Slide rail assembly and slide rail kit

Abstract

To provide a slide rail assembly that improves the convenience of operation for a single user.SOLUTION: A slide rail assembly includes a first rail, a second rail, an actuating mechanism, an engaging member, and an operating member. The second rail is movable relative to the first rail. The actuating mechanism and the engaging member are disposed on the second rail. When the second rail is moved to a predetermined position along a predetermined direction relative to the first rail, the actuating mechanism in a first state is configured to be blocked by a block portion of the first rail. When the operating member is moved from a first operating position to a second operating position, the actuating mechanism is driven to switch to a second state in which it is no longer blocked by the block portion. When the operating member is located in the second operating position, the operating member engages with the engaging member to be held in the second operating position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a slide rail assembly, and more particularly to a slide rail assembly having a slide rail configured to be held in a predetermined operating position after an operating member is operated. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a bidirectional retention device for a slide rail assembly, including a retention mechanism and a stop member attached to a first slide track and a second slide track, respectively. The retention mechanism includes at least two retention arms and an elastic member that abut against each other. Each retention arm includes a corresponding inclined surface and an engaging portion. The stop member includes a stop portion. When the first slide track is pulled forward and moved to a predetermined position, the stop portion of the stop member of the second slide track passes through the inclined surface of one of the retention arms of the first slide track and engages between the engaging portions of the two retention arms for bidirectional positioning. A user can disengage the stops from the two retention arms and release the bidirectional positioning by operating a link rod and moving it to a predetermined operating position.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses technical features related to two-way positioning of two slide rails. However, it is important to develop various products according to the demands of different markets. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent No. 6,935,710 [Patent Document 2] U.S. Patent No. 1,164,1939 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The present invention provides a slide rail assembly having an operating member, a rack system having an operating member, and a slide rail kit.

[0006] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a slide rail assembly includes a first rail, a second rail, a third rail, an actuating mechanism, an engagement member, and an operating member. The first rail includes a block portion. The first rail includes a block portion. The second rail is longitudinally movable relative to the first rail. The actuating mechanism and the engagement member are disposed on the second rail. The operating member is disposed on the second rail and configured to drive the actuating mechanism. The first rail is movably mounted between the third rail and the second rail, and the first rail is configured to extend the travel distance of the second rail relative to the third rail. When the second rail is moved to a predetermined position along a first predetermined direction relative to the first rail, the actuating mechanism in the first state is configured to be blocked by the block portion. The actuating mechanism includes a pair of actuating members pivotally connected to the second rail, and the pair of actuating members are configured to be held in the first state in response to the elastic force of at least one elastic portion. When the operating member is moved from the first operating position to the second operating position, the actuating mechanism is driven by the operating member to switch to a second state in which it is no longer blocked by the blocking portion, so that the second rail can be moved from a predetermined position relative to the first rail along a first predetermined direction to be disengaged from the first rail, or moved along a second predetermined direction opposite to the first predetermined direction to be retracted relative to the first rail. When the operating member is located in the second operating position, the operating member engages with the engaging member to be held in the second operating position.

[0007] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a rack system includes a rack, a held object, and a plurality of slide rail assemblies disposed on one side of the held object and configured to mount the held object to the rack. Each of the plurality of slide rail assemblies includes a first rail, an actuating mechanism, an engaging member, and an operating member. The first rail includes a block portion. The second rail is movable relative to the first rail and configured to hold the held object. The third rail is configured to be mounted to the rack. The actuating mechanism and the engaging member are disposed on the second rail, and the engaging member includes an engaging portion. The operating member is disposed on the second rail and configured to drive the actuating mechanism, and the operating member includes an auxiliary portion. The first rail is movably mounted between the third rail and the second rail, and the first rail is configured to extend the travel distance of the second rail relative to the third rail. The actuating mechanism includes a pair of actuating members pivotally connected to the second rail, and the pair of actuating members are configured to be held in a first state in response to elastic force of at least one elastic portion. When the operating member is in the first operating position, the actuating mechanism is in a first state and corresponds to the blocking portion of the first rail, and when the operating member is in the second operating position, the actuating mechanism is in a second state and does not correspond to the blocking portion of the first rail. When the second rail is moved to an extended position along an opening direction relative to the first rail and the operating member is in the first operating position, the actuating mechanism and the blocking portion are configured to block each other. When the operating member is in the second operating position, the actuating member and the blocking portion no longer block each other so that the second rail can be moved from a predetermined position relative to the first rail along the first predetermined direction to be disengaged from the first rail or moved along a second predetermined direction opposite the first predetermined direction to be retracted relative to the first rail, and the auxiliary portion of the operating member is configured to engage with the engaging portion of the engaging member to hold the operating member in the second operating position.

[0008] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a slide rail kit includes a slide rail, an actuating mechanism, an engagement member, and an operating member. The actuating mechanism and the engagement member are disposed on the slide rail. When the operating member is moved from a first operating position to a second operating position, the actuating mechanism is driven by the operating member to switch from a first state to a second state. When the actuating member is located in the second operating position, the operating member engages with the engagement member to be held in the second operating position to hold the actuating mechanism in the second state.

[0009] These and other objects of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those skilled 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]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates a plurality of slide rail assemblies configured to mount a supported object to a rack according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 illustrates a first embodiment of the present invention, in which the second rail of the slide rail assembly is moved into position relative to the first rail along a first predetermined direction. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 illustrates the second rail of the slide rail assembly in position relative to the first rail in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 illustrates a first embodiment of the present invention in which the second rail of the slide rail assembly is moved relative to the first rail along a second predetermined direction. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 illustrates the second rail of the slide rail assembly according to the first embodiment of the present invention being further moved along a second predetermined direction relative to the first rail. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 illustrates an operating member of a second rail of a slide rail assembly in a first operating position according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7]FIG. 7 illustrates an operating member of a second rail of a slide rail assembly in a second operating position according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 illustrates an operating member of a second rail of a slide rail assembly in a first operating position according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 illustrates an operating member of a second rail of a slide rail assembly in a second operating position according to a third embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] As shown in FIG. 1 , a plurality of slide rail assemblies 20 according to a first embodiment of the present invention are configured to mount a support object 22 to a rack 24. Each slide rail assembly 20 has substantially the same structural configuration. For example, slide rail assembly 20 includes a first rail 26, a second rail 28, and a third rail 30. The first rail 26 is movably mounted between the third rail 30 and the second rail 28, and the first rail 26 is configured to extend the travel distance of the second rail 28 relative to the third rail 30. The third rail (e.g., outer rail), the first rail (e.g., middle rail), and the second rail 28 (e.g., inner rail) are longitudinally movable relative to one another. In FIG. 1 , 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).

[0012] Additionally, third rail 30 is configured to be fixedly attached to rack 24, and second rail 28 is configured to hold held object 22. Second rail 28 of each slide rail assembly 20 is movable relative to first rail 26 along a first predetermined direction D1 (e.g., an open direction) to a predetermined position P (e.g., an extended position) such that at least a portion of held object 22 is positioned outside rack 24.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 2 , the first rail 26 includes a block portion 32. The block portion 32 is disposed directly or indirectly on the first rail 26. In this embodiment, the block portion 32 is a protrusion, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. The block portion 32 is preferably disposed adjacent to the end 26 a (e.g., the front end) of the first rail 26, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. The slide rail assembly 20 includes an actuating mechanism 34, an engaging member 36, and an operating member 38. The actuating mechanism 34, the engaging member 36, and the operating member 38 are disposed on the second rail 28. The operating member 38 is configured to drive and move the actuating mechanism 34. In this embodiment, the operating member 38 is operably connected to the actuating mechanism 34 and the engaging member 36. The second rail 28, the actuating mechanism 34, the engaging member 36, and the operating member 38 together form a slide rail kit.

[0014] When the second rail 28 is located at a predetermined position P relative to the first rail 26 and the operating member 38 is located at a first operating position K1, the actuating mechanism 34 in the first state S1 is configured to be blocked by the block portion 32 of the first rail 26 to prevent the second rail 28 from moving from the predetermined position P relative to the first rail 26 along a first predetermined direction D1 and / or a second predetermined direction D2 opposite to the first predetermined direction D1 (e.g., a retraction direction).

[0015] The actuating mechanism 34 preferably includes a pair of actuating members, such as a first actuating member 40 and a second actuating member 42, pivotally connected to the second rail 28 via a first shaft 44 and a second shaft 46, respectively.

[0016] The slide rail assembly 20 preferably further includes at least one elastic portion, such as a first elastic portion 48 or a second elastic portion 50, integrated into the base 52. The base 52 is disposed on (e.g., fixed to) the second rail 28. Furthermore, the first actuating member 40 and the second actuating member 42 are configured to be held in a first state S1 in response to the elastic forces of the first elastic portion 48 and the second elastic portion 50, respectively, and the first actuating member 40 and the second actuating member 42 are blocked by both ends (first end 32a and second end 32b, such as the rear end and front end of the block portion 32) of the first rail 26, respectively, to prevent the second rail 28 from moving along a first predetermined direction D1 or a second predetermined direction D2 from a predetermined position P.

[0017] 2 and 3, when the operating member 38 is in the first operating position K1 (shown in FIG. 2), the actuating mechanism 34 is in the first state S1 and corresponds to the block portion 32 of the first rail 26. When the operating member 38 is in the second operating position K2 (shown in FIG. 3), the actuating mechanism 34 is in the second state S2 and does not correspond to the block portion 32 of the first rail 26.

[0018] Furthermore, when a user applies force F to move the operating member 38 from the first operating position K1 (shown in FIG. 2 ) to the second operating position K2 (shown in FIG. 3 ), the operating mechanism 34 is driven by the operating member 38 to switch (e.g., rotate) from the first state S1 (shown in FIG. 2 ) to the second state S2 (shown in FIG. 3 ). The operating mechanism 34 is no longer blocked by the blocking portion 32 of the first rail 26, and the second rail 28 can be moved from the predetermined position P along the first predetermined direction D1 or the second predetermined direction D2. For example, the second rail 28 can be moved from the predetermined position P along the first predetermined direction D1 to remove it from the passage 53 of the first rail 26, or can be moved from the predetermined position P along the second predetermined direction D2 to retract the second rail 28 relative to the first rail 26. Furthermore, the first elastic portion 48 and the second elastic portion 50 are in a state in which they store elastic force in FIG. 3 .

[0019] In particular, when the operating member 38 is located in the second operating position K2, the operating member 38 engages with the engaging member 36, and the operating member 38 is held in the second operating position K2 even if the force F is no longer applied to the operating member 38. Therefore, the actuating mechanism 34 is held in the second state S2. That is, the actuating mechanism 34 is held in a state where it is no longer blocked by the block portion 32 of the first rail 26 (shown in FIG. 3), which improves the user's operational convenience.

[0020] Furthermore, by using a technique for mutually engaging (positioning) the operating member 38 and the engaging member 36, in the above-described environment of multiple slide rail assemblies 20 holding together the held object 22, the operating member 38 of each slide rail assembly 20 can be held in the second operating position K2 even if the user stops applying force F to the operating member 38 (i.e., the user does not need to continuously apply force F to the operating member 38). Therefore, the actuating mechanism 34 on the second rail 28 of each slide rail assembly 20 is held in a state where it is no longer blocked by the block portion 32 of the first rail 26. Therefore, the user can move the second rail 28 of each slide rail assembly 20 from the predetermined position P along the first predetermined direction D1 to directly remove the second rail 28 from the passage 53 of the first rail 26 (i.e., to directly remove the held object 22 from the rack 24), or the user can move the second rail 28 of each slide rail assembly 20 from the predetermined position P along the second predetermined direction D2 to retract the second rail 28 relative to the first rail 26, thereby improving user convenience.

[0021] The slide rail assembly 20 preferably further includes a return elastic member 54 configured to provide an elastic force to the operating member 38. When the operating member 38 is located in the second operating position K2, the return elastic member 54 is in a state in which it accumulates a return elastic force J (as shown in FIG. 3).

[0022] Preferably, the engaging member 36 includes an engaging portion 56, and the operating member 38 has an auxiliary portion 58. The engaging portion 56 is a hole defined by a plurality of walls W, and the auxiliary portion 58 can be a hook or a hook-like object, but the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. When the operating member 38 is located in the second operating position K2, the auxiliary portion 58 of the operating member 38 engages with the engaging portion 56 of the engaging member 36, holding the operating member 38 in the second operating position K2 (shown in FIG. 3 ).

[0023] Preferably, one of the engagement member 36 and the operating member 38 has a guide portion. In this embodiment, the engagement member 36 and the operating member 38 include a first guide portion 60 and a second guide portion 62, respectively, and each of the first guide portion 60 and the second guide portion 62 has an inclined surface or an arcuate surface. Furthermore, during the process of moving the operating member 38 from the first operating position K1 to the second operating position K2, the operating member 38 comes into contact with the first guide portion 60 of the engagement member 36 via the second guide portion 62, which is configured to guide the auxiliary portion 58 of the operating member 38 to engage with the engagement portion 56 of the engagement member 36.

[0024] The engagement member 36 preferably further includes a resilient arm 64, which has an engagement portion 56. During the process of moving the operating member 38 from the first operating position K1 to the second operating position K2, the operating member 38 contacts the first guide portion 60 of the engagement member 36 via the second guide portion 62, driving the resilient arm to deflect along the height direction U (the downward height direction U shown in FIG. 2), causing the resilient arm 64 to accumulate elastic force. When the auxiliary portion 58 corresponds to the engagement portion 56 of the engagement member 36, the resilient arm 64 releases the elastic force, causing the auxiliary portion 58 to engage with the engagement portion 56 of the engagement member 36 (as shown in FIG. 3).

[0025] The engaging member 36 is preferably elastic. Furthermore, the engaging member 36 further includes a connecting portion 66 fixed to the second rail 28, and the elastic arm 64 extends longitudinally from the connecting portion 66 by a predetermined length.

[0026] The second rail 28 includes a first wall 25 a, a second wall 25 b, and a longitudinal wall 27 connected between the first wall 25 a and the second wall 25 b of the second rail 28. When the actuating mechanism 34 is in the first state S1, the actuating mechanism 34 is adjacent to the first wall 25 a of the second rail 28 (as shown in FIG. 2). When the actuating mechanism 34 is in the second state S2, the actuating mechanism 34 is spaced apart from the first wall 25 a of the second rail 28 (as shown in FIG. 3).

[0027] As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, the engagement member 36 further includes a disengagement portion 68 that corresponds to the block portion 32 of the first rail 26. The disengagement portion 68 has an inclined or arcuate surface. The elastic arm 64 preferably includes the disengagement portion 68. When the second rail 28 is moved from a predetermined position P along the second predetermined direction D2 relative to the first rail 26 (as shown in FIG. 3), the elastic arm 64 of the engagement member 36 is configured to be deflected by a predetermined angle along the height direction U (e.g., deflected downward by a predetermined angle as shown in FIG. 5) due to mutual contact between the block portion 32 of the first rail 26 (the second end 32b of the block portion 32) and the disengagement portion 68 of the engagement member 36 in order to disengage the auxiliary portion 58 of the operating member 38 from the engagement portion 56 of the engagement member 36. Meanwhile, the return elastic member 54 is configured to release the return elastic force J along the second predetermined direction D2 such that the operating member 38 is driven in response to the return elastic force J to return from the second operating position K2 (shown in FIG. 4) to the first operating position K1 (shown in FIG. 5). Accordingly, the first elastic portion 48 and the second elastic portion 50 are configured to release the elastic force, and in response to the elastic forces released by the first elastic portion 48 and the second elastic portion 50, the first operating member 40 and the second operating member 42 are again held in the first state S1 (as shown in FIG. 5).

[0028] 6 and 7 show a second rail 200 of a slide rail assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention. As with the first embodiment, when a user applies force F' to move the operating member 202 of the second embodiment from a first operating position K1' (shown in FIG. 6) to a second operating position K2' (shown in FIG. 7), the operating member 202 is configured to engage with an engaging member 204 to hold the operating member 202 in the second operating position K2', in order to hold the actuating mechanism 206 in a second state S2' (shown in FIG. 7).

[0029] The difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment lies in the structural configuration and interaction between the operating member 202 and the engaging member 204.

[0030] Furthermore, the engaging member 204 includes a connecting portion 208, a resilient arm 210, an engaging portion 212, and a disengaging portion 214. The connecting portion 208 is fixed to the second rail 200. The resilient arm 210 extends a predetermined length in the longitudinal direction from the connecting portion 208. The resilient arm 210 includes an engaging portion 212 and a disengaging portion 214. The engaging portion 212 may be a hook or a hook-like object, but the present invention is not limited to such a configuration.

[0031] The engaging portion 212 of the engaging member 204 includes an auxiliary guide section 216, which has an inclined surface or an arcuate surface.

[0032] The disengaging portion 214 preferably has an inclined surface or an arcuate surface.

[0033] On the other hand, the operating member 202 includes an auxiliary portion 218, which has a vertical wall, although the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. When the operating member 202 is located in the second operating position K2', the auxiliary portion 218 of the operating member 202 is configured to engage with the engaging portion 212 of the engaging member 204 to hold the operating member 202 in the second operating position K2' (shown in FIG. 7).

[0034] A first space M1 is preferably formed in the operating member 202. The engaging portion 212 of the engaging member 204 is configured to penetrate the operating member 202 from a first side L1 of the operating member 202 to a second side L2 of the operating member 202 via the first space M1. The first side L1 and the second side L2 are two opposite sides (as shown in FIG. 6).

[0035] A second space M2 is further formed in the operating member 202. The disengaging portion 214 of the engaging member 204 is configured to penetrate the operating member 202 from the first side L1 of the operating member 202 to the second side L2 of the operating member 202 via the second space M2 (as shown in FIG. 6).

[0036] When a user applies force F' to the operating member 202 to move the operating member 202 from a first operating position K1' (shown in FIG. 6) to a second operating position K2' (shown in FIG. 7), the operating member 202 drives the actuating mechanism 206 (e.g., the first actuating member 220 and the second actuating member 222 of the actuating mechanism 206) to switch from a first state S1' (shown in FIG. 6) to a second state S2' (shown in FIG. 7). Therefore, the actuating mechanism is no longer blocked by the blocking portion 32 of the first rail 26, and the second rail 200 can be moved from a predetermined position P along predetermined directions D1 and D2 relative to the first rail 26. This configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, and further description will be omitted for simplicity. Additionally, in FIG. 7, the first elastic portion 224 and the second elastic portion 226 are in a state of storing elastic force.

[0037] In particular, when the operating member 202 is located at the second operating position K2', the operating member 202 engages with the engaging member 204 so that the operating member 202 is held at the second operating position K2' even when the force F' is no longer applied to the operating member 202. Thus, the actuating mechanism 206 is held in the second state S2'. That is, the actuating mechanism 206 is held in a state where it is no longer blocked by the block portion 32 of the first rail 26 (as shown in FIG. 7), thereby improving the user's operational convenience.

[0038] When the operating member 202 is located at the second operating position K2', the auxiliary portion 218 of the operating member 202 preferably engages with the engaging portion 212 of the engaging member 204 to hold the operating member 202 at the second operating position K2'.

[0039] During the process of moving the operating member 202 from the first operating position K1′ to the second operating position K2′, the elastic arm 210 is configured to deflect along the lateral direction T (lateral direction T shown in FIG. 6 ) through mutual contact between the auxiliary guide section 216 of the engagement member 204 and the operating member 202, so that the elastic arm accumulates an elastic force. When the auxiliary portion 218 corresponds to the engagement portion 212 of the engagement member 204, the elastic arm 210 releases the elastic force so that the auxiliary portion 218 of the operating member 202 engages with the engagement portion 212 of the engagement member 204 (as shown in FIG. 7 ).

[0040] More specifically, similar to the first embodiment, the disengagement portion 214 of the engagement member 204 of the second embodiment corresponds to the block portion 32 (the second end 32b of the block portion 32) of the first rail 26. When the second rail 200 is moved from a predetermined position P along a second predetermined direction D2 relative to the first rail 26, the elastic arm 210 of the engagement member 204 is configured to deflect by a predetermined angle along the lateral direction T so that the auxiliary portion 218 of the operating member 202 disengages from the engagement portion 212 of the engagement member 204 through mutual contact between the block portion 32 (the second end 32b of the block portion 32) of the first rail 26 and the disengagement portion 214 of the engagement member 204. Meanwhile, the return elastic member 230 is configured to release the return elastic force J' along the second predetermined direction D2 such that the operating member 202 is driven to return from the second operating position K2' (shown in FIG. 7) to the first operating position K1' (shown in FIG. 6) in response to the return elastic force J'. As a result, the first elastic portion 224 and the second elastic portion 226 are configured to release the elastic force, and in response to the elastic forces released by the first elastic portion 224 and the second elastic portion 226, the actuating mechanism 206 (the first actuating member 40 and the second actuating member 42) is again held in the first state S1' (as shown in FIG. 6).

[0041] 8 and 9 show a second rail 300 of a slide rail assembly according to a third embodiment of the present invention. As with the first embodiment, when a user applies force F'' to move the operating member 302 of the third embodiment from a first operating position K1'' (shown in FIG. 8) to a second operating position K2'' (shown in FIG. 9), the operating member 302 is configured to engage with an engaging member 304 to hold the operating member 302 in the second operating position K2'' in order to hold the actuating mechanism 206 in a second state S2'' (shown in FIG. 9).

[0042] The difference between the third embodiment and the first embodiment essentially lies in the structural configuration and interaction relationship of the operating member 302 and the engaging member 304.

[0043] Furthermore, the engaging member 304 includes a connecting portion 308, a resilient arm 310, an engaging portion 312, and a disengaging portion 314. Preferably, the engaging member 304 further includes a support portion 315. The connecting portion 308 is movably attached to the second rail 300. In this embodiment, the connecting portion 308 is pivotally connected to the second rail 300 via an auxiliary shaft 313. The resilient arm 310 extends a predetermined length in the longitudinal direction from the top of the connecting portion 308. The resilient arm 310 includes an engaging portion 312 and a disengaging portion 314. The support portion 315 extends a predetermined length in the longitudinal direction from the bottom of the connecting portion 308. The support portion 315 and the resilient arm 310 are approximately parallel to each other. The support portion 315 and the second rail 300 are configured to support and abut each other to enhance the stability of the positioning of the engaging member 304. A predetermined gap G is defined between the support portion 315 and the connection portion 308 (as shown in FIG. 8).

[0044] The engagement portion 312 is preferably a hole defined by a plurality of walls W'', and the auxiliary portion 318 of the operating member 302 may be a hook or a hook-like object, although the present invention is not limited to such a configuration.

[0045] The disengaging portion 314 preferably has an inclined surface or an arcuate surface.

[0046] It is preferable that one of the engagement member 304 and the operation member 302 has a guide portion. In this embodiment, the engagement member 304 and the operation member 302 have a first guide portion 320 and a second guide portion 322, respectively, and each of the first guide portion 320 and the second guide portion 322 has an inclined surface or an arcuate surface.

[0047] When the operating member 302 is located in the second operating position K2'', the auxiliary portion 318 of the operating member 302 engages with the engaging portion 312 of the engaging member 304, holding the operating member 302 in the second operating position K2'' (as shown in Figure 9).

[0048] When a user applies a force F" to the operating member 302 to move the operating member 302 from the first operating position K" (shown in FIG. 8) to the second operating position K2" (shown in FIG. 9), the actuation mechanism 306 is driven by the operating member 302 to switch (e.g., rotate) from the first state S1 (shown in FIG. 2) to the second state S2 (shown in FIG. 3), and the actuation mechanism 306 is no longer blocked by the blocking portion 32 of the first rail 26, allowing the second rail 300 to move from the predetermined position P along the first predetermined direction D1 or the second predetermined direction D2. Since such a configuration is identical to the first configuration, further description will be omitted for simplicity. In addition, the first elastic portion 324 and the second elastic portion 326 are in a state in which they store elastic forces in FIG. 9.

[0049] In particular, when the operating member 302 is located at the second operating position K2'', the operating member 38 engages with the engagement member 304, and the operating member 38 is held at the second operating position K2'' even if the force F'' is no longer being applied to the operating member 38. Therefore, the actuating mechanism 34 is held in the second state S2''. That is, the actuating mechanism 34 is held in a state where it is no longer blocked by the block portion 32 of the first rail 26 (shown in FIG. 9), thereby improving the user's operational convenience.

[0050] When the operating member 302 is located at the second operating position K2'', the auxiliary portion 318 of the operating member 302 engages with the engaging portion 312 of the engaging member 304 to hold the operating member 302 at the second operating position K2''.

[0051] Preferably, during the process of moving the operating member 302 from the first operating position K1'' to the second operating position K2'', the elastic arm 310 is deflected along the height direction U'' (the downward height direction U'' shown in FIG. 8) as the second guide portion 322 of the operating member 302 abuts against the first guide portion 320 of the engaging member 304, thereby rotating the connecting portion 308 of the engaging member 304 toward the support portion 315 along the predetermined movement direction Q to provide a buffering effect and prevent deformation or damage to the engaging member 304 due to excessive force. During this time, the elastic arm accumulates elastic force. When the auxiliary portion 318 of the operating member 302 corresponds to the engaging portion 312 of the engaging member 304, the elastic arm releases the elastic force so that the auxiliary portion 318 engages with the engaging portion 312 of the engaging member 304 (as shown in FIG. 9).

[0052] More specifically, similar to the first embodiment, the disengagement portion 314 of the engagement member 304 of the third embodiment corresponds to the block portion 32 (second end 32b of the block portion 32) of the first rail 26. When the second rail 300 is moved from a predetermined position P along a second predetermined direction D2 relative to the first rail 26, the elastic arm 210 of the engagement member 204 is configured to deflect by a predetermined angle along the height direction U so that the auxiliary portion 318 of the operating member 302 disengages from the engagement portion 312 of the engagement member 304 through mutual contact between the block portion 32 (second end 32b of the block portion 32) of the first rail 26 and the disengagement portion 314 of the engagement member 304. Meanwhile, the return elastic member 330 is configured to release the return elastic force J" along the second predetermined direction D2 such that the operating member 302 is driven to return from the second operating position K2" (shown in FIG. 9) to the first operating position K1" (shown in FIG. 8) in response to the return elastic force J". As a result, the first elastic portion 324 and the second elastic portion 326 are configured to release the elastic force, and in response to the elastic forces released by the first elastic portion 324 and the second elastic portion 326, the actuating mechanism 306 (the first actuating member 328 and the second actuating member 332) is again held in the first state S1" (as shown in FIG. 8).

[0053] Therefore, the slide rail assembly and slide rail kit according to the embodiments of the present invention have the following technical features.

[0054] 1) Unlike prior art link rods that cannot be held in a predetermined operating position after being operated by a user, the operating members 38, 202, 302 of the first to third embodiments of the present invention can be held in the second operating positions K2, K2', K2'' via mutual engagement between the engagement members 36, 202, 302 and the operating members 38, 202, 302 to hold the actuating mechanisms 34, 206, 306 in the second states S2, S2', S2''. As a result, the actuating mechanisms 34, 206, 306 are no longer blocked by the blocking portion 32 of the first rail 26 and are held in a state where they are no longer blocked. Therefore, the second rails 28, 200, 300 can be moved from the predetermined position P along the first predetermined direction D1 to be disengaged from the first rail 26, or moved from the predetermined position P along the second predetermined direction D2 to be retracted relative to the first rail 26, thereby improving the convenience of operation for a single user.

[0055] 2) In the first embodiment, the engaging member 36 is connected (fixed) to the second rail 28 via the connection portion 66, and the movement direction of the elastic arm 64 of the engaging member 36 is the height direction U relative to the second rail 28; in the second embodiment, the engaging member 204 is connected (fixed) to the second rail 28 via the connection portion 208, and the movement direction of the elastic arm 210 of the engaging member 204 is the lateral direction T relative to the second rail 200; and in the third embodiment, the engaging member 304 is movably attached (pivotally connected) to the second rail 300 via the connection portion 308.

[0056] 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 including a block portion; a second rail longitudinally movable relative to the first rail; The third rail, an actuation mechanism and an engagement member disposed on the second rail; an operating member disposed on the second rail and configured to drive the actuation mechanism; 1. A slide rail assembly comprising: the first rail is movably mounted between the third rail and the second rail, the first rail configured to increase the travel distance of the second rail relative to the third rail; when the second rail is moved to a predetermined position along a first predetermined direction relative to the first rail, the actuating mechanism in the first state is blocked by the blocking portion and cannot move the second rail relative to the first rail; the actuating mechanism includes a pair of actuating members pivotally connected to the second rail, the pair of actuating members being configured to be held in the first state by an elastic force of at least one elastic portion; when the operating member is moved from the first operating position to the second operating position, the actuating mechanism is driven by the operating member to switch to a second state in which it is no longer blocked by the blocking portion, and the second rail can be moved relative to the first rail, so that the second rail can be moved from the predetermined position along the first predetermined direction to disengage from the first rail, and can be moved along a second predetermined direction opposite to the first predetermined direction to retract relative to the first rail; When the operating member is moved to the second operating position, the operating member engages with the engagement member, so that the operating member is maintained in the second operating position even when force is no longer applied to the operating member in the first direction.

2. 2. The slide rail assembly of claim 1, further comprising a return resilient member configured to provide a return resilient force to the operating member urging it to return from the second operating position to the first operating position.

3. the engaging member includes a resilient arm having an engaging portion and a disengaging portion, and the operating member includes an auxiliary portion; When the operating member is located at the second operating position, the auxiliary portion is configured to engage with the engaging portion of the engaging member to hold the operating member at the second operating position; the disengagement portion corresponds to the block portion of the first rail; 2. The slide rail assembly of claim 1, wherein when the second rail is moved along the second predetermined direction relative to the first rail, the operating member disengages from the engaging member through mutual contact between a block portion of the first rail and a disengaging portion of the engaging member.

4. the engaging member further includes a connecting portion fixed to the second rail, the elastic arm extending from the connecting portion; The slide rail assembly of claim 3 , wherein the resilient arm is configured to move along a height direction or a lateral direction of the slide rail assembly.

5. the engaging member further includes a connecting portion pivotally connected to the second rail, the elastic arm extending from the connecting portion; 4. The slide rail assembly of claim 3, wherein during a process of moving the operating member from the first operating position to the second operating position, the operating member abuts against the engaging member, causing the elastic arm to deflect in a height direction, thereby rotating the connecting portion along a predetermined moving direction.

6. Rack and A holding object; a plurality of slide rail assemblies disposed on one side of the support object and attaching the support object to the rack, each of the plurality of slide rail assemblies comprising: a first rail including a block portion; a second rail movable relative to the first rail and configured to hold the held object; a third rail configured to be attached to the rack; and an actuation mechanism and an engagement member disposed on the second rail, the engagement member including an engagement portion; an operating member disposed on the second rail and configured to drive the actuation mechanism, the operating member including an auxiliary portion; and a plurality of slide rail assemblies, A rack system comprising: the first rail is movably mounted between the third rail and the second rail, the first rail configured to increase the travel distance of the second rail relative to the third rail; the actuating mechanism includes a pair of actuating members pivotally connected to the second rail, the pair of actuating members being configured to be held in a first state by an elastic force of at least one elastic portion; When the operating member is located at a first operating position, the actuating mechanism is in the first state and is located at a position corresponding to the block portion of the first rail, and when the operating member is located at a second operating position, the actuating mechanism is in a second state and is not located at a position corresponding to the block portion of the first rail; When the second rail is moved to an extended position along an opening direction relative to the first rail and the operating member is located at the first operating position, the actuating mechanism is blocked by the blocking portion, and therefore the second rail cannot be moved relative to the first rail; When the operating member is located at the second operating position, the actuating member is no longer blocked by the blocking portion, so that the second rail can be moved relative to the first rail, and the second rail can be moved from a predetermined position relative to the first rail along a first predetermined direction to be disengaged from the first rail, and can be moved along a second predetermined direction opposite to the first predetermined direction to be retracted relative to the first rail, and an auxiliary portion of the operating member is configured to engage with the engaging portion of the engaging member to hold the operating member at the second operating position, When the operating member is moved to the second operating position, the operating member engages with the engagement member, so that the operating member is held in the second operating position even when force in the first direction is stopped being applied to the operating member.

7. The rack system of claim 6 , further comprising a return elastic member configured to provide a return elastic force to the operating member urging it to return from the second operating position to the first operating position.

8. the engaging member further includes a disengaging portion corresponding to the block portion of the first rail; When the second rail is moved in a direction in which it retracts relative to the first rail, the auxiliary portion of the operating member is disengaged from the engaging portion of the engaging member via mutual contact between the block portion of the first rail and the disengaging portion of the engaging member, the engagement member is fixedly or movably connected to the second rail; 7. The rack system of claim 6, wherein the second rail is longitudinally movable relative to the first rail, and the engaging member further includes a resilient arm, the resilient arm having the engaging portion and the disengaging portion.

9. Slide rails and an actuation mechanism and an engagement member disposed on the slide rail; An operating member; A slide rail kit comprising: When the operating member is moved from a first operating position to a second operating position along a first predetermined direction, the actuating mechanism is driven by the operating member to switch from a first state to a second state; A slide rail kit in which, when the operating member is moved to the second operating position, the operating member engages with the engaging member, so that even if force is no longer applied to the operating member in the first predetermined direction, the operating member is maintained in the second operating position and the actuating mechanism is also maintained in the second state.

10. the slide rail includes a first wall, a second wall, and a longitudinal wall connected between the first wall and the second wall of the slide rail; 10. The slide rail kit of claim 9, wherein when the actuating mechanism is in the first state, the actuating mechanism is adjacent to a first wall of the slide rail, and when the actuating mechanism is in the second state, the actuating mechanism is spaced apart from the first wall of the slide rail.

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