U.S. patent application number 17/102710 was filed with the patent office on 2022-02-24 for slide rail assembly.
The applicant listed for this patent is King Slide Technology Co., Ltd., King Slide Works Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Ken-Ching Chen, Shih-Lung Huang, Yi-Syuan Jhao, Chun-Chiang Wang.
Application Number | 20220053933 17/102710 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005253899 |
Filed Date | 2022-02-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220053933 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chen; Ken-Ching ; et
al. |
February 24, 2022 |
Slide Rail Assembly
Abstract
A slide rail assembly includes a first rail, a second rail, a
working member and a contact feature. The second rail and the first
rail are movable relative to each other. The working member is
mounted to a connecting part arranged on one of the first rail and
the second rail. The contact feature is arranged on the other one
of the first rail and the second rail. At least one space is
defined between the working member and the connecting part. When
the slide rail assembly is in a retracted state, the working member
is configured to block the contact feature, in order to prevent the
second rail from being moved from a predetermined position along
one direction.
Inventors: |
Chen; Ken-Ching; (Kaohsiung
City, TW) ; Huang; Shih-Lung; (Kaohsiung City,
TW) ; Jhao; Yi-Syuan; (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 82151
Kaohsiung City 82151 |
|
TW
TW |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005253899 |
Appl. No.: |
17/102710 |
Filed: |
November 24, 2020 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 88/473 20170101;
A47B 88/483 20170101; A47B 88/49 20170101; A47B 88/57 20170101;
A47B 88/477 20170101 |
International
Class: |
A47B 88/49 20060101
A47B088/49; A47B 88/477 20060101 A47B088/477; A47B 88/57 20060101
A47B088/57 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 19, 2020 |
TW |
109128520 |
Claims
1. A slide rail assembly, comprising: a first rail; a second rail
longitudinally movable relative to the first rail; a working member
mounted to a connecting part transversely arranged on one of the
first rail and the second rail; and a contact feature arranged on
the other one of the first rail and the second rail; wherein the
connecting part has a first side and a second side opposite to the
first side, and a first space is defined between the working member
and the first side of the connecting part, and a second space is
defined between the working member and the second side of the
connecting part; wherein during a process of the second rail being
moved relative to the first rail from a first predetermined
position to a second predetermined position along a first
direction, the contact feature is configured to contact the working
member, such that the working member is flexibly deformed through
the first space, in order to allow the contact feature to cross the
working member along the first direction; wherein during a process
of the second rail being moved relative to the first rail from the
second predetermined position to the first predetermined position
along a second direction opposite to the first direction, the
contact feature is configured to contact the working member, such
that the working member is flexibly deformed through the second
space, in order to allow the contact feature to cross the working
member along the second direction; wherein the working member has
different flexible deformation levels through the first space and
the second space respectively.
2. The slide rail assembly of claim 1, wherein the working member
is made of a flexible material.
3. The slide rail assembly of claim 2, wherein a first longitudinal
distance is defined by a maximum longitudinal distance between the
first side of the connecting part and a first edge wall of the
working member in the first space, and a second longitudinal
distance is defined by a maximum longitudinal distance between the
second side of the connecting part and a second edge wall of the
working member in the second space; the first longitudinal distance
is substantially shorter than the second longitudinal distance.
4. The slide rail assembly of claim 2, wherein the working member
comprises a first part, a second part and a middle part connected
between the first part and the second part, and a first clamping
feature is arranged between the first part and the middle part and
configured to clamp the first side and the second side of the
connecting part.
5. The slide rail assembly of claim 4, wherein the middle part has
a supporting section configured to abut against one of the first
side and the second side of the connecting part.
6. The slide rail assembly of claim 1, wherein the working member
has a foolproof mechanism configured to prevent the working member
from being mounted to the connecting part incorrectly.
7. The slide rail assembly of claim 2, wherein each of the first
rail and the second rail comprises a first wall, a second wall and
a longitudinal wall connected between the first wall and the second
wall, and the working member is arranged with a guiding structure;
wherein during the process of the second rail being moved relative
to the first rail from the second predetermined position to the
first predetermined position along the second direction, the
guiding structure of the working member is configured to guide the
longitudinal wall of the second rail, such that the longitudinal
wall of the second rail is configured to be supported by the
working member; wherein the guiding structure is an inclined
surface or an arc surface.
8. A slide rail assembly, comprising: a first rail; a second rail
movable relative to the first rail; a working member detachably
mounted to a connecting part of the first rail, wherein the
connecting part is transversely protruded from a longitudinal wall
of the first rail, and the connecting part has a first side facing
toward a rear end part of the first rail and a second side facing
toward a front end part of the first rail; and a contact feature
arranged on the second rail; wherein a first space is defined
between the working member and the first side of the connecting
part, and a second space is defined between the working member and
the second side of the connecting part; wherein when the second
rail is moved relative to the first rail along a first direction
from a retracted state, the working member is configured to block
the contact feature in order to prevent the second rail from being
moved from a first predetermined position along the first
direction; wherein the working member has a first flexible
deformation level through the first space smaller than a second
flexible deformation level through the second space.
9. The slide rail assembly of claim 8, wherein the working member
has a first guiding section; wherein during a process of the second
rail being moved relative to the first rail from the first
predetermined position to a second predetermined position along the
first direction, the contact feature is configured to contact the
first guiding section of the working member, such that the working
member is flexibly deformed through the first space, in order to
allow the contact feature to cross the working member.
10. The slide rail assembly of claim 9, the working member further
has a second guiding section; wherein during a process of the
second rail being moved relative to the first rail from the second
predetermined position to the first predetermined position along a
second direction opposite to the first direction, the contact
feature is configured to contact the second guiding section of the
working member, such that the working member is flexibly deformed
through the second space, in order to allow the contact feature to
cross the working member.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a slide rail assembly, and
more particularly, to a slide rail assembly capable of stably
staying in a retracted state at a retracted position.
2. Description of the Prior Art
[0002] China patent number CN100515272C discloses a buffering and
positioning device for slide rail, which is applied to a fixed rail
and a movable rail movable relative to the fixed rail. A vertical
sheet body is arranged at a rear end of the fixed rail for being
sleeved with a buffer member. The buffer member is configured to
provide buffer for the movement of the movable rail when the
movable rail is retracted relative to the fixed rail. When the
movable rail is retracted, the movable rail can be further
positioned and engaged with the buffer member. The buffer member is
arranged with a straight sleeve groove, such that cross-sectional.
shapes of two ends of the buffer member have identical widths. A
connecting part is arranged on the buffer member. The connecting
part is located at a center part of one inner side surface of the
sleeve groove and formed into a protrusion. Two sides of the sheet
body, are flat and straight. A through hole is arranged at the
center of the sheet body corresponding to the protruded connecting
part of the buffer member, such that the structures of protrusion
and hole can be fitted with each other.
[0003] However, the sleeve groove of the buffer member has a
straight contour. When the sleeve groove of the buffer member is
sleeved on the contour-matched sheet body of the fixed rail, the
sleeve groove of the buffer member and the sheet body of the fixed
rail are tightly matched and fitted, so that the buffer member does
not have additional space for flexible deformation. As such, during
a process of the movable rail being moved relative to the fixed
rail from the retracted position to an open position (or from the
open position to the retracted position), a clamping part (a
clamping point shown in FIG. 3 of the aforementioned patent) at a
rear end of the movable rail is in frictional contact with the
buffer member, so as to cause the clamping part (the clamping
point) of the buffer member to wear down easily, such that the
positioning function between the movable rail and the buffer member
is failed.
[0004] Therefore, it is important to develop a slide rail assembly
to meet specific market requirements.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention relates to a slide rail assembly
capable of being held at a retracted position in a retracted
state.
[0006] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a slide
rail assembly comprises a first rail, a second rail, a working
member and a contact feature. The second rail is longitudinally
movable relative to the first rail. The working member is mounted
to a connecting part arranged on one of the first rail and the
second rail. The contact feature is arranged or the other one of
the first rail and the second rail. The connecting part has a first
side, and a first space is defined between the working member and
the first side of the connecting part. During a process of the
second rail being moved relative to the first rail from a first
predetermined position to a second predetermined position along a
first direction, the contact feature is configured to contact the
working member, such that the working member is flexibly deformed
through the first space, in order to allow the contact feature to
cross the working member along the first direction.
[0007] Preferably, the working member is made of a flexible
material. The connecting part further has a second side opposite to
the first side, and a second space is defined between the working
member and the second side of the connecting part. During a process
of the second rail being moved relative to the first rail from the
second predetermined position to the first predetermined position
along a second direction opposite to the first direction, the
contact feature is configured to contact the working member, such
that the working member is flexibly deformed through the second
space, in order to allow the contact feature to cross the working
member along the second direction.
[0008] Preferably, a first longitudinal distance is defined between
the first side of the connecting part and a first edge wall of the
working member in the first space, and a second longitudinal
distance is defined between the second side of the connecting part
and a second edge wall of the working member in the second space.
The first longitudinal distance is substantially shorter than the
second longitudinal distance.
[0009] Preferably, the working member comprises a first part, a
second part and a middle part connected between the first part and
the second part. A first clamping feature is arranged between the
first part and the middle part and configured to clamp the first
side and the second side of the connecting part.
[0010] Preferably, the middle part has a supporting section
configured to abut against one of the first side and the second
side of the connecting part.
[0011] Preferably, the working member has a foolproof mechanism
configured to prevent the working member from being mounted to the
connecting part incorrectly.
[0012] Preferably, each of the first rail and the second rail
comprises a first wall, a second wall and a longitudinal wall
connected between the first wall and the second wall. The working
member is arranged with a guiding structure. During the process of
the second rail being moved relative to the first rail from the
second predetermined position to the first predetermined position
along the second direction, the guiding structure of the working
member is configured to guide the longitudinal wall of the second
rail, such that the longitudinal wall of the second rail is
configured to be supported by the working member.
[0013] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a
slide rail assembly comprises a first rail, a second rail, a
working member and a contact feature. The second rail is movable
relative to the first rail. The working member is detachably
mounted to a connecting part of the first rail. The contact feature
is arranged on the second rail. A first space is defined between
the working member and the connecting part. When the second rail is
moved relative to the first rail along a first direction from a
retracted state, the working member is configured to block the
contact feature in order to prevent the second rail from being
moved from a first predetermined position along the first
direction.
[0014] Preferably, the working member has a first guiding section.
During a process of the second rail being moved relative to the
first rail from the first predetermined position to a second
predetermined position along the first direction, the contact
feature is configured to contact the first guiding section of the
working member, such that the working member is flexibly deformed
through the first space, in order to allow the contact feature to
cross the working member.
[0015] Preferably, a second space is defined between the working
member and the connecting part. The working member further has a
second guiding section. During a process of the second rail being
moved relative to the first rail from the second predetermined
position to the first predetermined position along a second
direction opposite to the first direction, the contact feature is
configured to contact the second guiding section of the working
member, such that the working member is flexibly deformed through
the second space, in order to allow the contact feature to cross
the working member.
[0016] These and other objectives of the present invention will no
doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after
reading the following detailed description of the preferred
embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a slide rail assembly according
to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a working member and the slide
rail assembly according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the working member from a
viewing angle according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0020] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the working member from another
viewing angle according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0021] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the working member being
correctly mounted to a first rail of the slide rail assembly
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the working member being
correctly mounted to a first rail of the slide rail assembly
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 6A is an enlarged view of an area A of FIG. 6;
[0024] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the slide rail assembly
comprising the first rail, a second rail, a third rail and the
working member according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0025] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the slide rail assembly being in
a retracted state according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0026] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the second rail of the slide
rail assembly being moved relative to the first rail along a first
direction according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0027] FIG. 10 is a partial view of the slide rail assembly when
the second rail is further moved relative to the first rail along
the first direction according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0028] FIG. 11 is a partial view of the slide rail assembly when
the second rail is further moved relative to the first rail along
the first direction according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0029] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the slide rail assembly being
in an extended state according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0030] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the second rail of the slide
rail assembly being moved relative to the first rail along a second
direction according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0031] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the second rail of the slide
rail assembly being further moved relative to the first rail along
the second direction according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0032] FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the working member being
incorrectly mounted to the first rail of the slide rail assembly
according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0033] FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the working member being
incorrectly mounted to the first rail of the slide rail assembly to
cause the second rail unable to be smoothly retracted relative to
the first rail along the second direction according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0034] As shown in FIG. 1 a slide rail assembly 20 comprises a
first rail 22, a second rail 24, a working member 26 and at least
one contact feature 28 according to an embodiment or the present
invention. Preferably, the slide rail assembly 20 further comprises
a third rail 30 movably mounted between the first rail 22 and the
second rail 24, so as to form a so-called three-sectional slide
rail assembly 20. The first rail 22, the second rail 24 and the
third rail 30 are longitudinally movable relative to each other.
Moreover, in the present embodiment, an X-axis direction is defined
as a longitudinal direction (or a longitudinal direction or moving
direction of the rail) , a Y-axis direction is defined as a
transverse direction, and a Z-axis direction is defined as vertical
direction (or a height direction of the rail).
[0035] The first rail 22 comprises a first wall 32a, a second wall
32b and a longitudinal wall 34 connected between the first wall 32a
and the second wall 32b of the first rail 22. A passage is defined
by the first wall 32a, the second wall 32b and the longitudinal
wall 34 of the first rail 22 for accommodating the third rail 30.
The first rail 22 has a first end part and a second end part away
from the first end part. The first end part can be a front end part
f1, and the second end part can be a rear end part r1, but the
present invention is not limited thereto. Similarly, another
passage is defined by a plurality of walls of the third rail 30 for
accommodating the second rail 24. The second rail 24 comprises a
first wall 54a, a second wall 54b and a longitudinal wall 56
connected between the first wall 54a and the second wall 54b of the
second rail 24. The second rail 24 has a first end part and a
second end part away from the first end part. The first end part of
the second rail 24 can be a front end part f2, and the second end
part of the second rail 24 can be a rear end part r2, but the
present invention is not limited thereto.
[0036] The working member 26 is mounted to a connecting part 36
arranged on one of the first rail 22 and the second rail 24. In the
present embodiment, the connecting part 36 is arranged on the first
rail 22, and is located adjacent to the rear end part r1 of the
first rail 22. Preferably, the connecting part 36 is a protrusion
substantially transversely protruded from the longitudinal wall 34
of the first rail 22, but the present invention is not limited
thereto. The working member 26 is arranged on the connecting part
36. The at least one contact feature 28 is arranged on the other
one of the first rail 22 and the second rail 24. In the present
embodiment, the at least one contact feature 28 is arranged
adjacent to the rear end part r2 or the second rail 24. In
addition, in the present embodiment, two contact features 28 are
respectively arranged on the first wall 54a and the second wall 54b
of the second rail 24.
[0037] Preferably, the working member 26 is detachably mounted to
the connecting part 36.
[0038] Preferably, the working member 26 is made of a flexible
material. For example, the working member 26 can be made of a
plastic material, but the present invention is not limited
thereto.
[0039] Preferably, the working member 26 has a mounting part 38
configured to be mounted to the connecting part 36, and the
mounting part 38 and the connecting part 36 have corresponding
contours substantially matching each other. In the present
embodiment, the mounting part 38 is formed with an opening
penetrating through a first side S1 and a second side S2 of a main
body of the working member 26 (please refer to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4),
and the connecting part 36 is a protrusion, but the invention is
not limited thereto. The working member 26 is configured to be
sleeved on the connecting part 36 through the mounting part 38.
[0040] The connecting part 36 has a first side 36a and a second
side 36b opposite to the first side 36a, such as a rear side and a
front side, but the present invention is not limited thereto. A
first space G1 is defined between the working member 26 and the
first side 36a of the connecting part 36 (please refer to FIG. 6).
On the other hand, a second space G2 is defined between the working
member 26 and the second side 36b of the connecting part 36.
Preferably, a first longitudinal distance L1 is defined between the
first side 36a of the connecting part 36 and a first edge wall viii
of the working member 26 in the first space G1 (please refer to
FIG. 6A), and a second longitudinal distance 12 is defined between
the second side 36b of the connecting part 36 and a second edge
wall W2 of the working member 26 in the second space G2 (please
refer to FIG. 6A) . The first longitudinal distance L1 is
substantially smaller than the second longitudinal distance L2.
Therefore, the working member 26 has different deformation levels
at the two sides of the connecting part 36. For example, the
deformation level (or deformation degree) of the working member 26
adjacent to the second space G2 is greater than the deformation
level (or deformation degree) of the working member 26 adjacent to
the first space G1.
[0041] Preferably, the working member 26 comprises a first part K1,
a second part K2 and a middle part K3 connected between the first
part K1 and the second part K2 (please refer to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6)
, and the first part K1 and the second part K2 have substantially
identical configuration. A first clamping feature is arranged
between the first part K1 and the middle part K3. For example, the
first clamping feature includes a first auxiliary section 40a and a
second auxiliary section 40b configured to clamp the first side 36a
and the second side 36b of the connecting part 36. Similarly, a
second clamping feature as arranged between the second part K2 and
the middle part K3. For example, the second clamping feature
includes a third auxiliary section 40c and a fourth auxiliary
section 40d configured to clamp the first side 36a and the second
side 36b of the connecting part 36.
[0042] Preferably, the middle part K3 of the working member 26 has
a supporting section 42 (please refer to FIG. 6) , such as a
protrusion section, configured to abut against one of the first
side 36a and the second side 36b of the connecting part 36. In the
present embodiment, the supporting, section 42 is configured to
abut against the second side 36b of the connecting part 36, such
that the working member 26 can be tightly pressed to the connecting
part 36. Preferably, the connecting part 36 has a through hole 43,
and the supporting section 42 of the working member 26 is engaged
with an edge wall of the through hole 43, so as to improve
reliability of the working member 26 being mounted to the
connecting part 36.
[0043] Preferably, a rear half body and a front half body of the
working member 26 are respectively provided with a first guiding
section 44 (such as an inclined surface or an arc surface shown in
FIG. 5 and FIG. 6) and a second guiding section 46 (such as an
inclined surface or an arc surface shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6). In
the present embodiment, both the first part K1 and the second part
K2 of the working member 26 have the first guiding section 44 and
the second guiding section 46, but the present invention is not
limited thereto.
[0044] Preferably, each of the first guiding section 44 and the
second guiding section 46 has an inclined surface or an arc
surface, and the first, guiding section 44 is slightly steeper than
the second guiding section 46.
[0045] Preferably, a front half part of the second side S2 of the
working member 26 is arranged with a guiding structure 48 (such as
an inclined surface or an arc surface shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5),
and the guiding structure 48 is provided with a lower part 48a, a
higher part 48b, and a guiding part 48c connected between the lower
part 46a and the higher part 48b. A first transverse height H1 (or
a first lateral height) is defined between the lower part 48a and
the first side S1 of the working member 26, and a second transverse
height H2 (or a second lateral height) is defined between the
higher part 48b and the first side S1 of the working member 26.
[0046] Preferably, a transverse distance between the longitudinal
wall 56 of the second rail 24 and the longitudinal wall 34 of the
first rail 22 is substantially greater than the first transverse
height H1 (please also refer to FIG. 1), and the second transverse
height H2 is greater than the transverse distance between the
longitudinal wall 56 of the second rail 24 and the longitudinal
wall 34 of the first rail 22. Moreover, a transverse height between
a rear half part of the second side S2 and the first side S1 of the
working member 26 is substantially equal to the second transverse
height K2.
[0047] As shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, a slide assisting device is
arranged between each two adjacent rails of the slide rail assembly
20. The slide assisting device is arranged with a plurality of
balls. In the present embodiment, a first slide assisting device 50
is movably arranged between the first rail 22 and the third rail
30, and configured to improve smoothness of relative movement
between the first rail 22 and the third rail 30. Similarly, a
second slide assisting device 52 is movably arranged between the
third rail 30 and the second rail 24 and configured to improve
smoothness of relative movement between the third rail 30 and the
second rail 24.
[0048] Preferably, the two contact features 28 are configured to
respectively interact with the first part K1 and the second part K2
of the working member 26. The two contact features 28 have
substantially identical configuration. For example, each contact
feature 28 has a front contact part 28a and a rear contact part 28b
(as shown in FIG. 8). Preferably, each of the front contact part
28a and the rear contact part 28b has an inclined surface or an arc
surface. When the slide rail assembly 20 is in a retracted state,
the second rail 24 (and the third rail 30) is retracted relative to
the first rail 22.
[0049] As shown in FIG. 9, when the second rail 24 (and the third
rail 30) is moved relative to the first rail 22 along a first
direction D1 in an unexpected manner (such as being moved by
gravity due to inclination), the first guiding section 44 of the
working member 26 is configured to block the contact feature 28 in
order to prevent the second rail 24 from being moved from a first
predetermined position P1 (such as a retracted position) along the
first direction D1.
[0050] As shown in FIG. 9 process of the second rail 24 being moved
relative to the first rail 22 from the first predetermined position
P1 along the first direction D1, the front contact part 28a of the
contact feature 28 is configured to contact the first guiding
section 44 of the working member 26 (as shown in FIG. 9). Once a
force applied by a user to the second rail 24 in the first
direction D1 is large enough, the front contact Part 28a of the
contact feature 28 and the first guiding section 44 of the working
member 26 contact each other, such that the working member 26 is
flexibly deformed through the first space G1 in other words, the
working member 26 generates a flexible deformation force F (as
shown in FIG. 10) and allows the contact feature 28 to cross the
working member 26 along the first direction D1 (as shown in FIG.
11), such that the second rail 24 can be moved relative to the
first rail 22 along the first direction D1 to a second
predetermined position P2 (as shown in FIG. 12). In the meantime,
the slide rail assembly 20 is in an extended state.
[0051] As shown in FIG. 12 to FIG. 14, during a process of the
second rail 24 being moved relative to the first rail 22 from the
second predetermined position P2 along a second direction D2
opposite to the first direction D1, the rear contact part 28b of
the contact feature 28 is configured to contact the second guiding
section 46 of the working member 26 (as shown in FIG. 13) for
buffering, so as to reduce collision noise in the process of the
second rail 24 being retracted relative to the first rail 22. Once
a force applied by the user to the second rail 24 in the second.
direction D2 is large enough, the rear contact part 28b of the
contact feature 28 and the second guiding section 46 of the working
member 26 contact each other, such that the working member 26 is
flexibly deformed through the second space G2 and/or the first
space G1 (as shown in FIG. 14). In other words, the working member
26 generates another flexible deformation force F' and allow the
contact feature 28 to cross the working member 26 along the second
direction D2, such that the second rail 24 can be moved relative to
the first rail 22 along the second direction D2 to the first
predetermined position P1 (as shown in FIG. 9 or FIG. 8).
[0052] Moreover, as shown in FIG. 1, during the process of the
second rail 24 being moved relative to the first rail 22 from the
second predetermined position P2 to the first predetermined
position P1 along the second direction D2, the guiding structure 48
of the working member 26 is configured to guide the longitudinal
wall 56 of the rear end part r2 of the second rail 24, so that the
longitudinal wall 56 of the second rail 24 can be supported by the
second side S2 of the working member 26 when the second rail 24
returns to the first predetermined position P1 (as shown in FIG.
9).
[0053] As shown in FIG. 15, the working member 26 is further
provided with a foolproof mechanism to prevent the working member
26 from being incorrectly mounted to the connecting part 36. For
example, different from the correct mounting state of FIG. 5 (or
FIG. 1), when the user mounts the working member 26 to the
connecting part 36 in a front-rear reverse manner shown in FIG. 15,
the guiding structure 48 becomes to be located at the rear half
body of the working member 26. In such arrangement, during the
process of the second rail 24 being moved relative to the first
rail 22 from the second predetermined position P2 to the first
predetermined position P1 along the second direction D2, the rear
end part r2 of the second rail 24 will directly hit the working
member 26 due to the front half body of the working member 26
having the second transverse height H2, such that the second rail
24 is blocked by the working member 26 and is difficult to (or
unable to) return to the first predetermined position P1.
Therefore, the user can be aware that the working member 26 is
incorrectly mounted to the connecting part 36.
[0054] As shown in FIG. 4, the first side S1 of the main body of
the working member 26 is provided with a step feature. The step
feature can be a protrusion part 60 transversely protruded relative
to a surface 62 of the first side S1. The protrusion part 60 is
configured to increase a transverse height of a predetermined part
of the first side S1, such that a third transverse height H3 (or a
third lateral height) is defined between the predetermined part of
the first side S1 of the working member 26 and the second side 32,
and the third transverse height H3 is greater than the second
transverse height H2. If the user mounts the working member 26 to
the connecting part 36 by reversing to the first side S1 and the
second side S2, during the process of the second rail 24 being
moved relative to the first rail 22 from the second predetermined
position P2 to the first predetermined position P1 along the second
direction D2, the predetermined part with the third transverse
height H3 becomes to be arranged at the front half body of the
working member 26, such the rear end part r2 of the second rail 24
will directly hit the predetermined part of the working member 26.
Therefore, the second rail 24 is blocked by the working member 26
and is difficult to (or unable to) return to the first
predetermined position P1. Therefore, the user can be aware that
the working member 26 is incorrectly mounted to the connecting part
36.
[0055] Therefore, the slide rail assembly 20 according to the
embodiments of the present invention is characterized in that:
[0056] 1. The first space G1 is defined between the working member
26 and the connecting part 36. During the process of the second
rail 24 being moved relative to the first rail 22 from the first
predetermined position P1 to the second predetermined position P2
along the first direction D1, the contact feature 28 is configured
to contact the working member 26, such that the working member 26
is flexibly deformed through the first space G1, in order to allow
the contact feature 28 to cross the working member 26 along the
first direction D1.
[0057] 2. When the slide rail assembly 20 is in the retracted state
(the second rail 24 is retracted relative to the first rail 22),
the working member 26 is configured to block the contact feature 28
in order to prevent the second rail 24 from being moved from the
first predetermined position P1 along the first direction D1. Or,
during the process of the second rail 24 being moved relative to
the first rail 22 from the second predetermined position P2 along
the second direction D2, the rear contact part 28b of the contact
feature 28 is configured to contact the second guiding section 46
of the working member 26 (as shown in FIG. 13) for buffering, so as
to reduce collision noise in the process of the second rail 24
being retracted relative to the first rail 22.
[0058] 3. The working member 26 has a supporting section 42
configured to abut against the connecting part 36, such that the
working member 26 can be tightly pressed to the connecting part 36.
Preferably, the supporting section 42 of the working member 26 is
engaged with the edge wall of the through hole 43 of the connecting
part 36.
[0059] 4. The first longitudinal distance of the first space G1 is
substantially smaller than the second longitudinal distance of the
second space G2. Therefore, when the working member 26 is correctly
mounted to the connecting part 36 (as shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 13),
the contact feature 28 is configured to contact the rear half body
of the working member 26 during the process of the second rail 24
being moved relative to the first rail 22 from the first
predetermined position P1 to the second predetermined position P2
along the first direction D1. Since the rear half body of the
working member 26 has a smaller flexible deformation level through
the first space G1 (as shown in FIG. 9), the second rail 24 cannot
be easily (or freely) pulled out by the user from the first
predetermined position P1 along the first direction D1. On the
other hand, during the process of the second rail 24 being moved
relative to the first rail 22 from the second predetermined
position P2 to the first predetermined position P1 along the second
direction D2, The contact feature 28 is configured to contact the
front half body of the working member 26. Since the front half body
of the working member 26 has a greater flexible deformation level
through the second space G2 (as shown in FIG. 13), the second rail
24 can be easily retracted to the first predetermined position P1
along the second direction D2.
[0060] 5. The working member 26 has a foolproof mechanism to
prevent the working member 26 from being incorrectly mounted to the
connecting part 36.
[0061] 6. During the process of the second rail 24 being moved
relative to the first rail 22 from the second predetermined
position P2 to the first predetermined position P1 along the second
direction D2, the guiding structure 48 of the working member 26 is
configured to guide the longitudinal wall 56 of the rear end part
r2 of the second rail 24, such that the longitudinal wall 56 of the
second rail 24 can be supported by the second side S2 of the
working member 26 when the second rail 24 returns to the first
predetermined position P1.
[0062] Those skilled in the art will readily observe chat numerous
modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made
while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the
above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes
and bounds of the appended claims.
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