Slide rail assembly and bracket device thereof

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bracket devices for slide rail assemblies lack an effective foolproof mechanism that prevents incorrect mounting to posts, especially when the angle of the bracket changes, and often require a locking member to function, which is not always reliable.

Innovation Solution

A bracket device with a movable mounting member along a height direction, which switches positions when the bracket is rotated, providing a foolproof function by preventing alignment with mounting holes at a specific angle, thus ensuring correct mounting to a rack.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a locking member is used to achieve foolproof function, then the mounting angle control is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefoolproof functionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the foolproof function from a complex locking member system and implements it through a simple mounting member that passively changes position based on mounting angle. The mounting member itself serves as the foolproof mechanism without requiring separate locking components, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The mounting member automatically positions itself based on the mounting angle - at the first angle it aligns with mounting holes to enable installation, at the second angle it misaligns to prevent installation. This self-positioning mechanism eliminates the need for active locking members or complex control systems, achieving foolproof function through the component's own geometric properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Manufacturing precision

If a foolproof mechanism is added to prevent incorrect mounting, then the mounting precision is improved, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting angle precisionVSAvoidease of manufacture
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The bracket device is segmented into functional components: the longitudinal wall providing structural support and the mounting member providing the foolproof function. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured independently with standard processes, avoiding the need to manufacture complex integrated foolproof mechanisms that would be difficult to produce.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The foolproof mechanism relies on changing the positional parameter of the mounting member relative to the longitudinal wall based on mounting angle. By using geometric parameter changes rather than complex mechanical structures, the design maintains ease of manufacture while achieving precise mounting angle control through the relationship between the mounting member's movement path and mounting hole positions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3833168B1Slide rail assembly and bracket device thereof
Publication Date: 2022.10.05 KING SLIDE TECH
  • EP3833168B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3833168B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3833168B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A bracket device (28) of a slide rail assembly (20) includes a longitudinal wall (36) and a mounting member (38) . The mounting member (38) is movable relative to the longitudinal wall (36) along a height direction of the longitudinal wall (36). When the bracket device (28) is rotated to be switched from a first state to a second state, the mounting member (38) is configured to be moved from a first position to a second position. When the mounting member (38) is located at the first position, the mounting member (38) is operable to be mounted to a rack. When the mounting member (38) is located at the second position, the mounting member (38) is prevented from being mounted to the rack.