Limiting device

Abstract

A limiting device suitable for limiting a positioning post in a securing hole of a chassis is provided. The securing hole has a mounting hole area and a limiting hole area. The limiting device includes a base secured to the chassis in correspondence with the securing hole and a sliding member. The base includes a main portion and an elastic limiting portion movably connected to the main portion, and the elastic limiting portion is aligned with the securing hole. The sliding member is slidably disposed on the main portion. The sliding member is in contact with the elastic limiting portion and includes a driven portion disposed to correspond with the limiting hole. When the positioning post passes through the mounting hole area and moves toward the limiting hole area, the positioning post contacts the driven portion and drives the sliding member to slide from an unlocking position to a locking position, causing the sliding member to push the elastic limiting portion to undergo elastic deformation and engage with the positioning post, thereby securing the positioning post in the limiting hole area.

Description

Limiting device This disclosure relates to a limiting device, and more particularly to a limiting device applicable to a rack. In common server racks, power distributors are typically mounted on the rack using I-beam positioning posts. These posts are installed into keyhole-type mounting holes in the rack. Specifically, the keyhole-type mounting hole has a first opening area and a second opening area that are connected, with the inner diameter of the first opening area being larger than that of the second. During the installation of the I-beam positioning post into the keyhole-type mounting hole, the post first passes through the first opening area and then slides to the second opening area, thus completing the installation and positioning of the power distributor. However, when the power distributor is subjected to external force, the I-beam positioning post can easily slide from the second opening area to the first opening area, causing the power distributor to detach from the rack. Currently, the common practice is to use cable ties or stoppers to reinforce the power distributor, but these methods usually increase the difficulty of installation and removal or limit the flexibility of the cabling. This disclosure provides a limiting device that helps improve the ease and reliability of installation. This disclosure discloses a limiting device suitable for limiting a positioning post in a fixing hole of a frame. The fixing hole has a communicating mounting hole area and a limiting hole area. The limiting device includes a base and a sliding member. The base is fixed to the frame corresponding to the fixing hole. The base includes a main body and an elastic limiting part movably connected to the main body, and the elastic limiting part is located opposite the fixing hole. The sliding member is slidably disposed in an unlocked position or a locked position of the main body. The sliding member contacts the elastic limiting part and includes a driven part disposed corresponding to the limiting hole area. When the positioning post passes through the mounting hole area and moves towards the limiting hole area, the positioning post contacts the driven part and drives the sliding member to slide from the unlocked position to the locked position, causing the sliding member to push against the elastic limiting part, causing the elastic limiting part to elastically deform and engage the positioning post in the limiting hole area. Based on the above, when the positioning post moves from the mounting hole area to the limiting hole area, the limiting device can engage and fix the positioning post in the limiting hole area. Specifically, the elastic limiting part, pushed by the sliding member, can provide a structural stop for the positioning post to prevent it from sliding from the limiting hole area to the mounting hole area and detaching from the frame. Therefore, the limiting device disclosed here not only helps to improve the convenience of installing the positioning post to the frame, but also enhances the reliability of the positioning post after it is installed in the frame. To make the above-mentioned features and advantages disclosed herein more apparent and understandable, specific embodiments are described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings for detailed explanation. Figure 1A is an exploded view of a limiting device, a frame, and an object with positioning posts according to an embodiment of this disclosure. Figure 1B is an exploded view of the limiting device of Figure 1A from different perspectives. Figures 1C and 1D are schematic diagrams of the limiting device of Figure 1A installed on the frame. Referring to Figures 1A, 1C, and 1D, the limiting device 100 is detachably fixed to the frame 10. Before installing the object 20 onto the frame 10, the limiting device 100 must first be installed and fixed to the frame 10, and then alignment and locking are performed through the positioning posts 21 on the object 20. Figures 1E and 1F are cross-sectional views of the partially enlarged area of ​​Figure 1C along line segment 1E-1E and the partially enlarged area of ​​Figure 1D along line segment 1F-1F, respectively. Referring to Figures 1C to 1F, the frame 10 has a first side 10a, a second side 10b opposite to the first side 10a, and at least one fixing hole 11 extending from the first side 10a to the second side 10b. In detail, the fixing hole 11 has a connected mounting hole area 11a and a limiting hole area 11b, and the inner diameter of the mounting hole area 11a is larger than the inner diameter of the limiting hole area 11b. As shown in Figures 1B and 1F, the limiting device 100 includes a base 110 and a slider 120. The base 110 is fixed to the frame 10 corresponding to the fixing hole 11, and includes a main body 111 and an elastic limiting part 112 movably connected to the main body 111. On the other hand, the slider 120 is slidably disposed in one unlocked position or one locked position of the main body 111 and contacts the elastic limiting part 112. The main body 111, the elastic limiting part 112, and the slider 120 are located on the second side 10b of the frame 10, and the base 110 covers the fixing hole 11. For example, the elastic limiting part 112 can be a spring-loaded hook, and the sliding member 120, when actuated, can slide linearly back and forth on the main body 111. When the sliding member 120 slides back and forth on the main body 111, the contact position of the elastic limiting part 112 on the sliding member 120 changes, and the elastic limiting part 112 can elastically deform or elastically recover accordingly. As shown in Figures 1B and 1F, the base 110 further includes a first positioning part 113 connected to the main body 111, a second positioning part 114 connected to the first positioning part 113, a locking part 115 connected to the second positioning part 114, and a locking abutment part 116 connected to the main body 111. The second positioning part 114 and the locking abutment part 116 are respectively connected to opposite ends of the main body 111, and the elastic limiting part 112 is located between the second positioning part 114 and the locking abutment part 116. Alternatively, the locking part 115 and the locking abutment part 116 are respectively located at opposite ends of the main body 111, and the elastic limiting part 112 is located between the locking part 115 and the locking abutment part 116. As shown in Figures 1C to 1F, during the process of installing and fixing the limiting device 100 to the frame 10, the locking part 116 of the base 110 is first passed through the mounting hole area 11a from the first side 10a of the frame 10. Then, after the second positioning part 114 contacts the first side 10a, the base 110 is flipped so that the locking part 115 moves from the first side 10a through the mounting hole area 11a to the second side 10b, and the locking part 116 moves around the limiting hole area 11b. As shown in Figure 1F, when the locking part 116 abuts against the portion around the corresponding limiting hole area 11b on the second side 10b, one edge of the mounting hole area 11a engages with a slot 117 located between the second positioning part 114 and the engaging part 115. Alternatively, the second positioning part 114 and the engaging part 115 abut against the first side 10a and the second side 10b of the frame 10 respectively, clamping the edge of the mounting hole area 11a, thereby fixing the base 110 to the frame 10 and completing the installation of the limiting device 100, preventing the base 110 from accidentally detaching from the frame 10. For operators, the installation method of the limiting device 100 is simple, quick, and intuitive. On the other hand, the outer contour of the first positioning part 113 matches the inner contour of the mounting hole area 11a and is fixed in the mounting hole area 11a. By means of the structural cooperation or structural interference between the first positioning part 113, the second positioning part 114, the engaging part 115 and the abutting part 116 and the frame 10, it is possible to prevent the base 110 from sliding on the frame 10 in relative directions such as front-back, left-right and up-down. Figures 2A and 2B are schematic diagrams of a limiting device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, showing the installation and fixation of an object to a frame. Figures 2C and 2D are cross-sectional schematic diagrams along line segment 2C-2C of a partially enlarged area in Figure 2A and along line segment 2D-2D of a partially enlarged area in Figure 2B, respectively. Referring to Figures 1B, 1D, 2A, and 2C, the elastic limiting part 112 is located on the second side 10b of the frame 10, opposite the fixing hole 11. Specifically, the elastic limiting part 112 includes a spring arm 112a connected to the main body 111 and a hook 112b protruding from the end of the spring arm 112a, wherein the spring arm 112a is generally located opposite the limiting hole area 11b, and the hook 112b is generally located opposite the mounting hole area 11a, for example, adjacent to the boundary between the mounting hole area 11a and the limiting hole area 11b. As shown in Figures 1B, 1D, and 1F, the slider 120 includes at least one driven part 121 corresponding to the limiting hole area 11b. The driven part 121 is disposed between the main body 111 and the second side 10b of the frame 10. When the slider 120 slides on the main body 111, the driven part 121 slides between the main body 111 and the second side 10b of the frame 10. As shown in Figures 2A and 2B, the main body 111 has at least one groove 118, and the slider 120 also includes at least one sliding positioning part 122 connected to the driven part 121. In detail, the sliding positioning part 122 is slidably disposed in the groove 118. By cooperating with the groove 118, the slider 120, when agitated, can slide linearly on the main body 111. Specifically, the first positioning part 113 and a protrusion are respectively disposed on the upper and lower sides of the slide groove 118, thereby limiting the sliding positioning part 122 to the upper and lower positions by the first positioning part 113 and the protrusion when it slides in the slide groove 118. As shown in Figures 1B, 2A, and 2B, the driven part 121 includes two symmetrically arranged positioning spring arms 121a, wherein there are two sliding positioning parts 122, each connected to one of the two positioning spring arms 121a. Additionally, there are two sliding grooves 118, symmetrically arranged on the main body 111. Specifically, the two sliding positioning parts 122 are respectively slidably disposed in the two sliding grooves 118 to improve the sliding stability and reliability of the sliding member 120. Figures 3A and 3B are frontal views of the enlarged areas of Figure 2A and Figure 2B, respectively, along the line segments. In Figures 3A and 3B, the base 110 is drawn with dashed lines to show the correspondence between the driven part 121 of the slider 120 and the positioning post 21. As shown in Figures 2C and 3A, the slider 120 is in the unlocked position, and the two positioning spring arms 121a are symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of the limiting hole area 11b. As shown in Figures 2D and 3B, the two positioning spring arms 121a of the driven part 121 are located on the sliding path of the positioning post 21. When the positioning post 21 passes through the mounting hole area 11a and moves towards the limiting hole area 11b, the positioning post 21 contacts the two positioning spring arms 121a of the driven part 121, and drives the slider 120 to slide from the unlocked position to the locked position. When the slider 120 slides on the main body 111 from the unlocked position shown in FIG. 2C to the locked position shown in FIG. 2D, the slider 120 pushes against the elastic limiting part 112, causing the elastic limiting part 112 to elastically deform, for example, moving in the direction of the fixing hole 11 and engaging the positioning post 21, thereby fixing the positioning post 21 in the limiting hole area 11b. As shown in FIG. 2D, the elastic limiting part 112, pushed by the slider 120, can provide a structural stop for the positioning post 21, preventing the positioning post 21 from sliding from the limiting hole area 11b to the mounting hole area 11a and detaching from the frame 10. As shown in Figure 2D, the positioning post 21 is engaged with one edge of the limiting hole area 11b and fixed between the hook 112b and the edge of the limiting hole area 11b. That is, the hook 112b stops the positioning post 21 from sliding from the limiting hole area 11b to the mounting hole area 11a, preventing the positioning post 21 from sliding towards the mounting hole area 11a. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3B, the two positioning spring arms 121a of the driven part 121 can be pushed by the positioning post 21 and undergo moderate elastic deformation, clamping and fixing the positioning post 21. Conversely, when the slider 120 slides on the main body 111 from the locked position shown in Figures 2D and 3B to the unlocked position shown in Figures 2C and 3A, the elastic limiting part 112 can spring back and separate from the positioning post 21, releasing the engagement with the positioning post 21. Additionally, the two positioning spring arms 121a of the driven part 121 can slightly drive the positioning post 21 towards the mounting hole area 11a, facilitating the operator to quickly remove the positioning post 21 from the fixing hole 11 and remove the object 20 from the frame 10. As shown in Figures 2C, 2D, 3A, and 3B, after the positioning post 21 passes through the mounting hole area 11a and moves towards the limiting hole area 11b, the positioning post 21 can be fixed in the limiting hole area 11b, thereby securely mounting the object 20 onto the frame 10. Furthermore, by moving the slider 120, the structural limitation of the positioning post 21 on the frame 10 can be released, allowing the positioning post 21 to be quickly removed from the fixing hole 11 and the object 20 to be removed from the frame 10. With the assistance of the limiting device 100, the process of installing and removing the positioning post 21 from the frame 10 is simple, fast, and intuitive, and also enhances the reliability of the positioning post 21 after installation on the frame 10. As shown in Figures 1B, 2C, and 2D, the main body 111 has a first surface 111a facing the fixing hole 11 and a second surface 111b opposite to the first surface 111a. The slider 120 has a sliding positioning surface 120a that slides in contact with the second surface 111b and a recessed area 120b connecting to the sliding positioning surface 120a. When the slider 120 is in the unlocked position, at least a portion of the elastic limiting portion 112 is located within the recessed area 120b and contacts a bottom surface 120c of the recessed area 120b. Furthermore, when the slider 120 slides to the locked position, the elastic limiting portion 112 moves out of the recessed area 120b and contacts the sliding positioning surface 120a. Further, the elastic limiting portion 112 undergoes elastic deformation under the pushing force of the sliding positioning surface 120a, for example, moving in the direction of the fixing hole 11 and engaging with the positioning post 21. As shown in Figures 1B, 2C, and 2D, the main body 111 also has a first positioning recess 111c and a second positioning recess 111d spaced apart on the second surface 111b, and the slider 120 also has a positioning protrusion 120d protruding from the sliding positioning surface 120a. By engaging the first positioning recess 111c with the positioning protrusion 120d, the slider 120 can be fixed on the main body 111 in the unlocked position shown in Figure 2C, or by engaging the second positioning recess 111d with the positioning protrusion 120d. Since the slider 120 engages with the first positioning recess 111c and the second positioning recess 111d in the unlocked and locked positions respectively, the slider 120 can be fixed on the main body 111 in the unlocked position shown in Figure 2C and the locked position shown in Figure 2D, preventing the slider 120 from accidentally sliding on the main body 111. During the process of switching the slider 120 from the unlocked position shown in FIG2C to the locked position shown in FIG2D, the operator needs to move the slider 120 to release the engagement relationship between the first positioning recess 111c and the positioning protrusion 120d, and make the positioning protrusion 120d, which is separated from the first positioning recess 111c, slide towards the second positioning recess 111d, and then engage with the second positioning recess 111d to fix the slider 120 in the locked position shown in FIG2D. During the process of switching the slider 120 from the locked position shown in FIG2D to the unlocked position shown in FIG2C, the operator needs to move the slider 120 to release the engagement relationship between the second positioning recess 111d and the positioning protrusion 120d, and make the positioning protrusion 120d, which is separated from the second positioning recess 111d, slide towards the first positioning recess 111c, and then engage with the first positioning recess 111c, so as to fix the slider 120 in the unlocked position shown in FIG2C. In summary, when the positioning post moves from the mounting hole area to the limiting hole area, the positioning post can drive the sliding member to slide relative to the base. The sliding member then causes the elastic limiting part to elastically deform and engage with the positioning post, thereby fixing the positioning post in the limiting hole area. Specifically, the elastic limiting part, pushed by the sliding member, provides a structural stop for the positioning post, preventing it from sliding from the limiting hole area to the mounting hole area and detaching from the frame. Therefore, the limiting device disclosed here not only improves the convenience of installing the positioning post to the frame but also enhances the reliability of the positioning post after installation. Although this disclosure has been disclosed above with reference to embodiments, it is not intended to limit this disclosure. Anyone skilled in the art may make some modifications and refinements without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. Therefore, the scope of protection of this disclosure shall be determined by the appended claims. 10: Frame 10a: First side 10b: Second side 11: Fixing hole 11a: Mounting hole area 11b: Limiting hole area 20: Object 21: Positioning post 100: Limiting device 110: Base 111: Main body 111a: First surface 111b: Second surface 111c: First positioning recess 111d: Second positioning recess 112: Elastic limiting part 112a: Spring arm 112b: Hook 113: First positioning part 114: Second positioning part 115: Engaging part 116: Abutting part 117: Slot 118: Slide groove 120: Sliding part 120a: Sliding positioning surface 120b: Recessed area 120c: Bottom surface 120d: Positioning protrusion 121: Driven part 121a: Positioning spring arm 122: Sliding positioning part 1E-1E, 1F-1F, 2C-2C, 2D-2D: Line segment Figure 1A is an exploded view of a limiting device, a frame, and an object with a positioning post according to an embodiment of this disclosure. Figure 1B is an exploded view of the limiting device of Figure 1A from different perspectives. Figures 1C and 1D are schematic diagrams of the limiting device of Figure 1A installed on the frame. Figures 1E and 1F are cross-sectional schematic diagrams along line segment 1E-1E of a partially enlarged area in Figure 1C and along line segment 1F-1F of a partially enlarged area in Figure 1D, respectively. Figures 2A and 2B are schematic diagrams of the limiting device of an embodiment of this disclosure installing and fixing an object to the frame. Figures 2C and 2D are cross-sectional schematic diagrams along line segment 2C-2C of a partially enlarged area in Figure 2A and along line segment 2D-2D of a partially enlarged area in Figure 2B, respectively. Figures 3A and 3B are frontal schematic diagrams along line segments of a partially enlarged area in Figure 2A and a partially enlarged area in Figure 2B, respectively. 10: Rack 10a: First side 10b: Second side 11: Fixing hole 11a: Mounting hole area 11b: Limiting hole area 100: Limiting device 110: Base 111: Main body 112: Elastic limiting part 112a: Spinning arm 112b: Hook 113: First Positioning Section 114: Second Positioning Unit 115: Card-connecting section 116: Card Detachment 117: Card Slot 120: Slider 121: Follower 121a: Positioning spring arm

Claims

1. A limiting device is suitable for limiting a positioning post in a fixing hole of a frame, the fixing hole having a mounting hole area and a limiting hole area communicating with each other, the limiting device comprising: A base is fixed to the frame corresponding to the fixing hole. The base includes a main body and an elastic limiting part movably connected to the main body, with the elastic limiting part corresponding to the fixing hole. A slider is slidably disposed in an unlocked position or a locked position of the main body. The slider contacts the elastic limiting part and includes a driven part corresponding to the limiting hole area. When the positioning post passes through the mounting hole area and moves towards the limiting hole area, the positioning post contacts the driven part and drives the slider to slide from the unlocked position to the locked position, causing the slider to push against the elastic limiting part, resulting in elastic deformation of the elastic limiting part and engaging the positioning post in the limiting hole area. The limiting device as described in claim 1, wherein the main body has a first surface facing the fixing hole and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the slider has a sliding positioning surface that slides in contact with the second surface and a recessed area connected to the sliding positioning surface, when the slider is in the unlocked position, at least a portion of the elastic limiting portion is located in the recessed area, and when the slider slides to the locked position, the elastic limiting portion moves out of the recessed area and is pushed by the sliding positioning surface and elastically deformed. The limiting device as described in claim 2, wherein the main body portion further has a first positioning recess and a second positioning recess arranged at intervals on the second surface, and the slider further has a positioning protrusion protruding from the sliding positioning surface, the positioning protrusion being adapted to engage with the first positioning recess when the slider is in the unlocked position, and to engage with the second positioning recess when the slider is in the locked position. The limiting device as described in claim 1, wherein the main body has at least one groove, and the slider further includes at least one sliding positioning part connected to the driven part, the at least one sliding positioning part being slidably disposed in the at least one groove. The limiting device as described in claim 1, wherein the base further includes a first positioning part connected to the main body, a second positioning part connected to the first positioning part, and a locking part connected to the second positioning part, the first positioning part being fixed in the mounting hole area, and the second positioning part and the locking part clamping an edge of the mounting hole area. The limiting device as described in claim 5, wherein the frame has a first side and a second side opposite to the first side, the fixing hole extends from the first side to the second side, and the second positioning portion and the engaging portion respectively abut against the first side and the second side. The limiting device as described in claim 6, wherein the base further includes a locking portion connected to the main body, and the elastic limiting portion is located between the locking portion and the locking portion, the locking portion abutting against the portion around the limiting hole area on the second side. The limiting device as described in claim 5, wherein the base has a slot located between the second positioning portion and the engaging portion, and the edge of the mounting hole area engages with the slot. The limiting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame has a first side and a second side opposite to the first side, and the fixing hole extends from the first side to the second side, the main body, the elastic limiting part and the sliding member are located on the second side, and the base covers the fixing hole. The limiting device as described in claim 1, wherein the elastic limiting part includes a spring arm connected to the main body and a hook protruding from one end of the spring arm, and the driven part includes two positioning spring arms symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of the limiting hole area.

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