Slide rail assembly and slide rail external member thereof
Technical Field
The present invention relates to a slide rail, and more particularly, to a slide rail assembly with two-stage locking.
Background
Generally, the slide assembly includes a first rail and a second rail capable of moving relative to the first rail. When the second rail moves to a predetermined position relative to the first rail in one direction, the second rail cannot move relative to the first rail in the one direction and can only stay at the predetermined position by a blocking structure between the second rail and the first rail. With the advancement of technology, in addition to a blocking mechanism for positioning the second rail at a predetermined position relative to the first rail, an operating member can be used to release the blocking mechanism, so that the second rail can be continuously displaced in one direction relative to the first rail. In related art, for example, U.S. patent No. US6,412,891B1 discloses a slide rail assembly including an outer rail 20, an inner rail 30, a blocking member 50 and a locking member 70. The locking member 70 is pivotally connected to the inner rail 30, and when the inner rail 30 is at a position relative to the outer rail 20, the inner rail 30 cannot be displaced relative to the outer rail 20 due to the mutual blocking between the locking member 70 and the blocking member 50.
However, with the market demands, how to develop a different slide rail product, so that the slide rail assembly can have at least two sections of locking mechanisms, becomes an issue to be discussed.
Disclosure of Invention
The invention aims to provide a slide rail assembly which has two sections of locking and can release the two sections of locking by one section of operation.
According to an aspect of the present invention, a slide rail assembly includes a first rail, a second rail, a first locking mechanism, a second locking mechanism, and an operating member. The first rail is provided with a front end and a blocking part, wherein the blocking part is provided with a width; the second rail can move relative to the first rail, and the second rail is provided with a first part and a second part; a first locking mechanism arranged on the second rail, the first locking mechanism comprising a first member, a second member and an elastic member, the second member being capable of being at one of a first position and a second position relative to the second rail, the second member being capable of being maintained at the first position in response to the elastic force of the elastic member, wherein, in the first position, a first space is defined between the second member and the first member, the first space being smaller than the width of the blocking portion; the second locking mechanism is arranged on the second rail; the operating part is operatively connected with the first locking mechanism and the second locking mechanism; when the second rail moves from a retracted position to a predetermined stroke along a first direction relative to the first rail, the second member of the first locking mechanism contacts with the blocking part of the first rail, and responds to the movement of the second rail to a first predetermined position relative to the first rail, the second member is in the second position relative to the second rail and compresses the elastic piece to accumulate an elastic force, so that the first space is converted into a first locking space for locking the blocking part of the first rail, and the first part of the second rail exceeds the front end of the first rail; when the second rail moves relative to the first rail from the first preset position to a second preset position along the first direction, the second locking mechanism locks the blocking part of the first rail, so that the second part of the second rail exceeds the front end of the first rail; the operating member is operable to drive the first locking mechanism and the second locking mechanism from a locking state to an unlocking state, so that the second rail can be folded in a second direction relative to the first rail.
Preferably, the first member and the second member are rotatably mounted to the second rail by a first shaft and a second shaft, respectively.
Preferably, a mounting hole is formed in one of the second member and the second rail, and the second shaft is inserted into a portion of the mounting hole, so that the second member can move relative to the second shaft.
Preferably, the mounting hole is provided as an elliptical hole.
Preferably, the slide rail assembly further comprises a first base, and the first base comprises a first elastic portion and a second elastic portion for providing elastic force to the first member and the second member, respectively.
Preferably, the first member includes a first guide feature by which the first member can pass from a first side of the stop portion to a second side of the stop portion in the first direction.
Preferably, the first guiding feature is an inclined surface or an arc surface.
Preferably, when the second rail is located at the first predetermined position, the first member and the second member are respectively located at two sides of the blocking portion and are in the locked state.
Preferably, the first member and the second member are operatively switched from the locked state to the unlocked state by the operating member, such that the second rail is displaceable relative to the first rail from the first predetermined position toward the second predetermined position along the first direction.
Preferably, the second locking mechanism includes a third member pivotally connected to the second rail.
Preferably, the slide rail assembly further comprises a second base, and the second base comprises a third elastic portion for providing elastic force to the third member.
Preferably, the third member includes a guide structure through which the third member can pass from the first side of the blocking portion to the second side of the blocking portion in the first direction.
Preferably, the guiding structure is an inclined surface or an arc surface.
Preferably, when the second rail is at the second predetermined position, the third member is located on the second side of the blocking portion and is in the locking state.
Preferably, the operating member is operable to switch the third member, the second member and the first member from the locked state to the unlocked state, so that the second rail can be folded from the second predetermined position to the second direction relative to the first rail.
Preferably, the slide rail assembly further comprises a third rail, and the first rail is movably installed between the third rail and the second rail.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a slide rail assembly includes a slide rail, a first locking mechanism, a second locking mechanism, an elastic member and an operating member. The first locking mechanism and the second locking mechanism are respectively arranged at two different parts of the slide rail, wherein the first locking mechanism comprises a first component and a second component, the second locking mechanism comprises a third component, and the second component is rotatably arranged on the slide rail through a shaft; a mounting hole is arranged on one of the second component and the slide rail, and a part of the mounting hole is arranged in the shaft in a penetrating way, so that the second component can be positioned at one of a first position and a second position; the second component can be kept at the first position in response to the elastic force of the elastic piece; the operating part is used for operating the first locking mechanism and the second locking mechanism to be switched from a locking state to an unlocking state; when the second member is at the first position, a first space is defined between the second member and the first member; when the second member is in the second position, the first space is converted into a first locking space larger than the first space.
Preferably, the first member and the second member of the first locking mechanism are pivotally connected to the slide rail, and the slide rail assembly further includes a first base, the first base includes a first elastic portion and a second elastic portion for providing elastic force to the first member and the second member, respectively; the third component of the second locking mechanism is pivoted relative to the slide rail, and the slide rail kit also comprises a second base which comprises a third elastic part for providing elastic force to the third component.
Preferably, the mounting hole is provided as an elliptical hole.
Preferably, the arrangement direction of the mounting holes is the same as the length direction of the slide rail.
Drawings
For further explanation of the above objects, structural features and effects of the present invention, the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
fig. 1 is a schematic view of a carrier mounted to a frame via a pair of rail assemblies according to an embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the slide rail assembly according to the embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the region a of fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a schematic view of a slide rail assembly according to an embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the region a of fig. 4.
FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a second rail and a second member according to another embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 7 is a schematic view illustrating a slide rail assembly in a retracted state according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 8 is a schematic view illustrating the second rail of the slide rail assembly according to the embodiment of the invention being displaced in a first direction relative to the first rail.
Fig. 9 is a schematic view illustrating that the second rail of the slide rail assembly of the embodiment of the invention is continuously displaced toward the first direction relative to the first rail.
Fig. 10 is a schematic view illustrating that the second rail of the slide rail assembly according to the embodiment of the invention is further displaced in the first direction relative to the first rail.
Fig. 11 is a schematic view illustrating that the second rail of the slide rail assembly according to the embodiment of the invention is moved to a first predetermined position relative to the first rail in the first direction, and the first locking mechanism locks the stopper of the first rail.
Fig. 12 shows that the slide rail assembly of the embodiment of the invention can release the locking of the first locking mechanism to the blocking portion of the first rail through the operating member, and the second rail can move to the first direction.
Fig. 13 is a schematic view illustrating that the second rail of the slide rail assembly of the embodiment of the invention is continuously displaced toward the first direction relative to the first rail.
Fig. 14 is a schematic view illustrating the second rail of the slide rail assembly according to the embodiment of the invention being further displaced in the first direction relative to the first rail.
Fig. 15 is a schematic view illustrating that the second rail of the slide rail assembly according to the embodiment of the invention is moved to a second predetermined position relative to the first rail in the first direction, and the second locking mechanism locks the stop portion of the first rail.
Fig. 16 is a schematic view illustrating that the slide rail assembly according to the embodiment of the invention can convert the related components of the second locking mechanism and the first locking mechanism from the locking state to the unlocking state through the operating component, so that the second rail can be folded in a second direction relative to the first rail.
Detailed Description
As shown in fig. 1, a carrier 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention can be mounted to a plurality of columns of a rack 24, such as a pair of first columns 24a and a pair of second columns 24b, via a pair of slide assemblies 22. Each slide rail assembly 22 includes a first rail 26, a second rail 28, and preferably a third rail 30. Wherein the first rail 26 is movably mounted between the third rail 30 and the second rail 28. The third rail 30 can be mounted to the first column 24a and the second column 24b via a first bracket 32a and a second bracket 32 b. On the other hand, the second rail 28 can be used to carry the carrier 20, and the carrier 20 can be pulled out of the rack 24 through the second rail 28 or pushed into the rack 24 from the outside of the rack 24.
As shown in fig. 2 to 4, the first bracket 32a and the second bracket 32b are respectively disposed at two portions (e.g., the front portion and the rear portion) of the third rail 30 of the slide rail assembly 22, and the third rail 30 defines a first channel 34.
The first rail 26 is movably mounted to the first channel 34 of the third rail 30. The first rail 26 includes a first wall 26a, a second wall 26b and a side wall 26c connected between the first wall 26a and the second wall 26 b. The first wall 26a, the second wall 26b and the sidewall 26c define a second channel 36. Further, the first rail 26 has a front end 38, a rear end 40 and a stop 42 (shown in fig. 2). Wherein the stop 42 is located between the front end 38 and the rear end 40 and within the second channel 36, preferably the stop 42 is located adjacent the front end 38 of the first rail 26. The blocking portion 42 may be a protrusion integrated with the sidewall 26c of the first rail 26; alternatively, a fitting 44 may be connected to the first rail 26 by riveting, welding or screwing, and the fitting 44 includes the blocking portion 42 protruding relative to the side wall 26c of the first rail 26, which is not limited in implementation. The second rail 28, on the other hand, is movably mounted to the second channel 36 of the first rail 26.
The second rail 28 includes a first wall 28a, a second wall 28b and a side wall 28c connected between the first wall 28a and the second wall 28 b. The slide assembly 22 further includes a first locking mechanism 46, a second locking mechanism 48, and an operating member 50. The first locking mechanism 46 and the second locking mechanism 48 are arranged at two different locations of the second rail 28, e.g., the first locking mechanism 46 is closer to the front end of the second rail 28 than the second locking mechanism 48; on the other hand, the second locking mechanism 48 is closer to the rear end of the second rail 28 than the first locking mechanism 46, but is not limited in implementation. Further, the first locking mechanism 46 and the second locking mechanism 48 are located at a distance from each other on the side wall 28c of the second rail 28. The second rail 28 (also referred to as a slide rail), the first locking mechanism 46, the second locking mechanism 48 and the operating member 50 can form a slide rail assembly.
The first locking mechanism 46 includes a first member 52 and a second member 54. The first member 52 and the second member 54 are each rotatably mounted to the second rail 28. More specifically, the first member 52 and the second member 54 are pivotally connected to the side wall 28c of the second rail 28 via a first shaft 56 and a second shaft 58 (also referred to as shafts), respectively. In a preferred embodiment, the second member 54 is longitudinally displaceable within a limited range relative to the first member 52. Such as by a mounting hole 55 disposed in one of the second member 54 and the second rail 28. fig. 3 shows the mounting hole 55 disposed in the second member 54.
Specifically, the mounting hole 55 is configured as an elliptical hole for the second shaft 58 to pass through, and preferably, the mounting hole 55 is disposed in the same direction (longitudinal direction) as the length direction (longitudinal direction) of the second rail 28. The second shaft 58 (see fig. 5) is axially inserted through a portion of the mounting hole 55 and connected to the sidewall 28c of the second rail 28, so that the second member 54 can longitudinally displace relative to the second shaft 58. For example, the mounting hole 55 has an aperture W1 that is larger than the shaft diameter W2 of the second shaft 58, such that the second member 54 is displaceable relative to the second shaft 58 within a range defined between the aperture W1 and the shaft diameter W2. In addition, an elastic member 57 is disposed between the second rail 28 and the second member 54, and the second member 54 can be maintained at a first position M1 relative to the second shaft 58 or the second rail 28 in response to the elastic force of the elastic member 57. In other embodiments, as shown in FIG. 6, the mounting hole 55 may be disposed in the second rail 28, and the second member 54 may be disposed through a portion of the mounting hole 55 via the second shaft 58, such that the second member 54 may also be longitudinally displaceable within a limited range. Therefore, the embodiment is not limited to the embodiment of fig. 5.
As shown in fig. 2 and 4, the second locking mechanism 48 includes a third member 60, and preferably, a fourth member 62. The third member 60 and the fourth member 62 are rotatably mounted to the second rail 28, respectively. Specifically, the third member 60 and the fourth member 62 are pivotally connected to the side wall 28c of the second rail 28 through a third shaft 64 and a fourth shaft 66, respectively.
Preferably, the slide assembly 22 or the slide kit further includes a first base 68 and a second base 70 fixedly connected to the sidewall 28c of the second rail 28. The first base 68 includes a first elastic portion 72a and a second elastic portion 72b for providing elastic force to the first member 52 and the second member 54, respectively. On the other hand, the second base 70 includes a third elastic portion 74a and a fourth elastic portion 74b for providing elastic force to the third member 60 and the fourth member 62, respectively.
The operating member 50 is used to operate the first locking mechanism 46 and the second locking mechanism 48. For example, the operating member 50 can be used to operate the first member 52 and the second member 54 of the first locking mechanism 46 and the third member 60 of the second locking mechanism 48. Here, the operating element 50 is disposed on the second rail 28, and the operating element 50 operatively connects the first member 52 and the second member 54 of the first locking mechanism 46 and the third member 60 of the second locking mechanism 48.
Specifically, the operating member 50 includes an extending portion 50a, the extending portion 50a has a predetermined length and a length direction of the second rail 28, and preferably, an operating portion 50b connected to the extending portion 50 a. Wherein the extension portion 50a includes a plurality of driving structures. The driving structures are, for example, a first driving structure 76a, a second driving structure 76b and a third driving structure 76c sequentially disposed along the length direction of the extension portion 50 a. The operating member 50 can be used to operate the first member 52, the second member 54, and the third member 60 via the driving structures 76a, 76b, and 76c, respectively.
Preferably, the first member 52 includes a first guide feature 78, and the first guide feature 78 is a ramp or a curved surface; preferably, the third member 60 includes a guide structure 84, and the guide structure 84 is a bevel or a curved surface.
As shown in fig. 7, when the slide rail assembly 22 is in a retracted state, the second rail 28 is in a retracted position R relative to the first rail 26, and the first rail 26 is retracted relative to the third rail 30. It should be noted that the second member 54 of the first locking mechanism 46 can be maintained at the first position M1 relative to the second rail 28 in response to the elastic force of the elastic member 57. Wherein, in the first position M1, the second member 54 and the first member 52 define a first space a1 therebetween, the first space a1 being smaller than a width B of the stopper 42 of the first rail 26; on the other hand, a second space a2 is defined between the third member 60 and the fourth member 62 of the second locking mechanism 48, the width B of the stopper 42 of the first rail 26 is smaller than the second space a2, and a relation a1 < B < a2 is expressed by a mathematical expression a1, a2, and B.
As shown in fig. 8, when the second rail 28 is displaced a distance along a first direction D1 (e.g., an opening direction) from the retracted position R relative to the first rail 26, the first guiding feature 78 of the first member 52 contacts a first side L1 of the stopping portion 42 of the first rail 26.
As shown in fig. 9, when the second rail 28 continues to be displaced in the first direction D1, the first member 52 is deflected by the contact between the first guiding feature 78 and the first side L1 of the blocking portion 42 at an angle, such that the first member 52 can pass over the first side L1 of the blocking portion 42 of the first rail 26 in the first direction D1, and the first elastic portion 72a of the first base 68 accumulates an elastic force.
As shown in fig. 10 and 11, when the second rail 28 is continuously displaced to a predetermined stroke in the first direction D1 relative to the first rail 26, the second member 54 of the first locking mechanism 46 contacts and abuts against the first side L1 of the stopping portion 42 of the first rail 26 (as shown in fig. 10). In response to the second rail 28 further moving in the first direction D1 to a first predetermined position P1 (as shown in fig. 11) relative to the first rail 26, the second member 54 is at a second position M2 relative to the second rail 28 and compresses the elastic member 57 to accumulate an elastic force, so that the first space a1 is transformed into a larger first locking space a11 for locking the stopper 42 of the first rail 26, and a first portion X1 of the second rail 28 exceeds the front end 38 of the first rail 26. Wherein when the second rail 28 is moved to the first predetermined position P1, the first member 52 responds to the first elastic portion 72a of the first base 68 to release the elastic force and reach a second side L2 of the blocking portion 42; on the other hand, the second member 54 is located on the first side L1 of the stop 42. Specifically, the first member 52 and the second member 54 are respectively located at two sides of the blocking portion 42 and are in a locked state S1. Accordingly, the second rail 28 can be prevented from being arbitrarily displaced with respect to the first rail 26.
As shown in fig. 12, the operating member 50 is operable to unlock the first locking mechanism 46 from the stopper 42. For example, a user can apply a force F to operate the operating member 50, such that the operating member 50 drives the first member 52 and the second member 54 to swing at an angle to shift from the locking state S1 to an unlocking state S2, and the blocking portion 42 is no longer locked, and the second rail 28 can be displaced in the first direction D1 relative to the first rail 26. Once the first locking mechanism 46 is unlocked from locking the stopper 42, the elastic member 57 releases the elastic force applied to the second member 54 to return the second member 54 to the first position M1, and the first locking space a11 is reduced back to the first space a1 because the second member 54 is separated from the first side L1 of the stopper 42 of the first rail 26.
As shown in fig. 13, when the first locking mechanism 46 is unlocked from locking the stopper 42, the second rail 28 can be displaced from the first predetermined position P1 to another predetermined stroke along the first direction D1 relative to the first rail 26, and the guiding structure 84 of the third member 60 of the second locking mechanism 48 contacts the first side L1 of the stopper 42 of the first rail 26.
As shown in fig. 14, when the second rail 28 continues to be displaced in the first direction D1, the third member 60 is deflected by the contact between the guiding structure 84 and the first side L1 of the stop portion 42 at an angle, so that the third member 60 can pass over the first side L1 of the stop portion 42 of the first rail 26 in the first direction D1, and the third elastic portion 74a of the second base 70 accumulates an elastic force.
As shown in fig. 15, when the second rail 28 is further displaced to a second predetermined position P2 in the first direction D1 relative to the first rail 26, the slide rail assembly 22 is in a second extended state, and the second locking mechanism 48 locks the stopper 42 of the first rail 26, such that a second portion X2 of the second rail 28 exceeds the front end 38 of the first rail 26. For example, when the second rail 28 is further displaced to the second predetermined position P2 in the first direction D1 relative to the first rail 26, the third member 60 reaches the second side L2 of the stopper 42 in response to the third elastic portion 74a of the second base 70 releasing the elastic force; on the other hand, the fourth member 62 is located on the first side L1 of the stop 42. Specifically, the third member 60 and the fourth member 62 are respectively located on both sides of the blocking portion 42 and are in the locked state S1. Accordingly, the second rail 28 can be prevented from being arbitrarily displaced with respect to the first rail 26.
As shown in fig. 16, the operating member 50 can be used to operate the third member 60, the second member 54 and the first member 52 through the third driving structure 76c, the second driving structure 76b and the first driving structure 76a, respectively. For example, a user can apply a force F to the operating element 50 to operatively move the third member 60 of the second locking mechanism 48, the second member 54 of the first locking mechanism 46 and the first member 52 from the locking state S1 to the unlocking state S2 without locking the stopper 42, wherein the first space a1 of the first locking mechanism 46 is smaller than the width B of the stopper 42 of the first rail 26, so that the first space a1 of the first locking mechanism 46 does not lock the stopper 42 of the first rail 26, and the second rail 28 can be directly retracted relative to the first rail 26 from the second predetermined position P2 to a second direction D2. That is, the slide rail assembly 22 of the present embodiment has two operable locking stages, and only one release is required to release the two locking stages.
From the above description, it can be seen that the enhanced efficacy and advantages of the present invention are: the slide assembly 22 has a two-step locking mechanism, wherein when the second rail 28 is located at the second predetermined position P2 relative to the first rail 26, a user can simultaneously operate the first locking mechanism 46 and the second locking mechanism 48 from the locked state to the unlocked state by the operating member 50, so that the second rail 28 can be directly folded back to the state shown in fig. 7 from the second position P2 in the second direction D2 relative to the first rail 26.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to the present specific embodiments, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that the above embodiments are illustrative only, and various equivalent changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and therefore, it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit of the invention.