Self-closing buffer and automatic rebound mechanism for slide rail

• US 8,939,525 B1
• Filed: 01/27/2014
• Issued: 01/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Martas Precision Slide Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Martas Precision Slide Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Chen, Wan-Lai
• Primary Examiner(s): Jayne, Darnell
• Assistant Examiner(s): TEFERA, HIWOT E
• Application Number:
  US14/164,532
• Time in Patent Office: 365 Days
• Field of Search: 312/333, 312/319.1, 312/330.1, 312/334.1, 312/334.7, 312/334.8, 312/334.11, 312/334.44, 312/334.46, 312/334.47
• US Class Current: 312/333
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2210/0018 Buffers, stop blocks or latches for single drawer slides
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2210/0094 Drawer damping device with 2 relatively movable parts to convert kinetic energy
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 88/467 self-closing

Abstract

A self-closing buffer and automatic rebound mechanism for a slide rail includes a buffer body, a buffer slide block, a buffer hook block, a buffer element, at least one pull-back spring, at least one push-out spring, a pressing toggle plate and a pressing block. The slide rail consists of an outer rail, a middle rail and an inner rail, and the inner and middle rails can be sequentially pulled and extended outward or pushed inwardly, overlapped and shortened. The slide rail is installed between a drawer and a cabinet for use. When the drawer is pushed inwardly to a certain degree, the drawer is pulled back automatically to a locked position, and the pushing force is damped to lower noises. After the drawer is pushed again, the drawer is rebounded automatically to a certain distance to facilitate operations that follow, so as to improve the convenience of use significantly.

Claims

1. A self-closing buffer and automatic rebound mechanism for slide rail, wherein the slide rail is comprised of an outer rail, a middle rail and an inner rail, such that the inner rail and the middle rail can be pulled sequentially outward and extended, or pushed inwardly, overlapped, and shortened, and the inner rail has a first trigger element, and the self-closing buffer and automatic rebound mechanism comprises:

a buffer body, disposed at an inner end of the outer rail, and having a containing groove and a pair of first engaging portions formed at the center of the buffer body, and the pair of first engaging portions being disposed parallel on both sides of the containing groove, and an end of the buffer body being extended in a direction along the containing groove and having a long-strip block, and the long-strip block having a limit slide slot, and a first positioning portion and a second positioning portion being formed at both end portions of the limit slide slot respectively;

a buffer slide block, covered onto the exterior of the long-strip block, and capable of moving reciprocally in an extending direction of the long-strip block, and having a pivot hole formed on a lateral side of the buffer slide block and corresponding to the limit slide slot;

a buffer hook block, pivotally installed to the pivot hole, and having a limit block disposed on the bottom side of the buffer hook block and movably installed in the limit slide slot, such that when the buffer slide block is moved outwardly, the limit block can be latched to the first positioning portion, and when the buffer slide block is moved inwardly, the limit block can be latched to the second positioning portion, and the buffer hook block has a V-shaped groove disposed on the top side of the buffer hook block to form two first openings, so that the first trigger element can be moved together with the inner rail, and movable into or out of the second openings, so that the first trigger element can be moved together with the inner rail and movable into or out of the first openings;

a buffer element, installed in the containing groove, and having an actuation rod disposed at an end of the buffer element, and an end of the actuation rod being coupled to the buffer slide block, for buffering the force produced when the buffer slide block is pulled back;

a pressing slide block, disposed with an interval apart from a side of the buffer slide block, and situated on a side of the buffer element, for abutting an end portion of the inner rail;

at least one pull-back spring, coupled between the buffer body and the buffer slide block, for pulling back the buffer slide block;

at least one push-out spring, coupled between the buffer slide block and the pressing slide block, for pushing out the buffer slide block;

a pressing toggle plate, being an L-shaped plate structure corresponding to the buffer hook block, and pivotally installed to the outer rail, and having a bump formed at an end on a side facing the inner rail, such that when the inner rail is driven to move outwardly or inwardly, the pressing toggle plate is linked to swing at different angles; and

a pressing block, installed at an outer end of the inner rail, and having a first slide slot, a second slide slot and a third slide slot formed on the pressing block and corresponding to the bump of the pressing toggle plate, and the first slide slot, the second slide slot and the third slide slot being communicated with one another, and a divergent block being disposed between the first slide slot and the second slide slot, and a positioning block being disposed between the second slide slot and the third slide slot, and the divergent block has two second openings formed on a side of the pressing block and corresponding to the pressing toggle plate, such that when the pressing toggle plate is swung at different angles, the bump enters from one of the second openings to change a moving path to produce a rebounding or locking action.

2. The self-closing buffer and automatic rebound mechanism for slide rail according to claim 1, further comprising a hook bent from an end portion of the inner rail, and provided for driving the buffer hook block to resume its original position when the inner rail and the middle rail are pulled outwardly.

3. The self-closing buffer and automatic rebound mechanism for slide rail according to claim 2, wherein the hook includes a bevel portion corresponding to a side of the buffer hook block and passed across the buffer hook block to resume its original position.

4. The self-closing buffer and automatic rebound mechanism for slide rail according to claim 1, wherein the positioning block has a third positioning portion disposed on a side of the positioning block for temporarily latching the bump.

5. The self-closing buffer and automatic rebound mechanism for slide rail according to claim 4, wherein a first moving path is formed at the first slide slot and along a side of the divergent block, and a second moving path is formed at the first slide slot and along the other side of the divergent block to the second slide slot, and a third moving path is formed at the second slide slot and along a side of the positioning block having the third positioning portion to the third slide slot, and a fourth moving path is formed at the third slide slot and along the other side of the positioning block.

6. The self-closing buffer and automatic rebound mechanism for slide rail according to claim 5, wherein the first moving path is corresponsive to one of the second openings, and the second moving path and the fourth moving path are corresponsive to the other second opening.

7. The self-closing buffer and automatic rebound mechanism for slide rail according to claim 1, wherein the middle rail has a second trigger element corresponsive to the pressing toggle plate for pushing the pressing toggle plate to resume its original position after the inner rail is pulled out completely.