Slide rail assembly

Abstract

We provide a slide rail assembly with a handle. [Solution] The slide rail assembly 20 comprises a first rail 38, a second rail 40, and a handle 48. When the handle is moved from a first operating position K1 to a second operating position, the handle is configured to unlock the second rail relative to the first rail at a predetermined position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a slide rail assembly, and more particularly to a slide rail assembly with a handle.

Background Art

[0002] U.S. Patent No. US2022 / 0369478A1 discloses a handle module disposed in a server. Further, the handle module includes a handle. The server is configured to be driven to move through contact between the abutting portion of the handle and the abutting portion of the rack.

Summary of the Invention

[0003] However, in order to meet the diverse requirements of the market, it is important to develop various products.

[0004] The present invention provides a slide rail assembly with a handle.

[0005] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the slide rail assembly includes a first rail; a second rail movable with respect to the first rail; and a handle movable with respect to the second rail. When the handle is moved from a first operating position to a second operating position in a predetermined direction, the handle is configured to unlock the second rail with respect to the first rail at a first predetermined position.

[0006] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a slide rail system includes an object to be conveyed; a slide rail assembly configured to convey the object to be conveyed, the slide rail assembly including a support feature; and a handle movably attached to the object to be conveyed. During the process of moving the handle from one operating position to another operating position, the handle is configured to continuously contact the support feature to move the object to be conveyed from a first predetermined position to a second predetermined position.

[0007] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the slide rail assembly comprises a first rail; a second rail movable relative to the first rail; and a handle movably mounted on the second rail; a support feature is positioned on the first rail, the handle includes a first corresponding section; and the handle is configured to contact the support feature via the first corresponding section in order to move the second rail from a first predetermined position to a second predetermined position when the handle is moved from one operating position to another.

[0008] These and other objectives of the present invention will become undoubtedly apparent to those skilled in the art after reading the following detailed description relating to preferred embodiments shown in various figures and drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This figure shows a slide rail assembly configured to attach an object to be transported to a rack, according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This figure shows a slide rail assembly configured to attach an object to be transported to a rack, according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is an enlarged view of region A in Figure 2. [Figure 4] This figure shows a handle according to a first embodiment of the present invention, configured to unlock the second rail relative to the first rail at a predetermined position. [Figure 5] This figure shows a handle according to a first embodiment of the present invention, which is configured to interact with a support feature and drives a second rail to move away from a predetermined position. [Figure 6] This figure relates to a first embodiment of the present invention and shows the second rail being moved away from a predetermined position in order to separate one object from another object being transported. [Figure 7] This figure shows a slide rail assembly configured to attach an object to be transported to a rack, according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8]This figure shows a slide rail assembly according to a third embodiment of the present invention, configured to be attached to a rack with the object to be transported connected to an auxiliary object. [Figure 9] This is an exploded view of the slide rail assembly and the object to be transported, relating to a third embodiment of the present invention, with the slide rail assembly attached to a rack. [Figure 10] This figure shows a third embodiment of the present invention, in which the object to be transported is mounted on a rack and positioned in a predetermined location via a slide rail assembly. [Figure 11] This figure shows a handle according to a third embodiment of the present invention, which is configured to interact with a support feature, and which drives a transported object to move the transported object away from a predetermined position in order to detach it from an auxiliary object. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the slide rail assembly 20 is configured to attach a transported object 22 (such as a first transported object or a front transported object) to a rack 24. In this embodiment, the rack 24 includes a front support column 24a and a rear support column 24b, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In this embodiment, another transported object 26 (such as a second transported object or a rear transported object) is further attached to the rack 24. Specifically, the second transported object 26 is configured to be attached to the rack via the slide rail assembly 20 and / or another slide rail assembly 28. The first transported object 22 has a front portion 22a and a rear portion 22b, and the second transported object 26 has a front portion 26a and a rear portion 26b.

[0011] Preferably, the first conveyed object 22 has at least one first connecting member 30 (or multiple first connecting members 30). The second conveyed object 26 has at least one second connecting member 32 (or multiple second connecting members 32). The first connecting member 30 and the second connecting member 32 may be plugs, sockets, etc. (as shown in Figure 1). In this embodiment, the rear part 22b of the first conveyed object 22 is arranged with the first connecting member 30, and the front part 26a of the second conveyed object 26 is arranged with the second connecting member 32, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In other alternative embodiments, the first connecting member 30 may be arranged at any position on the first conveyed object 22, and the second connecting member 32 may be arranged at one position on the second conveyed object 26 corresponding to the first connecting member 30.

[0012] Preferably, when the slide rail assembly 20 is in the retracted position, the first connecting member 30 at the rear 22b of the first conveyed object 22 and the second connecting member 32 at the front 26a of the second conveyed object 26 are configured to be connected to each other (as shown in Figure 1).

[0013] Preferably, the rack 24 includes a plurality of mounting features configured to attach two slide rail assemblies 20, 28, such as a plurality of first mounting features 34 and a plurality of second mounting features 36.

[0014] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the slide rail assembly 20 comprises a first rail 38 and a second rail 40 that is longitudinally movable relative to the first rail 38. Preferably, the slide rail assembly 20 further comprises a third rail 41 that is movably mounted between the first rail 38 and the second rail 40. In this embodiment, the X-axis is the longitudinal direction (or the length or direction of movement of the slide rail), the Y-axis is the transverse 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 38 is mounted on the rack 24. In this embodiment, the first rail 38 is arranged with a support frame 42, and the first rail 38 is fixedly mounted to the rack 24 via the support frame 42. Preferably, the support frame 42 and the first rail 38 are fixedly connected to each other and may be considered as a single unit. Furthermore, the first rail 38 or the support frame 42 has a plurality of corresponding features configured to be mounted on mounting features 34, 36 of the rack 24. On the other hand, the second rail 40 has at least one mounting portion 44 configured to attach the first object to be transported 22, that is, the second rail 40 is configured to transport the first object to be transported 22.

[0015] Furthermore, the slide rail assembly 20 is equipped with a handle 48. When the slide rail assembly 20 is in the retracted position, a locking member (not shown) is configured to lock the second rail 40 (and the first transported object 22) relative to the first rail 38 at a first predetermined position P1 (such as the retracted position). For example, the locking member is movably positioned on the second rail 40, and the first rail 38 (or support frame 42) includes a blocking feature (not shown) configured to lock the locking member. The second rail 40 is configured to lock securely at a predetermined position via the locking member. Such configurations are well known to those skilled in the art, and for simplicity, further illustrations are omitted.

[0016] The handle 48 is movable with respect to the second rail 40. In the first embodiment, the handle 48 is movably attached to the first conveyed object 22 so that the handle 48 is relatively movable with respect to the second rail 40. Further, the handle 48 is pivotally connected to the bottom of the first conveyed object 22 via a shaft member 50, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The shaft member 50 is arranged in a direction substantially the same as the height direction of the slide rail assembly 20.

[0017] Preferably, the slide rail assembly 20 further includes a support feature 52 disposed on the support frame 42 of the first rail 38, and the support feature 52 includes a first wall 52a (such as a front wall) and a second wall 52b (such as a rear wall). In this embodiment, the support feature 5 is a protrusion. In other alternative embodiments, the support feature 52 may be a wall. Therefore, the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto. On the other hand, the handle 48 includes a first corresponding section 54 and a second corresponding section 56.

[0018] Preferably, the handle 48 further includes an operation part 58 and a function part 60. The function part 60 is disposed adjacent to one end of the operation part 58, and the first corresponding section 54 and the second corresponding section 56 are disposed on the function part 60 of the handle 4 . Also, a predetermined space is defined between the first corresponding section 54 and the second corresponding section 56. When the second rail 40 (and the first conveyed object 22) is at the first predetermined position P1 and the handle 48 is at the first operation position K1, the support feature 52 is located within the predetermined space.

[0019] Preferably, the slide rail assembly 20 further includes an actuating member 62 movably attached to a housing 64 on the second rail 40. The actuating member 62 is partially exposed outside the housing 64, and the actuating member 62 is configured to interact with a locking member.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the user can apply a force to the operation portion 58 of the handle 48 to move the handle 48 from the first operation position K1 (shown in FIG. 3) to the second operation position K2 (shown in FIG. 4) in a predetermined direction J. Thereby, the handle 48 unlocks the second rail 40 and is configured to allow the second rail 40 (and the first conveyed object 22) to relatively move in the release direction D from the first predetermined position P, with respect to the first rail 38.

[0021] Preferably, when the handle 48 is moved from the first operation position K1 to the second operation position K2 in the predetermined direction J, the handle 48 drives the actuating member 62 to move from the initial position X1 (shown in FIG. 3) to the non-initial position X2 (shown in FIG. 4). The actuating member 62 is further configured to drive a locking member to move so as to unlock the second rail 40 relative to the first rail 38.

[0022] Preferably, when the handle 48 is moved from the first operation position K1 to the second operation position K2 in the predetermined direction J, the handle 48 is configured to drive the actuating member 62 to move from the initial position X1 (shown in FIG. 3) to the non-initial position X2 (shown in FIG. 4) via the first corresponding section 54.

[0023] Preferably, the first corresponding section 54 and / or the actuating member 62 of the handle 48 has a guide surface such as an inclined surface or an arcuate surface so that the handle 48 can easily drive the actuating member 62 to move from the initial position X1 (shown in FIG. 3) to the non-initial position X2 (shown in FIG. 4). In the present embodiment, the first corresponding section 54 has the first guide surface 66 and the actuating member 62 has the second guide surface 68, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0024] [[ID=1,6]]Furthermore, when the handle 48 is in the second operation position K2, the first corresponding section of the handle 48 is moved toward the first wall 52a of the support feature 52 (shown in FIG. 4).

[0025] As shown in Figures 4, 5, and 6, during the process in which the handle 48 is moved from the second operating position K2 to the third operating position K3 in a predetermined direction J, the handle 48 continuously contacts the support feature portion 52 (the first wall 52a of the support feature portion 52) via the first corresponding section 54, generating an applied force. In response to this applied force, the second rail 40 can be moved from the first predetermined position P1 (shown in Figure 4) to the second predetermined position P2 (shown in Figures 5 and 6) in the opening direction D. As a result, the first connecting member 30 of the first conveyed object 22 and the second connecting member 32 of the second conveyed object 26 are no longer connected to each other and are separated (shown in Figure 6).

[0026] Therefore, during the process of moving the handle 48 from the second operating position K2 to the third operating position K3, the first corresponding section 54 of the handle 48 uses the support feature portion 52 of the slide rail assembly 20 as a fulcrum, allowing the second rail 40 to move from the first predetermined position P1 (shown in Figure 4) to the second predetermined position P2 (shown in Figures 5 and 6) in the opening direction D. This allows the user to easily disconnect the first connecting member 30 of the first conveyed object 22 from the second connecting member 32 of the second conveyed object 26 in order to separate the first conveyed object 22 and the second conveyed object 26 from each other (shown in Figure 6).

[0027] Figure 7 is a perspective view showing a slide rail assembly 200 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Furthermore, unlike the slide rail assembly 20 of the first embodiment, which has a handle 48 movably attached to the first object to be transported 22, the slide rail assembly 200 of the second embodiment has a handle 202 movably attached to the second rail 204. With this configuration, the second embodiment can achieve substantially the same technical effects as the first embodiment.

[0028] Preferably, the second rail 204 is arranged with an auxiliary member 206, the auxiliary member 206 comprising a first portion 208 and a second portion 210 bent relative to the first portion 208.

[0029] Preferably, the first portion 208 and the second portion 210 of the auxiliary member 206 are connected to each other substantially vertically. The first portion 208 is connected (e.g., fixedly) to the second rail 204, and the handle 202 is pivotally connected to the second portion 210 via the shaft member 212.

[0030] Preferably, the second rail 204 is configured to transport the object to be transported (such as the first object to be transported 214). For example, the second rail 204 has at least one mounting portion 216, and the mounting portion 216 is configured to attach the corresponding mounting portion 218 of the first object to be transported 214. Furthermore, other components of the slide rail assembly 200 of the second embodiment are the same as those of the slide rail assembly 20 of the first embodiment, and for simplicity, further illustrations are omitted.

[0031] Figures 8 and 9 show a slide rail assembly 300 relating to a third embodiment of the present invention, applicable to a rack 301 and configured to transport an object 302. The slide rail assembly 300 includes a support feature 304. A handle 306 is movably attached to the object 302. Unlike the handle 48 in the first embodiment, which is pivotally connected to the bottom of the object, the handle 306 in the third embodiment is pivotally connected to the side of the object 302 via a shaft member 308. Furthermore, the shaft member 308 is positioned in substantially the same direction as the lateral (or lateral) direction of the slide rail assembly 300. Preferably, the handle 306 includes a first corresponding section 310.

[0032] As shown in Figures 10 and 11, the rack 301 has a front end 301a and a rear end 301b, and the auxiliary object 309 is positioned adjacent to the rear end 301b of the rack 301. When the object to be transported 302 is in a first predetermined position P1' (such as the retracted position shown in Figure 10), the first connecting member of the object to be transported 302 (the rear part 302b of the object to be transported 302) and the second connecting member of the auxiliary object 309 (the front part 309a of the auxiliary object 309) can be connected to each other. (For an example of how the first and second connecting members are connected, please refer to Figure 1. For simplicity, further illustrations are omitted.)

[0033] During the process of moving the handle 306 from one operating position K1' (shown in Figure 10) to another operating position K2' (shown in Figure 11) in a predetermined direction J', the handle 306 continuously contacts the support feature portion 304 via the first corresponding section 310, generating an applied force. In response to this applied force, the object to be transported 302 can be moved from a first predetermined position P1' (shown in Figure 10) to a second predetermined position P2' (shown in Figure 11) in the opening direction D. Consequently, the first connecting member of the object to be transported 302 and the second connecting member of the auxiliary object 309 become disconnected from each other and are separated (see Figure 6 for an example of this detachable configuration between the first and second connecting members; further illustrations are omitted for simplicity).

[0034] Preferably, the slide rail assembly 300 includes a first rail 312, which is fixedly attached to the rack 301 via a support frame 314. Preferably, the support frame 314 and the first rail 312 are fixedly connected to each other and may be considered as a single unit. Furthermore, the rack 301 includes a plurality of mounting features 311 configured to attach the slide rail assembly 300 (the support frame 314 of the slide rail assembly 300). On the other hand, the upper part of the object to be transported 302 is configured to be attached to the rack 301 via another slide rail assembly (not shown), and the object to be transported 302 is slidable longitudinally relative to the rack 301.

[0035] Preferably, the support feature portion 304 is located on either the support frame 314 or the first rail 312. In this embodiment, the support feature portion 304 is located on the first rail 312.

[0036] Preferably, one of the support frame 314 and the first rail 312 is arranged with a support portion 318, the support portion 318 having a predetermined first longitudinal length. In this embodiment, the first rail 312 is arranged with a support portion 318, and the object to be transported 302 is arranged with a support member 320 configured to be supported by the support portion 318. In this embodiment, the support member 320 is a projection or a cylinder, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0037] Preferably, one of the support frame 314 and the first rail 312 is further provided with an extension wall 322, the extension wall 322 having a predetermined second longitudinal length shorter than a predetermined first longitudinal length of the support portion 318. In this embodiment, the first rail 312 is provided with an extension wall 322. A storage space S' is defined between the extension wall 322 and the support portion 318 and is configured to accommodate a support member 320 of the object to be transported 302.

[0038] Preferably, when the object to be transported 302 is in a first predetermined position P1', the support member 320 is accommodable in the containment space S', and the support member 320 is configured to be blocked by a wall at the end of the containment space S' in order to restrict the movement of the object to be transported 302 (as shown in Figure 10).

[0039] Preferably, the handle 306 further includes a second corresponding section 324. Furthermore, a predetermined space is defined between the first corresponding section 310 and the second corresponding section 324. When the object to be transported 302 is in a first predetermined position P1' and the handle 306 is in the operating position K1' (as shown in Figure 10), the support feature 304 is located within the predetermined space.

[0040] Preferably, the handle 306 further includes an operating section 326 and a functional section 328. The functional section 328 is located adjacent to one end of the operating section 326, and the first corresponding section 310 and the second corresponding section 324 are located in the functional section 328 of the handle 306.

[0041] Therefore, the slide rail assembly according to the embodiment of the present invention has the following technical features.

[0042] 1. The handle 48 is configured to unlock the second rail 40 relative to the first rail 38 at a first predetermined position P1.

[0043] 2. The support features (52, 304) on the slide rail assembly (20, 200, 300) can be used as fulcrums to assist the handle (48, 202, 306) in driving the second rail (40, 204) or the object to be transported (22, 214, 302) to move from the first predetermined position (P1, P1') to the second predetermined position (P2, P2').

[0044] 3. The handle (48, 306) is movably attached to the object being transported (22, 302), or the handle (202) is movably attached to the slide rail.

[0045] It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications and changes to the apparatus and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the present invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as being limited only to the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. The first rail and A second rail is supported by the first rail and is movable in the longitudinal direction of the slide rail assembly relative to the first rail, An operating member movably attached to the second rail, It comprises a handle that is movable relative to the second rail, When the handle is moved from a first operating position to a second operating position in a predetermined direction, the handle is configured to drive the operating member to move the handle relative to the second rail, and to unlock the second rail relative to the first rail at the first predetermined position. The handle has a first guide surface, and the operating member has a second guide surface, and at least one of the first guide surface and the second guide surface is an inclined surface or an arc surface. A slide rail assembly configured such that when the handle is in the first operating position, the first guide surface does not contact the second guide surface, and when the handle is in the second operating position, the first guide surface contacts the second guide surface.

2. Furthermore, it includes a support feature arranged on the first rail, The handle includes a first corresponding section, and during the process in which the handle is moved from the second operating position to the third operating position in the predetermined direction, the handle is configured to continuously contact the support feature portion via the first corresponding section in order to move the second rail from the first predetermined position to the second predetermined position. The slide rail assembly according to claim 1, wherein the handle further includes a second corresponding section, a predetermined space is defined between the second corresponding section and the first corresponding section, and the support feature is located within the predetermined space when the second rail is in the first predetermined position and the handle is in the first operating position.

3. The slide rail assembly according to claim 2, wherein the first rail is arranged with a support frame, and the first rail is attached to the rack via the support frame.

4. The slide rail assembly according to claim 3, wherein the support feature is arranged on the support frame.

5. moreover, A third rail is movably mounted between the first rail and the second rail, The system includes a locking member that is movably positioned on the second rail and configured to lock the second rail relative to the first rail at a predetermined first position, The slide rail assembly according to claim 1, wherein when the handle is moved from the first operating position to the second operating position in the predetermined direction, the handle is configured to drive the operating member to move linearly from the initial position to a non-initial position, thereby the operating member further drives the locking member to move and unlocks the second rail relative to the first rail.

6. The object to be transported and Equipped with a slide rail assembly, The aforementioned slide rail assembly is The first rail and A second rail is supported by the first rail and is movable in the longitudinal direction of the slide rail assembly relative to the first rail, and is configured to support the object to be conveyed, An operating member movably attached to the second rail, Support feature part, Including the second rail or a handle movably attached to the object being transported, During the process of moving the handle from a first operating position to a second operating position, the handle is configured to drive the operating member to move the handle relative to the second rail, and to unlock the second rail relative to the first rail at a first predetermined position. During the process of moving the handle from the second operating position to the third operating position, the handle is configured to continuously contact the support feature in order to move the object to be transported from the first predetermined position to the second predetermined position in the longitudinal direction. The handle has a first guide surface, and the operating member has a second guide surface, and at least one of the first guide surface and the second guide surface is an inclined surface or an arc surface. A slide rail system configured such that when the handle is in the first operating position, the first guide surface does not contact the second guide surface, and when the handle is in the second operating position, the first guide surface contacts the second guide surface.

7. The slide rail system according to claim 6, wherein the first rail is fixedly attached to the rack, and the support feature is arranged on the first rail.

8. moreover, A third rail is movably mounted between the first rail and the second rail, The system includes a locking member that is movably positioned on the second rail and configured to lock the second rail relative to the first rail at a predetermined first position, The slide rail system according to claim 7, wherein when the handle is moved from the first operating position to the second operating position in a predetermined direction, the handle is configured to drive the operating member to move linearly from the initial position to a non-initial position, thereby the operating member further drives the locking member to move and unlocks the second rail relative to the first rail.

9. The slide rail system according to claim 8, wherein the handle is pivotally connected to the object to be transported via a shaft member.

10. The second rail is arranged with an auxiliary member, the auxiliary member including a first portion and a second portion that is bent relative to the first portion. The slide rail system according to claim 8, wherein the first and second portions of the auxiliary member are connected to each other substantially vertically, the first portion is fixedly connected to the second rail, and the handle is pivotally connected to the second portion via a shaft member.

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