Locking mechanism for a storage cabinet
US4303287A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 4, 1980 |
| Grant date | Dec 1, 1981 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 4, 2000 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S292/49
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
Initial opening movement of a drawer in a cabinet by cam action raises a locking bar to lock the other drawers closed. In so doing the locking bar rotates a pinion having an arm which stresses a spring carrying it past an over-center position to maintain the bar in locking position while the moving drawer travels to the fully open position. The end of the closure of this drawer by cam action returns the bar, arm and spring to their initial state. A key-lock mechanism can raise the bar to lock all the drawers shut. If the cabinet is tilted forward substantially, gravity causes a ball to run to a position to hold the pinion against rotation thereby preventing all the drawers from automatically becoming locked due to the bar running to the locking position under gravity or inertia.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.