Latch Assembly

Abstract

A latch assembly for preventing unauthorized entry into a drawer or the like includes a latch arm with a longitudinally extending slot at one end, and a transversely extending slot disposed generally medially in the arm. Adjacent to one end of the transverse slot an angled latch lug extends transversely from the latch arm to selectively engage the top of a drawer hole during opening. A screw passing through each slot slidably secures the arm to the interior surface of the side of a drawer, and a spring biases the arm upwardly. Included in the transverse slot are upper and lower detents, the former selectively engaging the transverse slot screw to prevent the lug from engaging the top of the drawer opening. With the screw freely disposed in the transverse slot, the drawer may be closed. Upon opening of the drawer, the lug engages the edge of the drawer hole, forcing the lower detent to engage the transverse slot screw and preventing further entry into the drawer by children, pets and those unaware of the latch assembly. The drawer may be fully opened by manually disengaging the lower detent and depressing the latch arm.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It has long been recognized that it is advantageous to prevent small children from gaining access to drawers, file cabinets, and the like, thereby to avoid both destruction of valuable papers and articles, and accidental poisoning. It has been possible to provide locks and keys for every drawer and cabinet in a home, but the expense involved and the time and trouble required to unlock and relock every drawer has rendered the solution impractical. A more feasible solution would be to provide a latch assembly which is readily operated by almost all adults, but which is beyond the capabilities of all small children. One such device, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,397,001 to Nathan Friedman, teaches the use of a resilient arm secured to the interior surface of the front of a drawer, and a stop lug secured to the drawer aperture to engage the latch end of the resilient arm during opening of the drawer, severely limiting access to the drawer until the resilient arm is manually depressed. One unfortunate aspect of this device is that it always operates, every time the drawer is opened, regardless of the need for it or the desirability of its use. Furthermore, the placement of the device in the center front of the drawer may render its presence obvious even to a young child, and the simplicity of operation may allow a child to gain entry to the drawer.

THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a drawer with the present invention installed therein.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the present invention in the stop detent position.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the present invention in the neutral disposition.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the present invention in the disengaged disposition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention provides an unobtrusive latch assembly which is selectively operable in combination with a drawer or the like to halt intrusion into the drawer before the contents can be disturbed by small children, pets, etc. The latch, mounted on the interior of the drawer, may be easily released by any adult familiar with its operation as the drawer is opened. Before the drawer is re-closed, the latch assembly may be disengaged to permit free access to the drawer, otherwise it will automatically assume a neutral position to permit the drawer to be closed but not reopened.

Although the present invention will be described in combination with a drawer, it may be appreciated that the latch assembly may be effectively employed with any similar type of closed receptacle, or with any member slidably associated with a second member.

The latch assembly includes a latch arm 11 with a rounded end 12 and a rectangular end 13 from which a handle 14 extends normally. The arm 11 is also provided with a lug 16 extending normally from the plane of the arm and obliquely with respect to the general longitudinal axis of the arm. It should be noted that the latch arm may be integrally formed from a single piece of steel, plastic or other high strength material.

Extending through the arm near the round end 12 is a longitudinal slot 17. A transverse slot 18 extending through the arm medially of the two ends includes upper and lower detents 19 and 21, respectively. A screw 22 extends through each of the slots 17 and 18, slidably securing the latch arm to the interior surface of the side member 23 of a drawer 24, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. Secured about the screw passing through the longitudinal slot is a helical spring 26 which includes extended ends 27 resting on the lug 16 and the remaining screw and applying a force of divergence therebetween.

It should be noted that the latch arm is slidable vertically and laterally with respect to the screws 22 and the drawer member 23, under the urging of manual manipulation or the spring force of spring 26. With neither of the detents 19 and 21 engaged by the screw, the spring 26 will urge the latch arm upward to the extent of the slot 18, with the latch arm substantially parallel to the drawer member 23. In this disposition, with the drawer open, the latch permits the drawer to be closed without interference; i.e., as the drawer is closed, the upper edge 28 of the drawer aperture strikes the lug 16, causing the latch arm to rotate out of interference with the edge 28, and return to a position parallel to the drawer member 23 after contact with the edge 28 as the drawer is closed.

Thereafter, opening of the drawer causes the edge 28 to strike the leading edge of the lug, blocking the transit of the drawer and causing the latch arm to slide rearwardly in the drawer, the lower detent 21 engaging the screw and preventing vertical movement of the latch arm, as shown in FIG. 3. In this position, access to the drawer is denied to those unaware of the latch assembly or incapable of operating it. To release the latch, the handle 14 is manually engaged and urged forward to release the detent and downward to disengage the lug from the edge 28. The drawer is then free to be opened, as shown in FIG. 4. The latch arm will then return parallel to the drawer member 23, ready to repeat the cycle of protecting the contents of the drawer.

When it is deemed appropriate or necessary, the latch assembly may be selectively disabled to permit unrestricted access to the drawer. As shown in FIG. 5, the latch arm may be manually depressed and urged rearwardly to engage the upper detent 19, retaining the latch arm in a depressed position, with lug 16 unable to engage the edge 28 of the drawer aperture. In this position the latch assembly will have no effect on the opening or closing of the drawer.

Thus the present invention provides a latch assembly which denies access to a drawer by a small child, yet which is readily released by an adult. Further, the latch assembly may be easily disabled when free access to the drawer space is deemed convenient or desirable.

Claims

I claim:

1. A latch assembly for selectively preventing motion in a first direction of a first member with respect to a second member, comprising;

a latch arm secured to said first member and including a lug extending therefrom adapted to engage said second member only from said first direction,

a first slot and a second slot spaced apart and extending through said latch arm,

securance means extending through said first and second slots for pivotally and translatably securing said latch arm to said first member, and

spring means for resiliently urging said lug toward said second member.

2. The latch assembly of claim 1, wherein said latch arm comprises a flat member extending longitudinally substantially in said first direction with a handle extending from one end thereof.

3. The latch assembly of claim 2, wherein said lug extends normally from the plane of said flat member, said lug including a planar surface disposed obliquely with respect to said longitudinal direction.

4. The latch assembly of claim 1, wherein said spring means is arrayed between said securance means and said latch arm.

5. The latch assembly of claim 1, wherein said second slot is parallel to said first direction.

6. The latch assembly of claim 1, wherein said lug further includes an oblique surface for impinging on said second member without engagement thereof.

7. The latch assembly of claim 5, wherein said first slot extends substantially perpendicular to said first direction, and includes at least one detent for engaging said securance means.

8. A latch assembly for selectively preventing motion in a first direction of a first member with respect to a second member, comprising:

a latch arm pivotally secured to said first member and including a lug extending therefrom adapted to engage said second member only from said first direction,

aperture means extending through said latch arm, securance means extending through said aperture means for pivotally securing said latch arm to said first member,

spring means for resiliently urging said lug toward said second member,

said aperture means including a first slot extending through said latch arm and transverse to said first direction, and said first slot including an upper detent for engaging said securance means and retaining said latch arm with said lug out of engagement with said second member.

9. A latch assembly for selectively preventing motion in a first direction of a first member with respect to a second member, comprising:

a latch arm pivotally secured to said first member and including a lug extending therefrom adapted to engage said second member only from said first direction,

aperture means extending through said latch arm,

securance means extending through said aperture means for pivotally securing said latch arm to said first member,

spring means for resiliently urging said lug toward said second member,

said aperture means including a first slot extending through said latch arm and transverse to said first direction, and said first slot including a lower detent for engaging said securance means and retaining said latch arm with said lug engaging said second member and blocking motion of said first member in said first direction.