U.S. patent application number 16/416573 was filed with the patent office on 2020-06-18 for bracket device.
The applicant listed for this patent is KING SLIDE WORKS CO., LTD. KING SLIDE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to KEN-CHING CHEN, CHUN-YI HO, CHUN-CHIANG WANG, SHUN-HO YANG.
Application Number | 20200187646 16/416573 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 67137628 |
Filed Date | 2020-06-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20200187646 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CHEN; KEN-CHING ; et
al. |
June 18, 2020 |
BRACKET DEVICE
Abstract
A bracket device includes a bracket and a connecting member. The
bracket includes a longitudinal wall with an end portion. The
connecting member can arrive at either of a first position and a
second position with respect to the longitudinal wall and includes
a connecting feature for connecting with a fixing member. The
connecting member is away from the end portion of the longitudinal
wall of the bracket when at the first position, and is close to the
end portion of the longitudinal wall of the bracket when at the
second position.
Inventors: |
CHEN; KEN-CHING; (KAOHSIUNG
CITY, TW) ; YANG; SHUN-HO; (KAOHSIUNG CITY, TW)
; HO; CHUN-YI; (KAOHSIUNG CITY, TW) ; WANG;
CHUN-CHIANG; (KAOHSIUNG CITY, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
KING SLIDE WORKS CO., LTD.
KING SLIDE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. |
Kaohsiung City
Kaohsiung City |
|
TW
TW |
|
|
Family ID: |
67137628 |
Appl. No.: |
16/416573 |
Filed: |
May 20, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 88/407 20170101;
A47B 57/485 20130101; A47B 57/44 20130101; H05K 7/1489 20130101;
A47B 57/36 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47B 88/407 20060101
A47B088/407; A47B 57/36 20060101 A47B057/36; A47B 57/44 20060101
A47B057/44; A47B 57/48 20060101 A47B057/48 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 14, 2018 |
TW |
107145649 |
Claims
1. A bracket device, comprising: a bracket including a longitudinal
wall; a mounting member adjacent to an end portion of the
longitudinal wall; and a connecting member movably mounted on the
longitudinal wall and configured to arrive at either of a first
position and a second position; wherein the connecting member is
away from the end portion of the longitudinal wall of the bracket
when at the first position; wherein the connecting member is close
to the end portion of the longitudinal wall of the bracket when at
the second position.
2. The bracket device of claim 1, wherein the bracket includes an
end wall bent with respect to the longitudinal wall, and the
mounting member is disposed on the end wall.
3. The bracket device of claim 2, wherein the mounting member is
configured to be mounted on a post.
4. The bracket device of claim 3, wherein the connecting member
includes a connecting feature, and the connecting feature is
configured to connect threadedly with a portion of a fixing member
when the portion of the fixing member passes through the post from
a first side of the post to a second side of the post, thereby
keeping the connecting member at the second position and pressed
against the second side of the post.
5. The bracket device of claim 4, wherein the connecting member is
longitudinally displaceable from the first position to the second
position while the fixing member is being threadedly connected to
the connecting feature.
6. The bracket device of claim 1, further comprising an elastic
member for applying an elastic force to the connecting member.
7. The bracket device of claim 1, wherein the connecting member and
the bracket include a first position-limiting feature and a second
position-limiting feature respectively, and the two
position-limiting features are configured to work with each
other.
8. The bracket device of claim 1, further comprising a blocking
member pivotally connected to the longitudinal wall of the bracket,
wherein when the blocking member is at a blocking position, a
blocking portion of the blocking member is adjacent to the mounting
member.
9. A bracket device, comprising: a bracket including a longitudinal
wall with an end portion; and a connecting member configured to
arrive at either of a first position and a second position with
respect to the longitudinal wall, wherein the connecting member
includes a connecting feature for connecting with a fixing member;
wherein the connecting member is away from the end portion of the
longitudinal wall of the bracket when at the first position;
wherein the connecting member is close to the end portion of the
longitudinal wall of the bracket when at the second position.
10. The bracket device of claim 9, wherein the bracket includes an
end wall bent with respect to the end portion of the longitudinal
wall, and the bracket device further comprises a mounting member
disposed on the end wall.
11. The bracket device of claim 9, wherein the connecting member is
movably mounted on the longitudinal wall and is longitudinally
displaceable with respect to the bracket.
12. The bracket device of claim 9, further comprising an elastic
member for applying an elastic force to the connecting member and
thereby keeping the connecting member at the first position.
13. The bracket device of claim 9, wherein the connecting member
and the bracket include a first position-limiting feature and a
second position-limiting feature respectively, and the two
position-limiting features are configured to work with each
other.
14. The bracket device of claim 10, further comprising a blocking
member pivotally connected to the longitudinal wall of the bracket,
wherein when the blocking member is at a blocking position, a
blocking portion of the blocking member is adjacent to the mounting
member.
15. The bracket device of claim 9, wherein the connecting feature
is a screw thread, and the fixing member is a screw connectable to
the connecting member through the screw thread.
16. A bracket device adapted to mount a slide rail on a post, the
bracket device comprising: a bracket including a longitudinal wall
and an end wall, wherein the longitudinal wall is adapted to be
connected to the slide rail, and the end wall is substantially
perpendicularly connected to the longitudinal wall; a mounting
member disposed on the end wall; and a connecting member configured
to arrive at either of a first position and a second position with
respect to the longitudinal wall, wherein the connecting member
includes a connecting feature; wherein the mounting member is
configured to be mounted to a first mounting hole of the post;
wherein the connecting member is away from the post when at the
first position; wherein the connecting member is close to the post
when at the second position; wherein the connecting feature of the
connecting member is configured to connect threadedly with a
portion of a screw when the portion of the screw passes through a
second mounting hole of the post.
17. The bracket device of claim 16, wherein the connecting member
is longitudinally displaceable from the first position to the
second position while the screw is being threadedly connected to
the connecting feature of the connecting member.
18. The bracket device of claim 16, further comprising an elastic
member for applying an elastic force to the connecting member.
19. The bracket device of claim 16, wherein the connecting member
and the bracket include a first position-limiting feature and a
second position-limiting feature respectively, and the two
position-limiting features are configured to work with each
other.
20. The bracket device of claim 16, further comprising a blocking
member pivotally connected to the longitudinal wall of the bracket,
wherein when the mounting member is mounted to the first mounting
hole of the post and the blocking member is pivoted to a blocking
position, the blocking member is locked to the post.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a bracket structure and
more particularly to a bracket device for use with a slide
rail.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A bracket is typically used in a rack (cabinet) system to
mount a slide rail on a post of a rack, and the bracket itself is
mounted on the post through a pin, a screw, or the like. U.S. Pat.
No. 7,357,362 B2, for example, discloses a bracket positioning
structure. According to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 of this US patent, a
bracket (1) is mounted to a mounting hole (71) of a post (7)
through a pin (2) or bolt (31) that works with a connecting portion
(3) of the bracket.
[0003] It can be known from the above that, in the prior art, the
connecting portion (3) of the bracket is stationary. As market
demands vary, it is worthwhile to develop a different bracket
product.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention relates to a bracket device whose
connecting mechanism is not stationary.
[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, a bracket
device includes a bracket and a connecting member. The bracket
includes a longitudinal wall with an end portion. The connecting
member can arrive at either of a first position and a second
position. The connecting member is away from the end portion of the
longitudinal wall of the bracket when at the first position, and is
close to the end portion of the longitudinal wall of the bracket
when at the second position.
[0006] Preferably, the bracket includes an end wall bent with
respect to the longitudinal wall, and the bracket device further
includes a mounting member disposed on the end wall.
[0007] Preferably, the connecting member is movably mounted on the
longitudinal wall and is longitudinally displaceable with respect
to the bracket.
[0008] Preferably, the bracket device further includes an elastic
member for applying an elastic force to the connecting member and
thereby keeping the connecting member at the first position.
[0009] Preferably, the connecting member and the bracket include a
first position-limiting feature and a second position-limiting
feature respectively, and the two position-limiting features are
configured to work with each other.
[0010] Preferably, the mounting member is configured to be mounted
on a post.
[0011] Preferably, the connecting member includes a connecting
feature, and a fixing member can have a portion thereof extend from
a first side of the post to a second side of the post and connect
threadedly to the connecting feature, thereby keeping the
connecting member at the second position and pressed against the
second side of the post.
[0012] Preferably, the connecting member is longitudinally
displaceable from the first position to the second position while
the fixing member is being threadedly connected to the connecting
feature.
[0013] Preferably, the bracket device is adapted to mount a slide
rail on the post. The mounting member is configured to be mounted
to a first mounting hole of the post. The connecting member is away
from the post when at the first position, and is close to the post
when at the second position. The connecting feature of the
connecting member is configured to connect threadedly with the
portion of the fixing member when the portion of the fixing member
passes through a second mounting hole of the post.
[0014] Preferably, the bracket device further includes a blocking
member pivotally connected to the longitudinal wall of the bracket.
When the mounting member is mounted to the first mounting hole of
the post and the blocking member is pivoted to a blocking position,
the blocking member is locked to the post.
[0015] Preferably, when the blocking member is at the blocking
position, the blocking portion of the blocking member is adjacent
to the mounting member.
[0016] Preferably, the connecting feature is a screw thread, and
the fixing member is a screw connectable to the connecting member
through the screw thread.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing that the bracket device
according to an embodiment of the present invention can be used to
mount a slide rail assembly on a rack;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the slide rail assembly
according to the embodiment of the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the bracket device
and a slide rail of the slide rail assembly according to the
embodiment of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 4 shows that the bracket device according to the
embodiment of the present invention can be used to mount the slide
rail on a rack of a first type, and that a fixing member has yet to
be connected to a connecting member of the bracket device;
[0021] FIG. 5 shows that the bracket device according to the
embodiment of the present invention can be used to mount the slide
rail on the rack of first type, with the fixing member partially
connected to the connecting member of the bracket device;
[0022] FIG. 6 shows that the bracket device according to the
embodiment of the present invention can be used to mount the slide
rail on the rack of first type, with the fixing member completely
connected to the connecting member of the bracket device; and
[0023] FIG. 7 shows that the bracket device according to the
embodiment of the present invention can be used to mount the slide
rail on a rack of a second type, and that a fixing member is
completely connected to the connecting member of the bracket
device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0024] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, according to an embodiment
of the present invention, a slide rail assembly 20 can be mounted
on a rack 25 via a bracket device 22 and another bracket device 24.
The bracket device 22 is detailed below to demonstrate the features
of this embodiment of the invention.
[0025] As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the bracket device 22
includes a bracket 26, a connecting member 28, and preferably also
a mounting member 30. Here, two mounting members 30 are shown by
way of example only; the present invention imposes no limitation on
the number of the mounting member(s) 30.
[0026] The bracket 26 includes a longitudinal wall 32 to be
connected (e.g., fixedly connected) to a slide rail 20a of the
slide rail assembly 20. The longitudinal wall 32 has an end portion
32a. Preferably, the bracket 26 further includes an end wall 34
bent with respect to the end portion 32a of the longitudinal wall
32. Preferably, the end wall 34 is substantially perpendicularly
connected to the longitudinal wall 32.
[0027] The mounting member 30 is adjacent to the end portion 32a of
the longitudinal wall 32 and is shown herein as arranged on the end
wall 34 by way of example. Preferably, a base 38 is disposed on one
side (e.g., the front side) of the end wall 34, and the mounting
member 30 is connected to the base 38 and has a portion extending
from the base 38 to the opposite side (e.g., the rear side) of the
end wall 34. Preferably, the end wall 34 has a through hole 36 in
communication with the aforesaid two sides of the end wall 34, and
the mounting member 30 extends from the base 38 on one side of the
end wall 34 through the through hole 36 to the opposite side of the
end wall 34.
[0028] The connecting member 28 can be moved with respect to the
longitudinal wall 32 of the bracket 26. Here, the connecting member
28 is movably mounted on the longitudinal wall 32 by way of
example. The connecting member 28 includes a connecting feature 39.
Preferably, the connecting member 28 is a threaded base, and the
connecting feature 39 is a screw thread.
[0029] Preferably, the bracket device 22 further includes an
elastic element 40 for applying an elastic force to the connecting
member 28. Preferably, the elastic member 40 has two ends connected
respectively to a first connecting portion 41a of the connecting
member 28 and a second connecting portion 41b of the longitudinal
wall 32. The first connecting portion 41a and the second connecting
portion 41b may be projecting hooks but are not necessarily so in
practice. Preferably, the connecting member 28 and the longitudinal
wall 32 include respectively a first position-limiting feature 42
and a second position-limiting feature 44, which are configured to
work with each other. Here, one of the first and second
position-limiting features is a longitudinal hole (or longitudinal
groove), and the other is a projection. For example, the connecting
member 28 has the longitudinal hole, and the projection extends
through a portion of the longitudinal hole, is connected to the
longitudinal wall 32, and lies between two end walls of the
longitudinal hole.
[0030] Preferably, the bracket device 22 further includes a
blocking member 46 pivotally connected to the longitudinal wall 32
of the bracket 26, and an elastic arm 47 for applying an elastic
force to the blocking member 46 and thereby keeping the blocking
member 46 at a blocking position. For example, the blocking member
46 is pivotally connected to a lug 50 on the longitudinal wall 32
through a shaft 48.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 4, the slide rail 20a is mounted on a
first post 52 of the rack via the bracket device 22. More
specifically, the first post 52 includes a plurality of mounting
holes that are vertically arranged. A first mounting hole 52a and a
second mounting hole 52b are referred to in the following
description by way of example.
[0032] The mounting member 30 of the bracket device 22 is
configured to be mounted to the first mounting hole 52a of the
first post 52. For example, the mounting member 30 of the bracket
device 22 is passed through the first mounting hole 52a, with the
end wall 34 of the bracket 26 pressed against the first post 52.
Preferably, the base 38 has a through bore 54, which corresponds in
position to the through hole 36 in the end wall 34 and the second
mounting hole 52b in the first post 52. Preferably, the wall of the
through bore 54 has a corresponding connecting feature 54a, such as
a screw thread. A fixing member 56 (e.g., a screw) can have a
portion thereof extend through the second mounting hole 52b of the
first post 52 and connect threadedly to the connecting feature 39
of the connecting member 28. The fixing member 56 preferably has a
head 56a and a body 56b, wherein the head 56a is lager than the
body 56b in size and the body 56b is a threaded rod. FIG. 4 shows
the connecting member 28 at a first position P1 with respect to the
longitudinal wall 32 of the bracket 26, and the connecting member
28 is preferably kept at the first position P1 by the elastic force
applied by the elastic member 40 to the connecting member 28. The
connecting member 28 is away from the end portion 32a of the
longitudinal wall 32 of the bracket 26 or the first post 52 when at
the first position P1.
[0033] As shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 5, and FIG. 6, the head 56a of the
fixing member 56 is larger in size than the through bore 54 of the
base 38, the through hole 36 of the end wall 34, or the second
mounting hole 52b of the first post 52. Here, the head 56a of the
fixing member 56 is larger in size than the through bore 54 of the
base 38 (see FIG. 4) by way of example only. The body 56b of the
fixing member 56 can be passed through the through bore 54 of the
base 38, the through hole 36 of the end wall 34, and the second
mounting hole 52b of the first post 52 and be threadedly connected
to the connecting feature 39 of the connecting member 28. While the
fixing member 56 is being threadedly connected to the connecting
feature 39, the connecting member 28 is longitudinally displaced
from the first position P1 in a direction D with respect to the
bracket 26, and the longitudinal displacement continues until the
connecting member 28 reaches a second position P2.
[0034] As shown in FIG. 6, the connecting member 28 at the second
position P2 is close to the end portion 32a of the longitudinal
wall 32 of the bracket 26 or the first post 52. Hence, it can be
known from the above that the connecting member 28 can be held at
the second position P2 and kept pressed against the second side of
the first post 52 by passing a portion of the body 56b of the
fixing member 56 from the first side Si (such as but not limited to
the front side) of the first post 52 through the second mounting
hole 52b to the second side S2 (such as but not limited to the rear
side) of the first post 52 and by connecting this portion
threadedly to the connecting feature 39 of the connecting member
28. Preferably, when the mounting member 30 is mounted in the first
mounting hole 52a of the first post 52 and the blocking member 46
is at the blocking position due to the elastic force of the elastic
arm 47, a blocking portion 46a of the blocking member 46 is
adjacent to the mounting member 30 and locked to the first post 52
such that the bracket 26 is mounted on the first post 52 in a
reliable manner. It is worth mentioning that the elastic member 40
stores a certain amount of elastic force when the connecting member
28 is at the second position P2. Therefore, if the fixing member 56
is subsequently removed (to meet assembly needs, for example), the
connecting member 28 will be brought back to the first position P1
by the elastic force released from the elastic member 40.
[0035] According to the above, the connecting member 28 can be
moved with respect to the longitudinal wall 32 of the bracket 26,
and this allows the bracket device 22 to adapt to posts of
different thicknesses. In FIG. 6, for example, the bracket device
22 is adapted to the first post 52, which has a first thickness T1.
When the mounting member 30 is mounted on the first post 52, the
end wall 34 of the bracket 26 is on the first side S1 of the first
post 52, and the connecting member 28 can then be pressed against
the second side S2 of the first post 52 to mount the bracket device
22 securely on the first post 52.
[0036] Thanks to the movability of the connecting member 28 with
respect to the longitudinal wall 32 of the bracket 26, the bracket
device 22 can also be adapted to a second post 58 of a second
thickness T2 as shown in FIG. 7, wherein the second thickness T2 is
greater than the first thickness T1 by way of example. When the
mounting member 30 is mounted on the second post 58, the end wall
34 of the bracket 26 is on the first side S1 of the second post 58,
and the connecting member 28 can then be pressed against the second
side S2 of the second post 58 to mount the bracket device 22
securely on the second post 58.
[0037] To sum up, the bracket device disclosed herein has
preferably the following features: [0038] 1. The connecting member
28 of the bracket device is movable with respect to the bracket 26.
This configuration allows the bracket device 22 to adapt to posts
of different thicknesses. [0039] 2. When the bracket device 22 is
mounted on the post 52 or 58 through the mounting member 30, the
end wall 34 of the bracket 26 is on the first side S1 of the post
52 or 58. The connecting member 28 can then be pressed against the
second side S2 of the post 52 or 58 to mount the bracket device 22
securely on the post.
[0040] While the present invention has been disclosed through the
preferred embodiments described above, it should be understood that
those embodiments are not intended to be restrictive of the scope
of the invention. The scope of patent protection sought by the
applicant is defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *