U.S. patent application number 14/296920 was filed with the patent office on 2015-12-10 for fixing device for sliding mechanism.
This patent application is currently assigned to JOCHU TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is JOCHU TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Kuo-Ming HSU, Tzu-Chien HUANG, Hsin-Han LEE, You-Lun WU.
Application Number | 20150354752 14/296920 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54769261 |
Filed Date | 2015-12-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150354752 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HSU; Kuo-Ming ; et
al. |
December 10, 2015 |
FIXING DEVICE FOR SLIDING MECHANISM
Abstract
A positioning device for a sliding mechanism that includes
exterior, intermediate and interior plates, each plate defining
inner and outer side surfaces, the positioning device is
characterized by: the intermediate plate having a stop block formed
on the inner side surface; and the interior plate including an
elongated release rod that is mounted movably on the outer side
surface and that has a limit notch receiving the block, and a
resilient element engaging the propeller portion for restricting a
longitudinal movement of the rod, the interior plate having a
position limiting unit constituted by two limiting stubs mounted
movably on the outer side surface and having pointed free ends and
a biasing element for biasing the limiting stubs in such a manner
that the pointed free ends extend into the notch to contact
opposite ends of the block, thereby preventing relative movement
between the interior and intermediate plates.
Inventors: |
HSU; Kuo-Ming; (Tainan City,
TW) ; HUANG; Tzu-Chien; (New Taipei City, TW)
; LEE; Hsin-Han; (Hsinchu City, TW) ; WU;
You-Lun; (Taoyuan City, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
JOCHU TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. |
Hsinchu County |
|
TW |
|
|
Assignee: |
JOCHU TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
Hsinchu County
TW
|
Family ID: |
54769261 |
Appl. No.: |
14/296920 |
Filed: |
June 5, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/616 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 88/49 20170101;
A47B 2210/0081 20130101; H05K 7/1489 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F16M 13/02 20060101
F16M013/02; A47B 88/00 20060101 A47B088/00; A47B 88/04 20060101
A47B088/04 |
Claims
1. A slide positioning device for a sliding mechanism that includes
an exterior plate, an intermediate plate connected slidably to the
exterior plate and an interior plate connected slidably to the
intermediate plate, each plate further defining inner and outer
side surfaces, the slide positioning device is characterized by:
the intermediate plate having a stop block formed on the inner side
surface thereof; and the interior plate including a position
limiting unit, an elongated release rod that is mounted movably on
the outer side surface and that has a propeller portion distal from
the position limiting unit and a limit notch adjacent to said
position limiting unit for receiving the stop block, and a
resilient element engaging resiliently the propeller portion for
restricting a longitudinal movement of the release rod with respect
to the interior plate, the position limiting unit including first
and second limiting stubs that are mounted movably on the outer
side surface and that have pointed free ends, the interior plate
further including a biasing element mounted between for biasing the
first and second limiting stubs in such a manner that the pointed
free ends extend into said limit notch so as be in contact with two
opposite ends of said stop block, thereby preventing relative
movement between the interior plate and the intermediate plate.
2. The slide positioning device according to claim 1, wherein the
interior plate is formed with a plurality of first retention holes
and a plurality of second retention holes, said first limiting stub
being mounted movably in two adjacent said first retention holes
via rivets, said second limiting stub being mounted movably in two
adjacent said second retention holes via rivets such that the
pointed free ends of the first and second limiting stubs
simultaneously contact two opposite ends of said limit notch.
3. The slide positioning device according to claim 2, wherein said
biasing element is a leaf spring having two ends mounted into
adjacent pair of said first and second retention holes and a curved
intermediate portion between two ends for biasing against the first
and second limiting stubs such that the pointed free ends
simultaneously contact the two opposite ends of said limit
notch.
4. The slide positioning device according to claim 2, wherein each
of said first and second retention holes is elongated and extends
in a transverse direction relative to a longitudinal length of the
interior plate.
5. The slide positioning device according to claim 1, wherein the
interior plate has two embedded holes formed on the inner side
surface, said propeller portion of said release rod having two
engagement flaps located between said two embedded holes such that
once said resilient element is mounted to said embedded holes said
resilient element engaging resiliently said two engagement flaps
for restricting the longitudinal movement of the release rod with
respect to the interior plate.
6. The slide positioning device according to claim 5, wherein the
resilient element is constituted by two V-shaped clips having
vertexes overlapping said two engagement flaps of said release rod
respectively to restrict the longitudinal movement of the release
rod.
7. The slide positioning device according to claim 1, wherein the
interior plate further a plurality of aligned rod guides fixed on
the outer side surface for guiding the release rod to move along
the longitudinal length thereof.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates generally to a fixing device,
and more particularly to a fixing device for a sliding mechanism
consisting of slidably connected exterior, intermediate and
interior plates, wherein once the interior plate is pulled outward
from the intermediate plate, the interior plate is retained stably
outside of the intermediate plate or the interior plate is easily
removed from the intermediate plate if desired, thereby
facilitating the user.
[0003] 2. The Prior Arts
[0004] In a personal computer (PC), a server is mounted slidably to
a computer casing via two slide plates, which cooperatively define
a slide channel therebetween. In case of repairing, the server can
be pulled outward from the casing and after the repairing the
server is pushed slidably back into the casing. A conventional
sliding mechanism used in a PC generally includes an exterior
plate, an interior plate and sometimes an intermediate plate
between the exterior and interior plates in order to increase a
total traveling length of the sliding mechanism. The exterior
plates are fixed securely to two opposite sides of the computer
casing while the interior plates are used for carrying the server
thereon.
[0005] For a conventional sliding mechanism consisting of an
exterior plate, an intermediate plate and an interior plate
connected slidably relative to one another, a fixing device is
provided between the intermediate plate and the exterior plate in
order to provide stability to the server, which is disposed
outwardly of the computer casing after successively pulling the
interior plate from the intermediate plate, the intermediate plate
from the exterior plate, such that the intermediate plate is
exposed and thus retained at the stable condition with respect to
the exterior plate. The conventional fixing device generally
includes two connection rods or a spring plate and hook-and-looped
fasteners and etc such that great manufacturing cost is resulted
owing to too many pieces. It is noted that in case of a great
impact applied on the conventional sliding mechanism at this time,
ruin of the sliding mechanism will be resulted since the plates
cannot withstand the great impact.
[0006] Taiwanese Patent Publication No. M350226 discloses a sliding
mechanism consisting of an exterior plate, an intermediate plate
slidably mounted to the exterior plate, an interior plate slidably
mounted to the intermediate plate, and a locking structure. The
locking structure includes a stepped channel formed through the
exterior plate and a slide block formed on the intermediate plate
for slidably engaging the stepped channel and an elongated pull rod
mounted on the interior plate. The elongated pull rod is formed
with an inclined side when the elongated pull rod is pulled in a
first direction away from the exterior plate, the inclined side
pushes the slide block to move in a second direction perpendicular
to the first direct, thereby disengaging the intermediate plate
from the exterior plate.
[0007] One drawback of the above sliding mechanisms resides in that
once the interior plate is pulled outward from the intermediate
plate and in case of an external impact, the hook-and-looped
fasteners or the locking structure are subjected to damage easily,
which, in turn, leads to ruin of the sliding mechanism.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a
slide positioning device for a sliding mechanism that includes an
exterior plate, an intermediate plate connected slidably to the
exterior plate and an interior plate connected slidably to the
intermediate plate. When the intermediate plate is pulled outwardly
from the intermediate plate, the former two do not easily damaged
or ruined owing to specific structure of the slide positioning
device of the present invention.
[0009] According to the present invention, the intermediate plate
has a stop block. The interior plate includes a position limiting
unit and an elongated release rod such that once the interior plate
is pulled outwardly fully from the intermediate plate, the position
limiting unit is capable of stably retaining the stop block,
thereby preventing relative movement between the interior and
intermediate plates. Under this condition, even if a great external
force is applied thereto, no damage is done on the slide
positioning device of the present invention. When pushing the
interior plate inward of the intermediate plate or removal between
the two plates, the release rod can be easily manipulated in such a
manner to disengage the position limiting unit relative to the stop
block.
[0010] A slide positioning device of the present invention is used
in a sliding mechanism including an exterior plate, an intermediate
plate connected slidably to the exterior plate and an interior
plate connected slidably to the intermediate plate, each plate
further defining inner and outer side surfaces. The slide
positioning device of the present invention is characterized by:
the intermediate plate having a stop block formed on the inner side
surface thereof; and the interior plate including a position
limiting unit, an elongated release rod that is mounted movably on
the outer side surface and that has a propeller portion distal from
the position limiting unit and a limit notch adjacent to the
position limiting unit for receiving the stop block, and a
resilient element engaging resiliently the propeller portion for
restricting a longitudinal movement of the release rod with respect
to the interior plate. The position limiting unit includes first
and second limiting stubs that are mounted movably on the outer
side surface and that have pointed free ends. The interior plate
further includes a biasing element mounted between for biasing the
first and second limiting stubs in such a manner that the pointed
free ends extend into the limit notch so as be in contact with two
opposite ends of the stop block, thereby preventing relative
movement between the interior plate and the intermediate plate.
[0011] In one embodiment of the present invention, the interior
plate is formed with a plurality of first retention holes and a
plurality of second retention holes. The first limiting stub is
mounted movably in two adjacent first retention holes via rivets
while the second limiting stub is mounted movably in two adjacent
second retention holes via rivets such that the pointed free ends
of the first and second limiting stubs simultaneously contact two
opposite ends of the limit notch.
[0012] For facilitating movement of the release rod relative to the
interior plate, each pointed free end of the first and second
limiting stubs is defined by two inclined sides, one of which is in
contact with a corresponding end of the notch so as to permit the
release rod to slide within the interior plate with ease.
[0013] In one embodiment of the present invention, the biasing
element is a leaf spring having two ends mounted into adjacent pair
of the first and second retention holes and a curved intermediate
portion between two ends for biasing against the first and second
limiting stubs such that the pointed free ends simultaneously
contact the two opposite ends of the limit notch.
[0014] In order to define the shortest traveling distance for the
release rod relative to the interior plate, each of the first and
second retention holes is elongated and extends in a transverse
direction relative to a longitudinal length of the interior
plate.
[0015] In one embodiment of the present invention, the interior
plate has two embedded holes formed on the inner side surface. The
propeller portion of the release rod has two engagement flaps
located between the two embedded holes such that once the resilient
element is mounted to the embedded holes, the resilient element
engages resiliently the two engagement flaps for restricting the
longitudinal movement of the release rod with respect to the
interior plate.
[0016] Preferably, the resilient element is constituted by two
V-shaped clips having vertexes overlapping the two engagement flaps
of the release rod respectively to restrict the longitudinal
movement of the release rod relative to the interior plate.
[0017] In one embodiment of the present invention, the interior
plate further has a plurality of aligned rod guides fixed on the
outer side surface for guiding an upper edge of the release rod to
move stably along the longitudinal length thereof and to prevent
untimely disengagement of the release rod from the interior
plate.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in
the art by reading the following detailed description of a
preferred embodiment thereof, with reference to the attached
drawings, in which:
[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a slide positioning device
of the present invention for use in a sliding mechanism;
[0020] FIG. 1A is an enlarged view of an encircled portion of FIG.
1;
[0021] FIG. 2 illustrates the slide positioning device of the
present invention for use in the sliding mechanism, which is shown
in exploded view;
[0022] FIG. 3 illustrates the slide positioning device of the
present invention for use in the sliding mechanism, which is shown
in assembled view;
[0023] FIG. 4 illustrates the slide positioning device of the
present invention for use in the sliding mechanism, where an
interior plate is shown in exploded view; and
[0024] FIG. 5 illustrates the slide positioning device of the
present invention for use in the sliding mechanism, where the
interior plate is pulled outward from the intermediate plate in a
locked condition;
[0025] FIG. 6 illustrates the slide positioning device of the
present invention for use in the sliding mechanism, in which a
release rod is pulled outward so as to release two limiting stubs
from a stop block of the intermediate plate; and
[0026] FIG. 7 illustrates the slide positioning device of the
present invention for use in the sliding mechanism, in which the
release rod is pushed inward relative to the intermediate plate so
as to release the two limiting stubs from the stop block of the
intermediate plate.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0027] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further
understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate
embodiments of the invention and, together with the description,
serve to explain the principles of the invention.
[0028] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 1A, wherein FIG. 1 is a perspective
view of a slide positioning device of the present invention for use
in a sliding mechanism; and FIG. 1A is an enlarged view of an
encircled portion of FIG. 1. The slide positioning device of the
present invention is used in an electronic device, such as for
mounting a server in PC. The sliding mechanism includes an exterior
plate 1, which is generally fixed to a side wall of the PC for
receiving the server, an intermediate plate 2 connected slidably to
the exterior plate 1 and an interior plate 3 connected slidably to
the intermediate plate 2 and which generally holds the server
thereon such that the server is disposed outwardly of the PC once
the interior plate 3 is pulled outward from the intermediate plate
2. Each plate is an elongated plate further has inner side surface
defining a slide channel between upper and lower longitudinal
peripheries to receive slidably another plate therein and an outer
side surface opposite to the inner side surface. The slide
positioning device of the present invention is characterized in the
following manner.
[0029] The intermediate plate 2 has a stop block 62 formed securely
via rivets on the inner side surface adjacent to its distal end
thereof. The stop block 62 is generally rectangle but the
configuration should not be limited only thereto (see FIG. 2).
[0030] The interior plate 3 includes a position limiting unit 6, a
slim elongated release rod 4 (see FIG. 4) that is mounted movably
on the outer side surface and that has a propeller portion 43
distal from the position limiting unit 6 and a limit notch 42
adjacent to the position limiting unit 6 for receiving the stop
block 62 once the interior plate 3 is slidably inserted in the
slide channel of the intermediate plate 2. Preferably, the
propeller portion 43 of the release rod 4 is punched in such a
manner to form two engagement flaps 41A, 41B while two opposite
ends 421, 422 of the limit notch 42 serve as guide sides. A
detailed operation of the release rod 4 will be given in the
following paragraphs.
[0031] The interior plate 3 has a plurality of aligned rod guides
32 which are fixed on the outer side surface and which are formed
with guide grooves for guiding the upper edge of the release rod 4
between the propeller portion 43 and the notch 42 so as to permit
stable movement of the release rod 4 along the longitudinal length
thereof and so as to prevent untimely disengagement of the release
rode 4 from the interior plate 3. The interior plate 3 further has
two embedded holes 31A, 31B formed on the inner side surface. The
engagement flaps 41A, 41B of the release rod 4 are located between
the two embedded holes 31A, 31B such that once a resilient element
is mounted to the embedded holes 31A, 31B, the resilient element
engages resiliently the two engagement flaps 41A, 41B for
restricting the longitudinal movement of the release rod 4 with
respect to the interior plate 3. In this embodiment, the resilient
element is preferably constituted by two V-shaped clips 5A, 5B
embedded into the embedded holes 31A, 31B in such a manner that the
vertexes of the V-shaped clips 5A, 5B overlap the two engagement
flaps 41A, 41B of the release rod 4 respectively to restrict the
longitudinal movement of the release rod relative to the interior
rod 3.
[0032] A position limiting unit 6 includes first and second
limiting stubs 6A, 6B. The interior plate 3 is further formed with
a plurality of first retention holes 33A and a plurality of second
retention holes 33B so that the first limiting stub 6A is mounted
movably in two adjacent first retention holes 33A via rivets 6A5
that extend through rivet holes 6A3 in the first limiting stub 6A.
The second limiting stub 6B is mounted movably in two adjacent
second retention holes 33B via rivets 6B5 that extend through rivet
holes 6B3 in the second limiting stub 6B such that after assembly
the pointed free ends (6A1, 6B1), (6A2, 6B2) of the first and
second limiting stubs 6A, 6B simultaneously contact two opposite
ends of the stop block 62. Preferably, each of the first and second
retention holes 33A, 33B is elongated and extends in a transverse
direction relative to a longitudinal length of the interior plate 3
so as to permit limited movement of the rivets along the transverse
direction during pivotal action of the limiting stubs 6A, 6B.
[0033] A biasing element 61 is straddled around a stud 34 of the
interior plate 3 for biasing the first and second limiting stubs
6A, 6B in such a manner that the pointed free ends (6A1, 6B1),
(6A2, 6B2) of the limiting stubs 6A, 6B extend into the limit notch
42 so as be in contact with two opposite ends of the stop block 62,
thereby preventing relative movement between the interior plate 3
and the intermediate plate 2 (see FIG. 5). In other words, when
desired, the server can be pulled outward of the computer casing
(pulling the interior plate 3 relative to the intermediate plate 2
till the pointed free ends contact the stop block).
[0034] In this embodiment, the biasing element 61 is generally a
C-shaped leaf spring having two ends mounted into adjacent pair of
the first and second retention holes 33A, 33B and a curved
intermediate portion between two ends and straddling on the stud 34
for biasing against the sides 6A4, 6B4 of the first and second
limiting stubs 6A, 6B such that the pointed free ends (6A1, 6B1),
(6A2, 6B2) simultaneously contact the two opposite ends of the
limit notch 42.
[0035] In case of replacing the server back into the computer
casing or disassembling the server from the casing, the position
limiting unit 6 can be manipulated in the following manner.
[0036] Firstly, the user can pull the propeller portion 43 outward
away from the interior plate 3 so as to slide the release rod 4
along the slide channel in the interior plate 3 in a first
direction results in abutment of the end 422 of the notch 42
against the pointed free end 6B2 of the limiting stub 6B, thereby
causing the pivotal action of the limiting stub 6B, which in turn,
lifts the curved intermediate portion of the spring 61 upward so as
to release the pointed free end (6A1, 6B1) of the limiting stub 6A
from the notch 42 (see FIG. 6). Hence, the pointed free ends (6A1,
6B1), (6A2, 6B2) of the first and second limiting stubs 6A, 6B
disengage from the limit notch 42, where the interior plate 3 can
be removed from the intermediate plate 2 and vice versa.
[0037] Secondly, the user can push the propeller portion 43 inward
against the interior plate 3 so as to slide the release rod 4 along
the slide channel in the interior plate 3 in a second direction
opposite to the first direction results in abutment of the end 421
of the notch 42 against the pointed free end 6A1 of the limiting
stub 6A, thereby causing the pivotal action of the limiting stub
6A, which in turn, lifts the curved intermediate portion of the
spring 61 upward so as to release the pointed free end of the
limiting stub 6B from the notch 42 (see FIG. 7). Hence, the pointed
free ends (6A1, 6B1), (6A2, 6B2) of the first and second limiting
stubs 6A, 6B disengage from the limit notch 42, where the interior
plate 3 can be removed from the intermediate plate 2 and vice
versa.
[0038] Although the present invention has been described with
reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it is apparent to
those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and
changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present
invention which is intended to be defined by the appended
claims.
* * * * *