Slide rail mechanism

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a slide rail, and more particularly, to a slide rail mechanism having a slide rail assembly additionally arranged with at least one slide rail.

2. Description of the Prior Art

U.S. Pat. No. 9,681,749 B2 (hereinafter referred to as Patent '749) discloses a slide rail assembly, which comprises a first rail, a second rail and a third rail. The first rail is fixed to a rack. The second rail is movably mounted between the first rail and the third rail. The third rail is configured to carry a carried object, so that the carried object can be retracted or pulled out relative to the first rail (or the rack) through the third rail. Patent '749 discloses a general configuration of a three-sectional slide rail assembly, which can mount only one carried object to the rack.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,313,914 B2 (hereinafter referred to as Patent '914) discloses a conventional slide assembly, which comprises an outer slide segment, an intermediate slide segment and an inner slide segment. The intermediate slide segment has two C-shaped structures connected to each other in a back-to-back orientation. Patent '914 discloses the specially-shaped intermediate slide segment, but the slide assembly disclosed by Patent '914 is still a three-sectional slide assembly, which can mount only one carried object to a rack.

However, for different market requirements, it is important to develop various slide rail products.

The present invention provides a slide rail mechanism having slide rail assemblies additionally arranged with at least one slide rail and configured to allow two carried objects to be applied to a rack.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a slide rail mechanism comprises a first slide rail assembly and a second slide rail assembly. The first slide rail assembly comprises a first rail, a second rail and a third rail. The second rail is movable relative to the first rail. The third rail is movable relative to the second rail. The second slide rail assembly is movable relative to the first slide rail assembly. The second slide rail assembly comprises an auxiliary rail member, a fourth rail and a fifth rail. The auxiliary rail member is movably mounted to the first rail. The fourth rail is connected to the auxiliary rail member. The fifth rail is movable relative to the fourth rail. The auxiliary rail member of the second slide rail assembly is configured to at least partially cover the first rail of the first slide rail assembly.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a slide rail mechanism comprises a first slide rail assembly and an auxiliary rail member. The first slide rail assembly comprises a first rail, a second rail and a third rail. The second rail is movable relative to the first rail. The third rail is movable relative to the second rail. The auxiliary rail member is movably mounted to the first rail. When the first slide rail assembly is in an extended state, the second rail is located at a first extended position relative to the first rail, and the third rail is located at a second extended position relative to the second rail. When the third rail is detached from the second rail at the second extended position along an open direction, the auxiliary rail member is able to be moved from a retracted position to a predetermined extended position along the open direction relative to the first rail.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a slide rail mechanism comprises a slide rail assembly and an auxiliary rail member. The slide rail assembly comprises two slide rails. The auxiliary rail member is movably mounted to a first one of the two slide rails. The first one of the two slide rails is configured to be mounted to a rack, a second one of the two slide rails is configured to carry a first carried object, and the auxiliary rail member is configured to carry a second carried object. When the second one of the two slide rails is detached from the first one of the two slide rails along an open direction, the auxiliary rail member is able to be moved from a retracted position to a predetermined extended position along the open direction relative to the first one of the two slide rails.

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.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a slide rail mechanism according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the slide rail mechanism according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along line A-A of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a first slide rail assembly of the slide rail mechanism being in an extended state and a second slide rail assembly of the slide rail mechanism being in a retracted state according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a third rail of the first slide rail assembly of the slide rail mechanism being detached relative to a first rail, and the second slide rail assembly of the slide rail mechanism being in the retracted state relative to the first rail according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the second slide rail assembly of the slide rail mechanism being in an extended state relative to the first rail according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the slide rail mechanism being mounted to a rack with both the first slide rail assembly and the second slide rail assembly of the slide rail mechanism being in the retracted state and configured to carry a first carried object and a second carried object respectively according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the slide rail mechanism being mounted to the rack with the first slide rail assembly being in the extended state and the second slide rail assembly being in the retracted state according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the slide rail mechanism being mounted to the rack with the first carried object being detached and the second slide rail assembly being in the retracted state according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the slide rail mechanism being mounted to the rack with the second slide rail assembly being in the extended state according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a slide rail mechanism according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the slide rail mechanism being mounted to a rack with a first slide rail assembly being configured to carry a first carried object and a slide rail being configured to carry a second carried object according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 , a slide rail mechanism 20 comprises a first slide rail assembly 22 and a second slide rail assembly 24 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The first slide rail assembly 22 comprises a first rail 26 , a second rail 28 , and a third rail 30 longitudinally movable relative to each other. Preferably, the second rail 28 is movably mounted between the first rail 26 and the third rail 30 .

The second slide rail assembly 24 is movable relative to the first slide rail assembly 22 . The second slide rail assembly 24 comprises an auxiliary rail member 32 (or an auxiliary slide rail), a fourth rail 34 and a fifth rail 36 . Preferably, the second slide rail assembly 24 further comprises a sixth rail 38 . The auxiliary rail member 32 is movably mounted on the first rail 26 of the first slide rail assembly 22 . The fourth rail 34 is connected to the auxiliary rail member 32 . In the present embodiment, the fourth rail 34 is fixedly connected to the auxiliary rail member 32 , but the present invention is not limited thereto. Specifically, the fourth rail 34 , the fifth rail 36 and the sixth rail 38 are longitudinally movable relative to each other. The auxiliary rail member 32 of the second slide rail assembly 24 at least partially covers the first rail 26 of the first slide rail assembly 22 . Moreover, in the present embodiment, the X-axis is a longitudinal direction (or a length direction or a moving direction of the slide rail), the Y-axis is a transverse direction (or a lateral direction of the slide rail), and the Z-axis is a vertical direction (or a height direction of the slide rail).

As shown in FIG. 3 , the first slide rail assembly 22 further comprises a first slide assisting device 40 movably mounted between the first rail 26 and the second rail 28 , and a second slide assisting device 42 movably mounted between the second rail 28 and the third rail 30 . For example, the first slide assisting device 40 comprises at least one first rolling ball B 1 configured to improve smoothness of relative movement between the first rail 26 and the second rail 28 ; the second slide assisting device 42 comprises at least one second rolling ball B 2 configured to improve smoothness of relative movement between the second rail 28 and the third rail 30 .

Preferably, the first rail 26 comprises a first wall 44 a , a second wall 44 b and a longitudinal wall 46 connected between the first wall 44 a and the second wall 44 b of the first rail 26 . A first passage 48 is defined by the first wall 44 a , the second wall 44 b and the longitudinal wall 46 of the first rail 26 and configured to accommodate the second rail 28 .

Preferably, the first slide rail assembly 22 further comprises a bracket 50 connected (such as fixedly connected) to one side of the longitudinal wall 46 of the first rail 26 opposite to the second rail 28 . For example, the bracket 50 is connected to a back side of the longitudinal wall 46 of the first rail 26 .

Preferably, the second rail 28 comprises a first wall 52 a , a second wall 52 b and a longitudinal wall 54 connected between the first wall 52 a and the second wall 52 b of the second rail 28 . A second passage 56 is defined by the first wall 52 a , the second wall 52 b and the longitudinal wall 54 of the second rail 28 and configured to accommodate the third rail 30 .

Preferably, the auxiliary rail member 32 comprises a first wall 58 a , a second wall 58 b and a longitudinal wall 60 connected between the first wall 58 a and the second wall 58 b of the auxiliary rail member 32 . An auxiliary passage 62 is defined by the first wall 58 a , the second wall 58 b and the longitudinal wall 60 of the auxiliary rail member 32 . The first wall 58 a and the second wall 58 b of the auxiliary rail member 32 are configured to hold the first wall 44 a and the second wall 44 b of the first rail 26 respectively, and the auxiliary passage 62 is configured to accommodate a portion of the first rail 26 of the first slide rail assembly 22 .

Preferably, the first wall 44 a and the second wall 44 b of the first rail 26 are extended along a first predetermined direction K 1 relative to the longitudinal wall 46 of the first rail 26 . The first wall 58 a and the second wall 58 b of the auxiliary rail member 32 are extended along a second predetermined direction K 2 relative to the longitudinal wall 60 of the auxiliary rail member 32 . The first predetermined direction K 1 is opposite to the second predetermined direction K 2 .

Preferably, the second slide rail assembly 24 further comprises a third slide assisting device 64 movably mounted between the fourth rail 34 and the fifth rail 36 , and a fourth slide assisting device 66 movably mounted between the fifth rail 36 and the sixth rail 38 . For example, the third slide assisting device 64 comprises at least one third rolling ball B 3 configured to improve smoothness of relative movement between the fourth rail 34 and the fifth rail 36 ; the fourth slide assisting device 66 comprises at least one fourth rolling ball B 4 configured to improve smoothness of relative movement between the fifth rail 36 and the sixth rail 38 .

Preferably, the fourth rail 34 comprises a first wall 68 a , a second wall 68 b and a longitudinal wall 70 connected between the first wall 68 a and the second wall 68 b of the fourth rail 34 . A third passage 72 is defined by the first wall 68 a , the second wall 68 b and the longitudinal wall 70 of the fourth rail 34 and configured to accommodate the fifth rail 36 .

Preferably, the longitudinal wall 60 of the auxiliary rail member 32 and the longitudinal wall 70 of the fourth rail 34 are connected to each other (such as fixedly connected to each other).

Preferably, the first wall 68 a and the second wall 68 b of the fourth rail 34 are extended along the first predetermined direction K 1 relative to the longitudinal wall 70 of the fourth rail 34 .

Preferably, the fifth rail 36 comprises a first wall 74 a , a second wall 74 b and a longitudinal wall 76 connected between the first wall 74 a and the second wall 74 b of the fifth rail 36 . A fourth passage 78 is defined by the first wall 74 a , the second wall 74 b and the longitudinal wall 76 of the fifth rail 36 and configured to accommodate the sixth rail 38 .

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 , the first slide rail assembly 22 and the second slide rail assembly 24 are both in a retracted state. In addition, each of the first rail 26 , the second rail 28 and the third rail 30 has a front part and a rear part. For example, the first rail 26 has a front part 26 a and a rear part 26 b ; the second rail 28 has a front part 28 a and a rear part 28 b ; and the third rail 30 has a front part 30 a and a rear part 30 b . On the other hand, each of the auxiliary rail member 32 , the fourth rail 34 , the fifth rail 36 and the sixth rail 38 has a front part and a rear part. For example, the auxiliary rail member 32 has a front part 32 a and a rear part 32 b ; the fourth rail 34 has a front part 34 a and a rear part 34 b ; the fifth rail 36 has a front part 36 a and a rear part 36 b ; and the sixth rail 38 has a front part 38 a and a rear part 38 b.

Furthermore, when the first slide rail assembly 22 is in the retracted state, the second rail 28 is retracted relative to the first rail 26 , and the third rail 30 is retracted relative to the second rail 28 . On the other hand, when the second slide rail assembly 24 is in the retracted state, the auxiliary rail member 32 and the fourth rail 34 are located at a retracted position R relative to the first rail 26 to be adjacent to a rear rail section of the first rail 26 , the fifth rail 36 is retracted relative to the fourth rail 34 , and the sixth rail 38 is retracted relative to the fifth rail 36 .

As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 , the first slide rail assembly 22 is in an extended state. Specifically, the second rail 28 is movable relative to the first rail 26 along an open direction D to a first extended position E 1 , and the third rail 30 is movable relative to the second rail 28 along the open direction D to a second extended position E 2 (as shown in FIG. 4 ). Furthermore, the third rail 30 can be moved and detached from the second rail 28 at the second extended position E 2 along the open direction D (as shown in FIG. 5 ).

As shown in FIG. 6 , when the third rail 30 is detached from the second rail 28 , the auxiliary rail member 32 and the fourth rail 34 can be moved relative to the first rail 26 from the retracted position R along the open direction D to a predetermined extended position X, the fifth rail 36 can be moved relative to the fourth rail 34 along the open direction D to a third extended position E 3 , and the sixth rail 38 can be moved relative to the fifth rail 36 along the open direction D to a fourth extended position E 4 . Preferably, the sixth rail 38 can be moved and detached from the fifth rail 36 at the fourth extended position E 4 along the open direction D (not shown in figures).

As shown in FIG. 7 , the first rail 26 is mounted to a rack 80 (or a post), such as mounted to a front part 80 a and a rear part 80 b of the rack 80 . In the present embodiment, the first rail 26 is mounted to the front part 80 a and the rear part 80 b of the rack 80 through the bracket 50 . The rack 80 has a plurality of mounting features 82 for mounting the bracket 50 . On the other hand, the third rail 30 is configured to carry a first carried object 84 , and the sixth rail 38 is configured to carry a second carried object 86 . For example, the third rail 30 comprises at least one first connecting feature 88 configured to mount the first carried object 84 , and the sixth rail 38 comprises at least one second connecting feature 90 configured to mount the second carried object 86 . Each of the first carried object 84 and the second carried object 86 can be a chassis, an electronic device or a drawer, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

Furthermore, when the first slide rail assembly 22 and the second slide rail assembly 24 are both in the retracted state, the second rail 28 is retracted relative to the first rail 26 , and the third rail 30 is retracted relative to the second rail 28 , such that the third rail 30 (and the first carried object 84 ) is located inside the rack 80 . For example, the third rail 30 (and the first carried object 84 ) is not extended beyond a front end f of the front part 80 a of the rack 80 ; and the sixth rail 38 (and the second carried object 86 ) is also located inside the rack 80 , and the second carried object 86 is located behind the first carried object 84 .

As shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 , the first slide rail assembly 22 is in the extended state. Specifically, the second rail 28 is configured to be moved relative to the first rail 26 along the open direction D to the first extended position E 1 , and the third rail 30 is configured to be moved relative to the second rail 28 along the open direction D to the second extended position E 2 (as shown in FIG. 8 ). In such state, the third rail 30 (and the first carried object 84 ) is located outside the rack 80 , such that it is convenient for a user to perform maintenance on the first carried object 84 . The front part 30 a of the third rail 30 is extended beyond the front end f of the front part 80 a of the rack 80 . Moreover, the third rail 30 and the first carried object 84 can be moved and detached from the second rail 28 at the second extended position E 2 along the open direction D (as shown in FIG. 9 ).

As shown in FIG. 10 , after the third rail 30 and the first carried object 84 are detached from the second rail 28 , the auxiliary rail member 32 and the fourth rail 34 can be moved relative to the first rail 26 from the retracted position R along the open direction D to the predetermined extended position X, the fifth rail 36 can be moved relative to the fourth rail 34 along the open direction D to the third extended position E 3 , and the sixth rail 38 can be moved relative to the fifth rail 36 along the open direction D to the fourth extended position E 4 . In such state, the sixth rail 38 (and the second carried object 86 ) is located outside the rack 80 , such that it is convenient for the user to perform maintenance on the second carried object 86 . The front part 38 a of the sixth rail 38 is extended beyond the front end f of the front part 80 a of the rack 80 . Preferably, the sixth rail 38 can be moved and detached from the fifth rail 36 at the fourth extended position E 4 along the open direction D (not shown in figures).

FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 show a slide rail mechanism 200 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, different from the first embodiment comprising the second slide rail assembly 24 composed of a plurality of slide rails, the second embodiment replaces the second slide rail assembly 24 by a slide rail (such as an auxiliary rail member 204 ).

Specifically, the slide rail mechanism 200 comprises a first slide rail assembly 202 (also referred to as a slide rail assembly) and an auxiliary rail member 204 . The first slide rail assembly 202 comprises a first rail 206 , a second rail 208 , and a third rail 210 longitudinally movable relative to each other. The auxiliary rail member 204 is movably mounted on the first rail 206 . A first wall 205 a and a second wall 205 b of the auxiliary rail member 204 are configured to respectively hold a first wall 207 a and a second wall 207 b of the first rail 206 . (structural configuration between the auxiliary rail member 204 and the first rail 206 can refer to the first embodiment, for simplification, no further illustration is provided) The first rail 206 is configured to be mounted to a rack 212 , such as to a front part 212 a and a rear part 212 b of the rack 212 . The third rail 210 is configured to carry a first carried object 214 . The auxiliary rail member 204 is configured to carry a second carried object 216 . For example, the third rail 210 comprises at least one first connecting feature 218 configured to mount the first carried object 214 , and the auxiliary rail member 204 comprises at least one second connecting feature 220 configured to mount the second carried object 216 .

When the first carried object 214 is moved relative to the second rail 208 or the first rail 206 through the third rail 210 along the open direction D to be detached, the second carried object 216 can be moved relative to the first rail 206 through the auxiliary rail member 204 from a retracted position R′ along the open direction D to a predetermined extended position. As such, it is convenient for the user to perform maintenance on the second carried object 216 . Such configuration has been disclosed in the first embodiment, for simplification, no further illustration is provided.

Therefore, the slide rail mechanism ( 20 , 200 ) according to the embodiments of the present invention has the following technical features:

1. The sliding rail mechanism ( 20 , 200 ) comprises the first slide rail assembly ( 22 , 202 ) and the second slide rail assembly 24 (or the auxiliary rail member 204 ).

2. When being mounted to the rack ( 80 , 212 ), the first slide rail assembly ( 22 , 202 ) is configured to carry the first carried object ( 84 , 214 ), and the first carried object ( 84 , 214 ) can be moved close to the front part of the rack, such that it is convenient for the user to perform maintenance on the first carried object ( 84 , 214 ); or the first carried object ( 84 , 214 ) can be detached to allow the second carried object ( 86 , 216 ) carried by the second slide rail assembly 24 (or the auxiliary rail member 204 ) to move close to the front part of the rack, such that it is convenient for the user to perform maintenance on the second carried object ( 86 , 216 ).

3. Structure or connection configuration (as shown in FIG. 3 ) between the first slide rail assembly ( 22 , 202 ) and the second slide rail assembly 24 (or the auxiliary rail member 204 ) is more innovative than a conventional three-sectional slide rail assembly, and is useful to carry at least two carried objects.

4. The first wall 44 a and the second wall 44 b of the first rail 26 are extended along the first predetermined direction K 1 relative to the longitudinal wall 46 of the first rail 26 . The first wall 58 a and the second wall 58 b of the auxiliary rail member 32 are extended along the second predetermined direction K 2 relative to the longitudinal wall 60 of the auxiliary rail member 32 . The first predetermined direction K 1 is opposite to the second predetermined direction K 2 .

5. The first wall 68 a and the second wall 68 b of the fourth rail 34 are extended along the first predetermined direction K 1 relative to the longitudinal wall 70 of the fourth rail 34 .

6. The longitudinal wall 60 of the auxiliary rail member 32 and the longitudinal wall 70 of the fourth rail 34 are connected to each other (such as fixedly connected to each other).

7. Since the second slide rail assembly 24 is attached to the first slide rail assembly 22 , the slide rail mechanism 20 can be mounted with two carried objects, such as the first carried object 84 and the second carried object 86 , in a space with a limited height, such that the first carried object 84 and the second carried object 86 can be respectively opened relative to the rack 80 along the open direction to facilitate maintenance operation of the user.

Those skilled in the art will readily observe that 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.