Sliding Mechanism

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a sliding mechanism and, more particularly, to a sliding mechanism for a drawer and the like.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional sliding mechanism comprises a fixed member and a movable member movably mounted on the fixed member. The fixed member has a front end provided with a front stop rib and a rear end provided with a rear stop rib. The movable member has a rear end provided with a limit rib that is movable to abut the front stop rib or the rear stop rib of the fixed member to limit the movable member on the fixed member. However, the movable member can protrude outwardly the front end of the fixed member and cannot protrude outwardly the rear end of the fixed member, thereby shortening the distance of movement of the sliding mechanism.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a sliding mechanism, comprising a fixed member and a movable member movably mounted on the fixed member. The fixed member has a first end provided with a first stop member and a second end provided with two second stop members spaced from each other. The movable member has a first end provided with two first limit members spaced from each other and a second end provided with a second limit member.

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a sliding mechanism having a greater distance of movement.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a sliding mechanism, wherein the two first limit members on the first end of the movable member protrude outwardly from the first end of the fixed member when the movable member is movable forward relative to the fixed member, and the second limit member on the second end of the movable member protrudes outwardly from the second end of the fixed member when the movable member is movable backward relative to the fixed member, so that the two opposite ends of the movable member are movable to protrude outwardly from the two opposite ends of the fixed member so as to increase the movement distance of the sliding mechanism.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide a sliding mechanism, wherein the movable member is movable relative to the fixed member in two opposite directions so as to increase the movement distance of the sliding mechanism, so that the material of the sliding mechanism can be reduced so as to decrease the costs of fabrication.

Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sliding mechanism in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the sliding mechanism as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a locally enlarged view of a movable member of the sliding mechanism as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a front cross-sectional view of the sliding mechanism as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a schematic operational view of the sliding mechanism as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a front cross-sectional view of the sliding mechanism as shown in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1-4, a sliding mechanism in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a fixed member 10 and a movable member 20 movably mounted on the fixed member 10.

The fixed member 10 has a first end provided with a first stop member 11 and a second end provided with two second stop members 12 spaced from each other. The second end of the fixed member 10 has a gap 13 defined between the two second stop members 12. The first stop member 11 of the fixed member 10 faces and aligns with the gap 13 of the fixed member 10. The first stop member 11 of the fixed member 10 is located at a height between the two second stop members 12.

The movable member 20 has a first end provided with two first limit members 21 spaced from each other and a second end provided with a second limit member 22. The first end of the movable member 20 has a spacing 23 defined between the two first limit members 21. The second limit member 22 of the movable member 20 faces and aligns with the spacing 23 of the movable member 20 and also faces and aligns with the gap 13 of the fixed member 10. The second limit member 22 of the movable member 20 is located at a height that is between the two first limit members 21 and is equal to that of the first stop member 11 of the fixed member 10. The two first limit members 21 of the movable member 20 face and align with the two second stop members 12 of the fixed member 10 respectively. The spacing 23 of the movable member 20 faces and aligns with the first stop member 11 of the fixed member 10.

When in use, the second limit member 22 of the movable member 20 is movable to pass through the gap 13 of the fixed member 10 and is movable to abut the first stop member 11 of the fixed member 10 as shown in FIG. 4. At the same time, the two first limit members 21 of the movable member 20 protrude outwardly from the fixed member 10 when the second limit member 22 of the movable member 20 is movable to abut the first stop member 11 of the fixed member 10. In addition, the two first limit members 21 of the movable member 20 are movable to allow the first stop member 11 of the fixed member 10 to pass through the spacing 23 of the movable member 20 and are movable to abut the two second stop members 12 of the fixed member 10 as shown in FIG. 6. At the same time, the second limit member 22 of the movable member 20 protrudes outwardly from the fixed member 10 when the two first limit members 21 of the movable member 20 are movable to abut the two second stop members 12 of the fixed member 10.

In operation, referring to FIGS. 4-6 with reference to FIGS. 1-3, when the movable member 20 is movable forward relative to the fixed member 10 as shown in FIG. 1, the second limit member 22 of the movable member 20 is movable to pass through the gap 13 of the fixed member 10 and is movable to abut the first stop member 11 of the fixed member 10 as shown in FIG. 4 to stop movement of the movable member 20. On the contrary, when the movable member 20 is movable backward relative to the fixed member 10 as shown in FIG. 5, the two first limit members 21 of the movable member 20 are movable to allow the first stop member 11 of the fixed member 10 to pass through the spacing 23 of the movable member 20 and are movable to abut the two second stop members 12 of the fixed member 10 as shown in FIG. 6. In such a manner, the two opposite ends of the movable member 20 are movable relative to the fixed member 10 to protrude outwardly from two opposite ends of the fixed member 10 so as to increase the movement distance of the sliding mechanism.

Accordingly, the two first limit members 21 on the first end of the movable member 20 protrude outwardly from the first end of the fixed member 10 when the movable member 20 is movable forward relative to the fixed member 10, and the second limit member 22 on the second end of the movable member 20 protrudes outwardly from the second end of the fixed member 10 when the movable member 20 is movable backward relative to the fixed member 10, so that the two opposite ends of the movable member 20 are movable to protrude outwardly from the two opposite ends of the fixed member 10 so as to increase the movement distance of the sliding mechanism. In addition, the movable member 20 is movable relative to the fixed member 10 in two opposite directions so as to increase the movement distance of the sliding mechanism, so that the material of the sliding mechanism can be reduced so as to decrease the costs of fabrication.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention.