1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to slide rails. Particularly, the present invention relates to a slide rail with a rack for ball bearings.
2. Description of Related Art
Slide rails are used for guiding objects, such as drawers, to be pulled into or out from bodies, such as furniture. There are several kinds of slide rails, some have ball bearings but others have not. Slide rails without ball bearings have lower costs than those having ball bearings and generally have two slides movable relative to each other. The two slides contact each other without ball bearings, which makes pushing and pulling of the slides difficult because friction between the slides.
Slide rails having ball bearings are easy to be pulled or pushed, however, the slides are difficult to be installed if the racks are not fixed, which may cause the slides and the racks to be damaged.
In one embodiment, a slide rail includes an inner slide, an intermediate slide, a rack and a positioning element. The intermediate slide is used for receiving the inner slide, a block is positioned at an end of the intermediate slide. The rack has a plurality of ball bearings and is disposed between the inner slide and the intermediate slide. The rack is used for providing smooth movement between the inner slide and the intermediate slide. An end of the rack is resisted against the block. The positioning element includes a fixing portion mounted to the intermediate slide, and a resilient hook portion having an ear part, the ear part capable of resisting against the other end of the rack to locate the rack.
Other advantages and novel features of the slide rail will become more apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring to
The rack 20 is installed between the inner slide 40 and the intermediate slide 60, for assisting relative motion between the inner slide 40 and the intermediate slide 60. The inner slide 40, together with the rack 20, is generally received in the intermediate slide 60, and the intermediate slide 60 is generally received in the outer slide 70.
The rack 20 includes a main part 22 and two flanges 24 perpendicularly extending in a same direction from opposite sides of the main part 22 respectively. The main part 22 includes two first guiding grooves 220, 222 stamped therefrom and respectively connected to the two flanges 24, and a first flat part 224 connected between the first guiding grooves 220, 222. The first guiding grooves 220, 222 are symmetrically connected to opposite edges of the first flat part 224. The first flat part 224 is slightly raised from the first guiding grooves 220, 222. A hole 226 is defined in one end of the first guiding groove 220. A plurality of ball bearings 240 is rotatably mounted in each flange 24.
The inner slide 40 includes an inner portion 42 and two sidewalls 44 generally perpendicularly extending from opposite sides of the inner portion 42 respectively. Each of the sidewalls 44 is slightly concave to form a first slideway at an outer surface thereof.
The intermediate slide 60 includes an intermediate portion 62, two sidewalls 64 extending from opposite sides of the intermediate portion 62, and a block 66. The intermediate portion 62 includes two second guiding grooves 620 stamped therefrom and connected to the corresponding sidewalls 64, and a second flat part 624 connected between the second guiding grooves 620. The second flat part 624 is slightly raised from the second guiding grooves 620 that are symmetrically connected to opposite edges of the second flat part 624. Each sidewall 64 is concave to form a second slideway 640 at an inner surface thereof. The block 66 includes a base mounted to an end of the intermediate portion 62, and two arms 660 extending from opposite sides of the base. The arms 660 are attached to inner surfaces of the corresponding sidewalls 64. A slot 626 is defined in the intermediate portion 62 at a junction of the second flat part 624 and one of the second guiding grooves 620, a distance between the slot 626 and the block 60 is generally equal to a length of the rack 20.
The outer slide 70 includes an outer portion 72, and two sidewalls 74 extending from opposite sides of the outer portion 72 respectively. The intermediate slide 60 is received in a space bounded by the outer portion 72 and the sidewalls 74.
Referring also to
Referring also to
Referring also to
Referring also to
The rack 20 is capable of being restricted between the block 66 and the positioning element 80. After the rack 20 is restricted, the inner slide 40 can be easily inserted into the intermediate slide 60 because of the ball bearings 240. Moreover, the inner slide 40 cannot collide with the rack 20 because the inner slide 40 is kept a slight distance from the rack 20 via being supported by the block 66.
The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and their practical application so as to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention and various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains without departing from its spirit and scope. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description and the exemplary embodiments described therein.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2007 1 0200199 | Feb 2007 | CN | national |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
4469384 | Fler et al. | Sep 1984 | A |
6254210 | Parvin | Jul 2001 | B1 |
6824233 | Chen et al. | Nov 2004 | B2 |
6851773 | Chen et al. | Feb 2005 | B2 |
20040207301 | Chen et al. | Oct 2004 | A1 |
20040239221 | Yang | Dec 2004 | A1 |
20060033409 | Chen et al. | Feb 2006 | A1 |
20060163983 | Wu | Jul 2006 | A1 |
20060244349 | Chen et al. | Nov 2006 | A1 |
20080122333 | Tseng et al. | May 2008 | A1 |
20080150409 | Huang et al. | Jun 2008 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20080191593 A1 | Aug 2008 | US |