Slide assembly for extension table

Abstract

A pair of slide assemblies for use with an extension table are provided. The slide assembly comprises an inner slide member secured to a left leaf and including a first roller sub-assembly provided at an inner end, an outer slide member secured to a right leaf and including a second roller sub-assembly provided at an inner end, and a main slide member secured to a body of the table and including a roller assembly provided at either end and a belt run through the roller assemblies and the first and the second sub-assemblies. Pulling the outer slide member rightward will move the inner slide member to the left as the belt conveys around the roller assembly. The invention has the benefits of reducing sound produced during operation and enhanced structural strength.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to slides and more particularly to a slide assembly mounted in an extension table with improved characteristics such as increased structural strength and greatly reduced sound generated during pulling or retracting operation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional extension table for increasing useable table area comprises left and right leaves and a slide assembly in the sides of either leaf. A user may pull either left or right leaf to pull both left and right leaves outwardly. For the slide assembly, it can be classified as one including two slide members or one including three slide members as described in detail below. Taiwanese Patent Publication No. 85,218,199 disclosed a slide assembly including two slide members mounted in either side of an extension table as shown in FIG. 1. As shown, at either side of the extension table a main slide member 1 comprises a central gear 2, left and right slide members 3 and 4, an upper elongated toothed member 5 coupled to an inner end of the left slide member 3 and being in gear connection with the gear 2, a lower elongated toothed member 6 coupled to an inner end of the right slide member 4 and being in gear connection with the gear 2, and left and right leaves 7 and 8 fixedly coupled to the left and right slide members 3 and 4 respectively. In operation, for example, a user may pull the right leaf 8 rightward from its retracted position. As such, the gear 2 turns counterclockwise to push the lower elongated toothed member 6 rightward and push the upper elongated toothed member 5 leftward. As a result, both the left and right leaves 7 and 8 are extended. However, either left or right slide member 3 or 4 has a length about half of the length of the main slide member 1. Hence, support on both the left and right slide members 3 and 4 provided by the main slide member 1 is small due to limited overlaid area between the main slide member 1 and the left slide member 3 and between the main slide member 1 and the right slide member 4. Taiwanese Patent Publication No. 87,213,720 disclosed a slide assembly including three slide members mounted in either side of an extension table as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. At either side of the extension table there are provided a main slide member 9, an inner slide member 10, and an outer slide member 11. An elongated toothed wheel 12 is provided in a center of the main slide member 9. A plurality of parallel slits 13 are provided on a right side of outer surface of the inner slide member 10 and a plurality of parallel slits 14 are provided on a left side of outer surface of the outer slide member 11 (see FIG. 2). Both the slits 13 and 14 are in gear connection with the toothed wheel 12. Two fastening members 15 are provided each being adapted to secure either end of the main slide member 9 to. the table 18. A raised stop 16 is provided on a center of outer surface of the inner slide member 10 and a raised stop 17 is provided on a center of outer surface of the outer slide member 11. A slidable left leaf 19 is provided on the inner slide members 10 and a slidable right leaf 20 is provided on the outer slide members 11.

In operation, for example, a user may pull the right leaf 20 rightward from its retracted position. As such, the toothed wheel 12 rotates due to the rightward movement of the slits 13 on the outer slide member 11. Also, the slits 14 and thus the inner slide member 10 move leftward. Both the movements of the inner and outer slide members 10 and 11 are stopped when the stops 16 and 17 contact the fastening members 15 at the same time. Advantageously, either inner slide member 10 or outer slide member 11 has a length about the same as that of the main slide member 9. Hence, support on both the inner and outer slide members 10 and 11 provided by the main slide member 9 is sufficient in an extended position of the table. However, the gear operation of both the slits 13 and 14 in cooperation with the toothed wheel 12 may produce loud sound. Moreover, the gear connection of both the slits 13 and 14 with the toothed wheel 12 requires a great precision, resulting in a great increase of the manufacturing cost. Thus, the need for improvement still exists.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a pair of slide assemblies for use with an extension table having the benefit of greatly reducing sound produced during extending or retracting operation.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a pair of slide assemblies for use with an extension table having the benefit of enhanced structural strength.

To achieve the above and other objects, the present invention provides a pair of slide assemblies for use with an extension table having a left leaf and a right leaf, the slide assembly comprising an inner slide member secured to the left leaf and including a first roller sub-assembly provided at an inner end; an outer slide member secured to the right leaf and including a second roller sub-assembly provided at an inner end; and a main slide member secured to a body of the table and including a roller assembly provided at either end and a belt run through the roller assemblies and the first and the second sub-assemblies.

In one aspect of the present invention, the roller assembly comprises a pulley wheel and two opposite stop members for securing the pulley wheel to the main slide member.

In another aspect of the present invention, each of the first and the second sub-assemblies comprises a bolt, a nut threadedly secured to the bolt, and a lateral through aperture with the belt passed.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a first conventional slide assembly for extension table in an extended position;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a second conventional slide assembly for extension table;

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the assembled second conventional slide assembly mounted in an extension table in an extended position;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of slide assembly according to the invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of the assembled slide assembly of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the assembled slide assembly of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 for illustrating a pulling operation of the slide assembly according to the invention;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of an extension table incorporating the slide assembly according to the invention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic side view of the partially assembled extension table shown in FIG. 8 in an extended position; and

FIG. 10 is a schematic side view of an extension table incorporating an additional intermediate leaf and the slide assembly according to the invention in an extended position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 4 to 9, there is shown a slide assembly in accordance with the invention for use with an extension table. At either front or rear side of the table, the slide assembly comprises a main slide member 30, an inner slide member 40, and an outer slide member 50 in which the main slide member 30 is overlaid with either one of the inner slide member 40 and outer slide member 50, each component is an independent element formed by molding, and they will be described in detailed below.

As shown in FIG. 4, the main slide member 30 comprises, at either upper or lower portion, a longitudinal wider groove 31 and a longitudinal narrower flange 32 adjacent thereto. The main slide member 30 further comprises an intermediate, elongated plate 33 integrally formed with the flanges 32. A roller assembly is provided at either end of the plate 33 and comprises a pulley wheel 34 and two opposite stop members 35 for securing the pulley wheel 34 to the plate 33 from both sides of the pulley wheel 34. A belt 36 runs through the pulley wheels 34. A plurality of metal plates 37 are formed on the main slide member 30 so that a plurality of fasteners (e.g., screws) can be driven through the plates 37 into the table for fastening the main slide member 30 thereto.

The inner slide member 40 is constructed substantially similar to the main slide member 30 and is adapted to matingly engage therewith and slidable thereon. The inner slide member 40 comprises, at either upper or lower portion, a longitudinal groove 41 and a longitudinal flange 42 adjacent thereto. The inner slide member 40 further comprises an intermediate, elongated plate 46 integrally formed with the flanges 42, a fastening member 43 provided at one end, the fastening member 43 including a bolt 45 and a nut 44 having a threaded hole 442 adapted to threadedly secure to the bolt 45, and a lateral through aperture 441 with the belt 36 passed, and a plurality of plates 47 formed thereon so that a plurality of fasteners (e.g., screws) can be driven through the plates 47 into one leaf (e.g., leaf 70) for fastening the inner slide member 40 thereto.

The outer slide member 50 is constructed substantially similar to the inner slide member 40 and is adapted to matingly engage with the main slide member 30 and slidable with respect to the main slide member 30. The outer slide member 50 comprises, at either upper or lower portion, a longitudinal groove 51 and a longitudinal flange 52 adjacent thereto. The inner slide member 40 further comprises an intermediate, elongated plate 56 integrally formed with the flanges 52, a fastening member 53 provided at one end, the fastening member 53 including a bolt 55 and a nut 54 having a threaded hole 542 adapted to threadedly secure to the bolt 55, and a lateral through aperture 541 with the belt 36 passed, and a plurality of plates 57 formed thereon so that a plurality of fasteners (e.g., screws) can be driven through the plates 57 into the other leaf (e.g., leaf 80) for fastening the outer slide member 50 thereto.

Referring to FIG. 7 specifically, pulling the outer slide member 50 rightward will cause the fastening member 53 to move toward the same direction and cause the fastening member 43 to move toward the opposite direction (i.e., the inner slide member 40 moves leftward) as the belt 36 conveys around the pulley wheels 34. As such, both the outer slide member 50 and the inner slide member 40 will extend outwardly to its limit (i.e., the fastening member 53 contact the stop member 35 and the fastening member 43 contact the stop member 35 respectively) if the pulling continues. Finally, the table is fully extended.

The invention has the benefit of greatly reducing sound produced during extending or retracting operation due to smooth rolling contact between the belt 36 and the pulley wheels 34. Moreover, length of the main slide member 30 is substantially equal to that of the inner slide member 40 or the outer slide member 50. Thus, support on both the inner slide member 40 and the outer slide member 50 provided by the main slide member 30 is sufficient due to increased overlaid area between the main slide member 30 and the inner slide member 40 and between the main slide member 30 and the outer slide member 50. That is, the extension table of the invention is structurally strong.

Referring to FIG. 10, an intermediate leaf 90 is provided between the left leaf 70 and the right leaf 80 for increasing a surface area of the table.

While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.

Claims

1. A pair of slide assemblies for use with an extension table having a left leaf and a right leaf, the slide assembly comprising:

an inner slide member secured to the left leaf and including a first roller sub-assembly provided at an inner end;

an outer slide member secured to the right leaf and including a second roller sub-assembly provided at an inner end; and

a main slide member secured to a body of the table and including a roller assembly provided at either end and a belt run through the roller assemblies and the first and the second sub-assemblies.

2. The slide assembly of claim 1, wherein the roller assembly comprises a pulley wheel and two opposite stop members for securing the pulley wheel to the main slide member.

3. The slide assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the first and the second sub-assemblies comprises a bolt, a nut threadedly secured to the bolt, and a lateral through aperture with the belt passed.