Slide Rail Bracket with Movable Hook for Tool-Free Rack Detachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing slide rail assemblies have complex structural compositions that compromise operability, making it difficult to easily detach brackets from a rack while ensuring secure attachment and locking functions.
Innovation Solution
A slide rail assembly with a bracket design featuring a side plate, end plate, attaching members, a hook, and an elastic member, where the hook is movably connected to the side plate and applies an elastic force for locking, and includes inclined guide surfaces and connectors for easy detachment and reattachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a complicated structural composition is used for the bracket and locking mechanism, then the locking reliability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket is divided into a side plate and an end plate as separate components that can be easily assembled and disassembled. The hook is made as a separate movable component from the bracket, allowing independent operation of the locking mechanism. This segmentation enables simple tool-free assembly while maintaining reliable locking through the interaction between components.
Solution Approach 2:
The hook is designed to be movably connected to the side plate rather than fixed, allowing it to tilt between locked and unlocked positions. The elastic member provides dynamic restoring force to maintain the hook in the locked position. This dynamic design enables easy operation through simple tilting motion while ensuring reliable locking through elastic retention.
2Ease of operation
If a simple bracket structure is used, then the ease of operation is improved, but the locking function reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The locking function is merged into the attachment process itself. When the bracket is attached to the rack post, the hook automatically engages with the post through the inclined guide surface, combining the attachment and locking actions into a single operation. This eliminates the need for separate locking mechanisms while ensuring reliable locking through the geometric constraint of the inclined surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic member provides self-service by automatically restoring the hook to the locked position after attachment. The inclined guide surface automatically guides the hook into the correct position during attachment. These self-service features ensure reliable locking without requiring external intervention or complex control systems.
3Reliability
If multiple components are used for the bracket and hook mechanism, then the locking function is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hook serves multiple functions: it acts as both the attachment element that connects the bracket to the rack post and the locking element that secures the bracket in position. The elastic member simultaneously provides both the restoring force for the hook and the retention force for maintaining the locked state. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed while maintaining reliable locking.
4Reliability
If a complex locking mechanism is used, then the security of attachment is improved, but the productivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic member is pre-loaded to constantly exert restoring force on the hook, keeping it in the locked position ready for operation. The inclined guide surface is pre-configured to automatically guide the hook into the locked position during attachment. This preliminary preparation ensures that both attachment and detachment operations can be completed quickly without requiring complex adjustment or alignment during operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables easy detachment and secure reattachment of the slide rail assembly from a rack, ensuring rapid operation and secure locking, improving overall usability and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The elastic member applies an elastic force to the hook in order for the hook to stay at a locked position in response to the elastic force of the elastic member
Implementation Method 2
One of the first contact portion and the second contact portion includes an inclined guide surface for guiding the hook to tilt by an angle with respect to the side plate
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~3B
AI summary
A slide rail assembly (20) includes a rail (30), a first bracket (22), a second bracket (24), an elastic member (34), and a hook (36). The second bracket (24) is movably mounted to the rail (30) and has a first contact portion (74). The hook (36) is movably connected to the second bracket (24) and has a second contact portion (76). The hook (36) remains at a locked position (P) in response to the elastic force of the elastic member (34). The first contact portion (74) is pressed against the second contact portion (76) in response to displacement of the second bracket (24) such that the hook (36) is moved relative to the second bracket (24) and away from the locked position (P).