Synchronization system, slide rail assembly and driving method for slide rail assembly
10980346 ยท 2021-04-20
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
International classification
A47B88/45
HUMAN NECESSITIES
Abstract
A slide rail assembly includes a first rail, a second rail movable relative to the first rail, an elastic member, a locking member configured to temporarily lock the elastic member, and a synchronization device. The synchronization device includes a base connected to the second rail, a driving member movably mounted to a first part of the base, a mounting base arranged on a second part of the base, a sleeve, and a synchronization rod. The mounting base is configured to mount the sleeve connected with the synchronization rod. When the second rail is moved relative to the first rail from a retracted position to an over-pressing position along a first direction, the locking member unlocks the elastic member to release an elastic force for driving the second rail to move along a second direction, such that the driving member further drives the sleeve and the synchronization rod.
Claims
1. A synchronization system applicable to a furniture system, the synchronization system comprising: a first slide rail assembly and a second slide rail assembly, each of the first slide rail assembly and the second slide rail assembly comprising a first rail and a second rail longitudinally movable relative to the first rail, the first slide rail assembly and the second slide rail assembly further comprising a first opening mechanism and a second opening mechanism respectively, wherein each of the first opening mechanisms and the second opening mechanisms comprises an elastic member and a locking member configured to lock the elastic member; a first synchronization device arranged on the second rail of the first slide rail assembly, the first synchronization device comprising a driving member; a second synchronization device arranged on the second rail of the second slide rail assembly, the second synchronization device comprising a working member; and a synchronization rod movably arranged between the first synchronization device and the second synchronization device; wherein when the second rail of the first slide rail assembly is moved relative to the first rail of the first slide rail assembly from a retracted position to an over-pressing position along a first direction, the locking member of the first opening mechanism is configured to unlock the elastic member to allow the elastic member of the first opening mechanism to release a first elastic force for driving the second rail of the first slide rail assembly to move relative to the first rail of the first slide rail assembly from the over-pressing position along a second direction; wherein when the second rail of the first slide rail assembly is moved a predetermined distance from the over-pressing position along the second direction, the driving member of the first synchronization device is driven to move to further drive the synchronization rod to rotate to further move the working member of the second synchronization device, such that the locking member of the second opening mechanism is configured to unlock the elastic member of the second opening mechanism to allow the elastic member of the second opening mechanism to release a second elastic force for driving the second rail of the second slide rail assembly to move along the second direction; wherein the second direction is opposite to the first direction; wherein the first slide rail assembly further comprises a carrying member and a connecting base, the carrying member is fixedly attached to the second rail of the first slide rail assembly; wherein the connecting base is fixed to the carrying member, the connecting base comprises a disengaging part and an engaging part, the disengaging part is longitudinally arranged, and the engaging part is bent relative to the disengaging part; wherein the locking member of the first opening mechanism is configured to lock the elastic member of the first opening mechanism through the engaging part of the connecting base, and the locking member of the first opening mechanism is configured to unlock the elastic member of the first opening mechanism through the disengaging part of the connecting base; wherein the connecting base is formed with a space, the first slide rail assembly further comprises a slide rail part accommodated in the space of the connecting base, the slide rail part and the connecting base are configured to be longitudinally movable relative to each other, the slide rail part is arranged with an auxiliary member, and the auxiliary member comprises a first contact part; wherein the first synchronization device further comprises a base, an actuating member and a first elastic member, the base is mounted to the second rail of the first slide rail assembly, the driving member is movably mounted to the base, the actuating member is movable relative to the driving member, the actuating member comprises a second contact part, and the first elastic member is configured to elastically press the actuating member; wherein during a process of the second rail of the first slide rail assembly being moved from the retracted position to the over-pressing position along the first direction, the second contact part of the actuating member is configured to contact the first contact part of the auxiliary member to generate a working force, such that the actuating member is transversely moved relative to the driving member from a first predetermined position to a second predetermined position in response to the working force to allow the first elastic member to accumulate an elastic force; wherein when the second rail of the first slide rail assembly is moved to the over-pressing position, the second contact part of the actuating member is configured to cross the first contact part of the auxiliary member, and the actuating member is configured to return to the first predetermined position in response to the elastic force released by the first elastic member; wherein when the second rail of the first slide rail assembly is moved the predetermined distance from the over-pressing position along the second direction, the actuating member at the first predetermined position is configured to contact the auxiliary member to drive the driving member of the first synchronization device to move from an initial state to further drive the synchronization rod to rotate.
2. The synchronization system of claim 1, wherein the first synchronization device and the second synchronization device are respectively detachably mounted to the second rail of the first slide rail assembly and the second rail of the second slide rail assembly.
3. The synchronization system of claim 2, wherein the synchronization rod is detachably mounted between the first synchronization device and the second synchronization device.
4. The synchronization system of claim 1, wherein one of the first contact part of the auxiliary member and the second contact part of the actuating member has an inclined surface or an arc surface.
5. The synchronization system of claim 1, wherein the driving member of the first synchronization device is pivoted relative to the base, and the first synchronization device further comprises a second elastic member; wherein the driving member of the first synchronization device is configured to return to the initial state in response to an elastic force of the second elastic member.
6. The synchronization system of claim 5, wherein the first synchronization device further comprises a housing, the housing is configured to cover a portion of the driving member, and the housing has a blocking feature configured to prevent the driving member from rotating along a predetermined direction.
7. The synchronization system of claim 5, wherein the base comprises a first part and a second part bent relative to the first part, the driving member of the first synchronization device is pivoted to the first part of the base, and the driving member has an accommodating room configured to accommodate at least one portion of the actuating member; wherein the first synchronization device further comprises a mounting base and a sleeve, the mounting base is arranged on the second part of the base, and an end part of the synchronization rod is rotatably mounted to the mounting base through the sleeve.
8. The synchronization system of claim 7, wherein the second part of the base is substantially perpendicularly bent relative to the first part of the base.
9. The synchronization system of claim 7, wherein structural configuration of the second synchronization device is substantially identical to or symmetric to structural configuration of the first synchronization device, and structural configuration of the second slide rail assembly is substantially identical to or symmetric to structural configuration of the first slide rail assembly.
10. The synchronization system of claim 1, wherein the first rail is fixedly mounted to a first furniture part of the furniture system, and the second rail is configured to carry a second furniture part of the furniture system.
11. A slide rail assembly comprising: a first rail; a second rail longitudinally movable relative to the first rail; an opening mechanism comprising an elastic member and a locking member configured to temporarily lock the elastic member; and a synchronization device comprising: a base connected to the second rail of the slide rail assembly, the base comprising a first part and a second part; a driving member movably mounted to the first part of the base; a mounting base arranged on the second part of the base; a sleeve rotatably mounted to the mounting base; and a synchronization rod connected to the sleeve; wherein when the second rail is moved relative to the first rail from a retracted position to an over-pressing position along a first direction, the locking member is configured to unlock the elastic member to allow the elastic member to release an elastic force for driving the second rail to move along a second direction; wherein when the second rail is moved a predetermined distance along the second direction, the driving member is driven to move to further drive the sleeve to rotate for driving the synchronization rod to rotate accordingly; wherein the slide rail assembly further comprises a carrying member and a connecting base, wherein the carrying member is fixedly attached to the second rail; the connecting base is fixed to the carrying member, the connecting base comprises a disengaging part and an engaging part, the disengaging part is longitudinally arranged, and the engaging part is bent relative to the disengaging part; the locking member is configured to lock the elastic member through the engaging part of the connecting base, and the locking member is configured to unlock the elastic member through the disengaging part of the connecting base; wherein the connecting base is formed with a space, the slide rail assembly further comprises a slide rail part accommodated in the space of the connecting base, the slide rail part and the connecting base are configured to be longitudinally movable relative to each other, the slide rail part is arranged with an auxiliary member, and the auxiliary member comprises a first contact part; wherein the synchronization device further comprises an actuating member and a first elastic member, the actuating member is movable relative to the driving member, the actuating member comprises a second contact part, and the first elastic member is configured to elastically press the actuating member; wherein during a process of the second rail being moved from the retracted position to the over-pressing position along the first direction, the second contact part of the actuating member is configured to contact the first contact part of the auxiliary member to generate a working force, such that the actuating member is moved relative to the driving member from a first predetermined position to a second predetermined position in response to the working force to allow the first elastic member to accumulate an elastic force; wherein when the second rail is moved to the over-pressing position, the second contact part of the actuating member is configured to cross the first contact part of the auxiliary member, and the actuating member is configured to return to the first predetermined position in response to the elastic force released by the first elastic member; wherein when the second rail is moved the predetermined distance from the over-pressing position along the second direction, the actuating member at the first predetermined position is configured to contact the auxiliary member to drive the driving member to move from an initial state to further drive the synchronization rod to rotate through the sleeve.
12. The slide rail assembly of claim 11, wherein the synchronization device is detachably mounted to the second rail of the slide rail assembly.
13. The slide rail assembly of claim 11, wherein one of the first contact part of the auxiliary member and the second contact part of the actuating member has an inclined surface or an arc surface.
14. The slide rail assembly of claim 11, wherein the driving member is pivoted relative to the base, and the synchronization device further comprises a second elastic member; wherein the driving member is configured to return to the initial state in response to an elastic force of the second elastic member.
15. The slide rail assembly of claim 14, wherein the synchronization device further comprises a housing, the housing is configured to cover a portion of the driving member, and the housing has a blocking feature configured to prevent the driving member from rotating along a predetermined direction; wherein the second part of the base is substantially perpendicularly bent relative to the first part of the base, the driving member is pivoted to the first part of the base, and the driving member has an accommodating room configured to accommodate at least one portion of the actuating member.
16. A driving method for a slide rail assembly, comprising: providing a first slide rail assembly and a second slide rail assembly, wherein each of the first slide rail assembly and the second slide rail assembly comprises a first rail and a second rail movable relative to the first rail; providing a first opening mechanism and a second opening mechanism respectively arranged on the first slide rail assembly and the second slide rail assembly, wherein each of the first opening mechanism and the second opening mechanism comprises an elastic member and a locking member configured to temporarily lock the elastic member; providing a first synchronization device arranged on the second rail of the first slide rail assembly, wherein the first synchronization device comprises a driving member; providing a second synchronization device arranged on the second rail of the second slide rail assembly, wherein the second synchronization device comprises a working member; providing a synchronization rod movably arranged between the first synchronization device and the second synchronization device; providing a carrying member and a connecting base on the first slide rail assembly; wherein the carrying member is fixedly attached to the second rail of the first slide rail assembly; wherein the connecting base is fixed to the carrying member, the connecting base comprises a disengaging part and an engaging part, the disengaging part is longitudinally arranged, and the engaging part is bent relative to the disengaging part; wherein the locking member of the first opening mechanism is configured to lock the elastic member of the first opening mechanism through the engaging part of the connecting base, and the locking member of the first opening mechanism is configured to unlock the elastic member of the first opening mechanism through the disengaging part of the connecting base; wherein the connecting base is formed with a space; providing a slide rail part on the first slide rail assembly; wherein the slide rail part is accommodated in the space of the connecting base, the slide rail part and the connecting base are configured to be longitudinally movable relative to each other, the slide rail part is arranged with an auxiliary member, and the auxiliary member comprises a first contact part; providing a base, an actuating member and a first elastic member on the first synchronization device; wherein the base is mounted to the second rail of the first slide rail assembly, the driving member is movably mounted to the base, the actuating member is movable relative to the driving member, the actuating member comprises a second contact part, and the first elastic member is configured to elastically press the actuating member; applying a force to the second rail of the first slide rail assembly to move the second rail of the first slide rail assembly from a retracted position to an over-pressing position along a first direction; the locking member of the first opening mechanism unlocking the elastic member of the first opening mechanism in response to the second rail of the first slide rail assembly being located at the over-pressing position, to allow the elastic member of the first opening mechanism to release a first elastic force for driving the second rail of the first slide rail assembly to move along a second direction opposite to the first direction; and the driving member of the first synchronization device driving the synchronization rod to rotate to further move the working member of the second synchronization device when the second rail of the first slide rail assembly is moved a predetermined distance along the second direction, so as to drive the locking member of the second opening mechanism to unlock the elastic member of the second opening mechanism to allow the elastic member of the second opening mechanism to release a second elastic force for driving the second rail of the second slide rail assembly to move along the second direction; wherein during a process of the second rail of the first slide rail assembly being moved from the retracted position to the over-pressing position along the first direction, the second contact part of the actuating member is configured to contact the first contact part of the auxiliary member to generate a working force, such that the actuating member is transversely moved relative to the driving member from a first predetermined position to a second predetermined position in response to the working force to allow the first elastic member to accumulate an elastic force; wherein when the second rail of the first slide rail assembly is moved to the over-pressing position, the second contact part of the actuating member is configured to cross the first contact part of the auxiliary member, and the actuating member is configured to return to the first predetermined position in response to the elastic force released by the first elastic member; wherein when the second rail of the first slide rail assembly is moved the predetermined distance from the over-pressing position along the second direction, the actuating member at the first predetermined position is configured to contact the auxiliary member to drive the driving member of the first synchronization device to move from an initial state to further drive the synchronization rod to rotate.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(22) As shown in
(23) As shown in
(24) The first synchronization device 36 is arranged on the first slide rail assembly 22, such as being arranged on the second rail 32 of the first slide rail assembly 22. On the other hand, the second synchronization device 200 is arranged on the second slide rail assembly 24, such as being arranged on the second rail 32 of the second slide rail assembly 24. Moreover, the synchronization system further comprises a synchronization rod 38 movably arranged between the first synchronization device 36 and the second synchronization device 200. Preferably, a first end part 38a and a second end part 38b of the synchronization rod 38 are detachably mounted to the first synchronization device 36 and the second synchronization device 200 respectively.
(25) As shown in
(26) The base 42 comprises a first part 42a and a second part 42b. Preferably, the second part 42b is substantially perpendicularly bent relative to the first part 42a.
(27) The driving member 40 is movably mounted to the base 42. In the present embodiment, the driving member 40 is pivoted relative to the base 42 through a first shaft member 58. For example, the driving member 40 is pivoted to one side (such as a top side, but the present invention is not limited thereto) of the first part 42a of the base 42 through the first shaft member 58. Preferably, the driving member 40 has an accommodating room 45 configured to accommodate at least one portion of the actuating member 44. Preferably, the accommodating room 45 is a groove which is transversely arranged along a longitudinal direction of each of the slide rail assemblies.
(28) The actuating member 44 is movable relative to the driving member 40. For example, the actuating member 44 is linearly movable relative to the driving member 40 through the accommodating room 45 of the driving member 40.
(29) The first elastic member 46 is configured to elastically press the actuating member 44. Preferably, the first elastic member 46 is arranged in the accommodating room 45 of the driving member 40 and configured to provide an elastic force to the actuating member 44.
(30) The second elastic member 48 is configured to provide an elastic force to the driving member 40. Specifically, the driving member 40 is configured to stay in an initial state in response to the elastic force of the second elastic member 48. Preferably, the second elastic member 48 is a return spring, and two ends of the second elastic ember 48 are respectively connected to a first connecting part 60 of the driving member 40 and a second connecting part 62 of the base 42.
(31) The housing 50 is configured to cover a portion of the driving member 40. In the present embodiment, the housing 50 almost covers the whole driving member 40, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Preferably, the housing 50 is configured to at least protect the driving member 40, the actuating member 44, the first elastic member 46 and the second elastic member 48, in order to prevent those related parts from being damaged by external factors (such as dust or moisture).
(32) The mounting base 52 is arranged on the second part 42b of the base 42. In the present embodiment, the mounting base 52 is connected to the second part 42b of the base 42 through at least one connecting member (such as a first connecting member 64a and a second connecting member 64b). Preferably, the mounting base 52 is formed with a space 66.
(33) The sleeve 54 is rotatably mounted to the mounting base 52. Preferably, the sleeve 54 comprises a base part 54a and an extension part 54b. A bottom portion 54c of the base part 54a is accommodated in the space 66 of the mounting base 52, and the extension part 54b is extended from the base part 54a to be away from the bottom portion 54c. The first end part 38a of the synchronization rod 38 is connected to the extension part 54b. Preferably, the bottom portion 54c of the base part 54a has a first section W1 and a second section W2 configured to respectively interact with a driving part 40a of the driving member 40 and a working wall 56a of the working member 56. Each of the first section W1 and the second section W2 can be a protrusion or a wall, but the present invention is not limited thereto.
(34) The working member 56 is pivoted relative to the base 42 through a second shaft member 68. For example, the working member 56 is pivoted to the other side (such as a bottom side, but the present invention is not limited thereto) of the first part 42a of the base 42 through the second shaft member 68. As such, the driving member 40 and the working member 56 are located at different sides of the first part 42a of the base 42.
(35) As shown in
(36) As shown in
(37) Moreover, when the driving member 40 is rotated along the rotary direction C in response to the force F (as shown in
(38) As shown in
(39) The connecting base 74 comprises a disengaging part 74a and an engaging part 74b. In the present embodiment, the disengaging part 74a and the engaging part 74b are guiding grooves communicated with each other. Furthermore, the disengaging part 74a is longitudinally arranged, and the engaging part 74b is bent relative to the disengaging part 74a (please also refer to
(40) Moreover, the first slide rail assembly 22 further comprises a first opening mechanism. The first opening mechanism comprises an elastic member 78 and a locking member 80 configured to temporarily lock the elastic member 78. The locking member 80 of the first opening mechanism is configured to lock the elastic member 78 of the first opening mechanism through the engaging part 74b of the connecting base 74, and the locking member 80 of the first opening mechanism is configured to unlock the elastic member 78 of the first opening mechanism through the disengaging part 74a of the connecting base 74.
(41) Preferably, the connecting base 74 is formed with a space S, and the first slide rail assembly 22 further comprises a slide rail part 82. The slide rail part 82 is accommodated in the space S of the connecting base 74. The slide rail part 82 and the connecting base 74 are longitudinally movable relative to each other through the space S. Preferably, the first slide rail assembly 22 further comprises a cover member 82a connected (such as fixedly connected) to the slide rail part 82 and can be seen as a portion of the slide rail part 82. The locking member 80 is movably arranged between the slide rail part 82 and the cover member 82a (please also refer to
(42) In addition, the cover member 82a is arranged with an auxiliary member 90, and the auxiliary member 90 comprises a first contact part 90a. Preferably, the first part 42a of the base 42 of the first synchronization device 36 comprises at least one first engaging feature 92. The at least one first engaging feature 92 is configured to be engaged with at least one second engaging feature 94 of the carrying member 72 of the second rail 32 of the first slide rail assembly 22, such that the first synchronization device 36 can be detachably mounted to the carrying member 72 (please also refer to
(43) As shown in
(44) Furthermore, the second rails 32 of the first slide rail assembly 22 and the second slide rail assembly 24 are located at a retracted position R relative to the first rail 30. The related parts of the first synchronization device 36 and the second synchronization device 200 are in the initial state. Please also refer to
(45) As shown in
(46) As shown in
(47) As shown in
(48) As shown in
(49) Specifically, when the second rail 32 of the first slide rail assembly 22 is moved the predetermined distance from the over-pressing position X along the second direction D2, the second contact part 44a of the actuating member 44 at the first predetermined position is configured to push the first contact part 90a of the auxiliary member 90 to generate a force (such as the force F shown in
(50) Moreover, the present invention further provides a driving method for the slide rail assemblies 22, 24. The driving method is disclosed in the aforementioned embodiments. For simplification, no further illustration is provided.
(51) Therefore, the synchronization system, the synchronization device and the driving method for the slide rail assembly according to the embodiments of the present invention are characterized in that:
(52) 1. Different from the prior art, the second rail 32 of the second slide rail assembly 24 of the embodiment of the present invention is not configured to be opened earlier than the second rail 32 of the first slide rail assembly 22 when the user applies the pressing force F1 to the second rail 32 of the first slide rail assembly 22 to drive the second rail 32 of the first slide rail assembly 22 to move from the retracted position R to the over-pressing position X. Furthermore, when the user stops applying the pressing force F1, the second rail 32 of the first slide rail assembly 22 at the over-pressing position X is opened to move the predetermined distance along the second direction D2 in response to the first elastic force of the elastic member 78 of the first opening mechanism, such that the synchronization rod 38 is driven by the driving member 40 of the first synchronization device 36 to further drive the related parts of the second synchronization device 200 to move, so as to drive the locking member 204 of the second opening mechanism to unlock the elastic member 202 of the second opening mechanism for allowing the elastic member 202 of the second opening mechanism to release the second elastic force, in order to drive the second rail 32 of the second slide rail assembly 24 to move along the second direction D2. According to such driving method, the second rail 32 of the first slide rail assembly 22 and the second rail 32 of the second slide rail assembly 24 can be reliably synchronously opened along the second direction D2, so as to prevent the movable rail of the second slide rail assembly of the prior art from being opened in advance along an opening direction relative to the movable rail of the first slide rail assembly which is pressed by the user. In addition, the driving method of the embodiment of the present invention can also prevent unexpected noises caused in a case that the movable rail of the first slide rail assembly is pressed by the user with the elastic member of the second slide rail assembly being accordingly driven to release the elastic force for driving the movable rail of the second slide rail assembly to move.
(53) 2. The synchronization devices 36, 200 can be designed as detachable components, such that the user can additionally install the synchronization devices 36, 200 according to requirements.
(54) Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.