U.S. patent application number 13/045190 was filed with the patent office on 2012-07-05 for slide rail assembly.
This patent application is currently assigned to HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to ZE-HONG CHEN, MO-MING YU.
Application Number | 20120170877 13/045190 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46353920 |
Filed Date | 2012-07-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120170877 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
YU; MO-MING ; et
al. |
July 5, 2012 |
SLIDE RAIL ASSEMBLY
Abstract
A slide rail apparatus includes an outer rail, an intermediate
rail, an inner rail, a latch member slidably mounted to the
intermediate rail, and a resilient member. The latch member
includes a first abutting post and a second abutting post. When the
supporting member supports the first abutting post to keep the
latch member at a locking position, the second abutting post of the
latch member abuts a stop portion of the intermediate rail, to
slide the intermediate rail and the inner rail forward
synchronously. When the latch member slides forward to be received
in a positioning notch of the outer rail, the resilient member
restores to slide the latch member to an unlocking position, where
the second abutting post of the latch member disengages from the
stop portion, to enable the inner rail to slide out of the
intermediate rail.
Inventors: |
YU; MO-MING; (Shenzhen City,
CN) ; CHEN; ZE-HONG; (Shenzhen City, CN) |
Assignee: |
HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO.,
LTD.
Tu-Cheng
TW
HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD.
Shenzhen City
CN
|
Family ID: |
46353920 |
Appl. No.: |
13/045190 |
Filed: |
March 10, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
384/21 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05K 7/1489
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
384/21 |
International
Class: |
A47B 88/04 20060101
A47B088/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 30, 2010 |
CN |
201010614805.7 |
Claims
1. A slide rail assembly comprising: an outer rail comprising an
elongated rail body forming a holding portion, and a support bar
fixed to the rail body and extending along a longitudinal axis of
the rail body, the holding portion being adjacent to a front end of
the support bar; an intermediate rail slidably coupled to the outer
rail; an inner rail slidably coupled to the intermediate rail, and
forming a stop portion; and a latch member comprising a first
abutting post extending towards the outer rail, and a second
abutting post extending towards the inner rail, the latch member
slidably mounted to the intermediate rail between a locking
position, where the second abutting post of the latch member abuts
the stop portion of the inner rail to enable the intermediate rail
to slide forward in synchronization with the inner rail, and an
unlocking position, where the first abutting post of the latch
member is engaged with the holding portion in response to the first
abutting post sliding forward away from the support bar, and the
second abutting post of the latch member disengages from the stop
portion of the inner rail to enable the inner rail slide forward
relative to the intermediate rail; and a resilient member mounted
to the intermediate rail and engaging with the latch member;
wherein the latch member is kept to the locking position in
response to the first abutting post of the latch member being
supported on the support bar of the outer rail; the latch member is
urged to slide to the unlocking position by the resilient member,
in response to the first abutting post sliding forward and away
from the support bar to be engaged with the holding portion of the
outer rail.
2. The slide rail assembly of claim 1, wherein the latch member
comprises a substantially disc-shaped main body between the first
and second abutting posts, a first mounting groove is defined in a
circumferential surface of the first abutting post, the
intermediate rail defines a slide slot extending perpendicular to a
longwise direction of the intermediate rail, opposite sides
bounding the slide slot are slidably engaged in the first mounting
groove.
3. The slide rail assembly of claim 2, wherein a second mounting
groove is defined in a circumferential surface of the second
abutting post, the resilient member comprises a first resilient
arm, and a second resilient arm fixed to the intermediate rail, the
first resilient arm comprises a coupling portion engaged in the
second mounting groove, and is restorably movable relative to the
second resilient arm.
4. The slide rail assembly of claim 2, wherein the inner rail
further comprises a releasing portion to engage with the second
abutting post of the latch member and slide the latch member along
the slide slot towards the locking position in response to the
inner rail sliding rearwards relative to the intermediate rail.
5. The slide rail assembly of claim 4, wherein the releasing
portion of the inner rail is arranged in front of the stop portion
of the inner rail, and forms a cam surface facing the stop
portion.
6. The slide rail assembly of claim 1, wherein the holding portion
comprises a first abutting block and a second abutting block, and
defines a positioning notch therein between the first abutting
block and the second abutting block, the first abutting post of the
latch member is received in the positioning notch in response to
the latch member being at the unlocking position.
7. The slide rail assembly of claim 6, wherein the first abutting
block abuts a front end of the support bar, and is flush with a top
of the support bar.
8. The slide rail assembly of claim 7, wherein the intermediate
rail comprises a protrusion, the protrusion abuts the second
abutting block of the holding portion of the outer rail to prevent
the intermediate rail from sliding relative to the outer rail, when
the first abutting post of the latch member slides over the support
bar and the first abutting block is to be received in the
positioning notch.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] The present disclosure relates to device housing
technologies.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] Slide rail assemblies are often used in rackable server
systems for slidably mounting server units thereon.
[0005] Many slide rail assemblies include an outer slide rail fixed
to the server rack, an inner slide rail fixed to one server unit,
and an intermediate slide rail arranged between the outer and inner
slide rails. The intermediate slide rail is extendable relative to
the outer slide rail, and the inner slide rail is extendable
relative to the intermediate slide rail, thus the server unit can
be extended a distance out from the server rack. Considerations of
strength and smoothness of operation may render a given order or
sequence preferable in a given slide configuration.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] Many aspects of the present embodiments can be better
understood with reference to the following drawing. The components
in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis
instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of
the present embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, all the views
are schematic, and like reference numerals designate corresponding
parts throughout the several views.
[0007] FIG. 1 is an exploded, isometric view of an embodiment of a
slide rail assembly, including an outer rail, an intermediate rail,
an inner rail, a latch member, and a resilient member.
[0008] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the latch member of FIG.
1.
[0009] FIGS. 3-5 are assembled, side plan views of FIG. 1 in
different conditions.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DESCRIPTION
[0010] Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of a slide rail assembly
includes an outer rail 10, an intermediate rail 20 slidably coupled
to the outer rail 10, an inner rail 30 slidably coupled to the
intermediate rail 20, a latch member 40, and a resilient member
50.
[0011] The outer rail 10 includes an elongated rail body 11, and a
support bar 12 fixed to the rail body 11. The rail body 11 defines
a substantially C-shaped cross section, and includes a sidewall
(not labeled) and two flanges (not labeled) extending from opposite
sides of the sidewall. A substantially U-shaped holding portion 112
protrudes from an inner side of the sidewall of the rail body 11.
The holding portion 112 includes a first abutting block 1121 and a
second abutting block 1123 at opposite ends of the holding portion
112, with a positioning notch 1125 defined between the first
abutting block 1121 and the second abutting block 1123. In one
embodiment, the support bar 12 is riveted to the rail body 11, and
extends along a longitudinal axis of the rail body 11. A top side
of the support bar 12 is flush with the first abutting block 1121
of the holding portion 112.
[0012] The intermediate rail 20 defines a substantially C-shaped
cross section, and includes a sidewall (not labeled) and two
flanges (not labeled) extending from opposite sides of the
sidewall. A slide slot 22 is defined in the sidewall of the
intermediate rail 20, adjacent to a rear end of the intermediate
rail 20. A securing portion 24 extends inwards from the sidewall of
the intermediate rail 20, behind and adjacent to the slide slot 22.
A fixing hole 26 is defined in the sidewall of the intermediate
rail 20, between the securing portion 24 and the slide slot 22. A
protrusion 28 protrudes outwards from the sidewall of the
intermediate rail 20, in front of and adjacent to the slide slot
22. The slide slot 22 extends perpendicular to a longitudinal axis
of the intermediate rail 20, and includes an access portion 221 at
a top of the slide slot 22.
[0013] The inner rail 30 includes a sidewall (not labeled) and two
flanges (not labeled) extending from opposite sides of the
sidewall. A stop portion 32 and a releasing portion 34 protrude
outwards from the sidewall of the inner rail 30, adjacent to a rear
end of the inner rail 30. The releasing portion 34 is arranged in
front of the stop portion 32, and forms a cam surface 341 facing
the stop portion 32.
[0014] Referring to FIG. 2, the latch member 40 includes a
disc-shaped main body 41, and a cylindrical first and second
abutting posts 44 and 46 respectively extending from opposite sides
of the main body 41. A first mounting groove 441 is defined in a
circumferential surface of the first abutting post 44, near the
main body 41. A second mounting groove 461 is defined in a
circumferential surface of the second abutting post 46, near the
main body 41.
[0015] In one embodiment, the resilient member 50 is an elastic
metal wire in a substantial V-shape, forming a first resilient arm
54 and a second resilient arm 56. A coupling portion 541 is formed
on a distal end of the first resilient arm 54. A hook 561 is formed
on a distal end of the second resilient arm 56.
[0016] Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, in assembly, the first
abutting post 44 of the latch member 40 is received in the access
portion 221 of the slide slot 22 of the intermediate rail 20, and
slides downwards with opposite sides bounding the slide slot 22
received in the first mounting groove 441 of the latch member 40.
The main body 41 of the latch member 40 abuts an inner surface of
the sidewall of the intermediate rail 20. The first abutting post
44 and the second abutting post 46 are respectively located outside
and inside the intermediate rail 20. The resilient member 50 is
retained to the securing portion 24 of the intermediate rail 20.
The coupling portion 541 of the first resilient arm 54 of the
resilient member 50 is placed around the second abutting post 46 of
the latch member 40 and received in the second mounting groove 461
of the latch member 40. The hook 561 of the second resilient arm 56
of the resilient member 50 is fixed in the fixing hole 26 of the
intermediate rail 20. Accordingly, the resilient member 50 is
mounted to the intermediate rail 20 and slides the latch member 40
downwards away from the access portion 221.
[0017] The inner rail 30 is slid into the intermediate rail 20,
with the latch member 40 located in front of the stop portion 32.
The intermediate rail 20 is slid into the outer rail 10. At the
same time, the first abutting post 44 of the latch member 40 is
supported on the top of the support bar 12 and retains a locking
position, where the second abutting post 46 is aligned with the
stop portion 32 of the inner rail 30, and the first resilient arm
54 is impelled upwards by the support bar 12 to deform the
resilient member 50.
[0018] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, in use, when the inner rail 30
is drawn forward, as indicated by arrow D, the stop portion 32 of
the inner rail 30 abuts the second abutting post 46 of the latch
member 40 after the inner rail 30 slides forward relative to the
intermediate rail 20. Therefore, the intermediate rail 20 slides
forward in synchronization with the inner rail 30. The first
abutting post 46 is slid along the support bar 12 towards the
holding portion 112, until aligning with the positioning notch 1125
thereof. In addition, the protrusion 28 of the intermediate rail 20
abuts the second abutting block 1123 to stop the intermediate rail
20 from sliding forward. The first resilient arm 54 of the
resilient member 50 is restored to slide the latch member 40
downwards along the slide slot 22 of the intermediate rail 20 to an
unlocked position, where the first abutting post 46 is received in
the positioning notch 1125 of the holding portion 112 to stop the
intermediate rail 20 from sliding rearwards indicated by arrow R.
The second abutting post 46 disengages from the stop portion 32 of
the inner rail 30 to enable the inner rail 30 to slide forward
relative to the intermediate rail 20 and fully extend out of the
intermediate rail 20.
[0019] Referring to FIG. 5, when the inner rail 30 is driven
rearwards indicated by arrow R, intermediate rail 20 is stopped
from sliding rearward with the inner rail 30 due to the contact
between the first abutting post 46 and the positioning notch 1125
of the holding portion 112 of the outer rail 10. With the sliding
of the inner rail 30, the cam surface 341 of the releasing portion
34 of the inner rail 30 passes through the second abutting post 46
of the latch member 40, thereby sliding the latch member 40 upwards
to the locking position. The first abutting post 46 disengages from
the positioning notch 1125 of the holding portion 112 of the outer
rail 10 to enable the intermediate rail 20 to slide rearwards
relative to the outer rail 10. At the same time, a stopping
mechanism (not shown) of the intermediate rail 20 abuts the inner
rail 30. Therefore, the intermediate rail 20 slides rearward in
synchronization with the inner rail 30 to be received in the outer
rail 10.
[0020] It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous
characteristics and advantages of the present disclosure have been
set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of
the structure and function of the disclosure, the disclosure is
illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in
matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the
principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the
broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are
expressed.
* * * * *