U.S. patent application number 10/813584 was filed with the patent office on 2005-10-06 for stopper apparatus for slide rail.
Invention is credited to Lammens, Arthur Edward.
Application Number | 20050218762 10/813584 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34912659 |
Filed Date | 2005-10-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050218762 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lammens, Arthur Edward |
October 6, 2005 |
STOPPER APPARATUS FOR SLIDE RAIL
Abstract
Lock plate portions are formed in a front end portion of a flat
plate portion of a first rail. A stopper member is mounted on a
flat plate portion of a second rail. A lock hole and elastic strips
are provided on a sloping plate portion of the stopper member. The
lock hole is disposed such that it faces the lock plate portions
when the second rail moves in the forward direction to a
predetermined position. When the lock plate portion faces the lock
hole, the elastic strip displaces a front end portion of the
sloping plate portion to the flat plate portion side using elastic
force of the elastic strip itself and elastic force of the sloping
plate portion. Accordingly, the lock plate portions are relatively
received in the lock hole.
Inventors: |
Lammens, Arthur Edward;
(Carson, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Jonathan P. Osha
OSHA & MAY L.L.P.
Suite 2800
1221 McKinney Street
Houston
TX
77010
US
|
Family ID: |
34912659 |
Appl. No.: |
10/813584 |
Filed: |
March 30, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/334.46 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 88/57 20170101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/334.46 |
International
Class: |
A47B 088/00 |
Claims
1. A stopper apparatus for a slide rail having a first rail and a
second rail which are coupled so as to be capable of mutual
relative movement in a longitudinal direction, the stopper
apparatus comprising: a lock portion which projects toward the
second rail and which is formed in a distal end portion of an inner
face of the first rail, this inner face facing the second rail; a
stopper member made of an elastic plate material formed in a rear
end portion of the inner face of the second rail, facing the first
rail; the stopper member comprising: an attachment portion which is
formed in a base end portion of the stopper member, and which is
fixed to the inner face of the second rail; a plate portion which
is formed so as to be continuous with a distal end portion of the
attachment portion, and which extends toward the distal end portion
of the second rail such that the plate portion is separated from
the inner face of the second rail; and a guide portion which is
formed so as to be continuous with the distal end portion of the
plate portion, such that, when the second rail moves toward the
distal end side and reaches a predetermined first position, the
guide portion contacts the lock portion, and slides on the lock
portion in accordance with movement of the second rail from the
first position to the distal end side, thereby elastically
displacing the plate portion around the base end portion to the
second rail side, the plate portion further comprising: a lock
recess portion formed in the distal end portion such that, when the
second rail moves further from the first position toward the distal
end side and reaches the predetermined second position, the lock
recess portion faces the lock portion, and receives the lock
portion due to the plate portion being elastically deformed to
return to the second rail side, and thereby inhibiting the second
rail from moving in the longitudinal direction by engagement of the
lock portion with the lock recess portion; and an elastic strip
which projects toward the second rail and which elastically urges
the plate portion to the inner face side of the first rail by
contacting an abutment portion formed in the second rail; wherein
when the lock portion is received in the lock recess portion, a
distance between the elastic strip and the abutment portion in a
direction in which the inner face of the first engagement portion
and the inner face of the second engagement portion face each other
is set smaller than an insertion distance of the lock portion into
the lock recess portion.
2. The stopper apparatus for a slide rail according to claim 1,
wherein the second rail is inhibited from moving toward the distal
end side by contact of the lock portion with a rear end face of the
lock recess portion.
3. The stopper apparatus for a slide rail according to claim 1,
wherein the second rail is inhibited from moving toward the rear
end side by contact of the lock portion with a distal end face of
the lock recess portion.
4. The stopper apparatus for a slide rail according to claim 1,
wherein the elastic strip is inclined such that a front portion of
the elastic strip is closer to the second rail than the distal end
portion thereof so as to also serve as the guide portion, and, when
the second rail moves toward the distal end side and reaches the
first position, a face of the elastic strip facing the first rail
contacts the lock portion.
5. The stopper apparatus for a slide rail according to claim 1,
wherein a thorough hole which receives the distal end portion is
further formed in the second rail, and the abutment portion is
formed at an intersection portion of the inner peripheral face of
the through hole and the inner face of the second rail.
6. The stopper apparatus for a slide rail according to claim 1,
further comprising a fixed rail and a movable rail such that
longitudinal directions of the fixed rail and the movable rail are
in alignment with longitudinal directions of the first rail and the
second rail, wherein the movable rail is coupled to the fixed rail
so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the fixed rail
and the first rail is fixed to the movable rail.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a stopper apparatus for a
slide rail provided between a body and a drawer or the like.
[0002] In general, a slide rail is provided with a first rail and a
second rail as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model No. 2541480.
Each first rail of a pair of the slide rails is fixed to left and
right side portions of a housing portion of a body, respectively,
such that the longitudinal direction thereof is in alignment with
the back and forth direction. Meanwhile, each second rail of the
pair of slide rails is fixed to left and right side portions of a
drawer housed in the housing portion of the body, respectively.
Moreover, each second rail is supported so as to be movable in the
back and forth direction by the corresponding first rail.
Consequently, the drawer is supported so as to be movable in the
back and forth direction by the housing portion of the body through
the pair of slide rails.
[0003] A stopper apparatus is provided between the first rail and
the second rail of the slide rail. The stopper apparatus, for
example, inhibits the second rail from moving forward further than
a predetermined position with respect to the first rail, thereby
inhibiting the drawer from falling out of the body. The stopper
member is provided with a lock portion which is mounted on a face
facing the second rail (i.e., an inner face) of the first rail,
such that the lock portion projects toward the second rail, and a
stopper member which is formed in a face facing the first rail
(i.e., an inner face) of the second rail.
[0004] The stopper member is formed of an elastic metal plate
material. It has an attachment portion fixed to the second rail, a
sloping plate portion (plate portion) which is formed so as to be
continuous with a front end portion of the attachment portion and
which is inclined such that a front portion of the sloping plate
portion is closer to the first rail than the rear portion thereof,
and a guide portion which is formed so as to be continuous with a
front end portion of the sloping plate portion such that a front
portion of the guide portion is closer to the second rail than the
rear portion thereof. A lock hole (lock recess portion) is formed
in the front end portion of the sloping plate portion into which
the lock portion is received so as to freely get in and come out of
the lock hole. The guide portion contacts the lock portion when the
second rail moves in the forward direction to a predetermined first
position. Therefore, when the second rail moves further in the
forward direction, the guide portion slides on the lock portion.
Consequently, the sloping plate portion is elastically deformed so
as to approach the second rail. Subsequently, when the second rail
moves to a predetermined second position, the lock hole faces the
lock portion. Then, the sloping plate portion is elastically
deformed so as to return to the original position such that the
front end portion of the sloping plate portion approaches the first
rail, and the lock portion is received in the lock hole. When an
attempt is made to move the second rail in the forward direction
with the lock portion being received in the lock hole, a rear end
face of the lock hole contacts the lock portion, whereby the second
rail 2 is inhibited from moving in the forward direction.
[0005] In the conventional stopper apparatus as described above, in
order to reliably inhibit the second rail from moving forward
further than the predetermined second position, it is necessary
that when the second rail moves to the second position, the lock
portion be reliably received in the lock hole and that this state
be reliably maintained. In order to achieve this, a modulus of
elasticity of the stopper member, particularly a modulus of
elasticity of the sloping plate portion needs to become larger. By
doing so, elastic force becomes large when the sloping plate
portion returns to the original state, whereby the lock portion is
reliably received in the lock hole. However, if elastic return
force of the sloping plate portion is made larger by increasing the
modulus of elasticity thereof, large stress is generated in the
sloping plate portion when the sloping plate portion is elastically
deformed toward the second rail by the guide portion. Particularly,
large stress is generated at an intersection portion of the sloping
plate portion and the attachment portion. Therefore, the stopper
member could be damaged at the intersection portion of the sloping
plate portion and the attachment portion at an early time.
[0006] Note that when the modulus of elasticity of the sloping
plate portion is made smaller, stress generated in the sloping
plate portion becomes also small, thereby preventing the stopper
member from being damaged at an early time. In this case, however,
since the sloping plate portion is elastically deformed even by
small force, the lock portion may easily get out of the lock hole
when force in the forward direction acts on the second rail. This
makes it difficult to reliably inhibit the second rail from moving
forward further than the predetermined second position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In order to solve the aforementioned problems, it is an
object of the present invention to provide a stopper apparatus for
a slide rail. The stopper apparatus for a slide rail having a first
rail and a second rail which are coupled so as to be capable of
mutual relative movement in a longitudinal direction, the stopper
apparatus is characterized by comprising:
[0008] a lock portion which projects toward the second rail and
which is formed in a distal end portion of an inner face of the
first rail, this inner face facing the second rail;
[0009] a stopper member made of an elastic plate material formed in
a rear end portion of the inner face of the second rail, facing the
first rail; the stopper member comprising:
[0010] an attachment portion which is formed in a base end portion
of the stopper member, and which is fixed to the inner face of the
second rail;
[0011] a plate portion which is formed so as to be continuous with
a distal end portion of the attachment portion, and which extends
toward the distal end portion of the second rail such that the
plate portion is separated from the inner face of the second rail;
and
[0012] a guide portion which is formed so as to be continuous with
the distal end portion of the plate portion, such that, when the
second rail moves toward the distal end side and reaches a
predetermined first position, the guide portion contacts the lock
portion, and slides on the lock portion in accordance with movement
of the second rail from the first position to the distal end side,
thereby elastically displacing the plate portion around the base
end portion to the second rail side,
[0013] the plate portion further comprising:
[0014] a lock recess portion formed in the distal end portion such
that, when the second rail moves further from the first position
toward the distal end side and reaches the predetermined second
position, the lock recess portion faces the lock portion, and
receives the lock portion due to the plate portion being
elastically deformed to return to the second rail side, and thereby
inhibiting the second rail from moving in the longitudinal
direction by engagement of the lock portion with the lock recess
portion; and
[0015] an elastic strip which projects toward the second rail and
which elastically urges the plate portion to the inner face side of
the first rail by contacting an abutment portion formed in the
second rail; wherein
[0016] when the lock portion is received in the lock recess
portion, a distance between the elastic strip and the abutment
portion in a direction in which the inner face of the first
engagement portion and the inner face of the second engagement
portion face each other is set smaller than an insertion distance
of the lock portion into the lock recess portion.
[0017] In this case, the second rail may be inhibited from moving
toward the distal end side by contact of the lock portion with a
rear end face of the lock recess portion, and the second rail may
be inhibited from moving toward the rear end side by contact of the
lock portion with a distal end face of the lock recess portion.
[0018] It is preferable that the elastic strip is inclined such
that a front portion of the elastic strip is closer to the second
rail than the distal end portion thereof so as to also serve as the
guide portion, and, when the second rail moves toward the distal
end side and reaches the first position, a face of the elastic
strip facing the first rail contacts the lock portion.
[0019] It is also preferable that a thorough hole which receives
the distal end portion is further formed in the second rail, and
the abutment portion is formed at an intersection portion of the
inner peripheral face of the through hole and the inner face of the
second rail.
[0020] The stopper apparatus may further including a fixed rail and
a movable rail such that longitudinal directions thereof are in
alignment with longitudinal directions of the first rail and the
second rail, wherein the movable rail is coupled to the fixed rail
so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the fixed rail
and the first rail is fixed to the movable rail.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment
of the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view showing how the first
embodiment is used;
[0023] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a main portion of the first
embodiment with a state where a second rail moves to a first
position;
[0024] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the main portion with a state
where the second rail moves to a second position, which is similar
to FIG. 3;
[0025] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the main portion with a state
where a lock plate portion is received in a lock hole, which is
similar to FIG. 3;
[0026] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the main portion with a state
where the lock plate portion gets out of the lock hole, which is
similar to FIG. 3;
[0027] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a second
embodiment of the present invention;
[0028] FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a third embodiment
of the present invention; and
[0029] FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a fourth
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0030] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be
explained referring to FIGS. 1 to 9.
[0031] FIGS. 1 to 6 show a first embodiment of the present
invention. First, an explanation will be given of a slide rail 1 on
which a stopper apparatus 6 according to the present invention (see
FIGS. 3 to 6) is attached. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the slide
rail 1 includes a first rail 2, a second rail 3 disposed facing the
first rail 2, and a slider 4 which couples the second rail 3
movably to the first rail 2.
[0032] The first rail 2, made of a rigid metal plate material, has
a flat plate portion 2a with an elongated rectangular plate-like
shape. The flat plate portion 2a is fixed to one of side faces of a
housing portion A1 of a body A (see FIG. 2) with a screw (not
shown) or the like, such that the longitudinal direction of the
flat plate portion 2a is in alignment with the back and forth
direction. It is needless to say that a flat plate portion 2a of a
first rail 2 of another slide rail 1 is fixed to the other side
face of the housing portion A1. Rail portions 2b, 2b projecting
toward the second rail 3 are formed in both upper and lower side
portions of the flat plate portion 2a covering the entire length
thereof. Each rail portion 2b has a generally arc-shaped cross
section, and expands in the outward direction (i.e., upward and
downward directions in FIG. 2). Guide members 5 are attached to
front end portions (i.e., distal end portions) of inner faces of
rail portions 2b, 2b opposing each other, respectively. A stopper
plate portion 2c is formed in a rear end portion of the flat plate
portion 2a such that the stopper plate portion 2c projects toward
the second rail 3. A pair of lock plate portions (lock portions)
2d, 2d are formed in a front end portion of an inner face of the
flat plate portion 2a, that faces the second rail 3, by cutting and
raising a part of the flat plate portion 2a. The lock plate
portions 2d, 2d are separated from each other with a predetermined
interval and face each other in the vertical direction.
[0033] The second rail 3, made of a rigid metal plate material, has
a flat plate portion 3a with an elongated rectangular plate-like
shape. The flat plate portion 3a with the longitudinal direction
thereof being in alignment with the back and forth direction, is
fixed to one of side faces of a drawer B (see FIG. 2) which is
housed so as to be movable in the back and forth direction in the
housing portion A1 with a screw (not shown) or the like. It is
needless to say that a flat plate portion 3a of a second rail 3 of
another slide rail 1 is fixed to the other side face of the drawer
B. The flat plate portion 3a is positioned at the same position as
the flat plate portion 1a in the vertical direction, such that the
flat plate portion 3a faces the flat plate portion 2a in the right
and left direction. The flat plate portion 3a has a smaller width
in the vertical direction than the flat plate portion 2a. Rail
portions 3b, 3b projecting toward the first rail 2 are formed in
both upper and lower side portions of the flat plate portion 3a.
Each rail portion 3b has a generally arc-shaped cross section, and
expands in the inward direction. The rail portions 3b, 3b are
inserted between the rail portions 2b, 2b such that an outer face
of each rail portion 3b faces the inner face of each rail portion
2b in the vertical direction. The rail portions 3b, 3b can be
inserted between the rail portions 2b, 2b of the first rail 2 from
the distal end portions of the rail portions 2b, 2b, such that rear
end portions of the rail portions 3b serves as a distal end
portions. In this case, the rail portions 3b, 3b can be easily
inserted between the rail portions 2b, 2b by contact of the outer
faces of the rail portions 3b, 3b with the guide members 5, 5,
respectively, allowing them to be guided by the guide members 5,
5.
[0034] The slider 4 has a ball retention body 4a made of a rigid
metal plate material. A plurality of balls 4b made of a steel ball
or the like are disposed at both upper and lower sides of the ball
retention body 4a, such that the balls 4b are aligned in a line in
the back and forth direction. Each ball 4b is rotatably supported
by the ball retention body 4a. Further, each ball 4b rotatably
contacts faces facing each other of the rail portions 2b, 3b, that
is, the inner face of the rail portion 2b and the outer face of the
rail portion 3b. Therefore, the slider 4 is supported by the first
rail 2 so as to be movable in the back and forth direction, and the
slider 4 supports the second rail 3 such that the second rail 3 is
movable in the back and forth direction. Consequently, the second
rail 3 is supported by the first rail 2 through the slider 4 so as
to be movable in the back and forth direction, whereby the drawer B
is supported by the body A by the pair of slide rails 1, 1 so as to
be movable in the back and forth direction.
[0035] A moving range in the backward direction of the slider 4 is
restricted by contact thereof to a stopper plate portion 2c, and a
moving range in the forward direction thereof is restricted by
contact thereof to a stopper pawl portion 2e formed projecting
toward the front end of the inner face of the flat plate portion
2a. A moving range in the backward direction of the second rail 3
is restricted by contact thereof to the stopper plate portion 2c,
and a moving range in the forward direction thereof is restricted
by the stopper apparatus 6 according to the present invention.
[0036] The stopper apparatus 6 is configured by the aforementioned
pair of lock plate portions 2d, 2d, and a stopper member 7 formed
in the second rail 3. The stopper member 7, made of an elastic
metal plate material, is provided with an attachment plate portion
(attachment portion) 7a fixed with a screw (not shown) or the like
at the rear end portion of the inner face of the flat plate portion
3a, that faces the flat plate portion 2a, a sloping plate portion
(plate portion) 7b which is integrally formed so as to be
continuous with the front end portion (i.e., distal end portion) of
the attachment plate portion 7a and which extends in the forward
direction, and an operation plate portion 7c which is integrally
formed so as to be continuous with the front end portion of the
sloping plate portion 7b and which extends in the forward
direction.
[0037] The sloping plate portion 7b is formed so as to be
continuous with the attachment plate portion 7a, being bent with
respect to the attachment plate portion 7a. The sloping plate
portion 7b is inclined such that the front end portion of the
sloping plate portion 7b is closer to the flat plate portion 2a of
the first rail 2 than the rear portion thereof in a state where the
attachment plate portion 7a is attached to the inner face of the
flat plate portion 3a, that faces the flat plate portion 2a. A
square lock hole (lock recess portion) 7d is formed in the front
end portion of the sloping plate portion 7b. The lock hole 7d is
disposed such that when the second rail 3 moves in the forward
direction to a second position as shown in FIG. 5, the lock hole 7d
faces the lock plate portion 2d. Further, the lock hole 2d has a
size allowing the two lock plate portions 2d, 2d to get in and come
out of the lock hole 2d, simultaneously. Therefore, in a state
where the second rail 3 moves to the second position, when the
front end portion of the sloping plate portion 7b is rotated to the
flat plate portion 2a side of the first rail 2 around the base end
portion of the sloping plate portion 7b, the two lock plate
portions 2d, 2d are received in the lock hole 7d.
[0038] An elastic strip 7e is formed at a portion slightly front of
the lock hole 7d on each of the upper and lower side portions of
the sloping plate portion 7b. The elastic strip 7e is inclined such
that the front portion of the elastic stirp 7 is closer to the flat
plate portion 3a than the rear portion thereof. The elastic stirp
7e is formed so as to be elastically deformed such that the front
end portion thereof is rotated around the base end portion and
displaced in the direction in which the flat plate portion 2a of
the first rail 2 and the flat plate portion 3a of the second rail 3
face each other (in the right and left direction).
[0039] The elastic strip 7e is disposed such that when the second
rail 3 moves in the forward direction to the first position as
shown in FIG. 3, a face of the elastic strip 7e, that faces the
flat plate portion 2a, contacts the rear end portion of the distal
end face (the distal end face in the direction in which the lock
plate portion 2d rises). Therefore, when the second rail 3 moves
forward further than the first position, the elastic strips 7e, 7e
slide on the distal end faces of the lock plate portions 2d, 2d,
respectively. At this time, each elastic strip 7e is inclined such
that the front portion thereof is closer to the flat plate portion
3a than the rear portion thereof. Therefore, when the second rail 3
moves forward further than the first position, the elastic strip 7e
is pressed to the flat plate portion 3a side by the lock plate
portion 2d in accordance with movement of the second rail 3. By
this, the sloping plate portion 7b is elastically deformed such
that the front end portion of the sloping plate portion 7b is
rotated around the base end portion and displaced to the flat plate
portion 3a side. As apparent from this, in the first embodiment,
the elastic strip 7e also serves as the guide portion. Note that,
when the front end portion of the sloping plate portion 7b is
displaced to the flat plate portion 3a side, the elastic strip 7e
is accordingly displaced to the flat plate portion 3a side.
[0040] When the second rail 3 further moves in the forward
direction, and the lock plate portion 2d has relatively climbed
over the base end portion of the elastic strip 7e, the sloping
plate portion 7b slides on the rear end portion of the distal end
face of the two lock plate portions 2d, 2d. The sloping plate
portion 7b is inclined such that the front portion thereof is
closer to the flat plate portion 2a than the rear portion thereof.
Therefore, when the sloping plate portion 7b slides on the lock
plate portion 2d, the sloping plate portion 7b is elastically
deformed so as to return to the original position such that the
front end portion of the sloping plate portion 7b approaches the
flat plate portion 2a in accordance with movement of the second
rail 3 in the forward direction. Subsequently, when the second rail
3 moves forward to the second position as shown in FIG. 5, the lock
plate portions 2d, 2d face the lock hole 7d. At this time, the
sloping plate portion 7b maintains a state where the sloping plate
portion 7b is elastically deformed toward the flat plate portion
3a. Therefore, when the lock plate portions 2d, 2d face the lock
hole 7d, the front end portion of the sloping plate portion 7b is
displaced so as to return to the original position such that the
front end portion thereof approaches the flat plate portion 2a by
an amount equivalent to an amount of elastic deformation of the
sloping plate portion 7b. As a result, the plate portions 2d, 2d
are received in the lock hole 7d. In this case, since the sloping
plate portion 7b is inclined such that the front end portion
thereof is closer to the flat plate portion 2a than the rear
portion thereof, a distance for which the lock plate portion 2d is
inserted in the lock hole 7d (hereinafter referred to as an
insertion distance) is the smallest at the rear end portion of the
lock plate portion 2d and the largest at the front end portion.
When the sloping plate portion 7b is displaced so as to return to
the natural condition where no outer force acts thereon, the rear
end portion of the lock plate portion 2d is inserted in the lock
hole 7d for an insertion distance L1 as shown in FIG. 5.
[0041] In a state where the lock plate portion 2d is inserted in
the lock hole 7d, when an attempt is made to move the second rail 3
in the forward direction, the rear end face of the lock hole 7d
contacts the rear end face of the lock plate portion 2d.
Accordingly, the second rail 3 is inhibited from moving in the
forward direction. On the contrary, when an attempt is made to move
the second rail 3 in the backward direction, the front end face of
the lock hole 7d contacts the rear end face of the lock plate
portion 2d. Accordingly, the second rail 3 is inhibited from moving
in the backward direction. Moreover, the lengths of the lock plate
portion 2d and the lock hole 7d in the back and forth direction are
set to a substantially similar value. Therefore, in a state where
the lock plate portion 2d is inserted in the lock recess portion
7d, the second rail 3 rarely moves in the back and forth
direction.
[0042] Front end portions of the elastic strips 7e, 7e are
inserted, with a gap, into through holes 3c, 3c that are formed in
the flat plate portion 3a of the second rail 3, respectively, when
the stopper member 7 is in the natural condition. Therefore, when
the lock plate portion 2d is inserted in the lock hole 7d, the
elastic strip 7e is separated from the inner face of the flat plate
portion 3a and the inner peripheral face of the through hole 3c.
This is because the stopper member 7 is in the natural condition
when the lock plate portion 2d is inserted in the lock hole 7d. A
distance between the elastic strip 7e and an intersection portion
of the inner face of the flat plate portion 3a and the inner
peripheral face of the through hole 3c in the right and left
direction (that is, the direction in which the flat plate portions
2a, 3a face each other) is the smallest at an intersection portion
(abutment portion) 3d of the rear end portion of the inner
peripheral face of the thorough hole 3c and the inner face of the
flat plate portion 3a. When a separation distance between the
elastic strip 7e and the intersection portion 3d in the right and
left direction is assumed to be L2, the insertion distance L1 and
the separation distance L2 as described above have a following
relation. L1>L2. Therefore, when the second rail 3 moves from
the first position toward the second position and reaches a
predetermined intermediate position for a predetermined distance
(that is, a distance in the backward direction corresponding to an
angle of gradient of the elastic strip 7e and the separation
distance L2), the elastic strip 7e is forced to move toward the
flat plate portion 3a by the distance L2. Therefore, the front end
portion of the face, of the elastic strip 7e, which faces the flat
plate portion 3a, abuts against the intersection portion 3d. After
this, until the base end portion of the elastic strip 7e (that is,
the intersection portion of the elastic strip 7e and the sloping
plate portion 7b) slides over the lock plate portion 2d, the
elastic strip 7e is forced to abut against the intersection portion
3d more strongly in accordance with movement of the second rail 3
in the forward direction. After the base end portion of the elastic
strip 7e slided over the lock plate portion 7d, the sloping plate
portion 7b is deformed so as to return to the flat plate portion 2a
side, and accordingly the elastic strip 7e is also deformed so as
to return to the flat plate portion 2a side. However, the elastic
strip 7e abuts against the intersection portion 3d and remains
elastically deformed, even when the second rail 3 reaches the
second position. Therefore, when the second rail 3 moves in the
forward direction to the second position and the lock plate portion
2d faces the lock hole 7d, the sloping plate portion 7b is deformed
so as to return to the flat plate portion 2a side not only by
elasticity of the sloping plate portion 7b itself, but also by
elasticity of the elastic strip 7e. When the sloping plate portion
7b is displaced so as to return toward the original position by a
distance (L1-L2), the elastic strip 7e separates from the
intersection portion 3d. Therefore, after this, the sloping plate
portion 7b is deformed so as to return to the original position
only by elasticity of itself.
[0043] The operation plate portion 7c is formed so as to be
continuous with the sloping plate portion 7b, being bent with
respect to the sloping plate portion 7b. The operation plate
portion 7c is inclined such that the front end portion thereof is
closer to the flat plate portion 3a than the rear portion thereof.
The operation plate portion 7c may be formed in parallel with the
flat plate portions 2a, 3a. The width of the operation plate
portion 7c is slightly smaller than a distance between the pair of
lock plate portions 2d, 2d. The operation plate portion 7c is
received between the pair of lock plate portions 2d, 2d so as to be
movable in the back and forth direction and the right and left
direction, when the second rail 3 is positioned at or in the
vicinity of the first position. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 5, when
the second rail 3 is positioned at the second position, the
operation plate portion 7c projects from the flat plate portion 2a
in the forward direction. Therefore, it is possible to move the
operation plate portion 7c toward the flat plate portion 3a side,
for example, by pressing it with a finger. The lock plate portion
2d can get out of the lock hole 7d by pressing the operation plate
portion 7c to the flat plate portion 3a side so as to elastically
displace the sloping plate portion 7b to the flat plate portion 3a
side. The lock plate portion 2d can get out of the lock hole 7d if
the operation plate portion 7c is pressed to the flat plate portion
3a side, until immediately before the front end portion of the
operation plate portion 7c contacts the flat plate portion 3a.
Therefore, the lock plate portion 2d can reliably get out of the
lock hole 7d by pressing the operation plate portion 7c to the flat
plate portion 3a side until the front end portion of the operation
plate portion 7c contacts the flat plate portion 3a.
[0044] Assume that, in the slide rail 1 having the stopper
apparatus 6 with the aforementioned structure, the second rail 3 is
positioned rearward of the first position. When the second rail 3
is moved in the forward direction from the state above to the first
position, as shown in FIG. 3, the elastic strip 7e contacts the
rear end portion of the distal end face of the lock plate portion
2d. When the second rail 3 is moved further in the forward
direction, the elastic strip 7e is pressed to the flat plate
portion 3a side by the lock plate portion 2d. Accordingly, the
sloping plate portion 7b is elastically deformed such that the
front end portion of the sloping plate portion 7b approaches the
flat plate portion 3a. When the sloping plate portion 7b is
elastically deformed, in accordance with this deformation, the
elastic strip 7e moves so as to approach the intersection portion
3d. Subsequently, when the second rail 3 reaches the intermediate
position, the sloping plate portion 7b is further elastically
deformed to the flat plate portion 3a side, and the elastic strip
7e abuts against the intersection portion 3d. After this, until the
elastic strip 7e slides over the lock plate portion 2d, elastic
deformation amounts of the sloping plate portion 7b and the elastic
strip 7e gradually increase in accordance with movement of the
second rail 3 in the forward direction. After this, until the
second rail 3 reaches the second position, although elastic
deformation amounts of the sloping plate portion 7b and the elastic
strip 7e gradually decrease, the sloping plate portion 7b and the
elastic strip 7e remain elastically deformed (see FIG. 4).
Moreover, the elastic strip 7e contacts the intersection portion
3d.
[0045] When the second rail 3 reaches the second position and the
lock plate portion 2d faces the lock hole 7d, the sloping plate
portion 7b is deformed such that the front end portion thereof
approaches the flat plate portion 2a by elastic force of the
sloping plate portion 7b and elastic force of the elastic strip 7e.
Consequently, the lock plate portion 2d is relatively inserted in
the lock hole 7d. As described above, when the second rail 3 moves
in the forward direction to the second position, the sloping plate
portion 7b is moved to the flat plate portion 2a side, not only by
elastic force of the sloping plate portion 7b itself, but also by
elastic force of the elastic strip 7e. Therefore, the lock plate
portion 2d can be reliably inserted in the lock hole 7d. Note that
in the state where the lock plate portion 2d is inserted in the
lock hole 7d, when an attempt is made to move the second rail 3
further in the forward direction, the rear end face of the lock
plate portion 2d and the rear end face of the lock hole 7d contact
each other. Therefore, the second rail 3 is inhibited from moving
in the forward direction. It is needless to say that movement of
the second rail 3 in the backward direction is also inhibited by
contact of the front end face of the lock plate portion 2d and the
front end face of the lock hole 7d with each other.
[0046] In the case of causing the lock plate portion 2d to get out
of the lock hole 7d, when the sloping plate portion 7b is displaced
to the flat plate portion 3a side by the distance L2, the elastic
strip 7e abuts against the intersection portion 3d. Therefore, when
an attempt is made to cause the lock plate portion 2d to get out of
the lock hole 7d by moving the second rail 3 in the forward
direction from the second position, the sloping plate portion 7b
needs to be displaced by the distance (L1-L2) resisting the elastic
force of the sloping plate portion 7b and the elastic force of the
elastic strip 7e. Therefore, the state where the lock plate portion
2d is inserted in the lock hole 7d is reliably maintained. On the
other hand, there is a case where an attempt is made to move the
second rail 3 in the backward direction from the second position
whereby the lock plate portion 2d gets out of the lock hole 7d. In
this case, when an insertion distance of the front end of the lock
plate portion 2d with respect to the lock hole 7d is L3 (see FIG.
5), the sloping plate portion 7b needs to be displaced by a
distance (L3-L2) resisting the elastic force of the sloping plate
portion 7b and the elastic force of the elastic strip 7e. Here,
since the sloping plate portion 7b is inclined such that the front
end portion thereof is closer to the flat plate portion 2a than the
rear portion thereof, the following relation is applied.
[0047] L3>L2
[0048] Therefore, when moving the second rail 3 in the backward
direction from the second position, the state where the lock plate
portion 2d is inserted in the lock hole 7d is more reliably
maintained.
[0049] Further, the sloping plate portion 7b is displaced so as to
return to the flat plate portion 2a side, not only by the elastic
force of the sloping plate portion 7b itself, but also by the
elastic force of the elastic strip 7e. Therefore, it is possible to
easily deform the sloping plate portion 7b by reducing the modulus
of elasticity. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the sloping
plate portion 7b from being damaged at the intersection portion of
the sloping plate portion 7b and the attachment plate portion 7a at
an early stage.
[0050] Note that in the state where the lock plate portion 2d is
inserted in the lock hole 7d, as shown in FIG. 6, the lock plate
portion 2d can get out of the lock hole 7d by pressing the
operation plate portion 7c to the flat plate portion 3a side and
moving the front end portion of the sloping plate portion 7b
resisting the elastic force of the sloping plate portion 7b and the
elastic force of the elastic strip 7e. By causing the lock plate
portion 2d to get out of the lock hole 7d, the second rail 3 is
capable of moving in the back and forth direction from the second
position.
[0051] Next, other embodiments of the present invention will be
explained. Note that, for those embodiments, only the structure
which is different from that of the first embodiment will be
explained hereafter. Similar structural elements will be denoted by
the same numerals and the explanation thereof will be omitted.
[0052] FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
In a slide rail 1A of the present embodiment, a stopper member 7A
is used in place of the stopper member 7 which is used in the
aforementioned embodiment. In the stopper member 7A, in place of
the lock hole 7d, a pair of lock recess portions 7f, 7f are formed
in upper and lower side portions of the sloping plate portion 7b,
respectively. It is needless to say that the lock recess portions
7f, 7f are disposed such that when the second rail 3 moves in the
forward direction to the second position, the lock plate portions
2d, 2d are received in the lock recess portions 7f, 7f,
respectively.
[0053] FIG. 8 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. In
a slide rail 1B of the present embodiment, a stopper member 7B is
used in place of the stopper member 7. In the stopper member 7B,
when the second rail 3 moves in the forward direction to the first
position, the operation plate portion 7c contacts the lock plate
portion 2d. After this, until the time when the base end portion of
the operation plate portion 7c slides over the lock plate portion
2d, the operation plate portion 7c is pressed by the lock plate
portion 2d to the flat plate portion 3a side in accordance with
movement of the second rail 3 in the forward direction whereby the
sloping plate portion 7b is elastically deformed to the flat plate
portion 3a side. As apparent from this, in the slide rail 1B, the
operation plate portion 7c also serves as the guide portion.
Further, in the slide rail 1B, in place of the two elastic strips
7e, 7e, a single elastic strip 7g is formed in the stopper member
7B. The elastic strip 7g is disposed at a central portion in the
width direction of the stopper member 7B. The base end portion of
the elastic strip 7g is integrally formed with the sloping plate
portion 7b at a portion facing the front end portion of the lock
hole 7d of the sloping plate portion 7b, and the front end portion
of the elastic strip 7g extends toward the rear of the slide rail
1B. Moreover, the elastic strip 7g is inclined such that the rear
portion thereof is closer to the flat plate portion 3a than the
front portion thereof. The distal end portion of the elastic strip
7g is press-contacted with the inner face of the flat plate portion
3a, by elastic force of the elastic strip 7g itself. Therefore, a
portion, which is press-contacted by the elastic strip 7g of the
inner face of the flat plate portion 3a constitutes an abutment
portion. In this case, the elastic strip 7g is always
press-contacted with the flat plate portion 3a, however, it does
not need to be always press-contacted with the flat plate portion
3a. It is sufficient if the elastic strip 7g is press-contacted
with the flat plate portion 3a when the second rail 3 is positioned
between the intermediate position and the second position. Note
that the elastic strip 7g is inserted between the lock plate
portions 2d, 2d so as to be movable in the back and forth direction
and the right and left direction when the second rail 3 is
positioned at or in the vicinity of the second position.
[0054] FIG. 9 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention. A
slide apparatus 1C according to the fourth embodiment is a modified
version of a slide 1' such that the whole slide apparatus 1' is
movable in the back and forth direction. The slide apparatus 1' is
slightly modified from the slide apparatus 1 according to the first
embodiment. That is, in the slide apparatus 1C, a fixed rail 8, a
movable rail 9 and a slider 10 are added to the slide apparatus 1'.
The fixed rail 8 is fixed to a side face of the housing portion A1
(see FIG. 2) such that the longitudinal direction thereof is in
alignment with the back and forth direction. The movable rail 9 is
disposed such that the longitudinal direction thereof is in
alignment with the back and forth direction, it faces the fixed
rail 8. The movable rail 9 is supported by the fixed rail 8 through
the slider 10 so as to be movable in the back and forth direction.
The first rail 2 is fixed to the movable rail 9 such that the
longitudinal direction of the first rail 2 is in alignment with the
back and forth direction whereby the first rail 2 is movable in the
back and forth direction and the whole slide apparatus 1' is also
movable in the back and forth direction. Moreover, in place of the
lock plate portion 2d, a lock protruding portion (lock portion) 2f
is formed in the first rail 2 of the slide apparatus 1'. The lock
protruding portion 2f, formed in a rectangular parallelepiped, has
the same shape and dimension as a member which is formed by filling
a gap between the two lock plate portions 2d, 2d. Therefore, the
lock protruding portion 2f is capable of getting in and coming out
of the lock hole 7f. The other structure of the slide apparatus 1'
is the same as the slide apparatus 1.
[0055] Note that the present invention is not limited to the
aforementioned embodiments, and modification of the embodiments is
possible as necessary, as long as it does not deviate from the gist
of the embodiment.
[0056] For example, in the aforementioned embodiments, the sloping
plate portion 7b, which is inclined such that the front portion
thereof is closer to the flat plate portion 2a than the rear
portion thereof, is employed as a plate portion. However, in place
of the sloping plate portion 7b like this, a plate portion with a
step-like bent shape may be employed. The plate portion may be
structured such that it is bent at a substantially right angle at
the front end portion of the attachment portion 7a so as to
approach the flat plate portion 2a side, and subsequently it is
bent at a substantially right angle so as to extend in the forward
direction along the flat plate portion 2a.
[0057] Further, according to the first and second embodiments, the
front end portion of the elastic strip 7e is separated from the
intersection portion 3d when the sloping plate portion 7b is in the
natural condition. The front end portion of the elastic strip 7e
may contact the intersection portion 3d even when the sloping plate
portion 7b is in the natural condition.
[0058] Moreover, in the aforementioned embodiments, the elastic
strip 7e or the operation plate portion 7c serves also as the guide
portion. Instead, a guide portion which is independent of the
elastic strip 7e and the operation plate portion 7c may be formed
in the stopper member 7.
* * * * *