Slide rail assembly

Abstract

To provide a slide rail assembly provided with a switching member capable of returning to an initial position by relative movement between slide rails.SOLUTION: A slide rail assembly 20 includes a first rail 22, a second rail 24, a third rail 26, and a switching member 28 movable between a first state and a second state. The third rail 26 is movably mounted between the first rail 22 and the second rail 24. When the second rail 24 is moved along a predetermined direction relative to the third rail 26 located at a predetermined position relative to the first rail 22, the switching member 28 is configured to abut against a predetermined part of the third rail 26, in order to move the switching member 28 to switch from the second state to the first state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a slide rail assembly, and more particularly to a slide rail assembly comprising a switching member that can return to an initial position by relative movement between the slide rails.

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art U.S. Patent No. 9,992,906 discloses a slide rail assembly comprising a first rail, a second rail, a third rail, a first engagement mechanism, and a switching member. The second rail is movably attached between the first rail and the third rail. The first engagement mechanism is disposed on the second rail, and the switching member is disposed on the third rail. The switching member is configured to be operated to move between a first switching position and a second switching position. When the third rail is moved along a second direction (e.g., a retraction direction) from a third position (e.g., a fully extended position), the switching member in the second switching position is configured to push the second rail back from a second position (e.g., a fully open position) to a fourth position in order to shorten the length of the slide rail assembly. Further, the first engagement mechanism and a first stop member on the first rail are configured to block each other to prevent the second rail from being moved along a first direction (e.g., an open direction) from the fourth position.

[0003] The switching member in the aforementioned patent needs to be directly manually operated by the user to return from the second switching position to the first switching position. However, in response to the requirements of different markets, it is important to develop various products for the user.

Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention provides a slide rail assembly comprising a switching member that can return to an initial position by relative movement between the slide rails.

[0005] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a slide rail assembly comprises a first rail, a second rail, a third rail, and a switching member. The first rail is provided with an auxiliary structure. The third rail is movably mounted between the first rail and the second rail and is provided with a predetermined portion and an engaging member. The predetermined portion has a first predetermined section and a second predetermined section. The switching member is movable relative to the second rail and has a first contact portion and a second contact portion. When the third rail is positioned at a first predetermined position relative to the first rail and the second rail is positioned at a second predetermined position relative to the third rail, the slide rail assembly has a first predetermined length. As the second rail is moved backward from a second predetermined position, the switching member is moved to switch from a first state to a second state, and in the process of this, the first contact portion of the switching member in the second state and the first predetermined section of the predetermined portion are configured to abut against each other, thereby causing the second rail to drive the third rail to move backward to a third predetermined position. When the third rail is in the third predetermined position relative to the first rail, the engaging member is configured to engage with an auxiliary structure to prevent the third rail from moving backward, and the slide rail assembly has a second predetermined length that is shorter than a first predetermined length. As the second rail is moved backward relative to the third rail in the third predetermined position, the second contact portion of the switching member and the second predetermined section of the predetermined portion are configured to abut against each other in order to drive the switching member back from the second state to the first state.

[0006] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the slide rail assembly comprises a first rail, a second rail, a third rail, and a switching member. The second rail is longitudinally movable relative to the first rail. The third rail is movably mounted between the first rail and the second rail and is provided with a predetermined portion. The predetermined portion has a first predetermined section and a second predetermined section. The switching member is movably mounted on the second rail and is configured to be in either a first state or a second state. The switching member comprises a first contact portion and a second contact portion. When the switching member is in the first state, the first contact portion of the switching member does not coincide with the predetermined portion along the longitudinal direction of the slide rail assembly. When the switching member is in the second state, the first contact portion of the switching member coincides with the predetermined portion along the longitudinal direction. When the slide rail assembly is extended, the third rail is positioned at a first predetermined position relative to the first rail, and the second rail is positioned at a second predetermined position relative to the third rail. With the switching member in the second state, as the second rail is moved backward from the second predetermined position, the first contact portion of the switching member in the second state and the first predetermined section of the predetermined part are configured to come into contact with each other, thereby causing the second rail to drive the third rail to move backward to the third predetermined position. As the second rail is moved forward relative to the third rail positioned at the third predetermined position, the second contact portion of the switching member and the second predetermined section of the predetermined part are configured to come into contact with each other in order to move the switching member and switch from the second state to the first state.

[0007] These and other objectives of the present invention will undoubtedly become apparent to those skilled in the art after reading the following detailed description of preferred embodiments shown in various figures and drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This figure shows a slide rail assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is an exploded view of a slide rail assembly comprising a first rail, a second rail, and a third rail, according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is an enlarged view of region A in Figure 2. [Figure 4] This figure shows a state according to one embodiment of the present invention, where the slide rail assembly is in an extended state and has a first predetermined length, and the switching member is in a first state. [Figure 5] This figure shows a state according to one embodiment of the present invention, where the slide rail assembly is in the extended state and the switching member is in the second state. [Figure 6] This figure shows a state in which the second rail is moved along the backward direction to invalidate the block configuration between the third rail and the first rail, according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] This figure shows how the second and third rails move synchronously with respect to the first rail along the backward direction, according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] This figure shows how the second and third rails are moved in a backward direction in further synchronous motion relative to the first rail, according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] This figure shows how, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a third rail is driven by the second rail to move to a predetermined position relative to the first rail, in order to enable the slide rail assembly to have a second predetermined length. [Figure 10] This figure shows how a second rail is moved in the opening direction relative to the third rail and the first rail, according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] This figure shows how the second rail is further moved in the opening direction relative to the third rail and the first rail, according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] This figure shows how a second rail is removed from a third rail on the first rail in the opening direction according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] This figure shows how a second rail is reinserted into the passage of a third rail on the first rail along the backward direction, according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] This is a partially enlarged view showing how a second rail is further inserted into the passage of a third rail on the first rail in the backward direction, according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the slide rail assembly 20 comprises a first rail 22, a second rail 24, a third rail 26, and a switching member 28, according to one embodiment of the present invention. The third rail 26 is movably mounted between the first rail 22 and the second rail 24. The first rail 22, the second rail 24, and the third rail 26 are longitudinally movable relative to each other. In this embodiment, the X-axis is the longitudinal direction (or the length or direction of movement of the slide rail), the Y-axis is the transverse direction (or the lateral direction of the slide rail), and the Z-axis is the vertical direction (or the height direction of the slide rail).

[0010] An auxiliary structure 30 is provided on the first rail 22. In this embodiment, the auxiliary structure 30 comprises a first auxiliary section 32. Preferably, the auxiliary structure 30 further comprises a second auxiliary section 34. Furthermore, the first rail 22 has a first end 22a and a second end 22b that are opposite to each other, such as a front end and a rear end, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The first rail 22 comprises a first wall 36a, a second wall 36b, and a longitudinal wall 38 connected between the first wall 36a and the second wall 36b of the first rail 22. The first passage 40 is defined by the first wall 36a, the second wall 36b, and the longitudinal wall 38 of the first rail 22 and is configured to accommodate a third rail 26.

[0011] Preferably, the auxiliary structure 30 is positioned on the longitudinal wall 38 of the first rail 22 and is adjacent to the second end 22b of the first rail 22. The first auxiliary portion 32 and the second auxiliary portion 34 of the auxiliary structure 30 are protrusions, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0012] Preferably, the first rail 22 is further provided with a block structure 42 on the longitudinal wall 38 of the first rail 22. The block structure 42 is adjacent to the first end 22a of the first rail 22 and comprises a block section 44. The block structure 42 is an additional component attached to the first rail 22 and protrudes from the longitudinal wall 38 of the first rail 22. In other alternative embodiments, the block structure 42 can be directly integrated with the first rail 22. Therefore, the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0013] The third rail 26 is provided with a predetermined portion 46 and an engaging member 48. The predetermined portion 46 has a first predetermined section 46a and a second predetermined section 46b that are opposite to each other, such as a front section and a rear section, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The predetermined portion 46 can be a protruding structure that is directly or indirectly attached to the third rail 26. Furthermore, the third rail 26 has a first end 26a and a second end 26b that are opposite to each other, such as a front end and a rear end, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The third rail 26 comprises a first wall 50a, a second wall 50b, and a longitudinal wall 52 connected between the first wall 50a and the second wall 50b of the third rail 26. The second passage 54 is defined by the first wall 50a, the second wall 50b and the longitudinal wall 52 of the third rail 26 and is configured to accommodate the second rail 24.

[0014] Preferably, the predetermined portion 46 is positioned on the longitudinal wall 52 of the third rail 26, and the predetermined portion 46 is located adjacent to the first end 26a of the third rail 26.

[0015] Preferably, the engaging member 48 is movably attached to the third rail 26. For example, the engaging member 48 is pivotally connected to the longitudinal wall 52 of the third rail 26 via the first shaft portion 56, and the engaging member 48 is positioned adjacent to the second end portion 26b of the third rail 26.

[0016] Preferably, the engaging member 48 includes an engaging portion 58, and a long hole 60 that communicates the first side L1 and the second side L2 of the longitudinal wall 52 of the third rail 26 is formed in the longitudinal wall 52 of the third rail 26. The first side L1 (such as the outside) of the third rail twenty-six is adjacent to the first rail 22, and the second side L2 (such as the inside) of the third rail 26 is adjacent to the second rail 24. The engaging member 48 is movably attached to the second side L2 of the third rail 26, and the engaging portion 58 of the engaging member 48 passes through the long hole 60 from the second side L2 to the first side L1 of the third rail 26 in order to interact with the auxiliary structure 30 of the first rail 22.

[0017] Preferably, a block member 62 is further provided on the third rail 26, and the block member 62 is movably attached to the third rail 26. For example, the block member 62 is pivotally connected to the longitudinal wall 52 of the third rail 26 via the second shaft portion 64. The block member 62 is positioned adjacent to the engaging member 48, and the block member 62 and the engaging member 48 are separated from each other by a predetermined longitudinal distance along the longitudinal direction. The block portion 63 of the block member 62 extends from the second side L2 to the first side L1 of the third rail twenty-six in order to interact with the block structure 42 of the first rail 22.

[0018] Preferably, the block member 62 is farther from the second end portion 26b of the third rail 26 than the engaging member 48.

[0019] Preferably, the slide rail assembly 20 further includes a first elastic member 33 configured to provide an elastic force to the engaging member 48 and a second elastic member 5� configured to provide an elastic force to the block member 62 (as shown in FIG. 1).

[0020] Preferably, the longitudinal wall 52 of the third rail 26 is further provided with a first limiting portion 21 and a second limiting portion 23 configured to limit the movement range of the engaging member 48 (as shown in FIG. 1). The first limiting portion 21 and the second limiting portion 23 are protrusions, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0021] The second rail 24 has first ends 24a and second ends 24b that face each other, such as a front end portion and a rear end portion, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The second rail 24 includes a first wall 66a, a second wall 66b, and a longitudinal wall 68 connected between the first wall 66a and the second wall 66b of the second rail 24.

[0022] Preferably, the second rail 24 is provided with a predetermined feature 69. The predetermined feature 69 has an inclined surface or an arc surface. The predetermined feature 69 may be formed directly on the second rail 24, or the predetermined feature 69 may be formed on an additional connecting component attached to the second rail 24, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0023] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the switching member 28 includes a first contact portion 70 and a second contact portion 72. Preferably, the switching member 28 is movable relative to the second rail 24 so as to be in a first state S1 (shown in FIGS. 3 and 4) or a second state S2 (see FIG. 5). In the present embodiment, the switching member 28 is movably attached to the second rail 24. Specifically, the switching member 28 is pivotally connected to the longitudinal wall 68 of the second rail 24 via a shaft member 74.

[0024] Preferably, the switching member 28 includes a first portion 76, a second portion 78, and an extension portion 80 connected between the first portion 76 and the second portion 78. The first portion 76 is pivotally connected to the longitudinal wall 68 of the second rail 24 via a shaft member 74, and the extension portion 80 includes the first contact portion 70 and the second contact portion 72 (as shown in FIG. 3).

[0025] Preferably, a first limiting feature portion 82 is provided on one of the second portion 78 of the switching member 28 and the second rail 24, and a second limiting feature portion 84 is provided on the other of the second portion 78 of the switching member 28 and the second rail 24.

[0026] Preferably, one of the first restricting feature portion 82 and the second restricting feature portion 84 is formed in a restricting space, and the other of the first restricting feature portion 82 and the second restricting feature portion 84 is formed by a projection (such as a pin or nail) that passes through a part of the restricting space.

[0027] Preferably, the switching member 28 is located adjacent to the first end 24a of the second rail 24.

[0028] Preferably, a through hole 86 is further formed in the second rail 24 so that the user can easily operate the switching member 28. For example, the user can insert their finger into the through hole 86 and apply force to the switching member 28 in order to move the switching member 28 and switch from the first state S1 to the second state S2.

[0029] Preferably, one of the switching member 28 and the second rail 24 includes a retaining feature portion 88. In this embodiment, the switching member 28 includes a retaining feature portion 88. The other of the switching member 28 and the second rail 24 includes a plurality of corresponding feature portions. In this embodiment, the second rail 24 includes a first corresponding feature portion 90a and a second corresponding feature portion 90b (as shown in Figure 3). When the switching member 28 is in a first state S1, the retaining feature portion 88 is configured to detachably engage with the first corresponding feature portion 90a in order to temporarily hold the switching member 28 in the first state S1 (as shown in Figures 3 and 4). When the switching member 28 is in a second state S2, the retaining feature portion 88 is configured to detachably engage with the second corresponding feature portion 90b in order to temporarily hold the switching member 28 in the second state S2 (see Figure 5).

[0030] Preferably, the retaining feature portion 88 and the corresponding feature portion are a combination of a convex feature portion and a concave feature portion (or hole) that interact with each other. For example, the retaining feature portion 88 can be a convex feature portion, and the first corresponding feature portion 90a and the second corresponding feature portion 90b are concave feature portions (or holes) configured to engage with the convex feature portion.

[0031] Preferably, the retaining feature portion 88 and / or the corresponding feature portion have a guide feature portion 92, such as an arcuate surface or an inclined surface (as shown in Figure 3). For example, the retaining feature portion 88 has a guide feature portion 92 so that the retaining feature portion 88 can be easily removed from the first corresponding feature portion 90a or the second corresponding feature portion 90b.

[0032] As shown in Figure 4, the slide rail assembly 20 is in its fully extended state. The first rail 22 is configured to be mounted on a rack (or cabinet), and the second rail is configured to transport objects. When the slide rail assembly 20 is in its fully extended state, the third rail 26 is located at a first predetermined position P1 relative to the first rail 22, and the second rail 24 is located at a second predetermined position P2 relative to the third rail 26. In this state, the slide rail assembly 20 has a first predetermined length K1. Specifically, the first predetermined length K1 is defined between the first end 24a of the second rail 24 and the second end 22b of the first rail 22.

[0033] Preferably, when the third rail 26 is positioned at a first predetermined position P1 relative to the first rail 22, the block portion 63 of the block member 62 and the block section 44 of the block structure 42 are configured to block each other to prevent the third rail 26 from moving along a backward direction D2 from the first predetermined position P1 relative to the first rail 22. On the other hand, when the second rail 24 is positioned at a second predetermined position P2 relative to the third rail 26, the second rail 24 may be detachably held at the second predetermined position P2 via a positioning mechanism (not shown). When the positioning mechanism is disabled, the second rail 24 can be moved away from the second predetermined position P2 relative to the third rail 26 along an opening direction D1 or a backward direction D2. Such configurations are well known to those skilled in the art and no further examples are provided for the sake of simplification.

[0034] Furthermore, when the slide rail assembly 20 is applied to a confined space, and the slide rail assembly 20 is in its fully extended state, with the first end 24a of the second rail 24 adjacent to an obstacle (not shown), it is not easy to move the second rail 24 further along the opening direction D1 from the second predetermined position P2 relative to the third rail 26 and remove the second rail 24 from the third rail 26. In such a situation, the user can move the third rail 26 to a predetermined position along the retraction direction D2 from the first predetermined position P1, thereby shortening the overall length of the slide rail assembly 20 and allowing the second rail 24 to be easily removed from the third rail 26 along the opening direction D1.

[0035] As shown in Figures 4 to 6, the switching member 28 is operated by the user to transition from a first state S1 (as shown in Figure 4) to a second state S2 (as shown in Figures 5 and 6). When the switching member 28 is in the first state S1, the first contact portion 70 of the switching member 28 does not coincide with a predetermined portion 46 (the first predetermined section 46a of the predetermined portion 46) along the longitudinal direction of the slide rail assembly 20. When the switching member 28 is in the second state S2, the first contact portion 70 of the switching member 28 coincides with a predetermined portion 46 (the first predetermined section 46a of the predetermined portion 46) along the longitudinal direction of the slide rail assembly 20.

[0036] Furthermore, as the second rail 24 is moved along the backward direction D2 from the second predetermined position P2, a predetermined feature portion 69 on the second rail 24 is configured to drive and move the block member 62 so that the block portion 63 of the block member 62 separates from the block section 44 of the block structure 42 (for example, by rotating the block member 62 by a predetermined angle). As a result, the block portion 63 of the block member 62 and the block section 44 of the block structure 42 no longer block each other, and the third rail 26 can be moved along the backward direction D2 from the first predetermined position P1 relative to the first rail 22 (as shown in Figure 6).

[0037] As shown in Figures 7 to 9, as the second rail 24 is moved further along the backward direction D2, the first contact portion 70 of the switching member 28 in the second state S2 and the first predetermined section 46a of the predetermined portion 46 are configured to come into contact with each other (as shown in Figure 7), thereby configuring the second rail 24 to drive the third rail 26 to move along the backward direction D2 (as shown in Figure 8). Thus, the second rail 24 and the third rail 26 are configured to move synchronously along the backward direction D2 until the third rail 26 reaches the third predetermined position P3 (as shown in Figure 9). Furthermore, during such a process, the second contact portion 72 of the switching member 28 is adjacent to the second predetermined section 46b of the predetermined portion 46, and the second contact portion 72 of the switching member 28 extends beyond the second predetermined section 46b of the predetermined portion 46 along the backward direction D2 (as shown in Figure 7).

[0038] Preferably, either the engaging portion 58 of the engaging member 48 or the first auxiliary portion 32 of the auxiliary structure 30 has a guide section 94. In this embodiment, the first auxiliary portion 32 of the auxiliary structure 30 has a guide section 94 (as shown in Figures 7 and 8). As the second rail 24 and the third rail 26 are moved synchronously along the backward direction D2, the engaging portion 58 of the engaging member 48 in a first predetermined state M1 is configured to be guided by the guide section 94 (as shown in Figure 7), thereby moving (e.g., rotating) the engaging member 48 to a second predetermined state M2, and the first elastic member 33 enters a state where it accumulates a predetermined elastic force F (as shown in Figure 8). When the third rail 26 is positioned at a third predetermined position P3 relative to the first rail 22, the first elastic member 33 is configured to release a predetermined elastic force F to move the engaging member 48 and switch to a first predetermined state M1, engaging with the auxiliary structure 30 via the engaging portion 58, thereby preventing the third rail 26 from moving along the opening direction D1 from the third predetermined position P3. In this state, the slide rail assembly 20 has a second predetermined length K2 that is shorter than the first predetermined length K1 (as shown in Figure 9). This is therefore useful for the user to remove the second rail 24 from the third rail 26 along the opening direction D1 when the slide rail assembly 20 is applied in a confined space. Specifically, the second predetermined length K2 is defined between the first end 24a of the second rail 24 and the second end 22b of the first rail 22.

[0039] Preferably, when the third rail 26 is positioned at a third predetermined position P3 relative to the first rail 22, the engaging portion 58 of the engaging member 48 is positioned in a predetermined space to engage between the first auxiliary portion 32 and the second auxiliary portion 34 in order to prevent the third rail 26 from moving along the opening direction D1 or the retraction direction D2.

[0040] As shown in Figures 10 to 12, in the process of the second rail 24 being moved along the opening direction D1 relative to the third rail 26 located at the third predetermined position P3, the second contact portion 72 of the switching member 28 and the second predetermined section 46b of the predetermined portion 46 are configured to come into contact with each other and generate a predetermined force in order to drive the switching member 28 back from the second state S2 (shown in Figure 10) to the first state S1 (shown in Figure 11). Furthermore, the second rail 24 can be moved further along the opening direction D1 relative to the third rail 26 located at the third predetermined position P3 and removed from the third rail 26 (as shown in Figure 12).

[0041] Therefore, when the slide rail assembly 20 is applied to a confined space, the length of the slide rail assembly 20 can be shortened by retracting the third rail 26 into a third predetermined position P3, and the second rail 24 can be easily removed from the second passage 54 of the third rail 26 along the opening direction D1.

[0042] Preferably, either the second contact portion 72 of the switching member 28 or the second predetermined section 46b of the predetermined portion 46 has a guide structure, the guide structure having an inclined surface or an arcuate surface. In this embodiment, the second contact portion 72 of the switching member 28 has a guide structure, but the present invention is not limited thereto. When the second contact portion 72 of the switching member 28 and the second predetermined section 46b of the predetermined portion 46 are configured to abut each other in this way, the switching member 28 is configured to be driven to easily return from a second state S2 (shown in Figure 10) to a first state S1 (shown in Figure 11).

[0043] As shown in Figures 13 and 14, when the second rail 24 is reinserted into the second passage 54 of the third rail 26 from outside the second passage 54 of the third rail 26 along the backward direction D2, the switching member 28 returns to the first state S1, so the first contact portion 70 of the switching member 28 does not coincide with the predetermined portion 46 along the longitudinal direction. Therefore, the first contact portion 70 of the switching member 28 and the first predetermined section 46a of the predetermined portion 46 do not block each other (as shown in Figure 13). In other words, the first contact portion 70 of the switching member 28 can directly pass through the first predetermined section 46a of the predetermined portion 46 along the retraction direction D2, thereby allowing the second rail 24 to move further along the retraction direction D2 relative to the third rail 26, and the second rail 24 is configured to contact the engaging portion 58 of the engaging member 48 via a predetermined feature portion 69 in order to drive the engaging member 48 to move away from the first predetermined state M1 (as shown in Figure 14). Thus, the engaging portion 58 of the engaging member 48 is no longer engaged between the first auxiliary portion 32 and the second auxiliary portion 34 of the auxiliary structure 30, thereby allowing the third rail 26 to move from the third predetermined position P3 to the fully retracted position along the retraction direction D2 relative to the first rail 22. In other words, the slide rail assembly 20 can be in the fully retracted state.

[0044] Therefore, the slide rail assembly 20 according to one embodiment of the present invention has the following technical features: 1. Conventional switching members require the user to manually operate them to return from a second switching position to a first switching position. In contrast to the conventional technology, according to one embodiment of the present invention, as the second rail 24 is moved along the opening direction D1 relative to the third rail 26 located at a third predetermined position P3, the second contact portion 72 of the switching member 28 and the second predetermined section 46b of the predetermined portion 46 are configured to contact each other in order to move the switching member 28 to switch from a second state S2 to a first state S1. In other words, the switching member 28 can be driven to return from a second state S2 to a first state S1 without the user having to manually operate the switching member 28. Thus, it is more convenient for the user to maintain the slide rail (transported material) or related equipment. 2. When the second rail 24 is reinserted into the second passage 54 of the third rail 26 from outside the second passage 54 of the third rail 26 along the backward direction D2, the switching member 28 returns to the first state S1, so the first contact portion 70 of the switching member 28 does not coincide with the predetermined portion 46 along the longitudinal direction. Therefore, the first contact portion 70 of the switching member 28 and the first predetermined section 46a of the predetermined portion 46 do not block each other (as shown in Figure 13). In other words, the first contact portion 70 of the switching member 28 can pass directly through the first predetermined section 46a of the predetermined portion 46 along the backward direction D2, thereby allowing the second rail 24 to move further along the backward direction D2 relative to the third rail 26.

[0045] Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and changes to the device and method can be made while retaining the teachings of the present invention. Therefore, the above disclosure should be construed as being limited only by the boundaries of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A slide rail assembly, A first rail with an auxiliary structure, The second rail and A third rail is movably mounted between the first rail and the second rail, and is provided with a predetermined portion and an engaging member, wherein the predetermined portion has a first predetermined section and a second predetermined section, A switching member that is movably mounted to the second rail and has a first contact portion and a second contact portion, Equipped with, When the third rail is positioned at a first predetermined position relative to the first rail, and the second rail is positioned at a second predetermined position relative to the third rail, the slide rail assembly has a first predetermined length. While the second rail is being moved along the backward direction from the second predetermined position, in the process of moving the switching member to switch from the first state to the second state, the first contact portion of the switching member in the second state and the first predetermined section of the predetermined portion are configured to come into contact with each other, thereby causing the second rail to drive the third rail to move along the backward direction to the third predetermined position. In the second state, the first contact portion of the switching member and the first predetermined section of the predetermined portion are in contact with each other, the second contact portion of the switching member is adjacent to the second predetermined section of the predetermined portion, and the second contact portion of the switching member extends beyond the second predetermined section of the predetermined portion in the retraction direction. When the third rail is positioned at the third predetermined position relative to the first rail, the engaging member is configured to engage with the auxiliary structure to prevent the third rail from moving along the opening direction, and the slide rail assembly has a second predetermined length that is shorter than the first predetermined length. As the second rail is moved along the opening direction relative to the third rail located at a predetermined third position, the second contact portion of the switching member and the second predetermined section of the predetermined portion are configured to abut each other in order to drive the switching member back from the second state to the first state. Slide rail assembly.

2. The slide rail assembly according to claim 1, wherein one of the second contact portion of the switching member and the second predetermined section of the predetermined portion has a guide structure, and the guide structure has an inclined surface or an arcuate surface.

3. The slide rail assembly according to claim 2, wherein the switching member is pivotably connected to the second rail via a shaft member, the switching member comprises a first portion, a second portion, and an extension portion connected between the first portion and the second portion, the first portion is pivotably connected to the second rail via the shaft member, the extension portion comprises a first contact portion and a second contact portion, a first limiting feature portion is provided on one of the second portion of the switching member and the second rail, and a second limiting feature portion is provided on the other of the second portion of the switching member and the second rail.

4. The slide rail assembly according to claim 3, wherein a restricting space is formed in one of the first restricting feature portion and the second restricting feature portion, and the other of the first restricting feature portion and the second restricting feature portion is a protrusion that passes through a part of the restricting space.

5. The slide rail assembly according to claim 2, wherein one of the switching member and the second rail has a retaining feature portion, and the other of the switching member and the second rail has a corresponding feature portion, and when the switching member is in the second state, the retaining feature portion is configured to be detachably engaged with the corresponding feature portion in order to hold the switching member in the second state.

6. The slide rail assembly according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary structure comprises a first auxiliary part and a second auxiliary part, and when the third rail is positioned at a predetermined third position relative to the first rail, the engaging member is configured to engage between the first auxiliary part and the second auxiliary part to prevent the third rail from moving along the opening direction or the retraction direction.

7. The slide rail assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first rail has a first end and a second end facing each other, the auxiliary structure is positioned adjacent to the second end, the first rail is further provided with a block structure adjacent to the first end, the third rail is further provided with a block member, and when the third rail is positioned at a first predetermined position relative to the first rail, the block member and the block structure are configured to block each other to prevent the third rail from moving along the backward direction from the first predetermined position relative to the first rail, and in the process of the second rail being moved along the backward direction from the second predetermined position, a predetermined feature portion of the second rail is configured to drive and move the block member such that the block member and the block structure no longer block each other.

8. A slide rail assembly, The first rail and A second rail that is movable longitudinally relative to the first rail, A third rail is movably mounted between the first rail and the second rail, and has a predetermined portion, wherein the predetermined portion has a first predetermined section and a second predetermined section, and A switching member movably mounted on the second rail and configured to be in either a first state or a second state, comprising a switching member having a first contact portion and a second contact portion, When the switching member is in the first state, the first contact portion of the switching member does not coincide with the predetermined portion along the longitudinal direction of the slide rail assembly, and when the switching member is in the second state, the first contact portion of the switching member coincides with the predetermined portion along the longitudinal direction. When the slide rail assembly is in the extended state, the third rail is positioned at a first predetermined position relative to the first rail, and the second rail is positioned at a second predetermined position relative to the third rail. With the switching member in the second state, during the process in which the second rail is moved backward from the second predetermined position, the first contact portion of the switching member in the second state and the first predetermined section of the predetermined portion are configured to come into contact with each other, thereby driving the third rail to move it backward to the third predetermined position. In the second state, the first contact portion of the switching member and the first predetermined section of the predetermined portion are in contact with each other, the second contact portion of the switching member is adjacent to the second predetermined section of the predetermined portion, and the second contact portion of the switching member extends beyond the second predetermined section of the predetermined portion in the retraction direction. In the process of the second rail being moved along the opening direction relative to the third rail located at a predetermined third position, the second contact portion of the switching member and the second predetermined section of the predetermined portion are configured to abut each other in order to move the switching member to switch from the second state to the first state. Slide rail assembly.

9. The first rail is further provided with an auxiliary structure, and the third rail is further provided with an engaging member, and when the third rail is positioned at the third predetermined position relative to the first rail, the engaging member is configured to engage with the auxiliary structure to prevent the third rail from moving along the opening direction, and one of the second contact portion of the switching member and the second predetermined section of the predetermined portion is formed by a guide structure, one of the switching member and the second rail has a retaining feature portion, and the other of the switching member and the second rail has a corresponding feature portion, and when the switching member is in the second state, the retaining feature portion holds the switching member in the second The slide rail assembly according to claim 8, wherein the auxiliary structure is configured to engage detachably with the corresponding feature portion in order to maintain in the state, the auxiliary structure comprises a first auxiliary portion and a second auxiliary portion, and when the third rail is positioned at a predetermined third position relative to the first rail, the engaging member is configured to engage between the first auxiliary portion and the second auxiliary portion to prevent the third rail from moving along the opening or retracting direction, the first rail has a first end and a second end facing each other, the auxiliary structure is positioned adjacent to the second end, and the first rail is further provided with a block structure adjacent to the first end.

10. A block member is further provided on the third rail, and when the third rail is positioned at a first predetermined position relative to the first rail, the block member and the block structure are configured to block each other to prevent the third rail from moving along the backward direction from the first predetermined position relative to the first rail, and in the process of the second rail being moved along the backward direction from a second predetermined position, a predetermined feature portion of the second rail is configured to drive and move the block member such that the block member and the block structure no longer block each other, the slide rail assembly according to claim 9.

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