U.S. patent number 3,589,783 [Application Number 04/772,155] was granted by the patent office on 1971-06-29 for drawer-locking system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Lyon Metal Products Incorporated. Invention is credited to Robert A. Studinski, Florian A. Walter.
United States Patent |
3,589,783 |
Studinski , et al. |
June 29, 1971 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
DRAWER-LOCKING SYSTEM
Abstract
There is disclosed herein a drawer-locking system for use in a
cabinetlike body having drawer support structure therein, with at
least one drawer being mounted in the body on the support structure
for movement inwardly and outwardly with respect thereto and having
a keeper thereon. Lock mechanism is carried by the drawer and is
movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. A cable
extends through the body adjacent to the drawer and has one end
movably mounted with respect to the body. A latch is mounted on the
cable adjacent to the drawer and is movable with the cable between
a locking position wherein the latch is in position to engage the
keeper and a release position wherein the latch is out of position
to engage the keeper, the lock mechanism being operable to move the
latch between the locking and release positions thereof, whereby
movement of the lock mechanism between the locked position and the
unlocked position thereof moves the latch between the locking
position and the release position thereof.
Inventors: |
Studinski; Robert A. (Aurora,
IL), Walter; Florian A. (Aurora, IL) |
Assignee: |
Lyon Metal Products
Incorporated (Aurora, IL)
|
Family
ID: |
25094100 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/772,155 |
Filed: |
October 31, 1968 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/127; 312/221;
312/217 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E05B
65/462 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E05B
65/44 (20060101); E05B 65/46 (20060101); E05b
065/46 () |
Field of
Search: |
;312/217,218,219,220,221,194,333 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Taylor; Dennis L.
Claims
What we claim is:
1. A drawer-locking system comprising a cabinetlike body having
drawer support structure therein, at least one drawer mounted in
said body on said support structure for movement inwardly and
outwardly with respect thereto and having a keeper thereon, lock
mechanism carried by said drawer and movable between a locked
position and an unlocked position, a cable extending through said
body adjacent to said drawer and having one end movably mounted
with respect to said body, and a latch mounted on said cable
adjacent to said drawer and movable with said cable between a
locking position wherein said latch is in position to engage said
keeper and a release position wherein said latch is out of position
to engage said keeper, said lock mechanism being operable to move
said latch between the locking and release positions thereof,
whereby movement of said lock mechanism between the locked position
and the unlocked position thereof moves said latch between the
locking position and the release position thereof, movement of said
latch from said locking position thereof to said release position
thereof being accomplished without shifting said drawer inwardly or
outwardly with respect to said body.
2. The drawer locking system set forth in claim 1 and further
comprising means secured to said one end of said cable for
maintaining said cable taut in all positions of said lock
mechanism.
3. The drawer locking system set forth in claim 1, wherein said
cable is a flexible wire cable.
4. The drawer locking system set forth in claim 1, and further
comprising at least one stop arm carried adjacent to the rear of
said drawer, said stop arm being cooperable with said drawer
support structure to prevent complete removal of said drawer from
said body.
5. The drawer locking system set forth in claim 1, wherein said
body comprises the pedestal of a modular unit.
6. A drawer-locking system comprising a cabinetlike body having
drawer support structure therein, at least one drawer mounted in
said body on said support structure for movement inwardly and
outwardly with respect thereto and having a keeper thereon, lock
mechanism carried by said drawer and movable between a locked
position and an unlocked position, a cable extending through said
body adjacent to said drawer, resilient means interconnecting one
end of said cable and said body to hold said cable taut in all
positions of said lock mechanism, and a latch mounted on said cable
adjacent to said drawer and movable with said cable between a
locking position wherein said latch is in position to engage said
keeper and a release position wherein said latch is out of position
to engage said keeper, said lock mechanism being operable to move
said latch between the locking and release positions thereof,
whereby movement of said lock mechanism between the locked position
and the unlocked position thereof moves said latch between the
locking position and the release position thereof, movement of said
latch from said locking position thereof to said release position
thereof being accomplished without shifting said drawer inwardly or
outwardly with respect to said body.
7. The drawer-locking system set forth in claim 6, wherein said
resilient means is a spring having said one end connected to said
cable at a point below said drawer and having the other end
connected to a lower point on said body.
8. A drawer-locking system comprising a cabinetlike body having
drawer support structure therein, a plurality of vertically aligned
drawers mounted in said body on said support structure for movement
inwardly and outwardly with respect thereto, each of said drawers
having a keeper thereon, lock mechanism carried by one of said
drawers and movable between a locked position and an unlocked
position, a cable extending through said body adjacent to said
drawers, resilient means interconnecting one end of said cable and
said body to hold said cable taut in all positions of said lock
mechanism, and a corresponding plurality of latches mounted on said
cable respectively adjacent to said drawers and movable with said
cable between locking positions wherein said latches are in
position respectively to engage said keepers and prevent outward
movement of said drawers and release positions wherein said latches
are out of position to engage said keepers to allow outward
movement of said drawers, said lock mechanism carried by said one
drawer being operable to move the respectively adjacent one of said
latches between the locking and release position thereof, whereby
movement of said lock mechanism between the locked position and the
unlocked position thereof moves the adjacent one of said latches
between the locking position and the release position thereof and
concurrently effects movement of said cable and thereby the
remainder of said latches between said latch adjacent to said one
drawer and said resilient means between the locking positions and
the release positions thereof, movement of said latches from said
locking positions thereof to said release positions thereof being
accomplished without shifting said one drawer inwardly or outwardly
with respect to said body.
9. The drawer-locking system set forth in claim 8, wherein said one
drawer carrying said lock mechanism is the uppermost drawer in said
body.
10. A drawer-locking system comprising a cabinetlike body having
drawer support structure therein, a plurality of vertically aligned
drawers mounted in said body on said support structure for movement
inwardly and outwardly with respect thereto, each of said drawers
having a keeper thereon, lock mechanism carried by one of said
drawers and movable between a locked position and an unlocked
position, said one drawer being disposed below the uppermost drawer
in said body, a cable extending through said body adjacent to said
drawers, resilient means interconnecting one end of said cable and
said body to hold said cable taut in all positions of said lock
mechanism, a plurality of latches mounted on said cable
respectively adjacent to said one drawer and the drawers positioned
between said one drawer and said resilient means and movable with
said cable between locking positions wherein said latches are in
position to respectively engage said keepers and prevent outward
movement of said one drawer and those positioned between said one
drawer and said resilient means and release positions wherein said
latches are out of position to engage said keepers to allow outward
movement of said drawers, and guard means secured to said body
adjacent to said one drawer and overlying the respectively adjacent
latch for preventing manipulation of said cable and said latch,
said lock mechanism carried by said one drawer being operable to
move the respectively adjacent one of said latches between the
locking and release positions thereof, whereby movement of said
lock mechanism between the locked position and the unlocked
position thereof moves the adjacent one of said latches between the
locking position and the release position thereof and concurrently
effects movement of said cable and thereby the remainder of said
latches between said one drawer and said resilient means between
the locking positions and the release positions thereof.
11. The drawer-locking system set forth in claim 10, wherein said
guard means for preventing cable manipulation comprises a plate
secured to said body adjacent to said one drawer and disposed
between said cable and said one drawer, said plate having an
opening therein adapted to receive said one latch and permitting
movement of said one latch between the locking and release
positions thereof, and a shield secured to a lower surface of said
one latch and extending from said one latch through said opening in
said plate and overlying said opening regardless of the position of
said one latch, whereby said guard means precludes manipulation of
said cable and said one latch when said one latch is in the locking
position thereof.
12. A drawer-locking system comprising a cabinetlike body having
drawer 4 support structure therein, at least one drawer mounted in
said body on said support structure for movement inwardly and
outwardly with respect thereto and having a keeper thereon, lock
mechanism carried by said drawer and movable between a locked
position and an unlocked position, a cable extending through said
body adjacent to said drawer, resilient means interconnecting one
end of said cable and said body to hold said cable taut in all
positions of said lock mechanism, and a latch mounted on said cable
adjacent to said drawer and movable with said cable, said lock
mechanism engaging said latch to effect movement of said latch
between a locking position wherein said latch is in position to
engage said keeper and thereby prevent outward movement of said
drawer and a release position wherein said latch is out of position
to engage said keeper, whereby movement of said lock mechanism
between the locked position and the unlocked position thereof moves
said latch between the locking position and the release position
thereof.
13. The drawer-locking system set forth in claim 12, wherein said
resilient means is a spring having one end connected to said cable
at a point below said drawer and having the other end connected to
a lower point on said body.
14. A drawer-locking system comprising a cabinetlike body having
drawer support structure therein, at least one drawer mounted in
said body on said support structure for movement inwardly and
outwardly with respect thereto and having a keeper thereon, lock
mechanism carried by said drawer and movable between a locked
position and an unlocked position, a cable extending through said
body adjacent to said drawer, resilient means interconnecting one
end of said cable to said body for maintaining said cable taut in
all positions of said lock mechanism, a latch mounted on said cable
adjacent to said drawer and movable with said cable between a
locking position wherein said latch is in position to engage said
keeper and a release position wherein said latch is out of position
to engage said keeper, and cable-lifting means secured to said
cable adjacent to said drawer and movable with said cable, said
lock mechanism being cooperable with said cable-lifting means to
effect movement of said cable and thereby said latch between said
locking position and said release position thereof, whereby
movement of said lock mechanism between the locked position and the
unlocked position thereof moves said cable-lifting means and
thereby said latch between the locking position and the release
position thereof.
15. The drawer-locking system set forth in claim 14, wherein said
cable-lifting means and said latch comprise different surfaces of a
single member.
16. The drawer-locking system set forth in claim 14, wherein said
latch has a first cam surface on the rear portion thereof
engageable with said keeper when said latch is in the locking
position and said drawer is in the closed position thereof, and
said cable-lifting means comprises a second cam surface on the
forward portion of said latch.
17. A drawer-locking system comprising a cabinetlike body having
drawer support structure therein, at least one drawer mounted in
said body on said support structure for movement inwardly and
outwardly with respect thereto and having a keeper thereon, a cable
extending through said body adjacent to said drawer and having one
end movably mounted with respect to said body, resilient means
interconnecting said one end of said cable to said body for
maintaining said cable taut, a latch mounted on said cable adjacent
to said drawer and movable with said cable, and a crank mounted on
a sidewall of said drawer and disposed adjacent to said cable when
said drawer is in the closed position thereof and carrying a lever
arm movable therewith between a locked position and an unlocked
position, movement of said lever arm between the locked position
and the unlocked position moving said cable and said latch between
a locking position wherein said latch is in position to engage said
keeper and prevent outward movement of said drawer and a release
position wherein said latch is in a position to engage said keeper
so as to allow outward movement of said drawer, whereby movement of
said crank between the locked position and the unlocked position
thereof when said drawer is in the closed position thereof moves
said latch between the locking position and the release position
thereof.
18. The drawer-locking system set forth in claim 17, wherein said
crank comprises a longitudinally extending member mounted for
rotation about the longitudinal axis thereof and said lever arm is
carried at one end of said member, said crank being rotatable
between said locked position wherein said lever arm is rotated to
engage said cable-lifting means and lift same and said unlocked
position wherein said lever arm is rotated so that it is out of
position for engagement with said cable-lifting means, and means
carried by said drawer for effecting rotation of said crank.
19. A lock drawer for use in a cabinetlike body having drawer
support structure therein for mounting the drawer for movement
inwardly and outwardly with respect thereto and having a cable
extending through the body adjacent to the drawer and movably
mounted with respect to the body and having a latch mounted on the
cable adjacent to the drawer and movable between locking and
release positions relative to the drawer, the lock drawer
comprising, a bottom wall, a pair of longitudinally extending
sidewalls connected to opposite edges of said bottom wall, a front
drawer head extending between said sidewalls, a keeper mounted on
one of said sidewalls on the side thereof adapted to be positioned
adjacent to the associated latch, and lock mechanism carried by
said drawer and movable between a locked position and an unlocked
position, said lock mechanism being positioned for cooperable
engagement with the associated latch mounted in the associated
body, whereby movement of the lock mechanism between the locked
position and the unlocked position thereof moves the associated
latch between the locking position thereof wherein the latch is in
position to engage said keeper and prevent outward movement of the
drawer and the release position thereof wherein the latch is out of
position to engage said keeper.
20. The lock drawer set forth in claim 19, wherein said lock
mechanism includes first means rotatably mounted on said one
sidewall of said drawer for movement between said locked and
unlocked positions relative to the associated latch and second
means mounted on said front drawer head for effecting rotation of
said first means between said locked and unlocked positions
thereof.
21. A lock drawer for use in a cabinetlike body having drawer
support structure therein for mounting said drawer for movement
inwardly and outwardly with respect thereto and having a cable
extending through the body adjacent to the drawer and movably
mounted with respect to the body and having a latch mounted on the
cable adjacent to the drawer and movable between locking and
release positions relative to the drawer, the lock drawer
comprising, a bottom wall, a pair of longitudinally extending
sidewalls connected to opposite edges of said bottom wall, a front
drawer head extending between said sidewalls, a keeper mounted on
one of said sidewalls on the side thereof adapted to be positioned
adjacent to the associated latch, a crank mounted on said one
sidewall and carrying a lever arm movable therewith between a
locked position and unlocked position, said lever arm being
positioned for cooperable engagement with the associated latch in
the associated body to effect movement of the latch between the
locking and release positions thereof corresponding to the locked
and unlocked positions of said crank, and means carried by said
front drawer head for effecting movement of said crank between the
locked and unlocked positions thereof, whereby movement of said
crank between the locked position and the unlocked position thereof
moves the associated latch between the locking position thereof
wherein the latch is in position to engage said keeper and prevent
outward movement of the drawer and the release position thereof
wherein the latch is out of position to engage said keeper.
22. A lock drawer for use in a cabinetlike body having drawer
support structure therein for mounting said drawer for movement
inwardly and outwardly with respect thereto and having a cable
extending through the body adjacent to the drawer and movably
mounted with respect to the body and having a latch mounted on the
cable adjacent to the drawer and movable between locking and
release positions relative to the drawer, the lock drawer
comprising, a bottom wall, a pair of longitudinally extending
sidewalls connected to opposite edges of said bottom wall, a front
drawer head extending between said sidewalls, a keeper mounted on
one of said sidewalls on the side thereof adapted to be positioned
adjacent to the associated latch, a crank mounted on said one
sidewall and carrying a lever arm movable therewith between a
locked position and an unlocked position, said lever arm being
positioned for cooperable engagement with the associated latch in
the associated body to effect movement of the latch between the
locking and release positions thereof corresponding to the locked
and unlocked positions of said crank, a lock mounted on said front
drawer head and movable between a locked position and an unlocked
position, a first link having one end pivotally mounted on said
front drawer head, a second link interconnecting the other end of
aid first link and one end of said crank, a flexible cable
interconnecting said first link and said lock, and biasing means
interconnecting said first link and said front drawer head for
maintaining said flexible cable taut in all positions of said lock,
whereby movement of said lock between the locked position and the
unlocked position thereof causes said flexible cable to effect
movement of said first and second links so as to effect rotation of
said crank between the locked position and the unlocked position
thereof, movement of said crank between the locked position and the
unlocked position thereof being effective to move the associated
latch between the locking position thereof wherein the latch is in
position to engage said keeper and prevent outward movement of the
drawer and the release position thereof wherein the associated
latch is out of position to engage said keeper.
23. The lock drawer set forth in claim 22, wherein said flexible
cable is adjustably mounted relative to said first link.
24. The lock drawer set forth in claim 22, and further comprising
cable guide means fixedly secured to said front drawer head for
guiding said cable in its movements between said lock and said
first link.
25. The drawer locking system set forth in claim 22, wherein said
biasing means comprises a spring connecting said first link and
said drawer front wall.
26. A drawer-locking system comprising a cabinetlike body having a
drawer support structure therein, a plurality of vertically aligned
drawers mounted in said body on said support structure for movement
inwardly to a closed position and outwardly with respect thereto, a
cable extending through said body adjacent to said drawers,
resilient means interconnecting one end of said cable and said body
to hold said cable taut in all positions of said lock mechanism,
each of said drawers having a keeper thereon, and a corresponding
plurality of latches mounted on said cable respectively adjacent to
said drawers and movable with said cable between locking positions
wherein said latches are in position respectively to engage said
keepers and prevent outward movement of said drawers and release
positions wherein said latches are out of position to engage said
keepers to allow outward movement of said drawers, lock mechanism
carried by one of said drawers and moveable between a locked
position and an unlocked position to move said latches between the
locking and release positions thereof, each of said latches having
a first cam surface on the rear portion thereof engageable with the
respective one of said keepers when said latches are in the locking
position and said drawers are in the closed position thereof, each
of said latches having a second cam surface on the forward portion
thereof engageable with the adjacent one of said keepers when said
latches are in the locking position thereof and all of said drawers
except said one drawer are in the open positions thereof such that
when said locking mechanism is moved to place the adjacent one of
said latches in the locking position thereof with the remainder of
said drawers in the open positions movement of said drawers to the
closed position causes each of said keepers respectively to engage
the adjacent ones of said second cam surfaces and to move the
adjacent one of said latches against the urging of said resilient
means to permit said keeper and said drawer to move to the closed
position after which said resilient means moves said latch to the
locking position thereof with respect to said keeper to place said
first cam surface in position to engage said keeper.
27. The drawer-locking system set forth in claim 8, wherein said
one drawer carrying said lock mechanism is the drawer furthest away
from said resilient means.
Description
This invention relates to an improved drawer-locking system for use
in a modular drawer pedestal and the like.
It is a primary object of the invention to provide an improved
drawer-locking system for use in a modular drawer pedestal or
cabinetlike body, which system may be easily installed either at
the factory or by the distributor or even by the user of the
modular unit if so desired.
A further object of the invention is to provide a drawer-locking
system for use with a cabinetlike body, with at least one drawer
carrying lock mechanism thereon being mounted in the body for
movement inwardly and outwardly with respect thereto and having a
keeper thereon, the lock system including cable means and at least
one latch, both of which may be easily installed within the body,
the lock mechanism on the drawer being movable between locked and
unlocked positions of cooperation relative to the latch to effect
movement of the cable and the latch between locking and release
positions wherein the latch in the locking position engages the
keeper so as to prevent outward movement of the drawer.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved
drawer-locking system of the type set forth wherein a single
locking mechanism mounted upon one drawer simultaneously controls
the locking of a plurality of drawers within the body.
A further object of the invention is to provide a drawer-locking
system of the type set forth wherein the cabinetlike body is
provided with a plurality of drawers, each having a keeper thereon,
and a plurality of latches mounted on the cable respectively
adjacent to the drawers, the locking mechanism being carried by
only a single drawer which may be the upper drawer in the body or
positioned below the upper drawer, and wherein the drawers
positioned below such one drawer may be locked or unlocked as
determined by the placement of the latches on the cable and the
position of the drawer in the body.
Still a further object of the invention is to provide a
drawer-locking system of the type set forth wherein the drawer
carrying the lock mechanism is positioned below the upper drawer in
the body and guard means is provided to overlie the latch adjacent
to the drawer carrying the lock mechanism so as to prevent
manipulation of the cable from above.
Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a lock drawer
for use in a cabinetlike body having drawer support structure
therein for mounting the drawer for movement inwardly and outwardly
with respect thereto and having a cable extending through the body
adjacent to the drawer and movably mounted with respect to the body
and having a latch mounted on the cable adjacent to the drawer and
movable between locking and release positions relative to the
drawer, the lock drawer comprising a bottom wall, a pair of
longitudinally extending sidewalls connected to opposite edges of
the bottom wall, a front drawer head extending between the
sidewalls, a keeper mounted on one of the sidewalls on the side
thereof adapted to be positioned adjacent to the associated latch,
and lock mechanism carried by the drawer and movable between a
locked position and an unlocked position, the lock mechanism being
positioned for cooperable engagement with the associated latch
mounted in the associated body, whereby movement of the lock
mechanism between the locked position and the unlocked position
thereof moves the associated latch between the locking position
thereof wherein the latch is in position to engage the keeper and
prevent outward movement of the drawer and the release position
thereof wherein the latch is out of position to engage the
keeper.
Further features of the invention pertain to the particular
arrangement and construction of the parts of the drawer-locking
system whereby the above-outlined and additional features are
attained.
The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation,
together with other objects and advantages thereof, will best be
understood by reference to the following specification taken in
connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a modular credenza unit
incorporating therein a drawer-locking system embodying the
principles of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the modular credenza unit of FIG. 1
with the drawers removed therefrom and with certain portions broken
away better to illustrate certain parts of the drawer-locking
system thereof;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical section along
the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a view in horizontal section along the line 4-4 of FIG.
3;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged view in vertical section along the
line 5-5 of FIG. 1 with certain of the parts broken away and other
parts shown in dashed lines;
FIG. 6 is a view in vertical section with certain portions broken
away along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the box drawers
contained within the modular credenza unit illustrated in FIG. 1,
incorporating therein the lock mechanism of the present invention,
with certain parts of the lock mechanism being illustrated in
phantom lines;
FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the file
drawer contained within the modular credenza unit illustrated in
FIG. 1, the file drawer incorporating therein the lock mechanism of
the present invention, with certain parts of the lock mechanism
being illustrated in phantom lines;
FIG. 9 is a further enlarged front view of the box drawer
illustrated in FIG. 7, with certain parts of the lock mechanism
forming a part of the drawer-locking system of the present
invention being illustrated in phantom lines and in the unlocked
position;
FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 showing the parts in the locked
position;
FIG. 10A is a fragmentary view in vertical section taken along the
line 10A-10A of FIG. 10;
FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section along the line
11-11 of FIG. 10 illustrating the arrangement of certain parts of
the lock mechanism in greater detail;
FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the
forward portion of the box drawer illustrated in FIG. 7;
FIG. 13 is a fragmentary view in vertical section of the box drawer
taken along the line 13-13 of FIG. 12;
FIG. 14 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section taken along the
line 14-14 of FIG. 5, illustrating the lock mechanism carried by
the box drawer with the parts being shown in the unlocked
position;
FIG. 14A is a further enlarged view of certain parts of the lock
mechanism taken in the direction of the arrows along the line
14A-14A of FIG. 14;
FIG. 15 is an enlarged perspective view of the latch forming a part
of the present invention together with the lower end of the cable
and spring associated therewith, a portion of the latch channel in
which the latch moves being illustrated in phantom lines;
FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view of the parts forming the
latch of FIG. 15;
FIG. 17 is a view in horizontal section through the latch of FIG.
15 along the lines 17-17 thereof;
FIG. 18 is an enlarged perspective view of a latch and latch
channel when provided with an overlying latch guard which prevents
manipulation of the latch when the lock mechanism is provided on a
lower drawer of the pedestal such as shown in the right-hand
pedestal of the modular credenza unit illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 19 is a view in vertical section through the latch, the latch
guard and the latch channel taken along the line 19-19 of FIG.
18;
FIG. 20 is an exploded perspective view of the cover plate and the
grip plate illustrated in FIGS. 18 and 19;
FIG. 21 is a fragmentary front view of a modular pedestal similar
to that illustrated in FIG. 1, wherein the locking system of the
present invention is illustrated in a third type of drawer; and
FIG. 22 is an enlarged perspective view of the tray drawer shown in
FIG. 21 provided with the lock mechanism forming part of the
present invention, with certain parts of the lock mechanism being
illustrated in phantom lines.
There is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings a modular
credenza 100 in which is incorporated the improved drawer-locking
system of the present invention. The modular credenza 100 includes
a top 101 at the left-hand end of which is disposed a first modular
pedestal 200 and at the right-hand end of which is disposed a
second modular pedestal 300, the pedestals 200 and 300 being
connected to the top 101 in a manner hereafter described. A modular
bookcase 110 is disposed between the pedestals 200 and 300, the
bookcase 110 also being connected to the top 101, the bookcase 110
being provided with sliding doors 111 and handles 112. Four legs
195 are disposed at the four corners of the modular credenza to
support it above an underlying support surface.
The pedestal 200 has three vertically arranged box drawers 250, 290
and 295 therein each provided with a pull 251, 291 and 296
respectively, and the pedestal 300 has a file drawer 350 in the
lower portion thereof provided with a pull 351 and a box drawer 390
in the upper portion thereof provided with a pull 391. The box
drawer 250 and the file drawer 350 are each provided with the lock
mechanism forming part of the present invention as hereinafter
described.
The details of construction of the top 101 for the modular credenza
100 are set forth in Studinski U.S. Pat. No. 3,360,318, assigned to
the same assignee as the present application. While the aforesaid
patent describes a top used for desks, the basic construction of
the modular credenza top and the desk top is the same, such tops
differing only in size.
Mounted beneath the top 101 are two longitudinally extending and
substantially parallel and spaced apart mounting channels 120 (one
only being shown), each mounting channel 120 including a
longitudinally extending main wall 121 and a pair of depending side
flanges 122 carrying on the lower ends thereof respectively
inturned holding flanges 123 (see FIG. 3). All of the other parts
of the modular credenza 100 are mounted upon the top 101 by means
of the mounting channels 120.
Referring to FIGS. 2 to 6 and 14, the details of construction of
the pedestal 200 will be described. The pedestal 200 includes a
cabinetlike body 201 including a substantially rectangular rear
wall (not shown) and a pair of substantially rectangular sidewalls
203 extending forwardly therefrom and disposed substantially
perpendicular thereto and parallel to each other. Disposed in the
forward portion of the pedestal 200 is a front frame 210 formed
from two substantially C-shaped channels 211 which in turn are
substantially U-shaped in cross section (see FIG. 3), each
including a main wall 212 and a pair of integral side flanges 213
extending normal thereto and parallel to each other. The free ends
of the C-shaped channels 211 are disposed toward each other and a
splice channel (not shown) is placed in bridging relationship
therebetween and secured thereto as by welding. Four L-shaped
gusset plates 216 are disposed respectively at the four corners of
the frame 210 and on the inner edge of the rearmost side flange 213
and secured thereto as by welding.
The front frame 210 is in turn secured to the pedestal sidewalls
203 by welding, a layer of mastic (not shown) being disposed
therebetween to provide sound deadening. A bottom wall 217 is also
provided in the pedestal 200, the bottom wall 217 being supported
by flanges (not shown) on the sidewalls 203, the forward end of the
bottom wall 217 carrying an upturned front flange 218 having on the
upper edge thereof a rearwardly directed end flange 219 that is
disposed in close proximity to the forward surface of the front
frame 210. Also mounted on the sidewalls 203 of the pedestal 200
and spaced from but disposed toward the front frame 210 is a pair
of drawer supports 220 (see FIG. 2), the drawer supports 220 being
connected to the sidewalls 203 as by welding.
In order to mount the pedestal 200 beneath the top 101, provision
is made for connecting to the mounting channels 120 on the
underside of the top 101, the pedestal 200 being connected at the
front end thereof through the front frame 210 to the forward one of
the mounting channels 120 and being in a similar manner connected
at the rear end thereof to the rear mounting channel 120.
Referring specifically to FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings, it will be
seen that the front frame 210 is provided with openings 215
therethrough which receive special mounting assemblies 140 therein,
each of the mounting assemblies 140 including a threaded shank 141
which extends through the opening 215 and has a special nut 142
thereon disposed in the associated mounting channel 120. The
mounting assembly 140 further includes a special washer 143
disposed below the flanges 123 of the mounting channel 120 and a
spacer 144 positioned between the special washer 143 and the front
frame 210. A nut 145 is mounted on the lower end of the threaded
shaft below the main wall 212 of the front frame so as to hold the
mounting assembly in position. The details of the mounting assembly
140 and the mode of operation thereof are disclosed in the
copending application of Studinski et al., entitled MOUNTING
ASSEMBLY, Ser. No. 697,490, filed Jan. 22, 1968.
Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings, certain details of
the box drawer 250 provided with the lock mechanism forming part of
the present invention will be described. The box drawer 250
includes a bottom wall 252 that is substantially rectangular in
shape (see FIG. 7) and has a width slightly less than the interior
width of the pedestal 200 and has a length slightly less than the
length of the pedestal 200. Disposed on the longitudinally
extending side edges of the bottom wall 252 are upstanding inner
sidewalls 253, the sidewalls 253 being disposed substantially
parallel to each other and normal to the bottom wall 252 and
extending substantially the entire length thereof. Interconnecting
the rear ends of the bottom wall 252 and the inner sidewalls 253 is
a rear wall 254, all the walls named being mutually interconnected.
Each of the inner sidewalls 253 in addition includes and carries
thereon an outer sidewall generally designated by the numeral 255,
each of the outer sidewalls 255 including a bottom flange 256, a
lower support flange 257, a retaining flange 258, an upper support
flange 259 and a connecting wall 261 disposed between the support
flanges 257 and 259. It will be understood that a single piece of
sheet metal is shaped to provide the various parts named, the
bottom flange lying beneath the bottom wall 252 and being secured
thereto as by welding, and the connecting wall 261 lying against
the surface of the associated sidewall 253 and being secured
thereto as by welding. The two support flanges 257 and 259 are
disposed parallel to each other and normal to the drawer sidewalls
and extend laterally outwardly with respect thereto; and the
retaining flange 258 extends upwardly substantially normal to the
support flanges 257 and 259 and is spaced outwardly a predetermined
distance with respect to the connecting wall 261, the support
flanges 257 and 259 and the retaining flange 258 extending
substantially the entire length of the drawer 250.
Extending upwardly from the upper support flange 259 is a
connecting section 262 on the upper end of which is an integral
outstanding reinforcement section 263 and above which is a
connecting section 264 carrying an upper outstanding reinforcement
section 265 that carries on the inner portion thereof a downturned
flange 266 disposed adjacent to an outwardly offset flange 267 on
the upper edge of the associated inner sidewall 253. It is noted
that both sides of the box drawer 250 carry an outer sidewall 255
described above, and, in the interest of brevity, the other
sidewall 255 will not be described, but like reference numerals are
applied to like parts thereof.
Finally, the forward end of the drawer 250 is closed by a drawer
head 270 (see FIGS. 11 and 12 also) closing the area bounded by the
bottom wall 252 and the forward ends of the sidewalls 253, and
including inner and outer front walls 271 and 272 respectively, the
outer front wall 272 extending beyond the outer sidewalls 255 and
being provided with side flanges 273, return flanges 274 and
connecting flanges 275. The inner front wall 271 is held in place
as part of the front drawer head in a manner later described.
Also as shown in FIG. 7, each inner sidewall 253 is provided with
two rows of vertically aligned openings 277 which are adapted to
receive a pair of mounting members 278 for holding a laterally
extending drawer divider 279 in adjusted position relative to the
drawer head 270.
In order to cooperate with the locking system 400 to be described
more fully hereinafter, there is provided on one side of the drawer
250 adjacent to the forward end thereof a keeper 280 extending
laterally outwardly therefrom (see FIGS. 6, 7, 12 and 14). The
drawer 250 is further provided with a pair of stop members 285
disposed adjacent to the rear of the drawer 250 and respectively
positioned on each sidewall thereof. Each stop member 285
cooperates with appropriate drawer support structure in the
pedestal 200 in a manner hereinafter described to limit the extent
of outward movement of the drawer to a predetermined distance.
Each of the stop members 285 is comprised of a plastic grommet 286
which is installed through appropriate cutouts (not shown) in the
drawer inner sidewall 253 and the connecting section 261 on the
outer sidewall 255. The plastic grommet 286 is held in position in
the cutouts by a sheet metal screw 287, the head of which is
disposed on the inside of the drawer 250 and the shank of which
passes through the plastic grommet so as to tightly force the
grommet into engagement with the cutout provided therefor, whereby
the outer end of the plastic grommet 286 extends beyond the
connecting flange 261 of the outer sidewall 255 (see FIGS. 6 and
7), while the shank of the screw 287 provides structural rigidity
therefor.
The box drawer 250 further is provided with lock mechanism
designated generally as 450 and forming part of the locking system
400 of the present invention, all as described in greater detail
hereinafter. The box drawers 290 and 295 have the same construction
as the drawer 250 with the exception that these drawers are not
provided with the lock mechanism 450 which is carried by the box
drawer 250.
Each of the box drawers 250, 290 and 295 is supported within the
pedestal 200 for movement between a storage position and an
extended position relative thereto. The support structure for each
of these drawers is best illustrated in FIGS. 2, 5 and 6, wherein
it will be seen that each drawer is supported upon a pair of
horizontally aligned slides 230 which are disposed upon the
opposite sides of the pedestal 200. More specifically, each slide
230 extends between the vertical portion of the channel 211 and the
drawer support 220.
As best seen in FIG. 6, each slide 230 includes a main body wall
231 which is adapted to be secured at the appropriate locations to
the vertical portion of the channel 211 and to the drawer support
220. The slide 230 is formed to provide a generally U-shaped
channel including inwardly extending connecting flanges 232,
vertically extending outer guide flanges 233, inwardly extending
upper and lower support flanges 234 and vertically extending inner
guide flanges 235. The support flanges 234 are adapted to be
positioned between the support flanges 257 and 259 formed on the
outer sidewall 255 of the drawer, while the guide flanges 233 and
235 are positioned between the retaining flange 258 and the
connecting wall 261. The slide 230 on the right-hand side of the
pedestal is virtually identical to that on the left-hand side with
the exception that such slide is not provided with the inner guide
flanges 235.
As best seen in FIG. 5, the forward end of the slide 230 is
provided with a reinforcing plate 236 which is spot welded to the
horizontally disposed support flanges 234. The reinforcing plate
236 provides structural rigidity for the slide 230 at the area
thereof which receives the greatest stress. A rubber bumper 237 is
mounted on the slide 230 adjacent to the inner end of the
reinforcing plate 236.
The rear end of the reinforcing plate 236 operates to engage the
outwardly extending stop member 285 carried by the drawer 250 when
the drawer 250 is moved outwardly a predetermined distance, thereby
to prevent complete removal of the drawer. When it is desired to
remove the drawer 250 from within the pedestal, the sheet metal
screw which holds the plastic grommet 286 in position is removed
while the drawer is in an extended position. Upon removal of both
of the sheet metal screws and the plastic grommets 286 from both
sides of the drawer, the drawer may be moved completely outwardly
of the pedestal 200.
Each slide 230 is made of steel and is provided with a coating of
nylon of a predetermined thickness, thereby eliminating metal to
metal contact between the slide 230 and the drawer 250 and offering
a free sliding silent operation and a high wear-resistant surface
which is impervious to lubricants and cleaners. The nylon is
applied as a powdered plastic which is fusion bonded to the steel
substrate by a fluidized bed coating process. The nylon-covered
slides are formed so as to provide a very close fit inside the
guide ways determined by the support flanges 257, 258 and 259 on
the drawer sidewalls. Side to side movement of the drawer 250
within the slide is prevented by the inner guide flanges 235 and
233 provided on one of the slides.
The pedestal 300 at the right-hand end of the modular credenza 100
has substantially the same construction as the pedestal 200
described above, with the exception of the drawer support structure
for the file drawer 350. Insofar as the parts of the pedestal 300
are identical to those of the pedestal 200, like reference numerals
in the 300--340 series have been applied to corresponding parts
throughout the several figures of the drawings. The box drawer 390
disposed within the pedestal 300 also has the same construction as
the box drawers 250, 290 and 295.
The file drawer 350 is somewhat different in construction from the
box drawer 250, and more particularly, with reference to FIG. 8, it
will be seen that the file drawer 350 is not provided with the
outer sidewall forming the elongated guide channel, the drawer
instead being provided with front and rear clips 360 (the front
clip only being shown) whereby the drawer is removably positioned
upon an appropriate ball bearing suspension structure 370 which
supports the drawer 350 within the pedestal for movement inwardly
and outwardly with respect thereto. The details of construction of
the file drawer 350 and the ball bearing suspension structure 370
therefor are disclosed in Studinski U.S. Pat. No. 3,389,949, for
FILING CABINET AND SUSPENSION SYSTEM THEREFOR.
As seen in FIG. 2, a center mounting bracket 375 is welded to the
suspension structure 370 and is bolted to the rear drawer support
320. The forward end of the suspension structure 370 is bolted to
the front channel 311. The outward extent of movement of the file
drawer 350 is controlled by the suspension structure 370. The file
drawer 350 also is provided with lock mechanism 550 for locking the
drawer in position relative to the pedestal 300, all as described
hereinafter.
A locking system 400 is provided for locking the drawers 250, 290
and 295 within the pedestal 200 in the storage positions thereof, a
similar system 500 being provided for locking the file drawer 350
within the pedestal 300 in the storage position thereof. As
previously noted, a primary object of the invention is to provide a
locking system which may be conveniently installed within a modular
pedestal either at the factory or by the user of the modular
pedestal. To accomplish this, the modular pedestal 200 is provided
with a latch channel 410 mounted on the sidewall 203 of the
pedestal, and specifically on the inner surface thereof immediately
to the rear of the front frame 210. A flexible steel cable 420 is
disposed within the latch channel 410, and three latches 430 are
mounted on the cable, one of which cooperates with the lock
mechanism 450 carried by the drawer 250 to effect locking of all of
the drawers 250, 290 and 295 in the storage position thereof in the
manner hereinafter explained.
In order to permit installation of the drawer-locking system of the
present invention at the option of the user, the latch channel 410
is installed in the modular pedestal 200 at the factory, when the
modular pedestal is being constructed, regardless of whether it is
to be shipped with a drawer-locking system.
Further details of the construction and arrangement of the latch
channel 410 will be given by reference to FIGS. 2--6, 14 and 15 of
the drawings. The latch channel 410 includes a main wall 411 that
is suitably secured as by welding to the inner side of the pedestal
sidewall 203 immediately to the rear of the front frame 210.
Extending forwardly from the vertically extending edges of the main
wall 411 is a pair of sidewalls 412 from which extend laterally
outwardly a pair of first retaining flange 413 from the outer edges
of which extend inwardly directed support flanges 414, on the inner
edges of which are a pair of inturned second retaining flanges 415.
Adjacent to the upper end of the latch channel 410 (see FIGS. 2, 5
and 6), the second retaining flanges 415 are provided with cutouts
416 therein for insertion of the latches 430 as will be described
more fully hereinafter. An angled cover plate 417 is welded to the
upper end of the latch channel 410 and is provided with an opening
(not shown) through which passes one end of the cable 420.
The cable 420 is a flexible steel cable which is provided with
latches 430 to make a locking connection between the drawers 250,
290 and 295 and the pedestal 200. The upper end of the cable 420
passes through a cable guide 421 which is mounted to the cover
plate 417 by a plastic grommet 422 integral therewith, the cable
420 passing through the guide 421 and grommet 422 and having a
cable sleeve 423 crimped thereto above the grommet 422 to prevent
the upper end thereof from passing downwardly through the grommet
422 and guide 421. The cable 420 extends downwardly in the vertical
direction through the latch channel 410, the lower end of the cable
420 being provided with a terminal 424 (FIG. 15). The terminal 424
is secured to the pedestal bottom wall 217 by means of a resilient
spring 425, the other end of the spring being connected to the
pedestal bottom wall 217 by means of a loop 426 formed in the
pedestal bottom wall. The spring 425 operates to maintain the cable
taut while allowing vertical movement of the cable relative to the
latch channel 410.
Referring to FIG. 2, it will be seen that disposed within the latch
channel 410 are three latches 430, a latch 430 being provided for
each of the box drawers 250, 290 and 295 within the pedestal 200.
All of the latches 430 are of identical construction, whereby only
one will be described in detail with special reference to FIGS. 15
to 17 of the drawings.
Each of the latch members 430 includes a guide block 431 having an
essentially rectangular body with dimensions in a horizontal
direction to fit between the retaining flanges 413 and 415 on the
latch channel 410 and between the support flanges 414 thereof for
ready sliding movement along the channel provided by the latch
channel 410.
The vertical sides of the guide block 431 are rounded as at 434 to
provide a single line contact down the length thereof on either
side for smooth guiding contact. Formed in the side of the block
431 disposed inwardly into the pedestal 200 and toward the adjacent
side of the associated drawer is a dovetail recess 432 extending
longitudinally throughout the entire height of the guide block 431
and disposed substantially centrally thereof and in alignment with
the opening between the inner edges of the front retaining flanges
415. Also provided centrally of the guide block 431 and extending
vertically therealong is a cable-receiving groove 433, the depth of
the groove 433 being slightly less than the diameter of the
associated cable 420 but the cross section of the groove 433 being
such as to receive the cable 420 therein. The rear side of the
guide block 431 carries a strengthening rib 439 thereon extending
outwardly between but spaced from the sidewalls 412.
Cooperating with the guide block 431 is a latch block 435 that is
also generally rectangular in shape and has a vertical extent
substantially equal to that of the guide block 431 but has a width
centrally thereof such as to fit between the opposed inner edges of
the front retaining flanges 415. Formed on the side of the latch
block 435 disposed toward the guide block 431 is a vertically
extending dovetail tenon that is shaped complementary to the
dovetail recess 432 in the guide block 431, the tenon 436 being
disposed in the recess 432 when the parts are assembled as
illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 17.
Two vertically spaced apart openings 437 are provided through the
latch block 435 and are threaded to receive therein a pair of
setscrews 438, respectively, the setscrews 438 extending rearwardly
beyond the latch block 435 and being in general horizontal
alignment with the cable 420 and bearing against the cable 420 as
is illustrated best in FIG. 17. By bearing against the cable 420,
the setscrews 438 serve to lock the cable 420 with respect to the
guide block 431 and with respect to the latch block 435, thereby to
position and fixedly to mount the latch 430 upon the cable 420. The
described action of the screws 438 also presses the guide block 431
and the latch block 435 away from each other, thereby to urge the
cooperating dovetail surfaces thereof into tight engagement one
with the other, thereby fixedly to position the guide block 431
with respect to the latch block 435.
Finally, there is mounted generally centrally of the latch block
435 an inwardly extending latch member 440, preferably integral
therewith and shaped to provide a first substantially flat and
generally vertically arranged abutment surface 441 and a second
generally flat but rearwardly and downwardly inclined cam surface
442. As can be best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawings, the
abutment surface 441 on the latch member 440 can be positioned in a
locking relationship with respect to the associated drawer when it
is in the closed position thereof. More specifically, when the
latch member 440 is in the upper or locking position thereof as
illustrated by the dashed lines in FIG. 6, the abutment surface 441
thereof is in horizontal alignment with and immediately disposed in
front of the keeper 280, whereby each of the adjacent drawers 250,
290 and 295 is locked in the storage position thereof. However,
when the latch member 440 is moved to the release position thereof
illustrated by the solid lines in FIG. 6, it is out of alignment
with the keeper 280, whereby the drawer 250 (or 290 or 295) may be
moved between the storage and extended positions thereof. The
necessary movement of the latch 430 between the locking and release
positions thereof is obtained by operation of the lock mechanism
450 carried by the drawer 250 to move the parts between the
unlocked or release position, illustrated by the full lines in
FIGS. 5 and 6 to the locked position illustrated by the dashed
lines in FIGS. 5 and 6.
Movement of the cable 420 is sufficient to cause the necessary
vertical movement of each of the latches 430, the spring 425
normally pulling the lower end of the cable 420 and all of the
latches 430 thereon downwardly thus carrying the latch members 440
therewith, whereby same are normally disposed in the release
positions thereof. Due to the fact that the latches 430 are
continually urged toward the lower or release positions thereof by
operation of the spring 425, each of the latches 430 can be shifted
upwardly by the application of suitable force to the cam surfaces
442 thereof, the lock mechanism 450 carried by the drawer 250 being
operable to engage the cam surface 442 on an adjacent latch 430 and
raise same to the locking position thereof, whereby a single latch
member 440 also operates as a cable lifter to effect upward
movement of the cable 420 and the remainder of the latches 430 to
the locking positions thereof.
As previously noted, because the latch members 440 are continually
urged toward the lower position thereof by means of the spring 425,
each of the latch members 440 can be momentarily shifted upwardly
by the application of suitable force to the cam surfaces 442
thereof. For example, when one of the drawers 290 or 295 is in the
partially open or extended position thereof, and the latch members
440 are in the upper or locking positions thereof, the latch
members 440 will be in longitudinal alignment with the keepers 280.
However, the keeper 280 on the partially extended drawer 290 or 295
has the upper edge thereof disposed slightly below the upper edge
of the associated latch member 440 when it is in the latching
position thereof, whereby the upper edge of the keeper 280 engages
the cam surface 442, thereby to move the latch member 440 and the
associated parts upwardly against the action of the spring 425
until the keeper passes behind the abutment surface 441 on the
latch member 440, after which the spring 425 automatically returns
the latch members 440 to the latching position to engage in front
of the keeper 280 and to prevent subsequent withdrawal of the
drawer until the latch member 440 is moved to the lower or release
position thereof.
As best illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 9 through 14, the lock mechanism
450 for effecting movement of an adjacent latch 430 to the locking
position thereof includes a crank 451 comprised of a generally
elongated rod 452 having a first offset portion 453 at the inner
end thereof. When the drawer is in the storage position and the
crank is rotated, the offset portion 453 operates as a lever arm on
the cam surface 442 of the adjacent latch member 440 to effect
movement thereof between the locking and release positions thereof
relative to the keeper 280 on the sidewall of the drawer. The
opposite end of the rod portion 452 is provided with an offset
portion 454 which extends into the front drawer head 270 for
operable connection to suitable structure for effecting rotation
thereof, the offset portions 453 and 454 also being angularly
offset with respect to each other by about 97.degree., the crank
451 being rotatable between a locked position, illustrated in FIGS.
12 and 13, and an unlocked position, illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6 and
14, the locking and release positions of the adjacent latch 430
corresponding to the locked and unlocked positions of the crank
451.
The crank 451 is mounted on the drawer outer sidewall 255 by a
plate 455 having a semicylindrical flange 456 which overlies the
elongated rod portion 452 of the crank and permits rotation of the
rod portion 452 therewithin. The plate 455 is mounted to the drawer
sidewall by a pair of screws 457 held in position by nuts 458
(FIGS. 12--14).
The mechanism for effecting rotation of the crank 451 between the
locked and unlocked positions thereof includes a lock 460 which
extends through the outer front wall 272 of the front drawer head
270. The particular drawer 250 upon which the lock mechanism 450 is
mounted is provided with an inner drawer plate 461 which is welded
to the inner side of the outer front wall 272, various parts of the
lock mechanism being secured to the inner drawer plate 461. The
inner drawer plate 461 serves to strengthen the front drawer head
270 in addition to providing structure upon which the various parts
can be mounted without defacing the outer front wall 272 of the
drawer. The inner drawer plate 461 has an upstanding flange 461A
formed at the rear edge thereof, the inner front wall 271 being
secured to the flange 461A by a plurality of screws 288, the inner
front wall having flanges 276 formed at the outer edges thereof
adjacent the drawer inner wall 253 and extending toward the outer
front wall 272.
The lock 460 is provided with the usual key opening 462 whereby
upon the insertion of the proper key into the lock 460, the parts
can be turned between the positions illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10,
the parts in FIG. 9 being in the unlocked position thereof and the
parts in FIG. 10 being in the locked position thereof. The lock 460
includes a lever arm 463 (FIG. 13) which in the operation of the
lock 460 by means of a key in the key opening 462 is moved downward
from the position illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 13 to the position
shown in FIG. 9. In order to make connection between the lock 460
and the crank 451, a flexible steel cable 465 having a terminal 466
on one end thereof is connected to the lever arm 463 by means of a
cable locking connector 467, which in turn is connected to the
lever arm 463 by a pin 468.
The cable 465 passes around a cable guide 470 which is mounted upon
a channel bracket 471 carried by the inner drawer plate 461, the
cable guide 470 being disposed to the right side of the lock 460 as
illustrated in FIG. 7, thereby to reverse the direction of the
cable 465. The cable guide 470 also serves to space the cable from
the inner drawer plate 461 and outer walls 271 and 272 of the front
drawer head 270 so as to permit free movement of the cable 465. The
cable guide 470 is preferably formed of a lubric material such as
that sold under the trademark "Delrin." The opposite end of the
cable 465 is provided with a terminal 473 which is in turn secured
to one end of a resilient spring 475, the opposite end of the
spring being connected to a tab 476 formed on the inner drawer
plate 461.
The cable 465 is adjustably secured to a first link 480 by passage
thereof through a slotted shaft of a screw 481, the screw 481 being
tack welded to the link 480. The cable 465 is held in position
within the slotted portion of the shaft of the screw 481 by a pair
of nuts 481A (see FIG. 10A) which are threaded on the shaft of the
screw 481 and tightened to bind the cable 465 therebetween. The
link 480 is pivotally mounted by a pivot pin 482 to the inner
drawer plate 461. The pivot pin 482 is mounted within an inwardly
extending embossment formed in the inner drawer plate 461, a nylon
washer 483 being disposed between the end of the link 480 and the
embossment; a push-on fastener 484 overlying the opposite side of
the link 480 thereby to hold the link in position on the pivot pin
482. A second link 485 is connected for pivotal movement relative
to the first link 480 by a shoulder rivet 486 passing through one
end thereof. The opposite end of the link 485 is offset and is
provided with an opening therethrough adapted to receive the offset
portion 454 of the crank 451. The link 485 is embossed as at 487 on
the offset portion thereof adjacent to the opening which receives
the portion 454 of the crank, the emboss 487 minimizing the contact
area between the link 485 and the drawer front wall 272 and also
insuring proper connection between the link 485 and the crank
451.
With reference now to FIGS. 9, 10, 13, 14 and 14A, operation of the
lock mechanism 450 will be described. Upon insertion of an
appropriate key into the slot 462 of the lock 460, the lock 460 and
thereby the lever arm 463 thereof may be rotated from an unlocked
position illustrated in FIG. 9 to the locked position illustrated
in FIG. 10. Upon rotation of the lever arm 463 the cable connector
467 is likewise rotated to the position illustrated in FIG. 10.
Upon rotation of the cable connector to the locked position
thereof, the portion of the cable 465 above the cable guide 470
moves toward the left as illustrated in FIG. 9, whereupon because
of the reverse in direction of the cable by its placement about the
cable guide 470, the portion of the cable 465 below the cable guide
470 moves to the right and causes the first link 480 to pivot from
the position illustrated in FIG. 9 to the position illustrated in
FIG. 10, by virtue of the fact that the cable 465 is rigidly
secured to the link 480.
When the link 480 pivots to the right it causes the second link 485
also to move toward the right to the position illustrated in FIG.
10 and by the dashed lines in FIG. 14A. Because the second link 485
is connected to the offset portion 454 of the crank 451, movement
of the second link 485 effects rotation of the crank 451 between
the locked and unlocked positions thereof as illustrated in FIG. 6.
The left-hand screw 288 which secures the inner front wall 271 to
the inner drawer plate 461 operates as a stop for the second link
485 so that link 485 can't be forced past the position illustrated
in FIG. 9 so as to jam the lock mechanism.
Assuming the drawer is in the storage position, upon rotation of
the crank 451 to the locked position the lever arm or offset
portion 453 thereof will engage the cam surface 442 of the adjacent
latch member 440 and raise the latch to the locking position where
the surface 441 will engage the keeper on the drawer and thereby
prevent outward movement of the drawer. When the latch 430 is
raised by the lock mechanism 450, it causes the cable 420, and
thereby the remaining latches 430, to be raised the same distance
thereby also locking the drawers 290 and 295.
The lever arm 463 of the lock 460 operates overcenter, whereby when
the lever arm 463 is in the locked position thereof, tension on the
cable 465 caused by the spring 475 is insufficient to cause the
link 480 to return to the unlocked position illustrated in FIG. 9,
and because of the overcenter operation of the lock 460, manual
operation of the lock is required to return same to the unlocked
position. Also, because the cable 465 is adjustably fastened to the
link 480 by the nuts 481A, the lock mechanism 450 is independent of
any manufacturing variances in the links 480, 485 and the crank
451. By adjusting the link 480 to the cable 465, it is possible to
achieve maximum movement of the link 480 and to insure that the
lever arm or offset portion 453 of the crank 451 is clear of the
adjacent latch member 440 when the crank 451 is in the unlocked
position.
The parts of the locking system 500 used to lock the file drawer
350 in the closed position thereof within the pedestal 300 are
substantially identical to the parts of the system described above
for locking the box drawers 250, 290 and 295 in the closed position
within the pedestal 200, and, accordingly, like reference numerals
in the 500 series have been applied to like parts of the locking
system for the pedestal 300 that correspond to parts in the 400
series used in connection with the pedestal 200. More specifically,
and referring to FIG. 2, a cable 520 extends downwardly from a
latch channel cover plate 517 through a latch channel 510, the
lower end of the cable 520 being connected by a spring 525 to the
bottom wall 317 of the pedestal 300. Mounted at a suitable adjusted
position on the cable 520 is a latch 530 having thereon a latch
member 540, the latch member 540 engaging a keeper 380 on the file
drawer 350.
The file drawer 350 is provided with lock mechanism 550
substantially identical to the lock mechanism 450 on the drawer
250, and like reference numerals in the 550 through 580 series have
been applied to like parts of the lock mechanism for the pedestal
300. More specifically, and referring to FIG. 8 of the drawings,
the file drawer 350 includes a crank 551 and means for moving the
crank including a lock 560, cable 565, a first cable guide 570, a
second cable guide 577 (provided because of the greater height of
the file drawer), and a spring 575. The cable 565 is connected to a
first link 580 which in turn is pivotally connected to a second
link 585, the opposite end of which receives the offset portion 554
of the crank 551. The various parts of the lock mechanism 550
carried by the file drawer 350 work in the same manner and
cooperate in the same way as similar numbered parts of the lock
mechanism 450 associated with the drawer 250.
It will be observed from FIG. 2 that only a single latch 530 is
carried by the cable 520 in the pedestal 300, whereby it will be
appreciated that the upper box drawer 390 is movable inwardly and
outwardly of the pedestal 300 regardless of whether the lock
mechanism 550 carried by the file drawer 350 is in the locked or
unlocked position thereof. In this case, to prevent manipulation of
the cable 520 and latch 530 relative to the drawer 350, a latch
guard 590 is provided.
As illustrated in FIGS. 18 through 20, the latch guard 590
comprises a plate including a main body portion 591 of a width
substantially equal to the distance between the outer sidewalls 514
of the latch channel 510, the body portion 591 having a pair of
offset side flanges 592 extending the full length thereof, the side
flanges 592 being adapted to overlie the wall 312 of the front
frame 310 of pedestal 300. The body 591 is held in position on the
latch channel 510 by a gripper plate 593 which is disposed on the
inside surfaces of the inwardly extending flanges 515 of the latch
channel 510, the gripper plate 593 being held in position by a
self-tapping screw 594 which extends through the main body portion
591 and the space between the edges of the flanges 515 and into the
gripper plate 593.
As best seen in FIG. 20, the main body portion 591 of the guard is
provided with a generally rectangular cutout 595, the cutout being
substantially equal in length to the length of the latch 530 plus
the extent of movement of the associated latch 530 between the
locking and release positions thereof, the latch member 540
extending through the cutout 595 for movement between such
positions. A stop tab 596 is provided at the upper end of the
cutout 595 and extends inwardly into the latch channel 510 when the
guard 590 is mounted on the latch channel, the plate 591 being
positioned so that the surface 536 of the latch engages the stop
tab 596 when the latch is in the locking position thereof, as
illustrated in FIGS. 18 and 19. All of the drawers above the drawer
having the lock mechanism will be provided with a one-way head
screw in the stop members 285 at the rear of the drawer; once such
screws are assembled, they cannot be removed. The use of such
one-way head screws prevents removal of the upper drawers and
precludes access to the locked drawer position therebelow.
A generally L-shaped shield 597 is secured to the bottom surface of
the latch block 531 by a screw 598, the shield 597 extending
outwardly through the space between the edges of the flanges 515 of
the latch channel and through the cutout 595 in the main body
portion 591 of the guard. The shield 597 includes a downwardly
extending leg 599 which is of an extent sufficient to overlie the
portion of the cutout 595 not occupied by the latch member 540 when
the latch is in the locking position thereof as seen in FIGS. 18
and 19. The leg 599 thus conceals the unoccupied portion of the
cutout 595 so as to preclude manipulation of the cable 520 in the
area adjacent to the latch.
It will be appreciated from the foregoing that it is possible to
have numerous arrangements of drawers in the modular pedestal which
may be locked or unlocked depending upon the placement of the
latches and the position of the drawer carrying the lock mechanism.
For example, because the drawers 250, 290 and 295 are identical, it
would be possible to switch drawers 250 and 290 in the desk
pedestal 200. In this case the uppermost latch 430 could be easily
removed from within the latch channel 410 and a suitable latch
guard, such as 590 and latch 530 could be installed adjacent to the
drawer 250.
It is also possible to provide the lock mechanism in other size
drawers. In this respect, there is illustrated in FIGS. 21 and 22
another possible drawer arrangement incorporating the drawer
locking system of the present invention, the drawers illustrated in
FIGS. 21 and 22 being mounted in the right hand pedestal 300 and
including two half or tray drawers 600, the construction of which
is substantially identical to that of the box drawer 250, and the
box drawer 390. The upper tray drawer 600 includes lock mechanism
650 which is substantially identical in construction and operation
to the lock mechanism 450 carried by the box drawer 250. More
specifically, the lock mechanism 650 includes a crank 651 and means
for effecting rotation of the crank including a lock 660, cable
665, cable guide 670, spring 675, a first link 680 pivotally
connected to the drawer head and a second link 685 pivotally
connected to the first link 680 and to the offset end 654 of the
crank 651. If latches are provided for each of the drawers, then
locking of all of the drawers is controlled by the single lock
mechanism 650. In the tray drawer 600 the tab 676 prevents the link
685 from moving overcenter and thereby precludes jamming of the
lock mechanism 650.
An important feature of the present invention resides in the
simplicity of the installation of the various parts of the locking
systems 400 and 500 and the adjustment thereof to accommodate
different assemblies of drawers within the pedestal 200 and 300,
and also in the fact that the locking system may easily be
installed after the modular unit has been shipped from the
factory.
In assembling the locking system 400 for example, the cable 410 is
connected to the cable sleeve 423 and then threaded through the
respective grommet 422 and cable guide 421 and thence downwardly
through the associated latch channel 410. The lower end of the
cable 420 is then connected to one end of the spring 425, the other
end of the spring being connected to the pedestal bottom wall
217.
Next it is desired to assemble the latches 430 onto the cable 420.
A guide block 431 is first inserted through the cutout portion 416
adjacent to the upper end of the latch channel 410 and moved
downwardly along the cable, after which an associated latch block
435 is connected thereto and the screws 438 driven inwardly so as
loosely to mount the latch 430 upon the cable 420. A latch 430 for
each of the drawers to be used in the pedestal is installed in this
manner by positioning the lower latch first and then subsequently
positioning the upper latches.
In order to assist in positioning the latches 430 along the cable
420, an indicia in the form of a diamond-shaped cutout 240 is
provided for each of the possible drawer latch positions, six such
positions being available in the event that six half drawers such
as 600 are mounted in the pedestal. The indicia 240 more
specifically are positioned at points disposed above the slides 230
and at the point at which the forward shorter end of the latch
member 440 should be positioned.
In order properly to position the latches 430, the uppermost latch
430 is first fixedly secured to the cable 420 so that the forward
end of the latch member 440 is disposed about one-half inch below
the horizontal centerline of the appropriate indicia 240. The
drawer 250 carrying the lock mechanism 450 is then installed in the
pedestal and the lock mechanism is operated to the lock position
thereof, thereby raising the uppermost latch 430 to the locking
position thereof. This, of course, also causes the cable 420 to be
raised corresponding distance as determined by the extent of
movement of the uppermost latch 430. At this time, the latches 430
for the lower drawers are then positioned on the cable so that the
forward ends thereof are opposite the diamond-shaped indicia 240
disposed above the respective drawer slides 230. The setscrews 438
are then tightened fixedly to lock the remaining latches 430 upon
the cable 420 and fixedly to position the respective cable block
431 with respect to the latch blocks 435. The remaining drawers 290
and 295 may then be inserted into the pedestal 200.
The latches 530 and the cable 520 are likewise assembled in the
latch channel 510, diamond-shaped indicia 340 also being provided
along the front frame 310 to serve as guides for positioning the
forward ends of the latch members 535 by aligning the forward edge
of the cam surface 542 in line with indicia 340. The workman
therefore slips the assembled but loosely tightened latch 530
downwardly to the appropriate distance below the indicia 340, after
which the screws 538 in the latch are tightened to clamp the latch
530 to the cable 520. When the latch member 540 is in the proper
position with respect to the keeper on the associated drawer 350,
the latch guard 590 is fastened to the latch channel 510 in the
manner heretofore described.
If the arrangement of the drawers within the pedestals 200 and 300
is to be changed, it will be appreciated that the latches 430 and
530 can also be quickly changed, the latches being shifted or
disassembled or new latches installed as required. It further is
possible readily to install or replace the cables 420 and 520 due
to the simple connection to the springs 425 and 525 at the ends of
the respective cables.
From the above description it will be seen that there has been
provided an improved drawer-locking system which fulfills all of
the objects and advantages set forth above. More specifically, an
improved locking system has been provided wherein a cable is
continually under tension throughout the length thereof, one end
being connected by a spring to the bottom of a pedestal whereby the
cable is movable relative thereto, connection of the cable to the
spring and pedestal being such as to facilitate ready installation
and replacement thereof if required. Latches have been provided
which can be installed at any desired point along that portion of
the cable disposed within an associated latch channel, the latches
being readily installed, adjusted, replaced and removed without
molesting the tension or adjustment of the associated cable.
Furthermore, the lock mechanism for effecting operation of one or
more latches is provided on a single drawer which may be readily
placed in the pedestal either at the factory or by the user.
While there has been described what are at present considered to be
the preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be understood
that various modifications may be made therein, and it is intended
to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall
within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *