Sliding track assembly

A sliding track assembly, comprising

• a first rail having an inner end and an outer end;
• a second rail having an inner end and an outer end, the second rail slidably mounted on and supported by the first rail such that the second rail is movable relative to the first rail;
• a third rail having an inner end and an outer end, the third rail slidably mounted on and supported by the second rail such that the third rail is movable relative to the first rail and second rail;
• a latch member mounted on the third rail at a position of the third rail, and having at least one resilient or compressible portion having an inward facing slope and an outward facing slope;
• and
• a lock member mounted on the second rail at a position of the second rail for engaging or compressing the resilient or compressible portion of the latch member from either an inward direction or an outward direction;
• whereby the third rail moves together with the second rail when the latch member and the lock member are engaged, and the third rails moves freely by itself when the latch member and the lock member are disengaged.

A sliding track assembly, comprising

• a first rail having an inner end and an outer end;
• a second rail having an inner end and an outer end, the second rail slidably mounted on and supported by the first rail such that the second rail is movable relative to the first rail between a retracted position and an extended position;
• a third rail having an inner end and an outer end, the third rail slidably mounted on and supported by the second rail such that the third rail is movable relative to the first rail and second rail between a fully retracted position, a halfway position and a fully extended position;
• a latch member having a base having an inner side and an outer side and two opposite lateral edges, the base having a positioning feature engaged with a complimentary positioning feature provided on the third rail, such that the latch member is mounted on the third rail at a position near the outer end of the third rail with the two lateral edges of the latch member parallel to the elongated body of the third rail;
• the latch member having at least one resilient or compressible portion rising above and between the inner and outer sides of the base of the latch member, the at least one resilient or compressible portion having an inward facing slope arising from the inner side of the base and an outward facing slope arising from the outer side of the base, and a curved portion interconnecting the inward facing and outward facing slopes, wherein the outward facing slope has a portion steeper than the inward facing slope;
• and
• a lock member mounted or formed on the second rail at a position adjacent to the outer end of the second rail for engaging and compressing the resilient or compressible portion of the latch member from either an inward direction or an outward direction;
• whereby the third rail moves together with the second rail when the latch member and the lock member are engaged, and the third rails moves freely by itself when the latch member and the lock member are disengaged.