Supporting Device

The present invention relates to a supporting device, and more specifically, to a supporting device capable of reducing a relative displacement speed of two slide rails when one of the two slide rails displaces relative to the other one of the two slide rails for a predetermined distance.

China Patent No. 219331097 U discloses a rolling ball slide rail. The rolling ball slide rail includes an outer rail, an inner rail, a middle rail and a restraining mechanism. The middle rail is disposed between the outer rail and the inner rail. The restraining mechanism is disposed between the outer rail and the middle rail and between the middle rail and the inner rail. Besides, the rolling ball slide rail further includes a first blocking mechanism and a second blocking mechanism. The first blocking mechanism is disposed between the outer rail and the middle rail for providing buffering and anti-rebounding effects for the middle rail. The second blocking mechanism is disposed between the middle rail and the inner rail for providing buffering and anti-rebounding effects for the inner rail.

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a supporting device capable of reducing a relative displacement speed of two slide rails when one of the two slide rails displaces relative to the other one of the two slide rails for a predetermined distance.

According to aspect of the present invention, a supporting device includes a first rail, a second rail, a third rail, a first predetermined feature and a second predetermined feature. The second rail is displaceable relative to the first rail along a longitudinal direction. The third rail is movably mounted between the first rail and the second rail. The first predetermined feature is arranged on one of the first rail and the third rail. The second predetermined feature is arranged on another one of the first rail and the third rail. When the second rail and the third rail displace relative to the first rail along a predetermined direction, the first predetermined feature and the second predetermined feature abut against each other for reducing a displacement speed of the third rail relative to the first rail along the predetermined direction.

According to aspect of the present invention, a supporting device includes a first bracket, two slide rails, a first predetermined feature, a second predetermined feature, a second bracket and at least one ventilation hole structure. The two slide rails is arranged on the first bracket and displaceable relative to each other along a longitudinal direction. The first predetermined feature arranged on one of the two slide rails. The second predetermined feature is arranged on another one of the two slide rails. The second bracket is displaceable relative to the first bracket along the longitudinal direction. The at least one ventilation hole structure is arranged on one of the first bracket and the second bracket. When the two slide rails displace relative to each other, the first predetermined feature and the second predetermined feature abut against each other for reducing a relative displacement speed of the two slide rails.

According to aspect of the present invention, a supporting device is adapted for a rack including a first post and a second post. The supporting device includes a first bracket, a second bracket, a first rail, a second rail, a third rail, a first predetermined feature and a second predetermined feature. The first bracket is configured to be mounted on the first post. The first bracket includes a first side and a second side opposite to the first side. The second bracket is configured to be mounted on the second post. The second bracket is connected to the first side of the first bracket in an extending or retracting manner. The first rail is arranged on the second side of the first bracket. The second rail is arranged on the second side of the first bracket and displaceable relative to the first rail along a longitudinal direction. The second rail is configured to support an electronic apparatus. The third rail is movably mounted between the first rail and the second rail. The first predetermined feature is arranged on one of the first rail and the third rail. The second predetermined feature is arranged on another one of the first rail and the third rail. When the second rail and the third rail displace relative to the first rail along a predetermined direction, the first predetermined feature and the second predetermined feature abut against each other for reducing a displacement speed of one of the third rail and the second rail relative to the first rail along the predetermined direction.

In summary, the supporting device of the present invention can reduce a relative displacement speed of two slide rails when one of the two slide rails displaces relative to the other one of the two slide rails for a predetermined distance and/or dissipate heat by the at least one ventilation hole structure arranged on one of the first bracket and the second bracket.

These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings.

In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. In this regard, directional terminology, such as “top”, “bottom”, “left”, “right”, “front”, “back”, etc., is used with reference to the orientation of the Figure(s) being described. The components of the present invention can be positioned in a number of different orientations. As such, the directional terminology is used for purposes of illustration and is in no way limiting. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions will be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive. Also, if not specified, the term “connect” is intended to mean either an indirect or direct mechanical connection. Thus, if a first device is connected to a second device, that connection may be through a direct mechanical connection, or through an indirect mechanical connection via other devices and connections.

As shown inand, a supporting deviceincludes a slide rail assemblyand/or includes a first bracketand a second bracketdisplaceable relative to the first bracketalong a longitudinal direction. In this embodiment, by way of example, the longitudinal direction can be defined by a length direction of a bracket, e.g., the first bracketor the second bracket, and parallel to an X axis. A transverse direction can be defined by a lateral direction or a width direction of the bracket, e.g., the first bracketor the second bracket, and parallel to a Y axis. A vertical direction can be defined by a height direction of the bracket, e.g., the first bracketor the second bracket, and parallel to a Z axis.

The supporting devicefurther includes at least one first ventilation hole structure Harranged on the first bracket. In this embodiment, by way of examples, the supporting deviceincludes a plurality of first ventilation hole structures Harranged at intervals along the longitudinal direction.

Specifically, as shown into, the first bracketincludes a first wall, a second walland a lateral wallconnected between the first walland the second wallof the first bracket. The first ventilation hole structure Hincludes a first part PIA and a second part PA, and the first part PA of the first ventilation hole structure His arranged on one of the first walland the second wallof the first bracket, and the second part PA of the first ventilation hole structure His arranged on the lateral wallof the first bracket.

Preferably, the first part PIA of the first ventilation hole structure Hon the first wallor the second wallof the first bracketis communicated with the second part PA of the first ventilation hole structure Hon the lateral wallof the first bracket.

Furthermore, the first bracketor the longitudinal wallof the first bracketincludes a first end portionand a second end portionopposite to the first end portionalong the longitudinal direction. In this embodiment, by way of examples, the first end portionand the second end portionof the first bracketare a front end portion and a rear end portion of the first bracket, respectively. A first end plateis arranged adjacent to the first end portionof the first bracketand substantially perpendicular to the lateral wallof the first bracket. At least one first mounting memberis arranged on the first end plate. Besides, the first bracketor the longitudinal wallof the first bracketincludes a first side Sand a second side Sopposite to the first side Salong the transverse direction.

Preferably, the second bracketis connected to the first side Sof the first bracketin an extending or retracting manner along the longitudinal direction. In this embodiment, by way of example, the first wall, the second walland the lateral wallof the first bracketcooperatively define a channelof the first bracketlocated at the first side Sof the first bracket, and an entrance of the channelof the first bracketis located adjacent to the second end portionof the first bracketfor allowing the second bracketto be movably mounted on the channellocated at the first side Sof the first bracket. Besides, the second side Sof the first bracketis configured to arrange at least one slide rail. In this embodiment, by way of example, the second side Sof the first bracketis configured to arrange the slide rail assemblywhich has a plurality of slide rails displaceable relative to each other along the longitudinal direction.

The supporting devicefurther includes at least one second ventilation hole structure Harranged on the second bracket. In this embodiment, by way of examples, the supporting deviceincludes a plurality of second ventilation hole structures Harranged at intervals along the longitudinal direction. The second ventilation hole structure Hand the first ventilation hole structure Hcan have substantially identical structures. Specifically, as shown into, the second bracketincludes a first wall, a second walland a lateral wallconnected between the first walland the second wallof the second bracket. The second ventilation hole structure Hincludes a first part PB and a second part PB, and the first part PIB of the second ventilation hole structure His arranged on one of the first walland the second wallof the second bracket, and the second part PB of the second ventilation hole structure His arranged on the lateral wallof the second bracket.

Furthermore, the second bracketor the lateral wallof the second bracketincludes a first end portionand a second end portionopposite to the first end portionalong the longitudinal direction. In this embodiment, by way of examples, the first end portionand the second end portionof the second bracketare a front end portion and a rear end portion of the second bracket, respectively. A second end plateis arranged adjacent to the second end portionof the second bracketand substantially perpendicular to the lateral wallof the second bracket. At least one second mounting memberis arranged on the second end plate. The lateral wallof the second bracketis connected to the channelof the first bracketin an extending or retracting manner along the longitudinal direction, and the second end plateis located outside the channelof the first bracket.

Preferably, the first bracketand the second brackethave different longitudinal lengths. In this embodiment, by way of example, a longitudinal length of the lateral wallof the first bracketis greater than a longitudinal length of the lateral wallof the second bracket. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

Preferably, a first blocking portionand a second blocking portionare arranged on the first bracketand the second bracket, respectively. The first bracketand the second bracketare configured to block each other, e.g., for preventing detachment of the second bracketfrom the channelof the first bracket.

Preferably, the supporting devicefurther includes a resilient memberconfigured to provide a resilient force to the first bracketand the second bracket.

Preferably, the first wall, the second walland the lateral wallof the first bracketare configured to support the first wall, the second walland the lateral wallof the second bracket.

As shown in, when the second bracketis located at a predetermined position Krelative to the first bracket, the first ventilation hole structure His located at a position corresponding to the second ventilation hole structure Hand communicated with the second ventilation hole structure H, e.g., the first ventilation hole structure His completely aligned with the second ventilation hole structure H, so as to allow an air communication between two sides of the supporting devicethrough the first ventilation hole structure Hand the second ventilation hole structure H. It should be noticed that, in this embodiment, the first part PIA of the first ventilation hole structure His arranged within a predetermined region of the first wallor the second wallof the first bracket, and the second part PA of the first ventilation hole structure His arranged within a predetermined region of the lateral wallof the first bracket.

As shown in, when the second bracketis located at another predetermined position Krelative to the first bracket, the first ventilation hole structure His not completely aligned with the second ventilation hole structure Hand is partially communicated with the second ventilation hole structure H, e.g., the first ventilation hole structure His partially covered by a portion of the second bracket, e.g., the first wall, the second wallor the lateral wallof the second bracket, and an uncovered portion of the first ventilation hole structure His communicated with a portion of the second ventilation hole structure H, such that the air communication between the two sides of the supporting devicethrough the first ventilation hole structure Hand the second ventilation hole structure His still allowed.

As shown in, the slide rail assemblyincludes a first railand a second raildisplaceable relative to the first railalong the longitudinal direction. Preferably, the slide rail assemblyfurther includes a third railmovably mounted between the first railand the second rail. In other words, in this embodiment, by way of example, the slide rail assemblyincludes three slide rails, i.e., the first rail, the second railand the third rail, and the second railcan be considered to be an additional slide rail relative to the first railand the third rail. A first predetermined featureis arranged on one of the first railand the third rail. A second predetermined featureis arranged on the other one of the first railand the third rail. The first predetermined featureand the second predetermined featureare configured to cooperate with each other. In this embodiment, by way of example, the first predetermined featureis arranged on the first rail, and the second predetermined featureis arranged on the third rail. Preferably, as shown in, the first predetermined featureis a protruding portion of an elastic structure, e.g., an elastic clip, which is connected to the first rail, and the second predetermined featureis a protruding section. The first predetermined featureincludes a first guiding surfaceand a second guiding surfaceopposite to the first guiding surfacealong the longitudinal direction. In this embodiment, by way of example, the first guiding surfaceand the second guiding surfaceare inclined surfaces or arc surfaces. Furthermore, the second predetermined featureincludes a first guiding structureand a second guiding structureopposite to the first guiding structurealong the longitudinal direction. In this embodiment, by way of example, the first guiding structureand the second guiding structureare inclined surfaces or arc surfaces.

As shown in, the supporting deviceis adapted for a rack. The rackincludes a first postand a second post, and the first postand the second postare spaced from each other by a first longitudinal distance. When the second bracketis located at the predetermined position K, the first mounting memberof the first bracketand the second mounting memberof the second bracketare configured to be mounted onto the first postand the second post, respectively, and the first ventilation hole structure Hand the second ventilation hole structure Hare configured to be aligned with and communicated with each other. Besides, as shown in, the first railof the slide rail assemblyis connected, e.g., fixedly connected, to the second side Sof the first bracket, and the second railis located at a retracted position R relative to the first railand configured to support an electronic apparatus.

When the first bracketand the second bracketare mounted on the first postand the second post, respectively, the first ventilation hole structure Hand the second ventilation hole structure Hare aligned with and communicated with each other, such that the air communication between the two sides of the supporting devicethrough the first ventilation hole structure Hand the second ventilation hole structure His allowed for dissipating heat generated from a predetermined portionof the electronic apparatus.

Since the first ventilation hole structure Hincludes the first part PIA on the first wallor the second wallof the first bracketand the second part PA on the lateral wallof the first bracketand communicated with the first part PIA, and the second ventilation hole structure Hincludes the first part PB on the first wallor the second wallof the second bracketand the second part PB on the lateral wallof the second bracketand communicated with the first part PB, the heat generated from the predetermined portionof the electronic apparatuscan be dissipated through the second part PA of the first ventilation hole structure Hand the second part PB of the second ventilation hole structure Htransversely, i.e., along the Y axis, and through the first part PIA of the first ventilation hole structure Hand the first part PB of the second ventilation hole structure Hvertically, i.e., along the Z axis.

It should be noticed that when the second bracketis located at the another predetermined position K, the first mounting memberof the first bracketand the second mounting memberof the second bracketare respectively configured to be mounted onto a first post and a second post of another rack, which are spaced from each other by a second longitudinal distance different from the first longitudinal distance between the first postand the second postof the rack.

As shown into, as mentioned above, when the second bracketis located at the predetermined position Krelative to the first bracketand the first bracketand the second bracketare mounted onto the first postand the second post, respectively, the first ventilation hole structure Hand the second ventilation hole structure Hare located at positions corresponding to each other and communicated with each other for dissipating the heat generated from the predetermined portionof the electronic apparatuson the second rail.

As shown in, the second railand the third railare retracted relative to the first rail. Preferably, when the second raildisplaces relative to the first railfrom the retracted position as shown inalong a predetermined direction D, e.g., an opening direction D, the second railand the third railcan displace synchronously along the predetermined direction Dby a synchronization mechanism, and then the synchronization mechanism can be terminated by an auxiliary feature on the first railwhen the second railand the third raildisplace synchronously for a predetermined distance along the predetermined direction D. Detailed description for the synchronization mechanism is omitted herein for simplicity.

Furthermore, as shown into, when the second railand the third raildisplace relative to the first railalong the predetermined direction D, the first guiding structureof the second predetermined featurecan abut against the first guiding surfaceof the first predetermined feature, so as to generate a resistance force for reducing a displacement speed of the third railand a displacement speed of the second railrelative to the first railalong the predetermined direction D. As shown in, the first predetermined featurecan be resiliently deformed to accumulate a resilient force. As shown in, when the second railand the third railfurther displace relative to the first railalong the predetermined direction Dto drive the second predetermined featureto pass over the first predetermined feature, the first predetermined featureis recovered to release the resilient force. It can be understood that the aforementioned abutment of the first predetermined featureand the second predetermined featurecan reduce the displacement speed of the third railand the displacement speed of the second railrelative to the first railalong the predetermined direction D, and therefore it can prevent any impact caused by an excessive displacement speed of the second railor an excessive displacement speed of the electronic apparatusalong the predetermined direction Dso as to achieve safety and/or protective effects.

Similarly, as shown into, when the second railand the third raildisplace relative to the first railalong another predetermined direction D, e.g., a retracting direction, which is opposite to the predetermined direction D, the second guiding structureof the second predetermined featurecan abut against the second guiding surfaceof the first predetermined feature, so as to reduce a displacement speed of the third railand a displacement speed of the second railrelative to the first railalong the another predetermined direction Duntil the second predetermined featurepasses over the first predetermined feature, e.g., by moving from a position as shown into a position as shown inthrough a position as shown in. It can be understood that the aforementioned abutment of the first predetermined featureand the second predetermined featurecan reduce the displacement speed of the third railand the displacement speed of the second railrelative to the first railalong the another predetermined direction D, and therefore it can prevent any impact caused by an excessive displacement speed of the second railor an excessive displacement speed of the electronic apparatusalong the another predetermined direction D, so as to achieve safety and/or protective effects.

From the above, the supporting deviceof the present invention includes the following characteristics.

1. When one of the slide rails, e.g., the third rail, displaces relative to another one of the slide rails, e.g., the first rail, along the predetermined direction D, the first predetermined featureand the second predetermined featurecan abut against each other to generate a frictional resistance force for reducing a displacement speed of the one of the slide rails relative to the another one of the slide rails along the predetermined direction D, so as to achieve safety and/or protective effects.

2. When the second railand the third raildisplace relative to the first railalong the predetermined direction D, the first predetermined featureand the second predetermined featurecan abut against each other to generate a frictional resistance force for reducing the displacement speed of the third railand the displacement speed of the second railrelative to the first railalong the predetermined direction D, so as to prevent any impact caused by an excessive displacement speed of the second railor an excessive displacement speed of the electronic apparatusalong the predetermined direction Dfor achieving safety and/or protective effects.

3. The first part PIA of the first ventilation hole structure Hon the first wallor the second wallof the first bracketis communicated with the second part PA of the first ventilation hole structure Hon the lateral wallof the first bracket, and the first part PIB of the second ventilation hole structure Hon the first wallor the second wallof the second bracketis communicated with the second part PB of the second ventilation hole structure Hon the lateral wallof the second bracket. Therefore, the heat generated from the predetermined portionof the electronic apparatuscan be dissipated through the second part PA of the first ventilation hole structure Hand the second part PB of the second ventilation hole structure Htransversely, i.e., along the Y axis, and through the first part PIA of the first ventilation hole structure Hand the first part PIB of the second ventilation hole structure Hvertically, i.e., along the Z axis.

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.