Leaf table having lockable slide rails

Abstract

Several slide rail locks for use with a slide rail assembly for an extendable table are disclosed, each including a clamping mechanism to prevent the slide rails from sliding in a clamping position and allow the slide rails to slide in a released position. A distinctive slide rail assembly is also disclosed which uses rollers to facilitate smooth extension and retraction of the rails, and with which one of the slide rail locks is used.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an extendable table with the locking mechanism and slide rails of the present invention mounted thereon.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the table of FIG. 1 with the legs of the table shown in section.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the slide rail of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the slide rail shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the slide rail shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 3 showing a portion of the first embodiment of the locking mechanism.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 3 showing the portion of the first embodiment of the locking mechanism shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of another portion of the first embodiment of the locking mechanism which is used with the portions shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 to make up the locking mechanism.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the portion of the locking mechanism shown in FIG. 8 when assembled.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 6 showing the locking mechanism completely assembled and mounted on the slide rail assembly in the unlocked position.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 7 showing the assembled locking mechanism shown in FIG. 10 in the unlocked position.

FIG. 12 is a bottom plan view similar to FIG. 2 showing the leaf table sections having been spread apart from one another and a leaf inserted therebetween while the locking mechanisms are in the unlocked position.

FIG. 13 is similar to FIG. 12 and shows the table sections having slid toward one another to abut the inserted table leaf and the locking mechanisms having moved to the locked position to secure the slide rails to prevent them from sliding and thus secure the leaf sections and leaf in the desired position.

FIG. 14 is similar to FIG. 10 and shows the locking mechanism in the locked position.

FIG. 15 is an end elevational view of a second embodiment of the locking mechanism of the present invention mounted on a slide rail assembly in the unlocked position.

FIG. 16 is similar to FIG. 15 and shows the locking mechanism in the locked position.

FIG. 17 is an end elevational view similar to FIG. 15 of a third embodiment of a locking mechanism of the present invention mounted on a slide rail assembly in the unlocked position.

FIG. 18 is similar to FIG. 17 and shows the locking mechanism in the locked position.

FIG. 19 is a bottom plan view of the third embodiment.

Claims

1. A slide rail lock for use with an extendable table slide rail assembly having at least two rails mounted on and movable relative to one another between extended and retracted positions, the lock comprising: first and second clamping members movable between a clamping position for clamping therebetween the at least two rails to prevent relative movement between the at least two rails and a released position for allowing relative movement between the at least two rails; anda locking mechanism for securing the first and second clamping members in the clamping position.

2. The slide rail lock of claim 1 further comprising a mounting member for mounting the lock on the slide rail assembly.

3. The slide rail lock of claim 2 further comprising a fastener projecting upwardly from the mounting member for engaging the slide rail assembly to mount the lock thereon.

4. The slide rail lock of claim 3 wherein the fastener is threaded.

5. The slide rail lock of claim 2 further comprising a mounting hole formed in the mounting member adapted to receive there through a fastener for mounting the lock on the slide rail assembly.

6. The slide rail lock of claim 2 wherein the clamping members are pivotally connected to the mounting member; and the locking mechanism comprises a first arm pivotally connected to the first clamping member and a second arm pivotally connected to the second clamping member and the first arm.

7. The slide rail lock of claim 2 further comprising an upwardly-facing mounting surface on the mounting member adapted to engage a downwardly-facing surface of the slide rail assembly when mounted thereon; and first and second pivots on the mounting member below the mounting surface; and wherein the first clamping member is pivotally connected to the mounting member at the first pivot; and the second clamping member is pivotally connected to the mounting member at the second pivot.

8. The slide rail lock of claim 1 further comprising a rigid spacing member between the clamping members; and an actuating member extending from the first clamping member to the second clamping member, mounted on the clamping members and movable relative to the spacing member; and wherein the clamping members are mounted on the spacing member and movable relative thereto in response to movement of the actuating member.

9. The slide rail lock of claim 1 further comprising a spacing member between the clamping members; and first and second pivots; and wherein the first clamping member is pivotally connected to the spacing member at the first pivot; and the second clamping member is pivotally connected to the spacing member at the second pivot.

10. The slide rail lock of claim 9 wherein each clamping member comprises first and second segments; the first and second segments of the first clamping member extend in generally opposite directions respectively from the first pivot; the first and second segments of the second clamping member extend in generally opposite directions respectively from the second pivot; and further comprising first and second clamping surfaces respectively on the first segments for abutting the rails in the clamping position; and an actuating mechanism which engages the second segments for moving the second segments away from one another to move the clamping members to the clamping position and toward one another to move the clamping members to the released position.

11. The slide rail lock of claim 9 further comprising third, fourth and fifth pivots; and first and second arms; and wherein the first arm is pivotally connected to the first clamping member at the third pivot; and the second arm is pivotally connected to the second clamping member at the fourth pivot and the first arm at the fifth pivot.

12. The slide rail lock of claim 11 wherein the third and fourth pivots lie on a common plane; and the fifth pivot has a center disposed on opposite sides of the plane respectively in the clamping and released positions.

13. The slide rail lock of claim 11 wherein the second arm comprises a manually operable handle for actuating pivotal movement of the second arm.

14. The slide rail lock of claim 1 further comprising first, second and third pivots; first and second arms; and a spacing member between the clamping members; and wherein the clamping members are mounted on the spacing member and movable relative thereto; the first arm is pivotally connected to the first clamping member at the first pivot; and the second arm is pivotally connected to the second clamping member at the second pivot and the first arm at the third pivot.

15. The slide rail lock of claim 14 wherein the first and second pivots lie on a common plane; and the third pivot has a center disposed on opposite sides of the plane respectively in the clamping and released positions.

16. The slide rail lock of claim 1 in combination with the slide rail assembly comprising first and second rails mounted on and movable relative to one another between extended and retracted positions; and wherein the slide rail lock is mounted on the slide rail assembly.

17. The combination of claim 16 wherein the first and second rails are compressed together between the clamping members to abut one another in the clamping position.

18. The combination of claim 16 wherein the slide rail assembly comprises a third rail mounted on and movable relative to the first and second rails between the extended and retracted positions; the second rail is between the first and third rails; and in the clamping position, the first rail abuts the second rail, the second rail abuts the third rail, the first clamping member abuts the first rail and the second clamping member abuts the third rail.

19. The slide rail lock of claim 1 in combination with the slide rail assembly comprising first and second rails mounted on and movable relative to one another between extended and retracted positions; and wherein in the clamping position the first clamping member abuts each of the two rails and the second clamping member abuts each of the two rails.

20. The combination of claim 19 wherein the rails have respective upwardly-facing surfaces and respective downwardly-facing surfaces; and in the clamping position the first clamping member engages the upwardly-facing surfaces and the second clamping member engages the downwardly-facing surfaces.