Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02698505 2010-03-31
OPENING DEVICE FOR A SLIDE ASSEMBLY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an opening device for a slide assembly,
and more particularly, to an opening device which is activated by a pushing
action,
and the slide assembly is returned to initial status after the slide assembly
is forced
to open.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
U.S. Pat. No. 5,040,833 to Brunnert discloses a closing device for
drawers and includes a drawer installed to a piece of furniture and the drawer
is
movable between a closed position and an opened position. A spring is located
between the drawer and the furniture. A switch device is connected to the
furniture
and includes a holding member which includes a hook, and a latch member is
connected to the drawer. When the drawer is in its closed position, the latch
member is engaged with the hook of the holding member. The latch member
includes at least one upper portion which defines two guide tracks to guide
the
holding member. When the drawer is opened or closed relative to the furniture,
the
holding member is bent by the guide tracks. When the drawer is pulled out from
the
furniture by force, the holding member is bent upward so that the hook is
disengaged from the latch member. When the force pushes the drawer to its
closed
position, the hook is movable and releases the engagement with the latch
member
so that the drawer responses the resilient force and pops out from the
furniture.
1
CA 02698505 2010-03-31
U.S. Pat. No. 7,374,261 to Wang discloses a push-open type slide
structure which comprises a top fastener and a locking device mounted between
an
outer slide rail and a pull rod. The top fastener comprises a loading plate
extending
from one side of a center portion of the main body thereof. Two pillars extend
from
both sides of the main body respectively. An action trench is formed on a
connection portion between the main body and the loading plate. The action
trench
is in communication with a holding trench on the backside of the main body. A
second elastic device is mounted on the inside of said holding trench. The
loading
plate has a shaft hole and a slideway on a surface and slide rails on the
backside of
the loading plate. The positioning fastener has a shaft and a protrudent part
on a
bottom surface, a hook on an inner edge, and a guide pillar on a rear end. The
shaft
of the positioning fastener is held in the shaft hole. The protrudent part is
exactly
coupled with the inside of said slideway. The hook is inserted into said
action
trench of the main body and coupled with the second elastic device. The pair
of
first elastic device is sleeved onto the pillars of the main body. Two sleeves
are
mounted on both sides of the slide sleeve and coupled with the pair of first
elastic
devices respectively. The slide sleeve is coupled with a lower portion of the
loading
plate. The slide sleeve is slidable on the slide rails of the loading plate.
The locking
device is fixed on said pull rod. The locking device has a connection part for
coupling with a guide part and a shaft holder. The guide part of the locking
device
has a guide edge, an inclined plane, and a recessed trench. The shaft holder
has an
2
CA 02698505 2010-03-31
edge protrusion spaced from the recessed trench by a certain distance so as to
a
form a tunnel.
Both Brunnert and Wang disclose a means to prevent from damage when
the drawer is forced to open. The means for Brunnert uses the upward bending
of
the holding member to disengage the hook from the latch member. Wang uses the
space located beneath the guide pillar so as to allow deformation of the
holding
trench such that the pillars can be disengaged from the locking device.
However,
both disclosures use the flexibility to achieve the disengagement and wearing
happens during operation and may cause permanent deformation to the relative
parts and this reduces the lift of use of the whole slide assembly.
The present invention intends to provide an opening device for slide
assembly and the opening device of the present invention improves the inherent
shortcomings of the conventional disclosures.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary object of the present invention is to provide an opening
device for a slide assembly wherein the slide assembly can be opened by
pushing
action.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an opening device
for a slide assembly wherein when the slide assembly is pulled by an improper
force, the parts of the opening device are not damaged.
The present invention relates to an opening device for a slide assembly
and comprises a first rail and a second rail which is movable in longitudinal
3
CA 02698505 2010-03-31
direction relative to the first rail. A stationary member is fixed to the
first rail and
comprises a first end and a second end which is located opposite to the first
end. A
longitudinal portion is located between the first and second ends. A swing
member
is pivotably connected to the second end of the stationary member and
comprises a
pin portion. A pusher is longitudinally connected to the longitudinal portion
of the
stationary member and a first resilient member is connected to the pusher.
An engaging member is pivotably connected to the second rail and
comprises a first end and a second end which is located opposite to the first
end. A
first wall, a second wall, a third wall, a connection wall, a block and a
positioning
leg are located between the first and second ends. The connection wall extends
from the first end and is connected to the first wall. The second wall and the
third
wall, the first wall and the block define a first path. The block and the
third wall
define a second path. The block has an engaging surface and a guide portion
defined in two ends thereof. The first wall, the second wall and the
connection wall
define a first slot. The second wall, the third wall and the connection wall
define a
second slot which faces the second path. The first wall comprises a first
guide
surface facing a portion of the first path which is located corresponding to a
portion
of the first slot. The second wall comprises a second guide surface facing the
engaging surface of the block. The engaging surface extends an inclined
surface
which faces a portion of the first slot. The third wall comprises a third
guide surface.
The positioning leg extends from the second end of the engaging member and
4
CA 02698505 2010-03-31
contacts a portion of the second rail. A second resilient member is connected
between the first end of the engaging member and the second rail.
When the second rail is retracted relative to the first rail, the engaging
surface of the block of the engaging member is engaged with the pin portion of
the
swing member. When the second rail is pulled out relative to the first rail,
the
engaging member overcomes a force between the second resilient member and the
positioning member, and swings an angle on the second rail. The engaging
surface
of the block of the engaging member is then disengaged from the pin portion of
the
swing member. The positioning leg and the second resilient member return the
engaging member relative to the second rail.
The device further comprises a third rail which is longitudinally slidable
between the first and second rails.
The longitudinal portion includes a groove in the stationary member so as
to form a rail body. The longitudinal portion includes a recessed installation
portion
and the pusher includes a guide slot with which the rail body is engaged.
The second end of the stationary member has a base portion extending
therefrom which includes a hole and the swing member has a shaft which is
pivotably connected to the hole.
The second end of the stationary member has a restriction portion
extending therefrom which includes a restriction slot and the swing member has
a
tongue which is inserted into the restriction slot.
5
CA 02698505 2010-03-31
The swing member has a reinforcement member extends through the pin
portion.
The device further comprises a connection member which is connected to
the stationary member and includes a link and a head which is fixed to an end
of
the link. The first resilient member is mounted to the link and the pusher
includes
an aperture through which the link extends so that the pusher is biased by the
first
resilient member.
The engaging member includes first contact portion and the second rail
includes a second contact portion which is located corresponding to the first
contact
portion. The first contact portion contacts a portion of the second contact
portion.
The second rail includes a second contact portion which includes a
protrusion and the positioning leg contacts the protrusion.
The present invention will become more obvious from the following
description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which
show,
for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with
the
present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 shows that the opening device of the present invention is installed
to the slide assembly;
Fig. 2 is an exploded view to show the opening unit of the present
invention and the first rail;
6
CA 02698505 2010-03-31
Fig. 3 shows the swing member and the stationary member of the opening
device of the present invention;
Fig. 4 shows the swing member is connected to the stationary member of
the opening device of the present invention;
Fig. 5 shows that a reinforcement member is connected with the swing
member;
Fig. 6 is an exploded view of the engaging unit and the second rail;
Fig. 7 shows that the engaging unit is installed to the second rail;
Fig. 8 shows that a push force is applied to make the opening unit contact
the engaging unit;
Fig. 9 shows that the push force engages the pin portion of the swing
member with the block of the engaging member,
Fig. 10 shows the continuing action followed by the action disclosed in
Fig. 9;
Fig. 11 shows the continuing action followed by the action disclosed in
Fig. 10;
Fig. 12 shows that the push force is released and the pin portion of the
swing member is engaged with the block;
Fig. 13 shows that a push force disengages the pin portion of the swing
member from the block of the engaging member;
Fig. 14 shows the continuing action followed by the action disclosed in
Fig. 13;
7
CA 02698505 2010-03-31
Fig. 15 shows that a push force is released and the pin portion of the
swing member is disengaged from the block of the engaging member;
Fig. 16 shows the continuing action followed by the action disclosed in
Fig. 15;
Fig. 17 shows that an improper pull force is applied to disengage the pin
portion of the swing member from the block of the engaging member, and
Fig. 18 shows the continuing action followed by the action disclosed in
Fig. 17.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to Fig. 1, the slide assembly comprises a first rail 10 and a
second rail 12 which is movable in longitudinal direction relative to the
first rail 10.
A third rail 14 is longitudinally slidable between the first and second rails
10, 12,
such that the second rail 12 can be pulled out relative to the first rail 10
to a longer
distance by the third rail 14. An opening unit 16 is connected to the first
rail 10 and
an engaging unit 18 is connected to the second rail 12. By the actions of
retracting
or pushing, the engaging unit 18 is engaged with the opening unit 16, or the
engaging unit 18 is disengaged from the opening unit 16.
Fig. 2 shows that the opening unit 16 includes a stationary member 20
fixed to the first rail 10, a swing member 22 is pivotably connected to the
stationary
member 20, a pusher 24 is longitudinally and movably connected to the
stationary
member 20, a connection member 26 is connected to the stationary member 20, a
I 8
CA 02698505 2010-03-31
first resilient member 28 is installed between the stationary member 20 and
the
pusher 24.
The stationary member 20 comprises a first end 30, a second end 32
which is located opposite to the first end 30 and a longitudinal portion 34
which is
located between the first and second ends 30, 32 of the stationary member 20.
Preferably, the longitudinal portion 34 includes a groove 34a in the
stationary
member 20 so as to form a rail body 34b. The longitudinal portion 34 includes
a
recessed installation portion 36 and the pusher 24 includes a guide slot 56
which is
engaged with the rail body 34b by installing the pusher 24 from the
installation
portion 36. The second end 32 of the stationary member 20 has a base portion
38
extending therefrom which includes a hole 40. A restriction portion 42 extends
from the base portion 38 as shown in Fig. 3 and includes a restriction slot
44. A
buffering portion 46 extends from the restriction portion 42 and toward the
first end
30 of the stationary member 20. The buffering portion 46 can absorb the impact
of
the end of the third rail 14. A stop 48 extends from the first end 30 of the
stationary
member 20 and is located corresponding to the longitudinal portion 34 so as to
restrict the travel distance of the pusher 24.
The swing member 22 has a shaft 50 which is pivotably connected to the
hole 40 of the base portion 38. The swing member 22 includes a pin portion 52
and
a tongue 54, wherein the pin portion 52 protrudes a height from the swing
member
22 and the tongue 54 is inserted into the restriction slot 44 to restrict the
movement
of the swing member 22 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The swing member 22 may
1 5
CA 02698505 2010-03-31
have a reinforcement member 55 extends through the pin portion 52 as shown in
Fig. S.
The guide slot 56 of the pusher 24 is engaged with the rail body 34b so
that the pusher 24 can only move along the longitudinal portion 34. The pusher
24
includes an aperture 58 which is located corresponding to the connection
member
26 which is mounted to the pusher 24.
The connection member 26 is connected to the stationary member 20 and
its length is substantially the same as the distance between the first and
second ends
30, 32 of the stationary member 20. In this embodiment, the connection member
26
includes a link 60 and a head 61 which is fixed to an end of the link 60. The
first
resilient member 28 is mounted to the link 60 and the pusher 24 includes an
aperture 58 through which the link 60 extends so that the pusher 24 is biased
by the
first resilient member 28. The head 61 is connected to the base portion 38 of
the
stationary member 20. In another embodiment, the connection member 26 can be
integrally formed with the stationary member 20.
The first resilient member 28 has one end contacting the head 61 so that
the link 60 of the connection member 26 extends through the aperture 58 of the
pusher 24 and the head 61 is positioned at the base portion 38. The pusher 24
is
always biased by the first resilient member 28.
As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the engaging unit 18 is connected to the
second rail 12 and includes an engaging member 62 which is pivotably connected
to the second rail 12 by a pivot 64. The engaging member 62 includes a first
CA 02698505 2010-03-31
contact portion 66 and the second rail 12 includes a second contact portion 68
which is an opening with specific shape and located corresponding to the first
contact portion 66. The second contact portion 68 is larger than that of the
first
contact portion 66 so that the first contact portion 66 contacts a portion of
the
second contact portion 68. The second contact portion 68 includes a protrusion
69.
In this embodiment, the engaging member 62 comprises a first end 63a and a
second end 63b which is located opposite to the first end 63a. A first wall
70a, a
second wall 70b, a third wall 70c, a connection wall 72, and a block 74 are
located
between the first and second ends 63a, 63b. The connection wall 72 extends
from
the first end 63a and is connected to the first wall 70a, the second wall 70b
and the
third wall 70c. The first wall 70a and the block 74 define a first path 76.
The block
74 and the third wall 70c define a second path 78. The block 74 includes an
engaging surface 80 and a guide portion 82 defined in two ends thereof. The
first
wall 70a, the second wall 70b and the connection wall 72 define a first slot
84. The
second wall 70b, the third wall 70c and the connection wall 72 define a second
slot
86 which faces the second path 78. The first wall 70a comprises a first guide
surface 88 which faces a portion of the first path 76. The first path 76 is
located
corresponding to a portion of the first slot 84. The second wall 70b comprises
a
second guide surface 90 which faces the engaging surface 80 of the block 74.
The
engaging surface 80 includes an inclined surface 91 extending therefrom which
faces a portion of the first slot 84. The third wall 70c comprises a third
guide
surface 92. The opening device further includes a positioning leg 94 which
extends
1 11
CA 02698505 2010-03-31
from the second end 63b of the engaging member 62 and contacts the protrusion
69
of the second contact portion 68 of the second rail 12. When the engaging
member
62 is pivoted an angle, the contact between the positioning leg 94 and the
protrusion 69 of the second contact portion 68 provides a resistance such that
the
pivotal action of the positioning leg 94 has to overcome the resistance. When
the
force to pivot the positioning leg 94 is disappeared, an elastic force
generated from
the positioning leg 94 brings the engaging member 62 back to its original
position.
Alternatively, a second resilient member 96 is connected between the first end
63a
of the engaging member 62 and the second rail 12, so that the force of the
second
resilient member 96 can bring the engaging member 62 back to its original
position.
Figs. 8-12 show that the second rail 12 is retracted relative to the first
rail
10, and the third rail 14 is retracted relative to the first rail 10 by the
second rail 12.
The pusher 24 of the opening unit 16 is pushed toward the retraction direction
by
the third rail 14 with a force Fl. The first resilient member 28 is compressed
along
with the movement of the pusher 24 and generates a force applied to the third
rail
14 or the second rail 12, as shown in Fig. 8. When the second rail 12 is
further
retracted relative to the first rail 10, as shown in Figs. 9-11, the pin
portion 52 of
the swing member 52 is guided by the guide portion 82 of the block 74 and
enters
into the first slot 84 of the engaging member 62. When the push force applied
to the
second rail 12 is released, the second rail 12 responses the force of the
first resilient
member 28 and moves backward relative to the first rail 10 as shown in Fig.
12.
12
CA 02698505 2010-03-31
The engaging surface 80 of the block 74 is engaged with the pin portion 52 of
the
swing member 22. In this status, the second rail 12 is retracted relative to
the first
rail 10 and the pusher 24 applies a stored force which can be used to pop out
the
second rail 12 relative to the first rail 10.
Figs. 13 to 16 show that a push force F2 is applied to the second rail 12 to
make the second rail 12 automatically opens relative to the first rail 10.
When the
second rail 12 is pushed inward, the engaging member 62 will move along with
the
movement of second rail 12 relative to the opening unit 16 of the first rail
10. The
pin portion 52 of the swing member 22 is guided by the second guide surface 90
of
the second wall 70b of the engaging member 62 and enters into the second slot
86
of the engaging member 62, as shown in Figs. 13 and 14, to release the
engagement
between the engaging member 62 and the pin portion 52 of the swing member 22.
When the second rail 12 is released, as shown in Fig. 15, the pusher 24 is
applied
by the released force of the first resilient member 28 to pop out the second
rail 12.
In this embodiment, the pusher 24 pushes the third rail 14 first and the
second rail
12 is also moved outward. The pin portion 52 of the swing member 22 moves
along
the second slot 86 of the engaging member 62 and is guided by the third guide
surface 92 of the third wall 70c to disengage the pin portion 52 from the
second slot
86. The pin portion 52 is then located in the guide portion 82 of the block 74
of the
engaging member 62 as shown in Fig. 16.
As shown in Figs. 17 and 18, when the slide assembly is operated in an
improper way, a force F3 is used to pull the retracted second rail 12 out from
the
13
CA 02698505 2010-03-31
first rail 10, Because the main positioning force for positioning the engaging
member 62 on the second rail 12 comes from the engagement of the positioning
leg
94 and the protrusion 69 of the second contact portion 68, so that when the
pull
force F3 is large enough to separate the second rail 12 from the first rail
10, the
engaging member 62 is forced to pivot an angle and the engaging surface 80 on
the
block 74 is disengaged from the pin portion 52 of the swing member 22. The
positioning leg 94 is deformed and the second resilient member 96 is extended
to
store two respective forces. When the forces are released, the engaging member
62
returns to its original position relative to the second rail 12 and is
maintained at the
position. Therefore, when the improper action is applied to the slide assembly
to
pull the second rail 12 away from the first rail 10, the parts of the opening
unit 16
or the engaging unit 18 are not damaged.
It is noted that if the slide assembly is a two-step slide assembly, the
opening unit 16 and the engaging unit 18 are respectively connected to the
first rail
10 and the second rail 12. When the second rail 12 is retracted relative to
the first
rail 10, the opening unit 16 is engaged with the engaging unit 18 to keep the
retracted status of the slide assembly. When pushing the second rail 12 to be
slid
out from the first rail 10, the engaging unit 18 is disengaged from the
opening unit
16, and the second rail 12 is slid out from the first rail 10 a distance by
the force of
the opening unit 16.
The mechanism for preventing the parts from being damaged of the slide
assembly is made possible by pivotably connecting the engaging member 62 of
the
14
CA 02698505 2010-03-31
engaging unit 18 on the second rail 12 and the engaging member 62 engaged with
the positioning leg 94 and the second resilient member 96. The engaging member
62 is maintained at a fixed position when the slide assembly is in normal
status,
when an improper force is applied, the engaging member 62 overcomes the two
respective forces of the positioning leg 94 and the second resilient member 96
and
returns to its original position to keep the opening unit 16 in a normal
operatable
status.
While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with
the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that
further
embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present
invention.
