U.S. patent application number 11/086381 was filed with the patent office on 2005-07-28 for two-way retainer for a slide track assembly of drawers.
This patent application is currently assigned to King Slide Works Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Chen, Ken-Ching, Hwang, Shih-Long, Wang, Chun-Chiang.
Application Number | 20050162052 11/086381 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34067555 |
Filed Date | 2005-07-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050162052 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chen, Ken-Ching ; et
al. |
July 28, 2005 |
Two-way retainer for a slide track assembly of drawers
Abstract
A two-way retainer for a slide track assembly comprises a
retaining mechanism mounted on a first slide track, and a stop
member mounted on a second slide track. The retaining mechanism is
consisted of a pair of retaining arms and an elastic member. The
retaining arms are provided with a pair of oppositely inclined
portions and a pair of engaging portions. The stop member is
provided with a protrusion adapted to interact with the oppositely
inclined portions and the engaging portions of the retaining arms.
When the first slide track is moved to a predetermined position
with respect to the second slide track, the protrusion of the stop
member may pass through one of the inclined portions of the
retaining arms. Thus the protrusion is confined within the two
engaging portions of the retaining arms to thereby retain the first
slide track in a two-way direction of the second slide track.
Inventors: |
Chen, Ken-Ching; (Kaohsiung
Hsien, TW) ; Hwang, Shih-Long; (Kaohsiung Hsien,
TW) ; Wang, Chun-Chiang; (Kaohsiung Hsien,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BACON & THOMAS, PLLC
625 SLATERS LANE
FOURTH FLOOR
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
|
Assignee: |
King Slide Works Co., Ltd.
Kaohsiung Hsien
TW
|
Family ID: |
34067555 |
Appl. No.: |
11/086381 |
Filed: |
March 23, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11086381 |
Mar 23, 2005 |
|
|
|
10438973 |
May 16, 2003 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
312/334.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 88/403 20170101;
A47B 88/487 20170101; A47B 88/497 20170101; A47B 88/50
20170101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/334.5 |
International
Class: |
A47B 088/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 5, 2003 |
TW |
92203447 |
Apr 15, 2003 |
TW |
92206231 |
Claims
1-11. (canceled)
12. A two-way retainer for a slide track assembly, comprising: a
retaining mechanism mounted on a first slide track, the retaining
mechanism including a pair of retaining arms and an elastic member,
the retaining arms being pivotally connected to the first slide
track, the retaining arms each being provided with an inclined
portion and a first engaging portion, the elastic member being
adapted to bias the retaining arms; a stop member mounted on a
second slide track and including a protrusion; a first unlatching
member movably mounted on the first slide track, and adapted to
actuate one of the retaining arms; and a second unlatching member
movably mounted on the first slide track, and adapted to actuate
the other retaining arm; wherein when the first slide track is
moved to a predetermined position with respect to the second slide
track, the protrusion of the stop member may pass through the
inclined portions of the retaining arms and be confined within a
space formed by the first engaging portion to thereby retain the
first slide track in a two-way direction of the second slide
track.
13. The two-way retainer for a slide track assembly as defined in
claim 12, wherein the first unlatching member is adapted to unlatch
an engaged relationship of the first engaging portion with the
protrusion and includes a grip, a pair of recessions and a pair of
shoulders; and wherein the retaining arms each further comprises a
step portion and a second engaging portion, the step portion being
adapted to accommodate an unlatching operation of the first
unlatching member, and the second engaging portion being adapted to
engage with one of the pair of shoulders of the first unlatching
member.
14. The two-way retainer for a slide track assembly as defined in
claim 12, wherein the first unlatching member includes a single
recession and a single shoulder; and one of the retaining arms is
provided with a second engaging portion adapted to engage with the
shoulder of the first unlatching member.
15. The two-way retainer for a slide track assembly as defined in
claim 12, wherein the first unlatching member is arranged to move
in a two-way direction or a one-way direction by a stop.
16. The two-way retainer for a slide track assembly as defined in
claim 12, wherein each of the retaining arms further comprises an
extension, the extensions being engaging each other, and wherein
when one of the retaining arms is turned, the other retaining arm
is turned synchronously.
17. The two-way retainer for a slide track assembly as defined in
claim 12, wherein the protrusion of the stop member is integrated
into an end of the second slide track.
18. The two-way retainer for a slide track assembly as defined in
claim 12, wherein the retaining arms further comprise a recession
adapted to connect to the elastic member.
19. The two-way retainer for a slide track assembly as defined in
claim 12, wherein the retaining mechanism further comprises a base
adapted to position the elastic member on an inner side of the
first slide track, and wherein the elastic member is thereby
located between the retaining arms.
20. The two-way retainer for a slide track assembly as defined in
claim 12, wherein the second unlatching member includes a grip and
a shoulder, and wherein one of the retaining arms further comprises
a step portion and a third engaging portion, the step portion being
adapted to accommodate the shoulder of the second unlatching
member, and the third engaging portion being adapted to engage with
the shoulder of the second unlatching member.
21. The two-way retainer for a slide track assembly as defined in
claim 12, wherein the second unlatching member employs a base
adapted to limit movement.
22. The two-way retainer for a slide track assembly as defined in
claim 12, wherein the base includes an elastic member adapted to
engage with a lug extended from the second unlatching member for
reciprocation.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention is related to a two-way retainer for a
slide track assembly of drawers. More particularly, the present
invention is related to a retaining mechanism mounted on a first
slide track, and a stop member mounted on a second slide track
adapted to retain the first slide track in a two-way direction.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Referring to FIG. 14, a conventional three-section slide
track for a drawer includes a first slide track (so-called outer
slide track) 30, a second slide track (so-called medium track) 20
and a third slide track (so-called inner track) 10. A ball track 40
is sandwiched in between any two of the first slide track 30, the
second slide track 20 and the third slide track 10 so as to
smoothen sliding movement. Moreover, the first slide track 30 and
the second slide track 20 mount a retaining member 301 and a stop
member 201 respectively for retaining in a one-way direction. The
retaining member 301 is attached to an inner surface of the first
slide track 30, and provided with an engaging portion 302. The stop
member 201 is mounted to a front end of the second slide track 20,
and provided with a protrusion 202. To prevent taking apart by
accident, when users draws out the first slide track 30 from the
second slide track 20, the protrusion 202 of the stop member 201 is
engaged with the engaging portion 302 of the retaining member 301
in place.
[0005] Users can draw out a keyboard or a component, which is
attached to the first slide track 30, for servicing. Although the
engagement of the stop member 201 with the engaging portion 302 can
avoid releasing the first slide track 30 from the second slide
track 20 by accident, it cannot prevent the first slide track 30
retracting into the second slide track 20 by careless force of
users. Therefore, it is inconvenient to users for operating the
slide tracks in use.
[0006] Applicant own U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,367,899 and 6,412,891 are
provided with a mechanism to overcome this problem and incorporated
herein by reference.
[0007] The present invention also intends to provide a two-way
retainer for a slide track assembly, which comprises a retaining
mechanism mounted on a first slide track, and a stop member mounted
on a second slide track. The retaining mechanism is consisted of a
pair of retaining arms, and each of the retaining arms is formed
with an inclined portion and an engaging portion for selectively
engaging or disengaging with or from the stop member in such a way
to mitigate and overcome the above problem.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The primary objective of this invention is to provide a
two-way retainer for a slide track assembly of drawers, which
comprises a retaining mechanism mounted on a first slide track, and
a stop member mounted on a second slide track. The retaining
mechanism is consisted of a pair of retaining arms, and each of the
retaining arms is formed with an inclined portion and an engaging
portion for selectively engaging or disengaging with or from the
stop member, thereby increasing useful convenience.
[0009] The two-way retainer for a slide track assembly of drawers
in accordance with the present invention comprises a retaining
mechanism mounted on a first slide track, and a stop member mounted
on a second slide track. The retaining mechanism is consisted of a
pair of retaining arms and an elastic member. The retaining arms
are provided with a pair of oppositely inclined portions and a pair
of engaging portions. The stop member is provided with a protrusion
adapted to interact with the oppositely inclined portions and the
engaging portions of the retaining arms. When the first slide track
is moved to a predetermined position with respect to the second
slide track, the protrusion of the stop member may pass through one
of the inclined portions of the retaining arms. Thus the protrusion
is confined within the two engaging portions of the retaining arms
to thereby retain the first slide track in a two-way direction of
the second slide track.
[0010] Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the
invention will become more apparent from the following detailed
description and the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The present invention will now be described in detail with
reference to the accompanying drawings herein:
[0012] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a two-way retainer
for a slide track assembly of drawers in accordance with a first
embodiment of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a pair of
retaining arms applied to the two-way retainer for a slide track
assembly of drawers in accordance with the first embodiment of the
present invention;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a lateral view of the two-way retainer for a slide
track assembly of drawers in accordance with the first embodiment
of the present invention mounted to the slide track assembly;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a lateral view of a retaining operation of the
two-way retainer in accordance with the first embodiment of the
present invention at a predetermined position of a first slide
track of the slide track assembly;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a lateral view of a releasing operation of an
unlatching member for actuating the two-way retainer in accordance
with the first embodiment of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a lateral view of the two-way retainer in
accordance with the embodiment of the present invention in the
first slide track retracted into a second slide track;
[0018] FIG. 7 is a lateral view of a two-way retainer for a slide
track assembly of drawers in accordance with a second embodiment of
the present invention mounted to the slide track assembly;
[0019] FIG. 8 is a lateral view of a two-way retainer for a slide
track assembly of drawers in accordance with a third embodiment of
the present invention mounted to the slide track assembly;
[0020] FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a pair of
retaining arms applied to the two-way retainer for a slide track
assembly of drawers in accordance with the third embodiment of the
present invention;
[0021] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a base and an
elastic member applied to the two-way retainer for a slide track
assembly of drawers in accordance with the third embodiment of the
present invention;
[0022] FIG. 11 is a lateral view of a releasing operation of a
first unlatching member for actuating the two-way retainer in
accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 12 is a lateral view of a releasing operation of a
second unlatching member for actuating the two-way retainer in
accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 13 is a lateral view of a two-way retainer for a slide
track assembly of drawers in accordance with a fourth embodiment of
the present invention mounted to the slide track assembly; and
[0025] FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional
three-section slide track in accordance with the prior art.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0026] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 13, reference numerals of the
embodiments have applied the identical numerals of the conventional
slide track assembly. The slide track assembly of the embodiment
has the similar configuration and same function as the conventional
slide track assembly and the detailed descriptions are omitted.
[0027] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, a two-way retainer for a
slide track assembly of drawers in accordance with a first
embodiment of the present invention comprises a retaining mechanism
50, a stop member 60 and an unlatching member 70. The retaining
mechanism 50 and the unlatching member 70 are mounted at an
appropriate position of an inner side of the first slide track 30
while the stop member 60 mounting to an end of the second slide
track 20. Ball tracks 40 are sandwiched in between any two of the
first slide track 30, the second slide track 20 and the third slide
track 10.
[0028] Referring again to FIGS. 1 through 3, the retaining
mechanism 50 comprises a pair of retaining arms 51, 51', an elastic
member 52, a base 53 and a pivotal member 54. Each of the retaining
arms 51, 51 includes an inclined portion 511, 511', a first
engaging portion 512, 512', a step portion 513, 513', a second
engaging portion 514, 514 and a recession 515, 515'. The elastic
member 52 is adapted to bias the retaining arms 51, 51'. The base
53 is adapted to position the elastic member 52 on the inner side
of the first slide track 30 and thereby the elastic member 52 is
located between the retaining arms 51, 51'. The pivotal member 54
is adapted to pivotally connect the opposite retaining arms 51, 51'
to the first slide track 30. Moreover, the inclined portion 511,
511' of the retaining arm 51, 51' is pushed by the stop member 60
and turned. The two first engaging portions 512, 512' are arranged
face to face each other, thereby forming a retaining space. The
step portion 513, 513' is recessed on the retaining arm 51, 51' for
allowing adequate operation of the unlatching member 70, and faced
the side surface of the first slide track 30. The second engaging
portion 514, 514' is formed on an appropriate position of the step
portion 513, 513' and adapted to engage with one of shoulders 73 of
the unlatching member 70 for rotational operation. The recession
515, 515' is adapted to engage with two ends of the elastic member
52.
[0029] Referring again to FIGS. 1 through 3, the stop member 60 is
located at the end of the second slide track 20, provided with a
protrusion 61 extended to first slide track 30. The protrusion 61
is adapted to push the inclined portion 511, 511' of the retaining
arm 51, 51' for rotational operation, or to be confined within the
space formed by the two first engaging portions 512, 512'.
[0030] Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 3, the unlatching member 70
is movably attached to the first slide track 30, and connected
thereto by at least one holder 31. The unlatching member 70
includes a grip 71, two recessions 72 and two shoulders 73. An
operator can hold the grip 71 to pull backward or to push forward
for unlatching an engaged relationship of the first engaging
portion 512, 512' of the retaining arm 51, 51' with the protrusion
61 of the stop member 60. Locating in the step portions 513, 513 of
the retaining arms 51,51' the two recessions 72 are engaged with
the second engaging portions 514, 514'. The two shoulders 73 are
adjacent to two rear edges (or front edges) of the two recessions
72, and adapted to push the second engaging portions 514, 514' for
rotational operation of the retaining arms 51, 51' when an operator
pulls backward or pushes forward the unlatching member 70.
[0031] Referring again to FIG. 3, firstly, the retaining mechanism
50 is pivotally connected to the first slide track 30. The first
slide track 30, the second slide track 20 and the third slide track
10 are nested when assembled. Then the retaining arms 51, 51' are
biased by the elastic member 52 and turned to confront with a
flange 32 of the first slide track 30. An end of the unlatching
member 70 is extended into the step portions 513, 513' of the
retaining arms 51, 51' so that the two recessions 72 are closely
engaged with the two engaging portions 514, 514'.
[0032] Referring again to FIG. 4, one of the retaining arms 51, 51'
comes to contact with the protrusion 61 of the stop member 60
mounted on the second slide track 20 while the first slide track 30
moving to a predetermined position of the second slide track 20.
Once the protrusion 61 presses the inclined portion 511, the
retaining arm 51 turns an angular length counterclockwise.
Subsequently, the protrusion 61 may pass through one of the
retaining arms 51 and confront with the first engaging portion 512'
of the other retaining arm 51' that obstructs any further movement
of the protrusion 61. The retaining arms 51, 51' may return the
original positions due to a bias force of the elastic member 52.
Consequently, the protrusion 61 is confined within a space formed
by the two first engaging portions 512, 512' of the retaining arms
51, 51' so that the first slide track 30 is able to retain in a
two-way direction on the second slide track 20.
[0033] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the first slide track 30 is able
to retract into or remove from the second slide track 20 if
desired. An operator can pull backward or push forward the grip 71
of the unlatching member 70 so that the two shoulders 72 may engage
with the two second engaging portions 514, 514'. Subsequently, the
two retaining arms 51 are turned toward the flange 32 of the first
slide track 30. An operator can disengage the two-way engaged
relationship of the protrusion 61 from the retaining arms 51, 51'.
Therefore, the first slide track 30 is able to retract into or
remove from the second slide track 20. Once the operator release
the unlatching member 70, the two retaining arms 51, 51' may return
to their original positions (an operable state) by a bias force of
the elastic member 52.
[0034] Referring again to FIGS. 1 through 3, each of the retaining
arms 51, 51' further includes an extension 516, 516'. To accomplish
synchronous operation, the two extensions 516, 516' are engaged and
turned together so that the unlatching member 70 only have to
provide with only one shoulder 73 to engage with one of the second
engaging portions 514' of the retaining arms 51'. In unlatching
operation, the unlatching member 70 is adapted to pull one of the
retaining arms 51 and its extension 516 may actuate the other
extension 516' of the other retaining arm 51'.
[0035] In a preferred design choice, the protrusion 61 of the stop
member 60 is preferably integrated into an end of the second slide
track 20 by punching the protrusion 61 on the second slide track
20.
[0036] In another design choice, the retaining mechanism 50 may
preferably omit the base 53 which is replaced by mounting the
elastic member 52 to the first slide track 30.
[0037] In another design choice, the unlatching member 70 is
preferably combined with an elastic member (not shown) adapted to
insure reciprocation on the first slide track 30.
[0038] Referring to FIG. 7, a two-way retainer for a slide track
assembly of drawers in accordance with a second embodiment of the
present invention further includes an unlatching member 70 and a
holder 80 adapted to hold a rod body of the unlatching member 70.
To accomplish reciprocating operation, the unlatching member 70 is
provided with at least one lug 74 and engaged with an elastic
member 81 of the holder 80.
[0039] In another design choice, an end of the unlatching member 70
is mechanically connected to an end of the retaining arm 51' which
is oppose to the first engaging portion 512' (shown at "circle a"
in FIG. 7). In unlatching operation, the retaining arm 51' may be
pivoted on the pivotal member 54 by the unlatching member 70, and
an engaged relationship of the retaining arm 51' may actuate the
other retaining arm 51 synchronously. Then the retaining arms 51,
51' are disengaged from the stop member 60 that accomplishes the
same unlatching function.
[0040] In another design choice, the retaining members 51 are
designed to omit the elastic member 52 and the base 53, and
replaced by combining an elastic member 81 with the unlatching
member 70 that may provide with a bias force to turn and return the
retaining members 51, 51'.
[0041] Preferably, the two-way retainer for the slide track
assembly of the drawers in accordance with the present invention is
applied to a two-section slide track or the likes.
[0042] Each of the two-way retainers of the first and second
embodiments employs a single unlatching member 70 having a pair of
shoulders 73 to actuate the second engaging portions 514, 514' that
may accomplish unlatching function. Alternatively, the shoulders 73
of the single unlatching member 70 are adapted to actuate an
engaged relationship of the two extensions 516, 516' for
unlatching. Consequently, the first slide track 30 can be moved
along the second slide track 20 in a two-way direction or drawn out
from the second slide track 20.
[0043] Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, a two-way retainer for a slide
track assembly of drawers in accordance with a third embodiment of
the present invention further includes a first unlatching member 70
and a second unlatching member 90. In comparison with the first and
second embodiments, the first unlatching member 70 of the third
embodiment includes only one recession 72 and one shoulder 73
thereof adapted to engage with the second engaging portion 514 of
the retaining arm 51. Correspondingly, the unlatching member 90
includes a grip 91 and a shoulder 92. The retaining arm 51' is
further provided with a step portion 517' adapted to accommodate
the shoulder 92, and a third engaging portion 518' adapted to
engage with the shoulder 92. Meanwhile, the base 53 is provided
with a groove 531 in which to accommodate an elastic member 55. To
accomplish reciprocating operation, the second unlatching member 90
is further provided with a lug 93 for engaging with the elastic
member 55.
[0044] Referring again to FIG. 8, no connected operation exists
between the first unlatching member 70 and the second unlatching
member 90 for actuating the retaining arms 51, 51'. Referring to
FIG. 11, in retracting operation, the shoulder 73 of the first
unlatching member 70 may partially actuate the second engaging
portion 514 of the retaining arm 51 so that the engagement of the
protrusion 61 of the stop member 60 with the retaining arm 51 may
be unlatched. This allows the first slide track 30 being retracted
into the second slide track 30. In this circumstance, the
engagement of the protrusion 61 of the stop member 60 with the
retaining arm 51' may still be maintained so that the first slide
track 30 is unable to draw out from the second slide track 20. When
user pulls the unlatching member 70 backward for disengaging the
retaining arm 51 from the protrusion 61, the first slide track 30
may not be drawn out or released from the second slide track 20 by
accident.
[0045] Referring to FIG. 12, in drawing operation, the shoulder 92
of the second unlatching member 90 may partially actuate the third
engaging portion 518' of the retaining arm 51' so that the
extension 516' of the retaining arm 51' may actuate the other
extension 516 of the retaining arm 51. At this circumstance, the
engagement of the protrusion 61 of the stop member 60 with the
retaining arms 51, 51' may be unlatched in a two-way direction for
allowing the first slide track 30 able to move backward or
forward.
[0046] Referring to FIG. 13, a two-way retainer for a slide track
assembly of drawers in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the
present invention further includes a first unlatching member 70 and
a second unlatching member 90. In comparison with the first through
third embodiments, the retaining arms 51, 51' of the fourth
embodiment may omit one of the extensions 516, 516'. In this
circumstance, the first and second unlatching members 70 and 90 are
able to actuate the retaining arms 51 and 51' for unlatching
respectively.
[0047] Referring again to FIG. 14, the conventional three-section
slide track is only provided with a retaining member 301 and a stop
member 201 that only retains the slide track in one-way direction.
The present invention accomplishes to retain the slide track in a
two-way direction instead of the conventional one-way
direction.
[0048] Although the invention has been described in detail with
reference to its presently preferred embodiment, it will be
understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that various
modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and the
scope of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.
* * * * *