Telescoping slide assembly

Abstract

A locking assembly, used for moving articles between a fully retracted position and a fully extended position, comprises, a stationary slide member, an intermediate slide member slideably connected to the stationary slide member, a load-carrying slide member slidably connected to the intermediate slide member for sliding movement relative to the intermediate slide member, and a locking lever rotatably coupled to the load-carrying slide member. The locking lever including an outer grip portion, and a locking portion for locking the load-carrying slide member to the stationary slide member to prevent relative movement between the load-carrying slide member and the stationary slide member when the assembly is fully retracted position, and a ramp portion for preventing the locking portion from locking the load-carrying slide member to the intermediate slide member in response to movement of the load-carrying slide member relative to the intermediate slide member. The locking portion has a curved lip positioned to engage a bevelled edge on the stationary slide member so that an operator has to move the load-carrying slide member in a reward direction toward the fully retracted position in order to allow the locking lever to be rotated to disengage the curved lip from the bevelled edge to allow the load-carrying slide member to move relative to the stationary slide member in a forward direction to an extended position away from the fully retracted position. A ramp surface on the locking portion to cam the locking portion away from bevelled edge that is engaged by the intermediate slide member when the load-carrying slide member is moved relative to the intermediate member slide.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.