U.S. patent application number 11/055103 was filed with the patent office on 2006-08-17 for cabinet drawer drivingly connected locking mechanism.
This patent application is currently assigned to SUPER TEST CORP.. Invention is credited to Sue-Tsen Hung.
Application Number | 20060181182 11/055103 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36814980 |
Filed Date | 2006-08-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060181182 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hung; Sue-Tsen |
August 17, 2006 |
Cabinet drawer drivingly connected locking mechanism
Abstract
A cabinet drawer drivingly connected locking mechanism which can
be synchronously driven along by the opening and closing operation
of the top cover of the cabinet body to complete the locking and
unlocking state of cabinet drawers, including a sliding seat, an
engaging body having an engaging hole and an elastic element, when
the top cover is pressed on the engaging body, an anchoring hole of
the engaging body will press against the elastic element causing it
to bend and store elasticity, the engaging hole will be moved
downwards to engage with the locking element so as to complete the
locking state of the drawer, when the top cover is opened, the
depressing force of the engaging body is released, the restored
elasticity of the elastic element is released and carries the
engaging body and the engaging hole to move upwards back to its
original position, thus unlocked the drawer.
Inventors: |
Hung; Sue-Tsen; (Taipei,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Assignee: |
SUPER TEST CORP.
|
Family ID: |
36814980 |
Appl. No.: |
11/055103 |
Filed: |
February 11, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/218 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E05B 65/462 20130101;
E05B 63/143 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/218 |
International
Class: |
A47B 95/00 20060101
A47B095/00 |
Claims
1. A cabinet drawer drivingly connected locking mechanism,
characterized in: a cabinet body having an upper open side and a
lateral open side, a top cover arranged on the upper open side, at
least one partition arranged in the cabinet body to form at least
one compartment, at least one drawable and slidable drawer arranged
in the lateral open side, and at least one locking element disposed
on each drawer at the side which is corresponding to the inside
edge of the lateral open side when the drawer is drawn in; at least
one locking mechanism having a sliding seat which is fixedly
arranged in the cabinet body correspondingly located at the opening
and closing driving position of the top cover, an engaging body
located on the sliding seat, wherein the engaging body can be
driven by the opening and closing operation of the top cover to
move vertically along the sliding seat and the engaging body
includes an engaging hole corresponding to the locking element of
the drawer, an anchoring hole, and an elastic element having one
end secured by the anchoring hole and the other end connected to
the partition; and when the top cover is pressed on the engaging
body, the anchoring hole of the engaging body will press against
the elastic element causing it to bend and store elasticity, the
engaging hole will then be moved downwards to engage with the
locking element so as to complete the locking state of the drawer,
when the top cover is opened, the depressing force of the engaging
body is released, the restored elasticity of the elastic element is
released and carries the engaging body and the engaging hole to
move upwards back to its original position, thus unlocked the
drawer.
2. The cabinet drawer drivingly connected locking mechanism
according to claim 1, wherein the top of the engaging body has a
protecting cap.
3. The cabinet drawer drivingly connected locking mechanism
according to claim 1, wherein one end of the locking element
corresponding to the engaging hole is bent towards the drawer in an
inclination angle to form an engaging end, such inclination angle
of the engaging end has to allow the locking element and the
engaging end to freely get into and out of the engaging hole when
the drawer is at an unlocked state and when the drawer is at a
locked state, the engaging end cannot freely get into and out of
the engaging hole.
4. The cabinet drawer drivingly connected locking mechanism
according to claim 3, wherein the inclination angle of the engaging
end is an acute angle.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a cabinet drawer drivingly
connected locking mechanism and, more particularly, to a locking
mechanism that can be synchronously driven along by the opening and
closing operation of the top cover of the cabinet body to complete
the locking and unlocking state of cabinet drawers
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In order to facilitate users to classify and reorganize the
tools at home, there exists a so-called tool cabinet. Most existing
tool cabinet comprises a body equipped by four sidewalls between
four corner pods, one top cover and one base. The top of the body
is an open end that can be opened or closed by the top cover. The
interior of the cabinet body can install some partitions, the
partitions and the top cover formed a compartment for storing tiny
tools. And at least one sidewall having an open end which allows a
sliding drawer to be horizontally inserted into the cabinet body.
Since the cabinet may be moved about as a unitary unit to the most
convenient position relative to the operation place, the cabinet
usually has a drawer locking mechanism in order to avoid the
drawers from dropping out of the cabinet during transportation.
[0003] Conventional drawer locking mechanism secures the drawers
one by one, such as shown in the R.O.C Patent Publication No.
137421 and No. 313187. But a user has to use the tools inside the
cabinet right after the cabinet is being transported, it will be
time-consuming and inconvenient for the user to lock the drawers
one by one before transporting the cabinet. Therefore, a drivingly
connected locking device for cabinet drawers is needed, such as
shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,347,848, U.S. Pat. No. 6,572,203, and U.S.
Pat. No. 6,742,854, each patent discloses a locking device having a
slide seat disposed in the case body, an engaging body is
vertically slidably fitted in the slide seat, a latch plate
disposed on each drawer and the engaging body is formed with
several engaging holes corresponding to the latch plates of the
drawers. By the use of a driving section (such as the link design
in U.S. Pat. No. 6,347,848) to depress the engaging body causing
the engaging holes and the latch plates to form a drawer locked
state. And it is emphasized in the above patents that in case one
of the drawers is not totally pushed in and is not locked, a user
only needs to further push the drawer inward. At this time, the
engaging body will move upward and then move down to lock the
drawer.
[0004] However, the above locking mechanism is quite difficult to
assemble and the exertion of the second driving force is acceptable
but very inconvenient. Mainly because when a user further pushes
the engaging body upwards, the other locked drawers will be
unlocked at the same time and causing the original unlocked drawers
to drop out. Furthermore, FIG. 5 of U.S. Pat. No. 6,572,203 is the
only patent that discloses the driving section of the cabinet
drawer locking device can be a cover board. All the other patents
are using additional key unit to rotate the link design manually
for locking and unlock the drawer which is very inconvenient. In
FIG. 5 of U.S. Pat. No. 6,572,203 discloses a shifting section used
to pivotally connect a cover board and an engaging body, but the
engaging body includes a first slide section and a second slide
section. This will not only causing inconveniency to actual
operation and assembly, the shifting section will also damage the
cover board easily which affect the overall aesthetic
appealing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is a primary object of the present invention is to
provide a cabinet drawer drivingly connected locking mechanism that
can lock all the drawers at one time. And the locking and unlock
state of the cabinet drawers can both be controlled by the opening
and closing operation of the top cover of the cabinet.
[0006] In order to achieve the foregoing objects, the locking
mechanism of the present invention comprises a sliding seat, an
engaging body having an engaging hole and an elastic element that
is connected to a partition and an anchoring hole of the engaging
body. When the cabinet is closed by the depression of the top
cover, the top cover will press on the engaging body and the
anchoring hole of the engaging body will also press against the
elastic element causing it to store elasticity. The engaging hole
will be moved downwards, causing the locking element of the drawer
to be secured within the engaging hole, thus complete the locking
state of the drawer. When the top cover is opened, the depressing
force of the engaging body is released, the restored energy of the
elastic element within the engaging hole is also released and
carries the engaging body and the anchoring hole to move upwards to
its original position.
[0007] The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and
advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the
following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to
the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of
the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the locking mechanism of the
present invention.
[0010] FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C are perspective views showing that the
drawers in a locking state.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0011] Please refer to FIGS. 1 and 2, showing a perspective view of
a preferred embodiment of the present invention and an exploded
view of the locking mechanism. A cabinet body 10 includes an upper
open side 101 and a lateral open side 102, a top cover 11 is
arranged on the upper open side 101, and at least one partition 12
is arranged in the cabinet body 10 defining at least one
compartment 103. At least one drawable and slidable drawer 20 is
arranged in the lateral open side 102. At least one locking element
21 is disposed on each drawer 20 at the side which is corresponding
to the inside edge of the lateral open side 102 when the drawer is
drawn in. At least one locking mechanism includes a sliding seat 13
which is fixedly arranged in the cabinet body 10 correspondingly
located at the opening and closing driving position of the top
cover 11. A engaging body 14 located on the sliding seat 13, the
engaging body 14 can be driven by the opening and closing operation
of the top cover 11 to move vertically along the sliding seat 13.
The engaging body 14 includes a engaging hole 141 corresponding to
the locking element 21 of the drawer 20, and an anchoring hole 142.
An elastic element 15 having one end secured by the anchoring hole
142 and the other end connected to the partition 12. Wherein, one
end of the above locking element 21 corresponding to the engaging
hole 141 is bent towards the drawer 20 in an acute inclination
angle to form a engaging end 211. Such inclination angle of the
engaging end 211 has to allow the locking element 21 and the
engaging end 211 to freely get into and out of the engaging hole
141 when the drawer 20 is at an unlocked state. On the other hand,
when the drawer 20 is at a locked state, the engaging end 211
cannot freely get into and out of the engaging hole 141.
[0012] Please refer to FIG. 3A, when the top cover 11 is at an open
state corresponding to the cabinet body 10, the drawer 20 then can
be slid horizontally into the cabinet body 10 through the lateral
open side 102. And referring to FIG. 3B, when a user finishes using
the tools inside the drawer 20, or when a user needs to transport
the cabinet body 10 to another place. The user can just push the
drawer 20 into the cabinet body 10, allowing the locking element 21
at the back of the drawer 20 to go inside the engaging hole 141,
and the inclined engaging end 211 at the edge of the locking
element 21 will go behind the engaging hole 141. As shown in FIG.
3C, when a user closes the top cover 11, since there is an
additional protecting cap 143 located at the top of the engaging
body 14, thus protecting the top cover 11 from being damaged by the
engaging body 14 when the top cover 11 pressed on the engaging body
14. A cover 16 is also decorated at those sections of both the
engaging body 14 and the sliding seat 13 which are exposed between
the partition 12 and the top cover 11.
[0013] When the top cover 11 is pressed on the engaging body 14,
the anchoring hole 142 of the engaging body 14 will press against
the elastic element 15 causing it to bend and store elasticity. The
engaging hole 141 will then be moved downwards, causing the
engaging end 211 of the locking element 20 to be blocked behind the
engaging body 14 and engaged within the engaging hole 141. This
completes the locking state of the drawer 20 and the drawer 20
cannot get freely into and out of the lateral open side 102 at this
moment. When the top cover 11 is opened, the depressing force of
the engaging body 14 is released, the restored elasticity of the
elastic element 15 is released and carries the engaging body 14 and
the engaging hole 141 to move upwards back to its original
position. It is worthwhile to mention that the present invention
only need to construct an anchoring hole 142 on the engaging body
14, and also to assemble an elastic element 15 connecting the
partition 12 and the engaging body 14. Therefore, the overall
components and assembly is simpler and more convenient than those
conventional locking devices. And the top cover 11 of the present
invention is drivingly connected to the locking mechanism of the
drawer 20, that is, the locking mechanism can be synchronously
driven along by the opening and closing operation of the top cover
11 of the cabinet body 10 to complete the locking and unlocking
state of cabinet drawers 20, thus providing easier operation.
[0014] Although the invention has been explained in relation to its
preferred embodiment, it is not used to limit the invention. It is
to be understood that many other possible modifications and
variations can be made by those skilled in the art without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter
claimed.
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