U.S. patent application number 12/575072 was filed with the patent office on 2011-04-07 for slide assembly.
Invention is credited to Chien-I Chiang.
Application Number | 20110081104 12/575072 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43823228 |
Filed Date | 2011-04-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110081104 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chiang; Chien-I |
April 7, 2011 |
SLIDE ASSEMBLY
Abstract
A slide assembly includes first and second slides and a ball
bearing device mounted between the first and second slides to allow
smooth sliding movement of the first slide in the second slide. The
first slide includes a vertical wall and upper and lower, first
rails extending horizontally from upper and lower ends of the
vertical wall of the first slide in the same direction. Each of two
ends of the vertical wall of the first slide includes an actuation
piece extending toward the second slide. The second slide includes
a vertical wall and upper and lower, second rails extending
horizontally from upper and lower ends of the vertical wall of the
second slide toward the first slide. A protrusion is formed on each
of two ends of each of the upper and lower, second rails and
extends toward the upper and lower, first rails of the first
slide.
Inventors: |
Chiang; Chien-I; (Chia-Yi
City, TW) |
Family ID: |
43823228 |
Appl. No.: |
12/575072 |
Filed: |
October 7, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
384/19 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 2210/0032 20130101;
A47B 2210/004 20130101; A47B 88/487 20170101; A47B 2210/0059
20130101; A47B 2210/0035 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
384/19 |
International
Class: |
A47B 88/14 20060101
A47B088/14 |
Claims
1. A slide assembly comprising: a first slide, a second slide
receiving the second slide, and a ball bearing device mounted
between the first and second slides, with the first slide including
a vertical wall and upper and lower, first rails extending
horizontally from upper and lower ends of the vertical wall of the
first slide in a same direction, with each of two ends of the
vertical wall of the first slide including an actuation piece
extending toward the second slide, with the second slide including
a vertical wall and upper and lower, second rails extending
horizontally from upper and lower ends of the vertical wall of the
second slide toward the first slide, with a protrusion formed on
each of two ends of each of the upper and lower, second rails and
extending toward the upper and lower, first rails of the first
slide, with the ball bearing device including a body and a
plurality of balls, with the body including a plurality of upper
and lower holes rotatably receiving the plurality of balls, with
the body and the plurality of balls being mounted between the first
and second slides to allow smooth sliding movement of the first
slide in the second slide.
2. The slide assembly as claimed in claim 1, with the upper and
lower, first rails of the first slide extending horizontally toward
the second slide.
3. The slide assembly as claimed in claim 2, with the vertical wall
of the first slide further including a plurality of spaced
holes.
4. The slide assembly as claimed in claim 2, with the vertical wall
of the second slide further including a plurality of spaced holes.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a slide assembly and, more
particularly, to a slide assembly for a drawer, a sliding platform,
or the like.
[0002] FIG. 7 shows a conventional slide assembly for a drawer
including a first slide 1', a second slide 2', and a ball bearing
device 3' mounted between the first and second slides 1' and 2', so
that the first slide 1' can slide in the second slide 2'. The first
slide 1' includes a vertical wall 11' and upper and lower, first
rails 12' extending horizontally from upper and lower ends of the
vertical wall 11' in the same direction. The vertical wall 11' of
the first slide 1' is fixed to a side board of a drawer 4'. Each of
the upper and lower, first rails 12' includes a protrusion 121' for
preventing disengagement of the ball bearing device 3' via rear end
13' of the first slide 1'. The second slide 2' includes a vertical
wall 21' and upper and lower, second rails 22' extending
horizontally from upper and lower ends of the vertical wall 21' in
the same direction. A stop 211' is formed on each of two sides of a
front end of the vertical wall 21' of the second slide 2' and
extends toward the first slide 1' to prevent disengagement of the
ball bearing device 3' via a front end 14' of the first slide 1'. A
stop 212' is formed on a rear end of the vertical wall 21' of the
second slide 2' and extends toward the first slide 1'. The vertical
wall 21' of the second slide 2' is fixed to a side board of a
cabinet 5'. When the drawer 4' is pushed back into the cabinet 5',
the first slide 1' that moves together with the drawer 4' slides
into the second slide 2'. At the same time, the ball bearing device
3' moves toward the rear end of the second slide 2'. The rear end
13' of the first slide 1' is stopped by the stops 212' to prevent
disengagement of the ball bearing device 3' via a rear end 23' of
the second slide 2'. When the drawer 4' is pulled outward from the
cabinet 5', the front end 14' of the first slide 1' extends beyond
a front end 24' of the second slide 2', and the front end of the
ball bearing device 3' is stopped by the stop 211' and, thus, will
not disengage from the front end 24' of the second slide 2'. Due to
provision of the stop 212', the rear end 13' of the first slide 1'
can not extend beyond the rear end 23' of the second slide 2'.
However, the manufacturing costs are increased due to waste in
material. Specifically, given that an overlapped length of the
first and second slides 1' and 2' is 3 inches, in a case that the
drawer 4' is to be pulled out of the cabinet 5' for 15 inches, each
of the first and second slides 1' and 2' must be 18 inches (15
inches plus 3 inches).
[0003] Thus, a need exists for a slide assembly including first and
second slides each of which is shorter than a pull-out distance of
the slide assembly to save material and to reduce the manufacturing
costs.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention solves this need and other problems in
the field of costs reduction of slide assemblies by providing, in a
preferred form, a slide assembly including a first slide, a second
slide receiving the second slide, and a ball bearing device mounted
between the first and second slides. The first slide includes a
vertical wall and upper and lower, first rails extending
horizontally from upper and lower ends of the vertical wall of the
first slide in the same direction. Each of two ends of the vertical
wall of the first slide includes an actuation piece extending
toward the second slide. The second slide includes a vertical wall
and upper and lower, second rails extending horizontally from upper
and lower ends of the vertical wall of the second slide toward the
first slide. A protrusion is formed on each of two ends of each of
the upper and lower, second rails and extends toward the upper and
lower, first rails of the first slide. The ball bearing device
includes a body and a plurality of balls. The body includes a
plurality of upper and lower holes rotatably receiving the
plurality of balls. The body and the plurality of balls are mounted
between the first and second slides to allow smooth sliding
movement of the first slide in the second slide.
[0005] The present invention will become clearer in light of the
following detailed description of illustrative embodiments of this
invention described in connection with the drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] The illustrative embodiments may best be described by
reference to the accompanying drawings where:
[0007] FIG. 1 shows an exploded, perspective view of a slide
assembly according to the preferred teachings of the present
invention.
[0008] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the slide assembly of FIG.
1.
[0009] FIG. 3 shows a cross sectional view of the slide assembly of
FIG. 1 according to section line 3-3 of FIG. 2.
[0010] FIG. 4 shows a partial, cross sectional view of the slide
assembly of FIG. 1 with a first slide of the slide assembly slid
leftward relative to a second slide of the slide assembly.
[0011] FIG. 5 shows a partial, cross sectional view of the slide
assembly of FIG. 1 with the first slide slid rightward relative to
the second slide.
[0012] FIG. 6 shows a side view of the slide assembly of FIG. 1,
illustrating use of the slide assembly.
[0013] FIG. 7 shows a side view of a cabinet including a drawer to
which a conventional slide assembly is mounted.
[0014] All figures are drawn for ease of explanation of the basic
teachings of the present invention only; the extensions of the
figures with respect to number, position, relationship, and
dimensions of the parts to form the preferred embodiments will be
explained or will be within the skill of the art after the
following teachings of the present invention have been read and
understood. Further, the exact dimensions and dimensional
proportions to conform to specific force, weight, strength, and
similar requirements will likewise be within the skill of the art
after the following teachings of the present invention have been
read and understood.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] A slide assembly according to the preferred teachings of the
present invention is shown in FIGS. 1-6 and generally includes a
first slide 1, a second slide 2 receiving the second slide 1, and a
ball bearing device 3 mounted between the first and second slides 1
and 2, so that the first slide 1 can slide in the first slide
2.
[0016] The first slide 1 includes a vertical wall 11 and upper and
lower, first rails 12 extending horizontally from upper and lower
ends of the vertical wall 11 in the same direction. In the most
preferred form shown, the upper and lower, first rails 12 extend
toward the second slide 2. Each of two ends of the vertical wall 11
of the first slide 1 includes an actuation piece 13 extending
toward the second slide 2. The vertical wall 11 of the first slide
1 further includes a plurality of spaced holes 14 through which
fasteners such as screws are extended for fixing the first slide 1
to a side board of a drawer 4 (see FIG. 6).
[0017] The second slide 2 includes a vertical wall 21 and upper and
lower, second rails 22 extending horizontally from upper and lower
ends of the vertical wall 21 toward the first slide 1. A protrusion
23 is formed on each of two ends of each of upper and lower, second
rails 22 and extends toward the upper and lower, first rails 12 of
the first slide 1. The vertical wall 21 of the second slide 2
further includes a plurality of spaced holes 24 through which
fasteners such as screws are extended for fixing the second slide 2
to a side board of a cabinet 5 receiving the drawer 4 (see FIG.
6).
[0018] The ball bearing device 3 includes a body 31 and a plurality
of balls 32. The body 31 includes a plurality of upper and lower
holes 33 rotatably receiving the balls 32. The body 31 and the
balls 32 are mounted between the first and second slides 1 and 2 to
allow smooth sliding movement of the first slide 1 in the second
slide 2.
[0019] With reference to FIG. 4, when the first slide 1 moves
leftward in the second slide 2, the actuation piece 13 on the right
side of the first slide 1 abuts against the right end of the body
31 of the ball bearing device 3. Furthermore, the protrusions 23 of
the upper and lower, second rails 22 on the left side of the second
slide 2 abut against the left end of the body 31 of the ball
bearing device 3. Disengagement of the ball bearing device 3 is,
thus, avoided.
[0020] With reference to FIG. 5, when the first slide 1 moves
rightward in the second slide 2, the actuation piece 13 on the left
side of the first slide 1 abuts against the left end of the body 31
of the ball bearing device 3. Furthermore, the protrusions 23 of
the upper and lower, second rails 22 on the right side of the
second slide 2 abut against the right end of the body 31 of the
ball bearing device 3. Disengagement of the ball bearing device 3
is, thus, avoided.
[0021] With reference to FIG. 6, the vertical wall 11 of the first
slide 1 is fixed to a rear section of a side of the drawer 4, and
the vertical wall 21 of the second slide 2 is fixed to a front
section of a side of the cabinet 5 receiving the drawer 4. When the
drawer 4 is pushed back into the drawer 5, the first slide 1 that
moves together with the drawer 4 slides into the second slide 2 in
the leftward direction, as shown in FIG. 4. On the other hand, when
the drawer 4 is pulled outward of the drawer 5, the first slide 1
that moves together with the drawer 4 slides in the rightward
direction, as shown in FIG. 5.
[0022] By such an arrangement, each of two ends of the first slide
1 can protrude beyond the second slide 2, so that the overall
length of each of the first and second slides 1 and 2 can be
smaller while providing the required pull-out distance. As an
example, assuming that the first and second slides 1 and 2 have an
overlapped length of 3 inches, the pulled-out distance of the
drawer 4 can be 15 inches if the length of each of the first and
second slides 1 and 2 is 9 inches (9+9-3=15). Thus, the first and
second slides 1 and 2 of the slide assembly according to the
preferred teachings are shorter than those of the conventional side
assembly having the same pull-out distance. The manufacturing costs
are cut, because less material is used.
[0023] Thus since the invention disclosed herein may be embodied in
other specific forms without departing from the spirit or general
characteristics thereof, some of which forms have been indicated,
the embodiments described herein are to be considered in all
respects illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the
invention is to be indicated by the appended claims, rather than by
the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the
meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be
embraced therein.
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