Slide rail assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing slide rail assemblies face challenges in guiding the main body part of one rail to enter the passage of another due to design flaws, such as stepped or obliquely cut-off edges, which hinder smooth alignment and mounting processes.

Innovation Solution

A slide rail assembly design featuring a first rail with a passage defined by interconnected walls and a second rail with a main body part and extension part, where the extension part is configured to directly contact the first rail, guiding the main body part to enter the passage, ensuring proper alignment and easy mounting through a supporting mechanism.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the extension part has stepped or obliquely cut-off edges, then the rail structure can be formed, but the main body part cannot be smoothly guided to enter the passage of the other rail

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment and mounting easeVSAvoidrail structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The extension part is designed with a flat end surface that protrudes beyond the side walls, creating a preliminary guiding structure that prepares the path for the main body part to enter the passage smoothly, eliminating the need for stepped or oblique edges

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The rail is divided into a main body part and an extension part, where the extension part performs the specific function of guiding alignment while the main body part provides structural support, allowing each segment to be optimized for its specific function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the passage height is greater than the main body part height, then the main body part can enter the passage, but the extension part cannot provide proper guidance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveentry easeVSAvoidalignment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The extension part with flat end surface performs the preliminary action of guiding alignment before the main body part enters the passage, ensuring both ease of entry and precision of alignment are achieved

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If the extension part directly contacts the first rail, then guidance is improved, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rail is segmented into main body part and extension part, with the extension part specifically designed to make direct contact with the first rail for guidance, while maintaining overall structural simplicity through functional division

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3166374B1Slide rail assembly
Publication Date: 2020.04.22 KING SLIDE WORKS CO LTD
  • EP3166374B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3166374B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3166374B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A slide rail assembly (12) includes a first rail (18, 208) and a second rail (20, 200). The first rail (18, 208) includes a passage (26). The second rail (20, 200) is accommodated in the passage (26) of the first rail (18, 208). The second rail (20, 200) includes a first wall (36a, 204), a second wall (36b, 206) and a longitudinal wall (38) connected between the first wall (36a, 204) and the second wall (36b, 206). The first wall (36a, 204) has an extension portion extending beyond the second wall (36b, 206) a predetermined distance. Wherein, the extension portion of the first wall (36a, 204) of the second rail (20, 200) is configured to be operatively placed into the passage (26) of the first rail (18, 208) and supported by the first rail (18, 208).