Slide Rail Assembly

Abstract

To provide an improved slide rail assembly.SOLUTION: A slide rail assembly 20 is provided, which includes a first rail 22, a second rail 24, a block member 68, an engaging member 40, and an operation member 42. The second rail 24 can displace in a longitudinal direction with respect to the first rail 22. The block member is disposed on the first rail. If the second rail is located at a predetermined position with respect to the first rail, the engaging member is blocked so as to prevent the displacement of the second rail from a predetermined position in a first direction D1. The operation member is configured to move from a first state S1 to a second state to drive the engaging member for preventing the engaging member from being blocked by the block member so that the second rail can displace from the predetermined position in the first direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a slide rail assembly according to the preamble of claim 1 . [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a slide rail assembly including a first rail, a second rail, a block member, and an operating member. The block member is attached to the first rail. The operating member can be in a predetermined state relative to the second rail. The operating member includes a handle portion. When the second rail is in a retracted position relative to the first rail, the handle portion protrudes a predetermined distance from a first end of the first rail. When the operating member is in the predetermined state, the block member blocks the second rail from displacing in a first direction from the retracted position. When the handle portion of the operating member is operated to move the operating member away from the predetermined state, the block member unblocks the operating member to allow the second rail to displace in the first direction from the retracted position. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent No. 10,631,639 [Patent Document 2] U.S. Patent No. 10,098,459

[0004] However, to meet various demands, it is an important task to provide an alternative solution for easily terminating the blocking relationship between different rails. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a slide rail assembly for terminating the blocking relationship between two rails by utilizing an operating member.

[0006] This is achieved by a slide rail assembly according to claim 1. The dependent claims relate to corresponding further developments and improvements.

[0007] As will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description, the slide rail assembly of the present invention includes a first rail, a second rail, a blocking member, an engagement member, and an operating member. The second rail is displaceable relative to the first rail along a longitudinal direction perpendicular to the lateral direction. The second rail has a first end and a second end opposite the first end along the longitudinal direction. The blocking member is disposed on the first rail. The elastic member is configured to provide an elastic force to the engagement member. The operating member is located between the first and second ends of the second rail along the longitudinal direction and adjacent to a side of the second rail. The operating member can be moved to switch between a first state and a second state. When the second rail is positioned at a predetermined position relative to the first rail, the blocking member blocks the engagement member to prevent the second rail from being displaced along the first direction from the predetermined position. The operating member is configured to move from a first state to a second state to drive the engaging member so as to prevent the engaging member from being blocked by the blocking member and allow the second rail to be displaced from the predetermined position along the first direction.

[0008] These and other objects 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 embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] The invention will now be further explained, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a slide rail assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the slide rail assembly according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3]FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an operating device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an operating device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram of a slide rail assembly in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, in which the second rail is prevented from being displaced from its predetermined position. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram of a slide rail assembly in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, in which the second rail is permitted to be displaced from its predetermined position. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram of a slide rail assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention, with the second rail displaced from its predetermined position along a first direction. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram of a slide rail assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and which show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. In this regard, directional terms such as "up," "down," "left," "right," "front," "rear," and the like are used with reference to the orientation of the figures being described. Components of the present invention can be positioned in many different orientations. As such, the directional terms are used for purposes of illustration and not of limitation. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as limiting. Furthermore, unless specified, the term "connected" is intended to mean either an indirect or direct mechanical connection. Thus, when a first device is connected to a second device, the connection may be via a direct mechanical connection or via an indirect mechanical connection via other devices and connections.

[0011] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , in a first embodiment, a slide rail assembly 20 includes a first rail 22, a second rail 24, and an operating device 26. The second rail 24 is displaceable relative to the first rail 22 along a longitudinal direction. In this embodiment, as an example, the longitudinal direction can be defined by the length or displacement direction of the slide rail, e.g., the second rail 24, and is parallel to the X-axis. The lateral direction can be defined by the lateral or width direction of the slide rail and is parallel to the Y-axis. The vertical direction can be defined by the height direction of the slide rail and is parallel to the Z-axis.

[0012] 2, slide rail assembly 20 preferably further includes a third rail 28 movably mounted between first rail 22 and second rail 24. In this embodiment, by way of example, second rail 24 is movably mounted in passage 29 of third rail 28.

[0013] The slide rail assembly 20 preferably further includes a support bracket 30 disposed on the first rail 22 and configured to be attached to a rack 32, e.g., to first post 34a and second post 34b of the rack 32. Further, the support bracket 30 is, e.g., fixedly connected to the first rail 22, and thus the support bracket 30 can be considered part of the first rail 22.

[0014] The operating device 26 includes an auxiliary member 36. In this embodiment, as an example, the auxiliary member 36 is configured to be attached to the second rail 24, and after being attached to the second rail 24, the auxiliary member 36 cannot be moved relative to the second rail 24, so that the auxiliary member 36 can be considered a part of the second rail 24. As shown in FIG. 2 , the auxiliary member 36 is detachably attached to the second rail 24 by at least one connecting member 38. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, in other embodiments, the auxiliary member can be detachably attached to the second rail by an engagement method, an insertion method, a snap method, or the like.

[0015] 3 and 4, the auxiliary member 36 includes a predetermined portion 39 configured to cooperate with the connecting member 38. In this embodiment, the predetermined portion 39 is a hole, for example, a screw hole for passing the connecting member 38 through. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. Furthermore, the operating device 26 further includes an engagement member 40 and an operating member 42. Preferably, the operating device 26 further includes an elastic member 44.

[0016] The elastic member 44 is configured to provide an elastic force F to the engagement member 40. The operating member 42 is configured to operate the engagement member 40.

[0017] Preferably, one of the engagement member 40 and the operating member 42 is movably attached to the auxiliary member 36. In this embodiment, by way of example, both the engagement member 40 and the operating member 42 are movably attached to the auxiliary member 36.

[0018] The auxiliary member 36 preferably includes a first predetermined portion 48 and a second predetermined portion 50 connected to the first predetermined portion 48. In this embodiment, as an example, the first predetermined portion 48 and the second predetermined portion 50 are connected to each other substantially perpendicularly and extend along the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction, respectively. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. In addition, the operating member 42 is pivotally connected to the second predetermined portion 50 by a first shaft member 54, and the engagement member 40 is pivotally connected to the first predetermined portion 48 by a second shaft member 52.

[0019] The engagement member 40 is preferably held in the engaged state K1 in response to an elastic force F provided by the elastic member 44. When the engagement member 40 is in the engaged state K1, the operating member 42 is in the first state S1.

[0020] The engagement member 40 in the engagement state K1 is preferably configured to abut against the operating member 42 to hold the operating member 42 in the first state S1.

[0021] It is preferable that one of the engagement member 40 and the operating member 42 includes at least one guide portion, such as an inclined surface or an arcuate surface. In this embodiment, as an example, the engagement member 40 includes a first guide portion 58a, and the operating member 42 includes a second guide portion 58b corresponding to the first guide portion 58a. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. The engagement member 40 in the engagement state K1 is configured to hold the operating member 42 in the first state S1 by the abutment between the first guide portion 58a and the second guide portion 58b.

[0022] The operating member 42 preferably includes an operating portion 60 and a driving portion 62. The first shaft member 54 is located between the operating portion 60 and the driving portion 62. The second guide portion 58b is disposed in the driving portion 62. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3 , when the operating member 42 is in the first state S1, the operating portion 60 of the operating member 42 extends along the lateral direction and is spaced a predetermined distance M from the second predetermined portion 50 of the auxiliary member 36 along the longitudinal direction.

[0023] The elastic member 44 preferably includes a first elastic portion 64 and a second elastic portion 66. The first elastic portion 64 is abutted by a corresponding portion of the auxiliary member 36. For example, the corresponding portion can be formed on the first predetermined portion 48 of the auxiliary member 36. The second elastic portion 66 is abutted by the engagement member 40.

[0024] 5, the operating member 42 is movably attached to the auxiliary member 36, which is fixedly attached to the second rail 24. Therefore, the operating member 42 can be considered to be movably attached to the second rail 24. Furthermore, the second rail 24 includes a first end 24a and a second end 24b that is opposite the first end 24a along the longitudinal direction. For example, the first end 24a and the second end 24b of the second rail 24 can be the front end and the rear end of the second rail 24, respectively.

[0025] The second rail 24 includes a first side L1 and a second side L2 that is laterally opposite the first side L1. The first side L1 of the second rail 24 is located adjacent to the first rail 22. The operating member 42 is located longitudinally between the first end 24a and the second end 24b of the second rail 24 and adjacent to the second side L2 of the second rail 24.

[0026] The operating member 42 is adjacent to the first end 24a of the second rail 24 rather than the second end 24b of the second rail 24, and the operating member 42 does not protrude from the first end 24a of the second rail 24 along the longitudinal direction.

[0027] It is preferable that the axial direction of the first shaft member 54 is substantially parallel to the height direction of the second rail 24, for example, the Z axis, and that the axial direction of the second shaft member 52 is also substantially parallel to the height direction of the second rail 24.

[0028] Slide rail assembly 20 further includes a block member 68 disposed on first rail 22. In this embodiment, by way of example, block member 68 is disposed on support bracket 30 fixedly connected to first rail 22, and support bracket 30 can be considered to be part of first rail 22, so block member 68 can be considered to be disposed on first rail 22. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

[0029] When the second rail 24 is located at a predetermined position relative to the first rail 22, for example, at the retracted position R, the engagement member 40 in the engaged state K1 is blocked by the block member 68 to prevent the second rail 24 from being displaced from the retracted position R along the first direction D1 or the second direction D2 opposite to the first direction D1. In this embodiment, as an example, the first direction D1 and the second direction D2 may be the open direction and the retracted direction, respectively. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

[0030] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the operating member 42 is configured to drive the engaging member 40 to move relative to the first rail 22 and / or the support bracket 30 so that the engaging member 40 is not blocked by the blocking member 68 to allow the second rail 24 to be displaced from the retracted position R along the first direction D1 or the second direction D2.

[0031] For example, the operating portion 60 of the operating member 42 is operated by overcoming the elastic force F provided by the elastic member 44, and the operating portion 60 is moved toward the second predetermined portion 50 of the auxiliary member 36 to drive the operating member 42 from the first state S1 to the second state S2 along the first pivot direction r1. This causes the drive portion 62 of the operating member 42 to drive the engagement member 40 to move from the engaged state K1 to the disengaged state K2 along the second pivot direction r2. When the engagement member 40 is in the disengaged state K2, the engagement member 40 is not blocked by the first block portion 70 and / or the second block portion 72 of the block member 68, and the second rail 24 can be displaced along the first direction D1 from the retracted position R shown in FIG. 6 to the position shown in FIG. 7. Note that when the engagement member 40 is in the disengaged state K2, the elastic member 44 elastically deforms to provide the elastic force F. In this embodiment, by way of example, the first pivot direction r1 is opposite to the second pivot direction r2, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

[0032] It is preferable that the user can easily hold the second predetermined portion 50 of the auxiliary member 36 and the operating portion 60 of the operating member 42, thereby operating the operating portion 60 of the operating member 42 to move the operating member 42 from the first state S1 to the second state S2.

[0033] On the other hand, when the second rail 24 is displaced along the second direction D2 relative to the first rail 22 to another predetermined position, for example, from the extended position to the retracted position R, the operating portion of the operating member 42 can be released, and the engaging member 40 can be moved from the disengaged state K2 to the engaged state K1 so as to engage with and be blocked by the blocking member 68 in response to the elastic force F provided by the elastic member 44 in order to hold the second rail 24 in the retracted position R relative to the first rail 22, i.e., to prevent the second rail 24 from being displaced from the retracted position R relative to the first rail 22.

[0034] 8, in the second embodiment, the second rail 200 is displaceable relative to the first rail 212 and is configured to support a held object 202. A blocking member 216 is disposed on a support bracket 214 that is fixedly connected to the first rail 212. Unlike the first embodiment, the auxiliary member 204 is configured to be attached to the held object 202.

[0035] In this embodiment, as an example, the auxiliary member 204 includes an extension 205 that is detachably attached to the holding object 202 by being secured by at least one connecting member 206, and the auxiliary member 204 can be immovable relative to the holding object 202 so that the auxiliary member 204 is considered to be part of the holding object 202 after being attached to the holding object 202. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, in another embodiment, the auxiliary member can be detachably attached to the holding object by engaging, inserting, snapping, or other methods. Furthermore, because both the operating member 208 and the engaging member 210 are movably attached to the auxiliary member 204 and the auxiliary member 204 is considered to be part of the holding object 202, the operating member 208 and the engaging member 210 can be considered to be movably attached to the holding object 202.

[0036] Other details of the second embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment, and will not be described here in detail for the sake of brevity.

[0037] In conclusion, the present invention has the following features:

[0038] 1) The operating member 42 or 208 is configured to drive the engaging member 40 or 210 so that the engaging member 40 or 210 is not blocked by the blocking member 68 or 216, so that the second rail 24 or 200 can be displaced along the first direction D1 from a predetermined position, for example, a retracted position R, relative to the first rail 22 or 212.

[0039] 2) When the second rail 24 or 200 is displaced from another predetermined position, such as an extended position, to a predetermined position, such as a retracted position R, along the second direction D2 relative to the first rail 22 or 212, the engaging member 40 or 210 can move from the disengaged state K2 to the engaged state K1 to engage with and be blocked by the blocking member 68 or 216 in response to the elastic force provided by the elastic member 44 in order to hold the second rail 24 or 200 in the predetermined position relative to the first rail 22 or 212, i.e., to prevent the second rail 24 or 200 from being displaced from the predetermined position relative to the first rail 22 or 212.

[0040] 3) When the operating member 42 or 208 is in the first state S1 as shown in FIG. 3, the operating portion 60 of the operating member 42 or 208 is spaced a predetermined distance M along the longitudinal direction from the second predetermined portion 50 of the auxiliary member 36 or 204. With such a configuration, a user can operate the operating portion 60 of the operating member 42 or 208 to move the operating member 42 or 208 from the first state S1 to the second state S2 by simply holding the second predetermined portion 50 of the auxiliary member 36 or 204 and the operating portion 60 of the operating member 42 or 208.

[0041] Those skilled in the art will readily recognize that numerous modifications and variations can be made to the apparatus and method while retaining the teachings of the present invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.

Claims

1. a first rail; a second rail displaceable relative to the first rail along a longitudinal direction perpendicular to the lateral direction, the second rail including a first end and a second end opposite the first end along the longitudinal direction; a block member disposed on the first rail; An engagement member; an operating member located along the longitudinal direction between the first end and the second end of the second rail and adjacent to a side of the second rail, the operating member being switchable between a first state and a second state by movement; 1. A slide rail assembly comprising: When the second rail is positioned at a predetermined position relative to the first rail, the blocking member blocks the engaging member to prevent the second rail from being displaced along a first direction from the predetermined position; the operating member is configured to move from the first state to the second state to drive the engaging member so that the engaging member is not blocked by the blocking member and the second rail can be displaced from the predetermined position along the first direction.

2. 10. The slide rail assembly of claim 1, further comprising a support member configured to be movably attached to one of the second rail and a holding object, the engagement member being movably attached to the support member.

3. 3. The slide rail assembly according to claim 2, wherein the operating member is pivotally connected to the auxiliary member by a first shaft member, the axial direction of the first shaft member being parallel to the height direction of the second rail.

4. 4. The slide rail assembly of claim 3, wherein the engaging member is pivotally connected to the auxiliary member by a second shaft member, the axial direction of the second shaft member being parallel to the height direction of the second rail.

5. 5. The slide rail assembly of claim 4, wherein the auxiliary member includes a first predetermined portion and a second predetermined portion, the first predetermined portion and the second predetermined portion being perpendicularly connected to each other and extending along the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction, respectively; the operating member is pivotally connected to the second predetermined portion of the auxiliary member by the first shaft member; and the engaging member is pivotally connected to the first predetermined portion of the auxiliary member by the second shaft member.

6. 6. The slide rail assembly of claim 5, wherein the operating member includes an operating portion and a drive portion, the first shaft member is located between the operating portion and the drive portion, and the operating portion of the operating member in the first state extends along the lateral direction and is spaced a predetermined distance along the longitudinal direction from a second predetermined portion of the auxiliary member.

7. 7. The slide rail assembly of claim 1, wherein the second rail includes a first side and a second side opposite the first side along the lateral direction, the first rail is located adjacent to the first side of the second rail, and the operating member is located adjacent to the second side of the second rail.

8. 7. The slide rail assembly of claim 1, further comprising a third rail and a support bracket, the third rail movably mounted between the first rail and the second rail, the support bracket being disposed on the first rail and configured to be mounted to a rack, and the block member being disposed on the support bracket.

9. 7. The slide rail assembly of claim 1, further comprising an elastic member configured to provide an elastic force to the engaging member, wherein when the second rail is positioned at the predetermined position relative to the first rail, the blocking member blocks the engaging member to which the elastic force provided by the elastic member is applied to prevent the second rail from being displaced from the predetermined position along the first direction.

10. The slide rail assembly of claim 1 , wherein the operating member does not protrude from the first end of the second rail along the longitudinal direction.

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