Slide Rail Assembly

Abstract

To provide a slide rail assembly having a slide rail that is structured to be locked at a prescribed position for other slide rails.SOLUTION: A slide rail assembly 20 includes: a first rail 22; a second rail 24; a lock member; a driving member; and an operation member 26. The second rail is relatively movable for the first rail. The lock member is structured to lock the second rail at a prescribed position for the first rail. The driving member is relatively movable for the second rail. In the event where the operation member is moved from the initial position to a non-initial position, the operation member is structured to drive the driving member to move, to further drive the lock member to move, and to relatively unlock the second rail at the prescribed position for the first rail.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to slide rail assemblies, and more particularly to slide rail assemblies having slide rails configured to be locked in position relative to other slide rails. [Background technology]

[0002] US Patent US10,342,341B2 discloses a slide rail assembly including at least a first rail and a second rail movable relative to each other, and when the second rail is in a retracted position relative to the first rail, a locking member is configured to abut against a blocking structure of the first rail to lock the second rail in the retracted position.

[0003] US Patent US10,098,459B2 discloses a slide rail assembly including at least a first rail and a second rail movable relative to each other, and an engagement member configured to engage a stop on a bracket of the first rail when the second rail is in a retracted position relative to the first rail to lock the second rail in the retracted position.

[0004] U.S. Patent Publication US2022 / 0160127A1 discloses a slide rail assembly including at least two rails, where when one rail is in a retracted position relative to the other rail, a locking member is configured to engage a blocking portion of a first rail to lock the two rails in the retracted position. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The rail of the slide rail assembly in the above case is configured to be locked in the retracted position by a locking member (or an engaging member). The locking member (or an engaging member) is configured to be actuated by rotation. However, it is important to develop various products for users for different market demands.

[0006] The present invention provides a slide rail assembly having a slide rail configured to be locked in position relative to other slide rails.

[0007] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a slide rail assembly comprises a first rail; a second rail movable relative to the first rail; a locking member configured to lock the second rail in a predetermined position relative to the first rail; a drive member movable relative to the second rail; and an operating member; and when a force is applied to the operating member to move the operating member from an initial position to a non-initial position, the operating member is configured to drive the drive member to move linearly and further drive and move the locking member to unlock the second rail in a predetermined position relative to the first rail.

[0008] According to another embodiment of the invention, a slide rail assembly includes a first rail; a second rail longitudinally movable relative to the first rail; a connecting member connected to the second rail; a locking member configured to lock the second rail relative to the first rail in a retracted position; and an operating member; the connecting member defines a space configured to accommodate the operating member; and when the operating member is moved from an initial position to a non-initial position, the operating member is configured to drive the locking member to move laterally to switch it from a locked state to an unlocked state, thereby unlocking the second rail relative to the first rail in the retracted position.

[0009] These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments that are illustrated in the various figures and drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1A-1D illustrate a slide rail assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a slide rail assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a partial view of a slide rail assembly including a cover body according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 is a partial view showing a slide rail assembly with a cover body removed at a first viewing angle according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a partial view of a slide rail assembly at a second viewing angle in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 1 is a partial view showing a slide rail assembly with a cover body removed according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a partial view of a slide rail assembly at a second viewing angle in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 illustrates a slide rail assembly in an extended position according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] 1 and 2, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a slide rail assembly 20 includes a first rail 22, a second rail 24, and an operating member 26. Preferably, the slide rail assembly 20 further includes a connecting member 28.

[0012] The second rail 24 is movable in the longitudinal direction relative to the first rail 22, and is at a predetermined position R (such as a retreated position, but the present invention is not limited to this). In this embodiment, the X-axis is the longitudinal direction (or the length 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).

[0013] Preferably, slide rail assembly 20 further includes a third rail 30 and a fourth rail 31, which are movably mounted between first rail 22 and second rail 24. Third rail 30 and fourth rail 31 are configured to extend the travel distance of second rail 24 relative to first rail 22.

[0014] Preferably, the first rail 22 has a front portion 22a. The fourth rail 31 has a rear portion 31b. The first rail 22 includes at least one blocking feature 32. In this embodiment, the first rail 22 is composed of two blocking features 32 as shown in FIG. 2, but one blocking feature 32 is sufficient to operate normally. Furthermore, the blocking feature 32 is disposed adjacent to the front portion 22a of the first rail 22. In this embodiment, the blocking feature 32 is an inner wall of the opening H, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Or in other embodiments, the blocking feature 32 may be an inner wall of a recess or a groove, or the blocking feature 32 may be a protrusion. The present invention is not limited thereto.

[0015] The connecting member 28 is connected, e.g., fixedly connected, to the second rail 24. The connecting member 28 can be seen as part of the second rail 24. The second rail 24 has a front portion 24a and a rear portion 24b. In this embodiment, the connecting member 28 is disposed adjacent to the front portion 24a of the second rail 24.

[0016] 3 and 4, the connecting member 28 includes a cover body 34 (shown in FIG. 3). After removing the cover body 34, it can be seen that the slide rail assembly 20 further includes at least one locking member 36 and a driving member 38 (shown in FIG. 4). In this embodiment, the slide rail assembly 20 includes two locking members 36 as shown in FIG. 4, but one locking member 36 is sufficient for normal operation. The locking member 36 is configured to interact with the blocking feature 32.

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the connection member 28 is formed with a space S configured to accommodate the operation member 26, the lock member 36, and the drive member 38.

[0018] Preferably, the connecting member 28 is formed with a through hole 40 corresponding to the locking member 36, and the through hole 40 communicates with the space S. When the second rail 24 is in a predetermined position R relative to the first rail 22, the through hole 40 corresponds to the opening H of the first rail 22, and the locking member 36 can extend into the opening H of the first rail 22 through the through hole 40 (shown in FIG. 5). When the second rail 24 is in a predetermined position R relative to the first rail 22, the locking member 36 is configured to lock the second rail 24 at the predetermined position R relative to the first rail 22. More specifically, the locking section 41 of the locking member 36 in the locked state J1 is configured to interact with the blocking feature 32 of the first rail 22 to lock the second rail 24 (shown in FIG. 5). For example, the locking section 41 of the locking member 36 and the blocking feature 32 of the first rail 22 are configured to block each other to lock the second rail 24 at the predetermined position R relative to the first rail 22.

[0019] Preferably, the slide rail assembly 20 further includes a first elastic member 42 (shown in FIG. 5), and the operating member 26 is configured to be held at the initial position K1 in response to the elastic force of the first elastic member 42. In this embodiment, the first elastic member 42 is a torsion spring, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Furthermore, the first elastic member 42 includes a first elastic portion 44a, a second elastic portion 44b, and a mounting portion 46 connected between the first elastic portion 44a and the second elastic portion 44b. The mounting portion 46 is attached to a corresponding feature portion 48 (such as a protrusion, but the present invention is not limited thereto) of the connecting member 28. The first elastic portion 44a is configured to abut against a predetermined portion 49 of the first rail 22 (shown in FIG. 5), and the second elastic portion 44b is configured to provide an appropriate elastic force to the operating member 26, whereby the operating member 26 can be held at the initial position K1.

[0020] Preferably, the slide rail assembly 20 further includes a second elastic member 50 (shown in FIG. 4), and the drive member 38 is configured to be held in the first drive position M1 in response to the elastic force of the second elastic member 50. In this embodiment, the second elastic member 50 is a compression spring, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0021] Preferably, the slide rail assembly 20 further includes a third elastic member 52 configured to apply an elastic force to the locking member 36 (shown in FIG. 4), and the locking member 36 is configured to be held in the locked state J1 in response to the elastic force of the third elastic member 52 (shown in FIGS. 4 and 5). Note that in this embodiment, the third elastic member 52 is a wire spring made of a specific material (such as a metal material), but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0022] Preferably, the locking member 36 includes a first wing portion 54a, a second wing portion 54b, and a body portion 56 connected between the first wing portion 54a and the second wing portion 54b (shown in FIG. 4). The body portion 56 corresponds to the through hole 40 of the connecting member 28. The first wing portion 54a and the second wing portion 54b are bent at a predetermined angle relative to the body portion 56. When the locking member 36 is held in the locked state J1 by the elastic force of the third elastic member 52, the first wing portion 54a and the second wing portion 54b are configured to abut against the outer peripheral wall surrounding the through hole 40 (shown in FIG. 4).

[0023] Preferably, the body portion 56 of the locking member 36 has a first side and a second side opposite each other. The third elastic member 52 is configured to apply an elastic force to the first side of the body portion 56 of the locking member 36 (shown in FIG. 4). When the second rail 24 is in a predetermined position R relative to the first rail 22, the second side of the body portion 56 of the locking member 36 corresponds to the opening H of the first rail 22 (shown in FIG. 5). The body portion 56 of the locking member 36 also includes a locking section 41 (shown in FIG. 5).

[0024] As shown in Figures 4 to 7, when a user applies a force F to the operating member 26 to move the operating member 26 from the initial position K1 (shown in Figures 4 and 5) to the non-initial position K2 (shown in Figures 6 and 7), the operating member 26 is configured to drive the drive member 38 to move it linearly and further drive and move the locking member 36 to unlock the second rail 24 relative to the first rail 22 at the predetermined position R, thereby allowing the second rail 24 to move away from the predetermined position R relative to the first rail 22 in the first direction D1.

[0025] Furthermore, when a force F is applied to the operating member 26 to move the operating member 26 from the initial position K1 to the non-initial position K2, the operating member 26 is configured to drive the drive member 38 to move (e.g., move linearly) relative to the second rail 24 from the first drive position M1 (shown in FIG. 4 ) to the second drive position M2 (shown in FIG. 6 ). In this manner, the drive member 38 is configured to drive the locking member 36 to switch from the locked state J1 (shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 ) to the unlocked state J2 (shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 ). In this manner, the locking section 41 of the locking member 36 and the blocking feature 32 of the first rail 22 no longer block each other (shown in FIG. 7 ) to unlock the second rail 24 relative to the first rail 22 at the predetermined position R.

[0026] Preferably, one of the operating member 26 and the driving member 38 has a first structure 58, and the other of the operating member 26 and the driving member 38 has a second structure 60 (shown in FIG. 4). The first structure 58 and the second structure 60 may be a combination of two inclined surfaces, or a combination of an inclined surface and a curved surface, or a combination of a curved surface and an inclined surface, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0027] Preferably, one of the drive member 38 and the lock member 36 has a first predetermined feature 62 and the other of the drive member 38 and the lock member 36 has a second predetermined feature 64 (shown in FIG. 4). The first predetermined feature 62 and the second predetermined feature 64 may be a combination of two inclined surfaces, or a combination of an inclined surface and a curved surface, or a combination of a curved surface and an inclined surface, although the invention is not limited thereto.

[0028] When a force F is applied to the operating member 26 to move the operating member 26 from the initial position K1 (shown in FIGS. 4 and 5) to the non-initial position K2 (shown in FIGS. 6 and 7), the operating member 26 is configured to drive the drive member 38 to move linearly in a first predetermined direction A1 from a first drive position M1 (shown in FIG. 4) to a second drive position M2 (shown in FIG. 6) due to contact between the first structure 58 and the second structure 60. The drive member 38 is also configured to further drive the locking member 36 to move laterally (e.g., laterally displace or shift) in a second predetermined direction A2 (shown in FIG. 4) to switch the locking member 36 from a locked state J1 (shown in FIGS. 4 and 5) to an unlocked state J2 (shown in FIGS. 6 and 7) due to contact between the first predetermined feature 62 and the second predetermined feature 64. In this manner, the locking section 41 of the body portion 56 of the locking member 36 and the blocking feature 32 of the first rail 22 are no longer blocking each other (as shown in FIG. 7, the locking section 41 of the locking member 36 and the blocking feature 32 of the first rail 22 are no longer aligned) to unlock the second rail 24 relative to the first rail 22 at the predetermined position R, thereby allowing the second rail 24 to move longitudinally relative to the first rail 22 from the predetermined position R in the first direction D1.

[0029] Preferably, the direction of linear movement of the drive member 38 is substantially the same as the direction of movement of the second rail 24 relative to the first rail 22. For example, the direction of linear movement of the drive member 38 and the direction of movement of the second rail 24 are the same as the longitudinal direction.

[0030] Preferably, when the operating member 26 is in the initial position K1 in response to the elastic force of the first elastic member 42, the operating portion 26a of the operating member 26 extends out of the space S of the connecting member 28 (as shown in FIG. 4). Therefore, the user can know that the second rail 24 is locked at the predetermined position R. In other words, the user can know that a force F needs to be applied to the operating portion 26a of the operating member 26 in order to unlock the second rail 24 at the predetermined position R.

[0031] Preferably, when the operating member 26 is in the non-initial position K2, the operating portion 26a of the operating member 26 is located within the space S of the connecting member 28 (as shown in FIG. 6). Therefore, the user can know that the second rail 24 is unlocked at the predetermined position R.

[0032] Preferably, the direction of movement of the operating member 26 is substantially perpendicular to the direction of linear movement of the drive member 38 (shown in FIG. 4 ). For example, the direction of movement of the operating member 26 is the vertical direction (or the height direction of the slide rail), and the direction of linear movement of the drive member 38 is the longitudinal direction (or the length direction of the slide rail).

[0033] Preferably, the movement direction of the operating member 26, the movement direction of the driving member 38, and the movement direction of the locking member 36 are substantially perpendicular to each other (as shown in FIG. 4). For example, the movement direction of the operating member 26 is the vertical direction (or the height direction of the slide rail), the linear movement direction of the driving member 38 is the longitudinal direction (or the length direction of the slide rail), and the movement direction of the locking member 36 is the horizontal direction (or the lateral direction of the slide rail).

[0034] Preferably, one of the connecting member 28 and the drive member 38 includes a first limiting feature 66 and the other of the connecting member 28 and the drive member 38 includes a second limiting feature 68 (shown in FIG. 4). The drive member 38 is configured to move relative to the connecting member 28 within a limited range by interaction of the first limiting feature 66 and the second limiting feature 68. In this embodiment, one of the first limiting feature 66 and the second limiting feature 68 is a protruding post and the other of the first limiting feature 66 and the second limiting feature 68 is a slot. The protruding post passes through a portion of the slot.

[0035] Preferably, the connecting member 28 further includes at least one guide feature, such as a first guide feature 70a and a second guide feature 70b, and a portion of the drive member 38 is configured to be supported between the first guide feature 70a and the second guide feature 70b (as shown in FIG. 4) to improve stability of the drive member 38 as it moves along a linear (or longitudinal) path. Note that in this embodiment, the first guide feature 70a and the second guide feature 70b are protrusions, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0036] As shown in Figures 7 and 8, when the locking member 36 (shown in Figure 7) is disengaged from the blocking feature 32 of the first rail 22, the second rail 24 can move longitudinally away from the predetermined position R in a first direction D1 relative to the first rail 22 so that the second rail 24 can be in another predetermined position E (such as the extended position shown in Figure 8).

[0037] Furthermore, when the second rail 24 is at the predetermined position E and the user stops applying the force F to the operating member 26, the first elastic portion 44a of the first elastic member 42 does not abut against the predetermined portion 49 of the first rail 22, and as a result, the second elastic portion 44b of the first elastic member 42 does not apply an elastic force to the operating member 26, so that the operating member 26 remains in the non-initial position K2. Furthermore, when the second rail 24 is moved in the longitudinal direction from the predetermined position E in the second direction D2 opposite to the first direction D1 to return to the predetermined position R, the first elastic portion 44a of the first elastic member 42 abuts against the predetermined portion 49 of the first rail 22 again, and as a result, the second elastic portion 44b of the first elastic member 42 is configured to apply an elastic force to the operating member 26 again, driving the operating member 26 to return from the non-initial position K2 to the initial position K1 (as shown in FIG. 5).

[0038] Therefore, the slide rail assembly 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention has the following technical features.

[0039] 1. Unlike the locking member (or engagement member) of the background art which unlocks the second rail by rotation, the locking member 36 of the present invention is configured to unlock the second rail 24 in place without rotation. Thus, in contrast to the background art, the locking member 36 of the present invention has a larger range of movement, particularly a larger range of lateral movement, and therefore the present invention is better suited to apply to slide rail assemblies having different thicknesses (e.g., lateral thicknesses).

[0040] 2. Because the locking member 36 is not configured to be actuated by rotation, the impact resistant structural strength of the locking member 36 is superior to that of the background art which locks the second rail to the first rail by rotation.

[0041] 3. When the second rail 24 is in a predetermined position R relative to the first rail 22 and the operating member 26 is in the initial position K1 in response to the elastic force of the first elastic member 42, the operating portion 26a of the operating member 26 expands outward from the space S of the connecting member 28 (as shown in FIG. 4). Therefore, the user can know that the second rail 24 is locked in the predetermined position R.

[0042] Those skilled in the art will readily recognize that numerous modifications and variations of the apparatus and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the present invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the above disclosure be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A first rail; a second rail that is movable relative to the first rail; a locking member configured to lock the second rail in position relative to the first rail; A drive member that is movable relative to the second rail; An operating member, when a force is applied to the operating member to move the operating member from an initial position to a non-initial position, the operating member drives the drive member to move linearly and further drives the locking member to move, thereby unlocking the second rail relative to the first rail at the predetermined position; The present invention further includes a connecting member connected to the second rail, the connecting member having a space configured to accommodate the operating member, A slide rail assembly, wherein when the operating member is in the initial position, an operating portion of the operating member extends outward from the space of the connecting member, and when the operating member is in the non-initial position, the operating portion of the operating member is located within the space of the connecting member.

2. 2. The slide rail assembly of claim 1, wherein the direction of linear movement of said drive member is the same as the direction of movement of said second rail relative to said first rail.

3. The slide rail assembly of claim 1 , wherein the space in the connecting member is further configured to accommodate the drive member and the locking member.

4. 3. The slide rail assembly according to claim 2, wherein the direction of movement of said operating member is perpendicular to the direction of said linear movement of said drive member.

5. the locking mechanism further includes a first elastic member, a second elastic member, and a third elastic member, and when the second rail is locked with respect to the first rail at the predetermined position, the operating member is configured to be held in the initial position in response to an elastic force of the first elastic member; The drive member is configured to be held in a first drive position in response to an elastic force of the second elastic member, 2. The slide rail assembly of claim 1, wherein when a force is applied to the operating member to move the operating member from the initial position to the non-initial position, the operating member drives the drive member to move linearly from the first drive position to the second drive position, and further drives the locking member to switch from a locked state to an unlocked state, thereby unlocking the second rail relative to the first rail at the predetermined position, and the third elastic member is configured to apply an elastic force to the locking member.

6. A first rail; a second rail that is longitudinally movable relative to the first rail; a connecting member connected to the second rail; a locking member configured to lock the second rail relative to the first rail in a retracted position; An operating member, The connection member is formed with a space configured to accommodate the operation member, a sliding rail assembly configured such that when the operating member is moved from an initial position to a non-initial position, the operating member drives the locking member to move laterally, switching it from a locked state to an unlocked state, and unlocking the second rail relative to the first rail at the retracted position.

7. Further, a drive member is provided which is movable relative to the second rail, the operating member is configured to drive the locking member to move laterally by linear movement of the driving member, thereby switching from the locked state to the unlocked state, 7. The slide rail assembly of claim 6, wherein the linear movement direction of the drive member is the same as the movement direction of the second rail relative to the first rail, and the movement directions of the operating member, the drive member and the locking member are perpendicular to each other.

8. When the operating member is in the initial position, an operating portion of the operating member extends outward from the space of the connecting member, and when the operating member is in the non-initial position, the operating portion of the operating member is located within the space of the connecting member; The slide rail assembly of claim 7 , wherein the space in the connecting member is further configured to accommodate the drive member and the locking member.

9. The operating member may further include a first elastic member, a second elastic member, and a third elastic member, and the operating member may be configured to be held at the initial position in response to an elastic force of the first elastic member, The drive member is configured to be held in a first drive position in response to an elastic force of the second elastic member, 9. The slide rail assembly of claim 8, wherein when a force is applied to the operating member to move the operating member from the initial position to the non-initial position, the operating member drives the drive member to move linearly from the first drive position to the second drive position, and further drives the locking member to switch from the locked state to the unlocked state, thereby unlocking the second rail relative to the first rail at a predetermined position, and the third elastic member is configured to apply an elastic force to the locking member.

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