Slide rail assembly

Abstract

To provide a slide rail assembly that includes a support feature part and a handle.SOLUTION: A slide rail assembly 20 includes a first rail 22, a support feature part 26, a second rail 28, and a handle 30. The support feature part 26 is disposed in one of the first rail 22 and the second rail 28. The handle 30 is fitted to the other of the first rail 22 and the second rail 28 so as to be movable. The handle 30 is configured so as to come into contact with the support feature part 26 to drive and move the second rail 28 in one direction from a predetermined position when the handle 30 is moved from a first operation position K1 to a second operation position K2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a slide rail mechanism, and more particularly to a slide rail assembly having a handle. [Background technology]

[0002] US Patent Publication No. 2022 / 0369478 discloses a handle module disposed on a server. The handle module further includes a handle having a sliding column assembly. The sliding column assembly is pivotally disposed on a plate member and is movable relative to the plate member. The plate member includes two plates stacked one on top of the other. Each plate is provided with holes in different directions for mounting the sliding column assembly. With such an arrangement, a user can push the handle to mount the server on a rack. Summary of the Invention

[0003] However, in order to meet the diverse demands of the market, it is important to develop a variety of products.

[0004] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT The present invention aims to provide a slide rail assembly that includes a support feature and a handle.

[0005] According to an embodiment of the invention, a slide rail assembly includes a first rail; a bracket disposed on the first rail; a support feature disposed on one of the bracket and the first rail; a second rail movable relative to the first rail; and a handle movable relative to the second rail; and when the handle is moved from a first operating position to a second operating position, the handle is configured to contact the support feature to drive the second rail to move from a first predetermined position to a second predetermined position relative to the first rail.

[0006] In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a slide rail assembly includes a first rail; a second rail configured to be in a retracted position relative to the first rail; a support feature disposed on one of the first rail and the second rail; and a handle movably attached to the other one of the first rail and the second rail; and the handle is configured to contact the support feature to drive the second rail to move from the retracted position in an open direction relative to the first rail when the handle is moved from a first operating position to a second operating position.

[0007] These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those skilled in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a view showing the slide rail assembly attached to a rack according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the slide rail assembly according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the second rail of the slide rail assembly in a first predetermined position relative to the first rail in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 11 is a view showing the handle being operated to drive the second rail to move it to a second predetermined position in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the slide rail assembly attached to a rack according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a view showing the handle being operated to drive the second rail to move it to a second predetermined position according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a slide rail assembly including a second rail configured to transport an object to be transported, attached to a rack, according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the handle to move the second rail and the transported object to a second predetermined position in the third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a slide rail assembly including a second rail configured to transport an object to be transported, attached to a rack, according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the handle to move the second rail and the transported object to a second predetermined position in the fourth embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, a slide rail assembly 20 includes a first rail 22, a bracket 24, a support feature 26, a second rail 28, and a handle 30. Preferably, the slide rail assembly 20 further includes a third rail 32 (e.g., a middle rail) that is movably mounted between the first rail 22 (e.g., an outer rail) and the second rail 28 (e.g., an inner rail). The third rail 32 is configured to extend the longitudinal travel distance of the second rail 28 relative to the first rail 22. Note that in this embodiment, the X-axis is the longitudinal direction (or the direction of length or travel of the slide rail), the Y-axis is the transverse direction (or the direction of side to side of the slide rail), and the Z-axis is the vertical direction (or the direction of height of the slide rail).

[0010] The bracket 24 is disposed on the first rail 22, and the first rail 22 is configured to be attached to at least one support post (such as the first support post 36a and the second support post 36b) of the rack 34 via the bracket 24. In this embodiment, the bracket 24 has a first side L1 and a second side L2 opposite each other. The first side L1 of the bracket 24 is configured to be attached to at least one corresponding feature (such as a mounting hole) of the rack 34 via at least one mounting feature 38 (such as an extension or bolt shown in FIG. 2). Such a configuration is well known to those skilled in the art and is not further illustrated for the sake of simplicity. The second side L2 of the bracket 24 is connected to the first side (such as the back side) of the first rail 22, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The third rail 32 and the second rail 28 are disposed on the second side of the first rail 22. Furthermore, because the bracket 24 is connected (e.g., fixedly connected) to the first rail 22, the bracket 24 may be viewed as a part of the first rail 22, and the bracket 24 and the first rail 22 may be viewed as one unit.

[0011] The support feature 26 is disposed on one of the first rail 22 and the second rail 28. In this embodiment, the support feature 26 is disposed on the bracket 24 of the first rail 22, although the invention is not so limited. The bracket 24 has opposed first and second ends 24a, such as a front end and a rear end, such as a rear end. The support feature 26 is adjacent to the first end 24a of the bracket 24.

[0012] Second rail 28 is configured to be in a first predetermined position P1 relative to first rail 22 (such as the retracted position shown in FIG. 1, but the invention is not limited thereto).

[0013] The handle 30 is movable relative to the first rail 22 and the second rail 28. In the first embodiment, the handle 30 is movably attached to the second rail 28.

[0014] Preferably, in the first embodiment, the support feature 26 is secured to one of the bracket 24 and the first rail 22. For example, the support feature 26 is secured to the bracket 24. Furthermore, the support feature 26 may be a protrusion, the support feature 26 may be an additional part secured to the bracket 24, or the support feature 26 may be integrated directly into the bracket 24, although the invention is not limited thereto.

[0015] Preferably, the first rail 22 has a first predetermined height H1. The bracket 24 includes a first portion 42a, a second portion 42b, and a longitudinal portion 44 connected between the first portion 42a and the second portion 42b of the bracket 24. A second predetermined height H2 is defined between the first portion 42a and the second portion 42b of the bracket 24 and is greater than the first predetermined height H1 (shown in FIG. 1).

[0016] Preferably, the bracket 24 is connected to the first rail 22 via a longitudinal portion 44 .

[0017] Preferably, the support feature 26 is located on the longitudinal portion 44 of the bracket 24. The support feature 26 is located adjacent the second portion 42b of the bracket 24.

[0018] Preferably, the support feature 26 is located adjacent the first end 24 a of the bracket 24 .

[0019] Preferably, the second rail 28 includes a first wall 46a, a second wall 46b, and a longitudinal wall 48 connected between the first wall 46a and the second wall 46b of the second rail 28. Meanwhile, the second rail 28 has a first end 28a and a second end 28b opposite each other. The handle 30 is movably attached to the longitudinal wall 48 of the second rail 28. For example, the handle 30 is pivotally connected to the longitudinal wall 48 of the second rail 28 via a shaft member 40, and the handle 30 is adjacent to the first end 28a (such as a front end) of the second rail 28 for convenience of the user.

[0020] Preferably, the handle 30 includes a manipulation portion 50, a counterpart portion 52, and a body portion 54 connected between the manipulation portion 50 and the counterpart portion 52. At least a portion of the manipulation portion 50 extends beyond (or is higher than) the first rail 22. The counterpart portion 52 is configured to interact with the support feature 26. The body portion 54 is pivotally connected to the longitudinal wall 48 of the second rail 28 via the shaft member 40.

[0021] Preferably, the shaft member 40 is disposed transversely (or in the lateral direction of the slide rail, i.e., the Y-axis direction) on the longitudinal wall 48 of the second rail 28, so that the user can easily move the handle 30 via the operating portion 50.

[0022] 3, the corresponding portion 52 of the handle 30 includes a first corresponding section 56 and a second corresponding section 58, and a predetermined space S is defined between the second corresponding section 58 and the first corresponding section 56. When the second rail 28 is in a first predetermined position P1 relative to the first rail 22 and the handle 30 is in a first operating position K1 (such as an initial position or a position before being operated), the support feature 26 is located within the predetermined space S.

[0023] 3 and 4, during the process of moving the handle 30 from a first operating position K1 (shown in FIG. 3) to a second operating position K2 (a non-initial or operated position shown in FIG. 4), the handle 30 is configured to contact the support feature 26 to drive the second rail 28 to move in an opening direction D1 (shown in FIG. 3) away from the first predetermined position P1. For example, the second rail 28 is driven to move from the first predetermined position P1 to the second predetermined position P2 (shown in FIG. 4).

[0024] For example, during the process of a user applying force to the handle 30 (the operating portion 50 of the handle 30) to move the handle 30 from a first operating position K1 (shown in FIG. 3) to a second operating position K2 (shown in FIG. 4) in a predetermined rotational direction R, the handle 30 is configured to continuously contact the support feature 26 via the first corresponding portion 56 to generate an acting force. As a result, the second rail 28 is configured to move from a first predetermined position P1 (shown in FIG. 3) to a second predetermined position P2 (shown in FIG. 4) in an opening direction D1 relative to the first rail 22 in response to the acting force. Therefore, the user can easily open (extend, advance, unfold) the second rail 28 from the first predetermined position P1 to the second predetermined position P2. For example, when the second rail 28 is transporting an object (such as an electronic device not shown) and the object has a load, or when an electronic plug (or socket) behind the object needs to be unplugged from a specific device or a specific power source, the user can use the handle 30 to open the second rail 28 from the first predetermined position P1 to the second predetermined position P2 with little effort.

[0025] Preferably, the first corresponding section 56 of the handle 30 has an inclined or arcuate surface, so that the handle 30 can easily cross the support feature 26 via the first corresponding section 56 during the process of moving the handle 30 from the first operating position K1 to the second operating position K2. Meanwhile, the second corresponding section 58 of the handle 30 has a wall (such as a vertical wall, the present invention is not limited thereto).

[0026] Furthermore, when the second rail 28 is moved relative to the first rail 22 from the second predetermined position P2 (shown in FIG. 4) in the backward direction D2 to the first predetermined position P1 (shown in FIG. 3), the handle 30 continuously contacts the support feature 26 via the first corresponding section 56, generating another acting force, thereby moving the handle 30 from the second operating position K2 back to the first operating position K1.

[0027] 5 and 6 illustrate a slide rail assembly 200 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Unlike the slide rail assembly 20 of the first embodiment, the support feature 202 of the slide rail assembly 200 of the second embodiment is movably attached to one of the bracket 204 and the first rail 206. In this embodiment, the support feature 202 is movably attached to the bracket 204, although the invention is not so limited.

[0028] Further, the bracket 204 is configured to be attached to a rack 207. The support feature 202 may be a roller, a ball, or the like. In this embodiment, the support feature 202 is a roller. For example, the support feature 202 is pivotally connected to a longitudinal portion 210 of the bracket 204 via a secondary shaft 208, thereby pivotally attaching the support feature 202 to the bracket 204. Preferably, the support feature 202 includes a guide section 212. The guide section 212 has an arcuate surface. In this embodiment, the support feature 202 has a circular profile to provide the arcuate surface.

[0029] During a process of moving the handle 214 from the first operating position K1' (shown in FIG. 5) to the second operating position K2' (shown in FIG. 6) in a predetermined rotational direction R' via the shaft member 215, the handle 214 is configured to contact the support feature 202 to drive the second rail 216 to move from the first predetermined position P1' (shown in FIG. 5) to the second predetermined position P2' (shown in FIG. 6). For example, during a process of a user applying a force to the handle 214 to move the handle 214 from the first operating position K1' to the second operating position K2', the handle 214 is configured to continuously contact the support feature 202 via the first corresponding section 218 to generate an acting force. In response to the acting force, the second rail 216 is configured to move from the first predetermined position P1' (shown in FIG. 5) to the second predetermined position P2' (shown in FIG. 6) in the opening direction D1 relative to the first rail 206. Therefore, the second embodiment can achieve substantially the same technical effects as the first embodiment.

[0030] Furthermore, in the second embodiment, the support feature 202 may be a movable (e.g., rotatable) roller. When the handle 214 is moved from the first operating position K1' to the second operating position K2' and the first corresponding section 218 of the handle 214 contacts the support feature 202, the support feature 202 is configured to rotate in a predetermined working direction r via the auxiliary shaft 208 (as shown in FIG. 6, the predetermined working direction r is counterclockwise, but the present invention is not limited thereto), making it even easier to move the handle 214 from the first operating position K1' to the second operating position K2'. For the user, the handle 214 can be operated with even less effort.

[0031] 7 and 8 are diagrams showing a slide rail assembly 300 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Unlike the slide rail assembly 20 of the first embodiment, the second rail 302 of the slide rail assembly 300 of the third embodiment is configured to carry a load 304. A handle 306 is movably attached to the load 304. In this embodiment, the handle 306 is pivotally connected to the load 304 via a shaft member 308, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Furthermore, since the load 304 is fixed to the second rail 302, the load 304 may be viewed as a part of the second rail 302, and the load 304 and the second rail 302 may be viewed as one unit.

[0032] During the process of moving the handle 306 from the first operation position Ka (shown in FIG. 7) to the second operation position Kb (shown in FIG. 8) in a predetermined rotational direction, the handle 306 is configured to contact the support feature 310 to drive the second rail 302 (and the conveyed object 304) to move from the first predetermined position Pa (shown in FIG. 7) to the second predetermined position Pb (shown in FIG. 8). For example, during the process of a user applying a force to the handle 306 to move the handle 306 from the first operation position Ka to the second operation position Kb, the handle 306 is configured to continuously contact the support feature 310 via the first corresponding section 312 to generate an acting force. As a result, the second rail 302 is configured to move from the first predetermined position Pa (shown in FIG. 7) to the second predetermined position Pb (shown in FIG. 8) in the opening direction D1 relative to the first rail 314. Therefore, the third embodiment can achieve substantially the same technical effect as the first embodiment. For example, the user can move the second rail 302 (and the load 304) from the first predetermined position Pa to the second predetermined position Pb with even less effort via the handle 306.

[0033] 9 and 10 are diagrams showing a slide rail assembly 400 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Unlike the slide rail assembly 200 of the second embodiment, the second rail 402 of the slide rail assembly 400 of the fourth embodiment is configured to carry a load 404. A handle 406 is movably attached to the load 404. In this embodiment, the handle 406 is pivotally connected to the load 404 via a shaft member 408, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Furthermore, since the load 404 is fixed to the second rail 402, the load 404 may be viewed as a part of the second rail 402, and the load 404 and the second rail 402 may be viewed as a single unit.

[0034] During the process of moving the handle 406 from the first operation position Ka' (shown in FIG. 9) to the second operation position Kb' (shown in FIG. 10) in a predetermined rotational direction, the handle 406 is configured to contact the support feature 410 to drive the second rail 402 (and the conveyed object 404) to move from the first predetermined position Pa' (shown in FIG. 9) to the second predetermined position Pb' (shown in FIG. 10). For example, during the process of a user applying a force to the handle 406 to move the handle 406 from the first operation position Ka' to the second operation position Kb', the handle 406 is configured to continuously contact the support feature 410 via the first corresponding section 412 to generate an acting force. As a result, the second rail 402 is configured to move from the first predetermined position Pa' (shown in FIG. 9) to the second predetermined position Pb' (shown in FIG. 10) in the opening direction D1 relative to the first rail 414. Therefore, the fourth embodiment can achieve substantially the same technical effect as the second embodiment.

[0035] Furthermore, in the fourth embodiment, the support feature 410 may be a movable (e.g., rotatable) roller. When the handle 406 is moved from the first operating position Ka' to the second operating position Kb' and the first corresponding section 412 of the handle 406 contacts the support feature 410, the support feature 410 is configured to rotate along a predetermined working direction r' via the auxiliary shaft 416 (shown in FIG. 10). This makes it easier to move the handle 406 from the first operating position Ka' to the second operating position Kb'. For the user, the handle 214 can be operated with even less effort.

[0036] Therefore, the slide rail assembly according to the embodiment of the present invention has the following technical features:

[0037] 1. The arrangement of the handles (30, 214, 306, 406) and the support features (26, 202, 310, 410) allows a user to use the handles (30, 214, 306, 406) to easily or effortlessly move a slide rail (such as the second rail 28, 216, 302, 402) and / or a carried object (304, 404) from a first predetermined position (P1, P1', Pa, Pa') to a second predetermined position (P2, P2', Pb, Pb').

[0038] 2. The support feature (26, 310) is fixed relative to the first rail (22, 206, 314, 414) and the bracket (24, 204), or the support feature (202, 410) is movable (e.g., rotatable) relative to the first rail (22, 206, 314, 414) and the bracket (24, 204). For example, the support feature (202, 410) is movable to facilitate moving the handle (214, 406) from the first operating position (K1', Ka') to the second operating position (K2', Kb').

[0039] 3. The handle (30, 214) is movably attached to the second rail (28, 216), or the handle (306, 406) is movably attached to the transported object (304, 404).

[0040] Those skilled in the art will readily recognize that numerous modifications and variations of the apparatus and method are possible while retaining the teachings of this invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the above disclosure be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A first rail; A bracket disposed on the first rail; a support feature disposed on one of the bracket and the first rail; a second rail movable relative to the first rail; a handle movable relative to the second rail; a first predetermined position to a second predetermined position relative to the first rail, the second rail being movable relative to the first rail relative to the first position;

2. The slide rail assembly of claim 1 , wherein said handle is pivotally attached to said second rail.

3. 2. The slide rail assembly of claim 1, wherein the second rail is configured to carry an object, and the handle is pivotally attached to the object.

4. The slide rail assembly of claim 1 , wherein the support feature is fixed to one of the bracket and the first rail.

5. 2. The slide rail assembly of claim 1, wherein the support feature is movably attached to one of the bracket and the first rail, the support feature being a roller and including a guide section, the guide section having an arcuate surface.

6. The handle includes a first corresponding section and a second corresponding section, During a process of moving the handle from the first operating position to the second operating position, the handle is configured to continuously contact the support feature through the first corresponding section to drive the second rail from the first predetermined position to the second predetermined position relative to the first rail; 2. The slide rail assembly of claim 1, wherein a predetermined space is defined between the second corresponding section and the first corresponding section, and when the second rail is in the first predetermined position and the handle is in the first operating position, the support feature is located within the predetermined space.

7. the first rail is configured to be attached to a rack via the bracket, the first rail having a first predetermined height; the bracket includes a first portion, a second portion, and a longitudinal portion connected between the first portion and the second portion, the first portion and the second portion of the bracket defining a second predetermined height greater than the first predetermined height; the longitudinal portion of the bracket is connected to the first rail, and the second rail includes a first wall, a second wall, and a longitudinal wall connected between the first wall and the second wall; 2. The slide rail assembly of claim 1, wherein the handle is movably mounted to the longitudinal wall of the second rail, the support feature is disposed on the longitudinal portion of the bracket, and the support feature is adjacent one of the first portion and the second portion of the bracket.

8. A first rail; a second rail configured to be in a retracted position relative to the first rail; a support feature disposed on one of the first rail and the second rail; a handle movably attached to the other one of the first rail and the second rail; wherein when the handle is moved from a first operating position to a second operating position, the handle is configured to contact the support feature to drive the second rail from the retracted position in an open direction relative to the first rail.

9. 9. The slide rail assembly of claim 8, wherein the second rail is configured to transport a transport object, and the handle is movably attached to one of the second rail and the transport object.

10. the support feature is disposed on a bracket attached to the first rail; the first rail has a first predetermined height and the bracket has a second predetermined height that is greater than the first predetermined height; 9. The slide rail assembly of claim 8, wherein the second rail includes a first wall, a second wall, and a longitudinal wall connected between the first wall and the second wall, and the handle is movably attached to the longitudinal wall of the second rail.

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