CN111425522B

CN111425522B - Slide rail assembly and slide rail external member thereof

Info

Publication number: CN111425522B
Application number: CN201910023577.7A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 陈庚金; 杨顺和; 张维成; 王俊强
Original assignee: King Slide Works Co Ltd; King Slide Technology Co Ltd
Current assignee: King Slide Works Co Ltd; King Slide Technology Co Ltd
Priority date: 2019-01-10
Filing date: 2019-01-10
Publication date: 2021-09-21
Anticipated expiration: 2039-01-10
Also published as: CN111425522A

Abstract

The invention relates to a slide rail assembly and a slide rail kit thereof. The second rail can be displaced relative to the first rail. The first locking mechanism and the second locking mechanism are arranged at two different parts of the second rail and are respectively used for locking the first rail to enable the second rail to be at two preset extending positions. The first locking mechanism and the second locking mechanism can be operated to unlock the first rail, so that the second rail can be folded relative to the first rail.

Description

Slide rail assembly and slide rail external member thereof

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a slide rail, and more particularly, to a slide rail assembly with two-stage locking.

Background

Generally, the slide assembly includes a first rail and a second rail capable of moving relative to the first rail. When the second rail moves to a predetermined position relative to the first rail in one direction, the second rail cannot move relative to the first rail in the one direction and can only stay at the predetermined position by a blocking structure between the second rail and the first rail. With the advancement of technology, in addition to a blocking mechanism for positioning the second rail at a predetermined position relative to the first rail, an operating member can be used to release the blocking mechanism, so that the second rail can be continuously displaced in one direction relative to the first rail. In related art, for example, U.S. patent No. US6,412,891B1 discloses a slide rail assembly including an outer rail, an inner rail, a blocking member and a locking member. The locking member is pivoted on the inner rail, and when the inner rail is at a position relative to the outer rail, the inner rail cannot be displaced relative to the outer rail due to the mutual blocking between the locking member and the blocking member.

However, with the market demands, how to develop a different slide rail product, so that the slide rail assembly can have at least two sections of locking mechanisms, becomes an issue to be discussed.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention aims to provide a slide rail assembly which has two sections of locking and can release the two sections of locking by one section of operation.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a slide rail assembly includes a first rail, a second rail, a first locking mechanism, a second locking mechanism, and an operating member. The first rail comprises a blocking part, wherein the blocking part has a width; the second rail is longitudinally displaceable relative to the first rail; the first locking mechanism is arranged on the second rail and comprises a first member, a second member, a first elastic piece and a second elastic piece, wherein the first elastic piece is used for providing elastic force to the first member; the second locking mechanism is arranged on the second rail; the operating part is operatively connected with the first locking mechanism and the second locking mechanism; when the second rail moves from a retracted position to a predetermined stroke along a first direction relative to the first rail, the second member of the first locking mechanism contacts with the blocking part of the first rail, and responds to the second rail moving to a first predetermined position relative to the first rail along the first direction, so that when the second rail exceeds the front end of the first rail by a first distance, the second member is in the second position relative to the second rail, the second elastic piece accumulates an elastic force, and the first space between the second member and the first member is converted into a locking space for locking the blocking part of the first rail; when the second rail moves relative to the first rail from the first preset position to a second preset position along the first direction continuously, the blocking part of the first rail is locked by the second locking mechanism; the operating member can be operated to drive the first locking mechanism and the second locking mechanism from a locking state to an unlocking state, so that the second rail can be closed in a second direction relative to the first rail.

Preferably, the first member and the second member are rotatably mounted on the second rail by a first shaft and a second shaft, respectively.

Preferably, one of the second member and the second rail includes a slot, and the second member is capable of being located at one of the first position and the second position by passing the second shaft through a portion of the slot.

Preferably, the second elastic member is a spring.

Preferably, the first elastic member is a spring.

Preferably, the first elastic member and the second elastic member are arranged in substantially the same direction.

Preferably, the second elastic member is disposed in a longitudinal direction.

Preferably, the second rail includes a first limit feature and a second limit feature, and the first member and the second member respectively include a first structure and a second structure capable of being matched with the first limit feature and the second limit feature.

Preferably, the second rail further includes a third limiting feature, the first member and the second member respectively include a third structure and a fourth structure capable of matching with the third limiting feature, the first shaft is located between the third structure and the first structure, and the second shaft is located between the fourth structure and the second structure.

Preferably, the first member includes a first guide feature by which the first member can pass from a first side of the stop portion to a second side of the stop portion in the first direction.

Preferably, when the second rail is located at the first predetermined position, the first member and the second member are respectively located at two sides of the blocking portion and are in the locked state.

Preferably, the first member and the second member are operatively switched from the locked state to the unlocked state by the operating member, such that the second rail is displaceable relative to the first rail from the first predetermined position toward the second predetermined position along the first direction.

Preferably, the second locking mechanism includes a third member pivotally connected to the second rail.

Preferably, the slide assembly further comprises a base, and the base comprises an elastic portion for providing elastic force to the third member.

Preferably, the third member includes a guide structure through which the third member can pass from the first side of the blocking portion to the second side of the blocking portion in the first direction.

Preferably, when the second rail is at the second predetermined position, the third member is located on the second side of the blocking portion and is in the locking state.

Preferably, the operating member is operable to switch the third member, the second member and the first member from the locked state to the unlocked state, so that the second rail can be folded from the second predetermined position to the second direction relative to the first rail.

Preferably, the slide rail assembly further comprises a third rail, and the first rail is movably installed between the third rail and the second rail.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a slide rail assembly includes a slide rail, a first locking mechanism, a second locking mechanism and an operating member. The first locking mechanism and the second locking mechanism are respectively arranged at two different positions of the slide rail, wherein the first locking mechanism comprises a first member, a second member, a first elastic piece and a second elastic piece, the first elastic piece is used for providing elastic force to the first member, the second member is rotatably arranged on the slide rail through a shaft, a long hole is arranged on one of the second member and the slide rail, the shaft penetrates through one part of the long hole, so that the second member can be positioned at one of a first position and a second position, and the second member can return the elastic force of the second elastic piece to be kept at the first position; the operating part is used for operating the first locking mechanism and the second locking mechanism; when the second member is at the first position, a first space is defined between the second member and the first member; wherein, when the second member is in the second position, the first space is converted into a locked space larger than the first space; the second elastic element is disposed in a direction substantially the same as the length direction of the slide rail.

Drawings

For further explanation of the above objects, structural features and effects of the present invention, the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 is a schematic view of a carrier mounted to a frame via a pair of rail assemblies according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the slide rail assembly according to the embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the region a of fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a schematic view of a slide rail assembly according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the region a of fig. 4.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a second rail and a second member according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a schematic view illustrating a slide rail assembly in a retracted state according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a schematic view illustrating the second rail of the slide rail assembly according to the embodiment of the invention being displaced in a first direction relative to the first rail.

Fig. 9 is a schematic view illustrating that the second rail of the slide rail assembly of the embodiment of the invention is continuously displaced toward the first direction relative to the first rail.

Fig. 10 is a schematic view illustrating that the second rail of the slide rail assembly according to the embodiment of the invention is further displaced in the first direction relative to the first rail.

Fig. 11 is a schematic view illustrating that the second rail of the slide rail assembly according to the embodiment of the invention is moved to a first predetermined position relative to the first rail in the first direction, and the first locking mechanism locks the stopper of the first rail.

Fig. 12 shows that the slide rail assembly of the embodiment of the invention can be applied with a force to the operating member to unlock the stop portion of the first rail by the first locking mechanism, and the second rail can be moved in the first direction.

FIG. 13 is a schematic view of the slide assembly of the embodiment of the invention being able to stop applying force to the operating element and the second rail being able to move in the first direction.

Fig. 14 is a schematic view illustrating that the second rail of the slide rail assembly of the embodiment of the invention is continuously displaced toward the first direction relative to the first rail.

Fig. 15 is a schematic view illustrating the second rail of the slide rail assembly according to the embodiment of the invention being further displaced in the first direction relative to the first rail.

Fig. 16 is a schematic view illustrating that the second rail of the slide rail assembly according to the embodiment of the invention is moved to a second predetermined position relative to the first rail in the first direction, and the second locking mechanism locks the stop portion of the first rail.

Fig. 17 is a schematic view illustrating that the slide rail assembly according to the embodiment of the invention can convert the related components of the second locking mechanism and the first locking mechanism from the locking state to the unlocking state through the operating component, so that the second rail can be folded in a second direction relative to the first rail.

Detailed Description

As shown in fig. 1, a carrier 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention can be mounted to a plurality of columns of a frame 24, such as a pair of first columns 24a and a pair of second columns 24b, via a pair of slide assemblies 22. Each slide rail assembly 22 includes a first rail 26, a second rail 28, and preferably a third rail 30. Wherein the first rail 26 is movably mounted between the third rail 30 and the second rail 28. The third rail 30 can be mounted on the first column 24a and the second column 24b via a first bracket 32a and a second bracket 32 b. On the other hand, the second rail 28 can be used to carry the carrier 20, and the carrier 20 can be pulled out of the rack 24 through the second rail 28 or pushed into the rack 24 from the outside of the rack 24.

As shown in fig. 2 to 4, the first bracket 32a and the second bracket 32b are respectively disposed at two portions (e.g., the front portion and the rear portion) of the third rail 30 of the slide rail assembly 22, and the third rail 30 defines a first channel 34.

The first rail 26 is movably mounted to the first channel 34 of the third rail 30. The first rail 26 includes a first wall 26a, a second wall 26b and a side wall 26c connected between the first wall 26a and the second wall 26 b. The first wall 26a, the second wall 26b and the sidewall 26c define a second channel 36. Further, the first rail 26 includes a front end 38, a rear end 40, and a stop 42 (shown in fig. 2). Wherein the stop 42 is located between the front end 38 and the rear end 40 and within the second channel 36, preferably the stop 42 is located adjacent the front end 38 of the first rail 26. The blocking portion 42 may be a protrusion integrated with the sidewall 26c of the first rail 26; alternatively, a fitting 44 may be connected to the first rail 26 by riveting, welding or screwing, and the fitting 44 includes the blocking portion 42 protruding relative to the side wall 26c of the first rail 26, which is not limited in implementation.

The second rail 28 is movably mounted to the second channel 36 of the first rail 26. The second rail 28 includes a first wall 28a, a second wall 28b and a side wall 28c connected between the first wall 28a and the second wall 28 b.

The slide assembly 22 further includes a first locking mechanism 46, a second locking mechanism 48, and an operating member 50.

The first locking mechanism 46 and the second locking mechanism 48 are arranged at two different locations of the second rail 28, e.g., the first locking mechanism 46 is closer to the front end of the second rail 28 than the second locking mechanism 48; on the other hand, the second locking mechanism 48 is closer to the rear end of the second rail 28 than the first locking mechanism 46, but is not limited in implementation. Further, the first locking mechanism 46 and the second locking mechanism 48 are located at a distance from each other on the side wall 28c of the second rail 28. The second rail 28 (also referred to as a slide rail), the first locking mechanism 46, the second locking mechanism 48 and the operating member 50 can form a slide rail assembly.

The first locking mechanism 46 includes a first member 52, a second member 54, a first resilient member 86 and a second resilient member 88. The first member 52 and the second member 54 are each rotatably mounted to the second rail 28. Specifically, the first member 52 and the second member 54 are pivotally connected to the side wall 28c of the second rail 28 via a first shaft 56 and a second shaft 58 (also referred to as shafts), respectively. The first resilient member 86 is configured to provide a resilient force to the first member 52, and the second resilient member 88 is configured to provide a resilient force to the second member 54. Preferably, the first elastic element 86 and the second elastic element 88 are two independent springs (e.g., tension springs). Preferably, the first elastic element 86 and the second elastic element 88 are disposed in a direction substantially the same as the length direction of the second rail 28, for example, both are disposed longitudinally.

Preferably, the second rail 28 includes a first limit feature 90 and a second limit feature 92, and the first member 52 and the second member 54 include a first structure 94 and a second structure 96, respectively, that mate with the first limit feature 90 and the second limit feature 92. In this embodiment, the first limit feature 90 is a first opening, and the first structure 94 is a first protrusion extending into the first opening such that the first protrusion is located between two inner walls of the first opening; and the second limit feature 92 is a second opening, and the second structure 96 is a second protrusion extending into the second opening such that the second protrusion is located between two inner walls of the second opening.

Preferably, the second rail 28 further includes a first connecting portion 97a and a second connecting portion 97b located on the side wall 28 c. Here, the first connection portion 97a and the second connection portion 97b are both convex hooks, but the implementation is not limited thereto. Wherein the first elastic element 86 is installed between the first connection portion 97a and the first structure 94; the second elastic member 88 is installed between the second connection portion 97b and the second structure 96. Preferably, the second rail 28 further includes a third limit feature 98, and the first member 52 and the second member 54 include a third structure 100 and a fourth structure 102, respectively, that cooperate with the third limit feature 98. In this embodiment, the third limiting feature 98 is a third opening, and the third structure 100 is a third protrusion extending into the third opening, such that the third protrusion is located between two inner walls of the third opening. Preferably, the fourth structure 102 is, for example, an extension wall of the second member 54, and the position of the fourth structure 102 corresponds to the position of the third structure 100, and further, the fourth structure 102 and the third structure 100 can be abutted in a predetermined state. In addition, the first shaft 56 is located between the third structure 100 and the first structure 94, and the second shaft 58 is located between the fourth structure 102 and the second structure 96.

In a preferred embodiment, the second member 54 is longitudinally displaceable within a limited range relative to the first member 52. For example, by an elongated hole 55 disposed in one of the second member 54 and the second rail 28, fig. 3 shows the elongated hole 55 disposed in the second member 54.

Specifically, the long hole 55 is configured as an elliptical hole for the second shaft 58 to pass through, and preferably, the arrangement direction (longitudinal direction) of the long hole 55 is the same as the length direction (longitudinal direction) of the second rail 28. The axis of the second shaft 58 (see fig. 5) is inserted through a portion of the slot 55 and connected to the sidewall 28c of the second rail 28, so that the second member 54 can longitudinally displace relative to the second shaft 58 or the second rail 28. For example, the slot 55 has an aperture W1 that is larger than the shaft diameter W2 of the second shaft 58, allowing the second member 54 to be longitudinally displaced relative to the second shaft 58 within the range defined between the aperture W1 and the shaft diameter W2.

The second member 54 can be maintained in a first position relative to the second shaft 58 or the second rail 28 in response to the elastic force of the second elastic member 88. In other embodiments, as shown in FIG. 6, the slot 55 may be disposed on the second rail 28, and the second member 54 may pass through a portion of the slot 55 via the axis of the second shaft 58, such that the second member 54 may also be longitudinally displaced within a limited range. Therefore, the embodiment is not limited to the embodiment of fig. 5.

As shown in fig. 2 and 4, the second locking mechanism 48 includes a third member 60, and preferably, a fourth member 62. The third member 60 and the fourth member 62 are each rotatably mounted to the second rail 28. Specifically, the third member 60 and the fourth member 62 are pivotally connected to the side wall 28c of the second rail 28 through a third shaft 64 and a fourth shaft 66, respectively.

Preferably, the slide assembly 22 or the slide kit further includes a base 70 fixedly connected to the sidewall 28c of the second rail 28. The base 70 includes a first elastic portion 74a and a second elastic portion 74b for providing elastic force to the third member 60 and the fourth member 62, respectively.

The operating member 50 is used to operate the first locking mechanism 46 and the second locking mechanism 48. For example, the operating member 50 can be used to operate the first member 52 and the second member 54 of the first locking mechanism 46 and the third member 60 of the second locking mechanism 48. Here, the operating element 50 is disposed on the second rail 28, and the operating element 50 operatively connects the first member 52 and the second member 54 of the first locking mechanism 46 and the third member 60 of the second locking mechanism 48.

Specifically, the operating member 50 includes an extending portion 50a, and the extending portion 50a has a predetermined length and a length direction of the second rail 28. Preferably, an operation portion 50b is further included to connect the extension portion 50 a. The extension portion 50a includes a plurality of driving structures. The driving structures are, for example, a first driving structure 76a, a second driving structure 76b and a third driving structure 76c sequentially disposed along the length direction of the extension portion 50 a. The operating member 50 can be used to operate the first member 52, the second member 54, and the third member 60 (shown in FIG. 2) via the driving

structures

76a, 76b, and 76c, respectively.

Preferably, the first member 52 includes a first guide feature 78, and the first guide feature 78 is a ramp or a curved surface; preferably, the third member 60 includes a guide structure 84, and the guide structure 84 is a bevel or a curved surface (as shown in FIG. 4).

As shown in fig. 7, when the slide rail assembly 22 is in a retracted state, the second rail 28 is in a retracted position R relative to the first rail 26, and the first rail 26 is retracted relative to the third rail 30. It should be noted that the second member 54 of the first locking mechanism 46 can be maintained at the first position M1 relative to the second rail 28 in response to the elastic force of the second elastic member 88. Wherein, in the first position M1, the second member 54 and the first member 52 define a first space a1 therebetween, the first space a1 being smaller than a width B of the stopper 42 of the first rail 26; on the other hand, a second space a2 is defined between the third member 60 and the fourth member 62 of the second locking mechanism 48, the width B of the stopper 42 of the first rail 26 is smaller than the second space a2, and a relation a1 < B < a2 is expressed by a mathematical expression a1, a2, and B.

As shown in fig. 8, when the second rail 28 is longitudinally displaced from the retracted position R along a first direction D1 (e.g., an opening direction) by a distance relative to the first rail 26, the first guiding feature 78 of the first member 52 contacts a first side L1 of the blocking portion 42 of the first rail 26.

As shown in fig. 9, when the second rail 28 continues to be displaced in the first direction D1, the first member 52 is biased at an angle by the contact of the first guiding feature 78 and the first side L1 of the blocking portion 42, so that the first member 52 can pass the first side L1 of the blocking portion 42 of the first rail 26 in the first direction D1, and the first elastic member 86 accumulates an elastic force. It should be noted that when the first member 52 swings at the angle, the first member 52 can be abutted against an inner wall of the first position-limiting feature 90 (first opening) through the first structure 94 to have a position-limiting effect; alternatively, the first member 52 can be abutted against an inner wall of the third position-limiting feature 98 (third opening) through the third structure 100 to have a position-limiting effect.

As shown in fig. 10 and 11, when the second rail 28 is continuously displaced to a predetermined stroke in the first direction D1 relative to the first rail 26, the second member 54 of the first locking mechanism 46 contacts and abuts against the first side L1 of the stopping portion 42 of the first rail 26 (as shown in fig. 10). And in response to the second rail 28 being further displaced relative to the first rail 26 in the first direction D1 to a first predetermined position P1, the slide rail assembly 22 is in a first extended state when the second rail 28 exceeds the front end 38 of the first rail 26 by a first distance X1 (as shown in fig. 11). The second member 54 is converted from the first position M1 to a second position M2 relative to the second rail 28 and the second elastic member 88 accumulates an elastic force to convert the first space a1 into a larger locking space a11 for locking the stopper 42 of the first rail 26. Further, when the second rail 28 is shifted to the first predetermined position P1, the first member 52 responds to the first elastic element 86 releasing the elastic force, such that the first member 52 pivots back to the angle to reach a second side L2 of the blocking portion 42; on the other hand, the second member 54 is located on the first side L1 of the stop 42. Specifically, the first member 52 and the second member 54 are respectively located at two sides of the blocking portion 42 and are in a locked state S1. Accordingly, the second rail 28 can be prevented from being arbitrarily displaced with respect to the first rail 26.

As shown in fig. 12, the operating member 50 is operable to unlock the stopper 42 from the first locking mechanism 46. For example, a user can apply a force F to operate the operating element 50, such that the operating element 50 drives the first member 52 and the second member 54 (and the third member 60) to swing at an angle to shift from the locking state S1 to an unlocking state S2, and the blocking portion 42 is no longer locked, wherein when in the unlocking state S2, the first elastic element 86, the second elastic element 88 and the first elastic portion 74a are respectively in a state of storing elastic force. It should be noted that when the second member 54 swings by the angle to be in the unlocking state S2, the second member 54 can abut against an inner wall of the second limiting feature 92 (second opening) through the second structure 96 to have a limiting effect, or the fourth structure 102 of the second member 54 can abut against an inner wall of the third limiting feature 98 (third opening) through the third structure 100 of the first member 52 to have a limiting effect. On the other hand, when the first member 52 is deflected by the angle to be in the unlocked state S2, the first member 52 can be pressed against an inner wall of the first position-limiting feature 90 (first opening) by the first structure 94 to have a position-limiting effect; alternatively, the first member 52 can be abutted against an inner wall of the third position-limiting feature 98 (third opening) through the third structure 100 to have a position-limiting effect.

As shown in fig. 13, when the first member 52 and the second member 54 no longer lock the stopper 42, the second rail 28 can be displaced relative to the first rail 26 in the first direction D1. It should be noted that once the force F applied to the operating element 50 is stopped, the first member 52, the second member 54 and the third member 60 can return to the locked state S1 from the unlocked state S2 again by the elastic forces of the first elastic element 86, the second elastic element 88 and the first elastic portion 74a, respectively. Once the first locking mechanism 46 is unlocked from the stopper 42, the second resilient member 88 releases the resilient force applied to the second member 54 to allow the second member 54 to return to the first position M1 from the second position M2, and the locking space a11 is reduced back to the first space a1, since the second member 54 is separated from the first side L1 of the stopper 42 of the first rail 26 and the force F is stopped.

It should be noted that, since the disposition direction of the second elastic element 88 is substantially the same as the length direction (e.g. longitudinal direction) of the second rail 28, it is beneficial for the second member 54 to be longitudinally displaced from the second position M2 back to the first position M1 in response to the elastic force released by the second elastic element 88, so as to enhance the reliability of the locking space a11 shrinking back to the first space a 1.

As shown in fig. 14, when the first locking mechanism 46 is unlocked from locking the stopper 42, the second rail 28 can be displaced from the first predetermined position P1 to another predetermined stroke along the first direction D1 relative to the first rail 26, and the guiding structure 84 of the third member 60 of the second locking mechanism 48 contacts the first side L1 of the stopper 42 of the first rail 26.

As shown in fig. 15, when the second rail 28 continues to be displaced in the first direction D1, the third member 60 is no longer in the locked state S1 at a deflection angle due to the contact between the guiding structure 84 and the first side L1 of the blocking portion 42, so that the third member 60 can pass over the first side L1 of the blocking portion 42 of the first rail 26 in the first direction D1, and the first elastic portion 74a of the base 70 accumulates an elastic force.

As shown in fig. 16, when the second rail 28 is further displaced to a second predetermined position P2 in the first direction D1 relative to the first rail 26, such that the second rail 28 exceeds the front end 38 of the first rail 26 by a second distance X2 greater than the first distance X1, the slide rail assembly 22 is in a second extended state, and the second locking mechanism 48 is configured to lock the stopper 42 of the first rail 26. For example, when the second rail 28 is further displaced to the second predetermined position P2 in the first direction D1 relative to the first rail 26, the third member 60 reaches the second side L2 of the stopper 42 in response to the first elastic portion 74a of the base 70 releasing the elastic force; on the other hand, the fourth member 62 is located on the first side L1 of the stop 42. Specifically, the third member 60 and the fourth member 62 are respectively located on both sides of the blocking portion 42 and are in the locked state S1. Accordingly, the second rail 28 can be prevented from being arbitrarily displaced with respect to the first rail 26.

As shown in fig. 17, the operating member 50 can be used to operate the third member 60, the second member 54 and the first member 52 through the third driving structure 76c, the second driving structure 76b and the first driving structure 76a (this part can be combined with fig. 2), respectively. For example, a user can apply a force F to the operating element 50 to operatively move the third member 60 of the second locking mechanism 48, the second member 54 of the first locking mechanism 46 and the first member 52 from the locking state S1 to the unlocking state S2 without locking the stopper 42, wherein once the force F applied to the operating element 50 is stopped, the first space a1 of the first locking mechanism 46 does not lock the stopper 42 of the first rail 26 because the first locking mechanism 46 is restored such that the first space a1 is smaller than the width B of the stopper 42 of the first rail 26, and the second rail 28 can be directly retracted relative to the first rail 26 from the second predetermined position P2 toward a second direction D2 opposite to the first direction D1. That is, the slide rail assembly 22 of the present embodiment has two operable locking stages, and only one release is required to release the two locking stages.

From the above description, it can be seen that the enhanced efficacy and advantages of the present invention are:

(1) the slide rail assembly 22 has a two-stage locking mechanism. For example, the second rail 28 is locked for the first time at the first predetermined position P1 relative to the first rail 26, so as to prevent the second rail 28 from being arbitrarily displaced relative to the first rail 26; and the second rail 28 is locked for the second time when it is at the second predetermined position P2 relative to the first rail 26, so as to prevent the second rail 28 from arbitrarily displacing relative to the first rail 26.

(2) When the second rail 28 is at the second predetermined position P2 relative to the first rail 26, the user can simultaneously operate the first locking mechanism 46 and the second locking mechanism 48 from the locked state to the unlocked state by the operating member 50, so that the second rail 28 can be directly folded back to the state shown in fig. 7 from the second predetermined position P2 in the second direction D2 relative to the first rail 26.

(3) The second member 54 of the first locking mechanism 46 is displaceable relative to a slide rail (e.g., the second rail 28) such that the distance between the second member 54 and the first member 52 is variable. Wherein, when the first space a1 is between the second member 54 and the first member 52, the first space a1 cannot lock the stopper 42 of the first rail 26; when the locking space a11 is between the second member 54 and the first member 52, the locking space a11 can lock the stopper 42 of the first rail 26.

(4) The second member 54 of the first locking mechanism 46 is in a state (e.g., locked state) only by providing a resilient force through a resilient member (e.g., the second resilient member 88), so that the structure is simplified to meet the specific requirements of the market. Similarly, the first member 52 of the first locking mechanism 46 need only be in one state with the spring force provided by one spring (e.g., the first spring 86).

(5) The first elastic member 86 and the second elastic member 88 are two independent springs, and the arrangement directions of the two springs are substantially the same (for example, both springs are arranged in the longitudinal direction substantially the same as the length direction of the slide rail).

(6) The second elastic element 88 is disposed in a direction substantially the same as the length direction of the slide rail, such as the longitudinal direction, so that the second member 54 is longitudinally displaced from the second position M2 and returns to the first position M1 in response to the elastic force released by the second elastic element 88, thereby improving the reliability of the locking space a11 shrinking back to the first space a 1.

(7) The second rail 28 includes a first stop feature 90 and a second stop feature 92, and the first member 52 and the second member 54 include a first structure 94 and a second structure 96, respectively, that are configured to mate with the first stop feature 90 and the second stop feature 92.

(8) The second rail 28 also includes a third stop feature 98, and the first member 52 and the second member 54 include a third structure 100 and a fourth structure 102, respectively, that mate with the third stop feature 98.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the present specific embodiments, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that the above embodiments are illustrative only, and various equivalent changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and therefore, it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A slide rail assembly comprises a first rail, a second rail, a first locking mechanism, a second locking mechanism and an operating piece, and is characterized in that:

the first rail comprises a front end and a blocking part, and the blocking part has a width;

the second rail being longitudinally displaceable relative to the first rail;

the first locking mechanism is arranged on the second rail and comprises a first member, a second member, a first elastic piece and a second elastic piece, wherein the first elastic piece is used for providing elastic force to the first member, the second member can be located at one of a first position and a second position relative to the second rail, and the second member can be kept at the first position in response to the elastic force of the second elastic piece, wherein a first space is defined between the second member and the first member when the second member is located at the first position, and the first space is smaller than the width of the blocking part;

the second locking mechanism is arranged on the second rail; and

the operating part is operatively connected with the first locking mechanism and the second locking mechanism;

when the second rail moves from a retracted position to a predetermined stroke along a first direction relative to the first rail, the second member of the first locking mechanism contacts with the blocking part of the first rail, and responds to the second rail moving to a first predetermined position relative to the first rail along the first direction, so that when the second rail exceeds the front end of the first rail by a first distance, the second member is in the second position relative to the second rail, the second elastic piece accumulates an elastic force, and the first space between the second member and the first member is converted into a locking space for locking the blocking part of the first rail;

the operating piece can be operated to release the locking of the second member and the first member to the blocking part, the second elastic piece releases the elastic force to enable the second member to return to the first position, and when the second rail continuously moves from the first preset position to a second preset position along the first direction relative to the first rail, the second rail exceeds the front end of the first rail by a second distance, the blocking part of the first rail is locked by the second locking mechanism;

the operating part can be operated to drive the first locking mechanism and the second locking mechanism to be in a locking state and an unlocking state, so that the second rail can be folded in a second direction relative to the first rail;

the first member and the second member are rotatably mounted on the second rail through a first shaft and a second shaft respectively;

the second rail comprises a first limiting feature and a second limiting feature, and the first member and the second member respectively comprise a first structure and a second structure which can be matched with the first limiting feature and the second limiting feature.

2. The slide rail assembly of claim 1 wherein one of the second member and the second rail includes a slot, and the second member is configured to be disposed in one of the first position and the second position by the second shaft passing through a portion of the slot.

3. The slide rail assembly of claim 2 wherein the second resilient member is a spring.

4. The slide rail assembly of claim 3 wherein the first resilient member is a spring.

5. The slide rail assembly of claim 4, wherein the first elastic member and the second elastic member are substantially arranged in the same direction.

6. The slide rail assembly of claim 1, wherein the second resilient member is disposed in a longitudinal direction.

7. The slide rail assembly of claim 1 wherein the second rail further comprises a third stop feature, the first member and the second member each comprising a third structure and a fourth structure capable of mating with the third stop feature, the first shaft being positioned between the third structure and the first structure, and the second shaft being positioned between the fourth structure and the second structure.

8. The slide rail assembly of claim 2 wherein the first member includes a first guide feature by which the first member can pass in the first direction from a first side of the stop portion to a second side of the stop portion.

9. The slide rail assembly of claim 8 wherein the first member and the second member are respectively disposed on opposite sides of the blocking portion and in the locked state when the second rail is in the first predetermined position.

10. The slide assembly of claim 9 wherein the first member and the second member are operable to be transitioned from the locked state to the unlocked state by the operating member such that the second rail is displaceable relative to the first rail from the first predetermined position along the first direction toward the second predetermined position.

11. The slide rail assembly of claim 10 wherein the second locking mechanism comprises a third member pivotally coupled with respect to the second rail.

12. The slide rail assembly of claim 11 further comprising a base, the base comprising a resilient portion for providing a resilient force to the third member.

13. The slide rail assembly of claim 12 wherein the third member includes a guide structure by which the third member can pass from the first side of the stop portion to the second side of the stop portion in the first direction.

14. The slide rail assembly of claim 13 wherein the third member is positioned on the second side of the stop portion and is in the locked state when the second rail is in the second predetermined position.

15. The slide assembly of claim 14 wherein the third member, the second member and the first member are operably configured to be moved from the locked position to the unlocked position by the operating member such that the second rail is foldable relative to the first rail from the second predetermined position in the second direction.

16. The slide rail assembly of claim 1 further comprising a third rail, wherein the first rail is movably mounted between the third rail and the second rail.

17. A slide rail kit, includes a slide rail, a first locking mechanism, a second locking mechanism and an operating part, its characterized in that:

the first locking mechanism and the second locking mechanism are respectively arranged at two different positions of the slide rail, wherein the first locking mechanism comprises a first member, a second member, a first elastic piece and a second elastic piece, the first elastic piece is used for providing elastic force to the first member, the second member is rotatably arranged on the slide rail through a shaft, a long hole is arranged on one of the second member and the slide rail, the shaft penetrates through one part of the long hole, so that the second member can be positioned at one of a first position and a second position, and the second member can return the elastic force of the second elastic piece to be kept at the first position; and

the operating part is used for operating the first locking mechanism and the second locking mechanism;

when the second member is at the first position, a first space is defined between the second member and the first member;

wherein, when the second member is in the second position, the first space is converted into a locked space larger than the first space;

wherein, the configuration direction of the second elastic piece is substantially the same as the length direction of the slide rail;

the sliding rail comprises a first limiting feature and a second limiting feature, the first component is rotatably arranged on the sliding rail through another shaft, and the first component and the second component respectively comprise a first structure and a second structure which can be matched with the first limiting feature and the second limiting feature.