Slide Rail Locking Arm for One-Person Rack Mounting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing equipment mounting methods on racks are unsafe and inefficient, requiring two people to mount and dismount equipment due to limited visibility and space constraints, and often result in equipment dropping during removal.

Innovation Solution

A slide rail system with a locking arm and lock protrusion mechanism that allows the inner rail to lock at a predetermined position, enabling safe mounting and dismounting by one person and minimizing rail thickness by eliminating unnecessary protrusions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional mounting method with rear brackets is used, then equipment can be mounted on rack, but two persons are required and operation is unsafe due to poor visibility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemounting safetyVSAvoidoperation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a locking arm as an intermediary component between the inner rail and the equipment. The locking arm extends from the inner rail to engage with a lock protrusion on the equipment, providing a mechanical linkage that enables safe one-person operation. This intermediary mechanism allows the worker to securely hold and position the equipment during mounting without requiring a second person for support.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If slide rail with lock protrusion on rail assembly is used, then locking function is achieved, but rail thickness increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocking functionVSAvoidrail thickness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional locking mechanism design by placing the lock protrusion on the equipment (mounting target) rather than on the rail assembly. The locking arm on the inner rail engages with this inverted lock protrusion, achieving the same locking function while eliminating the need for additional protrusions on the rail assembly that would increase its thickness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Ease of operation

If locking arm extends forward from inner rail, then equipment can be held securely, but rail assembly thickness increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveequipment holding capabilityVSAvoidrail assembly thickness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the dimensional orientation of the locking mechanism by extending the locking arm in the width direction (lateral dimension) rather than the thickness direction (depth dimension). The locking arm extends laterally from the inner rail to engage with the lock protrusion on the equipment, maintaining effective locking capability while minimizing impact on the rail assembly's thickness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS9326603B2Slide rail and equipment mounting rack

Publication Date: 2016.05.03 CLOUD BYTE LLC

AI summary

A slide rail includes: a rail assembly 2; an inner rail 4 mounted on the rail assembly 2, and slidable in a longitudinal direction of the rail assembly 2; and a locking arm 5 a rear end portion of which is secured to a surface of the inner rail 4 facing the rail assembly 2, and a front end portion of which is a free end, wherein the locking arm 5 has a lock protrusion portion 5a that, when pulling out the inner rail 4 from the rail assembly 2, locks slide at a predetermined position, and wherein the rail assembly 2 has a lock hole 2a for catching the lock protrusion portion 5a.