Slide rail assembly

Abstract

A slide rail assembly is provided and includes a first rail, a second rail, a third rail, a blocking member, an auxiliary member and a damping device. The first rail, the second and the third rail are displaceable relative to one another. The third rail is located between the first rail and the second rail. The auxiliary member is arranged on the second rail. The damping device is arranged on the third rail. When the second rail displaces from an extended position in a retracting direction, the damping device cannot provide any buffering effect until the blocking member is driven.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a slide rail product, and more specifically, to a slide rail assembly with a buffering mechanism for use in a multi-segment configuration.2. Description of the Prior Art

[0002] In U.S. Pat. No. 6,860,575 B2, it discloses a slide rail assembly with a safety mechanism. The slide rail assembly includes an outer slide track, an intermediate slide track, an inner slide track and a restraining member pivotally disposed on the intermediate slide track. The outer slide track includes a protruding plate. The intermediate slide track includes a protruding portion and a slot. A resilient plate is disposed between the restraining member and the protruding portion of the intermediate slide track. A safety protrusion is disposed on the restraining member and spaced apart from a rear end of the intermediate slide track by a distance, and the safety protrusion is located at a position corresponding to a rear end of the inner slide track and configured to abut against the rear end of the inner slide track. An unlatching protrusion is disposed on the restraining member and configured to stretch into the slot of the intermediate slide track, and the unlatching protrusion is configured to abut against the protruding plate of the outer slide track for driving a pivotal movement of the restraining member. During a retracting movement of the inner slide track, an upper flange of the inner slide track abuts against the safety protrusion to drive the inner slide track and the intermediate slide track to move synchronously together in a retracting direction, thereby maintaining a front end of the inner slide track and a front end of the intermediate slide track spaced apart from each other by a safety distance for preventing a user's finger from being pinched by the front end of the inner slide track and the front end of the intermediate slide track. After the inner slide track and the intermediate slide track move synchronously together by a distance in the retracting direction, the unlatching protrusion can be pushed by the protruding plate of the outer slide track to drive the restraining member to pivot to disengage the safety protrusion from the upper flange of the inner slide track, thereby allowing the inner slide track to be fully retracted relative to the intermediate slide track.

[0003] However, in order to meet various demands, it becomes an important topic to provide a different slide rail product.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] It is an objective of the present invention to provide a slide rail assembly with a buffering mechanism for use in a multi-segment configuration.

[0005] According to an aspect of the present invention, a slide rail

[0006] assembly includes a first rail, a second rail, a third rail, a fourth rail, a releasing member, an auxiliary member, a blocking member and a damping device. The third rail is located between the first rail and the second rail. The fourth rail is located between the third rail and the second rail. The first rail, the second rail, the third rail and the fourth rail are displaceable relative to one another, and each of the first rail, the second rail, the third rail and the fourth rail includes a first end and a second end opposite to the first end. The releasing member is arranged on the first rail. The auxiliary member is arranged on the second rail. The blocking member is movably mounted on the fourth rail. The damping device is arranged on the third rail. When the slide rail assembly is in an extended state, the first end of the fourth rail exceeds the first end of the third rail and the second rail is located at an extended position with the first end of the second rail exceeding the first end of the fourth rail. When the second rail displaces from the extended position toward a predetermined position between the extended position and a retracted position in a retracting direction, the second rail is configured to abut against the blocking member in a first state to drive the fourth rail to displace synchronously with the second rail, such that a predetermined distance is maintained between the first end of the second rail and the first end of the fourth rail. When the second rail displaces from the predetermined position toward the retracted position in the retracting direction, the releasing member is configured to abut against the blocking member to drive the blocking member from the first state to a second state for terminating a synchronous displacement of the second rail and the fourth rail in the retracting direction so as to reduce the predetermined distance, thereby allowing the damping device to abut against the auxiliary member on the second rail to provide a resistance force for decelerating a displacement of the second rail from the predetermined position toward the retracted position in the retracting direction.

[0007] According to another aspect of the present invention, a slide rail assembly includes a first rail, a second rail, a third rail, an auxiliary member and a damping device. The third rail is located between the first rail and the second rail, and the first rail, the second rail and the third rail are displaceable relative to one another. The auxiliary member is arranged on the second rail. The damping device is arranged on the third rail. When the second rail displaces from an extended position in a retracting direction, the third rail displaces relative to the first rail in the retracting direction, and the damping device is configured to abut against the auxiliary member on the second rail to provide a resistance force for decelerating a displacement of the second rail from the extended position in the retracting direction.

[0008] In summary, the present invention is configured to provide the resistance force for buffering a retracting movement of the slide rail assembly when the slide rail assembly is retracted. Preferably, in the present invention, the damping device is configured to provide the resistance force for decelerating the displacement of the second rail from the extended position toward the retracted position in the retracting direction after the blocking member is driven.

[0009] These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are schematic diagrams of a slide rail assembly at different views according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] FIG. 3 is a sectional diagram of the slide rail assembly according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] FIG. 4 is a partial exploded diagram of the slide rail assembly according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] FIG. 5 is a partial assembly diagram of the slide rail assembly according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] FIG. 6 is a diagram of the slide rail assembly with a second rail located at an extended position according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] FIG. 7 is a diagram of the slide rail assembly with a second rail displaced away from the extended position in a retracting direction according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 8 is a diagram of the slide rail assembly with the second rail displaced away from a position as shown in FIG. 7 in the retracting direction according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] FIG. 9 is a diagram of the slide rail assembly with the second rail displaced away from a position as shown in FIG. 8 in the retracting direction according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 10 is a diagram of the slide rail assembly with the second rail located at a retracted position according to the embodiment of the present invention.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. In this regard, directional terminology, such as “top”, “bottom”, “left”, “right”, “front”, “back”, etc., is used with reference to the orientation of the Figure(s) being described. The components of the present invention can be positioned in a number of different orientations. As such, the directional terminology is used for purposes of illustration and is in no way limiting. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions will be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive. Also, if not specified, the term “connect” is intended to mean either an indirect or direct mechanical connection. Thus, if a first device is connected to a second device, that connection may be through a direct mechanical connection, or through an indirect mechanical connection via other devices and connections.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a slide rail assembly 20 includes a first rail 22, a second rail 24 and a third rail 26. Preferably, the slide rail assembly 20 further includes a fourth rail 28 and a fifth rail 30. The first rail 22, the second rail 24, the third rail 26, the fourth rail 28 and the fifth rail 30 are displaceable relative to one another in a longitudinal direction. In this embodiment, by way of example, the longitudinal direction can be defined by a length direction of a slide rail, e.g., the first rail 22, the second rail 24, the third rail 26, the fourth rail 28 or the fifth rail 30, and parallel to an X axis. A transverse direction can be defined by a lateral direction of the slide rail, e.g., the first rail 22, the second rail 24, the third rail 26, the fourth rail 28 or the fifth rail 30, and parallel to a Y axis. A vertical direction can be defined by a height direction of the slide rail, e.g., the first rail 22, the second rail 24, the third rail 26, the fourth rail 28 or the fifth rail 30.

[0021] The third rail 26 is located between the first rail 22 and the second rail 24. The fourth rail 28 is located between the third rail 26 and the second rail 24. The fifth rail 30 is located between the first rail 22 and the third rail 26. Besides, each of the first rail 22, the second rail 24, the third rail 26, the fourth rail 28 and the fifth rail 30 includes a first end and a second end opposite to the first end. For example, the first end and the second end of each of the first rail 22, the second rail 24, the third rail 26, the fourth rail 28 and the fifth rail 30 can be a front end and a rear end of each of the first rail 22, the second rail 24, the third rail 26, the fourth rail 28 and the fifth rail 30, respectively. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. Specifically, the first rail 22 includes a first end 22a and a second end 22b opposite to the first end 22a. The second rail 24 includes a first end 24a and a second end 24b opposite to the first end 24a. The third rail 26 includes a first end 26a and a second end 26b opposite to the first end 26a. The fourth rail 28 includes a first end 28a and a second end 28b opposite to the first end 28a. The fifth rail 30 includes a first end 30a and a second end 30b opposite to the first end 30a.

[0022] The slide rail assembly 20 further includes a releasing member 32, an auxiliary member 34, a blocking member 36 and a damping device 38.

[0023] The releasing member 32 is arranged, e.g., fixed, on the first rail 22. Preferably, the releasing member 32 is located adjacent to the second end 22b of the first rail 22.

[0024] The auxiliary member 34 is arranged, e.g., fixed, on the second rail 24. Preferably, the auxiliary member 34 is located adjacent to the first end 24a of the second rail 24.

[0025] The blocking member 36 is movably mounted on the fourth rail 28. Preferably, the blocking member 36 is located adjacent to the second end 28b of the fourth rail 28. Moreover, the blocking member 36 is pivotally connected to the fourth rail 28 by a shaft member 40, and the slide rail assembly 20 further includes a resilient member 42 configured to provide a resilient force to the blocking member 36. In this embodiment, by way of example, the resilient member 42 is a torsional spring. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, in an alternative embodiment, the resilient member 42 can be a resilient plate, an extension spring or any other resilient object.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 2, the damping device 38 is arranged on the third rail 26, and the damping device 38 includes an extending section 43 configured to retractably protrude from the first end 26a of the third rail 26.

[0027] Preferably, the third rail 26 includes a first rail portion 44 and a second rail portion 46 connected to the first rail portion 44. In this embodiment, by way of example, the first rail portion 44 and the second rail portion 46 are fixedly connected to each other by at least one connecting feature 48 in a riveting manner or an engaging manner. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 3, the fifth rail 30 is movably mounted between the first rail 22 and the first rail portion 44 of the third rail 26, and the fourth rail 28 is movably mounted between the second rail portion 46 of the third rail 26 and the second rail 24.

[0029] Preferably, the first rail portion 44 and the second rail portion 46 of the third rail 26 are disposed in a back-to-back arrangement. The first rail portion 44 includes 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 first rail portion 44. The first wall 50a, the second wall 50b and the longitudinal wall 52 of the first rail portion 44 cooperatively define a predetermined space N of the first rail portion 44. The second rail portion 46 includes a first wall 54a, a second wall 54b and a longitudinal wall 56 connected between the first wall 54a and the second wall 54b of the second rail portion 46. The first wall 54a, the second wall 50b and the longitudinal wall 56 of the second rail portion 46 cooperatively define a channel K of the second rail portion 46. As shown in FIG. 2, the longitudinal wall 52 of the first rail portion 44 and the longitudinal wall 56 of the second rail portion 46 are fixedly connected to each other by the connecting feature 48. Besides, as shown in FIG. 3, an opening of the predetermined space N of the first rail portion 44 and an opening of the channel K of the second rail portion 46 face in two opposite directions. For example, the opening of the predetermined space N of the first rail portion 44 can face in a first transverse direction T1, and the opening of the channel K of the second rail portion 46 can face in a second transverse direction T2 opposite to the first transverse direction T1.

[0030] Preferably, the first rail 22 and the second rail portion 46 of the third rail 26 have substantially identical structures. The fifth rail 30 and the fourth rail 28 have substantially identical structures. The second rail 24 and the first rail portion 44 of the third rail 26 have substantially identical structures.

[0031] Preferably, the first rail 22 includes a channel K′ configured to accommodate the fifth rail 30, and the fifth rail 30 includes a first supporting channel configured to accommodate the first rail portion 44 of the third rail 26. Accordingly, the first rail 22, the fifth rail 30 and the first rail portion 44 of the third rail 26 can cooperatively form a first slide rail device, and the first rail 22, the fifth rail 30 and the first rail portion 44 of the third rail 26 can be considered as an outer rail, a middle rail and an inner rail of the first slide rail device, respectively. Furthermore, the channel K of the second rail portion 46 of the third rail 26 is configured to accommodate the fourth rail 28, and the fourth rail 28 includes a second supporting channel configured to accommodate the second rail 24. Accordingly, the second rail portion 46 of the third rail 26, the fourth rail 28 and the second rail 24 can cooperatively form a second slide rail device, and the second rail portion 46 of the third rail 26, the fourth rail 28 and the second rail 24 can be considered as an outer rail, a middle rail and an inner rail of the second slide rail device, respectively. In other words, the slide rail assembly 20 can be considered as a combined structure including the first and second slide rail devices, which are joined together and in three-segment configurations.

[0032] Preferably, a plurality of first aid-sliding devices 58 are mounted between the first rail 22 and the fifth rail 30. For example, the first aid-sliding device 58 can include a strip member and a plurality of first rolling balls B1 mounted on the strip member and configured to be supported between the first rail 22 and the fifth rail 30. A second aid-sliding device 60 is mounted between the fifth rail 30 and the first rail portion 44 of the third rail 26. For example, the second aid-sliding device 60 can include a retaining member and a plurality of second rolling balls B2 mounted on the retaining member and configured to be supported between the fifth rail 30 and the first rail portion 44 of the third rail 26. The first aid-sliding devices 58 are for facilitating a smooth relative displacement of the first rail 22 and the fifth rail 30, and the second aid-sliding device 60 are for facilitating a smooth relative displacement of the fifth rail 30 and the first rail portion 44 of the third rail 26.

[0033] Furthermore, a plurality of third aid-sliding devices 62 are mounted between the second rail portion 46 of the third rail 26 and the fourth rail 28. For example, the third aid-sliding device 62 can include a strip structure and a plurality of third rolling balls B3 mounted on the strip structure and configured to be supported between the second rail portion 46 of the third rail 26 and the fourth rail 28. A fourth aid-sliding device 64 is mounted between the fourth rail 28 and the second rail 24. For example, the fourth aid-sliding device 64 can include a retaining structure and a plurality of fourth rolling balls B4 mounted on the retaining structure and configured to be supported between the fourth rail 28 and the second rail 24. The third aid-sliding devices 58 are for facilitating a smooth relative displacement of the second rail portion 46 of the third rail 26 and the fourth rail 28, and the second aid-sliding device 60 are for facilitating a smooth relative displacement of the fourth rail 28 and the second rail 24.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the damping device 38 is mounted on at least one of the first rail portion 44 and the second rail portion 46 of the third rail 26. In this embodiment, by way of example, a portion of the longitudinal wall 52 of the first rail portion 44 and a portion of the longitudinal wall 56 of the second rail portion 46 of the third rail 26 cooperatively define an auxiliary space M communicated with two opposite sides of the third rail 26 and configured to accommodate the damping device 38. For example, the auxiliary space M can be formed between a first predetermined wall portion 61 of the longitudinal wall 52 of the first rail portion 44 and a second predetermined wall portion 63 of the longitudinal wall 56 of the second rail portion 46 of the third rail 26.

[0035] The damping device 38 includes a cylinder 66 and a rod member 68 retractable and extendable relative to the cylinder 66. The cylinder 66 is filled with a buffer medium. For example, the buffer medium can be buffer fluid, such as buffer oil or buffer liquid. Preferably, an auxiliary resilient member, which is not shown in the figures, is disposed inside the cylinder 66 and configured to provide a resilient force to the rod member 68. For example, the rod member 68 can be a piston rod.

[0036] Preferably, the damping device 38 includes a first predetermined end 72 and a second predetermined end 74 opposite to the first predetermined end 72. The extending section 43 and an auxiliary section 70 are respectively mounted on a distal portion of the cylinder 66 and a distal portion of the rod member 68 away from each other. For example, the extending section 43 can be an extending object having a predetermined longitudinal length. The extending section 43 includes a mounting portion 71 configured to be mounted externally on, e.g., fixedly connected to or engaged with, the cylinder 66 and located adjacent to the first predetermined end 72, and therefore the extending section 43 can be considered as a part of the cylinder 66. Additionally, for example, the auxiliary section 70 can be a block-shaped body or a column-shaped body. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. A size of the auxiliary section 70 is greater than a size of the rod member 68. The auxiliary section 70 is mounted on, e.g., fixedly connected to, the rod member 68 and located adjacent to the second predetermined end 74, and therefore, the auxiliary section 70 can be considered as a part of the rod member 68. The extending section 43 and the auxiliary section 70 are for extending an overall length of the damping device 38 in the longitudinal direction.

[0037] Preferably, when the damping device 38 is in a pre-buffering state, a predetermined wall 75 of the mounting portion 71 abuts against the first predetermined wall portion 61, and the extending section 43 protrudes from the mounting portion 71 by a predetermined length in the longitudinal direction, such that a first end, e.g., a front end, of the extending section 43 exceeds the first end 26a of the third rail 26 by an extending distance J. Besides, when the damping device 38 is in the pre-buffering state, the auxiliary section 70 abuts against the second predetermined wall portion 63.

[0038] Preferably, the extending section 43 and the predetermined wall 75 are bent perpendicularly relative to each other, so as to misalign the extending section 43 and the first predetermined wall portion 61 in the longitudinal direction, thereby preventing any interference between the extending section 43 and the first predetermined wall portion 61.

[0039] In this embodiment, one of the longitudinal wall 52 of the first rail portion 44 and the longitudinal wall 56 of the second rail portion 46 includes at least one first mounting feature 76 located inside the auxiliary space M, and the auxiliary section 70 includes at least one second mounting feature 78 configured to be connected to the first mounting feature 76. For example, the at least one first mounting feature 76 can include a pair of first mounting features 76, and the at least one second mounting feature 78 can include a pair of second mounting features 78. Additionally, for example, one of the first mounting feature 76 and the second mounting feature 78 can be a longitudinal protruding section, and the other one of the first mounting feature 76 and the second mounting feature 78 can be a longitudinal recessed section configured to be mated with the longitudinal protruding section. The first mounting feature 76 and the second mounting feature 78 are for holding or supporting the auxiliary section 70, thereby enhancing reliability and stability during retraction and extension of the rod member 68 relative to the cylinder 66. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 6, at least one auxiliary feature 80 is arranged on the fourth rail 28. For example, the auxiliary feature 80 can be a protruding object. Besides, when the slide rail assembly 20 is in an extended state (as shown in FIG. 6), the mounting portion 71 abuts against the first predetermined wall portion 61 (as shown in FIG. 5), and the first end of the extending section 43 exceeds the first end 26a of the third rail 26 by the extending distance J (as shown in FIG. 5).

[0041] When the slide rail assembly 20 moves to the extended state by displacing the second rail 24, the fourth rail 28, the third rail 26 and the fifth rail 30 relative to the first rail 22 in an opening direction D1, the auxiliary feature 80 on the fourth rail 28 can abut against the auxiliary section 70 of the damping device 38 to drive the auxiliary section 70 of the damping device 38 to move away from the second predetermined wall portion 63, thereby driving the rod member 68 to retract relative to the cylinder 66 to provide a resistance force for decelerating a displacement of the fourth rail 28 in the opening direction D1, so as to generate an extension buffering effect during a final stage of extension of the slide rail assembly 20 until the slide rail assembly 20 reaches the extended state, e.g., a fully extended state.

[0042] Furthermore, when the slide rail assembly 20 is in the extended state, the first end 28a of the fourth rail 28 exceeds the first end 26a of the third rail 26, and the second rail 24 is located at an extended position E with the first end 24a of the second rail 24 exceeding the first end 28a of the fourth rail 28. Preferably, when the slide rail assembly 20 is in the extended state, the first end 30a of the fifth rail 30 and the first end 26a of the third rail 26 exceed the first end 22a of the first rail 22 and the first end 30a of the fifth rail 30, respectively.

[0043] Preferably, the blocking member 36 can be retained at a first state S1 in response to the resilient force provided by the resilient member 42. In this embodiment, by way of example, the resilient member 42 includes two resilient portions connected to a first supporting feature 82 of the fourth rail 28 and a second supporting feature 84 of the blocking member 36, respectively.

[0044] Preferably, the fourth rail 28 can support the blocking member 36 in the first state S1.

[0045] Preferably, when the slide rail assembly 20 is in the extended state, the blocking member 36 and the releasing member 32 are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined longitudinal distance.

[0046] Preferably, the releasing member 32 includes a guiding portion 86. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the guiding portion 86 can be an inclined surface or an arc surface. However, the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0047] Preferably, as shown in FIG. 1, the releasing member 32 further includes a first gap G1 and a second gap G2, and the guiding portion 86 is located between the first gap G1 and the second gap G2.

[0048] When the second rail 24 displaces from the extended position E in the retracting direction D2 by the preset distance, e.g., when the second rail 24 displaces from the extended position E toward a predetermined position as shown in FIG. 8 in the retracting direction D2 beyond an intermediate position as shown in FIG. 7, a portion of the second rail 24, e.g., the second end 24b of the second rail 24, can abut against the blocking member 36 in the first state S1 to drive the fourth rail 28 to displace synchronously with the second rail 24, such that a predetermined distance Q is maintained between the first end 24a of the second rail 24 and the first end 28a of the fourth rail 28, thereby preventing retraction of the second rail 24 relative to the fourth rail 28.

[0049] Preferably, when the second rail 24 and the fourth rail 28 displace synchronously together in the retracting direction D2, since the auxiliary feature 80 does not abut against the auxiliary section 70 of the damping device 38, the rod member 68 is driven by the buffer medium and / or the auxiliary resilient member inside the cylinder 66 to extend relative to the cylinder 66, thereby driving the auxiliary section 70 to abut against the second predetermined wall portion 63 to switch the damping device 38 back to the pre-buffering state.

[0050] When the second rail 24 further displaces from the predetermined position as shown in FIG. 8 in the retracting direction D2, e.g., toward a retracted position R as shown in FIG. 10, the guiding portion 86 of the releasing member 32 is configured to abut against the blocking member 36 to drive the blocking member 36 from the first state S1 as shown in FIG. 8 to a second state S2 as shown in FIG. 9 by moving, e.g., pivoting, in a predetermined direction r for terminating a synchronous displacement of the second rail 24 and the fourth rail 28 in the retracting direction D2, so as to allow the second rail 24 to retract relative to the fourth rail 28 to reduce the predetermined distance Q, thereby allowing the damping device 38 to abut against the auxiliary member 34 on the second rail 24 to provide a resistance force for decelerating a displacement of the second rail 24 from the predetermined position toward the retracted position R in the retracting direction D2. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, after the third rail 26, the fourth rail 28 and the fifth rail 30 are retracted relative to the first rail 22, the extending section 43 of the damping device 38 can abut against the auxiliary member 34 on the second rail 24 displacing in the retracting direction D2 to drive the rod member 68 to retract relative to the cylinder 66 to provide the resistance force for decelerating a displacement of the second rail 24 toward the retracted position R in the retracting direction D2, so as to generate a retraction buffering effect during a final stage of retraction of the slide rail assembly 20 until the slide rail assembly 20 reaches the retracted state, e.g., a fully retracted state.

[0051] Preferably, the second rail 24 includes a first wall 88a, a second wall 88b and a longitudinal wall 90 connected between the first wall 88a and the second wall 88b of the second rail 24. When the second rail 24 is located at the retracted position R, the first wall 88a and the second wall 88b of the second rail 24 are inserted into the first gap G1 and the second gap G2 of the releasing member 32, respectively.

[0052] It should be noticed that, as mentioned above, when the second rail 24, the fourth rail 28, the third rail 26 and the fifth rail 30 are displaced relative to the first rail 22 in the opening direction D1 to switch the slide rail assembly 20 from the retracted state to the extended state, the auxiliary feature 80 on the fourth rail 28 can abut against the auxiliary section 70 of the damping device 38 to drive the auxiliary section 70 of the damping device 38 to move away from the second predetermined wall portion 63, thereby driving the rod member 68 to retract relative to the cylinder 66 so as to generate the extension buffering effect during the final stage of the extension of the slide rail assembly 20 until the slide rail assembly 20 reaches the extended state.

[0053] From the above, the slide rail assembly 20 of the present invention includes the following characteristics.

[0054] 1. The slide rail assembly 20 has at least three segments. When the second rail 24 displaces from the extended position E in the retracting direction D2, the blocking member 36 in the first state S1 is configured to: (1) allow the fourth rail 28 to displace synchronously with the second rail 24 in the retracting direction D2; (2) prevent the second rail 24 from fully retracting relative to the fourth rail 28 and maintain the predetermined distance Q between the first end 24a of the second rail 24 and the first end 28a of the fourth rail 28 for preventing a user's finger from being pinched by the first end 24a of the second rail 24 and the first end 28a of the fourth rail 28; (3) prevent the damping device 38 from providing any resistance force to the second rail 24 or the fourth rail 28. After the guiding portion 86 of the releasing member 32 abuts against the blocking member 36 to drive the blocking member 36 from the first state S1 to the second state S2 for terminating the synchronous displacement of the second rail 24 and the fourth rail 28 in the retracting direction D2, the second rail 24 can retract relative to the fourth rail 28 to reduce the predetermined distance Q, thereby allowing the damping device 38 to abut against the auxiliary member 34 on the second rail 24 to provide the retraction buffering effect during the final stage of the retraction of the slide rail assembly 20 until the second rail 24 reaches the retracted position R, i.e., the slide rail assembly 20 reaches the retracted state.

[0055] 2. The second rail 24 is only allowed to retract relative to the fourth rail 28 to reduce the predetermined distance Q for allowing the damping device 38 to abut against the auxiliary member 34 on the second rail 24 to provide the retraction buffering effect during the final stage of the retraction of the slide rail assembly 20 until the second rail 24 reaches the retracted position R, i.e., the slide rail assembly 20 reaches the retracted state. Therefore, the damping device 38 does not provide any buffering effect before the third rail 26, the fourth rail 28 and the fifth rail 30 are retracted relative to the first rail 22.

[0056] 3. The third rail 26 includes the first rail portion 44 and the second rail portion 46 connected, e.g., fixedly connected, to each other. The fifth rail 30 is movably mounted between the first rail 22 and the first rail portion 44 of the third rail 26, and the fourth rail 28 is movably mounted between the second rail portion 46 of the third rail 26 and the second rail 24.

[0057] 4. The damping device 38 can provide the retraction buffering effect during the retraction of the slide rail assembly 20 and further provide the extension buffering effect during the extension of the slide rail assembly 20.

[0058] Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A slide rail assembly comprising:a first rail;a second rail;a third rail located between the first rail and the second rail;a fourth rail located between the third rail and the second rail, the first rail, the second rail, the third rail and the fourth rail being displaceable relative to one another, and each of the first rail, the second rail, the third rail and the fourth rail comprising a first end and a second end opposite to the first end;a releasing member arranged on the first rail;an auxiliary member arranged on the second rail;a blocking member movably mounted on the fourth rail; anda damping device arranged on the third rail;wherein when the slide rail assembly is in an extended state, the first end of the fourth rail exceeds the first end of the third rail, and the second rail is located at an extended position with the first end of the second rail exceeding the first end of the fourth rail;wherein when the second rail displaces from the extended position toward a predetermined position between the extended position and a retracted position in a retracting direction, the second rail is configured to abut against the blocking member in a first state to drive the fourth rail to displace synchronously with the second rail, such that a predetermined distance is maintained between the first end of the second rail and the first end of the fourth rail;wherein when the second rail displaces from the predetermined position toward the retracted position in the retracting direction, the releasing member is configured to abut against the blocking member to drive the blocking member from the first state to a second state for terminating a synchronous displacement of the second rail and the fourth rail in the retracting direction so as to reduce the predetermined distance, thereby allowing the damping device to abut against the auxiliary member on the second rail to provide a resistance force for decelerating a displacement of the second rail from the predetermined position toward the retracted position in the retracting direction.

2. The slide rail assembly of claim 1, further comprising a fifth rail located between the first rail and the third rail, the fifth rail comprising a first end and a second end opposite to the first end of the fifth rail, and when the slide rail assembly is in the extended state, the first end of the fifth rail and the first end of the third rail exceeding the first end of the first rail and the first end of the fifth rail, respectively.

3. The slide rail assembly of claim 2, wherein the third rail comprises a first rail portion and a second rail portion, the fifth rail is movably mounted between the first rail and the first rail portion of the third rail, and the fourth rail is movably mounted between the second rail portion of the third rail and the second rail.

4. The slide rail assembly of claim 3, wherein the first rail portion and the second rail portion are disposed in a back-to-back arrangement, each of the first rail portion and the second rail portion comprises a first wall, a second wall and a longitudinal wall connected between the first wall and the second wall, and the longitudinal wall of the first rail portion and the longitudinal wall of the second rail portion are immovably connected to each other.

5. The slide rail assembly of claim 1, wherein the releasing member is located adjacent to the second end of the first rail.

6. The slide rail assembly of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary member is located adjacent to the first end of the second rail.

7. The slide rail assembly of claim 1, wherein the blocking member is pivotally connected to the fourth rail, and the slide rail assembly further comprises a resilient member configured to provide a resilient force to the blocking member.

8. The slide rail assembly of claim 1, wherein the blocking member is located adjacent to the second end of the fourth rail.

9. The slide rail assembly of claim 1, wherein the damping device comprises an extending section configured to retractably protrude from the first end of the third rail for abutting against the auxiliary member on the second rail to provide the resistance force for decelerating the displacement of the second rail from the predetermined position toward the retracted position in the retracting direction.

10. The slide rail assembly of claim 1, wherein when the second rail displaces from the retracted position toward the extended position in an opening direction, the fourth rail and the third rail displace relative to the first rail in the opening direction, and the damping device is configured to abut against at least one auxiliary feature on the fourth rail to provide another resistance force for decelerating a displacement of the second rail from the retracted position toward the extended position in the opening direction.

11. A slide rail assembly comprising:a first rail;a second rail;a third rail located between the first rail and the second rail, and the first rail, the second rail and the third rail being displaceable relative to one another;an auxiliary member arranged on the second rail; anda damping device arranged on the third rail;wherein when the second rail displaces from an extended position in a retracting direction, the third rail displaces relative to the first rail in the retracting direction, and the damping device is configured to abut against the auxiliary member on the second rail to provide a resistance force for decelerating a displacement of the second rail from the extended position in the retracting direction.

12. The slide rail assembly of claim 11, further comprising a fourth rail and a fifth rail, the third rail comprising a first rail portion and a second rail portion connected to the first rail portion, the fifth rail being movably mounted between the first rail and the first rail portion of the third rail, and the fourth rail being movably mounted between the second rail portion of the third rail and the second rail.

13. The slide rail assembly of claim 12, wherein each of the first rail portion and the second rail portion comprises a first wall, a second wall and a longitudinal wall connected between the first wall and the second wall, and the longitudinal wall of the first rail portion and the longitudinal wall of the second rail portion are immovably connected to each other.

14. The slide rail assembly of claim 12, further comprising a blocking member movably mounted on the fourth rail, each of the first rail, the second rail, the third rail, the fourth rail and the fifth rail comprising a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, when the slide rail assembly is in an extended state, the first end of the fourth rail exceeds the first end of the third rail and the second rail is located at the extended position with the first end of the second rail exceeding the first end of the fourth rail, and when the second rail displaces from the extended position toward a predetermined position between the extended position and a retracted position in the retracting direction, the second rail is configured to abut against the blocking member in a first state to drive the fourth rail to displace synchronously with the second rail, such that a predetermined distance is maintained between the first end of the second rail and the first end of the fourth rail.

15. The slide rail assembly of claim 14, further comprising a releasing member arranged on the first rail, and when the second rail displaces from the predetermined position toward the retracted position in the retracting direction, the releasing member being configured to abut against the blocking member to drive the blocking member from the first state to a second state for terminating a synchronous displacement of the second rail and the fourth rail in the retracting direction so as to reduce the predetermined distance, thereby allowing the damping device to abut against the auxiliary member on the second rail to provide the resistance force for decelerating a displacement of the second rail from the predetermined position toward the retracted position in the retracting direction.

16. The slide rail assembly of claim 15, wherein the releasing member is located adjacent to the second end of the first rail.

17. The slide rail assembly of claim 15, wherein the damping device comprises an extending section configured to retractably protrude from the first end of the third rail for abutting against the auxiliary member on the second rail to provide the resistance force for decelerating the displacement of the second rail from the predetermined position toward the retracted position in the retracting direction.

18. The slide rail assembly of claim 14, wherein the blocking member is pivotally connected to the fourth rail, and the slide rail assembly further comprises a resilient member configured to provide a resilient force to the blocking member.

19. The slide rail assembly of claim 12, wherein the auxiliary member is located adjacent to the first end of the second rail.

20. The slide rail assembly of claim 12, wherein the first rail portion and the second rail portion of the third rail are disposed in a back-to-back arrangement.

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