U.S. patent application number 13/602781 was filed with the patent office on 2013-06-13 for automatic homing slide track device.
The applicant listed for this patent is Jung-Chang Chung. Invention is credited to Jung-Chang Chung.
Application Number | 20130147335 13/602781 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47716438 |
Filed Date | 2013-06-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130147335 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chung; Jung-Chang |
June 13, 2013 |
AUTOMATIC HOMING SLIDE TRACK DEVICE
Abstract
The present invention provides an automatic homing slide track
device which comprises: a bottom track and a slide track provided
with a push rod protruding from one side; a control base comprising
a spring groove and an actuating slide way with a slot defined at
the front end; a slide/swing unit with a slide member and a swing
member joining each other wherein the swing member is provided with
a clasper at the front end and an actuating part at the rear end on
which there is at least a second actuating groove designed at the
front part; a flexible member allowing its front and rear ends to
be fixed on the slide member' and the spring groove's rear ends,
respectively. The abovementioned push rod can enter the second
actuating groove of the swing member and slide and deflect the
swing member.
Inventors: |
Chung; Jung-Chang; (New
Taipei City, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Chung; Jung-Chang |
New Taipei City |
|
TW |
|
|
Family ID: |
47716438 |
Appl. No.: |
13/602781 |
Filed: |
September 4, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/334.47 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 25/024 20130101;
A47B 88/467 20170101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/334.47 |
International
Class: |
A47B 88/04 20060101
A47B088/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 13, 2011 |
TW |
100223438 |
Claims
1. An automatic homing slide track device comprising: A bottom
track with a bottom track space; A slide track moving in said
bottom track space of said bottom track and comprising a push rod
protruding from one side of said slide track; A control base fixed
on said bottom track and comprising a spring groove at the rear
part and an actuating slide way at the front part on which there is
a slot defined at the front end; A slide/swing unit installed in an
actuating slide way of said control base and comprising a slide
member and a swing member joining each other and sliding
synchronously wherein said swing member is installed at the front
end of said slide member and provided with (a) a clasper at the
front part and (b) an actuating part at the rear part on which
there is at least a second actuating groove at the front part; A
flexible member installed in said spring groove of said control
base and allowing its front and read ends to be fixed on said slide
member's and said spring groove's rear ends, respectively; In the
abovementioned structure, said push rod enters said second
actuating groove of said swing member to slide and deflect said
swing member so that said deflected swing member makes said clasper
withheld in said slot.
2. The automatic homing slide track device according to claim 1
wherein said control base comprises a main base plate and said
spring groove is one groove enclosed by said main base plate and
two lateral end sheets of said main base plate and is provided with
a fastening part fixing said flexible member at the rear end.
3. The automatic homing slide track device according to claim 2
wherein said actuating slide way is a double U-shaped groove
enclosed by said main base plate, said two end sheets and an
extender.
4. The automatic homing slide track device according to claim 1
wherein said actuating slide way is provided with a baffle at the
rear end as a fallback of said slide/swing unit during a reverse
movement.
5. The automatic homing slide track device according to claim 2
wherein said main base plate is provided with a through window
which is opposite to said actuating slide way.
6. The automatic homing slide track device according to claim 5
wherein said through window's front end extends backward to develop
a stopper.
7. The automatic homing slide track device according to claim 1
wherein said slide member is provided with a positioning part at
the rear end which is used to fix said flexible member.
8. The automatic homing slide track device according to claim 1
wherein said swing member has an end part at the front part which
is used to develop said clasper and a slanted guide plane, front
low and back high.
9. The automatic homing slide track device according to claim 1
wherein said swing member has a separator, which is located at the
front end of said second actuating groove and further comprises a
first actuating groove at the front part, and an actuating channel
among said second actuating groove, said first actuating groove and
said separator.
10. The automatic homing slide track device according to claim 9
wherein said actuating channel has an offset design in a movement
path at which said slide member joins said swing member.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an automatic homing device,
particularly an automatic homing slide track device featuring a
compact structure for correct steady operations and simple
operation steps for troubleshooting.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Cabinet lockers or drawers have been extensively applied in
various storage implements. To realize a cabinet locker (drawer)
which is conveniently pulled out, those slide tracks with functions
for positioning and guidance are usually integrated into both
laterals of a cabinet locker (drawer). For stable close of a
cabinet locker (drawer), the slide tracks are further integrated
with an automatic homing structure which allows the cabinet locker
(drawer) arriving at a rear part to be pulled and automatically
move backward until a stable close state. As shown in Patent No.
M349712 for a slide track's automatic homing technique based on
prior arts, the automatic homing slide track device comprises: (a)
a bottom track with an inner track which oppositely slides on the
bottom track; (b) a control device comprising a control base and a
slide cover: (b.1) the control base which is fixed on the bottom
track is provided with a buffer member and at least a spring
wherein the buffer member has a dry rubber damping buffer stick and
the spring links between the control base and the slide cover;
(b.2) the control base further comprises an extended control tab
with a concave guide groove wherein the guide groove is provided
with a slot at the rear lateral side and a slanted guide groove at
the other rear lateral end of the slot; (b.3) the slide cover moves
to cap the control base and comprises a buffering tube, which is
used to link the dry rubber damping buffer stick, and a first spin
groove (front) as well as a second spin groove (rear) at the rear
part; (c) a swing member installed in the slide cover and
comprising (c.1) a first actuating block with its front end held in
the first spin groove, (c.2) a second actuating block with its rear
part held in the second spin groove, and (c.3) an insert part
underneath embedded in the guide groove; (d) a linkage member fixed
in the inner track and provided with (d.1) a convex stopping part
including a lateral-accommodating concave part at the rear end and
(d.2) a forward thrust part at the front end.
[0005] Despite an automatic homing effect for opening and closing,
the automatic homing slide track device based on prior arts still
has some drawbacks, for instance, a control base is installed on a
bottom base to accommodate some components, e.g., spring and buffer
member, and position and slide the slide cover; the control base is
provided with the slot and the slanted guide groove at the rear end
of the concave guide groove for deflecting the swing member which
has been held in the slide cover; the inner track is provided with
a corresponding linkage member on which there are a convex stopping
part, a lateral-accommodating concave part and a forward thrust
part installed for linking and controlling the swing member. As
such, the automatic homing slide track device becomes a
considerably complicated assembly which apparently increases costs
in manufacture, assembly and maintenance, comprises complex faulty
components threatening economic benefits, and is not an ideal
design obviously. Additionally, the position of the linkage member
relative to the swing member which is driven by the linkage member
on the inner track might be deviated due to collision or vibration
during operation of the inner track; the swing member which is
pulled by the spring at the slide cover automatically moves
forward, gets out of control of the linkage member, and causes
failure of the cabinet's automatic homing function which is not
repaired by a user's simple operation and deserves to be corrected
or prevented. Other drawbacks of the automatic homing slide track
device necessary to be corrected are: a complicated automatic
homing slide track device occupies a large operating space and is
disadvantageous to application of a specific cabinet (e.g.,
refrigerator crisper); a refrigerator frosts when moisture in
ambient air permeating a crisper or attaching slide tracks during
an open/close operation of the refrigerator crisper is cooled; an
automatic homing slide track device based on prior arts frosts or
has dust accumulated. As a result, it is necessary to correct or
overcome above drawbacks of prior automatic homing slide track
devices by the persons skilled in the arts.
[0006] Accordingly, the inventor having considered imperfects of
prior automatic homing slide tracks in manufacture, assembly,
maintenance and structure and attempted to optimize the automatic
homing slide track device with features such as convenient
manufacture and assembly, economic stable operation, and
serviceability in refrigerator crispers has studied and developed a
solution for serving the general public and promoting development
of the industry.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide an
automatic homing slide track device which features a compact
automatic homing slide track for correct stable operations,
components simply and quickly assembled/disassembled, reduced
manufacture, assembly and maintenance costs, and positive economic
benefits.
[0008] The other object of the present invention is to provide an
automatic homing slide track device which features a low failure
rate and simple operation steps preventing the present invention
from accident-induced troubles or inconvenience of follow-up usage
and maintenance.
[0009] The further object of the present invention is to provide an
automatic homing slide track device which is applicable to a
special cabinet such as refrigerator crisper, minimizes drawbacks
like frosting and accumulated dust, and promotes quality of one
refrigerator.
[0010] With some techniques used to achieve the above objects, the
present invention comprises: (a) a bottom track with a bottom track
space; (b) a slide track moving in the bottom track space of the
bottom track and provided with a push rod protruding from one side;
(c) a control base fixed on the bottom track and comprising a
spring groove at the rear part and an actuating slide way at the
front part on which there is a slot defined at the front end; (d) a
slide/swing unit installed in the actuating slide way of the
control base and comprising a slide member and a swing member, both
of which join each other and slide synchronously: the swing member
which is installed at the front end of the slide member has a
clasper and an actuating part at its front and rear parts
respectively wherein the actuating part is provided with at least a
second actuating groove at the front end; (e) a flexible member
held in the control base's spring groove and allowing its front and
rear ends to be fixed on the slide member's and the spring groove's
rear ends, respectively. In the previous structure, the push rod
enters the second actuating groove of the swing member to slide and
deflect the swing member and make the clasper withheld in the
slot.
[0011] For technical features and effects in terms of the present
disclosure completely understood and recognized, the preferred
embodiments and detailed drawings are described hereinafter:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the present
invention.
[0013] FIG. 2 is an exploded view illustrating the present
invention.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a partial exploded view illustrating the present
invention.
[0015] FIG. 3A is a partial exploded view illustrating the present
invention.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of the present invention
which has been assembled.
[0017] FIG. 5A is a schematic illustration of the present invention
which is pulled forward.
[0018] FIG. 5B is a schematic illustration of the present invention
which is pushed backward.
[0019] FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of the present invention
for troubleshooting.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0020] Referring to FIG. 1 through FIG. 3A which illustrate the
present invention of an automatic homing slide track device
comprises a bottom track 10, a slide track 20, a control base 30, a
slide/swing unit 40 and a flexible member 50. The bottom track 10
comprises a mounted plate 11 and a bottom track space 12 wherein
the mounted plate 11 has mounting holes 111 used to fix the
automatic homing slide track device on a cabinet wall (not shown in
figures) such as refrigerator's inner wall, a front pilot hole 112
and a rear pilot hole 113. The slide track 20 which is fixed on a
locker or a cabinet (not shown in figures) and oppositely slides on
the bottom track 10 comprises (a) a slide track part 21 installed
on one flank (e.g., bottom) and embedded in the bottom track space
12 for corresponding slide or movement and (b) a push rod 22
properly protruding from one flank of the slide track 20; the slide
track 20 further comprises a two-track device, i.e., inner track
and outer track, for an extended length in one embodiment.
[0021] The control base 30 comprises a mounted plate 31 extending
at the front end and a mounted plate 32 extending at the rear end
wherein a mounting hole 311 and a mounting hole 321 are opened on
the two mounted plates, respectively; the control base 30 is fixed
on the mounted plate 11 of the bottom track 10 by bolts 312, 322
penetrating the mounting holes 311, 321 and their corresponding
holes such as front pilot hole 112 and rear pilot hole 113 on the
bottom track 10. The control base 30 also comprises a main base
plate 301 and a spring groove 33 at the rear part and an actuating
slide way 34 at the front part, both of which link each other: the
spring groove 33 is a U-shaped groove enclosed by the main base
plate 301 and two lateral end sheets 332, 333 and provided with a
fastening part 331 at the rear end; the slightly winding actuating
slide way 34 is a double U-shaped groove enclosed by the end sheet
332, the main base plate 301, the end sheet 333 and an extender 341
and provided with a baffle 342 at the rear end as a fallback of the
slide/swing unit 40 during a reverse movement. A through window 343
is opened on the main base plate 301 of the control base 30 and
opposite to the actuating slide way 34; a stopper 344 is designed
on the front end of the through window 343 and extends backward; a
slot 345 is developed at the front end of the actuating slide way
34 (the control base 30). The slide/swing unit 40 which is held in
the actuating slide way 34 of the control base 30 comprises a slide
member 41 and a swing member 42, both of which join each other and
slide synchronously: the slide member 41 is provided with a
positioning part 411 at the rear end and a pin joint part 412 at
the front end on which there is a pivot 413; the swing member 42
installed at the front end of the slide member 41 is provided with
a joint hole 421 at the rear end and an end part 422 at the front
end wherein the joint hole 421 is coupled with the pivot 413 of the
slide member 41 and the end part 422 has a slanted guide plane
422a, front low and back high, and a convex clasper 423 at one
flank. Furthermore, a separator 424 between front and rear ends of
the swing member 42 comprises a first actuating groove 425 and a
second actuating groove 426 at its front end and rear end,
respectively; an actuating channel 427 is developed among the first
actuating groove 425, the second actuating groove 426 and the
separator 424 of the swing member 42. In this embodiment, the
actuating channel 427 of the swing member 42 is positioned at the
side near to the end sheet 332 so that an offset design is
considered in a movement path at which the actuating channel 427
(second actuating groove 426) is opposite to the joint hole 421
(pivot 413); an actuating part 428 of the swing member 42 is
developed at the rear end of the second actuating groove 426; both
the slide member 41 and the swing member 42 held in the actuating
slide way 34 attaches the main base plate 301 and are confined by
the end sheet 332, the end sheet 333 and the extender 341.
[0022] The flexible member 50 which is held in the spring groove 33
of the control base 30 is considered as one spring and described in
this embodiment and is provided with shrink parts 51, 52 at its
front and rear ends wherein the shrink parts 51, 52 are coupled
with the positioning part 411 of the slide member 41 and the
fastening part 331 at the rear end of the control base 30 (spring
groove 33) respectively, so as to hold the flexible member 50
between the rear end of the control base 30 and the slide member 41
(FIG. 4) and pull the slide member 41 (slide/swing unit 40). As
shown in FIG. 4, the present invention of an assembled automatic
homing slide track device allows the push rod 22 of the slide track
20 to enter the second actuating groove 426 of the swing member 42
and slide and swing the slide/swing unit 40.
[0023] Referring to FIGS. 5An and 5B which illustrate the push rod
22 of the slide track 20 moving forward with a pulled locker drives
the swing member 42 (slide/swing unit 40) onward and further pulls
the flexible member 50 due to the slide member 41. When the pulled
swing member 42 arrives at the slot 345 at the front end of the
actuating slide way 34 (control base 30), the swing member 42 under
application of a pull on the slide track 20 and the push rod 22
will deflects because the end part 422 at the front end of the
swing member 42 is not against the actuating slide way 34; the
deflected swing member 42 under the pull applied on the flexible
member 50 allows the clasper 423 of the swing member 42 to be
withheld in the slot 345 and stays in a steady state temporarily.
The push rod 22 moving forward departs from the second actuating
groove 426, continuing its movement along the actuating channel 427
and totally leaving the swing member 42 and the control base 30 so
that the slide track 20 (locker) is driven onward until a
completely stretchable status. In a reverse movement, the slide
track 20 of the locker moving in a reverse direction allows the
push rod 22 to pass the actuating channel 427 of the swing member
42, enter the second actuating groove 426, and continuously drive
the actuating part 428 so that the swing member 42 separates itself
from deflection and the clasper 423 of the swing member 42 is not
withheld by the slot 345; the slide/swing unit 40 completes
automatic homing under a pull of the flexible member 50 and the
slide member 41 finally arrives and stops at the baffle 342 to
finish an automatic homing operation with the locker pushed
backward.
[0024] Referring to FIG. 6 which illustrates a troubleshooting
procedure for the present invention. The push rod 22 of the slide
track 20 suffering from vibration, collision, or error in operation
during opening or closing a locker might immediately deflect from
the actuating channel 427 and allows the slide/swing unit 40 pulled
by the flexible member 50 to move back in a very short time. In
this context, the fact that the push rod 22 which keeps at the
front end of the non-deflected swing member 42 neither enters the
actuating channel 427 nor continues controlling the swing member 42
(slide/swing unit 40) is considered as failure of automatic homing.
Accordingly, the locker should be pushed in order to make the push
rod 22 along the slanted guide plane 422a force the swing member
42. With simple steps to complete troubleshooting, this mechanism
to press and sink the swing member 42 based on the through window
343 allows the push rod 22 to enter the actuating channel 427 until
the second actuating groove 426 and resume the push rod 22 in a
proper position. In addition, the stopper 344 at the front end of
the through window 343 can resume a proper position and status of
the sunken swing member 42 by thrusting the swing member 42.
[0025] According to previous descriptions, the present invention of
an automatic homing slide track device features a compact overall
structure for correct stable operations, components simply and
quickly assembled or disassembled, reduced manufacture, assembly
and maintenance costs, and positive economic benefits. Furthermore,
the simple operation steps prevent the present invention from
accident-induced troubles or inconvenience of follow-up usage and
maintenance. The present invention with the above structure is
applicable to a special cabinet such as refrigerator crisper,
minimizes drawbacks like frosting and accumulated dust, and
promotes quality of one refrigerator.
[0026] It can be seen from the above descriptions that the present
invention significantly meets patentability and is applied for the
patent. However, the above descriptions present preferred
embodiments only which do not limit the scope of the present
invention; any equivalent change or improvement based on shapes,
structures, features and spirit mentioned in the present invention
should be incorporated in claims.
* * * * *