CN114766847B - Sliding rail assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a sliding rail assembly, which comprises a first rail, a second rail, a third rail and a switch piece. The second rail is movably mounted between the first rail and the third rail. The switch member can be switched between a first state and a second state. When the switch piece is in the second state, the second rail can be driven to a preset position by the third rail in a folding direction through the switch piece; when the third rail is displaced towards an opening direction relative to the second rail at the preset position, the switch piece can be driven from the second state to the first state.

Description

Sliding rail assembly

The present application is a divisional application of the invention patent application with the name of "slide rail assembly" filed by the applicant at 11/19/2019 under the application number of "201911134425.0".

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a sliding rail assembly, and more particularly, to a sliding rail assembly with a reduced length for maintenance in a limited environment.

Background

As disclosed in us patent publication US10,244,868B2, a slide rail assembly includes a first rail, a second rail, and a third rail. Wherein the third rail is provided with a switching member operable in a first switching position or a second switching position. When the second switch position is used, the third rail is allowed to drive the second rail towards the second direction (folding direction), so that the total length of the sliding rail assembly is shortened, and the sliding rail assembly is beneficial to being applied in a narrow space environment. The switch piece is arranged on the third rail, so that a user can only operate the switch piece in a manual mode, and the sliding rail cannot be completely folded if the switch piece is not manually switched back at the right time.

Based on this problem, and according to different market demands, how to develop a different slide rail product becomes a non-negligible problem.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention aims to provide a sliding rail assembly capable of switching a switch piece from one state to another state through a sliding rail.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a sliding rail assembly includes a first rail, a second rail, a third rail, and a switch member. The second rail can be displaced relative to the first rail; the third rail can be displaced relative to the second rail, and is provided with a driving structure and a front contact feature; the switch piece can move relative to the second rail and is in one of a first state and a second state; when the second rail is at a first extending position relative to the first rail, the switch element can be switched from the first state to the second state; when the third rail is displaced from a second extending position to a folding direction, the third rail contacts the switch piece in the second state through the driving structure, so that the third rail can drive the second rail to displace to a preset position in the folding direction; when the third rail moves to a preset opening stroke in an opening direction relative to the second rail at the preset position, the third rail drives the switch piece to switch from the second state to the first state through the front contact characteristic.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a sliding rail assembly includes a first rail, a second rail, a third rail, and a switch member. The second rail can be displaced relative to the first rail; the third rail is capable of being displaced relative to the second rail, and the third rail is provided with a front contact feature; the switch piece can move relative to the second rail and is in one of a first state and a second state; wherein the switch element can be switched from the first state to the second state; wherein the second rail can be at a preset position relative to the first rail; when the third rail moves to a preset opening stroke in an opening direction relative to the second rail at the preset position, the third rail drives the switch piece to switch from the second state to the first state through the front contact characteristic.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a sliding rail assembly includes a first rail, a second rail, a third rail, and a switch member. The second rail can be displaced relative to the first rail; the third rail is movably arranged in a channel of the second rail and can be displaced relative to the second rail, and the third rail is provided with a rear contact feature; the switch piece can move relative to the second rail and is in one of a first state and a second state; when the third rail is detached from the channel of the second rail in an opening direction, if the switch element is switched from the first state to the second state, the switch element can be driven to switch from the second state to the first state by the rear contact feature in the process that the third rail is reinstalled to the channel of the second rail in a closing direction.

Drawings

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

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a slide assembly according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 shows an exploded view of the second rail and a switch member according to the embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a schematic view showing a first state of the switch according to the embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a schematic view of the switch in the first state and at another view angle according to the embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the switch in a second state according to the embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a schematic view of the switch in a second state and at another view angle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is an internal schematic view of the sliding rail assembly in a retracted state according to the embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 8 shows a schematic view of the sliding rail assembly moving toward an opening direction according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a schematic view showing the sliding rail assembly in a first extended position according to the embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the sliding rail assembly in an extended state and the switch member in the first state according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 11 is a schematic diagram showing the sliding rail assembly in the extended state and the switch member in the second state according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 12 is a schematic view showing a sliding rail assembly moving toward a folding direction according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 13 is a schematic view showing the sliding rail assembly moving to a position along a folding direction according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 14 is a schematic view showing that the second rail is driven by the third rail to move in the folding direction relative to the first rail according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 15 shows a schematic view of the second rail driven by the third rail to continue to move in the folding direction relative to the first rail according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 16 is a schematic view showing that the second rail is driven by the third rail in the folding direction and is at a predetermined position relative to the first rail according to the embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 17 shows a schematic view of the second rail in the predetermined position relative to the first rail and the third rail displaced toward the opening direction according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 18 shows a schematic diagram of the third rail moving toward the opening direction to drive the switch member to be in the first state according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 19 is a schematic view showing the switch member in the first state when the third rail is detached from the channel of the second rail in the opening direction according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 20 is a schematic view showing the switch member in the second state when the third rail is detached from the channel of the second rail in the opening direction according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 21 shows a schematic view of a channel in which a third rail is mounted to the second rail in the folding direction according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 22 is a schematic diagram showing the switching element being switched to the first state when the third rail is mounted to the channel of the second rail in the folding direction according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 23 shows a schematic view of the third rail releasing the second locking member from the first rail in the folding direction according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 24 is a schematic view showing the sliding rail assembly having a first length when the sliding rail assembly is carrying a carrier and is in the first extended position according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 25 is a schematic view showing the sliding rail assembly having a second length when the sliding rail assembly is at the predetermined position according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 26 is a schematic view showing the slide rail assembly at the predetermined position and the third rail detached from the second rail in the opening direction according to the embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description

As shown in fig. 1, a slide rail assembly 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first rail 22, a second rail 24, and a third rail 26. Wherein the second rail 24 is movably mounted between the first rail 22 and the third rail 26. Further, in the further aspect, the method comprises,

the first rail 22 has a front end f1 and a rear end r1. The first rail 22 includes an upper wall 28a, a lower wall 28b and a longitudinal wall 30 connected between the upper wall 28a and the lower wall 28b, and the upper wall 28a, the lower wall 28b and the longitudinal wall 30 together define a channel for receiving the second rail 24.

Preferably, the track assembly 20 further includes a front base 32 disposed on the longitudinal wall 30 of the first track 22, and the front base 32 includes a guide feature 34 adjacent to a blocking feature 36. Referring to FIGS. Here, the guiding feature 34 includes a slope or a curved surface as an example.

Preferably, the sliding rail assembly 20 further comprises a rear base 38 disposed on the longitudinal wall 30 of the first rail 22, and the rear base 38 comprises a first guiding section 40, a second guiding section 42 and a locking section 44 disposed between the first guiding section 40 and the second guiding section 42. Preferably, the first guiding section 40 and the second guiding section 42 both comprise inclined planes or cambered surfaces, and the locking section 44 is a groove, but the implementation is not limited thereto.

Preferably, at least one rear blocking portion 46 and at least one front blocking portion 48 are disposed adjacent to the rear end portion r1 and the front end portion f1 of the first rail 22, respectively. In this case, the number of the rear blocking portions 46 and the front blocking portions 48 is two, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

The second rail 24 has a front end f2 and a rear end r2. The second rail 24 includes an upper wall 50a, a lower wall 50b and a longitudinal wall 52 connected between the upper wall 50a and the lower wall 50b, and the upper wall 50a, the lower wall 50b and the longitudinal wall 52 together define a channel for receiving the third rail 26. The second rail 24 has a first side L1 and a second side L2 opposite to each other; the first side L1 of the second rail 24 faces the first rail 22 and the second side L2 of the second rail 24 faces the third rail 26.

Preferably, the sliding rail assembly 20 further comprises a first locking mechanism disposed on the longitudinal wall 52 of the second rail 24. The first locking mechanism includes a first locking member 54 and a first elastic member 56 for providing elastic force to the first locking member 54. Here, the first locking member 54 includes a supporting portion 58, a locking portion 60, and a mounting feature 62 disposed between the supporting portion 58 and the locking portion 60. The mounting feature 62 of the first detent member 54 is pivotally coupled to the second side L2 of the longitudinal wall 52 of the second rail 24 by a first pivot member 64.

Preferably, the longitudinal wall 52 of the second rail 24 has a first through hole 66 communicating the first side L1 and the second side L2 of the second rail 24. The locking portion 60 of the first locking member 54 extends from the second side L2 of the second rail 24 to the first side L1 of the second rail 24 through the first through hole 66. On the other hand, the first elastic member 56 has a body portion 68 and an elastic portion 70 connected to the body portion 68. The body portion 68 is connected to the second side L2 of the longitudinal wall 52 of the second rail 24; the elastic portion 70 is elastically loaded to the first locking member 54, and the elastic portion 70 is adjacent to the supporting portion 58.

Preferably, the sliding rail assembly 20 further comprises a second locking mechanism disposed on the longitudinal wall 52 of the second rail 24. The second locking mechanism comprises a second locking member 72 and a second elastic member 74 for providing elastic force to the second locking member 72. Here, the second locking member 72 includes a locking section 78, a supporting section 80, and a connecting feature 82 located between the locking section 78 and the supporting section 80. The connecting feature 82 of the second detent 72 is pivotally connected to the second side L2 of the longitudinal wall 52 of the second rail 24 by a second pivot 84.

Preferably, the longitudinal wall 52 of the second rail 24 has a second through hole 86 communicating the first side L1 and the second side L2 of the second rail 24. The locking section 78 of the second locking member 72 extends from the second side L2 of the second rail 24 through the second through hole 86 to the first side L1 of the second rail 24. On the other hand, the second elastic member 74 is disposed on the longitudinal wall 52 of the second rail 24. The second elastic member 74 is elastically loaded to the second locking member 72, and the second elastic member 74 is adjacent to the locking section 78.

The third rail 26 has a front end f3 and a rear end r3. The third rail 26 includes an upper wall 88a, a lower wall 88b, and a longitudinal wall 90 connected between the upper wall 88a and the lower wall 88 b. Wherein the longitudinal wall 90 of the third rail 26 is provided with a driving structure 92, a front contact feature 94 and a rear contact feature 96, and the front contact feature 94 is located between the rear contact feature 96 and the driving structure 92.

Preferably, the longitudinal wall 90 of the third rail 26 is also provided with a working feature 98 and a support feature 100.

Preferably, the driving structure 92, the front contact feature 94, the rear contact feature 96, the working feature 98 and the support feature 100 are all protrusions protruding relative to the longitudinal wall 90 of the third rail 26, and the protrusions face the second side L2 of the second rail 24, but are not limited in implementation.

Preferably, a sliding assisting device is disposed between each two sliding rails of the sliding rail assembly 20, so as to assist the smoothness of the two sliding rails when they longitudinally displace relative to each other. For example, a lower bead 102 and an upper bead 104 are disposed in the channel of the first rail 22 for supporting the lower wall 50b and the upper wall 50a of the second rail 24, respectively.

Preferably, the lower wall 50b and the upper wall 50a of the second rail 24 are further provided with a push-down portion 106 and a push-up portion 108 for respectively attaching to the rear ends of the lower bead 102 and the upper bead 104.

As shown in fig. 2 to 4, the embodiment of the present invention further includes a switch element 110 movably disposed on the second rail 24. Here, the switch 110 is movably disposed at the front end f2 of the adjacent second rail 24, but the implementation is not limited thereto. On the other hand, the second rail 24 has a first limiting portion 112, a second limiting portion 114 and a space 116 defined between the first limiting portion 112 and the second limiting portion 114, and the space 116 communicates with the first side L1 and the second side L2 of the second rail 24.

Preferably, the switch member 110 is pivotally coupled to the first side L1 of the second rail 24 via a shaft member 118. The switch member 110 is provided with a switch portion 120 extending to the second side L2 of the second rail 24.

Preferably, the space 116 is a hole defined by a wall of the longitudinal wall 52 of the second rail 24 that is substantially arcuate. In addition, the space 116 has a first receiving portion K1 and a second receiving portion K2 that are in communication with each other. The switch member 110 is provided with a retaining feature 111, and the second rail 24 is provided with a mating feature 25, and the retaining feature 111 and the mating feature 25 are of a male and female mating design, but the implementation is not limited thereto.

Preferably, the switch 110 is movable relative to the second rail 24 to be in one of a first state S1 (shown in fig. 3 and 4) and a second state S2 (shown in fig. 5 and 6).

Preferably, the switch portion 120 of the switch 110 has a first head 122, a second head 124 and a body 126 connected between the first head 122 and the second head 124. The first head 122 is located on the first side L1 of the second rail 24, the second head 124 is located on the second side L2 of the second rail 24, and the body 126 can be supported on the curved walls of the first and second receiving portions K1 and K2. When the switch member 110 is in the first state S1, the switch portion 120 of the switch member 110 is located in the first accommodating portion K1 of the space 116.

Preferably, the switch member 110 is also connected to the second rail 24 by an auxiliary shaft 128, and the switch member 110 is arranged with a bordered auxiliary guide hole 130. The outline of the auxiliary guiding hole 130 is substantially arc-shaped, and the auxiliary shaft 128 passes through a part of the auxiliary guiding hole 130, so that the auxiliary shaft 128 and the auxiliary guiding hole 130 can assist the switch element 110 to move within a limited range relative to the second rail 24.

As shown in fig. 5 and 6, a user can apply a force F to the switch member 110, so that the switch member 110 is switched from the first state S1 to the second state S2. When the switch 110 is in the second state S2, the switch portion 120 of the switch 110 is located in the second receiving portion K2 of the space 116, and the retaining feature 111 abuts the matching feature 25 to be temporarily retained in the second state S2.

As shown in fig. 7, the sliding rail assembly 20 is in a fully retracted state R. The rear blocking portion 46 of the first rail 22 is used to block the rear end r2 of the second rail 24.

Further, the rear base 38 and the front base 32 are spaced apart from each other; the first locking member 54 is maintained in a first predetermined state X1 in response to the elastic force of the first elastic member 56, and the position of the locking portion 60 of the first locking member 54 corresponds to the position of the guiding feature 34 of the front base 32; the second locking member 72 is supported by the support feature 100 of the third rail 26 through the support section 80, so that the second locking member 72 is kept in an initial state Y1, and the locking section 78 of the second locking member 72 is offset from the position of the rear base 38, and at this time, the second elastic member 74 is in a state of accumulating an elastic force. It should be noted that when the switch member 110 is in the first state S1, the switch portion 120 of the switch member 110 is not in the same longitudinal level as the driving structure 92, the front contact feature 94 and the rear contact feature 96 of the third rail 26 but is positionally offset.

Preferably, one of the front contact feature 94 of the third rail 26 and the switch portion 120 of the switch member 110 includes a guide surface. Here, the front contact feature 94 has a guiding surface 132, and the switch portion 120 is a cylinder (e.g. a cylinder), where the guiding surface 132 is, for example, a slant surface or a cambered surface, but is not limited in implementation.

Preferably, one of the rear contact feature 96 of the third rail 26 and the switch portion 120 of the switch member 110 includes a guide surface. Here, the rear contact feature 96 has a guide surface 134, wherein the guide surface 134 is, for example, a bevel or a curved surface, but is not limited in implementation.

Preferably, one of the driving structure 92 of the third rail 26 and the switch portion 120 of the switch element 110 includes a guiding surface. The driving structure 92 has a guiding surface 136, wherein the guiding surface 136 is, for example, a slant surface or a cambered surface, but is not limited in implementation. In addition, the driving structure 92 has a contact wall 138 (e.g., a vertical wall).

As shown in fig. 8, when the second rail 24 is displaced to a position in an opening direction D1 relative to the first rail 22, the engaging portion 60 of the first engaging member 54 contacts the guiding feature 34 of the front base 32.

As shown in fig. 9, when the second rail 24 is displaced relative to the first rail 22 in the opening direction D1, the latch portion 60 of the first latch 54 is guided by the guiding feature 34 of the front base 32, so that the first latch 54 is deflected by an angle, the first elastic member 56 accumulates an elastic force in response to the deflected angle of the first latch 54 until the second rail 24 is displaced relative to the first rail 22 to a first extended position E1, and after the latch portion 60 of the first latch 54 passes over the guiding feature 34, the elastic portion 70 of the first elastic member 56 releases the elastic force, so that the first latch 54 returns to the first predetermined state X1, and at this time, the latch portion 60 of the first latch 54 is blocked by the blocking feature 36 of the front base 32, so as to prevent the second rail 24 from being displaced from the first extended position E1 in the closing direction D2.

As shown in fig. 10 and 11, when the second rail 24 is at the first extended position E1 relative to the first rail 22, the third rail 26 can be further displaced to a second extended position E2 relative to the second rail 24 in the opening direction D1. At this point, the slide assembly 20 is in a fully extended state.

Further, when the second rail 24 is at the first extended position E1 relative to the first rail 22, the switch 110 can be manually switched from the first state S1 to the second state S2. When the switch member 110 is in the second state S2, the switch portion 120 of the switch member 110 and the driving structure 92, front contact feature 94 and rear contact feature 96 of the third rail 26 are located at substantially the same longitudinal level H (as shown in fig. 11).

It should be noted that, as shown in fig. 12 and 13, once the third rail 26 is displaced relative to the second rail 24 such that the supporting feature 100 no longer supports the supporting section 80 of the second latch 72, the second latch 72 is then shifted from the initial state Y1 to a non-initial state Y2 in response to the release force of the second elastic member 74. In addition, the first locking member 54 further includes a releasing portion 140 adjacent to the locking portion 60. Preferably, one of the releasing portion 140 and the working feature 98 includes a slant or a cambered surface, and the releasing portion 140 includes a slant (or cambered surface) as an example, but is not limited in implementation.

Fig. 11 to 13 show the switch 110 in the second state S2, and when the third rail 26 is displaced from the second extended position E2 to a travel distance from the second extended position E2 to the retracting direction D2 relative to the second rail 24 in the first extended position E1, the third rail 26 can generate a force by the working feature 98 contacting the releasing portion 140 of the first latch 54, so that the first latch 54 pivots from the first predetermined state X1 (shown in fig. 12) to a second predetermined state X2 (shown in fig. 13) in response to the force, such that the latch portion 60 of the first latch 54 is no longer blocked by the blocking feature 36 of the front base 32, and the second rail 24 is allowed to be displaced from the first extended position E1 to the retracting direction D2. When the third rail 26 is displaced from the second extending position E2 toward the folding direction D2, the third rail 26 can contact the switch portion 120 of the switch member 110 in the second state S2 through the contact wall 138 of the driving structure 92, so that the third rail 26 can drive the second rail 24 to displace toward the folding direction D2.

As shown in fig. 14 to 16, the second locking member 72 further includes a releasing section 142 adjacent to the supporting section 80. Preferably, one of the release section 142 and the support feature 100 includes a slant or a cambered surface, and the release section 142 includes a slant (or cambered surface) as an example, but is not limited in implementation.

When the third rail 26 is displaced toward the folding direction D2, the third rail 26 can contact the switch portion 120 of the switch member 110 in the second state S2 through the contact wall 138 of the driving structure 92, so that the third rail 26 can drive the second rail 24 to displace toward the folding direction D2 to a predetermined position P (as shown in fig. 16). When the second rail 24 is at the predetermined position P, the second rail 24 is locked to the rear base 38 by the second locking mechanism.

Specifically, when the second rail 24 is moved to the predetermined position P in the retracting direction D2, the locking section 78 of the second locking member 72 in the non-initial state Y2 contacts the second guiding section 42 of the rear base 38 (as shown in fig. 14), and a force is generated by the contact between the locking section 78 of the second locking member 72 and the second guiding section 42 of the rear base 38, such that the second locking member 72 pivots an angle to be no longer in the non-initial state Y2, and the second elastic member 74 accumulates an elastic force (as shown in fig. 15), until the second rail 24 is in the predetermined position P, the second locking member 72 returns to the non-initial state Y2 in response to the release of the elastic force of the second elastic member 74, such that the locking section 78 of the second locking member 72 is locked in the locking section 44 of the rear base 38 (as shown in fig. 16), so as to prevent the second rail 24 from being moved to the opening direction D1 or the retracting direction D2 relative to the first rail 22.

It should be noted that, when the second rail 24 is at the predetermined position P relative to the first rail 22, the locking section 78 of the second locking member 72 is locked to the locking section 44 of the rear base 38, and at this time, since the total length of the sliding rail assembly 20 is shortened, and the second rail 24 is in the locked state, the third rail 26 of the sliding rail assembly 20 does not occupy too much space when being pulled out relative to the second rail 24 in the opening direction D1, which is beneficial to narrow space.

As shown in fig. 17 to 19, when the second rail 24 is at the predetermined position P relative to the first rail 22, the third rail 26 can be displaced relative to the second rail 24 in the opening direction D1 until the third rail 26 contacts the switch portion 120 of the switch member 110 via the guiding surface 132 of the front contact feature 94 to drive the switch member 110 to switch from the second state S2 (shown in fig. 17) to the first state S1 (shown in fig. 18), and the third rail 26 can be detached from the second rail 24 at the predetermined position P in the opening direction D1 (shown in fig. 19).

As can be seen, when the third rail 26 is displaced in the opening direction D1 relative to the second rail 24 at the predetermined position P, the front contact feature 94 can drive the switch member 110 to switch from the second state S2 to the first state S1, so as to ensure that the switch member 110 can maintain the first state S1. In particular, when the third rail 26 is displaced in the opening direction D1 relative to the second rail 24 to be removed, it is ensured that the switch element 110 can maintain the first state S1.

As shown in fig. 19 and 20, after the third rail 26 is detached from the channel of the second rail 24 in the opening direction D1 relative to the second rail 24, although the switch member 110 is in the first state S1 (as shown in fig. 19), if other factors (such as other people or external force) unintentionally switch the switch member 110 from the first state S1 to the second state S2 (as shown in fig. 20), the switch member 110 can be driven to switch from the second state S2 to the first state S1 by the rear contact feature 96 during the process of reinstalling the third rail 26 to the channel of the second rail 24 in the retracting direction D2.

As shown in fig. 20 to 22, when the third rail 26 is reinstalled in the retracting direction D2 into the channel of the second rail 24, the third rail 26 contacts the switch portion 120 of the switch 110 via the guide surface 134 of the rear contact feature 96, so as to drive the switch 110 to switch from the second state S2 (shown in fig. 21) to the first state S1 (shown in fig. 22).

With reference to fig. 16 and 23, when the third rail 26 is displaced in the retraction direction D2 relative to the second rail 24 at the predetermined position P, a force is generated by the supporting feature 100 of the third rail 26 contacting the releasing segment 142 of the second latch 72, so that the second latch 72 is switched from the non-initial state Y2 (as shown in fig. 16) to the initial state Y1 (as shown in fig. 23), and the supporting feature 100 of the third rail 26 again supports the supporting segment 80 of the second latch 72, so that the second latch 72 is maintained in the initial state Y1, and the latching segment 78 of the second latch 72 is no longer latched in the latching segment 44 of the rear base 38, so as to allow the second rail 24 to retract in the retraction direction D2 relative to the first rail 22 from the predetermined position P, and the third rail 26 can be fully displaced in the retraction direction D2 relative to the second rail 24 (see the full retraction direction R7) due to the switch 110 being switched to the first state S1.

It can be seen that when the switch element 110 is in the first state S1 (as shown in fig. 22), the switch element can be used to allow the third rail 26 to be displaced to the fully retracted position R in the retraction direction D2 relative to the second rail 24 (this part can be matched with fig. 7).

As shown in fig. 24 to 26, the slide rail assembly 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention can be applied to a narrow space environment according to the above-described configuration. Wherein the first rail 22 is capable of being mounted to a frame (not shown); the third rail 26 is capable of carrying a carrier 144. When the second rail 24 is at the first extended position E1 relative to the first rail 22, the sliding rail assembly 20 has a first length M1. The third rail 26 can be displaced to the second extended position E2 (as shown in fig. 24) in the opening direction D1 relative to the second rail 24, and a first space W1 is provided between the front end f3 of the third rail 26 (or the carrier 144) and an obstacle 146 (e.g. a wall, a door or other environmental obstacle). However, if the first space W1 is too narrow, the maintenance of the carrier 144 or the rail assembly 20 by the user cannot be performed smoothly. Therefore, the user can operate the second rail 24 to move from the first extended position E1 to the retracted direction D2 to the predetermined position P relative to the first rail 22 (as shown in fig. 25, and this portion can also be combined with fig. 16), so that a second space W2 is provided between the front end f3 of the third rail 26 and the obstruction 146 to be wider relative to the first space W1, which is beneficial for a field operator to detach the carrier 144 or perform related maintenance operations on the sliding rail assembly 20. When the second rail 24 is at the predetermined position P relative to the first rail 22, the sliding rail assembly 20 can be shortened to a second length M2, and the second length M2 is smaller than the first length M1.

Once the second rail 24 is at the predetermined position P relative to the first rail 22, the third rail 26 can be detached from the second rail 24 in the opening direction D1.

From the above description, it can be seen that the enhancement effect and advantage of the present invention are: the switch element 110 can be pulled out or reinserted by the sliding rail to achieve the foolproof function, that is, the user can recover the switch element 110 from the second state S2 to the first state S1 without pulling the switch element 110 by hand. According to this arrangement, it is also helpful to ensure that the third rail 26 can be displaced relative to the second rail 24 in the folding direction D2 to the fully folded position R when the sliding rail assembly 20 is applied in a narrow environmental space.

While the invention has been described with reference to the present specific embodiments, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the above embodiments are for illustration only, and that various equivalent changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and therefore, all changes and modifications to the above embodiments are intended to be within the scope of the claims of the present application as long as they come within the true spirit of the invention.

Claims (19)

1. A sliding rail assembly comprises a first rail, a second rail and a third rail, wherein the second rail can be displaced relative to the first rail; the third rail can be displaced relative to the second rail, and is characterized in that:

the third rail is provided with a driving structure and a front contact feature; and

the sliding rail assembly also comprises a switch piece which can move relative to the second rail and is in one of a first state and a second state, and the switch piece is provided with a switch part;

when the second rail is at a first extending position relative to the first rail, the switch element can be switched from the first state to the second state;

when the third rail is displaced from a second extending position to a folding direction, the switch piece is in the second state, the switch part can stop the movement of the driving structure relative to the second rail, and the driving structure continuously contacts the switch part of the switch piece in the second state when being displaced to the folding direction, so that the third rail can drive the second rail to be displaced to a preset position in the folding direction;

when the third rail moves to a preset opening stroke in an opening direction relative to the second rail at the preset position, the third rail drives the switch piece to switch from the second state to the first state through the front contact characteristic.

2. The slide assembly of claim 1 wherein the third rail is further provided with a rear contact feature; when the third rail is detached from a channel of the second rail towards the opening direction, if the switch element is switched from the first state to the second state, the switch element can be driven to switch from the second state to the first state by the rear contact feature in the process of reinstalling the third rail to the channel of the second rail towards the closing direction.

3. The slide assembly of claim 1, wherein when the second rail is at the predetermined position and the driving structure of the third rail contacts the switch member in the second state, the third rail cannot be displaced in the retracting direction relative to the second rail.

4. The slide assembly of claim 3 wherein the drive structure of the third rail fails to contact the switch member when the switch member is in the first state for allowing the third rail to be displaced relative to the second rail in the retraction direction to a fully retracted position.

5. The slide rail assembly of claim 2 wherein the second rail is movably mounted between the first rail and the third rail, and the second rail has a first side and a second side; the first side of the second rail faces the first rail, and the second side of the second rail faces the third rail.

6. The slide rail assembly of claim 5, wherein the second rail has a first limit portion, a second limit portion, and a space defined between the first limit portion and the second limit portion, and the space communicates a first side and a second side of the second rail; the switch member is pivotally connected to the first side of the second rail by a shaft member, and the switch portion extends from the first side of the second rail through a portion of the space to the second side of the second rail.

7. The slide assembly of claim 6 wherein the front contact feature and the rear contact feature of the switch member and the third rail are at substantially the same longitudinal level when the switch member is in the second state.

8. The slide assembly of claim 6 wherein one of the front contact feature of the third rail and the switch portion of the switch member includes a guide surface.

9. The slide assembly of claim 6 wherein one of the rear contact feature of the third rail and the switch portion of the switch member includes a guide surface.

10. The slide assembly of claim 1, wherein the slide assembly has a first length when the second rail is in the first extended position relative to the first rail; when the second rail is at the preset position relative to the first rail, the sliding rail assembly has a second length smaller than the first length.

11. The slide assembly of claim 1, further comprising a front base disposed on the first rail, the front base including a blocking feature; the sliding rail assembly also comprises a first clamping mechanism arranged on the second rail; when the second rail is in the first extending position, the first clamping mechanism is positioned adjacent to the blocking feature of the front base and used for preventing the second rail from moving from the first extending position to the folding direction; the first clamping mechanism comprises a first clamping piece and a first elastic piece, wherein the first clamping piece provides elastic force for the first clamping piece, and when the second rail is positioned at the first extending position, the first clamping piece responds to the elastic force of the first elastic piece and is positioned adjacent to the blocking feature of the front base.

12. The slide rail assembly of claim 1, further comprising a rear base disposed on the first rail, and a second detent mechanism disposed on the second rail; when the second rail is displaced from the first extending position to the folding direction to the preset position, the second rail is clamped on the rear base through the second clamping mechanism so as to prevent the second rail from being displaced from the preset position to the opening direction; the second clamping mechanism comprises a second clamping piece and a second elastic piece, wherein the second clamping piece provides elastic force for the second clamping piece, and when the second rail is positioned at the preset position, the second clamping piece responds to the elastic force of the second elastic piece to clamp the rear base.

13. A sliding rail assembly comprises a first rail, a second rail and a third rail, wherein the second rail can be displaced relative to the first rail; the third rail can be displaced relative to the second rail, and is characterized in that:

the third rail is provided with a driving structure and a front contact feature; and

the sliding rail assembly also comprises a switch piece which can move relative to the second rail and is in one of a first state and a second state, and the switch piece is provided with a switch part;

wherein the switch element can be switched from the first state to the second state;

wherein the second rail can be at a preset position relative to the first rail;

when the second rail is in a first extending position relative to the first rail, the switch element can be switched from the first state to the second state; when the third rail is displaced from a second extending position to a folding direction, the switch piece is in the second state, the switch part can stop the movement of the driving structure relative to the second rail, and the driving structure continuously contacts the switch part of the switch piece in the second state when being displaced to the folding direction, so that the third rail can drive the second rail to be displaced to the preset position in the folding direction;

when the third rail moves to a preset opening stroke in an opening direction relative to the second rail at the preset position, the third rail drives the switch piece to switch from the second state to the first state through the front contact characteristic.

14. The slide assembly of claim 13 wherein the second rail is movably mounted between the first rail and the third rail, and the second rail has a first side and a second side; the first side of the second rail faces the first rail, and the second side of the second rail faces the third rail; the second rail is provided with a first limit part, a second limit part and a space defined between the first limit part and the second limit part, and the space is communicated with the first side and the second side of the second rail; the switch member is pivotally connected to the first side of the second rail by a shaft member, and the switch portion extends from the first side of the second rail through a portion of the space to the second side of the second rail.

15. The slide assembly of claim 13, further comprising a front base disposed on the first rail, the front base including a blocking feature; a first clamping mechanism is arranged on the second rail; when the second rail is in the first extending position, the first clamping mechanism is positioned adjacent to the blocking feature of the front base and used for preventing the second rail from moving from the first extending position to the folding direction; the sliding rail assembly also comprises a rear base arranged on the first rail, and a second clamping mechanism arranged on the second rail; when the second rail is displaced from the first extending position to the folding direction to the preset position, the second rail is clamped on the rear base through the second clamping mechanism so as to prevent the second rail from being displaced from the preset position to the opening direction.

16. A sliding rail assembly comprises a first rail, a second rail and a third rail, wherein the second rail can be displaced relative to the first rail; the third rail is movably installed in a channel of the second rail to be capable of moving relative to the second rail, and is characterized in that:

the third rail is provided with a driving structure and a rear contact feature; and

the sliding rail assembly also comprises a switch piece which can move relative to the second rail and is in one of a first state and a second state, and the switch piece is provided with a switch part;

when the third rail is detached from the channel of the second rail in an opening direction, if the switch piece is switched from the first state to the second state, the switch piece is driven to be switched from the second state to the first state by the rear contact feature in the process that the third rail is reinstalled to the channel of the second rail in a closing direction;

when the second rail is in a first extending position relative to the first rail, the switch element can be switched from the first state to the second state; when the third rail is displaced from a second extending position to the folding direction, the switch piece is in the second state, the switch part can stop the movement of the driving structure relative to the second rail, and the driving structure continuously contacts with the switch part of the switch piece in the second state when being displaced to the folding direction, so that the third rail can drive the second rail to be displaced to a preset position in the folding direction.

17. The slide assembly of claim 16 wherein the second rail is movably mounted between the first rail and the third rail, and the second rail has a first side and a second side; the first side of the second rail faces the first rail, and the second side of the second rail faces the third rail; the second rail is provided with a first limit part, a second limit part and a space defined between the first limit part and the second limit part, and the space is communicated with the first side and the second side of the second rail; the switch member is pivotally connected to the first side of the second rail by a shaft member, and the switch portion extends from the first side of the second rail through a portion of the space to the second side of the second rail.

18. The slide assembly of claim 17 further comprising a front base disposed on the first rail, the front base including a blocking feature; the sliding rail assembly also comprises a first clamping mechanism arranged on the second rail, and when the second rail is positioned at the first extending position, the first clamping mechanism is positioned adjacent to the blocking feature of the front base and used for preventing the second rail from moving from the first extending position to the folding direction.

19. The slide assembly of claim 17, further comprising a rear base disposed on the first rail, and a second detent mechanism disposed on the second rail; when the second rail is displaced from the first extending position to the folding direction to the preset position, the second rail is clamped on the rear base through the second clamping mechanism so as to prevent the second rail from being displaced from the preset position to the opening direction.