U.S. patent application number 12/470844 was filed with the patent office on 2009-12-03 for slide assembly for a rack.
This patent application is currently assigned to KING SLIDE WORKS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to KEN-CHING CHEN, CHUN-CHIANG WANG, WEI-SHENG WANG.
Application Number | 20090294393 12/470844 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40886392 |
Filed Date | 2009-12-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090294393 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CHEN; KEN-CHING ; et
al. |
December 3, 2009 |
SLIDE ASSEMBLY FOR A RACK
Abstract
A slide assembly for a rack includes a second slide member
slidably connected to a first slide member, which includes a base
at one end thereof; a first bracket fixedly connected to the first
slide member, which includes a first supporting member
corresponding to the base, the first supporting member having a
slot thereon; an engaging member pivotally connected to the base,
which includes an engaging portion having an engaging surface; an
operating member connected to the engaging member for controlling
movement of the engaging member; and a resilient member acting on
the engaging member for providing a restoring force to the engaging
member. When the first bracket is mounted to a rack, the engaging
portion of the engaging member will be inserted through the slot of
the first bracket and the engaging surface will engage with a
surrounding surface of a hole of the rack.
Inventors: |
CHEN; KEN-CHING; (KAOHSIUNG
HSIEN, TW) ; WANG; WEI-SHENG; (KAOHSIUNG HSIEN,
TW) ; WANG; CHUN-CHIANG; (KAOHSIUNG HSIEN,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROSENBERG, KLEIN & LEE
3458 ELLICOTT CENTER DRIVE-SUITE 101
ELLICOTT CITY
MD
21043
US
|
Assignee: |
KING SLIDE WORKS CO., LTD.
KAOHSIUNG HSIEN
TW
|
Family ID: |
40886392 |
Appl. No.: |
12/470844 |
Filed: |
May 22, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/175 ;
211/183 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05K 7/1489 20130101;
A47B 88/473 20170101; A47B 2210/0016 20130101; A47B 88/423
20170101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/175 ;
211/183 |
International
Class: |
A47F 5/00 20060101
A47F005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 28, 2008 |
TW |
097119812 |
Claims
1. A slide assembly for a rack, the rack comprising at least two
frames having a plurality of holes thereon, the slide assembly
comprising: a first slide member comprising a first end and a
second end opposite to the first end; a second slide member
slidably connected to the first slide member, the second slide
member comprising a base perpendicular to the second slide member;
a first bracket fixedly connected to the first end of the first
slide member, the first bracket comprising a first supporting
member corresponding to the base of the second slide member, the
first supporting member having a slot thereon; an engaging member
pivotally connected to the base of the second slide member, the
engaging member comprising an engaging portion corresponding to the
slot of the first bracket, the engaging portion having an engaging
surface; an operating member connected to the engaging member for
controlling movement of the engaging member; and a resilient member
acting on the engaging member for providing a restoring force to
the engaging member; wherein when the first bracket is mounted to
the frames of the rack and the second slide member is retraced with
respect to the first slide member, the engaging portion of the
engaging member is inserted through the slot of the first bracket
and one of the plurality of holes of the frames with the engaging
surface engaging with a surrounding surface of the hole of the
frames.
2. The slide assembly for a rack, as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the first bracket comprises a first connecting portion and a second
connecting portion to be inserted into two of the plurality of
holes of the frames of the rack.
3. The slide assembly for a rack, as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the engaging surface is a flat surface and the engaging member
comprises a guiding surface adjacent to an edge of the engaging
surface.
4. The slide assembly for a rack, as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the slide assembly further comprises a second bracket fixedly
connected to the second end of the first slide member, the second
bracket comprising a second supporting member, the second
supporting member comprising a first connecting portion and a
second connecting portion to be inserted into two of the plurality
of holes of the frames.
5. The slide assembly for a rack, as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the base is formed by extending from one end of the second slide
member.
6. A slide assembly, comprising: a first slide member comprising a
first end and a second end opposite to the first end; a second
slide member slidably connected to the first slide member, the
second slide member comprising a base perpendicular to the second
slide member; a first bracket fixedly connected to the first end of
the first slide member, the first bracket comprising a first
supporting member corresponding to the base of the second slide
member, the first supporting member having a slot thereon; an
engaging member pivotally connected to the base of the second slide
member, the engaging member comprising an engaging portion
corresponding to the slot of the first bracket, the engaging
portion having an engaging surface; an operating member connected
to the engaging member for controlling movement of the engaging
member; and a resilient member acting on the engaging member for
providing a restoring force to the engaging member.
7. The slide assembly as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a
second bracket fixedly connected to the second end of the first
slide member, the second bracket comprising a second supporting
member, the second supporting member comprising a first connecting
portion and a second connecting portion.
8. The slide assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the engaging
surface is a flat surface and the engaging member comprises a
guiding surface adjacent to an edge of the engaging surface.
9. The slide assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the base is
formed by extending from one end of the second slide member.
10. A rack apparatus, comprising: a plurality of pairs of frames,
each pair of frames having a plurality of holes, the plurality of
pairs of frames forming a rack in a predetermined size; a plurality
of slide assemblies, each slide assembly comprising a first slide
member, a second slide member slidably connected to the first slide
member, a first bracket and a second bracket, the first slide
member comprising a first end and a second end opposite to the
first end, the second slide member comprising a base perpendicular
to the second slide member, the first bracket and the second
bracket being fixedly connected to the first end and the second end
of the first slide member, respectively, the first bracket and the
second bracket of each slide assembly being mounted to each pair of
frames of the rack, the first bracket comprising a first supporting
member corresponding to the base, the first supporting member
having a slot thereon; a plurality of engaging assemblies, each
engaging assembly comprising an engaging member pivotally connected
to the base, the engaging member comprising an engaging portion
corresponding to the slot of the first bracket, an operating member
connected to the engaging member for controlling movement of the
engaging member, and a resilient member acting on the engaging
member and providing a restoring force to the engaging member; and
at least one chassis, the chassis having two sides connected to the
slide assemblies respectively and driven to slide along with the
slide assemblies; wherein the engaging portion of the engaging
member is inserted through the slot of the first bracket and one of
the plurality of holes of the rack with the engaging surface
engaging with a surrounding surface of the hole of the frames.
11. The rack apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first
bracket and the second bracket comprise a first connecting portion
and a second connecting portion, respectively, to be inserted
through four of the plurality of holes of the frames of the
rack.
12. The rack apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the engaging
surface is a flat surface and the engaging member comprises a
guiding surface adjacent to an edge of the engaging surface.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a slide assembly for a
rack, and more particularly to a slide assembly which provides a
quick engagement or disengagement with respect to a rack.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Racks are widely used nowadays. Many of them are used to
computer servers for organizing everything in a limited space.
Therefore, the rack must have sliding rails corresponding in number
to the computer servers for doing maintenance, replacement or any
other services easily.
[0005] A number of related techniques have been published and
patented, such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,181,549, U.S. Pat. No. 6,398,041,
and U.S. Pat. No. 6,883,884.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 6,181,549 to Mills et al, titled "Chassis
retaining system for an electronics rack", disclosed a panel of a
chassis provided with a handle, a securing device with a retaining
surface, and a user interface device connected to the handle and
the retaining device to secure the rack in place by means of the
retaining surface. The securing device is coupled to the handle,
and the retaining surface is movable with respect to the handle.
The handle is mounted to the panel of the chassis, which must align
with the rack. It is required to use a specific type of handle.
When pushing the chassis back into the rack, the retaining surface
of the handle will be used to secure the chassis. This design
requires the handle in a specific type and at a specific position
of the chassis.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 6,398,041 to Abbott, titled "Snap system for
retaining slide mounted rack system into multiple racks without
tools", disclosed a pair of protuberances at respective ends of a
slide assembly to be inserted into holes of support posts of a rack
to be secured thereat. The slide assembly comprises a pair of rails
to be connected with an enclosure or a chassis. The enclosure or
chassis also connects to a pair of snaps corresponding to the
support posts of the rack. When pushing the enclosure or chassis
back into the rack, if a user would like to have the enclosure or
chassis secured on the rack, the snaps are used to engage with the
support posts of the rack.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 6,883,884 to Chen et al, title "Latch assembly
for a track device", disclosed a slide assembly composed of a first
track member and a second track member. The first track member is
slidable with respect to the second track member. The first track
member comprises a latch assembly at one end thereof. The second
track member comprises a latch seat for the latch assembly to be
locked therein. The latch seat may be mounted on a wall for the
latch assembly to be locked therein. The aforesaid patents did not
mention direct engagement or disengagement of the slide assembly
with respect to the rack when pushing the chassis or enclosure back
into the rack.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention relates to a slide assembly for a
rack. The slide assembly is able to provide a quick engagement or
disengagement with respect to a rack for extension or retraction of
the slide assembly.
[0010] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a slide assembly for a rack, the rack comprising at
least two frames having a plurality of holes thereon, the slide
assembly comprising:
[0011] a first slide member comprising a first end and a second end
opposite to the first end;
[0012] a second slide member slidably connected to the first slide
member, the second slide member comprising a base perpendicular to
the second slide member;
[0013] a first bracket fixedly connected to the first end of the
first slide member, the first bracket comprising a first supporting
member corresponding to the base of the second slide member, the
first supporting member having a slot thereon;
[0014] an engaging member pivotally connected to the base of the
second slide member, the engaging member comprising an engaging
portion corresponding to the slot of the first bracket, the
engaging portion having an engaging surface;
[0015] an operating member connected to the engaging member for
controlling movement of the engaging member; and
[0016] a resilient member acting on the engaging member for
providing a restoring force to the engaging member;
[0017] wherein when the first bracket is mounted to the frames of
the rack and the second slide member is retraced with respect to
the first slide member, the engaging portion of the engaging member
is inserted through the slot of the first bracket and one of the
plurality of holes of the frames with the engaging surface engaging
with a surrounding surface of the hole of the frames.
[0018] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a slide assembly, comprising:
[0019] a first slide member comprising a first end and a second end
opposite to the first end;
[0020] a second slide member slidably connected to the first slide
member, the second slide member comprising a base perpendicular to
the second slide member;
[0021] a first bracket fixedly connected to the first end of the
first slide member, the first bracket comprising a first supporting
member corresponding to the base of the second slide member, the
first supporting member having a slot thereon;
[0022] an engaging member pivotally connected to the base of the
second slide member, the engaging member comprising an engaging
portion corresponding to the slot of the first bracket, the
engaging portion having an engaging surface;
[0023] an operating member connected to the engaging member for
controlling movement of the engaging member; and
[0024] a resilient member acting on the engaging member for
providing a restoring force to the engaging member.
[0025] According to a third aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a rack apparatus, comprising:
[0026] a plurality of pairs of frames, each pair of frames having a
plurality of holes, the plurality of pairs of frames forming a rack
in a predetermined size;
[0027] a plurality of slide assemblies, each slide assembly
comprising a first slide member, a second slide member slidably
connected to the first slide member, a first bracket and a second
bracket, the first slide member comprising a first end and a second
end opposite to the first end, the second slide member comprising a
base perpendicular to the second slide member, the first bracket
and the second bracket being fixedly connected to the first end and
the second end of the first slide member, respectively, the first
bracket and the second bracket of each slide assembly being mounted
to each pair of frames of the rack, the first bracket comprising a
first supporting member corresponding to the base, the first
supporting member having a slot thereon;
[0028] a plurality of engaging assemblies, each engaging assembly
comprising an engaging member pivotally connected to the base, the
engaging member comprising an engaging portion corresponding to the
slot of the first bracket, an operating member connected to the
engaging member for controlling movement of the engaging member,
and a resilient member acting on the engaging member and providing
a restoring force to the engaging member; and
[0029] at least one chassis, the chassis having two sides connected
to the slide assemblies respectively and driven to slide along with
the slide assemblies;
[0030] wherein the engaging portion of the engaging member is
inserted through the slot of the first bracket and one of the
plurality of holes of the rack with the engaging surface engaging
with a surrounding surface of the hole of the frames.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0031] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a first preferred embodiment
of the present invention;
[0032] FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view showing an engaging
portion inserted through a slot of a first bracket of the first
preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0033] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the first preferred
embodiment of the present invention before mounting of a rack;
[0034] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the first preferred
embodiment of the present invention with the rack mounted
thereon;
[0035] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the first preferred
embodiment of the present invention before locking;
[0036] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the first preferred
embodiment of the present invention in a locked status;
[0037] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the first preferred
embodiment of the present invention in a released status; and
[0038] FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a second preferred embodiment
of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0039] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a first preferred embodiment
of the present invention. In this embodiment, a slide assembly 2
comprises a first slide member 10, a second slide assembly 20, a
first bracket 30, a second bracket 30a, and an engaging assembly
4.
[0040] The first slide member 10 comprises a first end and a second
end opposite to the first end.
[0041] The second slide member 20 is slidably connected to the
first slide member 10 either directly or indirectly. The second
slide member 20 comprises a base 24. The base 24 comprises a pair
of pivot ears 26 thereon. In this embodiment, the base 24 extends
from one end 22 of the second slide member 20 and is perpendicular
to the second slide member 20. The second slide member 20 is
indirectly connected to the first slide member 10 by means of a
third slide member 12 and slides along with the third slide member
12 in the first slide member 10. The slide assembly 2 is in the
form of three-section. When the second slide member 20 is directly
connected to the first slide member 10, the slide assembly 2 will
be in the form of two-section. Since the two-section slide assembly
is a conventional technique and will not be discussed
hereinafter.
[0042] The first bracket 30 is fixedly connected to the first end
of the first slide member 10. The first bracket 30 comprises a
first supporting member 32 and a first positioning member 39. The
first supporting member 32 corresponds to the base 24 of the second
slide member 20.
[0043] The first supporting member 32 comprises a first connecting
portion 34, a second connecting portion 36, and a slot 38 between
the first connecting portion 34 and the second connecting portion
36.
[0044] The second bracket 30a is fixedly connected to the second
end of the first slide member 10. The second bracket 30a comprises
a second supporting member 32a and a second positioning member 39a.
The second supporting member 32s comprises a first connecting
portion 34a and a second connecting portion 36a.
[0045] The engaging assembly 4 comprises an engaging member 40, a
pivot member 50, an operating member 60, and a resilient member 70.
The engaging member 40 comprises an engaging portion 42 in a hook
shape. The engaging portion 42 has a flat engaging surface 44 and a
guiding surface 46 adjacent to an edge of the engaging surface 44.
The engaging portion 42 corresponds to the slot 38 of the first
bracket 30. The operating member 60 is connected to the engaging
member 40 for controlling movement of the engaging member 40.
[0046] Referring to FIG. 2, the engaging member 40 of the engaging
assembly 4 is pivotally connected to the pair of pivot ears 26 and
the resilient member 70 through the pivot member 50 so that the
engaging member 40 is rotatable. The resilient member 70 acts on
the engaging member 40 for providing a restoring force to the
engaging member 40. In this embodiment, the resilient member 70 is
a torsion spring located between the pair of pivot ears 26 of the
base 24 of the second slide member 20.
[0047] FIG. 3 is an assembled view of the first preferred
embodiment of the present invention mounted to a rack 80. The rack
80 comprises a first frame 82a and a second frame 82b spaced at a
predetermined distance for connecting with the slide assembly 2. In
this embodiment, both the first frame 82a and the second frame 82b
of the rack 80 have a plurality of holes which are first holes 84a,
second holes 84b, and third holes 84c. The first and second ends of
the first slide member 10 of the slide assembly 2 are fixedly
connected to the first bracket 30 and the second bracket 30a,
respectively. The first connecting portion 34 and the second
connecting portion 36 of the first bracket 30 correspond to the
first hole 84a and the third hole 84c of the first frame 82a of the
rack 80, while the first connecting portion 34a and the second
connecting portion 36a of the second bracket 30a correspond to the
first hole 84a and the third hole 84c of the second frame 82b of
the rack 80.
[0048] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the assembly of the
first preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this
embodiment, when mounting the second bracket 30a to the second
frame 82b of the rack 80, the first connecting portion 34a and the
second connecting portion 36a are inserted into the first hole 84a
and the third hole 84c of the second frame 82b and the second
positioning member 39a holds against the second frame 82b of the
rack 80. When mounting the first bracket 30 to the first frame 82a
of the rack 80, the first connecting portion 34 and the second
connecting portion 36 of the first bracket 30 are inserted into the
first hole 84a and the third hole 84c of the first frame 82a of the
rack 80 and the first positioning member 39 holds against the first
frame 82a of the rack 80. When the second slide member 20 of the
slide assembly 2 is fully retracted, the engaging portion 42 of the
engaging member 40 will hook the second hole 84b of the rack 80 to
hold the rack 80 securely.
[0049] FIGS. 5 and 6 are schematic views of the first preferred
embodiment of the present invention in a locked status. When the
second slide member 20 is moved towards the first slide member 10,
the engaging member 40 will be pushed forward through the slot 38
of the first bracket 30 and the second hole 84b of the first frame
82a of the rack 80, whereas the guiding surface 46 will move with
the engaging portion 42 which leads the engaging member 40 to
deflect its position and whereas the resilient member 70 provides a
restoring force against the engaging member 40. When the second
slide member 20 reaches to its closed position with respect to the
first slide member 10, the engaging portion 42 of the engaging
member 40 is extended through the second hole 84b, and is urged by
the resilient member 70 to return to its original position,
therefore, the engaging surface 44 of the engaging member 40 is in
touched with the surrounding surface of the second hole 84b.
[0050] To release the locked position, as shown in FIG. 7, a user
may use the operating member 60 to deflect the engaging member 40
which brings the engaging portion 42 to deflect and detach from the
second hole 84b, thus the second slide member 20 may be pulled away
from the first slide member 10.
[0051] FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a second preferred embodiment
of the present invention, which is substantially similar to the
first preferred embodiment with the exception described
hereinafter. This embodiment comprises a plurality of frames, a
plurality of slide assembles 2, a plurality of engaging assemblies
4, and at least one chassis 86.
[0052] The plurality of frames is composed of a first frame 82a, a
second frame 82b, a third frame 82c and a fourth frame 82d to form
a configuration of two pairs of frames 82a, 82b, and 82c, 82d. Each
pair of the frames 82a, 82b or 82c, 82d are set at a predetermined
distance and has a plurality of holes. The plurality of frames is
assembled to form a rack 80 in a predetermined shape such as a
square.
[0053] The first bracket 30 and the second bracket 30a of each
slide assembly 2 are mounted to the pair of frames 82a, 82b or 82c,
82d to maintain the rack 80 in a level status.
[0054] Each engaging assembly 4 comprises a resilient member 70 and
an engaging member 40 which is urged by the resilient member 70 to
restore its original position, thus the engaging member 40 may
remain a locked position in the hole of the rack 80.
[0055] The chassis 86 has two sides connected with the slide
assemblies 2, respectively, and is linked to move simultaneously.
In this embodiment, the chassis may be a computer server or an
electronic device. Therefore, the chassis 86 is able to slide
inward or outward with respect to the rack 80.
[0056] The present invention does not restraint either the type or
model of the chassis, nor the handle on the chassis. It also
provides a locking function when the chassis is pushed into the
rack. The bracket connected to the slide assembly doesn't need
adding any parts for engagement of the engaging member.
* * * * *