Controller for a quick disconnect slide assembly

• US 20020081887A1
• Filed: 12/19/2001
• Published: 06/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jonathan Manufacturing Corporation (Jonathan Holding Co.)
• Original Assignee: Jonathan Manufacturing Corporation (Jonathan Holding Co.)
• Inventors: Judge, Ronald J., Alba, Ted D., Lyons, Adam M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,655,763 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/348
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2088/4235 having a latch mechanism coupling or disconnecting a drawer with drawer side slide from the rest of the slide members
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2210/0016 Telescopic drawer slide latch device
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2210/0032 Balls
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2210/0059 Guide located at the side of the drawer
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 88/493 with rollers, ball bearings, wheels, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1489 characterized by the mounting of blades therein, e.g. brackets, rails, trays H05K7/1491 takes precedence

Abstract

A slide assembly is provided comprising a first slide segment, a second slide segment, and a third slide segment. A bearing assembly is provided between the second slide segment and the third slide segment. A lock arm extends from the third slide segment and is engageable with an engagement surface of the second slide segment to limit movement of the third slide segment with respect to the second slide segment. A controller is associated with the second slide segment and comprises a locking portion and an actuator portion. The locking portion extends through an opening in a side wall of the second slide segment towards the bearing retainer. The locking portion is selectively engageable with the bearing retainer to limit movement of the bearing assembly. The actuator extends through an opening in a side wall of the second slide segment between the first slide segment and the lock arm to actuate the lock arm and thereby disengage it from the engagement surface when the slide assembly is retracted.

Claims

1. A slide assembly, comprising:

a first slide segment comprising an upper wall, a lower wall, and a side wall extending between said upper and lower walls, said side wall and said upper and lower walls defining a channel;

a second slide segment movable in said channel to extend or retract said slide assembly;

a bearing assembly facilitating sliding movement of said second slide segment with respect to said first slide segment, said bearing assembly comprising a number of ball bearings and a bearing retainer, said bearing retainer having an upper retainer portion located adjacent said upper wall, a lower retainer portion located adjacent said lower wall, and a side portion located adjacent said side wall and extending between said upper and lower retainer portions, said side portion having an opening provided therein; and

a latch comprising a locking portion, said latch movable between a first position wherein said locking portion extends into said opening to limit movement of said bearing assembly in said channel, and a second position wherein said locking portion does not extend into said opening and said bearing assembly is allowed a greater freedom of movement in said channel.

2. The slide assembly of claim 1, wherein said locking portion extends into said channel through an opening formed in said side wall of said first slide segment when said latch is in said first position.

3. The slide assembly of claim 1, wherein said second slide segment comprises an upper wall, a lower wall, and a side wall, said side wall having a tab extending therefrom, said tab contacting said locking portion as said slide assembly is retracted, thereby causing said latch to move from said first position to said second position.

4. The slide assembly of claim 1, further comprising a third slide segment, said third slide segment comprising an upper wall, a lower wall, and a side wall extending between said upper and lower walls, said side wall and said upper and lower walls defining a second channel, said first slide segment movable in said second channel to extend or retract said slide assembly.

5. A slide assembly, comprising:

a first slide segment comprising an upper wall, a lower wall, and a side wall extending between said upper and lower walls, said side wall and said upper and lower walls defining a channel;

a second slide segment movable in said channel to extend or retract said slide assembly;

a bearing assembly located in said channel and facilitating sliding movement of said second slide segment with respect to said first slide segment; and

a latch comprising a locking portion, said latch movable between a first position wherein said locking portion extends into said channel to limit movement of said bearing assembly, and a second position wherein said bearing assembly is allowed a greater freedom of movement in said channel.

6. The slide assembly of claim 5, wherein said locking portion comprises a generally planar sloping front face, a generally planar sloping rear face, and a recess formed between said front face and said rear face.

7. The slide assembly of claim 6, wherein said bearing assembly comprises an upper retainer portion located adjacent said upper wall, a lower retainer portion located adjacent said lower wall, and a cross-member extending between said upper and lower retainer portions, said cross-member engageable in said recess when said latch is in said first position to lock said bearing assembly near a front end of said first slide segment.

8. The slide assembly of claim 6, wherein said front face extends a greater distance into said channel than does said rear face.

9. The slide assembly of claim 8, further comprising a tab extending into said channel from said second slide segment, said tab contacting said front face as said slide assembly is retracted, causing said latch to move from said first position to said second position.

10. The slide assembly of claim 9, wherein said front face forms an angle α

with said side wall of between 10 and 80 degrees when said latch is in said first position.

11. The slide assembly of claim 9, wherein said angle α

is between 30 and 45 degrees.

12. The slide assembly of claim 7, wherein said bearing assembly is drawn forwardly in said channel as said second slide assembly is extended, causing said cross-member to ride over the rear face and into said recess.

13. The slide assembly of claim 12, wherein said rear face forms an angle γ

with said side wall of between 10 and 80 degrees when said latch is in said first position.

14. The slide assembly of claim 12, wherein said angle γ

is between 15 and 30 degrees.

16. The slide assembly of claim 15, wherein said actuator comprises one or more raised catches, said catches extending into said second channel when said intermediate slide segment is retracted with respect to said outer slide segment to engage a surface of said lock arm as said inner slide segment is extended and thereby draw said intermediate slide segment out of said first channel.

17. The slide assembly of claim 16, wherein said actuator is moved away from said lock arm to disengage said catches as said intermediate slide segment is extended with respect to said outer slide segment.

19. The slide assembly of claim 18, wherein said actuator contacts said lock arm when said actuator is manually pressed towards said lock arm to disengage said engagement surface from said lock arm and allow said inner slide segment to be retracted with respect to said intermediate slide segment.

20. The slide assembly of claim 18, further comprising a pivot arm pivotally connected to said side wall of said intermediate slide segment, said pivot arm abutting a surface of said outer slide segment when said intermediate slide segment is extended with respect to said outer slide segment to prevent retraction of said intermediate slide segment.

21. The slide assembly of claim 20, wherein said inner slide segment contacts said pivot arm as said inner slide segment is retracted with respect to said intermediate slide segment to disengage said pivot arm from said outer slide segment and allow said intermediate slide segment to be retracted with respect to said outer slide segment.

15. A slide assembly, comprising:

an outer slide segment comprising an upper wall, a lower wall, and a side wall extending between said upper and lower walls, said side wall and said upper and lower walls defining a first channel;

an intermediate slide segment movable in said first channel to extend or retract said slide assembly, said intermediate slide segment comprising an upper wall, a lower wall, and a side wall extending between said upper and lower walls, said side wall having an opening formed therein and including an engagement surface, said side wall and said upper and lower walls defining a second channel;

an inner slide segment movable in said second channel to extend or retract said slide assembly, said inner slide segment comprising an upper wall, a lower wall, and a side wall extending between said upper and lower walls;

a lock arm extending from said side wall of said inner slide segment towards said side wall of said intermediate slide segment, said lock arm engageable with said engagement surface to limit movement of said inner slide segment with respect to said intermediate slide segment;

an actuator extending through said opening in said side wall of said intermediate slide segment towards said lock arm, wherein said side wall of said outer slide segment contacts said actuator as said slide assembly is retracted, causing said actuator to actuate said lock arm and thereby disengage said engagement surface from said lock arm.

18. A slide assembly, comprising:

an outer slide segment comprising an upper wall, a lower wall, and a side wall extending between said upper and lower walls, said side wall and said upper and lower walls defining a first channel;

an intermediate slide segment movable in said first channel to extend or retract said slide assembly, said second slide segment comprising an upper wall, a lower wall, and a side wall extending between said upper and lower walls, said side wall including an engagement surface and having one or more openings formed therein, said side wall and said upper and lower walls defining a second channel;

an inner slide segment movable in said second channel to extend or retract said slide assembly, said inner slide segment comprising an upper wall, a lower wall, and a side wall extending between said upper and lower walls;

a bearing assembly located in said second channel and facilitating sliding movement of said inner slide segment with respect to said intermediate slide segment, said bearing assembly comprising a bearing retainer and a number of ball bearings;

a lock arm extending from said side wall of said inner slide segment towards said side wall of said intermediate slide segment, said lock arm engageable with said engagement surface to limit movement of said inner slide segment with respect to said intermediate slide segment;

a controller associated with said intermediate slide segment, said controller comprising a locking portion extending through one of said openings in said side wall of said intermediate slide segment towards said bearing retainer, said locking portion selectively engageable with said bearing retainer to limit movement of said bearing assembly in said second channel, and an actuator extending through one of said openings in said side wall of said intermediate slide segment between said outer slide segment and said lock arm, said actuator actuating said lock arm to disengage said engagement surface from said lock arm when said slide assembly is retracted.