U.S. patent application number 11/131252 was filed with the patent office on 2005-09-22 for latch controller for quick-mount support for telescoping slide.
Invention is credited to Cutler, Phillip B., Greenwald, William B., Naue, Jeff L..
Application Number | 20050206285 11/131252 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34827572 |
Filed Date | 2005-09-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050206285 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Greenwald, William B. ; et
al. |
September 22, 2005 |
Latch controller for quick-mount support for telescoping slide
Abstract
A telescoping slide support assembly includes a telescoping
slide assembly, a vertical rack for use in an equipment cabinet,
and a quick-mount support coupled to a stationary slide included in
the telescoping slide assembly. The quick-mount support includes a
latch that is movable to facilitate coupling and uncoupling of the
quick-mount support and the vertical rack.
Inventors: |
Greenwald, William B.;
(Beech Grove, IN) ; Naue, Jeff L.; (New Palestine,
IN) ; Cutler, Phillip B.; (Westfield, IN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BARNES & THORNBURG
11 SOUTH MERIDIAN
INDIANAPOLIS
IN
46204
|
Family ID: |
34827572 |
Appl. No.: |
11/131252 |
Filed: |
May 16, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11131252 |
May 16, 2005 |
|
|
|
10787711 |
Feb 26, 2004 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/334.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 88/43 20170101;
H05K 7/1421 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/334.5 |
International
Class: |
A47B 088/00 |
Claims
1. A telescoping slide assembly support system comprising a
telescoping slide assembly including load-carrying and stationary
slides movable relative to one another to extend and retract the
load-carrying slide relative to the stationary slide between fully
extended and retracted positions, and a quick-mount support coupled
to the stationary slide, the quick-mount support including a
movable bottom latch arranged to extend through a first latch
aperture, a movable top latch arranged to extend through a second
latch aperture, and a force generator coupled to the bottom and top
latches and arranged to move the bottom and top latches away from
one another while the bottom latch extends through the first of the
latch apertures and the top latch extends through the second of the
latch apertures to mate the bottom and top latches with a rack to
block uncoupling of the quick-mount support and the rack.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the force generator includes a
first spring arranged to urge the bottom latch normally away from
the top latch and a second spring arranged to urge the top latch
normally away from the bottom latch.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the quick-mount support further
includes a mount unit coupled to the stationary slide, the first
spring is coupled at one end to the mount unit and at another end
to the bottom latch, and the second spring is coupled at one end to
the mount unit and at another end to the top latch.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein the bottom latch is mounted on
the mount unit for pivotable movement about a first latch pivot
axis and the top latch is mounted on the mount unit for pivotable
movement about a second latch pivot axis.
5. The system of claim 2, wherein the bottom latch is mounted for
pivotable movement about a first latch pivot axis, the top latch is
mounted for pivotable movement about a second latch pivot axis, the
first spring is arranged normally to pivot the bottom latch about
the first latch pivot axis in a counterclockwise direction, and the
second spring is arranged normally to pivot the top latch about the
second latch pivot axis in a clockwise direction.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein the quick-mount support includes
a mount unit, a first pivot mount is coupled to the mount unit and
to the bottom latch to establish the first latch pivot axis, a
second pivot mount is coupled to the mount unit and to the top
latch to establish the second latch pivot axis, the first spring
includes a coiled portion wrapped around the first pivot mount and
positioned to lie between the mount unit and the bottom latch, and
the second spring includes a coiled portion wrapped around the
second pivot mount and positioned to lie between the mount unit and
the top latch.
7. The system of claim 5, wherein the bottom latch includes a base
intersecting the first latch pivot axis, a latch lug arranged to
extend through the first of the latch apertures, and a mid-section
arranged to interconnect the base and latch lug of the bottom latch
and coupled to the first spring, and the top latch includes a base
intersecting the second latch pivot axis, a latch lug arranged to
extend through the second of the latch apertures, and a mid-section
arranged to interconnect the base and latch lug of the top latch
and coupled to the second spring.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the quick-mount support further
includes a mount unit formed to include first and second slots and
a first alignment guide coupled to the mount unit and formed to
include a first channel communicating with the first slot, the
first alignment guide is arranged to extend through a first of the
series of latch apertures, and one of the bottom and top latches is
arranged to extend through the first slot and into the first
channel and is coupled to the mount unit for pivotable movement
about a pivot axis between an extended position wherein a latch lug
included in the one of the bottom and top latch extends out of the
first channel to confront the rack so as to block removal of the
one of the bottom and top latches from the first of the series of
latch apertures formed in the rack and a retracted position wherein
the latch lug is located in the first channel to allow movement of
the first alignment guide and the one of the bottom and top latches
through the first of the series of latch apertures.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the quick-mount support further
includes a mount unit formed to include first and second slots, a
first alignment guide formed to include a first channel and
arranged to extend through a first of the series of latch apertures
formed in the rack, and a second alignment guide formed to include
a second channel and arranged to extend through a second of the
series of latch apertures formed in the rack, the movable bottom
latch extends through and is movable in the first slot and channel,
and the movable top latch extends through and is movable in the
second slot and channel.
10-15. (canceled)
16. A telescoping slide assembly support system comprising a
telescoping slide assembly including load-carrying and stationary
slides movable relative to one another to extend and retract the
load-carrying slide relative to the stationary slide between fully
extended and retracted positions, a rack formed to include a series
of latch apertures, and a quick-mount support coupled to the
stationary slide, the quick-mount support including a movable
bottom latch arranged to extend through a first of the latch
apertures, a movable top latch arranged to extend through a second
of the latch apertures, and a force generator coupled to the bottom
and top latches and arranged to move the bottom and top latches
away from one another while the bottom latch extends through the
first of the latch apertures and the top latch extends through the
second of the latch apertures to mate the bottom and top latches
with the rack to block uncoupling of the quick-mount support and
the rack, wherein the force generator includes at least one spring
arranged to urge the bottom latch normally away from the top latch
and arranged to urge the top latch normally away from the bottom
latch.
17. A device for attaching a telescoping slide assembly including
load-carrying and stationary slides movable relative to one another
to extend and retract the load-carrying slide relative to the
stationary slide between fully extended and retracted positions to
a rack comprising a quick-mount support including a movable bottom
latch having a base and a lug extending generally perpendicular
from the base, the bottom latch arranged to extend the lug through
a first latch aperture, a movable top latch having a base and a lug
extending generally perpendicular from the base, the top latch
arranged to extend through a second latch aperture, and at least
one spring coupled to the bottom and top latches and arranged to
move the bottom and top latches away from one another to a latching
position wherein the bottom latch extends through the first latch
aperture and the top latch extends through the second latch
aperture to mate the bottom and top latches with a rack with the
lugs blocking uncoupling of the quick-mount support and the rack,
wherein application of an external force greater than the force of
the spring moves the bottom and top latches toward each other to an
unlatching position wherein the latches can be removed from the
apertures.
18. The device of claim 17, wherein the first spring is arranged to
urge the bottom latch along a first axis with respect to the top
latch and wherein each of the lugs extends in a direction generally
parallel to the first axis and away from its respective latch base.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.
No. 10/787,711 filed on Feb. 26, 2004, which is incorporated herein
by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present disclosure relates to telescoping slide
assemblies, and particularly to telescoping slide assemblies
mounted on racks to support a piece of equipment for movement
relative to the rack. More particularly, the present disclosure
relates to bracket systems for mounting telescoping slide
assemblies on racks included in an equipment cabinet.
[0003] A telescoping slide assembly support system in accordance
with the present disclosure includes a telescoping slide assembly,
a rack for use in an equipment cabinet, and a quick-mount support
coupled to a stationary slide in the telescoping slide assembly.
The quick-mount support is configured to be coupled quickly and
easily to facilitate mounting the stationary slide in a fixed
position relative to the rack. A load-carrying slide also included
in the telescoping slide assembly can be coupled to a piece of
equipment to support that equipment for movement relative to the
rack into and out of the equipment cabinet.
[0004] In illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure, the
quick-mount support includes a movable bottom latch arranged to
extend through a first of a series of latch apertures formed in the
rack and a movable top latch arranged to extend through a second of
the latch apertures formed in the rack. A force generator is
coupled to the bottom and top latches and arranged to move the
bottom and top latches away from one another while the bottom latch
extends through the first of the latch apertures and the top latch
extends through the second of the latch apertures to mate the
bottom and top latches with the rack to block uncoupling of the
quick-mount support and the rack.
[0005] The force generator includes a first spring arranged to urge
the bottom latch normally away from the top latch and a second
spring arranged to urge the top latch normally away from the bottom
latch. The bottom latch is mounted on the mount unit for pivotable
movement about a first latch pivot axis and the top latch is
mounted on the mount unit for pivotable movement about a second
latch pivot axis. An alignment guide is associated with each of the
bottom and top latches and configured to extend into latch
apertures formed in the rack to help guide the bottom and top
latches into those latch apertures.
[0006] The quick-mount support further includes a first
split-cylinder alignment guide associated with the bottom latch and
a second split-cylinder alignment guide associated with the top
latch. Each latch extends through and is movable in a channel
formed in its companion split-cylinder alignment guide to engage or
disengage the rack. Each split-cylinder alignment guide extends
through one of the latch apertures formed in the rack to orient the
quick-mount support in a predetermined position relative to the
rack to facilitate coupling of the quick-mount support to the
rack.
[0007] Features of the present disclosure will become apparent to
those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following
detailed description of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the
best mode of carrying out the disclosure as presently
perceived.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The detailed description particularly refers to the
accompanying figures in which:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a piece of equipment
mounted on two fully extended telescoping slide assemblies that are
mounted on vertical racks provided inside a cabinet to enable a
technician to move the piece of equipment easily into and out of
the cabinet;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the cabinet of FIG.
1, with portions broken away, showing the piece of equipment
located inside the cabinet owing to the full retraction of the
telescoping slide assemblies inside the cabinet and showing two
forward vertical racks and a series of latch apertures formed in
each of the forward vertical racks wherein two latches associated
with a quick-mount support coupled to a "left-side" slide assembly
extend into two of the latch apertures formed in a left-side
forward vertical rack and two latches associated with a quick-mount
support coupled to a "right-side" slide assembly extend into two of
the latch apertures formed in a right-side forward vertical
rack;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2
after the piece of equipment has been moved on the telescoping
slide assemblies a short distance out of the cabinet showing a pair
of spaced-apart three-part telescoping slide assemblies, a piece of
equipment mounted there between, and four quick-mount supports and
showing that each quick-mount support is coupled to one of the
forward and rearward vertical racks and to a nearby portion of one
of the telescoping slide assemblies to anchor the slide assemblies
to the vertical racks;
[0012] FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective assembly view of various
components that can be assembled as shown, for example, in FIG. 5,
to produce a quick-mount support in accordance with this
disclosure;
[0013] FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the quick-mount
support of FIG. 4 after it has been assembled and mounted on one
end of a stationary slide included in the three-part telescoping
slide assembly and showing pivotable top and bottom pivotable
latches, each latch having a latch lug extending through a slot
formed in a mount unit and out of a channel formed in a
split-cylinder alignment guide, the pivotable bottom latch being
urged by a first spring to a "lowered and locked" position, the
pivotable top latch being urged by a second spring to a "raised and
locked" position;
[0014] FIG. 6 is an enlarged side elevation view of the quick-mount
support of FIG. 5 showing the pivotable top and bottom latches
urged by the springs to their normal spread-apart positions
extending out of the channels formed in the two split-cylinder
alignment guides;
[0015] FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the unit shown in FIG. 6;
[0016] FIG. 8 is a front end view of the unit shown in FIG. 6;
[0017] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the quick-mount support
similar to FIG. 5 showing pivoting movement of the top and bottom
latches toward one another into the channels formed in the
split-cylinder alignment guides (in response to opposing forces
applied manually by a user that is acting to "squeeze" the top and
bottom latches) prior to coupling the quick-mount support to the
rack;
[0018] FIG. 10 is an elevation view of the vertical rack shown in
FIG. 4 showing a "perforated" front wall formed to include three
latch apertures;
[0019] FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line 11-11 of FIG.
10 and showing the quick-mount support of FIGS. 4-9 before it is
coupled to the perforated front wall of the vertical rack and
showing "raising" of the pivotable bottom latch and "lowering" of
the pivotable top latch so that each of those latches is poised to
pass into one of the latch apertures formed in the front wall of
the vertical rack;
[0020] FIG. 12 is an elevation view similar to FIG. 10 showing
placement of a first split-cylinder alignment guide and a latch lug
of the bottom latch in a first of the latch apertures formed in the
rack and placement of a second split-cylinder alignment guide and a
latch lug of the top latch in a second of the latch apertures
formed in the rack;
[0021] FIG. 13 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 11 taken along
line 13-13 of FIG. 12 showing horizontal movement of a mounting
bracket in the quick-mount support to engage the perforated front
wall of the vertical rack and to extend the raised bottom latch
(and its companion split-cylinder alignment guide) into one of the
latch apertures formed in the front wall and to extend the lowered
top latch (and its companion split-cylinder alignment guide) into
another of the latch apertures;
[0022] FIG. 14 is an elevation view similar to FIG. 12 showing
"downward" movement of the latch lug of the pivotable bottom latch
and "upward" movement of the latch lug of the pivotable top
latch;
[0023] FIG. 15 is a sectional view similar to FIGS. 11 and 13 taken
along line 15-15 of FIG. 14 showing the quick-mount support
anchored to the vertical rack after spring-biased pivoting movement
of the bottom latch to the lowered and locked position and
spring-biased pivoting movement of the top latch to the raised and
locked position to cause the stationary slide of the telescoping
slide assembly to be held in a fixed position relative to the
vertical rack provided in the cabinet as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3;
and
[0024] FIG. 16 is a diagrammatic illustration showing a "force
generator" arranged to move top and bottom latches included in the
quick-mount support normally away from one another and showing use
of two opposing external forces (represented by double arrows) to
move the top and bottom latches toward one another against the
forces applied by the force generator to ready the quick-mount
support to be mounted on a rack.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0025] An equipment cabinet 10 includes an interior region 12
adapted to store equipment therein as shown, for example, in FIGS.
1 and 2. A piece of equipment 14 is mounted on a pair of
spaced-apart telescoping slide assemblies 16 for movement thereon
between a fully extended position away from cabinet 10 as shown in
FIG. 1 and a fully retracted position within cabinet 10 as shown in
FIG. 2. Vertical racks 18 are mounted in cabinet 10 as shown, for
example, in FIGS. 1-3 and telescoping slide assemblies 16 are
mounted to these vertical racks 18 using the quick-mount support
system disclosed herein and shown, for example, in FIGS. 4-16.
[0026] Each vertical rack 18 includes a forwardly facing surface
20, a rearwardly facing surface 22, and a series of latch apertures
23, 24, 25, etc., as shown, for example, in FIGS. 4 and 10-16. Each
vertical rack 18 is coupled to equipment cabinet 10 and positioned
to lie in the interior region 12 as shown, for example, in FIG. 3.
It is within the scope of this disclosure to configure and orient
rack 18 to support slide assemblies in a wide variety of locations
within cabinet 10. In many instances, rack 18 will have a
"vertical" orientation but other orientations fall within the scope
of this disclosure.
[0027] Telescoping slide assembly 16 includes any suitable number
of slides. In the illustrations, telescoping slide assembly 16
includes interconnected load-carrying slide 26, intermediate slide
28, and stationary slide 30. These slides 26, 28, and 30 are
movable relative to one another to extend and retract load-carrying
slide 26 relative to stationary slide 30 between fully extended and
retracted positions as suggested in FIGS. 1 and 2. Piece of
equipment 14 is coupled to spaced-apart load-carrying slides 26 in
any suitable manner as shown, for example, in FIG. 3. It is within
the scope of this disclosure to omit intermediate slide 28 or add
additional intermediate slides (not shown).
[0028] A pair of quick-mount supports 11 is provided so that each
end of each stationary slide 30 can be mounted to an adjacent
vertical rack 18 quickly and easily. Thus, the telescoping slide
assemblies 16 used to support equipment 14 are positioned to lie in
spaced-apart parallel relation to one another in fixed positions on
vertical racks 18. Quick-mount support 11 can be operated quickly
and easily by a technician provided with access to interior region
12 of equipment cabinet 10 to couple quick-mount support 11 to
vertical rack 18 as shown in FIGS. 11, 13, and 15.
[0029] Quick-mount support 11 includes a slide support bracket 32
coupled to stationary slide 30 and a retainer mechanism 34 coupled
to slide support bracket 32 and configured to mate easily to
vertical rack 18 so that quick-mount support 11 can be coupled to
and uncoupled from vertical rack 18 quickly and easily in a manner
suggested in FIGS. 11, 13, and 15. Fasteners 48 can be arranged to
extend through apertures or position-adjustment slot 50 formed in
slide support bracket 32 to engage stationary slide 30 so that
slide support bracket 32 is mounted in a fixed position on one end
of stationary slide 30.
[0030] Retainer mechanism 34 includes a mount unit 36, a lower
retainer 38, and an upper retainer 40 as shown best in FIGS. 4 and
5. Each retainer 38, 40 includes a movable latch (e.g., 41 and 42,
respectively). It is within the scope of this disclosure to mount
latches 41, 42 to mount unit 36 to pivot, slide, or otherwise move
relative to mount unit 36 during coupling and uncoupling of
quick-mount support 11 and rack 18.
[0031] Mount unit 36 includes a retainer mount 52 coupled to slide
support bracket 32 and a rack mount 54 arranged to lie at a right
angle to retainer mount 52 as shown, for example, in FIGS. 4 and 5.
In the illustrated embodiment, retainer mount 52 is established by
a first metal plate welded or otherwise secured to a second metal
plate establishing the rack mount 52. It is within the scope of
this disclosure to form mount unit 36 of a monolithic metal or
plastics material.
[0032] Rack mount 54 is adapted to mate with rack 18 when
quick-mount support 11 is coupled to rack 18 as suggested in FIGS.
3, 13, and 15. Rack mount 54 includes a forwardly facing surface 47
and a rearwardly facing surface 49. Forwardly facing surface 47 of
rack mount 54 is arranged to lie in mating relation to rearwardly
facing surface 22 of rack 18 to align latch apertures formed in
rack 18 with various latch-receiving slots and channels formed in
rack mount 54 as suggested in FIGS. 11 and 15. It is within the
scope of this disclosure to place an intervening element between
rack mount 54 and rack 18 so long as both of the movable latches
41, 42 are able to extend through and move in companion
latch-receiving slots and channels formed in rack mount 54 and
latch apertures formed in rack 18.
[0033] As suggested in FIG. 4, rack mount 54 of mount unit 36 is
formed to include first and second slots 63, 68, a first alignment
guide 64 associated with first slot 63, and a second alignment
guide 69 associated with second slot 68. Alignment guides 64, 69
are used to orient quick-mount support 11 (and particularly rack
mount 54) in a predetermined position relative to rack 18 as
suggested in FIGS. 3, 13, and 15 to facilitate coupling of the
quick-mount support 11 to the rack 18.
[0034] First alignment guide 64 is coupled to rack mount 54 of
mount unit 36 and formed to include a first channel 65
communicating with first slot 63 in rack mount 54. In the
illustrated embodiment, first alignment guide 64 comprises a pair
of first tabs 66, 67 arranged to form first channel 65
therebetween. Second alignment guide 69 is coupled to rack mount 54
of mount unit 36 and formed to include a second channel 70
communicating with second slot 68 in rack mount 54. Also in the
illustrated embodiment, second alignment guide 69 comprises a pair
of second tabs 71, 72 arranged to form second channel 70
therebetween. Also in the illustrated embodiment, each of first
tabs 66, 67 and second tabs 71, 72 has a partial cylindrical shape
with an outwardly presented curved exterior surface and an inwardly
presented flat interior surface. Pairs of tabs having such a shape
cooperate to define a "split-cylinder" alignment guide. It is
within the scope of this disclosure to vary the shape and number of
tabs in each alignment guide.
[0035] As suggested in FIGS. 4 and 12-15, first alignment guide 64
is arranged to extend through latch aperture 23 formed in rack 18
and second alignment guide 69 is arranged to extend through latch
aperture 25 formed in rack 18 so that rack mount 54 is oriented
properly with respect to rack 18 to allow latches 41, 42 to extend
into the slots and channels formed in rack mount 54 and latch
apertures formed in rack 18. The outwardly presented curved
exterior surfaces of first tabs 66, 67 fit into and mate with a
circular inner edge of latch aperture 23. Likewise, the outwardly
presented curved exterior surfaces of second tabs 71, 72 fit into
and mate with a circular inner edge of latch aperture 25.
[0036] By inserting these alignment guides 64, 69 into two of the
latch apertures (e.g., 23 and 25) formed in vertical rack 18, it is
a simple matter for a technician to orient quick-mount support 11
on stationary slide 30 with rack 18 so that tips of movable latches
41, 42 are aligned and can be mated with rack 18 as suggested, for
example, in FIGS. 11, 13, and 15 to "anchor" stationary slide 30 in
a fixed position on rack 18.
[0037] As suggested in FIGS. 5 and 10-15, a "tip" 112 of bottom
latch 41 extends through first slot 63 and first channel 65
associated with first alignment guide 64 and is movable therein
from a first position lying within first channel 65 as shown in
FIGS. 9 and 11-13 to a second position projecting outside first
channel 65 as shown in FIGS. 5, 14, and 15. Likewise, a "tip" 122
of top latch 42 extends through second slot 68 and second channel
70 associated with second alignment guide 69 and is movable therein
from a first position lying within second channel 70 as shown in
FIGS. 9 and 11-13 to a second position outside second channel 70 as
shown in FIGS. 5, 14, and 15.
[0038] As suggested in FIGS. 4 and 5, lower retainer 38 includes a
pivotable bottom latch 41, a first pivot mount 80, and a first
spring 81. First pivot mount 80 extends into a first mount aperture
84 formed in retainer mount 52 and carries first spring 81 to
support bottom latch 41 for up and down pivotable movement about
first pivot axis 85. Upper retainer 40 includes a pivotable top
latch 42, a second pivot mount 82, and a second spring 83. Second
pivot mount 82 extends into a second mount aperture 86 formed in
retainer mount 52 and carries second spring 83 to support top latch
42 for up and down pivotable movement about second pivot axis
87.
[0039] In use, a movable bottom latch 41 is arranged to extend
through a first (23) of the latch apertures formed in rack 18 and
movable top latch 42 is arranged to extend through a second (25) of
the latch apertures formed in rack 18 as suggested in FIGS. 14 and
15. First spring 81 is arranged to urge bottom latch 41 normally
away from top latch 42. Second spring 83 is arranged to urge top
latch 42 normally away from bottom latch 41. First spring 81 is
arranged normally to pivot bottom latch 41 about the first latch
pivot axis 85 in a counterclockwise direction 95 and second spring
83 is arranged normally to pivot top latch 42 about the second
latch pivot axis 87 in a clockwise direction 96 as suggested in
FIG. 6.
[0040] As suggested diagrammatically in FIG. 16, a force generator
100 is coupled to bottom and top latches 41, 42 and arranged to
move latches 41, 42 away from one another so that bottom and top
latches 41, 42 will mate with rack 18 to block uncoupling of
quick-mount support 11 and rack 18. In the illustrative embodiment,
springs 81 and 83 cooperate to define force generator 100. It is
within the scope of this disclosure to use a single spring to
define force generator 100.
[0041] In the illustrated embodiment, first spring 81 is coupled at
one end 811 to mount unit 36 and at another end 812 to bottom latch
41. As suggested in FIG. 4, end 812 of first spring 81 is inserted
into a first spring mount aperture 79 formed in retainer mount 52.
As suggested in FIG. 5, end 811 of first spring 81 passes through a
second spring mount aperture 88 formed in bottom latch 41 and mates
with bottom latch 41. First spring 81 includes a coiled portion 813
wrapped around first pivot mount 80 and positioned to lie between
retainer mount 52 of mount unit 36 and bottom latch 41.
[0042] Second spring 83 is coupled at one end 831 to mount unit 36
and at another end 832 to top latch 42. As suggested in FIG. 4, end
832 of second spring 83 is inserted into a second spring mount
aperture 89 formed in retainer mount 52. As suggested in FIG. 5,
end 831 of second spring 83 passes through a second spring mount
aperture 90 formed in top latch 42 and mates with top latch 42.
Second spring 83 includes a coiled portion 833 wrapped around
second pivot mount 82 and positioned to lie between retainer mount
52 of mount unit 36 and top latch 42. Bottom latch 41 is mounted
for pivotable movement about a first latch pivot axis 85 and top
latch 42 is mounted for pivotable movement about a second latch
pivot axis 87.
[0043] As suggested in FIG. 4, bottom latch 41 includes a base 110
intersecting first latch pivot axis 85 and providing an aperture
111 receiving a throat of first pivot mount 80, a latch lug 112
arranged to extend through the first (23) of the latch apertures
formed in rack 18, and a mid-section 114 arranged to interconnect
base 110 and latch lug 112 of bottom latch 41 and coupled to end
811 of first spring 81. Top latch 42 includes a base 120
intersecting second latch pivot axis 87 and providing an aperture
121 receiving a throat of second pivot mount 82, a latch lug 122
arranged to extend through the second (25) of the latch apertures
formed in rack 18, and a mid-section 123 arranged to interconnect
base 120 and latch lug 122 of top latch 42 and coupled to end 831
of second spring 83.
[0044] Bottom latch 41 is coupled to mount unit 36 and arranged to
extend through first slot 63 formed in rack mount 54 and first
channel 65 formed in first alignment guide 64 and through the first
(23) of the series of latch apertures formed in rack 18 to block
uncoupling of the quick-mount support 11 and rack 18 as shown in
FIG. 15. Top latch 42 is coupled to mount unit 36 and arranged to
extend through second slot 68 formed in rack mount 54 and second
channel 70 formed in second alignment guide 69, and through the
second (25) of the series of latch apertures to block uncoupling of
quick-mount support 11 and 18 as shown in FIG. 15.
[0045] Bottom latch 41 is coupled for movement relative to mount
unit 36 between an extended position shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 and a
retracted position shown in FIGS. 11-13. In the extended position,
a bottom latch lug 112 included in bottom latch 41 extends out of
first channel 65 provided in the first alignment guide 64 to
confront forwardly facing surface 20 of rack 18 so as to block
removal of bottom latch 41 from the first (23) of the series of
latch apertures formed in rack 18. In the retracted position,
bottom latch lug 112 is located in (or within a zone defined by)
first channel 65 provided in first alignment guide 64 so as to
allow movement of bottom latch lug 112 and the pair of first tabs
66, 67 through the first (23) of the series of latch apertures.
First spring 81 is arranged to urge bottom latch 41 normally to the
extended position.
[0046] Top latch 42 is coupled for movement relative to mount unit
36 between an extended position shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 and a
retracted position shown in FIGS. 11-13. In the extended position,
a top latch lug 122 included in top latch 42 extends out of second
channel 70 provided in second alignment guide 69 to confront
forwardly facing surface 20 of rack 18 so as to block removal of
top latch 42 from the second (25) of the series of latch apertures
formed in rack 18. In the retracted position, top latch lug 122 is
located in second channel 70 provided in second alignment guide 69
so as to allow movement of top latch lug 122 and the pair of second
tabs 71, 27 through the second (25) of the series of latch
apertures. Second spring 83 is arranged to urge top latch 42
normally to the extended position.
[0047] Use of a quick-mount support 11 to couple a stationary slide
30 of a telescoping slide assembly 16 to a rack 18 to assume a
fixed position (of the type shown in FIGS. 1-3) is shown in FIGS.
10-15 with reference also to FIGS. 5 and 9. Prior to coupling,
force generator 100 (e.g., springs 81, 83) cooperates to pivot
bottom latch 41 to a "lowered and locked" position and to pivot top
latch 42 to a "raised and locked" position shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and
11. It is within the scope of this disclosure to provide a single
piece of spring material to cause such pivoting movement of bottom
and top latches 41, 42. Referring now to FIG. 6, upward force 101
is applied (e.g., manually) to bottom latch 41 and downward force
102 is applied (e.g., manually) to top latch 42 to prepare latches
41, 42 to be coupled to rack 18. Such forces 101, 102 cooperate to
move latches 41, 42 toward one another against biasing forces
provided by force generator 100 (e.g., springs 81 and 83). In this
"ready" position, latch lug 112 of bottom latch 41 lies in channel
65 formed in first alignment guide 64 as suggested in FIGS. 9 and
11-13 and is "poised" to be passed in direction 45 through latch
aperture 23 of rack 18 along with first alignment guide 64. Also,
latch lug 122 of top latch 42 lies in channel 70 formed in second
alignment guide 69 as suggested in FIGS. 9 and 11-13 and is
"poised" to be passed in direction 45 through latch aperture 25 of
rack 18 along with second alignment guide 69.
[0048] Next, quick-mount support 11 and stationary slide 30 are
moved as a unit in direction 45 as shown in FIG. 13. Such movement
causes rack mount 54 to abut rearwardly facing surface 22 of rack
18, first alignment guide 64 and latch lug 112 to pass as a unit
through latch aperture 23 in rack 18, and second alignment guide 69
and latch lug 122 to pass as a unit through latch aperture 25.
[0049] Then, application of forces 101, 102 is ended to "release"
the spring-loaded bottom and top latches 41, 42 to allow spring 81
to pivot bottom latch 41 in counterclockwise direction 95 and to
allow spring 83 to pivot top latch 42 in clockwise direction 96.
This causes bottom latch 41 to be moved to assume a "lowered and
locked" position to cause a portion of latch lug 112 to extend out
of channel 65 formed in first alignment guide 64 to block removal
of latch lug 112 from latch aperture 23. This also causes top latch
42 to be moved to assume a "raised and locked" position to cause a
portion of latch lug 122 to extend out of channel 70 formed in
second alignment guide 69 to block removal of latch lug 122 from
latch aperture 25. In these positions, stationary slide 30 is held
in a fixed position relative to rack 18 provided in cabinet 10.
[0050] As suggested in FIGS. 4, 14, and 15, quick-mount support 11
further includes a connector 97 arranged to pass through aligned
apertures 24, 124 formed, respectively, in each of rack 18 and rack
mount 54 to mate with connector mount 98. Aperture 124 can also
have internal threads (not shown) to mate with connector 97 to omit
mount 98. Fasteners 99a and 99b (e.g., "flat-head" countersink
rivet or screw) can be used to couple retainer mount 52 to slide
support bracket 32 as also suggested in FIG. 4.
* * * * *