FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to an elastic force adjustment device, and more particularly,
to an elastic force adjustment device for adjusting the elastic force to control the
distance that the rails travel in response to the load of the rails.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] U.S. Patent No. 7,374,261 discloses a push-open type slide structure comprises a top fastener and a locking
device between an outer slide rail and a pull rod. The loading plate is extended from
one side of the center portion of the main body. Two pillars are extended from both
sides of the main body. A positioning fastener is coupled with the loading plate.
A hook is mounted on the inner edge of the loading plate. A guide pillar is mounted
on the rear end of the loading plate. The hook is inserted into the action trench
of the main body and coupled with the elastic device. The locking device has a connection
part for coupling with a guide part and a shaft holder. The push-open type slide structure
is lockable or unlockable by pivotal rotation between the loading plate and the locking
device. As a result, the push-open type slide structure can be controlled easily.
[0003] The push-open type slide structure is operated by the stored force of the elastic
device and the specification of the elastic device is chosen so as to have a fixed
elastic force. When in use, the slide assembly is connected between the furniture
part and the drawer so that when the drawer is pushed inward, the drawer opens automatically
from the furniture part. However, when the drawer has different loads, especially
heavy objects, the load on the drawer applied to the rails cannot make the drawer
to be opened to a desired position. Furthermore, when the furniture include multiple
drawers and different loads are received in the drawers, the drawers open to different
positions which may be confused to the users.
[0004] An elastic force adjustment device of the initially-mentioned type is already known
from
DE 20 2004 000 840 U1.
[0005] The inventor develops an elastic force adjustment device for the push-open type slide
assembly so as to improve the shortcomings of the conventional push-open type slide
assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention intends to provide an elastic force adjustment device for the
push-open type slide assembly, the adjustment device adjusts the stored elastic force
to adjust the travel distance of the rails. The invention provides an elastic force
adjustment device according to claim 1. Further embodiments of the invention are described
in the dependent claims.
[0007] The fixing member has a stop located between the first and second ends thereof. The
movable member is movable between the second end of the fixing member and the stop.
[0008] A buffering coat is mounted to the stop.
[0009] The second rail includes a push member located corresponding to the movable member.
[0010] The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when
taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration
only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011]
Figs. 1-6 do not form embodiments of the invention as such, but help explaining aspects
of the invention.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view to show the elastic force adjustment device is installed
to the slide assembly;
Fig. 2 is an exploded view to show the elastic force adjustment device;
Fig. 3 shows that the adjustment frame of the elastic force adjustment device is located
at the first position;
Fig. 4 shows that the adjustment frame of the elastic force adjustment device is adjusted
and located at the second position;
Fig. 5 shows that the fixing member includes a stop;
Fig. 6 shows that the stop is mounted by a buffering coat, and
Fig. 7 shows the position of the movable member when the elastic member is in compressed
status.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0012] Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the slide assembly comprises a first rail 12 and a second
rail 14 which is slidably and longitudinally connected to the first rail 12. An elastic
force adjustment device 16 of the present invention is installed to the first rail
12 so as to provide an adjustable and elastic force to the second rail 14 which is
opened relative to the first rail 12.
[0013] The first rail 12 includes a bottom board 18 and a sidewall 20 which extends perpendicularly
from the bottom board 18.
[0014] The second rail 14 includes a push member 22.
[0015] The elastic force adjustment device 16 comprises a fixing member 24, a movable member
26, an adjustment frame 28, an adjustment member 30 and at least one elastic member
32, wherein the fixing member 24 is fixedly connected to the first rail 12 and includes
a threaded rod 34 and a longitudinal body 36. The longitudinal body 36 has a first
end 35a and a second end 35b which is located in opposite to the first end 35a. A
longitudinal guiding portion 38 is located between the first and second ends 35a,
35b.
[0016] The movable member 26 is slidably connected to the longitudinal guiding portion 38
of the fixing member 24 and movable along the longitudinal guiding portion 38. The
movable member 26 includes a contact portion 40 which is located corresponding to
the push member 22 of the second rail 14 so that the movable member 26 is moved with
the movement of the push member 22 of the second rail 14 by the contact portion 40.
[0017] The adjustment frame 28 has a mounting portion 42 connected to the threaded rod 34
of the fixing member 24.
[0018] The adjustment member 30 has a threaded portion 44 threadedly connected to the threaded
rod 34 of the fixing member 24.
[0019] The at least one elastic member 32 (or two elastic members 32) has two ends which
are respectively connected to the movable member 26 and the adjustment frame 28.
[0020] Fig. 3 shows the second rail 14 is retracted relative to the first rail 12 and the
push member 22 on the second rail 14 contacts the contact portion 40 of the movable
member 26 of the elastic force adjustment device 16. The movable member 26 moves a
pre-set distance along the longitudinal guiding portion 38 of the fixing member 24,
so that the at least one elastic member 32 of the adjustment frame 28 and the movable
member 26 are pulled so as to store an elastic force relative to the second rail 14.
In this status, an engaging device (not shown) is connected between the first and
second rails 12, 14 to position the second rail 14, relative to the retracted first
rail 12 by the engaging device. In other words, the movable member 26 applied by the
at least one elastic member 32 cannot push the second rail 14 via the push member
22. The adjustment frame 28 is moved by the adjustment member 30 and is set at the
first position P1 on the threaded rod 34 of the fixing member 24.
[0021] Fig. 4 shows that the adjustment member 30 of the elastic force adjustment device
16 is rotated on the threaded rod 34 of the fixing member 24 to contact and move the
adjustment frame 28 from the first position P1 on the threaded rod 34 of the fixing
member 24 to the second position P2, and the adjustment frame 28 is positioned at
the second position P2. In this status, the relative distance between the movable
member 26 and the adjustment frame 28 is adjusted, and the status of the at least
one elastic member 32 of the adjustment frame 28 and the movable member 26 are adjusted.
This is to say, the stored elastic force is adjusted.
[0022] Therefore, when the second rail 14 is retracted relative to the first rail 12 to
extend the at least one elastic member 32 by the contact of the push member 22 and
the contact portion 40 of the movable member 26, the movable member 26 applies the
stored elastic force to the second rail 14, wherein the stored elastic force is formed
according to the extension of the at least one elastic member 32. The elastic force
from the at least one elastic member 32 is released and then applies to the contact
portion 40 of the movable member 26 and moves the push member 22 of the second rail
14 so that the second rail 14 is opened to a desired position relative to the first
rail 12.
[0023] Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 5, considering that the movable member 26 is pulled
by the at least one elastic member 32 and moves along the longitudinal guiding portion
38 of the fixing member 24. The fixing member 24 has a stop 46 located between the
first and second ends 35a, 35b thereof. In this embodiment, the stop 46 is located
close to the first end 35a, and the movable member 26 is movable between the second
end 35b of the fixing member 24 and the stop 46. As shown in Fig. 6, a buffering coat
48 is mounted to the stop 46 so as to reduce the noise when the movable member 26
contacts the stop 46.
[0024] In another situation, as shown in Fig. 7, the stop position of the movable member
26 applied by the elastic force of the at least one elastic member 32 can be controlled
by the compressed length of the at least one elastic member 32. The adjustment member
30 and the adjustment frame 28 are adjusted to a third position on the threaded rod
34 of the fixing member 24. The third position allows the movable member 26 not to
contact the first end 35a of the longitudinal guiding portion 38 of the fixing member
24 or the stop 46. The adjustment frame 28 further includes an urging member 50 wherein
the adjustment member 30 is located and in contact between the urging member 50 and
the mounting portion 42. By this arrangement, the adjustment member 30 and the adjustment
frame 28 are moved back and forth together.
[0025] The elastic force adjustment device for slide assembly allows the users to adjust
the elastic force as needed. Especially when drawers are installed to the slide assembly
and different weights of objects are received in the drawers, by the adjustment of
the elastic force, the elastic force of each drawer can be properly adjusted so that
the drawers can be opened to a desired position for convenience of accessing the objects
in the drawers when the drawers are operated under the push-open mode.
[0026] While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention,
it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made
without departing from the scope of the present invention.
1. A slide assembly comprising an elastic force adjustment device, wherein the slide
assembly includes a first rail (12) and a second rail (14) slidably connected to the
first rail (12), the elastic force adjustment device comprising:
a fixing member (24) adapted to be fixedly connected to the first rail (12) and including
a longitudinal body (36), the longitudinal body (36) having a first end (35a) and
a second end (35b) which is located in opposite to the first end (35a), a longitudinal
guiding portion (38) located between the first and second ends (35a, 35b);
characterised by:
the fixing member (24) including a threaded rod (34);
a movable member (26) slidably connected to the longitudinal guiding portion (38)
of the fixing member (24);
an adjustment frame (28) having a mounting portion (42) connected to the threaded
rod (34) of the fixing member (24) and including an urging member (50);
an adjustment member (30) having a threaded portion (44) threadedly connected to the
threaded rod (34) of the fixing member (24), the adjustment member (30) is located
and in contact between the urging member (50) and the mounting portion (42), and
at least one elastic member (32) having two ends which are respectively connected
to the movable member (26) and the adjustment frame (28), a force of Claim proposal
for main request
the at least one elastic member (32) being adjusted by rotating the adjustment member
(30) on the threaded rod (34) of the fixing member (24).
2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fixing member (24) has a stop (46) located
between the first and second ends (35a, 35b) thereof, the movable member (26) is movable
between the second end (35b) of the fixing member (24) and the stop (46).
3. The device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a buffering coat (48) mounted
to the stop (46).
4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second rail (14) includes a push member
(22) located corresponding to the movable member (26).
1. Ein Schlitten mit einer Vorrichtung zur Verstellung der Spannkraft, wobei der Schlitten
aus einer ersten Schiene (12) und aus einer zweiten Schiene (14) besteht; die zweite
Schiene (14) gleitbar an der ersten Schiene (12) befestigt ist und die Vorrichtung
zur Verstellung der Spannkraft aus den folgenden Komponenten umfassend:
einem Befestigungsteil (24), das fest an der ersten Schiene (12) befestigt und mit
einem länglichen Bauteil (36) gebildet ist; das längliche Bauteil (36) mit einem ersten
Endteil (35a) und einem zweiten Endteil (35b) gegenüber dem ersten Endteil (35a) gebildet
ist; ein längliches Führungsteil (38) zwischen dem ersten und zweiten Endteil (35a,
35b) gebildet ist
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass:
das Befestigungsteil (24) eine Gewindestange (34) aufweist
ein bewegliches Element (26) gleitbar am länglichen Führungsteil (38) des Befestigungsteils
(24) befestigt ist
eine Verstelleinheit (28) mit einem Montageteil (42), das an der Gewindestange (34)
des Befestigungsteils (24) befestigt und mit einem Andrückteil (50) gebildet ist;
ein Verstellrad (30) mit einem Gewinde (44), in das die Gewindestange (34) des Befestigungsteils
(24) eingeschraubt ist; das Verstellrad (30) zwischen dem Andrückteil (50) und dem
Montageteil (42) angeordnet ist und mit diesen in Berührung kommt; mindestens eine
Feder (32) zwei Enden aufweist, wobei eines dieser beiden Ende am beweglichen Element
(26) und das andere an der Verstelleinheit (28) befestigt sind; eine Kraft durch die
mindestens eine Feder (32) durch Rotieren des Verstellrades (30) an der Gewindestange
(34) des Befestigungsteils (24) justiert wird.
2. Die Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, wobei das Befestigungsteil (24) mit einem Anschlag
(46) zwischen dem ersten und zweiten Endteil (35a, 35b) gebildet ist; das bewegliche
Element (26) zwischen dem zweiten Ende (35b) des Befestigungsteils (24) und dem Anschlag
(46) beweglich angeordnet ist.
3. Die Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 2, weiter bestehend aus einem Pufferbelag (48), der
am Anschlag (46) montiert ist.
4. Die Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, wobei die zweite Schiene (14) mit einem Anschubteil
(22) gebildet ist, das in Übereinstimmung mit dem beweglichen Element (26) angeordnet
ist.
1. Un ensemble coulissant comprenant un dispositif de réglage de force élastique, dans
lequel l'ensemble coulissant inclut un premier rail (12) et un deuxième rail (14)
raccordé de façon coulissante au premier rail (12), le dispositif de réglage de force
élastique comprenant :
un élément de fixation (24) adapté pour être raccordé de façon fixe au premier rail
(12) et incluant un corps longitudinal (36), le corps longitudinal (36) présentant
une première extrémité (35a) et une deuxième extrémité (35b) qui est située à l'opposé
de la première extrémité (35a), une partie de guidage longitudinale (38) située entre
les première et deuxième extrémités (35a, 35b)
caractérisé par :
l'élément de fixation (24) inclut une tige filetée (34)
un élément mobile (26) raccordé de façon coulissante à la partie de guidage longitudinale
(38) de l'élément de fixation (24)
une structure de réglage (28) présentant une partie d'assemblage (42) raccordée à
la tige filetée (34) de l'élément de fixation (24) et incluant un élément de poussée
(50) ;
un élément de réglage (30) présentant une partie filetée (44) raccordée par filetage
à la tige filetée (34) de l'élément de fixation (24) ; l'élément de réglage (30) est
situé et en contact entre l'élément de poussée (50) et la partie d'assemblage (42),
et au moins un élément élastique (32) présentant deux extrémités qui sont respectivement
raccordées à l'élément mobile (26) et à la structure de réglage (28), une force d'au
moins un élément élastique (32) étant réglée par la rotation de l'élément de réglage
(30) sur la tige filetée (34) de l'élément de fixation (24).
2. Le dispositif selon la revendication 1, dans lequel l'élément de fixation (24) présente
un arrêt (46) situé entre les première et deuxième extrémités (35a, 35b) de celui-ci,
l'élément mobile (26) est mobile entre la deuxième extrémité (35b) de l'élément de
fixation (24) et l'arrêt (46).
3. Le dispositif selon la revendication 2, comprenant en outre un revêtement tampon (48)
assemblé sur l'arrêt (46).
4. Le dispositif selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le deuxième rail (14) inclut un
élément poussoir (22) situé en correspondance avec l'élément mobile (26).