Slide rail mechanism

Abstract

To provide an improved slide rail mechanism applicable to a rack.SOLUTION: A slide rail mechanism includes a carried object, a first slide rail assembly, a second slide rail assembly, and a locking member. The first slide rail assembly includes a first rail configured to be mounted to a rack, and a second rail configured to carry the carried object. The second slide rail assembly includes a third rail arranged on the carried object, and a fourth rail movable relative to the third rail. The locking member is movably mounted on the carried object. During a process of moving the second rail to an extended position along an opening direction relative to the first rail, the locking member is moved from a first predetermined position to a second predetermined position such that a locking portion of the locking member is configured to prevent the fourth rail from moving along the opening direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a slide rail mechanism, and more specifically to a slide rail mechanism applicable to a rack.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses furniture having a cabinet with two drawers. Each drawer is slidable between an open position and a closed position with respect to the cabinet. The furniture includes a lock bar attached to the cabinet and configured to move between a first position and a second position. The lock bar is configured to interact with cooperating means attached to the drawers to prevent the two drawers from simultaneously moving from the closed position to the open position.

[0003] Patent Document 2 discloses a drawer open position control device including a lamp, a blocking device, and a lock member disposed in a cabinet. When the bottom drawer is pulled out from the cabinet, the other drawers are blocked via the lamp and the blocking device, and the follower drives and moves the lock member so that the other drawers can be pulled out only a certain distance.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Patent Documents 1 and 2 each disclose a piece of furniture capable of preventing two drawers from being opened simultaneously, and a drawer opening position control device capable of preventing other drawers from being fully opened when the first drawer is opened. However, it is important to develop various products to meet different market demands.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The present invention provides a slide rail mechanism applicable to a rack.

[0007] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the slide rail mechanism is applicable to a rack. The slide rail mechanism includes a first holding object, a first slide rail assembly, a second slide rail assembly, and a locking member. The first slide rail assembly includes a first rail and a second rail movable longitudinally with respect to the first rail. The first rail is configured to be attached to the rack, and the second rail is configured to hold the first holding object. The second slide rail assembly is disposed on the first holding object. The second slide rail assembly includes a third rail and a fourth rail movable longitudinally with respect to the third rail. The third rail is configured to be attached to the first holding object, and the fourth rail is configured to hold the second holding object. The locking member is movably attached to the first holding object. The first rail has an auxiliary portion, and the locking member has a predetermined portion and a locking portion. When the second rail is in the retracted position with respect to the first rail, the auxiliary portion supports the predetermined portion to position the locking member at a first predetermined position so that the locking portion of the locking member is not configured to prevent the fourth rail from moving along the opening direction, and the second holding object can move along the opening direction with respect to the first holding object. During the process of moving the second rail from the retracted position to the extended position along the opening direction with respect to the first rail, the locking member is moved from the first predetermined position to a second predetermined position so that the locking portion of the locking member prevents the fourth rail from moving along the opening direction and limits the moving distance of the second holding object along the opening direction with respect to the first holding object.

[0008] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the slide rail mechanism is applicable to a rack. The slide rail mechanism includes a first holding object, a first slide rail assembly, a second slide rail assembly, and a lock member. The first slide rail assembly includes a first rail and a second rail movable longitudinally with respect to the first rail. The first rail is configured to be attached to the rack, and the second rail is configured to hold the first holding object. The second slide rail assembly is disposed on the first holding object. The second slide rail assembly includes a third rail and a fourth rail movable longitudinally with respect to the third rail. The third rail is configured to be attached to the first holding object. The lock member is movably attached to the first holding object. The first rail is provided with an auxiliary portion, and the lock member is provided with a predetermined portion and a locking portion. During the process of moving the second slide rail to the extended position along the opening direction with respect to the first slide rail, the auxiliary portion does not support the predetermined portion so that the locking portion of the lock member is configured to prevent the lock member from being moved from the first predetermined position to the second predetermined position and the fourth slide rail from moving along the opening direction.

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

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] As shown in FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the slide rail mechanism is applicable to the rack 22. The slide rail mechanism includes a first slide rail assembly 24, a second slide rail assembly 26, and a first holding object 28. The first slide rail assembly 24 is configured to support the first holding object 28. For example, the first holding object 28 can be an outer casing. The second slide rail assembly 26 is disposed on the first holding object 28. For example, the second slide rail assembly 26 is disposed inside the first holding object 28 (outer casing), and the second slide rail assembly 26 is configured to support the second holding object 30. Preferably, a predetermined space 32 for accommodating the second holding object 30 is formed in the first holding object 28.

[0012] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the second slide rail assembly 26 and the second holding object 30 are omitted in the drawings. Further, the slide rail mechanism further includes a lock member 34 movably attached to the first holding object 28.

[0013] The first slide rail assembly 24 includes a first rail 36 and a second rail 38 movably in the longitudinal direction with respect to the first rail 36. Preferably, the slide rail assembly 24 further includes a first intermediate rail 40 movably attached between the first rail 36 and the second rail 38. In the present embodiment, the X-axis is the longitudinal direction (or the length direction or the moving direction of the slide rail), the Y-axis is the lateral direction (or the lateral direction of the slide rail), and the Z-axis is the vertical direction (or the height direction of the slide rail). The first rail 36 is configured to be attached to the rack 22, and the second rail 38 is configured to hold the first holding object 28. In addition, the lock member 34 may be a link rod, and the moving direction of the lock member 34 is the height direction (such as the Z-axis direction) of the first holding object 28.

[0014] The first rail 36 is provided with a first auxiliary part 42. The first rail 36 preferably further includes a second auxiliary part 44 (as shown in FIG. 3).

[0015] The first slide rail assembly 24 preferably further includes a bracket 46. The first rail 36 is attached to the rack 22 via the bracket 46. The bracket 46 is connected (such as a fixed connection) to the first rail 36 and can be regarded as a part of the first rail 36.

[0016] The first auxiliary part 42 and the second auxiliary part 44 are preferably arranged on the bracket 46 on the first rail 36. The bracket 46 has a first end 46a and a second end 46b that are opposite to each other, such as a front end and a rear end. The first auxiliary part 42 and the second auxiliary part 44 are arranged adjacent to the first end 46a of the bracket 46, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0017] The first auxiliary part 42 and the second auxiliary part 44 are protrusions, and the first auxiliary part 42 and the second auxiliary part 44 are preferably longitudinally spaced apart from each other by a longitudinal distance.

[0018] The first auxiliary part 42 and the second auxiliary part 44 preferably each have a first guide section G1 and a second guide section G2 corresponding to each other. Each of the first guide section G1 and the second guide section G2 has an inclined surface or an arc surface, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0019] The first holding object 28 preferably has a plurality of walls. In this embodiment, the first holding object 28 has a predetermined wall 48 (or side wall). The predetermined wall 48 has a first side L1 and a second side L2 that are opposite to each other, such as an outer side and an inner side, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0020] The first side L1 of the predetermined wall 48 is preferably connected to the second rail 38, and a predetermined space 32 is preferably formed adjacent to the second side L2.

[0021] The locking member 34 preferably includes a predetermined portion 50 and a locking portion 52.

[0022] The locking member 34 is preferably movably attached to the second side L2 of the predetermined wall 48 of the first holding object 28. The extension section 50a of the predetermined portion 50 of the locking member 34 penetrates the predetermined wall 48 and is configured to extend to the first side L1 (as shown in FIG. 2).

[0023] Preferably, a limiting structure 54 such as an elliptical hole is formed in the predetermined wall 48 (as shown in FIG. 2), but the present invention is not limited thereto. The extension section 50a of the predetermined portion 50 is inserted into the limiting structure 54 of the predetermined wall 48 so that the locking member 34 can move relative to the first holding object 28 within a limited range.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 4, the second slide rail assembly 26 includes a third rail 56 and a fourth rail 58 that is longitudinally movable relative to the third rail 56. The third rail 56 is configured to be attached to the second side L2 of the predetermined wall 48 of the first holding object 28, and the fourth rail 58 is configured to hold the second holding object 30.

[0025] The third rail 56 preferably has first and second opposite sides L1' and L2' such as an outer side and an inner side, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The first side L1' of the third rail 56 is connected to the second side L2 of the first holding object 28, and the second side L2' of the third rail 56 is adjacent to the fourth rail 58. An auxiliary space 60 (such as a through hole) that communicates the first side L1' and the second side L2' of the third rail 56 is formed in the third rail 56. The auxiliary space 60 is configured such that the locking portion 52 of the locking member 34 can penetrate the third rail 56 from the first side L1' of the third rail 56 to the second side L2' of the third rail 56.

[0026] The second slide rail assembly 26 further includes a second intermediate rail 62 movably attached between a third rail 56 and a fourth rail 58, and the second intermediate rail 62 has a block portion 64 configured to interact with a lock portion 52 of the lock member 34. In this embodiment, the block portion 64 is a protrusion, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0027] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a plurality of second slide rail assemblies 26 are attached to the first holding object 28. The second slide rail assemblies 26 have substantially the same structural configuration. Each fourth rail 58 of the second slide rail assemblies 26 is configured to hold a respective second holding object 30. In addition, the lock portion 52 of the lock member 34 penetrates an auxiliary space 60 of the third rail 56 so as to be adjacent to the fourth rail 58 (and the second intermediate rail 62).

[0028] When the second rail 38 is in the retracted position R with respect to the first rail 36, the first auxiliary portion 42 is configured to support a predetermined portion 50 (an extended section 50a of the predetermined portion 50) such that the lock member 34 is in a first predetermined position K1.

[0029] When the lock member 34 is in the first predetermined position K1, it is preferable that the lock portion 52 of the lock member 34 is not aligned with the block portion 64 of the second intermediate rail 62 along the longitudinal direction. For example, the vertical position of the lock portion 52 of the lock member 34 along the vertical direction does not correspond to the vertical position of the block portion 64 of the second intermediate rail 62 along the vertical direction (the lateral position of the lock portion 52 of the lock member 34 along the lateral direction corresponds to the lateral position of the block portion 64 of the second intermediate rail 62 along the lateral direction).

[0030] When the second rail 38 is in the retracted position R with respect to the first rail 36 and the fourth rail 58 and the second intermediate rail 62 are retractable with respect to the third rail 56, the locking portion 52 of the locking member 34 and the block portion 64 of the second intermediate rail 62 are separated from each other by a predetermined longitudinal distance M along the longitudinal direction (as shown in FIG. 5).

[0031] As shown in FIGS. 5, 7, 8, and 9, during the process of moving the second rail 38 (as shown in FIG. 9) from the retracted position R to the extended position E along the opening direction D1 with respect to the first rail 36, the first auxiliary portion 42 no longer supports the predetermined portion 50 so that the locking member 34 is moved from the first predetermined position K1 (shown in FIG. 5) to the second predetermined position K2 (shown in FIGS. 7 and 8) along the predetermined height direction H. Therefore, the locking portion 52 of the locking member 34 is configured to prevent the fourth rail 58 from moving along the opening direction D1 in order to limit the distance that the second holding object 30 moves along the opening direction D1 with respect to the first holding object 28.

[0032] In the present embodiment, the locking portion 52 of the locking member 34 is configured to block the movement path of the blocking portion 64 of the second intermediate rail 62 along the opening direction D1 in order to prevent the fourth rail 58 from moving along the opening direction D1. Specifically, when the locking member 34 is located at the second predetermined position K2, the locking portion 52 of the locking member 34 is aligned with the blocking portion 64 of the second intermediate rail 62 along the longitudinal direction. Thereby, the second intermediate rail 62 is configured to indirectly prevent the fourth rail 58 from moving along the opening direction D1 in order to limit the movement distance of the second holding object 30 with respect to the first holding object 28 along the opening direction D1 (for example, a synchronization mechanism is provided between the second intermediate rail 62 and the fourth rail 58). Further, in an alternative embodiment, the second slide rail assembly 26 includes only the third rail 56 and the fourth rail 58 (that is, the second slide rail assembly 26 does not include the second intermediate rail 62), and the fourth rail 58 is configured to hold the second holding object 30 and has a blocking portion. When the locking member 34 is located at the second predetermined position K2, the locking portion 52 of the locking member 34 is aligned with the blocking portion of the fourth rail 58 along the longitudinal direction (the vertical position of the locking portion 52 of the locking member 34 along the vertical direction corresponds to the vertical position of the blocking portion of the fourth rail 58 along the vertical direction, and the lateral position of the locking portion 52 of the locking member 34 along the lateral direction corresponds to the lateral position of the blocking portion of the fourth rail 58 along the lateral direction), and the locking member 34 is configured to directly block the movement path of the fourth rail 58 along the opening direction D1 in order to limit the movement distance of the second holding object 30 with respect to the first holding object 28 along the opening direction D1.

[0033] During the process of moving the second rail 38 (as shown in FIG. 9) from the retracted position R to the extended position E along the opening direction D1 with respect to the first rail 36, the second guide section G2 of the second auxiliary portion 44 is configured to contact and guide a predetermined portion 50 (extension section 50a of the predetermined portion 50) of the locking member 34 in order to move the locking member 34 from the first predetermined position K1 (shown in FIG. 5) to the second predetermined position K2 (shown in FIGS. 7 and 8). On the other hand, the locking member 34 can also fall to the second predetermined position K2 due to gravity.

[0034] As shown in FIGS. 9, 10, and 11, when the second rail 38 (as shown in FIG. 9) is located at the extended position E with respect to the first rail 36 and the locking member 34 is located at the second predetermined position K2, the locking portion 52 of the locking member 34 and the blocking portion 64 of the second intermediate rail 62 are aligned along the longitudinal direction and block each other, indirectly preventing the fourth rail 58 from moving along the opening direction D1, and restricting the moving distance of the second holding object 30 along the opening direction D1 with respect to the first holding object 28. In this embodiment, the second holding object 30 can move along the opening direction D1 from a predetermined retracted position R' (shown in FIG. 9) with respect to the first holding object 28 and can be pulled out by a predetermined extended distance Q (as shown in FIG. 10) with respect to the first holding object 28. Alternatively, in other embodiments, the second holding object 30 is configured to be prevented from moving along the opening direction D1 from a predetermined retracted position R' with respect to the first holding object 28. That is, the second holding object 30 cannot be fully opened with respect to the first holding object 28.

[0035] Furthermore, during the process of moving the second rail 38 from the extended position E' (shown in FIGS. 9 and 10) to the retracted position R (shown in FIGS. 5 and 6) along the retracting direction D2 with respect to the first rail 36, the first guide section G1 of the first auxiliary portion 42 is configured to contact and guide a predetermined portion 50 (extension section 50a of the predetermined portion 50) of the locking member 34 in order to move the locking member 34 from the second predetermined position K2 (shown in FIGS. 9 and 10) to the first predetermined position K1 (shown in FIGS. 5 and 6).

[0036] As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, when the second rail 38 is in the retracted position R with respect to the first rail 36, the first auxiliary portion 42 supports the predetermined portion 50 so that the locking portion 52 of the locking member 34 is positioned at the first predetermined position K1 in order to prevent the locking portion 52 of the locking member 34 from being aligned longitudinally with the locking portion 64 of the second intermediate rail 62. Accordingly, in order for the second holding object 30 to be able to move from a predetermined retracted position R' (shown in FIG. 9) with respect to the first holding object 28 along the opening direction D1 to a predetermined extended position E' such as a fully extended position E' (shown in FIG. 12), the locking portion 52 of the locking member 34 is not configured to prevent the fourth rail 58 from moving along the opening direction D1.

[0037] Therefore, the slide rail mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention has the following technical features.

[0038] 1) The slide rail mechanism is applicable to a rack, and the locking member 34 is movably attached to the first holding object 28.

[0039] 2) When the second rail 38 is in the extended position E with respect to the first rail 36 and the locking member 34 is in the second predetermined position K2, the locking portion 52 of the locking member 34 is configured to prevent the fourth rail 58 from moving along the opening direction D1 and limit the moving distance of the second holding object 30 with respect to the first holding object 28 along the opening direction D1. For example, the second holding object 30 is configured to be prevented from moving from a predetermined retracted position R' (shown in FIG. 9) with respect to the first holding object 28 along the opening direction D1. Alternatively, the second holding object 30 is movable from a predetermined retracted position R' with respect to the first holding object 28 along the opening direction D1, but cannot be fully opened with respect to the first holding object 28 and can be pulled out by a predetermined extended distance Q (as shown in FIG. 10). For example, the second holding object 30 cannot be moved from a predetermined retracted position R' (shown in FIG. 9) with respect to the first holding object 28 along the opening direction D1 to a fully extended position E' (shown in FIG. 12).

[0040] 3) When the second rail 38 is in the retracted position R with respect to the first rail 36 and the locking member 34 is in the first predetermined position K1, in order to be able to move the second holding object 30 from the predetermined retracted position R' (shown in FIG. 12) to the fully extended position E' along the opening direction D1 with respect to the first holding object 28, the locking portion 52 of the locking member 34 is not configured to block the fourth rail 58 from moving along the opening direction D1.

[0041] 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. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as being limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A slide rail mechanism applicable to a rack, comprising: a first holding object; a first slide rail assembly including a first rail and a second rail movable longitudinally with respect to the first rail, wherein the first rail is configured to be attached to the rack, and the second rail is configured to hold the first holding object; a second slide rail assembly disposed on the first holding object, the second slide rail assembly including a third rail and a fourth rail movable longitudinally with respect to the third rail, wherein the third rail is configured to be attached to the first holding object, and the fourth rail is configured to hold a second holding object; a lock member movably attached to the first holding object; and the first rail is provided with an auxiliary portion, and the lock member is provided with a predetermined portion and a locking portion; when the second rail is in a retracted position with respect to the first rail, the auxiliary portion supports the predetermined portion to position the lock member at a first predetermined position so that the locking portion of the lock member is not configured to prevent the fourth rail from moving along the opening direction, thereby enabling the second holding object to move along the opening direction with respect to the first holding object; during the process of moving the second rail from the first rail to an extended position along the opening direction, the lock member is moved from the first predetermined position to a second predetermined position so that the locking portion of the lock member prevents the fourth rail from moving along the opening direction and limits the moving distance of the second holding object along the opening direction with respect to the first holding object. A slide rail mechanism.

2. The first slide rail assembly further includes a bracket connected to the first rail, and the first rail is configured to be attached to the rack via the bracket; The slide rail mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary portion is disposed on the bracket on the first rail.

3. The slide rail mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the first slide rail assembly further includes a first intermediate rail movably attached between the first rail and the second rail.

4. The first holding object includes a predetermined wall having a first side and a second side opposite to each other, the first side being connected to the second rail, and a predetermined space is formed adjacent to the second side for accommodating the second holding object. The locking member is movably attached to the second side of the predetermined wall of the first holding object. The slide rail mechanism according to claim 1, wherein a predetermined portion of the locking member is configured to extend through the predetermined wall to the first side, and a locking portion of the locking member is configured to extend through the third rail and be adjacent to the fourth rail.

5. The second slide rail assembly further includes a second intermediate rail movably attached between the third rail and the fourth rail, the second intermediate rail having a blocking portion. When the locking member is located at the second predetermined position, the locking portion of the locking member is configured to block a movement path of the blocking portion along the opening direction. The slide rail mechanism according to claim 4, wherein when the second rail is located at the retracted position with respect to the first rail and the fourth rail is retracted with respect to the third rail, the locking portion of the locking member and the blocking portion of the second intermediate rail are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined longitudinal distance along the longitudinal direction.

6. A limiting structure is formed on the predetermined wall, and the predetermined portion of the locking member is inserted into the limiting structure of the predetermined wall. The slide rail mechanism according to claim 4, wherein a moving direction of the locking member is a height direction of the first holding object.

7. A slide rail mechanism applicable to a rack, a first holding object, a first slide rail assembly including a first rail and a second rail movable longitudinally with respect to the first rail, the first rail being configured to be attached to the rack, and the second rail being configured to hold the first holding object. A second slide rail assembly disposed on the first holding object, the second slide rail assembly including a third rail and a fourth rail movable longitudinally with respect to the third rail, the third rail being configured to be attached to the first holding object, the second slide rail assembly; A locking member movably attached to the first holding object; Including; The first rail includes an auxiliary portion, and the locking member includes a predetermined portion and a locking portion. During the process of moving the second rail to an extended position along the opening direction with respect to the first rail, the auxiliary portion causes the locking member to move from a first predetermined position to a second predetermined position, and the fourth rail moves along the opening direction. The slide rail mechanism that does not support the predetermined portion so that the locking portion of the locking member is configured to prevent movement.

8. When the second rail is in a retracted position with respect to the first rail, the auxiliary portion supports the predetermined portion so that the locking portion of the locking member does not prevent the fourth rail from moving along the opening direction. It is configured to position the locking member at the first predetermined position. The first slide rail assembly further includes a bracket connected to the first rail, the first rail being configured to be attached to the rack via the bracket, and the auxiliary portion is disposed on the bracket on the first rail. The slide rail mechanism according to claim 7, wherein the first slide rail assembly further includes a first intermediate rail movably attached between the first rail and the second rail.

9. The first holding object includes a predetermined wall having a first side and a second side, the first side being connected to the second rail. The locking member is movably attached to the second side of the predetermined wall of the first holding object. The predetermined portion of the locking member is configured to extend through the predetermined wall to the first side, and the locking portion of the locking member is configured to penetrate the third rail and be adjacent to the fourth rail. The second slide rail assembly further includes a second intermediate rail movably attached between the third rail and the fourth rail, the second intermediate rail having a blocking portion. When the lock member is located at the second predetermined position, a lock portion of the lock member is configured to block a movement path of the block portion along the opening direction. The slide rail mechanism according to claim 7, wherein when the second rail is located in a retracted position with respect to the first rail and the fourth rail is retracted with respect to the third rail, the lock portion of the lock member and the block portion of the second intermediate rail are separated from each other by a predetermined longitudinal distance along the longitudinal direction.

10. A limiting structure is formed on the predetermined wall, and a predetermined portion of the lock member is inserted into the limiting structure of the predetermined wall. The slide rail mechanism according to claim 9, wherein a moving direction of the lock member is a height direction of the first holding object.

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