The present invention relates in general to drawer slides, and in particular to a staging lock for a sequencing extension and retraction of drawer slide members.
Drawer slides have been provided for supporting chassis, or drawers, in a cantilevered arrangement, such that the chassis may be inserted into and removed from within a cabinet or a rack while supported by respective drawer slides. Drawer slides usually have two or three slide members, with a first slide member mounted to a cabinet, or rack, and a second slide member mounted to the chassis. Three part drawer slides have three slide members: a cabinet member which is mounted in fixed relation to a cabinet or rack, an intermediate member which is slidably mounted to the cabinet member for telescopically extending from and retracting into the cabinet member, and a chassis member which is slidably mounted to the intermediate member for telescopically extending from and retracting into the intermediate member. An equipment chassis, or drawer, is mounted to the chassis member. Bearings spaced apart by bearing retainers have been provided between mating drawer slide members. Some drawer slides have frictional sliding engagement between mating drawer slide members, rather than bearings.
Drawer slide locks have been provided for selectively latching drawer slide members in selected relative positions. Staging locks have been used with three part drawer slides to selectively determine the sequence of whether the intermediate member or the chassis member is the first to extend from within a cabinet member, and whether the intermediate member or the chassis member is the first to move from an extended position into the cabinet member or the intermediate member, respectively. Staging locks have been mounted to intermediate members and engage cam forms on the cabinet members to move between open positions, or unlatched positions, and closed positions, or latched positions. Lock catches have been provided on the chassis members for the staging locks to engage when disposed in the closed positions, or locked positions, when respective chassis members, intermediate members and cabinet members are disposed in selected relative relations. The lock catches have been provided by forms stamped into web portions of cabinet members. For some applications, it is desirable that the chassis member fully extend from within the intermediate member prior to extension of the intermediate member from the cabinet member, and that the chassis member fully retract into the intermediate member prior to the intermediate member retracting into the cabinet member.
A staging lock is provided for a three part drawer slide for selectively determining the sequence at which the chassis member and the intermediate member will extend from a cabinet member. The staging lock is pivotally mounted to the intermediate member, and has and actuation portion which includes a follower tab and a lock tab. The follower tab engages a cam form embossed on the cabinet member to disposed the staging lock in an open position, or unlocked position. The lock tab engages a staging lock catch formed into the chassis member. When disposed in the closed position, or locked position, the lock tab will engage the staging lock catch to secure the chassis member in fixed relative relation to the intermediate member. Preferably, the staging lock, the cam form and the staging lock catch are disposed in relative positions for retaining the chassis member in fixed relation to the intermediate member until the intermediate member is fully extended from within the cabinet member. Upon full extension of the intermediate member, the follower tab of the staging lock will engage the cam form of the cabinet member, moving the staging lock to the open position and releasing the lock tab from engaging the staging lock catch. The chassis member may then extend from within the intermediate member. A rear lock is preferably provided for securing the intermediate member in an extended position until the chassis member is fully retracted within the intermediate member, and the staging lock is moved from engaging the cam form and engages the staging lock catch to secure in the chassis member in fixed relation relative to the intermediate member.
For a more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings in which
Referring to
Still referring to
The bias spring 28 has an arcuately shaped, elongated body 94 which is preferably formed of a spring wire. The body 94 of the spring 28 will fit within the relief space 50 adjacent the relief surface 52 on the cabinet side of the staging lock 22, enclosing the end portions of the spring 28. The end portions of the spring 28 are formed into an L-shaped configuration to define a mounting tab 96 and a mounting tab 98, each of the opposite end portions extending orthogonal to a central portion of the spring 28 and orthogonal to the longitudinal axis 30 when mounted to the intermediate member 16. The mounting tab 96 extends through the spring mounting hole 38 formed into the rearward end of the staging lock 22, and the mounting tab 98 extends through a spring mounting aperture 102 formed in the intermediate member 16. The mounting tab 98 is preferably formed of one of the terminal ends of the spring 28 in an L-shape, and the wire forming the spring 28 is doubled, with one portion of the spring 28 disposed adjacent to another portion. The mounting tab 96 is preferably L-shaped. A spring mounting tab 100 is formed into an edge of the web portion of the intermediate member 16, and is preferably formed for securing a central portion of the bias spring 28 to the intermediate member 16. In some embodiments, the spring may fit between an outward end portion of the tab 100 and the web portion of the intermediate member 16 in a press fit engagement, such that it snaps into the intermediate member 16. The web portion of the intermediate member 16 further includes the spring mounting aperture 102 for receiving the mounting tab 98 of the bias spring 28.
The rear lock 24 is moveably mounted to the web portion of the intermediate member 16 by a mounting boss defined by rivet a 134, preferably in a rotatably mounted arrangement. The rear lock 24 includes a tab 136 and a cam follower edge 140 defined by the tab 136. The cam follower edge 140 of the rear lock tab 136 engages within the profile 148 of the chassis member 18 defined by the flange portions and web portion of the chassis member 18. The tab 136 engages within the profile 148 of the chassis member 18 to move, preferably rotate, the rear lock 24 from a first position, a lock position, to a second position, a release position. In the lock position, the rear lock 24 is aligned for engaging the cam surface 128 and moving alongside and then adjacent to the stop surface 130 for engaging the stop surface 130 of the rear lock catch 126. In the release position, the rear lock 24 is disposed in a position removed from being disposed adjacent the stop surface 130, such that the rear lock 24 will not engage either the stop surface 130 or the cam surface 128. The rear lock 24 preferably has an integral spring arm 138 which extends to engage between a pair of tabs 150 (one shown) formed as parallel lance protrusion into one side of the web portion of the intermediate member 16. A lock tab 142 extends through a window 146 formed into the web portion of the intermediate member 16 for engaging the rear lock catch 126 of the chassis member 14. When the intermediate member 16 is moving forward relative to the cabinet member 14, the lock tab 142 will engage the cam surface 128 and move adjacent the stop surface 160, and the spring arm 138 will then urge the lock tab 142 to a position for abutting the stop surface 130. The lock tab 142 abuts the stop surface 130 to prevent the intermediate member 16 from being retracted into the cabinet member 14, retaining the intermediate member 16 in an extended position. The intermediate member 16 will preferably remain in the extended position until the chassis member 18 is fully retracted within the intermediate member 16, such that the profile 148 of the chassis member 18 engages the cam follower edge 140 defined by the tab 136 to urge the lock tab 142 to move outward and aside of the stop surface 130 of the rear lock catch 126. The rear lock 24 is preferably stamped from sheet metal, with the tab 136 and the integral spring arm 130 and the lock tab 142 formed as an integral part from a single piece of metal. A strengthening rib 144 is formed in a central portion of the rear lock 24 by an embossment.
A staging lock and a rear lock are provided which are moveably mounted to an intermediate member in spaced apart relation. The staging lock engages the chassis member and prevents the chassis member from extending from within the intermediate member until the intermediate member is fully extended from within the cabinet member. An actuating cam and a rear lock catch are provided by embossments formed into the web portion of the cabinet member. The actuating cam and the rear lock catch are configured such that during movement of the chassis member and the intermediate member from within the cabinet member, the actuating cam will move the staging lock from engaging the chassis member and the rear lock catch will be engaged by the rear lock when the intermediate member is in a fully extended position relative to the cabinet member. As the chassis member is moved from being extended to being fully retracted within the intermediated member, the staging lock will engage the chassis member and the rear lock will release the cabinet member such that the chassis member and the intermediate member are retracted together into the cabinet member, in fixed relative relation. Preferably, the staging lock catch, the actuating cam and the rear lock catch are provided by embossments stamped into web portions of respective ones of the chassis member and the cabinet member.
Although the preferred embodiment has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
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