can provide a supporting force to the lower rack 50, effectively preventing the problem of sagging and deformation of the lower rack 50 due to lack of support, which would cause the meshing position of the lower rack 50 of the fixed rail 10 and the gear 72 of the middle rail 30 to deviate and fail to drive synchronously.

[0057] It should be noted that the support member 73 can be formed using the same material as the intermediate rail wheel frame 71 (i.e., it is part of the intermediate rail wheel frame 71), or it can be formed by adding an additional component connected to the intermediate rail wheel frame 71. In other words, the support member 73 and the intermediate rail wheel frame 71 can be manufactured using an integral molding process, or the support member 73 and the intermediate rail wheel frame 71 can be formed as two separate structures, i.e., the support member 73 and the intermediate rail wheel frame 71 are molded separately and then connected. However, in practical applications, in order to ensure that the support member 73 provides stable support for the lower rack 50 and to prevent the support member 73 from detaching from the intermediate rail wheel frame 71 and losing its support for the lower rack 50, it is necessary to ensure the structural strength of the support member 73 and the intermediate rail wheel frame 71. At the same time, using the same material to manufacture the component can also significantly reduce manufacturing costs.

[0058] Furthermore, the support member 73 includes a connecting portion 731 connected to the middle rail wheel frame 71 and a support portion 732. The support portion 732 is connected to the side of the support member 732 near the lower rack 50 and extends in a third direction Z. The lower part of the lower rack 50 has a stepped groove extending in a first direction X. When the middle rail 30 is assembled between the fixed rail 10 and the movable rail 20, the support portion 732 extends into the stepped groove and abuts against the lower rack 50.

[0059] In practical applications, the support portion 732 is angled upwards so that after extending into the stepped groove, it can tightly abut against the bottom of the lower rack 50, preventing the support portion 732 from failing to contact the bottom of the lower rack 50 and thus failing to provide support for the lower rack 50. Simultaneously, after extending into the stepped groove along the third direction Z, the support portion 732 abuts against the side wall of the stepped groove, thus limiting the displacement of the lower rack 50 in the third direction Z. When the movable rail 20 is subjected to a lateral force (such as a drawer subjected to force on one side), the support portion 732 transmits the lateral force through the side wall of the stepped groove, preventing the rack from shifting laterally. Furthermore, a stepped groove extending along the first direction X is formed at the lower part of the lower rack 50, allowing the support portion 732 to slide along the extension direction of the stepped groove when the middle rail 30 slides relative to the fixed rail 10, thereby providing a guiding function and preventing the support portion 732 from detaching from the stepped groove and losing its supporting function for the lower rack 50.

[0060] In one embodiment, the fixed rail 10 has a sliding portion 11 extending along a first direction X, a lower rack 50 connected to the sliding portion 11, and a movable rail 20 sliding through the sliding portion 11. Thus, the sliding portion 11 is formed on the fixed rail 10 to provide rigid constraint on the middle rail 30, preventing the rail 30 from shifting during sliding, thereby ensuring that the meshing line of the gear 72 with the upper rack 60 and the lower rack 50 is always parallel to the first direction X.

[0061] In practical applications, the fixed rail 10 includes a base plate 13 and symmetrically distributed sliding sections 11 and side plates 12. The base plate 13 is connected between the sliding sections 11 and the side plates 12, and a placement cavity is defined between the sliding sections 11 and the side plates 12 to allow the installation of functional components (such as damping components 42) within the placement cavity. Furthermore, after the lower rack 50 is connected to the sliding section 11, the lower rack 50 is located on the side of the sliding section 11 away from the side plates 12.

[0062] Reference Figure 6 In one embodiment, the lower wheel frame 120 is also included. The lower rack 50 includes a connecting strip 51 and a plurality of teeth 52 provided on the connecting strip 51 along a first direction X. Two extension strips 511 extend along a third direction Z on the side of the connecting strip 51 facing the sliding part 11. A mounting cavity 130 is defined between the two extension strips 511. A groove 511a is provided on the extension strip 511. The two ends of the lower wheel frame 120 are provided with slide strips 120a that cooperate with the groove 511a. At the same time, a slot 120b is provided on one side of the lower wheel frame 120 for engaging with the sliding part 11. In other words, by engaging the slot 120b with the sliding part 11, the mounting cavity 130 of the connecting strip 51 is aligned with the lower wheel frame 120, and the connecting strip 51 is pushed close to the lower wheel frame 120, so that the slide bar 120a slides into the slide groove 511a until the lower wheel frame 120 is installed into the mounting cavity 130. This achieves the detachable fixing of the lower rack 50 to the fixed rail 10 without the need for bolts, welding or adhesive for auxiliary fixing, which can significantly reduce assembly time. At the same time, worn parts can be replaced individually without replacing the whole unit, thus reducing maintenance costs.

[0063] In addition, a first roller 140 is rotatably provided on the lower wheel frame 120. The lower part of the first roller 140 extends into the slot 120b and rolls in contact with the sliding part 11. The upper part of the first roller 140 rolls in contact with the top wall of the middle rail 30, so as to convert sliding friction into rolling friction and reduce the sliding resistance of the middle rail 30 relative to the fixed rail 10.

[0064] Figure 9 This is a partial schematic diagram of the movable rail in a slide rail assembly according to this application; Figure 10 yes Figure 9 Enlarged view of point B in the middle; Figure 11 This is a structural schematic diagram of the upper rack in a slide rail assembly according to this application. Please refer to it as well. Figures 9 to 11In one embodiment, the inner side of the top wall of the movable rail 20 is provided with a plurality of clamping blocks 160 spaced apart along a first direction X, and each clamping block 160 defines a clamping space 170 between itself and the top wall of the movable rail 20. The upper rack 60 includes a body portion 61 and a gear portion 62. The gear portion 62 is disposed on the surface of the body portion 61 facing the middle rail 30, and the surface of the body portion 61 facing away from the middle rail 30 is provided with a plurality of locking blocks 61a spaced apart along the first direction X. When the upper rack 60 is fixed to the movable rail 20, the locking blocks 61a extend into the clamping space 170 and abut against the inner side of the top wall of the movable rail 20.

[0065] In other words, this embodiment provides multiple clamping blocks 160 spaced apart on the inner side of the top wall of the movable rail 20. One end of each clamping block 160 is connected to the top wall of the movable rail 20, while the other end is not connected. This creates a clamping space 170 with an entry point between the clamping block 160 and the top wall of the movable plate. When the upper rack 60 is fixed to the movable rail 20, the main body 61 is pushed along the first direction X, causing the snap-fit ​​block 61a on the main body 61 to extend from the entry point into the clamping space 170. This fixes the upper rack 60 to the movable rail 20 without the need for additional locking. This ensures connection strength while achieving high-precision transmission and rapid assembly, preventing the upper rack 60 from shifting during installation and affecting synchronous drive.

[0066] Furthermore, the above-mentioned structure enables the upper rack 60 and the movable rail 20 to be assembled into a whole, thereby driving the upper rack 60 to move synchronously during the sliding process of the movable rail 20, ensuring the synchronous linkage between the upper rack 60 and the gear 72.

[0067] Furthermore, the top wall of the movable rail 20 has an extension hole 21 at the position corresponding to the clamping block 160, so that after the snap-fit ​​block 61a extends into the clamping space 170, the snap-fit ​​block 61a extends out of the movable rail 20 from the extension hole 21. In practical applications, during the process of fixing the upper rack 60 to the movable rail 20, the main body 61 is pushed along the first direction X. After the locking block 61a contacts the clamping block 160, as the main body 61 is continued to be pushed, the clamping block 160 is squeezed and displaced downwards, thereby causing the locking block 61a to extend into the clamping space 170 and extend from the protrusion hole 21. At this time, the locking block 61a is abutted and restricted, so that the main body 61 cannot continue to move forward, thus completing the fixing of the upper rack 60 to the movable rail 20. When it is necessary to disassemble the upper rack 60, the locking block 61a is pressed downwards along the second direction Y, and the main body 61 is pushed towards the first direction X, so that the locking block 61a extends out of the clamping space 170, thus completing the disassembly of the upper rack 60. The structure is simple and the disassembly and assembly are convenient.

[0068] Figure 12 This is a structural schematic diagram of the upper wheel frame in a slide rail assembly according to this application. Please refer to... Figure 4 and Figure 12 In one embodiment, the slide rail assembly further includes at least one upper wheel frame 80. The movable rail 20 has a receiving cavity 150. The upper wheel frame 80 is disposed between the movable rail 20 and the middle rail 30 and is housed within the receiving cavity 150. The upper wheel frame 80 has an extension 81 extending along a second direction Y. Mounting portions 82 are spaced apart on the extension 81. An installation space 180 is defined between two adjacent mounting portions 82. A ball bearing 90 is rotatably disposed within the installation space 180. A guide groove 30a extending along a first direction X is provided on the surface of the middle rail 30 facing the movable rail 20. The ball bearing 90 is engaged with the guide groove 30a to allow the movable wheel to slide relative to the middle rail 30. Simultaneously, a protrusion 100 extending along the first direction X is provided on the surface of the movable rail 20 facing the middle rail 30. An arc-shaped groove 110 is provided on the upper surface of the protrusion 100. The arc-shaped groove 110 makes rolling contact with the portion of the ball bearing 90 exposed outside the installation space.

[0069] For example, by setting an upper wheel frame 80 between the movable rail 20 and the middle rail 30, the upper wheel frame 80 is slidably fitted around the periphery of the middle rail 30 and can slide within the receiving cavity 150. Since the upper wheel frame 80 is provided with an extension 81 extending along the second direction Y, and multiple connecting parts 731 are connected at intervals on the extension 81, an installation space is defined between two adjacent connecting parts 731. Then, a ball bearing 90 is installed in the installation space 180, and the part of the ball bearing 90 protruding outside the installation space 180 makes rolling contact with the guide groove 30a and the arc groove 110. Thus, when the movable rail 20 slides relative to the middle rail 30 and when the middle rail 30 slides relative to the fixed rail 10, the ball bearing 90 installed on the upper wheel frame 80 can play a guiding role, ensuring that the movable rail 20 and the middle rail 30 slide in a predetermined direction and preventing deviation during the sliding process, thereby ensuring the operational reliability of the slide rail assembly.

[0070] In practical applications, during the sliding of the movable rail 20 relative to the middle rail 30, or the sliding of the middle rail 30 relative to the fixed rail 10, the portion of the ball bearings 90 exposed outside the installation space rolls into contact with the guide groove 30a and the arc groove 110, causing the upper wheel frame 80 to be pushed along the first direction X, and thus being driven to move along the first direction X. Consequently, there is a possibility that the upper wheel frame 80 may be driven to slide out between the middle rail 30 and the movable rail 20. Therefore, in one embodiment, the top wall of the middle rail 30 is provided with an upwardly curved limiting block 31, which is located on the moving path of the upper wheel frame 80. When the movable rail 20 extends to its maximum stroke relative to the middle rail 30, the limiting block 31 abuts against the upper wheel frame 80, thereby ensuring that the upper wheel frame 80 is restricted to sliding between the middle rail 30 and the movable rail 20, preventing slippage.

[0071] In addition, a second roller 190 is rotatably provided on the upper wheel frame 80. The outer peripheral surface of the second roller 190 makes rolling contact with the bottom of the cavity 150 of the movable rail 20 and the outer surface of the top wall of the middle rail 30, respectively. This can convert sliding friction into rolling friction, thereby reducing the sliding resistance of the movable rail 20 relative to the middle rail 30.

[0072] During the pull-out process, the movable rail 20 slides first, and after it is pulled out to its maximum stroke, the middle rail 30 is pulled to slide further. However, to prevent the movable rail 20 from being completely pulled out and detached from the middle rail 30, which would cause the slide rail assembly to malfunction, one embodiment provides a first abutment block at one end of the movable rail 20 that is bent downwards. The middle rail 30 has a second abutment block at its end in the first direction X, away from the first abutment block, and the second abutment block is located on the movement path of the first abutment block. In other words, when the wardrobe drawer is pulled to move the movable rail 20 to its maximum stroke, the second abutment block on the middle rail 30 abuts against the first abutment block, restricting the movable rail 20 from sliding out further, thus effectively preventing the movable rail 20 from being completely pulled out and detached from the middle rail 30.

[0073] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a slide rail assembly in this application, showing the connection between the damping unit and the movable rail; Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of the damping unit in a slide rail assembly according to this application. (Refer to...) Figure 13 and Figure 14 In one embodiment, the slide rail assembly further includes a damping unit 40, which includes a bracket 41, a slider 44, a connecting piece 43, and a damping element 42. The bracket 41 is mounted on the fixed rail 10 and is located on the side of the sliding part 11 opposite to the lower rack 50. The slider 44 is slidably disposed on the bracket 41 along the first direction X. The connecting piece 43 is disposed on the movable outer side, with its upper end connected to the movable rail 20 and its lower end connected to the slider 44, so that the slider 44 can be driven to slide along the first direction X when the movable rail 20 slides. The damping element 42 is disposed on the bracket 41 along the first direction X, and one end of the damping element 42 is connected to a connecting block 45, which is located on the sliding path of the slider 44.

[0074] In practical applications, when the movable rail 20 is pulled to slide, the connecting piece 43 is driven to move along the movable rail 20. Since the lower end of the connecting piece 43 is connected to the slider 44, the slider 44 is driven to slide along the first direction X on the bracket 41 and gradually approach the connecting block 45 connected to one end of the damping member 42. When the slider 44 contacts the connecting block 45, the damping member 42 (such as a spring, hydraulic damper, etc.) is compressed or the damping medium is triggered to flow. By absorbing the kinetic energy of the sliding of the movable rail 20, the mechanical motion energy is converted into heat energy or elastic potential energy, thereby slowing down the sliding speed of the movable rail 20. Especially at the end of the sliding (such as the moment the drawer is closed), the impact is significantly reduced, avoiding the impact noise and structural damage caused by high-speed sliding.

[0075] It should be noted that the damping unit 40, through the dynamic interaction between the slider 44 and the damping element 42, can provide continuous or progressive damping force throughout the sliding process. For example, when the slider 44 is not in contact with the connecting block 45, the damping element 42 does not intervene, and the movable rail 20 can slide freely; when the slider 44 contacts the connecting block 45, the damping force gradually increases, thus creating a "soft landing" effect. In this way, the shaking or jamming of the movable rail 20 during sliding can be effectively suppressed, making the sliding process smoother and improving the user's operating experience (such as the "smooth push and pull" feeling of furniture drawers).

[0076] Furthermore, the connecting piece 43 is located on the outside of the movable rail 20, with its upper end connected to the movable rail 20 and its lower end connected to the slider 44. This allows the movement of the movable rail 20 to be directly transmitted to the damping unit 40 without the need for a complex transmission structure, resulting in a more compact structure. Specifically, the upper end of the connecting piece 43 can be bolted to the movable rail 20, and the lower end of the connecting piece 43 can be snapped into the slider 44. This is merely an example and is not limited to this.

[0077] To facilitate understanding of the operating principle of this drawer slide assembly, the following explanation uses pulling out and closing a wardrobe drawer as examples:

[0078] When the drawer is pulled out, the movable rail 20 slides along with the drawer. Since the rack 60 installed on the movable rail 20 and the gear 72 pass through the upper part of the middle rail frame 71 to form a meshing transmission, the movable rail 20 slides relative to the middle rail 30. After the movable rail 20 is pulled out to its maximum stroke, the movable rail 20 is restricted from sliding out further. However, as the drawer continues to be pulled out, the middle rail 30 is pulled by the movable rail 20, causing the middle rail 30 to be pulled. At this time, the part of the gear 72 that passes through the middle rail frame 71 moves along the extension direction of the lower rack 50, thereby allowing the middle rail 30 to slide relative to the fixed rail 10 until the drawer is fully pulled out.

[0079] When the drawer is pushed back into the cabinet, the center rail 30 slides as the drawer moves inward, causing the center rail 30 to slide relative to the fixed rail 10. This pushes the center rail 30 back between the movable rail 20 and the fixed rail 10. As the drawer continues to be pushed, the movable rail 20 is pushed, causing it to slide relative to the center rail 30. This pushes the movable rail 20 back to the position overlapping the center rail 30, thus retracting the extended center rail 30 and the movable rail 20.

[0080] For the same purpose, this embodiment also provides a piece of furniture, including the slide rail assembly described above.

[0081] The furniture according to the embodiments of this disclosure, using the above-described slide rail assembly, has the same technical effects as the above-described slide rail assembly, and will not be repeated here.

[0082] In summary, the embodiments of this application provide a slide rail assembly and furniture. By providing a support member 73 extending along the second direction Y on the middle rail frame 71, and using the support member 73 to abut against the lower part of the lower rack 50, a supporting force can be provided to the lower rack 50. This can effectively prevent the lower rack 50 from sagging and deforming due to lack of support, which would cause the meshing position of the lower rack 50 of the fixed rail 10 and the gear 72 of the middle rail 30 to deviate and fail to drive synchronously.

[0083] It is understood that the above embodiments only illustrate preferred embodiments of the present utility model, and their descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, but they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present utility model patent. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, the above technical features can be freely combined, and several modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the concept of the present utility model, all of which fall within the protection scope of the present utility model. Therefore, all equivalent transformations and modifications made within the scope of the claims of the present utility model should fall within the coverage of the claims of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A slide rail assembly having a first direction, a second direction, and a third direction that are mutually perpendicular to each other, characterized in that, The slide rail assembly includes: A fixed rail, on which a lower rack extending along the first direction is mounted; A movable rail that can slide along the fixed rail in the first direction, and the movable rail is equipped with an upper rack. The middle rail is located between the fixed rail and the movable rail, and the top wall of the middle rail has an opening; A gear assembly includes a middle rail wheel frame inserted into the opening and a gear rotatably mounted on the wheel frame. The gear passes through the middle rail wheel frame, and the upper part of the gear meshes with the upper rack, and the lower part of the gear meshes with the lower rack. A support member extending along the second direction is fixedly connected to the middle rail wheel frame. The support member includes a connecting part and a support part fixedly connected to the middle rail wheel frame. The support part is fixedly connected to the side of the connecting part near the lower rack and extends along the third direction. The lower part of the lower rack has a stepped groove extending along the first direction. When the middle rail is assembled between the fixed rail and the movable rail, the support part extends into the stepped groove and abuts against the lower rack to provide support to the lower rack.

2. The slide rail assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fixed rail has a sliding portion extending along the first direction, the lower rack is connected to the sliding portion, and the movable rail slides through the sliding portion.

3. The slide rail assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner side of the top wall of the movable rail is provided with a plurality of clamping blocks spaced apart along the first direction, and each clamping block defines a clamping space between itself and the top wall of the movable rail. The upper rack includes a body part and a gear part. The gear part is disposed on the surface of the body part facing the middle rail. The surface of the body part away from the middle rail is provided with a plurality of locking blocks spaced apart along the first direction. When the upper rack is fixed to the movable rail, the snap-fit ​​block extends into the clamping space and abuts against the inner side of the top wall of the movable rail.

4. The slide rail assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that, The top wall of the movable rail has an extension hole at the position corresponding to the clamping block, so that after the snap-fit ​​block is inserted into the clamping space, the snap-fit ​​block extends out of the movable rail from the extension hole.

5. The slide rail assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that, The slide rail assembly further includes at least one upper wheel frame. The movable rail has a receiving cavity. The upper wheel frame is disposed between the movable rail and the middle rail and is housed in the receiving cavity. The upper wheel frame has an extension extending along the second direction. Mounting portions are connected to the extension portion at intervals. An installation space is defined between two adjacent mounting portions. A ball bearing is rotatably disposed in the installation space. The surface of the middle rail facing the movable rail is provided with a guide groove extending in the first direction, and the ball bearing is connected to the guide groove so that the movable wheel slides relative to the middle rail.

6. The slide rail assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that, The movable rail has a raised rib extending along the first direction on the surface facing the middle rail. The upper surface of the raised rib is provided with an arc-shaped groove, and the arc-shaped groove makes rolling contact with the portion of the ball that is exposed outside the mounting space.

7. The slide rail assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that, The top wall of the middle rail is provided with an upwardly curved limiting block, which is located on the moving path of the upper wheel frame so that when the movable rail extends to its maximum stroke relative to the middle rail, the limiting block abuts against the upper wheel frame.

8. The slide rail assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The movable rail extends outward and has a first abutment block bent downward. The middle rail has a second abutment block at its end away from the first abutment block in a first direction. The second abutment block is located on the moving path of the first abutment block.

9. The slide rail assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, The slide rail assembly further includes a damping unit, which comprises: A bracket is mounted on the fixed rail and located on the side of the sliding part opposite to the lower rack; A slider, which is slidably disposed on the bracket along the first direction; A connecting piece is provided on the outer side of the movable part. The upper end of the connecting piece is connected to the movable rail, and the lower end of the connecting piece is connected to the slider, so that when the movable rail slides, it can drive the slider to slide along the first direction. A damping element is provided on the bracket along the first direction, and one end of the damping element is connected to a connecting block, which is located on the sliding path of the slider.

10. A type of furniture, characterized in that, Includes the slide rail assembly as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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