Slide Assembly Bracket-Rail Support to Prevent Sagging and Twist

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional support devices for slide assemblies fail to maintain stability due to the weight of cable management arms and cables causing the rails to sag or twist relative to the rear bracket, compromising the overall support system.

Innovation Solution

A support device with a bracket featuring a pair of support portions and a side portion, where a rail with outer walls and a side wall is connected, incorporating first and second support sections, protrusions, and contact faces to ensure stable alignment and prevent sagging or twisting by engaging the protruding portions with the supporting faces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the rear bracket is movably connected to adjust the length of the slide assembly, then the adaptability of the slide assembly is improved, but the stability of the support structure deteriorates under heavy cable weight

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustability of slide assembly lengthVSAvoidstability of rail support under cable weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The support portion is divided into multiple functional sections: a first support section extending from the side portion, a second support section bending from the first support section, and multiple protrusions distributed at different positions. This segmentation allows each section to perform specific functions - the first support section provides primary support, the second support section provides additional support and positioning, and the protrusions provide localized support points - collectively enhancing stability while maintaining adjustability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple protrusions on the bracket and corresponding recesses on the rail act as intermediary elements that distribute the load from the cable management arm and cables across multiple contact points. These intermediaries prevent concentration of force at a single point, thereby preventing the rail from being dragged downward or twisted while still allowing the rear bracket to move for adjustment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the cable management arm supports heavy cables, then the cable management function is improved, but the rail structure experiences downward dragging and twisting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecable management capabilityVSAvoidstructural strength of rail support
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The bracket structure with its multiple support sections and protrusions creates a counterbalancing support system that opposes the downward force of the cables. The distributed protrusions and recesses create multiple counteracting support points along the rail, preventing the rail from being dragged downward by the heavy cable management arm and cables

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Data Source

PatentEP2606768B1Support device for bracket and rail of slide assembly
Publication Date: 2015.09.30 KING SLIDE WORKS CO LTD
  • EP2606768B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2606768B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2606768B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A slide assembly includes a bracket (10) having two support portions (14) and a side portion (16) which extends between the support portions (14). A path (18) is defined by the side portion (16) and the support portions (14). Each support portion (14) has a protrusion (24) extending toward the path (18) and the protrusion (24) has a supporting face (28). A rail (12) is longitudinally connected to the path (18) of the bracket (10) and has two outer walls (30) and a side wall (32). The outer walls (30) are located adjacent to the support portions (14) and the side wall (32) extends between the outer walls (30) and is located adjacent to the side portion (16). Each of outer walls (30) has a protruding portion (38) which has a contact face (40) and the contact face (40) is located corresponding to the supporting face (28). When the outer walls (30) move relative to the support portions (14), the contact face (40) of the protruding portion (38) contacts the supporting face (28) of the protrusion (24).