Fitting assembly and fitting device thereof

Abstract

To provide an improved fitting assembly that can be applied to a rack.SOLUTION: A fitting device of a fitting assembly is configured to be mounted to a rack. The fitting device includes a first end part, a second end part and a main body part connected between the first end part and the second end part. The fitting device further includes a locking member and an operating member. The locking member is arranged on the main body part and configured to lock the fitting device to the rack. The operating member is configured to drive the locking member to move.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a mounting assembly, and more particularly to a mounting assembly applicable to a rack or a cabinet.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a rack system including a rack, a first adapter mechanism, and a second adapter mechanism. The rack has a first side and a second side. A first width is defined between the first side and the second side. The first adapter mechanism is detachably attached to the first side of the rack. The second adapter mechanism is detachably attached to the second side of the rack. A second width is defined between the first adapter mechanism and the second adapter mechanism, and the second width is smaller than the first width. The slide rail assembly of Patent Document 1 is configured to be attached to the rack via the first adapter mechanism and the second adapter mechanism. That is, the slide rail assembly is attached via the first adapter mechanism and the second adapter mechanism within a space having a second width smaller than the first width. The second side plate at the end of the first adapter mechanism (or the second adapter mechanism) is configured to engage between two of the plurality of attachment portions of the rack.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, it is important to develop various products for different market requirements.

[0005] The present invention provides a mounting assembly applicable to a rack.

[0006] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the mounting assembly is configured to be mounted on a rack including a first side frame and a second side frame. A first width is defined between the first side frame and the second side frame. The mounting assembly includes a first mounting device and a second mounting device. The first mounting device is configured to be mounted on the first side frame of the rack. The second mounting device is configured to be mounted on the second side frame of the rack. A second width smaller than the first width is defined between the first mounting device and the second mounting device. The first mounting device and the second mounting device are configured to respectively mount a first slide rail assembly and a second slide rail assembly on the first side frame and the second side frame. The first mounting device includes a first end, a second end, and a main body portion connected between the first end and the second end. The main body portion includes an engaging structure configured to engage with the first side frame of the rack.

[0007] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the mounting device is configured to be mounted on a rack. The mounting device includes a first end, a second end, a main body portion connected between the first end and the second end, a locking member, a mounting portion, and an operating member. The main body portion includes an engaging structure configured to engage with the rack. The locking member is disposed on the main body portion. The mounting portion is disposed on the locking member and is configured to lock the engaging structure to the rack to prevent the engaging structure from disengaging from the rack. The operating member is configured to drive and move the locking member.

[0008] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the mounting device is configured to be mounted on a rack. The mounting device includes a front end portion, a rear end portion, a main body portion connected between the front end portion and the rear end portion, a locking member disposed on the main body portion, a mounting portion disposed on the locking member and configured to lock the mounting device to the rack, and an operating member configured to drive and move the locking member, the operating member including an operating portion adjacent to one of the front end portion and the rear end portion.

[0009] These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments shown in the various figures and drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the mounting assembly according to the first embodiment of the present invention is applicable to a rack 22 (or a cabinet). The rack 22 includes a first side frame 24 and a second side frame 26 such as a left side frame and a right side frame. The structural configuration of the first side frame 24 is substantially the same as or symmetric to the structural configuration of the second side frame 26, but the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. A first width W1 is defined between the first side frame 24 and the second side frame 26 of the rack 22.

[0012] The mounting assembly includes a first mounting device 28 and a second mounting device 30. The structural configuration of the first mounting device 28 is substantially the same as or symmetric to that of the second mounting device 30, but the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. The first mounting device 28 is configured to be mounted on the first side frame 24 of the rack 22, and the second mounting device 30 is configured to be mounted on the second side frame 26 of the rack 22. The method of mounting the first mounting device 28 on the first side frame 24 is substantially the same as the method of mounting the second mounting device 30 on the second side frame 26. A second width W2 is defined between the first mounting device 28 and the second mounting device 30, and the second width W2 is smaller than the first width W1.

[0013] The first mounting device 28 and the second mounting device 30 are each configured to mount a first slide rail assembly 32 and a second slide rail assembly 34 on the first side frame 24 and the second side frame 26, respectively. The structural configuration of the first slide rail assembly 32 is substantially the same as or symmetric to that of the second slide rail assembly 34. For example, each of the first slide rail assembly 32 and the second slide rail assembly 34 includes a first rail 36 (outer rail), a second rail 38 (inner rail), and a third rail 40 (intermediate rail) movably mounted between the first rail 36 and the second rail 38. However, the number of slide rails in the present invention is not limited. The holding object 42 (shown in FIG. 2) is configured to be held by the second rail 38 of the first slide rail assembly 32 and the second rail 38 of the second slide rail assembly 34. It is preferable that a sliding auxiliary device is arranged between each two slide rails (such as the first rail 36 and the third rail 40 or the third rail 40 and the second rail 38, etc.) to facilitate the relative longitudinal movement between the two slide rails. In the drawing, the X-axis is the longitudinal direction (or the length direction of the slide rail), the Y-axis is the lateral direction (the lateral direction of the slide rail), and the Z-axis is the vertical direction (the height direction of the slide rail).

[0014] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first attachment device 28 includes a first end portion 44a, a second end portion 44b, and a main body portion 46 (elongated portion) connected between the first end portion 44a and the second end portion 44b. The main body portion 46 includes at least one engaging structure 48 configured to engage at least one post 24a of the first side frame 24 of the rack 22 (shown in FIG. 4). For example, the post 24a of the first side frame 24 of the rack 22 includes a plurality of attachment portions 50. The attachment portions 50 are arranged at intervals along the height direction of the post 24a of the rack 22. In the present embodiment, the attachment portion 50 is a hole such as a square hole, but the present invention is not limited to such a configuration.

[0015] Furthermore, the main body portion 46 has an inner side L1 and an outer side L2 on opposite sides of each other. In the present embodiment, the engaging structure 48 is arranged on the outer side L2 of the main body portion 46, and the engaging structure 48 is an insertion structure. The engaging structure 48 has a first section 52a and a second section 52b (as shown in FIG. 4). The first section 52a is connected to the main body portion 46 in the lateral direction, and the second section 52b is bent with respect to the first section 52a. The second section 52b is preferably connected to the first section 52a substantially perpendicularly. The engaging structure 48 is configured to be inserted into the attachment portion 50 (hole) of the rack 22 so that the second section 52b of the engaging structure 48 can further engage with the first wall K1 (first hole wall) of the attachment portion 50.

[0016] The main body portion 46 preferably further includes a locking member 54 and an attachment portion 56 disposed on the locking member 54. The attachment portion 56 is configured to lock the engagement structure 48 to the first side frame 24 of the rack 22 (as shown in FIG. 4) to prevent the engagement structure 48 from coming off the first side frame 24 of the rack 22. The locking member 54 is disposed inside the main body portion 46 at L1, and the attachment portion 56 is a protruding structure (or an extended structure). The attachment portion 56 is configured to extend from the inner side L1 to the outer side L2 through the auxiliary hole 58 of the main body portion 46. The locking member 54 is an elastic body, and the attachment portion 56 is configured such that in response to the elastic force F of the locking member 54, the attachment portion 56 is inserted into the attachment portion 50 (hole) of the rack 22, the attachment portion 56 abuts against the second wall K2 (the second hole wall) of the attachment portion 50, and the engagement structure 48 is prevented from coming off the rack 22. That is, the first attachment device 28 is locked to the first side frame 24 of the rack 22 (as shown in FIG. 4) and cannot be removed from the first side frame 24 of the rack 22.

[0017] The first wall K1 and the second wall K2 are preferably two opposing walls such as the rear wall and the front wall of the attachment portion 50 (as shown in FIG. 4), but the present invention is not limited to such a configuration.

[0018] The locking member 54 preferably includes a connection section 60, an operation section 62, and an elastic section 64 connected between the connection section 60 and the operation section 62. The connection section 60 is connected (fixedly connected, etc.) to the main body portion 46. The elastic section 64 includes the attachment portion 56. The operation section 62 is connected to the elastic section 64. The user can operate the operation section 62 to move the elastic section 64. The operation section 62 is bent with respect to the elastic section 64 such that the user can easily pull the operation section 62 to move the elastic section 64.

[0019] On the inner side L1 of the main body portion 46, it is preferable that a restricting portion 66 is provided which is configured to prevent the elastic partition 64 from moving excessively when a user applies an operating force J in a direction opposite to the direction of the elastic force F (as shown in FIG. 3).

[0020] Preferably, at least one first connection portion 68 is disposed adjacent to the first end portion 44a, and at least one second connection portion 70 is disposed adjacent to the second end portion 44b.

[0021] The first end portion 44a preferably includes a first connection base 72 bent substantially perpendicular to the main body portion 46. For example, the first connection base 72 is bent with respect to the main body portion 46 along a direction away from the first side frame 24 of the rack 22 (i.e., a direction toward the second side frame 26 of the rack 22). The first connection portion 68 is disposed on the first connection base 72. Similarly, the second end portion 44b includes a second connection base 74 bent substantially perpendicular to the main body portion 46. For example, the second connection base 74 is bent with respect to the main body portion 46 along a direction away from the first side frame 24 of the rack 22 (i.e., a direction toward the second side frame 26 of the rack 22). The second connection portion 70 is disposed on the second connection base 74.

[0022] Preferably, at least one of the first connection portion 68 and the second connection portion 70 is a mounting hole. In the present embodiment, both the first connection portion 68 and the second connection portion 70 are mounting holes. The mounting hole can be a square hole, a round hole, or a threaded hole, but the present invention is not limited to such a configuration.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 5, when the user removes the first attachment device 28 from the first side frame 24 of the rack 22, the user applies an operating force J to the operation section 62 to overcome the elastic force F of the locking member 54, and the elastic section 64 can be moved inward so that the attachment site 56 is separated from the second wall K2 of the attachment portion 50 (for example, the attachment site 56 is laterally offset from the second wall K2 of the attachment portion 50). Therefore, the engagement structure 48 can be removed from the first wall K1 of the attachment portion 50 of the rack 22. That is, at this time, the first attachment device 28 can be removed from the first side frame 24 of the rack 22.

[0024] Furthermore, since the method of removing the second attachment device 30 from the second side frame 26 is substantially the same as the method of removing the first attachment device 28 from the first side frame 24, further description is omitted for simplicity.

[0025] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the first attachment device 28 is attached to the rack 22 (the first side frame 24 of the rack 22), and the first slide rail assembly 32 is configured to be attached between the first connection site 68 and the second connection site 70 of the first attachment device 28. Specifically, the first rail 36 of the first slide rail assembly 32 includes a bracket mechanism 76, and the bracket mechanism 76 includes a first bracket 78 and a second bracket 80 that are movable longitudinally relative to each other. The first bracket 78 includes at least one first connection site 82 configured to be connected to the first connection site 68 of the first attachment device 28. The second bracket 80 includes at least one second connection site 84 configured to be connected to the second connection site 70 of the first attachment device 28.

[0026] Furthermore, since the method of attaching the second slide rail assembly 34 to the second attachment device 30 is substantially the same as the method of attaching the first slide rail assembly 32 to the first attachment device 28, further description is omitted for simplicity.

[0027] FIG. 8 shows a second attachment device 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention (the structural configuration of the first attachment device is substantially the same as or symmetrical to the structural configuration of the second attachment device 200). Different from the second attachment device 30 (or the first attachment device 28) of the first embodiment, the main body 202 of the second attachment device 200 further includes an operating member 204, and the operating member 204 is configured to drive and move a locking member 206.

[0028] The main body 202 has first ends 202a and second ends 202b such as a front end and a rear end, and it is preferable that the operating member 204 includes an operating portion 208 adjacent to the first end 202a. Such a configuration is convenient for a user standing in front of the second attachment device 200 (or the first attachment device) to operate the operating portion 208 to drive and move the locking member 206 in order to release the lock of the second attachment device 200. The operating portion 208 preferably further includes a bending section 209 so that a user can easily apply an operating force J' from the inside L1' of the main body 202 to pull the operating member 204 and drive and move the locking member 206.

[0029] In the main body portion 202, a predetermined space M (such as a through hole or a notch) that communicates the inner side L1' and the outer side L2' of the main body portion 202 is formed. The operating member 204 further includes at least one driving portion 210 (for example, the driving portion 210 has an inclined surface or an arc surface, but the present invention is not limited to such a configuration), and an extension portion 212 connected between the driving portion 210 and the operating portion 208. The operating member 204 has a predetermined hole 214 (for example, the predetermined hole 214 corresponds to the predetermined space M) adjacent to the predetermined space M of the main body portion 202. Therefore, the user can easily apply an operating force J' to the operating portion 208 from the inner side L1' or the outer side L2' of the main body portion 202 to operate the operating member 204, move the operating member 204 from a first predetermined position P1 (shown in FIGS. 8 and 11) along a first predetermined direction D1 to a second predetermined position P2 (shown in FIGS. 12 and 13), move the elastic partition 201 of the locking member 206 inward (such as deflecting) from a first state S1 (such as the locked state shown in FIGS. 8 and 11) to a second state S2 (the unlocked state shown in FIGS. 12 and 13), and move the attachment site 224 on the elastic partition 201 of the locking member 206 inward so as to be separated from the second wall K2' of the attachment portion 236 of the rack 228 (shown in FIGS. 12 and 13).

[0030] The second attachment device 200 preferably further includes a return elastic member 216. The operating member 204 is configured to be held at the first predetermined position P1 in response to the return elastic force of the return elastic member 216.

[0031] The operating member 204 is preferably movable longitudinally with respect to the main body portion 202 within a limited range defined by a plurality of pairs of first limiting structures 218 and second limiting structures 220. The first limiting structure 218 and the second limiting structure 220 are a combination of a protruding portion (such as a connecting pin or a connecting bolt) and an elongated hole. For example, the protruding portion is configured to penetrate a part of the elongated hole.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 9, similar to the first embodiment, the outer side L2' of the main body 202 is provided with an engagement structure 222, and the attachment site 224 of the lock member 206 is configured to extend from the inner side L1' to the outer side L2' through the auxiliary hole 226 of the main body 202.

[0033] As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the second attachment device 200 is attached to the second side frame 230 of the rack 228 (such an attachment configuration is disclosed in the first embodiment and further description is omitted for simplicity).

[0034] As shown in FIGS. 10 to 13, the second attachment device 200 is attached to the second side frame 230 of the rack 228 without attaching a second slide rail assembly between the first connection site 232 and the second connection site 234 of the second attachment device 200. In the second embodiment, the user can easily operate the operating member 204 to drive and move the lock member 206 (the elastic section 201 of the lock member 206).

[0035] Further, when the user removes the second attachment device 200 from the second side frame 230 of the rack 228, the user can apply an operating force J' from the inner side L1' or the outer side L2' of the main body 202 (as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11) to the operating member 204 (the operating portion 208 of the operating member 204) to move it from the first predetermined position P1 (shown in FIGS. 10 and 11) to the second predetermined position P2 (shown in FIGS. 12 and 13). As a result, the driving portion 210 of the operating member 204 contacts the corresponding portion 215 of the locking member 206 (as shown in FIG. 12) and drives the elastic partition 201 of the locking member 206 to move inward, switching from the first state S1 (shown in FIGS. 10 and 11) to the second state S2 (shown in FIGS. 12 and 13). Therefore, the attachment site 224 moves toward the inner side L1' of the main body 202 and away from the second wall K2' (the second hole wall) of the attachment portion 236 (hole) of the rack 228 (for example, as shown in FIG. 13, the attachment site 224 is laterally offset from the second wall K2' of the attachment portion 236). Accordingly, the engagement structure 222 can be removed from the first wall K1' (the first hole wall) of the attachment portion 236 of the rack 228. That is, at this time, the second attachment device 200 can be removed from the second side frame 230 of the rack 228 (as shown in FIG. 13).

[0036] In addition, when the user stops applying the operating force J' to the operating member 204, the return elastic force of the return elastic member 216 is configured to drive the operating member 204 to return from the second predetermined position P2 (shown in FIGS. 12 and 13) to the first predetermined position P1 along the second predetermined direction D2 opposite to the first predetermined direction D1, and the locking member 206 is moved so as to switch from the second state S2 to the first state S1.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 14, when the second slide rail assembly 238 is attached between the first connection site 232 and the second connection site 234 of the second attachment device 200, the second slide rail assembly 238 is configured to cover most of the inner side L1' of the main body 202 of the second attachment device 200. Therefore, the user cannot easily operate the operating member 204 (operating part 208 of the operating member 204) from the inner side L1' of the main body 202. At this time, in order to operate the operating member 204 to move it from the first predetermined position P1 to the second predetermined position P2 along the first predetermined direction D1, the user can insert a finger into the predetermined hole 214 to extend from the outer side L2' of the main body 202 to the inner side L1' of the main body 202 and apply an operating force J' to the operating part 208. As a result, the attachment site 224 is moved toward the inner side L1' so that the engagement structure 222 can be removed from the rack 228, and the second attachment device 200 can be removed from the rack 228 (such a configuration has been disclosed above and further description is omitted for simplicity).

[0038] Therefore, the attachment device according to the embodiment of the present invention has the following technical features.

[0039] 1) The attachment device (28, 200) can function as an adapter for attaching the slide rail assembly (32, 238) to the rack (22, 228) within a space having a second width W2 smaller than the first width W1 in order to meet special requirements of the user or the environment.

[0040] 2) The attachment device (28, 200) can be quickly attached to or detached from the rack (22, 228) via the locking member (54, 206) without using tools.

[0041] 3) In the first embodiment, in order to release the lock of the engagement structure 48 with respect to the rack 22, the user can directly operate the lock member 54 to move the attachment site 56. In the second embodiment, in order to release the lock of the engagement structure 222 with respect to the rack 228, the user can operate the operating member 204 to drive the lock member 206 and move the attachment site 224. Further, the operating portion 208 of the operating member 204 is adjacent to the first end portion 202a (such as a tip portion, but the present invention is not limited to such a configuration) of the second attachment device 200. Therefore, for a user standing in front of the second attachment device 200 or the rack 228, it is convenient to operate the operating portion 208 to drive and move the lock member 206 to release the lock of the second attachment device 200.

[0042] 4) In the second embodiment, when the second slide rail assembly is not attached between the first connection site 232 and the second connection site 234 of the second attachment device 200, the user can operate the operating member 204 from the inner side L1' or the outer side L2' of the main body portion 202 of the second attachment device 200 to drive and move the lock member 206 in order to release the lock of the second attachment device 200 with respect to the rack 228. When the second slide rail assembly 238 is attached between the first connection site 232 and the second connection site 234 of the second attachment device 200, the user can operate the operating member 204 from the outer side L2' of the main body portion 202 of the second attachment device 200 to drive and move the lock member 206 to release the lock of the second attachment device 200 with respect to the rack 228. According to such a configuration, the maintenance of the slide rail and the holding object (and / or related equipment) on the slide rail becomes more convenient and efficient.

[0043] Those skilled in the art will readily understand that many modifications and changes can be made to the apparatus and method while maintaining the teachings of the present invention. Therefore, the above disclosure should be construed as being limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A mounting assembly configured to be mounted to a rack including a first side frame and a second side frame, the rack defining a first width between the first side frame and the second side frame, the mounting assembly comprising: a first mounting device configured to be attached to a first side frame of the rack; a second mounting device configured to be attached to a second side frame of the rack; and Including, a second width is defined between the first mounting device and the second mounting device, the second width being less than the first width; the first mounting device and the second mounting device are configured to mount a first slide rail assembly and a second slide rail assembly to the first side frame and the second side frame, respectively; A mounting assembly, wherein the first mounting device includes a first end, a second end, and a body portion connected between the first end and the second end, the body portion having an engagement structure configured to engage a first side frame of the rack.

2. The mounting assembly of claim 1 , wherein a structural configuration of the first mounting device is substantially identical or symmetrical to a structural configuration of the second mounting device.

3. 3. The mounting assembly of claim 2, wherein the body portion further includes a locking member and an attachment portion disposed on the locking member, the attachment portion configured to lock the engagement structure to the first side frame of the rack to prevent the engagement structure from disengaging from the first side frame of the rack.

4. The mounting assembly of claim 3 , wherein the body portion further comprises an operating member configured to drive movement of the locking member, the operating member including an operating portion adjacent the first end.

5. The mounting assembly of claim 3 , wherein the body portion has an inner side and an outer side, the locking member is disposed on the inner side of the body portion, and the mounting location extends from the inner side to the outer side.

6. a first connection portion disposed adjacent the first end and a second connection portion disposed adjacent the second end; the first slide rail assembly is configured to be mounted between a first connection site and a second connection site of the first mounting device, and the second slide rail assembly is configured to be mounted between a first connection site and a second connection site of the second mounting device; the first end portion includes a first connection base bent substantially perpendicularly to the body portion, the first connection portion being disposed on the first connection base; The mounting assembly of claim 3 , wherein the second end includes a second connection base bent substantially perpendicular to the body portion, and the second connection portion is disposed on the second connection base.

7. 1. A mounting device configured to be attached to a rack, the mounting device comprising: A first end; A second end. a body connected between the first end and the second end, the body including an engagement structure configured to engage the rack; A locking member disposed on the main body portion; an attachment portion disposed on the locking member and configured to lock the engagement structure to the rack to prevent the engagement structure from disengaging from the rack; An operating member configured to drive and move the locking member; A mounting device comprising:

8. the operating member is disposed on the body portion, the operating member including an operating portion adjacent to the first end, the body portion has an inner side and an outer side, the locking member is disposed on the inner side of the body portion, and the attachment portion extends from the inner side to the outer side; The attachment device according to claim 7 , wherein a predetermined space that communicates the inside and the outside is formed in the main body portion, and the operation member has a predetermined hole adjacent to the predetermined space in the main body portion.

9. a return elastic member configured to provide a return elastic force to the operating member; a first connection portion disposed adjacent the first end and a second connection portion disposed adjacent the second end, the slide rail assembly being configured to be mounted between the first connection portion and the second connection portion; the first end portion has a first connection base bent substantially perpendicularly to the body portion, the first connection portion being disposed on the first connection base; The mounting device of claim 7 , wherein the second end portion comprises a second connection base bent substantially perpendicular to the body portion, and the second connection portion is disposed on the second connection base.

10. 1. A mounting device configured to be attached to a rack, the mounting device comprising: The front end and A rear end portion and a body portion connected between the front end portion and the rear end portion; A locking member disposed on the main body portion; a mounting site disposed on the locking member and configured to lock the mounting device to the rack; an operating member configured to drive the locking member to move, the operating member including an operating portion adjacent one of the front end and the rear end; A mounting device comprising:

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