Slide rail mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional slide rail assemblies only enable synchronous extension of the inner and middle rails, limiting flexibility and requiring significant effort to overcome excessive friction when trying to pull out the first rail without displacing the second and third rails.

Innovation Solution

A slide rail mechanism with a supporting frame and a disengaging feature that allows synchronous displacement of the second and first rails along a predetermined direction, terminating synchronization when the second rail reaches a specific position, and incorporating blocking features to prevent displacement in opposite directions, facilitating independent movement of the third rail.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the conventional slide rail assembly enables synchronous extension of the inner and middle rails, then the structural stability is improved, but the flexibility and ease of independent rail displacement deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidflexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The slide rail mechanism implements dynamic coupling and decoupling between rails through the disengaging feature. During extension, the coupling feature maintains synchronous movement for stability. During retraction, the disengaging feature allows independent rail movement for flexibility. This dynamic transition between coupled and decoupled states resolves the contradiction between structural stability and operational flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Strength

If the conventional slide rail assembly requires synchronous movement of multiple rails, then the mechanical strength is improved, but the effort required to overcome friction deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical strengthVSAvoideffort required
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The slide rail mechanism segments the movement control of different rails through the disengaging feature. The first rail can be independently separated from the synchronous movement group and retracted individually. This segmentation allows the user to apply force only to the specific rail needing movement rather than overcoming friction for all synchronized rails, significantly reducing the effort required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If the disengaging feature terminates displacement synchronization at a specific position, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The disengaging feature is merged with the existing coupling feature structure, forming an integrated component that performs both coupling and disengaging functions. This merging approach achieves the adaptability of selective rail decoupling without proportionally increasing device complexity, as the disengaging structure utilizes the same spatial and structural framework as the coupling mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4420560A1Slide rail mechanism
Publication Date: 2024.08.28 KING SLIDE WORKS CO LTD
  • EP4420560A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4420560A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4420560A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A slide rail mechanism is provided and includes a supporting frame (22) and a slide rail assembly (24). The supporting frame (22) includes a disengaging feature (36). The slide rail assembly (24) is movable with respect to the supporting frame (22). The slide rail assembly (24) includes a first rail (26) and a second rail (28). The second rail (28) and the first rail (26) displace synchronously during a displacement of the second rail (28) with respect to the supporting frame (22) away from a first predetermined position (P1) along a first predetermined direction (D1). The disengaging feature (36) of the supporting frame (22) is configured to terminate a displacement synchronization between the second rail (28) and the first rail (26) when the second rail (28) and the first rail (26) are synchronously displaced to a second predetermined position (P2) along the first predetermined direction (D1).