Slide Rail Assembly

Abstract

To provide a slide rail assembly that has high reliability when in use.SOLUTION: A slide rail assembly includes a first rail, a second rail, a sliding promotion device, and a holding member. The second rail is movably attached to a passage of the first rail, and can be displaced in a longitudinal direction with respect to the first rail. The sliding promotion device is movably attached between the rails, and includes an engagement part. The holding member is provided on the first rail, and includes an elastic part comprising a predetermined portion. The first rail includes a limiting part for preventing deformation of the elastic part. When the second rail is taken out of the passage after being displaced in an opening direction with respect to the first rail, the sliding promotion device is located at a predetermined position, and the engagement part engages with the predetermined portion.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a slide rail assembly that can be surely used.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a holding structure for a sliding auxiliary member of a drawer track device. The track device includes a first track, a second track, a sliding auxiliary member, and a holding member. The sliding auxiliary member is movably attached between the first track and the second track and has an engagement notch at the front end. The holding member is provided at the opening of the passage of the first track. After the second track is displaced in the opening direction with respect to the first track, when the second track is moved outside the passage of the first track, the elastic hook rod (more specifically, its hook) of the holding member engages with the engagement notch of the sliding auxiliary member to prevent the sliding auxiliary member from sliding arbitrarily with respect to the first track, whereby the second track can be stably reinserted into the passage of the first track or in a supported state.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Although Patent Document 1 discloses the technical features of the holding structure for the sliding auxiliary member, due to different user needs, it is valuable to develop different slide rail products with higher reliability during use.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The present invention provides a reliable slide rail assembly in use.

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, a slide rail assembly includes a first rail, a second rail, and a holding member. The first rail includes a passage. The second rail is movably attached to the passage of the first rail and is displaceable longitudinally with respect to the first rail. A sliding promotion device is movably attached between the first rail and the second rail and includes an engaging portion. The holding member is provided on the first rail and includes an elastic portion. The elastic portion of the holding member includes a predetermined portion. The first rail includes a limiting portion configured to prevent the elastic portion from moving laterally. After the second rail is displaced in the opening direction with respect to the first rail and exits the passage of the first rail, the sliding promotion device is in a predetermined position, and the engaging portion of the sliding promotion device engages with the predetermined portion of the elastic portion of the holding member.

[0007] Preferably, one of the predetermined portion and the limiting portion is a space, and the other of the predetermined portion and the limiting portion is a protrusion configured to extend into the space.

[0008] Preferably, the space is a hole, and the hole is defined by a plurality of hole walls.

[0009] The first rail includes a first wall, a second wall, and a longitudinal wall connected between the first wall and the second wall of the first rail. Preferably, the first wall, the second wall, and the longitudinal wall of the first rail together define a passage. The holding member further includes a main body portion connected to the longitudinal wall of the first rail. The elastic portion has a first end section and a second end section. The first end section of the elastic portion is connected to the main body portion. Preferably, the predetermined portion is provided in the second end section of the elastic portion.

[0010] The second end section of the elastic portion includes a first guide portion and a second guide portion. Preferably, the predetermined portion is provided between the first guide portion and the second guide portion.

[0011] The main body of the holding member preferably has a support section for supporting the elastic section.

[0012] The predetermined portion is preferably substantially larger in size than the engaging portion.

[0013] The second rail includes a release portion, and while the second rail is re-inserted in the retracting direction from outside the passage of the first rail into the passage of the first rail, the elastic portion of the holding member is moved by the release portion of the second rail such that the engaging portion of the sliding promotion device disengages from a predetermined portion of the elastic portion of the holding member and the sliding promotion device is displaced in the retracting direction from a predetermined position.

[0014] The sliding promotion device further includes a first portion, a second portion, and a longitudinal portion connected between the first portion and the second portion, and the first portion, the second portion, and the longitudinal portion preferably correspond to a first wall, a second wall, and a longitudinal wall of the first rail, respectively. The first portion of the sliding promotion device preferably includes a plurality of rolling balls for supporting the first wall of the first rail, and the second portion of the sliding promotion device preferably includes a plurality of rolling balls for supporting the second wall of the first rail.

[0015] The engaging portion of the sliding promotion device is preferably an engaging hook.

[0016] According to another aspect of the present invention, a slide rail assembly includes a first rail, a second rail, a sliding promotion device, and a holding member. The first rail includes a first wall, a second wall, and a longitudinal wall connected between the first wall and the second wall of the first rail. The first wall, the second wall, and the longitudinal wall of the first rail together define a passage. The second rail is movably attached to the passage of the first rail and is displaceable longitudinally with respect to the first rail. The sliding promotion device is movably attached between the first rail and the second rail and includes an engaging portion. The holding member is provided on the longitudinal wall of the first rail and includes an elastic portion. The elastic portion of the holding member includes a space, and the longitudinal wall of the first rail includes a protrusion configured to extend into the space. After the second rail is displaced in the opening direction with respect to the first rail and exits the passage of the first rail, the engaging portion of the sliding promotion device extends into the space of the elastic portion of the holding member to prevent the sliding promotion device from being arbitrarily displaced with respect to the first rail.

[0017] Preferably, the space is a hole defined by a plurality of hole walls.

[0018] The holding member further includes a main body portion connected to the longitudinal wall of the first rail. The elastic portion has a first end section and a second end section. The first end section of the elastic portion is connected to the main body portion. Preferably, the space is provided in the second end section of the elastic portion.

[0019] The second end section of the elastic portion includes a first guide portion and a second guide portion. Preferably, the space is provided between the first guide portion and the second guide portion.

[0020] Preferably, the main body portion of the holding member has a support section for supporting the elastic portion.

[0021] Preferably, the space is substantially larger in size than the engaging portion.

[0022] The second rail includes a release portion, and while the second rail is reinserted in a retracting direction from outside the passage of the first rail into the passage of the first rail, the elastic portion of the holding member causes the engaging portion of the sliding promotion device to move out of the space of the elastic portion of the holding member and the sliding promotion device to be displaced in the retracting direction from a predetermined position by the release portion of the second rail. It is preferable that it is moved.

[0023] The sliding promotion device further includes a first portion, a second portion, and a longitudinal portion connected between the first portion and the second portion, and the first portion, the second portion, and the longitudinal portion preferably correspond to the first wall, the second wall, and the longitudinal wall of the first rail, respectively. The first portion of the sliding promotion device preferably includes a plurality of rolling balls for supporting the first wall of the first rail, and the second portion of the sliding promotion device preferably includes a plurality of rolling balls for supporting the second wall of the first rail.

[0024] The engaging portion of the sliding promotion device is preferably an engaging hook.

[0025] The elastic portion of the holding member includes an extension section adjacent to the space, and the engaging portion of the sliding promotion device preferably corresponds to the extension section when extending into the space of the elastic portion of the holding member.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0026]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 2A

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 4A

Figure 5

Figure 5A

Figure 6

Figure 6A

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 9A

Figure 10

Figure 10A

Figure 11

Figure 11A

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a slide rail assembly 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first rail 22, a second rail 24, a sliding promotion device 26, and a holding member 28, and preferably also includes a third rail 30. The first rail 22 is movably attached between the third rail 30 and the second rail 24, and the first rail 22 serves to increase the distance by which the second rail 24 can be displaced with respect to the third rail 30. In this embodiment, the third rail 30 (for example, an outer rail), the first rail 22 (for example, an intermediate rail), and the second rail 24 (for example, an inner rail) are displaceable longitudinally with respect to each other. Here, the longitudinal direction (or the length direction of the slide rail) is defined by the X-axis in FIG. 1, the lateral direction (or the lateral direction of the slide rail) is defined by the Y-axis, and the vertical direction (or the height direction of the slide rail) is defined by the Z-axis. will be 。

[0028] The first rail 22 includes a passage 32. The first rail 22 preferably includes a first wall 34a, a second wall 34b, and a longitudinal wall 36 connected between the first wall 34a and the second wall 34b of the first rail 22. The first wall 34a, the second wall 34b, and the longitudinal wall 36 of the first rail 22 together define the passage 32. The first rail 22 has a front end 22a and a rear end 22b.

[0029] The second rail 24 is movably mounted within the passage 32 of the first rail 22, and the second rail 24 is longitudinally displaceable relative to the first rail 22. The second rail 24 includes a first wall 38a, a second wall 38b, and a longitudinal wall 40 connected between the first wall 38a and the second wall 38b of the second rail 24. The second rail 24 includes a release portion 37 such as a protrusion, and the release portion 37 includes a first guide structure 39a and a second guide structure 39b. Each of the first guide structure 39a and the second guide structure 39b may be an inclined surface or a curved surface, and the present invention is not limited in this regard. The second rail 24 has a front end 24a and a rear end 24b, and the release portion 37 is adjacent to the rear end 24b of the second rail 24.

[0030] The sliding promotion device 26 is movably attached between the first rail 22 and the second rail 24, and the sliding promotion device 26 includes an engaging portion 42 such as an engaging hook. Preferably, the sliding promotion device 26 further includes a first portion 44a, a second portion 44b, and a longitudinal portion 46 connected between the first portion 44a and the second portion 44b. The first portion 44a, the second portion 44b, and the longitudinal portion 46 respectively correspond to the first wall 34a, the second wall 34b, and the longitudinal wall 36 of the first rail 22. Each of the first portion 44a and the second portion 44b of the sliding promotion device 26 is provided with a plurality of rolling balls 48 (only the rolling balls 48 of the second portion 44b can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 due to the limitation of the viewing angle). The rolling balls 48 of the first portion 44a are used to support the first wall 34a of the first rail 22 and the first wall 38a of the second rail 24, and the rolling balls 48 of the second portion 44b are used to support the second wall 34b of the first rail 22 and the second wall 38b of the second rail 24. The rolling balls 48 help to increase the smoothness with which the second rail 24 and the first rail 22 can be displaced relative to each other.

[0031] The holding member 28 is provided on the longitudinal wall 36 of the first rail 22, and the holding member 28 is adjacent to the front end 22a of the first rail 22. The distance between the release portion 37 and the rear end 24b of the second rail 24 is greater than (or slightly greater than) the distance between the holding member 28 and the front end 22a of the first rail 22. The holding member 28 includes an elastic portion 50 such as an elastic arm (see FIGS. 2, 2A, 3, and 4), although it is not limited thereto. The elastic portion 50 of the holding member 28 includes a predetermined portion 52, and the longitudinal wall 36 of the first rail 22 includes a limiting portion 54.

[0032] One of the predetermined portion 52 and the restricting portion 54 is a space, and the other of the predetermined portion 52 and the restricting portion 54 is a protrusion configured to extend into the space (see FIGS. 3 and 4). Here, as an example, the predetermined portion 52 is a space, and the restricting portion 54 is a protrusion extending into the space. The space is preferably a hole, and the hole is defined by a plurality of hole walls. For example, the elastic portion 50 includes a first hole wall 56a, a second hole wall 56b, a third hole wall 56c, and a fourth hole wall 56d, and the hole walls 56a, 56b, 56c, and 56d together define a contour of a predetermined shape.

[0033] The holding member 28 further includes a main body portion 58 connected (e.g., fixedly connected) to the longitudinal wall 36 of the first rail 22, and the elastic portion 50 preferably has a first end section 60 and a second end section 62. The first end section 60 of the elastic portion 50 is connected to the main body portion 58. The second end section 62 extends from the first end section 60 and can move elastically with respect to the first end section 60. A predetermined portion 52 is provided in the second end section 62 of the elastic portion 50.

[0034] The second end section 62 of the elastic portion 50 includes a first guide portion 64 and a second guide portion 66, and the predetermined portion 52 is preferably provided between the first guide portion 64 and the second guide portion 66. Each of the first guide portion 64 and the second guide portion 66 can be an inclined surface or a curved surface.

[0035] The main body portion 58 of the holding member 28 preferably has a support section 68, and the support section 68 is configured to support the elastic portion 50. Here, as an example, the support section 68 is bent with respect to the main body portion 58 to support the bottom of the elastic portion 50. By supporting the elastic portion 50, the support section 68 contributes to the stability of the movement of the elastic portion 50. The main body portion 58, the elastic portion 50, and the support section 68 may be integrated to form the holding member 28 as a single component (see FIG. 2A).

[0036] Referring to FIG. 4, the engaging portion 42 of the sliding promoting device 26 is located in the longitudinal portion 46 and has a guide section 70 that can be an inclined surface or a curved surface. The elastic portion 50 of the holding member 28 is shown in FIG. 4 as being in the first state S1. In addition, an extension section 72 adjacent to a predetermined portion 52 is provided in the elastic portion 50 of the holding member 28. For example, the extension section 72 extends from the first hole wall 56a toward the second wall 34b of the first rail 22.

[0037] After the second rail 24 reaches a predetermined position after being displaced from the retracted position in the opening direction D1 with respect to the first rail 22, since the first guide structure 39a of the release portion 37 contacts the first guide portion 64, the release portion 37 can easily pass through the elastic portion 50, and the sliding promoting device 26 also moves in the opening direction D1 in response to the displacement of the second rail 24. During this process, the engaging portion 42 (or more specifically, its guide section 70) of the sliding promoting device 26 contacts the first guide portion 64 of the elastic portion 50 of the holding member 28 (see FIGS. 4 and 4A). Since those skilled in the art can easily understand the above movement, no further detailed description will be provided.

[0038] If the second rail 24 is displaced too quickly in the opening direction D1 and the instantaneous force when the engaging portion 42 (or more specifically, its guide section 70) of the sliding promoting device 26 or the release portion 37 (or more specifically, its first guide structure 39a) contacts the second end section 62 (or more specifically, its first guide portion 64) of the elastic portion 50 is too large, it is worth mentioning that the restricting portion 54 can prevent the second end section 62 of the elastic portion 50 from deforming or being distorted in a specific direction or at a specific angle. Since the extension section 72 increases the area of the first hole wall 56a corresponding to the restricting portion 54, the restricting portion 54 can effectively prevent the deformation of the second end section 62 (or more specifically, its first guide portion 64) of the elastic portion 50 due to the force applied to displace the second rail 24. Alternatively, since the restricting portion 54 can block the fourth hole wall 56d, it prevents the second end section 62 of the elastic portion 50 from moving or deforming in the lateral direction T (for example, the Y-axis direction in FIG. 1 or the lateral direction of the first rail 22 shown in FIG. 4).

[0039] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 5A, when the second rail 24 is further displaced in the opening direction D1 with respect to the first rail 22, due to the contact between the engaging portion 42 of the sliding promoting device 26 (or more specifically, its guide section 70) and the first guide section 64 of the elastic section 50 of the holding member 28, a acting force is generated to move the elastic section 50 of the holding member 28 from the first state S1 to the second state S2 in which the elastic section 50 stores elastic force.

[0040] Referring to FIGS. 6, 6A and 7, after the second rail 24 is further displaced in the opening direction D1 with respect to the first rail 22 and then moved outside the passage 32 of the first rail 22 (see FIG. 7), the sliding promoting device 26 is displaced to a predetermined position K adjacent to the front end 22a of the first rail 22, and the engaging portion 42 of the sliding promoting device 26 engages with a predetermined portion 52 of the elastic section 50 of the holding member 28 (see FIGS. 6 and 6A).

[0041] More specifically, when the sliding promoting device 26 reaches the predetermined position K, the engaging portion 42 of the sliding promoting device 26 corresponds to the predetermined portion 52 of the elastic section 50, and the elastic section 50 releases the elastic force it has stored and returns from the second state S2 to the first state S1 (for example, the locked state). The engaging portion 42 of the sliding promoting device 26 extends into the predetermined portion 52 of the elastic section 50 of the holding member 28 and corresponds to the first hole wall 56a, preventing the sliding promoting device 26 from being arbitrarily displaced with respect to the first rail 22. For example, the first hole wall 56a (together with the extension section 72) blocks the engaging portion 42, preventing the sliding promoting device 26 from being displaced in the retracting direction D2 from the predetermined position K with respect to the first rail 22 (see FIG. 6). When the sliding promoting device 26 is at the predetermined position K and the engaging portion 42 is engaged with the predetermined portion 52 of the elastic section 50 of the holding member 28, the engaging portion 42 and the limiting portion 54 are offset from each other in the lateral direction (or horizontally) and do not interfere with each other.

[0042] In FIG. 8, the sliding promotion device 26 is in a predetermined position K, the elastic part 50 of the holding member 28 is in a first state S1 (for example, a locked state), and the engaging part 42 of the sliding promotion device 26 is locked at a predetermined position. When the second rail 24 is re-inserted in the retracting direction D2 into the passage 32 of the first rail 22 from outside the passage 32 of the first rail 22, at the beginning of the insertion process, the first wall 38a and the second wall 38b of the second rail 24 can be respectively supported by the rolling balls 48 of the first part 44a and the second part 44b of the sliding promotion device 26. This is because the distance between the release part 37 and the rear end 24b of the second rail 24 becomes larger (or slightly larger) than the distance between the front end 22a of the first rail 22 and the holding member 28, which enables the second rail 24 to be stably or smoothly inserted in the retracting direction D2 into the passage 32 of the first rail 22.

[0043] Referring to FIGS. 9, 9A, 10, 10A, 11 and 11A, in the process of the second rail 24 being continuously inserted in the retracting direction D2 into the passage 32 of the first rail 22, the release part 37 of the second rail 24 moves the elastic part 50 of the holding member 28, so that the engaging part 42 of the sliding promotion device 26 disengages from a predetermined part 52 of the elastic part 50 of the holding member 28. As a result, the sliding promotion device 26 can be displaced in the retracting direction D2 from the predetermined position K.

[0044] More specifically, while the second rail 24 continues to be inserted in the retracting direction D2 into the passage 32 of the first rail 22, the release portion 37 of the second rail 24 (or more specifically its second guide structure 39b) contacts the elastic portion 50 of the holding member 28 (or more specifically its second guide portion 66), thereby generating a force that moves the elastic portion 50 of the holding member 28 from the first state S1 (e.g., the locked state shown in FIGS. 9 and 9A) to the second state S2 (e.g., the unlocked state shown in FIGS. 10 and 10A). As a result, the engaging portion 42 of the sliding promotion device 26 disengages from a predetermined portion 52 of the elastic portion 50 of the holding member 28, and the elastic portion 50 stores elastic force. When the second rail 24 is further displaced in the retracting direction D2 with respect to the first rail 22, the sliding promotion device 26 moves in the retracting direction D2 from a predetermined position K to correspond to the displacement of the second rail 24, and the elastic portion 50 of the holding member 28 releases the elastic force stored therein and returns from the second state S2 (see FIGS. 10 and 10A) to the first state S1 (see FIGS. 11 and 11A).

[0045] Referring to FIGS. 9 and 9A, it is worth mentioning that the predetermined portion 52 is substantially larger in size than the engaging portion 42. More specifically, the longitudinal dimension (e.g., a hole) of the predetermined portion 52 is substantially larger (or slightly larger) than the longitudinal dimension (e.g., an engaging hook) of the engaging portion 42 such that the engaging portion 42 is received with a predetermined degree of looseness in the predetermined portion 52. Due to the predetermined degree of looseness, in response to inserting the second rail 24 into the passage 32 of the first rail 22 in the retracting direction D2, when the elastic portion 50 of the holding member 28 is moved from the first state S1 to the second state S2 by the release portion 37 (or more specifically its second guide structure 39b) of the second rail 24, the engaging portion 42 of the sliding promotion device 26 can be easily disengaged from the predetermined portion 52 of the elastic portion 50 of the holding member 28. If the engaging portion 42 and the predetermined portion 52 have sizes such that they can engage with each other either tightly or overly tightly so as to be able to easily release the engagement, as a result, the second end section 62 of the engaging portion 42 and the elastic portion 50 may be deformed or damaged.

[0046] From the above, it can be seen that it is preferable that the slide rail assembly 20 according to the above embodiment of the present invention has the following features.

[0047] 1) The restricting portion 54 of the first rail 22 can prevent the elastic portion 50 from deforming due to the force acting on the elastic portion 50, which helps to enhance the reliability in the use of the slide rail assembly 20.

[0048] 2) The size of the predetermined portion 52 is substantially larger than the size of the engaging portion 42.

[0049] 3) In order to make the holding member 28 a single part, the main body portion 58, the elastic portion 50 and the support section 68 can be integrated into one unit.

[0050] Although the present invention has been disclosed by the above preferred embodiments, the embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. The scope of patent protection sought by the applicant is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A first rail including a passageway, A second rail movably attached to the passageway of the first rail, the second rail being displaceable longitudinally relative to the first rail, A sliding promotion device movably attached between the first rail and the second rail, the sliding promotion device including an engaging portion, A holding member provided on the first rail, the holding member including an elastic portion, A slide rail assembly including: The elastic portion of the holding member includes a predetermined portion, the first rail includes a restricting portion configured to prevent the elastic portion from moving laterally, After the second rail is displaced in the opening direction relative to the first rail and exits outside the passageway of the first rail, the sliding promotion device is in a predetermined position, and the engaging portion of the sliding promotion device engages with the predetermined portion of the elastic portion of the holding member, One of the predetermined portion and the restricting portion is a space, the other of the predetermined portion and the restricting portion is a protruding portion configured to extend into the space, and the engaging portion of the sliding promotion device is an engaging hook. A slide rail assembly.

2. The space is a hole defined by a plurality of hole walls. The slide rail assembly according to claim 1.

3. The first rail includes a first wall, a second wall, and a longitudinal wall connected between the first wall and the second wall of the first rail. The first wall, the second wall, and the longitudinal wall of the first rail together define the passageway. The holding member further includes a main body portion connected to the longitudinal wall of the first rail. The elastic portion has a first end section and a second end section. The first end section of the elastic portion is connected to the main body portion, and the predetermined portion is provided in the second end section of the elastic portion. The slide rail assembly according to claim 1.

4. The second end section of the elastic portion includes a first guiding portion and a second guiding portion, and the predetermined portion is provided between the first guiding portion and the second guiding portion. The slide rail assembly according to claim 3.

5. The main body portion of the holding member has a supporting section for supporting the elastic portion. The slide rail assembly according to claim 3.

6. The predetermined portion is substantially larger in size than the engaging portion. The slide rail assembly according to claim 1.

7. The second rail includes a release portion, while the second rail is reinserted in a retracting direction from outside the passage of the first rail into the passage of the first rail, the elastic portion of the holding member is moved by the release portion of the second rail such that the engaging portion of the sliding promotion device disengages from a predetermined portion of the elastic portion of the holding member and the sliding promotion device is displaced in the retracting direction from the predetermined position, the second rail has a front end and a rear end, and the release portion is adjacent to the rear end of the second rail, the first rail has a front end and a rear end, and the holding member is adjacent to the front end of the first rail, The distance between the release portion and the rear end of the second rail is greater than or slightly greater than the distance between the holding member and the front end of the first rail. The slide rail assembly according to claim 1.

8. The sliding promotion device further includes a first portion, a second portion, and a longitudinal portion connected between the first portion and the second portion. The first portion, the second portion, and the longitudinal portion respectively correspond to a first wall, a second wall, and a longitudinal wall of the first rail, The first portion of the sliding promotion device includes a plurality of rolling balls for supporting the first wall of the first rail, and the second portion of the sliding promotion device includes a plurality of rolling balls for supporting the second wall of the first rail. The slide rail assembly according to claim 3.

9. The predetermined portion is the space, the elastic portion of the holding member includes an extension section adjacent to the space, and the engaging portion of the sliding promotion device corresponds to the extension section when extending into the space of the elastic portion of the holding member. The slide rail assembly according to claim 1.

Images