Control Mechanism of Drawer Slide

Description

BACKGROUND

Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to drawer slides, and more particularly to a control mechanism of a drawer slide.

Description of Related Art

The purpose of drawer slides is to enhance functionality and user experiences of drawers. Specifically speaking, drawer slides ensure the smooth and noiseless opening and closing of drawers, enhance user experiences, and provide sufficient support for bearing the weight of the drawers and their contents. Every drawer slide not only comes with a positioning and locking structure to prevent the drawer from accidentally sliding out or falling off but also has a pressing control function for releasing the drawer from the slide.

Conventional locking design involves fastening a drawer to inner rails of slides and mounting leaf springs on the inner rails of the slides. Leaf springs on intermediate rails of the slides restrain the leaf springs on the inner rails of the slides and vice versa as soon as the drawer opens completely, preventing the drawer from sliding out of the slides. When the leaf springs are pressed, the leaf springs on the intermediate rails and the inner rails stop restraining each other, releasing the drawer from the slides.

However, owing to their structural design, the leaf springs are disadvantaged by fatigue of elasticity and poor pressing-related tactile feel. Long use abates the elasticity of the leaf springs, and in consequence the drawers cannot be properly aligned when fully opened, increasing the chance of the drawers falling off.

SUMMARY

It is an objective of the disclosure to provide a control mechanism of a drawer slide to address at least one of the aforesaid issues.

To achieve the above and other objectives, the disclosure is a control mechanism of a drawer slide, comprising: an intermediate rail; an inner rail slidingly disposed on the intermediate rail and having an abutting portion; and a pressing element disposed on the intermediate rail and having a fixing portion fixedly disposed on the intermediate rail, a stopping element disposed on a side of the fixing portion to stop or separate from the abutting portion, and a pressing portion disposed on another side of the fixing portion to connect to and drive the stopping element and switch between a normal position and a release position, the pressing portion switching to the normal position to cause the stopping element to stop the abutting portion and preclude separation of the inner rail and the intermediate rail, and the pressing portion switching to the release position to cause the stopping element to separate from the abutting portion and enable separation of the inner rail and the intermediate rail.

The advantages of the disclosure are described below. Owing to a combination of the abutting portion of the inner rail and the pressing element, the stopping element of the pressing element gets driven undergoing linked motion as soon as the pressing portion of the pressing element is pressed, and in consequence the stopping element corresponds in position to or is positioned in a staggered pattern relative to the abutting portion of the inner rail, and vice versa. The aforesaid structural design effectively allows the inner rail and the intermediate rail to be steadily coupled together or separated to preclude inadvertent separation. Therefore, the aforesaid structural design precludes deterioration of the pressing element's performance which might otherwise result from fatigue of elasticity, improves pressing tactile feel, and enhances user experiences.

Preferably, the intermediate rail has a first outer lateral surface and a first inner lateral surface facing away from the first outer lateral surface, whereas the inner rail has a second outer lateral surface facing the first inner lateral surface and a second inner lateral surface facing away from the second outer lateral surface, with the abutting portion protruding in a direction from the second outer lateral surface to the first inner lateral surface.

Preferably, the intermediate rail further has a first end portion and a second end portion facing away from the first end portion to allow the abutting portion of the inner rail to be located between the first end portion and the second end portion, allow the fixing portion of the pressing element to be fixedly disposed at the first end portion, allow the stopping element of the pressing element to be located between the first end portion and the abutting portion, and allow the pressing portion of the pressing element to be located outside the first end portion.

Preferably, the intermediate rail further has a through hole penetrating the first outer lateral surface and the first inner lateral surface, and the fixing portion of the pressing element is fixedly disposed on the first outer lateral surface of the intermediate rail, whereas the stopping element of the pressing element penetrates the through hole and partially protrudes from the first inner lateral surface.

Preferably, the abutting portion of the inner rail has an abutting surface facing the first end portion and an arc surface facing away from the abutting surface, whereas the stopping element of the pressing element has a stopping surface facing the abutting surface and a guiding inclined surface facing away from the stopping surface.

Preferably, the stopping element of the pressing element is in the number of two, with an interlocking arm being connected between the pressing portion and each of the stopping elements, allowing the two interlocking arms to flank the fixing portion, wherein a connection portion is connected between the pressing portion and the fixing portion, with a gap defined between the fixing portion and each of the two interlocking arms and between the connection portion and each of the two interlocking arms.

Preferably, a reinforcement rib is disposed between the pressing portion and each of the interlocking arms.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a control mechanism of a drawer slide according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2A is a partial enlarged view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2B is a partial enlarged view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3A is an exploded view of the control mechanism according to an embodiment

FIG. 3B is a perspective view of a pressing element of the control mechanism according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view, showing that the pressing portion is pressed until it reaches a release position according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view, showing separation of an intermediate rail and an inner rail according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the pressing element that has been pressed according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view, showing that the inner rail separated from the intermediate rail and then coupled thereto anew according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1 through FIG. 5, an embodiment of the disclosure provides a control mechanism of a drawer slide. The control mechanism of a drawer slide is suitable for being fixed to a cabinet body 11 from inside. A drawer body 12 can be fixed to the control mechanism of a drawer slide. The control mechanism of a drawer slide essentially comprises an outer rail 20, an intermediate rail 30, an inner rail 40, and a pressing element 50.

The outer rail 20 is fixedly disposed on an inner lateral surface of the cabinet

The intermediate rail 30 is slidingly disposed on the outer rail 20 and extends in a sliding direction X. The intermediate rail 30 has a first end portion 31, a second end portion 32 extending in the sliding direction X and facing away from the first end portion 31, a first outer lateral surface 33, a first inner lateral surface 34 facing away from the first outer lateral surface 33, and two through holes 35 penetrating the first outer lateral surface 33 and the first inner lateral surface 34 and neighboring the first end portion 31.

The inner rail 40 is slidingly disposed on the intermediate rail 30 and adapted to support the drawer body 12. The inner rail 40 has a second outer lateral surface 41 facing the first inner lateral surface 34, a second inner lateral surface 42 facing away from the second outer lateral surface 41, and an abutting portion 43 protruding in the direction from the second outer lateral surface 41 to the first inner lateral surface 34 and disposed between the first end portion 31 and the second end portion 32. The abutting portion 43 has a cross-section that is substantially L-shaped, an abutting surface 431 facing the first end portion 31, and an arc surface 432 facing away from the abutting surface 431.

The pressing element 50 is disposed on the intermediate rail 30 and has a fixing portion 51 fixedly disposed on the intermediate rail 30, a stopping element 52 disposed on one side of the fixing portion 51 to stop or separate from the abutting portion 43, and a pressing portion 53 disposed on the other side of the fixing portion 51 to connect to and drive the stopping element 52 and switch between a normal position (as shown in FIG. 5) and a release position (as shown in FIG. 6). When the pressing portion 53 switches to the normal position, the stopping element 52 stops the abutting portion 43 of the inner rail 40 (as shown in FIG. 5), precluding separation of the inner rail 40 and the intermediate rail 30. When the pressing portion 53 switches to the release position, the stopping element 52 separates from the abutting portion 43 of the inner rail 40 (as shown in FIG. 6), causing separation of the inner rail 40 and the intermediate rail 30. This embodiment has some more technical features as follows: the fixing portion 51 of the pressing element 50 is fixedly disposed at the first end portion 31 of the intermediate rail 30 through a fixing element 60; the stopping element 52 of the pressing element 50 lies between the first end portion 31 of the intermediate rail 30 and the abutting portion 43 of the inner rail 40; the stopping element 52 penetrates the through holes 35 of the intermediate rail 30 and partially protrudes from the first inner lateral surface 34 of the intermediate rail 30; the stopping element 52 has a stopping surface 521 facing the abutting surface 431 of the inner rail 40 and a guiding inclined surface 522 facing away from the stopping surface 521; the pressing portion 53 of the pressing element 50 is disposed outside the first end portion 31 of the intermediate rail 30 and has a reset inclined surface 531 which inclines in the same direction as the guiding inclined surface 522 does, albeit at a slope different from that of the guiding inclined surface 522; the stopping elements 52 of the pressing element 50 are in the number of two, with an interlocking arm 54 being connected between the pressing portion 53 and each of the stopping elements 52, allowing the two interlocking arms 54 to flank the fixing portion 51; a connection portion 55 is connected between the pressing portion 53 and the fixing portion 51; a gap 56 is defined between the fixing portion 51 and each of the two interlocking arms 54 and between the connection portion 55 and each of the two interlocking arms 54; and a reinforcement rib 57 is disposed between the pressing portion 53 and each of the interlocking arms 54 to augment the strength of connection between the pressing portion 53 and each of the interlocking arms 54.

The structural features and arrangement of essential components disclosed in an embodiment of the disclosure are described above. The operational features and advantages of the disclosure are describe below.

Referring to FIG. 2A and FIG. 5, when the pressing portion 53 of the pressing element 50 has not been pressed and thus is at the normal position, the stopping elements 52 of the pressing element 50 correspond in position to the abutting portion 43 of the inner rail 40, allowing the stopping surfaces 521 of the stopping elements 52 to correspond in position to the abutting surface 431 of the abutting portion 43 in the sliding direction X, and vice versa. Therefore, when the inner rail 40 is pulled leftward in the sliding direction X, the abutting portion 43 of the inner rail 40 is stopped by the stopping elements 52 of the pressing element 50 on the intermediate rail 30, precluding the separation of the inner rail 40 from the intermediate rail 30.

Referring to FIG. 2A, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, when the pressing portion 53 of the pressing element 50 has been pressed and thus is at the release position, the stopping elements 52 of the pressing element 50 are pressed and driven by the pressing portion 53 such that the stopping elements 52 move in the direction from the first inner lateral surface 34 of the intermediate rail 30 to the first outer lateral surface 33 of the intermediate rail 30, allowing the stopping surfaces 521 of the stopping elements 52 to be positioned in a staggered pattern relative to the abutting surface 431 of the abutting portion 43 in the sliding direction X, and vice versa. Therefore, when the inner rail 40 is pulled leftward in the sliding direction X, the abutting portion 43 of the inner rail 40 is not stopped by the stopping elements 52 of the pressing element 50 on the intermediate rail 30, allowing the inner rail 40 to separate from the intermediate rail 30 and thereby unmounting the drawer body 12.

Therefore, owing to a combination of the abutting portion 43 of the inner rail 40 and the pressing element 50, when the pressing portion 53 of the pressing element 50 is pressed, the stopping elements 52 of the pressing element 50 undergo linked motion, allowing the stopping elements 52 to correspond in position to or be positioned in a staggered pattern relative to the abutting portion 43 of the inner rail 40, and vice versa. The aforesaid structural design effectively allows the inner rail 40 and the intermediate rail 30 to be steadily coupled together or separated to preclude inadvertent separation. Therefore, the aforesaid structural design precludes deterioration of the performance of the pressing element 50 which might otherwise result from fatigue of elasticity, improves pressing tactile feel, and enhances user experiences.

After the fixing portion 51 of the pressing element 50 has been fixedly disposed at the first end portion 31 of the intermediate rail 30, the pressing portion 53 of the pressing element 50 is located outside the first end portion 31 of the intermediate rail 30 and thus looks suspended. Therefore, the pressing element 50 can be pressed smoothly to effectively improve pressing tactile feel and enhance user experiences.

The pressing portion 53 of the pressing element 50 is connected to the stopping elements 52 by the two interlocking arms 54; thus, the linked motion between the pressing portion 53 and each of the stopping elements 52 is definite and direct, effectively enhancing tactile feel. The gap 56 defined between the fixing portion 51 and each of the two interlocking arms 54 and between the connection portion 55 and each of the two interlocking arms 54 reduces the elasticity fatigue between the pressing portion 53 of the pressing element 50 and the fixing portion 51 of the pressing element 50 to effectively extend the service life of the pressing element 50.

Referring to FIG. 6 and FIG. 8, when the pressing portion 53 of the pressing element 50 is pressed, not only does a staggered arrangement between each of the stopping elements 52 and the abutting portion 43 in the sliding direction X occur (as shown in FIG. 6), but the two stopping elements 52 also flip outward by an angle to change from a pigeon-toed orientation to a duck-footed orientation (as shown in FIG. 8), allowing the inner rail 40 to be pulled leftward and thus separated from the intermediate rail 30 (as shown in FIG. 7). The abutting portion 43 of the inner rail 40 is located to the left of the stopping elements 52 of the pressing element 50 and thus there is no stopping interference therebetween while the inner rail 40 is being pulled; thus, not only is it no longer necessary to press the pressing portion 53 of the pressing element 50, but just a one-time press is required to separate the inner rail 40 and the intermediate rail 30 to achieve ease of operation. Referring to FIG. 9, after being separated from the intermediate rail 30, the inner rail 40 is coupled thereto anew and slid rightward in the sliding direction X; meanwhile, the arc surface 432 of the abutting portion 43 of the inner rail 40 abuts against the reset inclined surface 531 of the pressing portion 53 of the pressing element 50, and thus the pressing portion 53 is slightly lower than the stopping elements 52 relative to the fixing portion 51 of the pressing element 50. With the inner rail 40 being slid rightward further and the arc surface 432 of the abutting portion 43 of the inner rail 40 abutting against the guiding inclined surfaces 522 of the stopping elements 52 of the pressing element 50 further, the abutting portion 43 of the inner rail 40 ends up on the right of the stopping elements 52 of the pressing element 50 (as shown in FIG. 5) to finish coupling together the inner rail 40 and the intermediate rail 30 anew.