RETURNING MECHANISM AND SLIDE RAIL ASSEMBLY USING SAME

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention provides a returning mechanism and slide rail assembly thereof, wherein one of the two slide-assisting blocks is provided with an elastic structure so that the displacement stroke between the two slide-assisting blocks and the synchronous member can be synchronously relocated.

Description of the Related Art

A set of slide rails is installed between the cabinet and the drawer, and each slide rail is installed at the bottom of both sides of the drawer. The drawer is opened or closed relative to the cabinet by means of the slide rails, and the slide rails are provided with two slide-assisting blocks, but the displacement stroke between the slide-assisting blocks is difficult to effectively control.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the present invention is to provide a returning mechanism and a slide rail assembly using the returning mechanism, wherein the returning mechanism includes two slide-assisting blocks and a synchronous member, and an elastic structure is provided in one of the two slide-assisting blocks to enable the displacement strokes between the two slide-assisting blocks and the synchronous member to be synchronously returned.

Another object of the invention is to provide a returning mechanism and a slide rail assembly using the returning mechanism, wherein the returning mechanism is integrated on the slide rail, and when the slide rail is fully extended, the displacement strokes between the two slide-assisting blocks and the synchronous member are synchronously returned.

To achieve the above objects, the present invention adopts a returning mechanism which comprises: a first slide-assisting block, a second slide-assisting block and a synchronous member. The first slide-assisting block comprises a first engagement feature and a first elastic structure. The first engagement feature has a first end and an opposing second end. The first elastic structure is located on one side of the first end of the first engagement feature. The second slide-assisting block comprises a second engagement feature. The synchronous member is located between the first engagement feature and the second engagement feature. When the synchronous member is displaced between the first end of the first engagement feature and the stroke of the second engagement feature, the synchronous member continues to abut against the first elastic structure until the synchronous member is displaced to the second end of the second engagement feature to complete the return. When the synchronous member is displaced between the stroke of the first engagement feature and the second end of the second engagement feature, the synchronous member continues to abut against the second elastic structure until the synchronous member moves to the first end of the first engagement feature to complete the return.

According to the above characteristics, the first elastic structure comprises a first arm and a first elastic body extending from the first arm, so that when the first elastic body is subjected to the supporting force of the synchronous member, the first arm vibrates to eliminate the load force, or the second elastic structure comprises a second arm and a second elastic body extending from the second arm, so that when the second elastic body is subjected to the supporting force of the synchronous member, the second arm vibrates to eliminate the load force.

To achieve the above objects, the present invention adopts a slide rail assembly, which comprises a rail slide and a returning mechanism. The rail slide comprises a first rail, a second rail and a third rail. The second rail is movable relative to the first rail. The third rail is installed between the first rail and the second rail. The returning mechanism comprises a first slide-assisting block, a second slide-assisting block and a synchronous member. The first slide-assisting block is movably arranged between the first rail and the third rail to assist the third rail to move relative to the first rail. The first slide-assisting block comprises a first engagement feature and a first elastic structure. The first engagement feature has a first end and an opposing second end. The first elastic structure is located on one side of the first end of the first engagement feature. The second slide-assisting block is movably arranged between the third rail and the second rail to assist the second rail to move relative to the third rail. The second slide-assisting block comprises a second engagement feature. The synchronous member is located between the first engagement feature and the second engagement feature, so that when the synchronous member is displaced between the first end of the first engagement feature and the stroke of the second engagement feature, the synchronous member continues to abut against the first elastic structure until the synchronous member is displaced to the second end of the second engagement feature to complete the return, or when the synchronous member is displaced between the second end of the second engagement feature and the stroke of the second engagement feature, the synchronous member continues to abut against the second elastic structure until the synchronous member is displaced to the first end of the first engagement feature to complete the return.

According to the above characteristics, the first elastic structure comprises a first arm and a first elastic body extending from the first arm, so that when the first elastic body is subjected to the supporting force of the synchronous member, the first arm vibrates to eliminate the load force, or the second elastic structure comprises a second arm and a second elastic body extending from the second arm, so that when the second elastic body is subjected to the supporting force of the synchronous member, the second arm vibrates to eliminate the load force.

According to the above characteristics, the first slide-assisting block comprises at least one first rolling element, and the first rolling element is used to assist the movable displacement of the third rail relative to the first rail; the second slide-assisting block comprises at least one second rolling element, and the second rolling element is used to assist the movable displacement of the second rail relative to the third rail.

According to the above characteristics, the inner side of the third rail has a protrusion, the protrusion and the third rail are formed as one piece, and the protrusion supports the sliding surface of the first slide-assisting block.

According to the above characteristics, the first elastic structure and the second elastic structure are cross-matched diagonally, so that the first elastic structure assists the synchronous member in completing the stroke that is not completed by displacement during the stroke of the second engagement feature, or the second elastic structure assists the synchronous member in completing the stroke that is not completed by displacement during the stroke of the first engagement feature the first elastic structure is respectively disposed at two opposite ends of the first slide-assisting block, and the second elastic structure is respectively disposed at two opposite ends of the second slide-assisting block.

According to the above characteristics, a buffer is installed on the first rail of the slide rail, the buffer is provided with a release claw, and a lever is provided on the second rail of the slide rail. When the slide rail is fully extended, the returning mechanism performs synchronous return with the first slide-assisting block, the second slide-assisting block and the synchronous member. Based on the synchronous return, the lever is stably positioned and moved to the release claw for buffering and fixing when the slide rail is retracted.

By means of the above technical means, the first slide-assisting block uses the first elastic structure or the second slide-assisting block uses the second elastic structure to enable the synchronous member to form the returning mechanism between the first slide-assisting block and the second slide-assisting block to perform synchronous return. The returning mechanism is integrated into the slide rail, so a set of slide rails is installed between the cabinet and the drawer, and each slide rail is installed on the bottom of both sides of the drawer. The drawer is opened relative to the cabinet by means of the slide rails, so that the displacement stroke of the synchronous member between the first slide-assisting block and the second slide-assisting block can be effectively and synchronously returned, and the problem that the displacement stroke between the slide-assisting blocks is difficult to effectively control can also be solved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded three-dimensional diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a three-dimensional diagram of the returning mechanism to the third rail of the present invention.

FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram of the first elastic structure of the present invention.

FIG. 2C is a schematic diagram of the second elastic structure of the present invention.

FIG. 2D is a schematic diagram of the synchronous member of the present invention.

FIG. 2E is a schematic diagram of the protrusion of the present invention.

FIG. 3A is a three-dimensional diagram of the assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 3B is a top view of the present invention.

FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3C-3C in FIG. 3B.

FIG. 3D is a schematic diagram of the first elastic structure, the second elastic structure and the synchronous member of the present invention.

FIG. 3E is a bottom view of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the displacement of the slide rail of the present invention.

FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram showing the return of the first elastic structure of the present invention.

FIG. 5B is an enlarged view of FIG. 5B in FIG. 5A

FIG. 6A is a schematic diagram showing the return of the second elastic structure of the present invention.

FIG. 6B is an enlarged view of FIG. 6B in FIG. 6A

FIG. 7A is a schematic diagram showing the returning mechanism of the present invention completing synchronous return.

FIG. 7B is an enlarged view of FIG. 7B in FIG. 7A.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the buffer of the present invention installed on a slide rail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Please refer to FIG. 1 to FIG. 7B , the present invention is a returning mechanism 10, comprising: a first slide-assisting block 11, which is provided with a first engagement feature 111 and a first elastic structure A, and the first elastic structure A is located at one side of a first end E1 of the first engagement feature 111; a second slide-assisting block 12 provided with a second engagement feature 121 and a second elastic structure B located at one side of a second end E2 of the second engagement feature 121; and a synchronous member 13 disposed between the first engagement feature 111 and the second engagement feature 121.

Referring also to 2A, 2B, 5A and 5B, the second slide-assisting block 12 also generates a load force F1 when sliding. In this embodiment, the first elastic structure A comprises a first arm A1 and a first elastic body A2 extending from the first arm A1. When the first elastic body A2 is subjected to the supporting force F2 of the synchronous member 13, the first arm A1 vibrates to eliminate the load force F1, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

Referring also to 2A, 2C, 6A and 6B, the first slide-assisting block 11 also generates a load force F1 when sliding. In this embodiment, the second elastic structure B comprises a second arm B1 and a second elastic body B2 extending from the second arm B1. When the second elastic body B2 is subjected to the supporting force F2 of the synchronous member 13, the second arm B1 generates vibration to eliminate the load force F1, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2D, the synchronous member 13 may be a gear, and the first engagement feature 111 and the second engagement feature 121 may be racks, so that the synchronous member 13 may be engaged between the first engagement feature 111 and the second engagement feature 121. In this embodiment, the synchronous member 13 can be installed in a holder base 131, but is not limited thereto.

As shown in FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B, when the synchronous member 13 is displaced between the first end E1 of the first engagement feature 111 and the stroke of the second engagement feature 121, namely, the first stroke S1, the synchronous member 13 continues to abut against the first elastic structure A until the synchronous member 13 moves to the second end E2 of the second engagement feature 121 to complete the return. In other words, the returning direction of the second slide-assisting block 12 is the first direction D1 for returning displacement, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

As shown in FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B, when the synchronous member 13 is displaced between the stroke of the first engagement feature 111, namely, the second stroke S2, and the second end E2 of the second engagement feature 121, the synchronous member 13 continues to abut against the second elastic structure B until the synchronous member 13 moves to the first end E1 of the first engagement feature 111 to complete the return. In other words, the returning direction of the first slide-assisting block 11 is the second direction D2 for returning displacement, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

As shown in FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B, the first slide-assisting block 11, the first elastic structure A, the second slide-assisting block 12, the synchronous member 13, or the first slide-assisting block 11, the second slide-assisting block 12, the second elastic structure B, the synchronous member 13 can be two types of returning mechanisms 10, therefore, the first elastic structure A or the second elastic structure B can be used alone, or the first elastic structure A and the second elastic structure B can be used in conjunction with each other. When the synchronous member 13 is displaced to the second end E2 of the second engagement feature 121 by the first elastic structure A to complete the return, the load force F1 generated by the second slide-assisting block 12 during the sliding can be eliminated. Alternatively, when the synchronous member 13 is displaced to the first end E1 of the first engagement feature 111 by the second elastic structure B to complete the return, the load force F1 generated by the first slide-assisting block 11 during the sliding can be eliminated. In other words, the first elastic structure A compensates for the uncompleted displacement of the synchronous member 13 in the first stroke S1, or the second elastic structure B compensates for the uncompleted displacement of the synchronous member 13 in the second stroke S2. In this way, the first elastic structure A and the second elastic structure B are complementary to each other, so that the displacement stroke of the synchronous member 13 between the first slide-assisting block 11 and the second slide-assisting block 12 can complete synchronous return.

Referring again to FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, FIG. 3C, FIG. 3D and FIG. 4, the present invention is a slide rail assembly having the above-described returning mechanism 10, wherein the returning mechanism 10 is integrated into the slide rail 20, and the slide rail 20 comprises a first rail 21, a second rail 22 and a third rail 23. The second rail 22 is movable relative to the first rail 21, and the third rail 23 is installed between the first rail 21 and the second rail 22. The first slide-assisting block 11 is movably arranged between the first rail 21 and the third rail 23 to assist the active displacement of the third rail 23 relative to the first rail 21. The second slide-assisting block 12 is movably arranged between the third rail 23 and the second rail 22 to assist the active displacement of the second rail 22 relative to the third rail 23. In this embodiment, the first slide-assisting block 11 comprises at least one first rolling element 112, and the first rolling element 112 is used to assist the movable displacement of the third rail 23 relative to the first rail 21; the second slide-assisting block 12 comprises at least one second rolling element 122, and the second rolling element 122 is used to assist the movable displacement of the second rail 22 relative to the third rail 23, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

As above, the first elastic structure A is provided at both ends of the first slide-assisting block 11 and the second elastic structure B is provided at both ends of the second slide-assisting block 12. The first elastic structure A and the second elastic structure B are cross-matched diagonally, so that the first slide-assisting block 11 and the second slide-assisting block 12 can be used regardless of whether the slide rail 20 is a left slide rail or a right slide rail, and it is a design suitable for either left side or right side, which greatly reduces the cost of the mold.

Referring again to FIG. 1, FIG. 2A, FIG. 2E and FIG. 3E, the inner side of the third rail 23 has a protrusion 231. The protrusion 231 and the third rail 23 are integrally formed, and the protrusion 231 supports the sliding surface 113 of the first slide-assisting block 11, so that the protrusion 231 is formed on the inner side of the third rail 23, and no accessories are required for assembly between the third rail 23 and the protrusion 231, which not only reduces the time for manual assembly, but also reduces the cost of assembly parts. The third rail 23 is provided with an opening 232, and the opening 232 provides the holder base 131 for installation, so that the synchronous member 13 can be fixed on the third rail 23, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

As shown in FIG. 8, a buffer 30 may also be installed on the first rail 21 of the slide rail 20. The buffer 30 is provided with a release claw 31, and a lever 221 is provided on the second rail 22 of the slide rail 20. When the slide rail 20 is fully extended, the returning mechanism 10 performs synchronous return with the first slide-assisting block 11, the second slide-assisting block 12 and the synchronous member 13. Based on the synchronous return, when the slide rail 20 is folded, the lever 221 can be stably positioned and moved to the release claw 31 for buffering and fixing.