U.S. patent application number 10/986127 was filed with the patent office on 2006-05-18 for latch mechanism for tool cabinet drawers.
Invention is credited to Francois Bousquet.
Application Number | 20060103278 10/986127 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36385541 |
Filed Date | 2006-05-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060103278 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bousquet; Francois |
May 18, 2006 |
Latch mechanism for tool cabinet drawers
Abstract
A latch mechanism for tool cabinets, for releasably holding a
tool cabinet drawer in a closed position within a tool cabinet
housing, comprising a handle for fixed installation about a front
panel of the tool cabinet drawer. A latch release bar is movably
attached to either one of the drawer front panel and the handle
such that the latch release bar is installed in the vicinity of the
handle, the release bar being movable between a rest position and a
released position. A first retaining member, attached to the tool
cabinet housing, cooperates with a second retaining member
operatively connected to the latch release bar, wherein when the
latch release bar is moved in its rest position, the second
retaining member is moved in a first position, for releasable
connection to the first retaining member when the drawer is in its
closed position, and wherein when the latch release bar is moved in
its released position, the second retaining member is moved in a
second position, for disconnecting the first retaining member from
the second retaining member when the drawer is in its closed
position.
Inventors: |
Bousquet; Francois; (St.
Nicephore, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LESPERANCE & MARTINEAU
1440 WEST
STE-CATHERINE ROOM 700
MONTREAL
QC
H3G1R8
CA
|
Family ID: |
36385541 |
Appl. No.: |
10/986127 |
Filed: |
November 12, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/332.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B25H 3/028 20130101;
E05B 65/46 20130101; E05C 3/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/332.1 |
International
Class: |
A47B 88/00 20060101
A47B088/00 |
Claims
1. A latch mechanism for tool cabinets, for releasably holding a
tool cabinet drawer in a closed position within a tool cabinet
housing, comprising: a handle for fixed installation about a front
panel of the tool cabinet drawer; a latch release bar for movable
attachment to either one of the drawer front panel and said handle
such that said latch release bar is installed in the vicinity of
said handle, said release bar being movable between a rest position
and a released position; a first retaining member for attachment to
the tool cabinet housing; a second retaining member operatively
connected to said latch release bar, wherein when said latch
release bar is moved to said rest position, said second retaining
member is moved to a first position, for releasable connection to
said first retaining member when the drawer is in its closed
position, and wherein when said latch release bar is moved to said
released position, said second retaining member is moved to a
second position, for disconnecting said first retaining member from
said second retaining member when the drawer is in its closed
position.
2. A latch mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising
biasing means for biasing said latch release bar towards said rest
position.
3. A latch mechanism according to claim 2, wherein said biasing
means comprise a weight integral to said latch release bar, said
weight being of such magnitude as to allow said latch release bar
to be continuously biased towards said rest position under the
influence of gravity.
4. A latch mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said first
retaining member comprises a stationary female retaining member,
and said second retaining member comprises a movable male retaining
member engageable in said female retaining member when said latch
release bar is in said rest position.
5. A latch mechanism according to claim 4, wherein said female
retaining member defines an aperture, and said male retaining
member comprising a hook-shaped catch member having a retaining
portion engageable in said aperture when said latch release bar is
in said rest position.
6. A latch mechanism according to claim 2, wherein said latch
release bar and said handle are of elongated shape and are in
parallel arrangement relative to each other.
7. A latch mechanism according to claim 6, wherein said handle
comprises a downwardly curved hand gripping lip, and said latch
release bar is pivotally attached to said handle such that it is
concealed underneath said gripping lip, wherein an operator's hand
can pivot said latch release bar against the bias of said biasing
means and away from said rest position.
8. A drawer for mounting in a tool cabinet housing and movable
relative thereto between a closed position and an open position,
comprising: a main body defining an inner compartment, said main
body provided with a front panel having an inner surface facing
said inner compartment and an outer surface opposite said inner
surface; a handle fixedly installed about said drawer front panel
outer surface; a latch mechanism for releasably holding said drawer
in said closed position within the tool cabinet housing, said latch
mechanism comprising: a latch release bar movably attached to
either one of said front panel and said handle such that said latch
release bar is installed in the vicinity of said handle, said latch
release bar being movable between a rest position and a released
position; a first retaining member for attachment to the tool
cabinet housing; a second retaining member operatively connected to
said latch release bar, wherein when said latch release bar is
moved in said rest position, said second retaining member is moved
in a first position, and is releasably connected to said first
retaining member when said drawer is in said closed position, and
wherein when said latch release bar is moved in said released
position, said second retaining member is moved in a second
position, and is disconnected from said first retaining member when
said drawer is in said closed position.
9. The drawer according to claim 8, wherein said second retaining
means include a hook-shaped catch member.
10. The drawer according to claim 8, further including drawer
mounting carriage means for movement of said drawer relative to the
tool cabinet housing, said first retaining member comprising an
aperture defined in said drawer mounting carriage means.
11. The drawer according to claim 10, wherein said drawer mounting
carriage means include telescopic slides.
12. The drawer according to claim 8, further comprising biasing
means for biasing said latch release bar towards said rest
position.
13. The drawer according to claim 12, wherein said biasing means
comprise a weight integral to said latch release bar, said weight
being of such magnitude as to allow said latch release bar to be
continuously biased towards said rest position under the influence
of gravity.
14. The drawer according to claim 8, wherein said latch release bar
and said handle are of elongated shape and are in parallel
arrangement relative to each other.
15. The drawer according to claim 14, wherein said handle comprises
a downwardly curved hand gripping lip, and said latch release bar
is pivotally attached to said handle such that it is concealed
underneath said gripping lip, wherein an operator's hand can pivot
said latch release bar against the bias of said biasing means and
away from said rest position.
16. In combination, a sliding drawer for mounting in a cabinet with
a cabinet wall and front opening, said drawer to be supported by
telescoping slides attached to the cabinet and to said drawer, said
drawer including a front side wall with a top edge and lateral side
walls, these telescoping slides for attachment to said lateral side
walls of the drawer for support and movement of said drawer into
and out of the cabinet, and a latch mechanism for releasably
locking said drawer into the cabinet, said latch mechanism
comprising: a drawer handle, mounted on said front side wall of
said drawer, said drawer handle including a plate pivotal on said
top edge of the drawer between a drawer retention first position
and a drawer release second position; said plate projecting
outwardly of said drawer from said front side wall thereof and
including a catch member attached to said handle adjacent one of
said lateral side walls of the drawer, said catch member positioned
to retain said handle from lateral, side to side sliding movement,
said catch member including a catch tab projecting generally
transverse to the direction of drawer slide movement; a strike for
mounting on the inside of the cabinet at the front opening thereof
adjacent said drawer top edge when said drawer is closed into the
cabinet, said strike positioned for coming in register with said
catch member when said drawer is in its said first position, said
strike having a female component complementary to said catch tab;
and passive system means continuously biasing said plate and said
catch member about said front edge, for locking engagement of said
catch member tab with said strike female component when said drawer
is closed into the cabinet, and for disengagement therefrom when
said plate is manually pivoted about the top edge to said drawer
second position by moving the handle against the force of said
passive system biasing means.
17. A latch mechanism as in claim 16, wherein said passive system
biasing means consists of a weight member, mounted integral to an
edge portion of said plate opposite said drawer.
18. A latch mechanism as in claim 17, further including a flange
cover, integrally carried by said drawer front side wall top edge
and projecting outwardly from said drawer and closely spacedly
overhanging said handle, an access mouth defined between said
flange cover and said drawer front side wall for manual access of
said handle.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to latch mechanisms, and more
particularly to a latch mechanism for holding drawers of a tool
cabinet in a closed position.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Tool cabinets generally include a housing and a vertical row
of drawers, each drawer being slidable in and out of the cabinet
housing between closed and opened limit positions. Certain
varieties of tool cabinets have a number of casters mounted to the
bottom surface of their housing, and can roll over ground in order
to be moved around easily in the workshop.
[0003] When a tool cabinet is being rolled around in the workshop,
it can happen that the drawers open--i.e. extend
outwardly--accidentally. This can be hazardous as drawers opening
suddenly can hit and injure a workman, and can destabilize the
cabinet. Indeed, the drawers generally contain heavy tools, and
sudden opening of drawers, especially upper drawers of the cabinet,
causes the weight of the heavy tools to shift horizontally away
from the cabinet main frame, so as to act as a cantilever weight
which can lead the cabinet to lose its balance and tip over.
[0004] It is therefore desirable to provide the drawers of
ground-standing rollable tool cabinets with a releasable latch
mechanism to hold them in a closed retracted position.
Latch-provided drawers cannot be pulled out and opened unless the
latch mechanism is released thus obviating spontaneous opening of
the drawers under momentum-based gravitation-borne forces when the
cabinet is rolled over ground.
[0005] Various types of latch mechanisms for tool cabinet drawers
have been devised in the past, but are awkward to manipulate and
include a high number of small cooperating parts, which lessens
their reliability.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention relates to a latch mechanism for tool
cabinets, for releasably holding a tool cabinet drawer in a closed
position within a tool cabinet housing, comprising: [0007] a handle
for fixed installation about a front panel of the tool cabinet
drawer; [0008] a latch release bar for movable attachment to either
one of the drawer front panel and said handle such that said latch
release bar is installed in the vicinity of said handle, said
release bar being movable between a rest position and a released
position; [0009] a first retaining member for attachment to the
tool cabinet housing; [0010] a second retaining member operatively
connected to said latch release bar, wherein when said latch
release bar is moved to said rest position, said second retaining
member is moved to a first position, for releasable connection to
said first retaining member when the drawer is in its closed
position, and wherein when said latch release bar is moved to said
released position, said second retaining member is moved to a
second position, for disconnecting said first retaining member from
said second retaining member when the drawer is in its closed
position.
[0011] In one embodiment, the latch mechanism further comprises
biasing means for biasing said latch release bar towards said rest
position.
[0012] In one embodiment, said biasing means comprise a weight
integral to said latch release bar, said weight being of such as
magnitude to allow said latch release bar to be continuously biased
towards said rest position under the influence of gravity.
[0013] In one embodiment, said first retaining member comprises a
stationary female retaining member, and said second retaining
member comprises a movable male retaining member engageable in said
female retaining member when said latch release bar is in said rest
position.
[0014] In one embodiment, said female retaining member defines an
aperture, and said male retaining member comprising a hook-shaped
catch member having a retaining portion engageable in said aperture
when said latch release bar is in said rest position.
[0015] In one embodiment, said latch release bar and said handle
are of elongated shape and are in parallel arrangement relative to
each other.
[0016] In one embodiment, said handle comprises a downwardly curved
hand gripping lip, and said latch release bar is pivotally attached
to said handle such that it is concealed underneath said gripping
lip, wherein an operator's hand can pivot said latch release bar
against the bias of said biasing means and away from said rest
position.
[0017] The present invention also relates to a drawer for mounting
in a tool cabinet housing and movable relative thereto between a
closed position and an open position, comprising: [0018] a main
body defining an inner compartment, said main body provided with a
front panel having an inner surface facing said inner compartment
and an outer surface opposite said inner surface; [0019] a handle
fixedly installed about said drawer front panel outer surface;
[0020] a latch mechanism for releasably holding said drawer in said
closed position within the tool cabinet housing, said latch
mechanism comprising: [0021] a latch release bar movably attached
to either one of said front panel and said handle such that said
latch release bar is installed in the vicinity of said handle, said
latch release bar being movable between a rest position and a
released position; [0022] a first retaining member for attachment
to the tool cabinet housing; [0023] a second retaining member
operatively connected to said latch release bar, wherein when said
latch release bar is moved in said rest position, said second
retaining member is moved in a first position, and is releasably
connected to said first retaining member when said drawer is in
said closed position, and wherein when said latch release bar is
moved in said released position, said second retaining member is
moved in a second position, and is disconnected from said first
retaining member when said drawer is in said closed position.
[0024] In one embodiment, said second retaining means include a
hook-shaped catch member.
[0025] In one embodiment, the drawer further includes drawer
mounting carriage means for movement of said drawer relative to the
tool cabinet housing, said first retaining member comprising an
aperture defined in said drawer mounting carriage means.
[0026] In one embodiment, said drawer mounting carriage means
include telescopic slides.
[0027] In one embodiment, said drawer further comprises biasing
means for biasing said latch release bar towards said rest
position.
[0028] In one embodiment, said biasing means comprise a weight
integral to said latch release bar, said weight being of such
magnitude as to allow said latch release bar to be continuously
biased towards said rest position under the influence of
gravity.
[0029] In one embodiment, said latch release bar and said handle
are of elongated shape and are in parallel arrangement relative to
each other.
[0030] In one embodiment, said handle comprises a downwardly curved
hand gripping lip, and said latch release bar is pivotally attached
to said handle such that it is concealed underneath said gripping
lip, wherein an operator's hand can pivot said latch release bar
against the bias of said biasing means and away from said rest
position.
[0031] The present invention also relates to a drawer for mounting
in a tool cabinet housing, comprising: [0032] a main body defining
an inner compartment, said main body provided with a front panel
having an inner surface facing said inner compartment and an outer
surface opposite said inner surface; [0033] drawer mounting
carriage means for movably mounting said drawer to the tool cabinet
housing and for allowing said drawer to be axially movable relative
to the tool cabinet housing between an open and a closed position,
said drawer mounting carriage means defining a retaining aperture;
[0034] an elongated handle fixedly installed about said drawer
front panel outer surface; [0035] an elongated latch release bar
movably attached to either one of said front panel and said handle
such that said latch release bar is installed in the vicinity of
said handle parallel thereto, said latch release bar being movable
between a rest position and a released position; [0036] a catch
member operatively connected to said latch release bar and
comprising a retaining portion; wherein when said latch release bar
is moved in said rest position, said catch member is moved in a
first position, and said retaining portion thereof is releasably
inserted in said drawer carriage mounting means aperture when said
drawer is in said closed position for preventing said drawer to be
moved towards said open position, and wherein when said latch
release bar is moved in said released position, said catch member
is moved in a second position, and said retaining portion thereof
clears said retaining aperture for allowing said drawer to be moved
towards said open position. In one embodiment, said drawer mounting
means include telescopic slides.
[0037] In one embodiment, said drawer further comprises biasing
means for biasing said latch release bar towards said rest
position.
[0038] In one embodiment, said biasing means comprise a weight
integral to said latch release bar, said weight being of such
magnitude as to allow said latch release bar to be continuously
biased towards said rest position under the influence of
gravity.
[0039] In one embodiment, said handle comprises a downwardly curved
hand gripping lip, and said latch release bar is pivotally attached
to said handle such that it is concealed underneath said gripping
lip, wherein an operator's hand can pivot said latch release bar
against the bias of said biasing means and away from said rest
position.
[0040] The present invention also relates, in combination, to a
sliding drawer for mounting in a cabinet with a cabinet wall and
front opening, said drawer to be supported by telescoping slides
attached to the cabinet and to said drawer, said drawer including a
front side wall with a top edge and lateral side walls, these
telescoping slides for attachment to said lateral side walls of the
drawer for support and movement of said drawer into and out of the
cabinet, and a latch mechanism for releasably locking said drawer
into the cabinet, said latch mechanism comprising: [0041] a drawer
handle, mounted on said front side wall of said drawer, said drawer
handle including a plate pivotal on said top edge of the drawer
between a drawer retention first position and a drawer release
second position; said plate projecting outwardly of said drawer
from said front side wall thereof and including a catch member
attached to said handle adjacent one of said lateral side walls of
the drawer, said catch member positioned to retain said handle from
lateral, side to side sliding movement, said catch member including
a catch tab projecting generally transverse to the direction of
drawer slide movement; [0042] a strike for mounting on the inside
of the cabinet at the front opening thereof adjacent said drawer
top edge when said drawer is closed into the cabinet, said strike
positioned for coming in register with said catch member when said
drawer is in its said first position, said strike having a female
component complementary to said catch tab; and [0043] passive
system means continuously biasing said plate and said catch member
about said front edge, for locking engagement of said catch member
tab with said strike female component when said drawer is closed
into the cabinet, and for disengagement therefrom when said plate
is manually pivoted about the top edge to said drawer second
position by moving the handle against the force of said passive
system biasing means.
[0044] In one embodiment, said passive system biasing means
consists of a weight member, mounted integral to an edge portion of
said plate opposite said drawer.
[0045] In one embodiment, said latch mechanism further includes a
flange cover, integrally carried by said drawer front side wall top
edge and projecting outwardly from said drawer and closely spacedly
overhanging said handle, an access mouth defined between said
flange cover and said drawer front side wall for manual access of
said handle.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0046] In the annexed drawings:
[0047] FIG. 1 shows a front perspective view of a ground-standing
rollable tool cabinet carrying a number of extensible drawers;
[0048] FIG. 2 shows an exploded perspective view of one of the
drawers of the cabinet of FIG. 1, this drawer being provided with a
latch mechanism according to the present invention:
[0049] FIG. 3 shows an enlarged view of the area circumscribed by
ellipse III-III in FIG. 2, and further showing the handle of the
drawer being partly broken for clarity of the view;
[0050] FIG. 4 is an enlarged broken partial front perspective view
of a portion of the cabinet of FIG. 1, showing the interplay
between one drawer and the cabinet drawer support carriage;
[0051] FIG. 5 shows a sectional side view of the drawer and drawer
support carriage of FIG. 4, suggesting the pivotal movement of the
latch release bar by an operator's hand shown in phantom lines from
its rest to its released position, and of the catch member from it
raised to its lowered position; and
[0052] FIG. 6 shows a view similar to that of FIG. 5, illustrating
the axial movement of the drawer towards its open position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0053] FIG. 1 shows a tool chest or cabinet 10, comprising a
parallelepiped-shaped housing 12 in which a front opening 14 is
made. Housing 12 also defines side walls 12a, 12b, on the inside
surface of which are transversely mounted drawer mounting and
carriage means, as will be described hereinafter. Furthermore,
casters 15 are affixed transversely at each of the four corners of
the undersurface of housing 12, and tool cabinet 12 is thereby
rollable over ground.
[0054] A number of drawers 20 are movably mounted within housing
12. Drawers 20 can be slid horizontally in and out of cabinet
housing 12 through opening 14. As illustrated in the exploded view
of FIG. 2, each drawer 20 includes a generally rectangular bottom
plate 22, a pair of opposite spaced side walls 24, 24 fixedly
attached to opposite lateral edges of bottom plate 22, a rear wall
26 fixedly attached to the rear edge of bottom plate 22, and a
front panel 28 secured to the front edge of bottom plate 22, all of
which configure, in combination, an inner compartment 21 with an
open top mouth. In one embodiment, a single plate of sheet metal is
suitably bent into shape to integrally form bottom plate 22, side
walls 24, 24 and rear wall 26.
[0055] In the embodiment shown in the figures, front panel 28 is
made of a single sheet of metal suitably bent into shape. Front
panel 28 has an elongated shape, and is lengthwisely affixed to the
front edge of bottom plate 22. As best shown in FIG. 3, front panel
28 includes a main plate portion 29, and an upturned lower flange
30 depending downwardly from the bottom edge of plate portion 29
beyond bottom plate 22, and bent rearwardly (i.e. towards the rear
wall 26 of the drawer 20) and upwardly so as to come in contact
with the undersurface of bottom plate 22 (as shown in FIGS. 5-6).
Front panel 28 also comprises an elongated handle 32 capping main
plate portion 29, and extending lengthwisely between lateral edges
28a, 28b of front panel 28. Handle 32 integrally defines the
following sections, as best shown in FIG. 3: [0056] a bottom
portion 32a extending upwardly from the top edge of main plate
portion 29 with a rearward slant; [0057] a rear portion 32b
extending vertically upwardly from the rear edge of bottom portion
32a; [0058] a top portion 32c extending horizontally from the top
edge of rear portion 32b, and frontwardly beyond the vertical plane
of main plate portion 29; [0059] a gripping lip 32d extending
frontwardly with a downward slant from the front edge of top
portion 32c, away from main plate portion 29.
[0060] Moreover, two support tabs 34 are provided on handle 32 in
the vicinity of lateral edges 28a, 28b respectively of front panel
28. Each tab 34 consists in a partially cutout piece of handle rear
portion 32a bent frontwardly upwardly until its free end 34a abuts
against the undersurface of top portion 32c, as can be seen in the
side views of FIGS. 5-6.
[0061] Drawer 20 further comprises a latch mechanism 40 according
to the present invention. Latch mechanism 40 comprises an elongated
latch release bar 42 pivotally mounted to front panel 28 and
extending lengthwisely between lateral edges 28a, 28b thereof,
beneath handle 32 so as to be concealed under handle top portion
32c and gripping lip 32d. Latch release bar 42, in the present
embodiment, is made of single sheet-like metal plate suitably bent
into shape. Latch release bar 42 integrally comprises a main
portion 42a, from the rear edge of which upwardly extends, with a
frontward slant, a stopper flange 42b. Main portion 42a and stopper
flange 42b intersect at a straight pivot ridge 45. A trigger tongue
42c extends frontwardly from the front edge of main portion 42a,
with a downward slant. The free end portion 42d of trigger tongue
42c is folded over, in order to double its thickness and
weight.
[0062] Two openings 43 are made through latch release bar main body
42a. These openings 43 in latch release bar 42 are penetrated by
corresponding and registering support tabs 34 of handle 32, and
latch release bar 42 is thereby mounted to front panel 28. The
pivot ridge 45 of latch release bar 42 bears against the trough of
the wedge-shaped space 35 (FIGS. 5-6) formed in combination by
support tabs 34 and handle rear portion 34b.
[0063] Latch mechanism 40 is further provided with a pair of male
retaining means, in the form of plate-like, hook-shaped catch
members 50. Catch members 50 each define an elongated main body
50a, and an attachment tab 50b extending from one end of main body
50a transversely thereto. Attachment portions 50b are fixed to
opposite ends of elongated latch release bar 42 on the main portion
42a thereof. A generally triangular retaining portion 50c is
provided on the end of main body 50a opposite attachment tabs 50b,
and defines a rounded tip 50d and a slanted sliding edge 50e.
[0064] The assembly of latch release bar 42 and catch members 50 is
pivotable relative to front panel 28 about the pivot ridge 45 of
latch release bar 42. At rest, the latch release bar 42 is in a
rest position where stopper flange 42b abuts against the rear
surface 34b of each support tab 34. In this rest position of latch
release bar 42, catch member 50 is in a raised limit position. By
applying upward pressure with his hand H on trigger tongue 42c of
latch release bar 42, an operator, as suggested in FIG. 5, can
release latch bar 42 and catch members 50 can be pivoted in a
clockwise direction with respect to the viewpoint of FIGS. 5-6
sequentially about pivot ridge 45. Pivoting of latch release bar 42
is only possible over a limited angular spread, as during its
pivoting course towards its released position, latch release bar
tongue 42c eventually comes in abutting contact with the
undersurface of handle 32, and is blocked from further pivoting.
Such pivoting of latch release bar 42 induces the downward
displacement of retaining portion 50c towards a lowered limit
position. Upon release of the upward pressure applied on latch
release bar trigger tongue 42c, the latch release bar 42 returns to
its rest position and catch member 50 returns to its raised limit
position. This is chiefly due to the fact that the free end portion
42d of latch release bar trigger tongue 42c forms a weight, since
it is folded over and its weight is thereby doubled, allowing
gravity to continuously bias the latch release bar 42/catch members
50 assembly in a counter-clockwise pivotal direction (with respect
to the viewpoint of FIGS. 5-6). It is understood that alternate
passive biasing means such as other weight-increasing means could
be used to continuously bias latch release bar 42 towards a rest
position and catch member 50 in a raised limit position.
[0065] Although the above-described pivotal mounting means of the
latch release bar 42/catch member 50 assembly on front panel 28
have proven to be very reliable, the pivotal mount of this assembly
about front panel 28 could be achieved in any other way known in
the art. For example, latch release bar 42 could be alternately
hinged to front panel 28.
[0066] Drawer 20 is movably mounted to cabinet housing 12 through
the instrumentality of conventional telescopic carriage slides 60,
each telescopic slide 60 comprising three slide segments 62, 64,
66. Outer slide segment 62, which is cross-sectionally U-shaped as
illustrated in FIG. 4, is lengthwisely secured in a horizontal
position to the inner surface of the side walls 12a, 12b of the
cabinet housing 12, and the inner slide segment 66 is lengthwisely
secured horizontally to the outer surface of side walls 24, 24 of
drawer 20. Intermediate slide segment 64 is suitably rollably
mounted to both inner and outer slide segments 62, 66. Outer slide
segment 62 is stationary relative to housing 12, and intermediate
slide segment 64, through its rollable interconnection with both
inner and outer slide segments 62, 66, permits relative
displacement of inner slide segment 66 relative to stationary outer
slide segment 62, in order for drawer 20 to be axially slidable in
and out of cabinet housing 12 through opening 14.
[0067] Latch mechanism 40 is further provided with female retaining
means in the form of apertures 68 made in the upper front end
portion of cross-sectionally U-shaped slide segment 62 for
cooperation with the male retaining means, i.e. catch member 50.
The relative alignment of drawer 20 into cabinet housing 12 is such
that when drawer 20 is in its closed (retracted) position, catch
member retaining portion 50c registers vertically beneath aperture
68. When latch release bar 42 is at rest, catch member 50 is in its
raised limit position and its retaining portion 50c is interlocked
in aperture 68.
[0068] In alternate embodiments, other female retaining means could
be provided instead of apertures 68, such as strikes independent
from the telescopic slides secured to the cabinet housing, for
cooperation with the male retaining means of the latch
mechanism.
[0069] Use of the present invention will now be described. When the
drawer 20 is closed, i.e. is fully retracted within cabinet housing
12 as shown in FIG. 1, both catch member retaining portions 50c of
the latch mechanism 40 are interlocked in corresponding apertures
68 of telescopic slides 60. This interlocking engagement holds the
drawer 20 in their closed position. Accordingly, when drawers 20
are closed and the latch release bar 42 is at rest, latch mechanism
40 ensures that drawers 20 remain closed, and the tool cabinet 10
can be rolled around the workshop without fearing that the drawers
20 open spontaneously under momentum-borne forces.
[0070] To open a drawer 20, the user, while resting his thumb over
handle 32 as suggested in FIG. 5, uses his other fingers to apply
upward pressure on latch release bar 42. This pivots the latch
release bar 42/catch member 50 assembly in a clockwise direction
(with respect to the viewpoint of FIG. 5-6) about pivot ridge 45,
which causes catch member retaining portion 50c to be lowered and
egress out of aperture 68. When catch member retaining portion 50c
clears aperture 68, drawer 20 is no longer prevented from opening
and the user can thus slidably pull the drawer out of housing 12
with his hand H to gain access to its inner compartment 21 where
tools or other items may be stored.
[0071] To close the drawer 20, the user can apply an upward
pressure on latch release bar 42 while pushing the drawer back
towards its closed position. When the drawer is closed, the latch
release bar 42 can be released, thereby reestablishing the
interlocking engagement between catch member retaining portion 50c
and aperture 68. Alternately, drawer 20 can simply be pushed back
in its closed position without pushing the latch release bar 42 in
its released position. As the drawer approaches its closed
position, the rounded edge 50d and slanted sliding edge 50e of
catch member retaining portion 50c strike and slide on the front
edge of outer slide segment 62 and catch member 50 is slidably
pushed downwardly until its retaining portion 50c registers
vertically underneath aperture 68. The latch release bar 42/catch
member 50 assembly then automatically moves in a counter-clockwise
direction (with respect to the viewpoint of FIGS. 5-6) under the
influence of gravity as described hereinabove, catch member 50
returns to its raised limit position, and retaining portion 50c
penetrates into aperture 68 to return into interlocking engagement
therewith.
[0072] The embodiments described in the foregoing description
provide for a drawer mounted to a cabinet housing through the
instrumentality of telescopic slides, with the female retaining
member of latch mechanism 40 being an aperture 68 made into the
outer segment of the telescopic slides. It is understood that in
alternate embodiments of the present invention, any suitable means
could be provided to allow drawers 20 to be axially moved in and
out of the tool cabinet housing instead of telescopic slides.
Moreover, any suitable retaining means other than the catch member
50/aperture 68 combination could be used as detent means to hold
the drawer of the tool cabinet in its closed position, as long as
actuation of a latch release bar causes release of the detent means
to permit opening of the drawer.
[0073] The fact that a movable latch release bar located beneath a
fixed handle must be actuated to release the latch mechanism of the
present invention, is a maneuverability improvement over similar
prior art latch-provided tool cabinets.
[0074] Some prior art tool cabinets have drawers having a front
panel to which is mounted a handle, these drawers being held in a
closed position by a latch mechanism. The front handle of each
drawer is pivotable relative to the front panel, and is operatively
linked to the latch mechanism. Accordingly, to open a drawer, a
user must grip the handle, twist it in order to pivot it into a
released position, thereby disengaging the latch mechanism, and can
then pull the drawer by the same handle to slide it out of the tool
cabinet into an open position. Such prior art latch mechanism are
impractical and awkward to use, since no fixed and steady grip is
provided on the drawer. When a user grips the twistable handle
without wanting to disengage the latch mechanism but only to move
the drawer between open and closed positions, the handle is likely
to unsteadily jolt between its rest and released positions.
[0075] With the present invention, the user can maintain a firm and
steady grip on a fixed handle while using his other fingers to
actuate the movable latch release bar, which makes the latch
mechanism less awkward to use and more user-friendly.
[0076] Moreover, the present invention has proven to be
surprisingly resistant to wear. Indeed, as can be inferred from the
foregoing description and observed in the drawings, the latch
mechanism comprises a small number of cooperating parts, and is
thus very reliable. In particular, the latch release bar is biased
towards its rest position by passive biasing means, i.e. by the
provision of weights thereon to allow it to be naturally
gravity-biased towards its rest position, and obviates use of
dynamic biasing means such as springs in order to return to its
rest position. This imparts increased reliability to the latch
mechanism of the present invention, since even wear of its
components is unlikely to cause it to stop functioning. On the
other hand, prior art spring-provided latch mechanisms are much
more vulnerable to wear since springs are known to lose their
resiliency with age. When the spring of a prior art latch mechanism
of a given tool cabinet drawer loses its resiliency, the latch
release bar can no longer automatically recoil to its rest position
once it has been actuated in its released position, and the latch
mechanism can no longer return to its locked condition to hold the
drawer in a closed position, which defeats the purpose of the
present invention.
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