Bracket device for rack system and slide rail assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing bracket devices for slide rail assemblies in rack systems face safety concerns due to potential unlocking under shock forces, leading to instability and risk of damage or injury, as the fastening member can move away from the locking position, causing the slide rail assembly to fall or the carried object to collide with the mounting member.

Innovation Solution

A bracket device with a fastening member that includes a supporting part with a second vertex, which, when locked, is adjacent to the mounting member's first vertex, providing enhanced stability and preventing unlocking by abutting against the carried object or the rack surface upon impact, ensuring the fastening member remains locked even under strong forces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the fastening member is designed to lock the post, then the mounting stability is improved, but under strong shock forces the fastening member may move away from the locking position causing safety issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting stabilityVSAvoidshock force impact
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The supporting part is pre-positioned adjacent to the mounting member with vertices at substantially the same longitudinal position before any shock occurs. This preliminary positioning ensures that when shock forces act on the system, the supporting part is already in place to immediately provide support and prevent the fastening member from moving away from the locking position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The supporting part acts as an intermediary element between the fastening member and the mounting member. When shock forces are applied, the supporting part absorbs and distributes these forces, preventing direct transmission to the fastening member that would cause it to move from the locking position. The supporting part mediates the interaction between the fastening member and external shock forces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the fastening part blocks the post to prevent detachment, then the locking reliability is improved, but under strong impact the fastening member may be shocked to the unlocking position

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocking reliabilityVSAvoidimpact resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The supporting part is pre-positioned adjacent to the mounting member with vertices at substantially the same longitudinal position before any impact occurs. This preliminary positioning ensures that when impact forces act on the system, the supporting part is already in place to immediately provide support and prevent the fastening member from moving away from the locking position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The supporting part provides beforehand cushioning by being positioned to receive and absorb impact forces before they can reach the fastening member. When the carried object or rack experiences strong impact, the supporting part acts as a cushion that absorbs the shock energy, preventing it from transmitting to the fastening member and causing unintended unlocking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Shape

If the second vertex of the supporting part and the first vertex of the mounting member are positioned at the same longitudinal location, then the structural compactness is improved, but the design complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural compactnessVSAvoidvertex positioning precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention specifies that the vertices are positioned at 'substantially the same longitudinal position' rather than requiring exact coincidence. This parameter specification allows for practical manufacturing tolerances while achieving the desired structural compactness and functional effectiveness, balancing precision requirements with manufacturability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3576507B1Bracket device for rack system and slide rail assembly
Publication Date: 2021.02.17 KING SLIDE WORKS CO LTD
  • EP3576507B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3576507B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3576507B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A bracket device (26, 200, 300) for a rack system includes a side wall (38), a mounting member (40) and a fastening member (42, 201, 301). The mounting member (40) is arranged adjacent to the side wall (38). The mounting member (40) has a first vertex (47). The fastening member (42, 201, 301) is moveable relative to the side wall (38). The fastening member (42, 201, 301) includes a supporting part (52, 202, 302) having a second vertex (54, 204, 304). When the fastening member (42, 201, 301) is located at a locking position, the second vertex (54, 204, 304) of the supporting part (52, 202, 302) and the first vertex (47) of the mounting member (40) are substantially located at a same longitudinal position along a longitudinal direction.