Telescoping slide assembly

Abstract

A telescoping slide assembly includes interconnected mounting, intermediate and stationary slide elements movable relative to one another to extend and retract the mounting and intermediate slide elements relative to the stationary slide element between fully extended and retracted positions. The intermediate slide element includes a rib formed therein. A mounting slide lock is disposed substantially within the rib for operative engagement with the mounting slide element to secure the mounting slide element in a fully extended position such that selective release of the mounting slide lock permits the mounting slide element to move to the fully retracted position and to disconnect from the intermediate slide element.

1 . A telescoping slide assembly comprising: 
 interconnected mounting, intermediate and stationary slide elements movable relative to one another to extend and retract the mounting and intermediate slide elements relative to the stationary slide element between fully extended and retracted positions;    the intermediate slide element including a base, a top guide portion, a bottom guide portion, and a rib formed in the base; and    a mounting slide lock disposed substantially within the rib for operative engagement with the mounting slide element to secure the mounting slide element in a fully extended position such that selective release of the mounting slide lock permits the mounting slide element to move to the fully retracted position and to disconnect from the intermediate slide element, wherein the mounting slide element includes at least one slot formed therein adapted to engage a mounting post connected to a piece of equipment to be carried by the mounting slide element.    
     
     
         2 - 3 . (canceled)  
     
     
         4 . The telescopic slide assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each at least one slot includes an opening oriented toward an outer end of the mounting slide element.  
     
     
         5 - 6 . (canceled)  
     
     
         7 . The telescopic slide assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each at least one slot includes a protrusion which defines a tortured path for preventing unintended removal of the mounting post.  
     
     
         8 - 13 . (canceled)  
     
     
         14 . A telescoping slide assembly comprising: 
 interconnected mounting, intermediate and stationary slide elements movable relative to one another to extend and retract the mounting and intermediate slide elements relative to the stationary slide element between fully extended and retracted positions;    the intermediate slide element including a rib formed therein;    the rib having a discontinuous segment defining an opening through the intermediate slide element;    a mounting slide lock disposed on the mounting slide element for operative engagement with the opening on the intermediate slide element to orient the mounting slide element in a fully extended position such that release of the mounting slide lock permits movement of the mounting slide element to the retracted position and to disconnect the mounting slide element from the intermediate slide element wherein the mounting slide element includes at least one slot formed therein adapted to engage a mounting post connected to a piece of equipment to be carries by the mounting slide element.    
     
     
         15 - 16 . (canceled)  
     
     
         17 . The telescopic slide assembly as recited in  claim 14 , wherein each at least one slot includes an opening oriented toward an outer end of the mounting slide element.  
     
     
         18 - 19 . (canceled)  
     
     
         20 . The telescopic slide assembly as recited in  claim 14 , wherein each at least one slot includes a protrusion which defines a tortured path for preventing unintended removal of the mounting post.  
     
     
         21 . The telescopic slide assembly as recited in  claim 14 , wherein an intermediate retraction stop is disposed on the stationary slide element.  
     
     
         22 . The telescopic slide assembly as recited in  claim 21  wherein the intermediate retraction stop includes an arm and a drop stop where the arm is movable between a first operative position where the arm is oriented to be received and disposed within the rib when the intermediate slide element is disposed in a position other than the fully extended position and a second operative position where a tab formed on the arm contacts the drop stop so that a first end of the arm is disposed to engage an inner end of the intermediate slide element preventing retraction of the intermediate slide element until the arm is moved to the first operative position.  
     
     
         23 . (canceled)  
     
     
         24 . The telescopic slide assembly as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the mounting slide lock includes a latch arm having a first end connected to the mounting slide element and a free end extending away from the mounting slide element in the direction of the intermediate slide element; the latch arm further including a projection formed adjacent the free end for operative engagement with the opening.  
     
     
         25 . The telescopic slide assembly as recited in claimed  24 , wherein the projection is configured as a channel having a bottom generally parallel to and offset from the latch arm and a pair of side walls connecting the bottom to the latch arm.  
     
     
         26 . The telescopic slide assembly as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the free end of the latch arm is movable from a first operative position where the projection contacts the intermediate slide element during movement of the mounting slide element relative to the intermediate slide element and a second operative position where the projection extends into the opening such that the mounting and intermediate slides are locked together.  
     
     
         27 . The telescopic slide assembly as recited in  claim 26 , wherein moving the latch arm from the second operative position to the first operative position releases the mounting slide lock such that the mounting slide element may be moved relative to the intermediate slide element.  
     
     
         28 . A telescoping slide assembly comprising: 
 interconnected mounting, intermediate and stationary slide elements movable relative to one another to extend and retract the mounting and intermediate slide elements relative to the stationary slide element between fully extended and retracted positions;    the intermediate slide element including a rib formed therein having a top wall; and    a mounting slide extension stop disposed substantially within the rib and extending through the top wall for operative engagement with the mounting slide element to orient the mounting slide element in a fully extended position such that release of the mounting slide extension stop permits disconnection of the mounting slide element from the intermediate slide element.    
     
     
         29 . The telescopic slide assembly as recited in  claim 28 , wherein the mounting slide element includes at least one slot formed therein adapted to engage a mounting post connected to a piece of equipment to be carried by the mounting slide element.  
     
     
         30 . The telescopic slide assembly as recited in  claim 29 , wherein each at least one slot includes an opening oriented towards a top of the mounting slide element.  
     
     
         31 . The telescopic slide assembly as recited in  claim 29 , wherein each at least one slot includes an opening oriented toward an outer end of the mounting slide element.  
     
     
         32 . The telescopic slide assembly as recited in  claim 29 , wherein the mounting slide element includes at least one latch connected thereto for movement between a first operative position where the latch blocks removal of the mounting post from the slot after insertion and a second operative position where the latch permits insertion and removal of the mounting post with respect to the slot.  
     
     
         33 . The telescopic slide assembly as recited in  claim 32 , wherein the latch is normally biased to the first operative position.  
     
     
         34 . The telescopic slide assembly as recited in  claim 29 , wherein each at least one slot includes a protrusion which defines a tortured path for preventing unintended removal of the mounting post.  
     
     
         35 . The telescopic slide assembly as recited in  claim 28 , wherein an intermediate retraction stop is disposed on the stationary slide element.  
     
     
         36 - 37 . (canceled)  
     
     
         38 . The telescopic slide assembly as recited in  claim 28 , wherein the mounting slide extension stop includes a latch arm movably connected to the rib; the latch arm includes a ramp portion, a stop portion and a lift portion, where the ramp portion and lift portion each move the latch arm to enable movement of the mounting slide element relative to the intermediate slide element.  
     
     
         39 - 40 . (canceled)  
     
     
         41 . A telescoping slide assembly comprising: 
 interconnected mounting, intermediate and stationary slide elements movable relative to one another to extend and retract the mounting and intermediate slide elements relative to the stationary slide element between fully extended and retracted positions;    the intermediate slide element including a rib formed therein; and    wherein the intermediate slide element has an outer end face obliquely disposed with respect to a longitudinal axis of the slide assembly.    
     
     
         42 . The telescopic slide assembly as recited in  claim 41  wherein the mounting slide element includes at least one slot formed therein adapted to engage a mounting post connected to a piece of equipment to be carried by the mounting slide element.  
     
     
         43 . The telescopic slide assembly as recited in  claim 42 , wherein each at least one slot includes an opening oriented towards a top of the mounting slide element.  
     
     
         44 . The telescopic slide assembly as recited in  claim 42 , wherein each at least one slot includes an opening oriented toward an outer end of the mounting slide element.  
     
     
         45 . The telescopic slide assembly as recited in  claim 42 , wherein the mounting slide element includes at least one latch connected thereto for movement between a first operative position where the latch blocks removal of the mounting post from the slot after insertion and a second operative position where the latch permits insertion and removal of the mounting post with respect to the slot.  
     
     
         46 . The telescopic slide assembly as recited in  claim 45  wherein the latch is normally biased to the first operative position.  
     
     
         47 . The telescopic slide assembly as recited in  claim 41 , wherein each at least one slot includes a protrusion which defines a tortured path for preventing unintended removal of the mounting post.  
     
     
         48 . The telescopic slide assembly as recited in  claim 41 , wherein an intermediate retraction stop is disposed on the stationary slide element.  
     
     
         49 . The telescopic slide assembly as recited in  claim 48 , wherein the intermediate retraction stop includes an arm and a drop stop where the arm is movable between a first operative position where the arm is oriented to be received and disposed within the rib when the intermediate slide element is disposed in a position other than the fully extended position and a second operative position where a tab formed on the arm contacts the drop stop so that a first end of the arm is disposed to engage an inner end of the intermediate slide element preventing retraction of the intermediate slide element until the arm is moved to the first operative position.  
     
     
         50 . The telescopic slide assembly as recited in  claim 48 , wherein an intermediate retraction stop release is disposed on the mounting slide element for contact with an arm of the intermediate retraction stop when the mounting slide element is disposed in the fully retracted position such that the intermediate retraction stop release moves the arm to a first operative position so that the arm is oriented to be received and disposed within the rib in order to enable retraction of the intermediate slide element from a second operative position preventing retraction of the intermediate slide element.  
     
     
         51 . The telescopic slide assembly as recited in  claim 41 , wherein a mounting slide lock is disposed substantially within the rib for operative engagement with the mounting slide element to secure the mounting slide element in a fully extended position such that selective release of the mounting slide lock permits the mounting slide element to move to the fully retracted position and to disconnect from the intermediate slide element.  
     
     
         52 . The telescopic slide assembly as recited in  claim 41 , wherein the rib has a discontinuous segment defining an opening through the intermediate slide element and a mounting slide lock is disposed on the mounting slide element for operative engagement with the opening on the intermediate slide element to orient the mounting slide element in a fully extended position such that release of the mounting slide lock permits movement of the mounting slide element to the retracted position and to disconnect the mounting slide element from the intermediate slide element.  
     
     
         53 . The telescopic slide assembly as recited in  claim 41 , wherein a mounting slide extension stop is disposed within the rib for operative engagement with the mounting slide element to orient the mounting slide element in a fully extended position such that release of the mounting slide extension stop permits disconnection of the mounting slide element from the intermediate slide element.  
     
     
         54 . A telescoping slide assembly comprising: 
 interconnected mounting, intermediate and stationary slide elements movable relative to one another to extend and retract the mounting and intermediate slide elements relative to the stationary slide element between fully extended and retracted positions;    the stationary slide element configured substantially C-shaped including a base and offset end walls defining opposed channels;    the intermediate slide element including opposed guide portions connected by a back having a rib formed therein; the opposed guide portions configured for nesting relation within the opposed channels and the rib including a top wall and bottom wall interconnected by a support wall, the rib walls configured such that an open side is disposed adjacent the stationary slide element; and    the mounting slide element including a spine and opposed flanges extending from the spine collinearly aligned and offset parallel to the base, wherein the opposed flanges are configured for nesting relation within the opposed guide portions wherein the mounting slide element at least one slot formed therein adapted to engage a mounting post connected to a piece of equipment to be carried by the mounting slide element.    
     
     
         55 - 56 . (canceled)  
     
     
         57 . The telescopic slide assembly as recited in  claim 54 , wherein each at least one slot includes an opening oriented toward an outer end of the mounting slide element.  
     
     
         58 - 59 . (canceled)  
     
     
         60 . The telescopic slide assembly as recited in  claim 54 , wherein each at least one slot includes a protrusion which defines a tortured path for preventing unintended removal of the mounting post.  
     
     
         61 . The telescopic slide assembly as recited in  claim 54 , wherein an intermediate retraction stop is disposed on the stationary slide element.  
     
     
         62 . The telescopic slide assembly as recited in  claim 61 , wherein the intermediate retraction stop includes an arm and a drop stop such that the arm is movable between a first operative position where the arm is oriented to be received and disposed within the rib when the intermediate slide element is disposed in a position other than the fully extended position and a second operative position where a tab formed on the arm contacts the drop stop so that a first end of the arm is disposed to engage an inner end of the intermediate slide element preventing retraction of the intermediate slide element until the arm is moved to the first operative position.  
     
     
         63 . The telescopic slide assembly as recited in  claim 61 , wherein an intermediate retraction stop release is disposed on the mounting slide element for contact with an arm of the intermediate retraction stop when the mounting slide element is disposed in the fully retracted position such that the intermediate retraction stop release moves the arm to a first operative position so that the arm is oriented to be received and disposed within the rib in order to enable retraction of the intermediate slide element from a second operative position preventing retraction of the intermediate slide element.  
     
     
         64 . The telescopic slide assembly as recited in  claim 54 , wherein a mounting slide lock is disposed substantially within the rib for operative engagement with the mounting slide element to secure the mounting slide element in a fully extended position such that selective release of the mounting slide lock permits the mounting slide element to move to the fully retracted position and to disconnect from the intermediate slide element.  
     
     
         65 . The telescopic slide assembly as recited in  claim 54 , wherein the rib has a discontinuous segment defining an opening through the intermediate slide element and a mounting slide lock is disposed on the mounting slide element for operative engagement with the opening on the intermediate slide element to orient the mounting slide element in a fully extended position such that release of the mounting slide lock permits movement of the mounting slide element to the retracted position and to disconnect the mounting slide element from the intermediate slide element.  
     
     
         66 . (canceled)