U.S. patent application number 09/820752 was filed with the patent office on 2002-07-11 for release mechanism for telescoping slide assembly.
Invention is credited to Chen, Keng-Chin, Liang, Hsiu-Chiang, Wang, Chun-Chiang.
Application Number | 20020089274 09/820752 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 21680271 |
Filed Date | 2002-07-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020089274 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Liang, Hsiu-Chiang ; et
al. |
July 11, 2002 |
RELEASE MECHANISM FOR TELESCOPING SLIDE ASSEMBLY
Abstract
A release mechanism for telescoping slide including an outer
member and an inner member is provided. The mechanism comprises an
elongate connection member slidably mounted on the inner member.
Operation performed on the access end of connection member at outer
end of the slide may be transmitted to a pivot member near inner
end of the slide. Thus pivot member may be selectively locked or
unlocked for stopping or enabling the relative movement of the
inner and the outer members. The push-pull style manipulation of
the connection member is advantageous for having the open access
end. Further, the structure is simplified for facilitating
manufacture.
Inventors: |
Liang, Hsiu-Chiang;
(Kaohsiung, TW) ; Chen, Keng-Chin; (Kaohsiung,
TW) ; Wang, Chun-Chiang; (Kaohsiung, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Family ID: |
21680271 |
Appl. No.: |
09/820752 |
Filed: |
March 30, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/334.44 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 88/57 20170101;
A47B 88/487 20170101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/334.44 |
International
Class: |
A47B 088/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 5, 2001 |
TW |
90200189 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A release mechanism for a telescoping slide including an outer
member and an inner member, said mechanism comprising: a stop
member affixed to said outer member for stopping further outward
movement of said inner member when reaching a predetermined use
position; a connection member having an elongate shape and slidably
mounted on said inner member, one access end of said connection
member being open at an outer end of said slide, while said other
end being formed as at least one rear cam; a pivot member including
a pivot pin mounted on said inner member such that said pivot
member is pivotal about said pivot pin, said pivot member being
maintained either in a locked storage position or operable to pivot
to an unlocked position by said activation of said rear cam of said
connection member, a front surface, and a rear surface, both said
front and said rear surfaces either being blocked by said stop
member when said inner member moves to said use position, thus
prohibiting a relative movement between said inner and said outer
members, or when said pivot member is unlocked by said activated
said rear cam said front and said rear surfaces being disengaged
from said stop member, thus unlocking said inner member and said
stop member; and an elastic member mounted on said inner member and
biased to maintain said pivot member in said use, said locked
storage, or said unlocked position.
2. The release mechanism of claim 1, wherein said stop member is
affixed to a predetermined position on said outer member facing
said pivot member, and said stop member comprises a pair of spaced
front first locking lugs engaged with said front surface for
preventing said inner and said outer members from disengaging in
said use position.
3. The release mechanism of claim 1, wherein said stop member is
formed on an inner wall of said outer member, and said stop member
comprises a pair of spaced front first locking lugs facing pivot
member, and said front first locking lugs being engaged with said
front surface for preventing said inner and said outer members from
disengaging in said use position.
4. The release mechanism of claim 1, wherein said pivot member
further comprises a rear surface, said stop member is affixed to
said predetermined position on said outer member facing said pivot
member, and said stop member comprises a pair of spaced front first
locking lugs and a pair of spaced rear second locking lugs, each of
said locking lugs corresponding to and engaged with said front and
said rear surfaces of said pivot member respectively for stopping
said relative movement of said inner and said outer members in said
use position.
5. The release mechanism of claim 1, wherein said pivot member
further comprises a rear surface, said stop member is formed on
said inner wall of said outer member, and said stop member
comprises a pair of spaced front first locking lugs and a pair of
spaced rear second locking lugs facing pivot member, each of said
locking lugs corresponding to and engaged with said front and said
rear surfaces of said pivot member respectively for stopping said
relative movement of said inner and said outer members in said use
position.
6. The release mechanism of claim 1, wherein said connection member
has an elongate thin shape, further comprising an enlargement
mounted on said access end of said connection member.
7. The release mechanism of claim 1, wherein said connection member
further comprises a front cam urged against said front surface of
said pivot member for pushing said pivot member to said locked
storage position.
8. The release mechanism of claim 1, wherein said elastic member is
a flexible metal wire, said elastic member having one end affixed
to said inner member and said other end affixed to said connection
member.
9. The release mechanism of claim 1, wherein said elastic member is
a helical spring, said elastic member having one end affixed to
said inner member and said other end affixed to said connection
member.
10. The release mechanism of claim 1, wherein said connection
member is a steel wire assembly, said steel wire assembly
comprising an access member at said outer end, an enlargement, a
projected rear cam member formed by punching thereon, and an upward
bent member at said inner end biased by said elastic member.
11. The release mechanism of claim 10, wherein said central portion
of said elastic member is affixed to said inner member and said
ends of said elastic member are biased against said pivot member
and said upward bent member respectively so that said pivot member
is maintained at said locked storage position and said steel wire
assembly is maintained at in a ready position when said pivot
member is not activated.
12. The release mechanism of claim 1, further comprising an
elongate opening on said inner wall of said inner member and a
locking pin on said connection member being slidably received in
said elongate opening so as to be confined therein.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to the field of slides and
more particularly to an improved release mechanism for telescoping
slide assembly.
[0003] 2. Related Art
[0004] Conventionally, a slide is widely employed to enable the
relative movement of a drawer and a cabinet, a computer desk and a
keyboard shelf, or the like. A conventional slide comprises an
outer member and an inner member. For example in the drawer and
cabinet configuration, outer member is fixedly attached to the wall
of cabinet and inner member is fixedly attached to the side of
drawer. Typically, a ball bearing mechanism is employed to
interconnect above two members in a rolling relation. Hence, inner
member may coaxially move respect to outer member. Thus drawer is
permitted to remove to its maximum extension or retract into the
cabinet. Conventionally, a stop mechanism such as latch is employed
to lock the slide in a fully extended position when the slide
reaches its maximum extension. At this time, inner and outer
members are held in place by the latch. Hence, drawer supported by
inner member is held in this place. Further, it is possible to
detach drawer from cabinet by manually manipulating the latch if
desired. One such latch based locking mechanism for slide is
disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,405,195 and 5,961,193. Each of both
disclosed a release mechanism situated on the front of slide
controllable to manipulate the rear of slide. It comprises a lever
for unlocking a number of slides in a locked position. The lever is
implemented as an elongate steel spring. One end of lever is at the
extension direction of slide, while the other end is coupled to a
latch inside the slide. Hence, user may depress the outer end of
lever to lift a locking pin of latch at the other end by utilizing
the well known lever principle. Thus the locked slide is disengaged
from lever, resulting in an unlocking of slide. However, the
previous design suffered from several disadvantages. For example,
user may unintentionally press the outer end of lever to activate
the unlocking of slide due to the open, manual pressing design.
Also, it is complex in structure. Such previous design is primarily
suitable to slides installed under a load (e.g., drawer), not for
slides affixed to the sides of load. Moreover, such previous design
is too bulky to install in many current cabinets.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a release mechanism which is activated by pulling or
pushing. A locking of a load supported by slide is made possible
through a pivot member at an inner end of slide when the load is
pulled to an outer end of slide. Alternatively, unlock the release
mechanism for removing the load from a cabinet or pushing the load
completely into the cabinet.
[0006] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
simple and compact release mechanism for telescoping slide
assembly.
[0007] The advantages of the present invention are realized by
providing a release mechanism for telescoping slide including an
outer member and an inner member. The mechanism comprises a stop
member affixed to the outer member for stopping further outward
movement of the inner member when reaching a predetermined use
position; a connection member having an elongate shape and slidably
mounted on the inner member, one access end of the connection
member being open at an outer end of the slide, while the other end
being formed as at least one rear cam; a pivot member including a
pivot pin mounted on the inner member such that the pivot member is
pivotal about the pivot pin, the pivot member being maintained
either in a locked storage position or operable to pivot to an
unlocked position by the activation of the rear cam of the
connection member, a front surface, and a rear surface, both the
front and the rear surfaces either being blocked by the stop member
when the inner member moves to the use position, thus prohibiting a
relative movement between the inner and the outer members, or when
the pivot member is unlocked by the activated the rear cam the
front and the rear surfaces being disengaged from the stop member,
thus unlocking the inner member and the stop member; and an elastic
member mounted on the inner member and biased to maintain the pivot
member in the use, the locked storage, or the unlocked
position.
[0008] Further scope of applicability of the present invention will
become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter.
However, it should be understood that the detailed description and
specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the
invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various
changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the
invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from
this detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The present invention will become fully understood from the
detailed description given hereinbelow illustration only, and thus
are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:
[0010] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a first preferred embodiment
of release mechanism mounted on a telescoping slide assembly
according to the invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of FIG. 1 illustrating a manual
operation of the release mechanism adjacent the front side of
drawer;
[0012] FIG. 3A is a side view illustrating the engagement of
connection member and pivot member in a locked storage
position;
[0013] FIG. 3B is a view similar to FIG. 3A where inner member is
about to reach a fully extended use position with pivot member
about to pass a stop member;
[0014] FIG. 3C is a view similar to FIG. 3A where inner member has
reached the use position with pivot member and stop member engaged
to stop a relative movement between inner and outer members;
[0015] FIG. 3D is a view similar to FIG. 3A where pivot member is
unlocked by the activated rear cam of connection member, resulting
in a disengagement of inner and outer members;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a second preferred embodiment of release mechanism
mounted on a telescoping slide assembly according to the invention;
and
[0017] FIG. 5 is a third preferred embodiment of release mechanism
mounted on a telescoping slide assembly according to the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, there is shown a telescoping
slide assembly incorporating a release mechanism constructed in
accordance with the invention. Slide comprises an outer member 20
and an inner member 30. This embodiment is implemented in a drawer
and a cabinet combination wherein two pair of slides are employed
to effectuate a relative sliding movement therebetween. Outer
member 20 is affixed to the wall of cabinet. Inner member 30 is
affixed to either side of drawer. Inner member 30 is slidably
received in outer member 20. Typically, a ball bearing mechanism
(e.g., ball bearings 40) is employed to interconnect inner and
outer members 20 and 30. Hence, inner member 30 may coaxially move
respect to outer member 20. When drawer is pulled out to its
maximum extension, slide is also extended to a fully extended use
position. Alternatively, user may retract the drawer into cabinet.
Hence, the release mechanism of the invention may be activated so
as to effect a locking of drawer when drawer is pulled to the fully
extended use position. Alternatively, unlock inner member 30 and
outer member 20 for removing drawer from cabinet or pushing drawer
completely into the cabinet. The components of the release
mechanism are as follows:
[0019] Stop member 50 is affixed to outer member 20 for stopping
further outward movement of inner member 30 when reaching a
predetermined use position. Connection member 60 has an elongate
shape and is mounted on inner wall of inner member 30. Connection
member 60 may slide back and forth lengthwise on inner member 30.
One end 61 of connection member 60 is open at an outer end of slide
for ease of access by hand, while the other end is formed as at
least one rear cam 62. Pivot member 70 comprises a pivot pin 72
mounted on inner wall of inner member 30 such that pivot member 70
may pivot about pin 72. Pivot member 70 is maintained in a locked
storage position as shown in FIG. 3A. Pivot member 70 is also
possible of pivoting to an unlocked position by the activation of
rear cam 62 of connection member 60 (FIG. 3D). Pivot member 70
further comprises a front surface 71a and a rear surface 71b which
are blocked by stop member 50 when inner member 30 moves to a use
position (FIG. 3C). Thus a relative movement between inner member
30 and outer member 20 is prohibited. To the contrary, when pivot
member 70 is unlocked by the activated rear cam 62, the front and
rear surfaces 71a and 71b are disengaged from stop member 50, thus
unlocking inner member 30 and stop member 50 (FIG. 3D). Then user
may push drawer into cabinet or remove drawer from cabinet. Elastic
member 80 is mounted on inner member 30 and biased to maintain
pivot member 70 in any of above positions. It is apparent of being
possible for the provision of a single front surface 71a on pivot
member 70 in another implementation. Likewise, inner member 30 is
blocked by the front surface 71a from further movement when
reaching the predetermined use position. Alternatively, when pivot
member 70 is unlocked by the activated rear cam 62, the front
surface 71a is disengaged from stop member 50, thus unlocking inner
member 30 and stop member 50 (FIG. 3D). Then user may remove drawer
from cabinet.
[0020] In the embodiment, stop member 50 is an independent member
mounted on outer member 20, i.e., on the inner wall of outer member
20 facing pivot member 70. Stop member 50 comprises a pair of
spaced front first locking lugs 51 a and a pair of spaced rear
second locking lugs 51b. Such locking lugs 51a and 51b are
corresponding to surfaces 71a and 71b of pivot member 70
respectively. When inner member 30 is about to reach the fully
extended use position (FIG. 3B), pivot member 70 is approaching
locking lug 51b. Then pivot member 70 passes locking lug 51b to
reach the use position (FIG. 3C). At this time, surfaces 71a and
71b of pivot member 70 are situated between and stopped by locking
lugs 51a and 51b of stop member 50, thus stopping a further
movement of inner member 30. Preferably, in the position shown in
FIG. 3A or FIG. 3C, surfaces 71a and 71b are perpendicular to
locking lugs 51a and 51b respectively. Also, surfaces 71a and 71b
and locking lugs 51a and 51b are perpendicular to the sliding
direction of inner member 30, thereby ensuring a sliding secure
relationship between inner member 30 and outer member 20.
[0021] In another implementation of stop member 50, locking lugs
51a and 51b are formed by punching on inner wall 21 of outer member
20. The projecting direction of each of locking lugs 51a and 51b is
toward pivot member 70. It is unnecessary to additionally
manufacture an independent stop member 50 as shown in FIG. 1. Thus,
the number of components is further reduced.
[0022] In the first embodiment, connection member 60 is an elongate
thin member 60 which may be formed by punching on a suitable metal.
As shown in FIG. 1, an enlargement 63 is mounted on outer end 61 of
connection member 60. Preferably, enlargement 63 is formed of
plastic material and is clung to threadedly secure to the outer end
61. The provision of enlargement 63 may facilitate user to push or
pull connection member 60. Further, a plurality of hooks 32a and
32b are provided on inner wall 31 of inner member 30. Furthermore,
the same number of tabs (e.g., 64a and 64b) are provided on a side
of connection member 60. Tabs 64a and 64b are received in hooks 32a
and 32b for mounting connection member 60 on inner member 30. Thus
connection member 60 may slide on inner wall 31 of inner member 30
back and forth. Then fixedly attach both ends of elastic member 80
to inner member 30 and connection member 60 respectively for
ensuring a sliding secure relationship between connection member 60
and inner member 30. In the embodiment, elastic member 80 is formed
of flexible metal wire and has one end affixed to inner member 30
and the other end affixed to connection member 60. A slide travel
limitation mechanism is provided. As shown, an elongate opening 34
is provided near the outer end of inner member 30 and a locking pin
65 is provided on connection member 60. Locking pin 65 is slidably
received in opening 34. As such, a uniform elastic force provided
by elastic member 80 is exerted on connection member 60 when outer
member 20 is pulled outwardly. Also, connection member 60 is
prevented from further moving when outer member 30 has reached the
use position because the confinement of locking pin 65 in opening
34. This can avoid any potential irregularity. A front cam 66 is
provided on the inner end of connection member 60 adjacent rear cam
62 for transmitting the elastic force of elastic member 80 to pivot
member 70 through connection member 60. Front cam 66 is urged
against the front surface 71a of pivot member 70 for pushing pivot
member 70 to the locked (i.e., storage) position (FIG. 3A). Since
connection member 60 is an elongate thin member, it is preferred to
suitably increase the thickness of pivot member 70 for avoiding
front cam 66 from interfering the engagement of the front surface
71a and second locking lug 51b of stop member 50. This may also
increase the area of the front surface 71a. Moreover, elastic
member 80 may be implemented as a helical spring in the second
embodiment (FIG. 4) rather than a metal wire.
[0023] Referring to FIG. 5, a third embodiment of the invention is
shown. Connection member 60 is implemented as a steel wire assembly
67 rather than a thin elongate member. Likewise, the steel wire
assembly 67 comprises an outer end 61 for ease of access by hand
and an enlargement 63. Additionally, the steel wire assembly 67
comprises a projected rear cam 62a formed by punching thereon near
the inner end and an upward bent inner end 68. Elastic member 80 is
also reconfigured to have its central portion affixed to inner
member 30 and two ends 81a and 81b biased against pivot member 70
for maintaining pivot member 70 at a locked storage position and
the upward bent inner end 68 for maintaining the steel wire
assembly in a ready position (i.e., pivot member 70 is not
activated) respectively.
[0024] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that
the same may be varied in many ways. For example, slide may
comprise inner member 30, outer member 20 and intermediate member.
Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the
spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as
would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be
included within the scope of the following claims.
* * * * *