SLIDE RAIL ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A slide rail assembly includes a first rail, a second rail, a slide-facilitating device, and a working member. The second rail is movably mounted in a channel of, and is displaceable with respect to, the first rail. The slide-facilitating device is movably mounted between the rails and includes an engaging feature. The working member is provided on the first rail and includes a main body portion, an elastic portion for supporting the main body portion, and a predetermined portion connected to the main body portion. The first rail includes a supporting portion for supporting the elastic portion of the working member. The engaging feature is engaged with the predetermined portion of the working member when the slide-facilitating device is at a predetermined position.

Claims

1. A slide rail assembly, comprising: a first rail including a channel; a second rail movably mounted in the channel of the first rail, the second rail being displaceable with respect to the first rail; a slide-facilitating device movably mounted between the first rail and the second rail, the slide-facilitating device including an engaging feature; and a working member provided on the first rail, the working member including a main body portion, an elastic portion, and a predetermined portion, wherein the elastic portion is configured to support the main body portion, and the predetermined portion is connected to the main body portion; wherein the first rail is provided with a supporting portion for supporting the elastic portion of the working member; wherein when the second rail is moved out of the channel of the first rail after displacement in an opening direction with respect to the first rail, the slide-facilitating device is at a predetermined position, and the engaging feature of the slide-facilitating device is engaged with the predetermined portion of the working member.

2. The slide rail assembly of claim 1, wherein the first rail includes a first wall, a second wall, and a longitudinal wall connected between the first wall and the second wall of the first rail; and the first wall, the second wall, and the longitudinal wall of the first rail jointly define the channel.

3. The slide rail assembly of claim 2, wherein the working member is movably mounted on the longitudinal wall of the first rail.

4. The slide rail assembly of claim 3, wherein the main body portion of the working member is pivotally connected to the longitudinal wall of the first rail.

5. The slide rail assembly of claim 3, wherein the elastic portion of the working member has a first section and a second section, the first section of the elastic portion of the working member is connected to the main body portion, and the second section of the elastic portion of the working member and the main body portion of the working member define a predetermined space therebetween.

6. The slide rail assembly of claim 5, wherein the predetermined portion of the working member includes a first guiding feature, a second guiding feature, and a hole located between the first guiding feature and the second guiding feature, the hole is defined by a plurality of hole walls, and the hole is configured for engagement with the engaging feature of the slide-facilitating device.

7. The slide rail assembly of claim 6, wherein the hole is substantially larger in size than the engaging feature.

8. The slide rail assembly of claim 6, wherein the second rail includes a releasing feature; while the second rail is being reinserted into the channel of the first rail from outside the channel of the first rail in a retracting direction, the releasing feature of the second rail contacts one of the first guiding feature and the second guiding feature and thereby moves the working member such that the engaging feature of the slide-facilitating device is disengaged from the hole of the predetermined portion of the working member to allow the slide-facilitating device to be displaced from the predetermined position in the retracting direction; the second rail has a front end and a rear end; the releasing feature is adjacent to the rear end of the second rail; the first rail has a front end and a rear end; the working member is adjacent to the front end of the first rail; and a distance between the releasing feature and the rear end of the second rail is greater or slightly greater than a distance between the working member and the front end of the first rail.

9. The slide rail assembly of claim 2, wherein the slide-facilitating device further includes a first portion, a second portion, and a longitudinal portion connected between the first portion and the second portion; the first portion, the second portion, and the longitudinal portion correspond to the first wall, the second wall, and the longitudinal wall of the first rail respectively; the first portion of the slide-facilitating device is provided with a plurality of rolling balls for supporting the first wall of the first rail; and the second portion of the slide-facilitating device is provided with a plurality of rolling balls for supporting the second wall of the first rail.

10. The slide rail assembly of claim 1, wherein the engaging feature of the slide-facilitating device is an engaging hook.

11. A slide rail assembly, comprising: a first rail including a channel; a second rail movably mounted in the channel of the first rail, the second rail being displaceable with respect to the first rail; a slide-facilitating device movably mounted between the first rail and the second rail, the slide-facilitating device including an engaging feature; and a working member provided on the first rail, the working member including a main body portion, an elastic portion, and a predetermined portion, wherein the elastic portion is configured to support the main body portion, the predetermined portion is connected to the main body portion, and the predetermined portion includes a hole defined by a plurality of hole walls; wherein when the second rail is moved out of the channel of the first rail after displacement in an opening direction with respect to the first rail, the engaging feature of the slide-facilitating device extends into the hole of the predetermined portion of the working member to prevent the slide-facilitating device from arbitrary displacement with respect to the first rail.

12. The slide rail assembly of claim 11, wherein the first rail includes a first wall, a second wall, and a longitudinal wall connected between the first wall and the second wall of the first rail; and the first wall, the second wall, and the longitudinal wall of the first rail jointly define the channel.

13. The slide rail assembly of claim 12, wherein the working member is movably mounted on the longitudinal wall of the first rail.

14. The slide rail assembly of claim 13, wherein the main body portion of the working member is pivotally connected to the longitudinal wall of the first rail.

15. The slide rail assembly of claim 13, wherein the elastic portion of the working member has a first section and a second section, the first section of the elastic portion of the working member is connected to the main body portion, and the second section of the elastic portion of the working member and the main body portion of the working member define a predetermined space therebetween.

16. The slide rail assembly of claim 15, wherein the predetermined portion of the working member includes a first guiding feature and a second guiding feature, and the hole is located between the first guiding feature and the second guiding feature.

17. The slide rail assembly of claim 16, wherein the hole is substantially larger in size than the engaging feature.

18. The slide rail assembly of claim 16, wherein the second rail includes a releasing feature; while the second rail is being reinserted into the channel of the first rail from outside the channel of the first rail in a retracting direction, the releasing feature of the second rail contacts one of the first guiding feature and the second guiding feature and thereby moves the working member such that the engaging feature of the slide-facilitating device is disengaged from the hole of the predetermined portion of the working member to allow the slide-facilitating device to be displaced from a predetermined position in the retracting direction; the second rail has a front end and a rear end; the releasing feature is adjacent to the rear end of the second rail; the first rail has a front end and a rear end; the working member is adjacent to the front end of the first rail; and a distance between the releasing feature and the rear end of the second rail is greater or slightly greater than a distance between the working member and the front end of the first rail.

19. The slide rail assembly of claim 12, wherein the slide-facilitating device further includes a first portion, a second portion, and a longitudinal portion connected between the first portion and the second portion; the first portion, the second portion, and the longitudinal portion correspond to the first wall, the second wall, and the longitudinal wall of the first rail respectively; the first portion of the slide-facilitating device is provided with a plurality of rolling balls for supporting the first wall of the first rail; and the second portion of the slide-facilitating device is provided with a plurality of rolling balls for supporting the second wall of the first rail.

20. The slide rail assembly of claim 11, wherein the predetermined portion of the working member is provided with an extension section adjacent to the hole, and the engaging feature of the slide-facilitating device corresponds to the extension section when extending into the hole of the predetermined portion of the working member.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] FIG. 1 is an assembled perspective view of the slide rail assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the slide rail assembly according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the working member of the slide rail assembly according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the first rail of the slide rail assembly according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing that the second rail of the slide rail assembly according to the embodiment of the present invention is displaced in an opening direction with respect to the first rail;

[0030] FIG. 4A is another schematic view showing that the second rail of the slide rail assembly according to the embodiment of the present invention is displaced in the opening direction with respect to the first rail;

[0031] FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing that the second rail of the slide rail assembly is further displaced in the opening direction with respect to the first rail;

[0032] FIG. 5A is another schematic view showing that the second rail of the slide rail assembly is further displaced in the opening direction with respect to the first rail;

[0033] FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing that the second rail of the slide rail assembly is yet further displaced in the opening direction with respect to the first rail;

[0034] FIG. 6A is another schematic view showing that the second rail of the slide rail assembly is yet further displaced in the opening direction with respect to the first rail;

[0035] FIG. 7 shows that the first rail of the slide rail assembly according to the embodiment of the present invention is at an extended position with respect to the third rail, and that the second rail is moved out of the channel of the first rail in the opening direction;

[0036] FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing that the second rail of the slide rail assembly is reinserted into the channel of the first rail in a retracting direction;

[0037] FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing that the second rail of the slide rail assembly is further displaced in the retracting direction with respect to the first rail;

[0038] FIG. 9A is another schematic view showing that the second rail of the slide rail assembly is further displaced in the retracting direction with respect to the first rail;

[0039] FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing that the second rail of the slide rail assembly is yet further displaced in the retracting direction with respect to the first rail;

[0040] FIG. 10A is another schematic view showing that the second rail of the slide rail assembly is yet further displaced in the retracting direction with respect to the first rail;

[0041] FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing that the second rail of the slide rail assembly is still further displaced in the retracting direction with respect to the first rail; and

[0042] FIG. 11A is another schematic view showing that the second rail of the slide rail assembly is still further displaced in the retracting direction with respect to the first rail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0043] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the slide rail assembly 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first rail 22, a second rail 24, a slide-facilitating device 26, a working member 28, and preferably also a third rail 30. The first rail 22 is movably mounted between the third rail 30 and the second rail 24, and the first rail 22 serves to increase the distance for which the second rail 24 can be displaced with respect to the third rail 30. In this embodiment, the third rail 30 (e.g., an outer rail), the first rail 22 (e.g., a middle rail), and the second rail 24 (e.g., an inner rail) can be longitudinally displaced with respect to one another. Herein, the longitudinal direction (or the length direction of the slide rails) is defined by the X axis in FIG. 1, the transverse direction (or the lateral direction of the slide rails) by the Y axis, and the vertical direction (or the height direction of the slide rails) by the Z axis.

[0044] The first rail 22 includes a channel 32. Preferably, the first rail 22 includes a first wall 34a, a second wall 34b, and a longitudinal wall 36 connected between the first wall 34a and the second wall 34b of the first rail 22. The first wall 34a, the second wall 34b, and the longitudinal wall 36 of the first rail 22 jointly define the channel 32. The first rail 22 has a front end 22a and a rear end 22b.

[0045] The second rail 24 is movably mounted in the channel 32 of the first rail 22, and the second rail 24 can be longitudinally displaced with respect to the first rail 22. The second rail 24 includes a first wall 38a, a second wall 38b, and a longitudinal wall 40 connected between the first wall 38a and the second wall 38b of the second rail 24. The second rail 24 includes a releasing feature 37 such as a projection, and the releasing feature 37 includes a first guiding structure 39a and a second guiding structure 39b. Each of the first guiding structure 39a and the second guiding structure 39b may be an inclined surface or a curved surface; the present invention has no limitation in this regard. The second rail 24 has a front end 24a and a rear end 24b, and the releasing feature 37 is adjacent to the rear end 24b of the second rail 24.

[0046] The slide-facilitating device 26 is movably mounted between the first rail 22 and the second rail 24, and the slide-facilitating device 26 includes an engaging feature 42 such as an engaging hook. Preferably, the slide-facilitating device 26 further includes a first portion 44a, a second portion 44b, and a longitudinal portion 46 connected between the first portion 44a and the second portion 44b. The first portion 44a, the second portion 44b, and the longitudinal portion 46 correspond to the first wall 34a, the second wall 34b, and the longitudinal wall 36 of the first rail 22 respectively. Each of the first portion 44a and the second portion 44b of the slide-facilitating device 26 is provided with a plurality of rolling balls 48 (only the rolling balls 48 on the second portion 44b being visible in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 due to limitations of the viewing angle). The rolling balls 48 on the first portion 44a are used to support the first wall 34a of the first rail 22 and the first wall 38a of the second rail 24, and the rolling balls 48 on the second portion 44b are used to support the second wall 34b of the first rail 22 and the second wall 38b of the second rail 24. The rolling balls 48 help increase the smoothness with which the second rail 24 and the first rail 22 can be displaced with respect to each other.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 4, the working member 28 is provided on the longitudinal wall 36 of the first rail 22, and the working member 28 is adjacent to the front end 22a of the first rail 22. The distance between the releasing feature 37 and the rear end 24b of the second rail 24 is greater (or slightly greater) than the distance between the working member 28 and the front end 22a of the first rail 22. The working member 28 includes a main body portion 50, an elastic portion 52, and a predetermined portion 54 (see FIG. 2A).

[0048] Preferably, the working member 28 is movably mounted on the longitudinal wall 36 of the first rail 22. For example, the main body portion 50 of the working member 28 is pivotally connected to the longitudinal wall 36 of the first rail 22 through a shaft 56; the present invention, however, has no limitation in this regard.

[0049] The elastic portion 52, such as but not limited to an elastic arm, is configured to support the main body portion 50. The predetermined portion 54 is connected to the main body portion 50.

[0050] Preferably, the longitudinal wall 36 of the first rail 22 is provided with a supporting portion 58 for supporting the elastic portion 52 of the working member 28 (see FIG. 3 and FIG. 4).

[0051] Preferably, the main body portion 50 of the working member 28 has two opposite ends defined respectively as a first end E1 and a second end E2, and the predetermined portion 54 is adjacent to the first end E1 of the main body portion 50 (see FIG. 2A).

[0052] Preferably, the elastic portion 52 of the working member 28 has a first section 60a and a second section 60b extending from the first section 60a. The first section 60a is connected to the main body portion 50 and is adjacent to the second end E2 of the main body portion 50. The second section 60b and the main body portion 50 define a predetermined space J therebetween (see FIG. 2A). When the working member 28 is in a first state S1, the main body portion 50 of the working member 28 and the second section 60b of the elastic portion 52 are spaced apart by a distance G due to the predetermined space J.

[0053] Preferably, the predetermined portion 54 of the working member 28 includes a first guiding feature 62, a second guiding feature 64, and a hole 66 located between the first guiding feature 62 and the second guiding feature 64. Each of the first guiding feature 62 and the second guiding feature 64 may be an inclined surface or a curved surface. The hole 66 is defined by a plurality of hole walls. For example, the predetermined portion 54 includes a first hole wall 68a, a second hole wall 68b, a third hole wall 68c, and a fourth hole wall 68d, and the hole walls 68a, 68b, 68c, and 68d jointly define the hole 66 (see FIG. 2A).

[0054] Preferably, the main body portion 50, the elastic portion 52, and the predetermined portion 54 are integrated into one unit so that the working member 28 exists as a single component (see FIG. 2A).

[0055] Referring to FIG. 4, the engaging feature 42 of the slide-facilitating device 26 is located at the longitudinal portion 46 and has a guiding section 70, which may be an inclined surface or a curved surface. The working member 28 is shown in FIG. 4 as in the first state S1, with the supporting portion 58 of the longitudinal wall 36 of the first rail 22 supporting at least a portion of the second section 60b of the elastic portion 52 of the working member 28. In addition, the predetermined portion 54 of the working member 28 is provided with an extension section 72 adjacent to the hole 66. For example, the extension section 72 extends from the first hole wall 68a toward the second wall 34b of the first rail 22.

[0056] When the second rail 24 reaches a predetermined position after being displaced from a retracted position with respect to the first rail 22 in an opening direction D1, the first guiding structure 39a of the releasing feature 37 contacts the first guiding feature 62 so that the releasing feature 37 can move past the predetermined portion 54 of the working member 28 with ease, and the slide-facilitating device 26 will respond to the displacement of the second rail 24 by moving in the opening direction D1 too, during which process the engaging feature 42 (or more particularly the guiding section 70 thereof) of the slide-facilitating device 26 contacts the first guiding feature 62 of the predetermined portion 54 of the working member 28 (see FIG. 4 and FIG. 4A). The foregoing movements can be readily understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art and therefore will not be described in more detail.

[0057] Referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 5A, when the second rail 24 is further displaced in the opening direction D1 with respect to the first rail 22, the contact between the engaging feature 42 (or more particularly the guiding section 70 thereof) of the slide-facilitating device 26 and the first guiding feature 62 of the predetermined portion 54 of the working member 28 produces an action force that moves the working member 28 from the first stat S1 to a second state S2, e.g., by pivoting the working member 28 from the first state S1 to the second state S2 in a predetermined rotation direction R. The elastic portion 52 of the working member 28 stores an elastic force in the second state S2.

[0058] Preferably, the mutual support between the supporting portion 58 of the longitudinal wall 36 of the first rail 22 and the second section 60b of the elastic portion 52 of the working member 28 creates a fulcrum around which the working member 28 can be pivoted from the first state S1 to the second state S2, and in the course in which the working member 28 is pivoted to the second state S2, the predetermined space J allows the main body portion 50 of the working member 28 and the second section 60b of the elastic portion 52 to get closer to each other such that the first section 60a of the elastic portion 52 of the working member 28 is tilted up at a predetermined angle with respect to the second section 60b (or the supporting portion 58 of the longitudinal wall 36 of the first rail 22), with the aforesaid elastic force stored in the elastic portion 52 of the working member 28.

[0059] Preferably, the working member 28 further includes a bent section 55 extending from the first end E1 of the main body portion 50, and the longitudinal wall 36 of the first rail 22 is provided with a corresponding space 57 into which the bent section 55 can extend in order for the longitudinal wall 36 of the first rail 22 to support the bent section 55 and thereby allow the working member 28 to move (e.g., pivot) stably.

[0060] Referring to FIG. 6, FIG. 6A, and FIG. 7, when the second rail 24 is moved out of the channel 32 of the first rail 22 after being further displaced in the opening direction D1 with respect to the first rail 22, the slide-facilitating device 26 is displaced to a predetermined position K adjacent to the front end 22a of the first rail 22, with the engaging feature 42 of the slide-facilitating device 26 engaged with the hole 66 of the predetermined portion 54 of the working member 28.

[0061] More specifically, when the slide-facilitating device 26 reaches the predetermined position K, the engaging feature 42 of the slide-facilitating device 26 corresponds to the hole 66 of the predetermined portion 54 such that the elastic portion 52 of the working member 28 releases the elastic force stored therein and thereby brings the working member 28 from the second state S2 back to the first state S1 (e.g., a locking state), with the engaging feature 42 of the slide-facilitating device 26 extending into the hole 66 of the predetermined portion 54 of the working member 28 and corresponding to the first hole wall 68a (and the extension section 72) to prevent the slide-facilitating device 26 from arbitrary displacement with respect to the first rail 22. For example, the first hole wall 68a (together with the extension section 72) can block the engaging feature 42 and thereby prevent the slide-facilitating device 26 from being displaced from the predetermined position K in a retracting direction D2 with respect to the first rail 22 (see FIG. 6).

[0062] In FIG. 8, the slide-facilitating device 26 is at the predetermined position K, and the working member 28 is in the first state S1 (e.g., the locking state) to lock the engaging feature 42 of the slide-facilitating device 26 in place. When the second rail 24 is reinserted into the channel 32 of the first rail 22 from outside the channel 32 of the first rail 22 in the retracting direction D2, the first wall 38a and the second wall 38b of the second rail 24 can, at the beginning of the insertion process, be supported respectively by the rolling balls 48 on the first and the second portions 44a and 44b of the slide-facilitating device 26 because the distance between the releasing feature 37 and the rear end 24b of the second rail 24 is greater (or slightly greater) than the distance between the working member 28 and the front end 22a of the first rail 22, and this allows the second rail 24 to be inserted stably or smoothly into the channel 32 of the first rail 22 in the retracting direction D2.

[0063] In the course in which the second rail 24 continues being inserted into the channel 32 of the first rail 22 in the retracting direction D2, referring to FIG. 9, FIG. 9A, FIG. 10, FIG. 10A, FIG. 11, and FIG. 11A, the releasing feature 37 of the second rail 24 moves the working member 28 and thereby disengages the engaging feature 42 of the slide-facilitating device 26 from the hole 66 of the predetermined portion 54 of the working member 28; in consequence, the slide-facilitating device 26 is allowed to be displaced from the predetermined position K in the retracting direction D2.

[0064] More specifically, while the second rail 24 continues being inserted into the channel 32 of the first rail 22 in the retracting direction D2, the second guiding structure 39b of the releasing feature 37 of the second rail 24 contacts the second guiding feature 64 of the predetermined portion 54 of the working member 28 and thereby produces an action force that moves the working member 28 from the first state S1 (e.g., the locking state as shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 9A) to the second state S2 (e.g., an unlocking state as shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 10A), e.g., by pivoting the working member 28 from the first state S1 to the second state S2 in the predetermined rotation direction R. As a result, the engaging feature 42 of the slide-facilitating device 26 is disengaged from the hole 66 of the predetermined portion 54 of the working member 28.

[0065] Preferably, the mutual support between the supporting portion 58 of the longitudinal wall 36 of the first rail 22 and the second section 60b of the elastic portion 52 of the working member 28 creates a fulcrum around which the working member 28 can be pivoted from the first state S1 (see FIG. 9 and FIG. 9A) to the second state S2 (see FIG. 10 and FIG. 10A), and in the course in which the working member 28 is pivoted to the second state S2, the predetermined space J allows the main body portion 50 of the working member 28 and the second section 60b of the elastic portion 52 to get closer to each other (see FIG. 10 and FIG. 10A) such that the first section 60a of the elastic portion 52 of the working member 28 is tilted up at a predetermined angle with respect to the second section 60b (or the supporting portion 58 of the longitudinal wall 36 of the first rail 22), with an elastic force stored in the elastic portion 52 of the working member 28.

[0066] When the second rail 24 is further displaced in the retracting direction D2 with respect to the first rail 22, the slide-facilitating device 26 responds to the displacement of the second rail 24 by moving from the predetermined position K in the retracting direction D2, and the elastic portion 52 of the working member 28 releases the elastic force stored therein and thereby brings the working member 28 from the second state S2 (see FIG. 10 and FIG. 10A) back to the first state S1 (see FIG. 11 and FIG. 11A).

[0067] It is worth mentioning that, referring to FIG. 9 and FIG. 9A, the hole 66 of the predetermined portion 54 is substantially larger in size than the engaging feature 42 of the slide-facilitating device 26. More specifically, the first hole wall 68a and the second hole wall 68b define the longitudinal dimension of the hole 66 therebetween, and the longitudinal dimension of the hole 66 is substantially greater (or slightly greater) than the longitudinal dimension of the engaging feature 42 (e.g., an engaging hook) so that the engaging feature 42 can be received in the hole 66 with a predetermined degree of looseness. The predetermined degree of looseness allows the engaging feature 42 of the slide-facilitating device 26 to be easily disengaged from the hole 66 of the predetermined portion 54 of the working member 28 when the working member 28 is moved from the first state S1 to the second state S2 by the releasing feature 37 (or more particularly the second guiding structure 39b thereof) of the second rail 24 in response to the insertion of the second rail 24 into the channel 32 of the first rail 22 in the retracting direction D2. If the engaging feature 42 and the hole 66 are so sized that the engaging feature 42 and the hole walls (e.g., the first hole wall 68a and the second hole wall 68b) of the hole 66 may engage with each other too tightly to allow easy disengagement or may disengage from each other because of excessive tightness of engagement, the engaging feature 42 of the slide-facilitating device 26 and the predetermined portion 54 of the working member 28 may be deformed or damaged as a result.

[0068] It can be known from the above that the slide rail assembly 20 according to the foregoing embodiment of the present invention preferably has the following features: [0069] 1. When the predetermined portion 54 of the working member 28 is subjected to an external force (e.g., either of the action forces stated above), the external force can be mitigated by the movement (e.g., pivotal movement) of the working member 28 with respect to the first rail 22 and by the elasticity of the elastic portion 52 of the working member 28, lest the predetermined portion 54 of the working member 28 be deformed by the external force. This helps increase the reliability in use of the slide rail assembly 20. [0070] 2. The size of the hole 66 of the predetermined portion 54 is substantially larger than that of the engaging feature 42 of the slide-facilitating device 26. [0071] 3. The main body portion 50, the elastic portion 52, and the predetermined portion 54 may be integrated into one unit in order for the working member 28 to be a single component.

[0072] While the present invention has been disclosed by way of the preferred embodiment described above, the embodiment is not intended to be restrictive of the scope of the invention. The scope of the patent protection sought by the applicant is defined by the appended claims.