Slide rail assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing slide rail assemblies face instability issues during rail mounting due to insufficient support, leading to potential deformation or shaking of the second rail, which affects smoothness and durability.

Innovation Solution

A slide rail assembly design featuring a first rail with a passage defined by upper, lower, and longitudinal walls, incorporating a slide assisting device, engaging member, blocking structure, and supporting structures, where the supporting structures provide enhanced stability by maintaining the second rail's position and preventing impact on the slide assisting device during mounting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the longitudinal length of the guiding bar is too short, then the structure is more compact, but the end portion of the second rail becomes unstable and may impact the ball device causing deformation or damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure compactnessVSAvoidstability of second rail end portion
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The guiding bar is divided into two separate components: the original guiding bar and a newly added supporting bar. This segmentation allows each component to have optimized lengths for their specific functions - the guiding bar provides guidance while the supporting bar provides stable support for the second rail end portion, preventing impact on the ball device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of manufacture

If the longitudinal length of the guiding bar is too short, then manufacturing is simpler, but the end portion of the second rail shakes due to tolerances affecting mounting smoothness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveguiding bar manufacturing simplicityVSAvoidsmoothness of rail mounting
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By separating the guiding function and supporting function into different bars, each component can be manufactured independently with appropriate length and tolerances. The supporting bar is specifically designed with sufficient length to prevent shaking, while the guiding bar maintains its guidance function, together ensuring smooth mounting operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If the second rail is supported closer to the passage entrance, then blocking function is improved, but the end portion becomes unstable and prone to impact

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblocking function effectivenessVSAvoidstability of second rail end portion
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The blocking structure and supporting structure are separated into distinct components positioned at different locations. The blocking structure remains near the passage entrance for effective blocking, while the supporting bar extends to provide stable support for the end portion, eliminating the conflict between blocking effectiveness and stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3620080B1Slide rail assembly
Publication Date: 2020.08.19 KING SLIDE WORKS CO LTD
  • EP3620080B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3620080B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3620080B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A slide rail assembly (20) includes a first rail (22), a second rail (24), a slide assisting device (30), an engaging member (32) and a supporting structure (34). The slide assisting device (30) is configured to assist in relative movement between the second rail (24) and the first rail (22). The engaging member (32) and the supporting structure (34) are arranged on the first rail (22) . When the second rail (24) is moved along a first direction and detached from the first rail (22), the slide assisting device (30) is moved to be adjacent to the engaging member (32). During a process of the second rail (24) being moved from a passage entrance (23a) of the first rail (22) toward a retracted position along a second direction, the supporting structure (34) extended beyond the engaging member (32) along the first direction is configured to support the second rail (24).