CA2100714A1

CA2100714A1 - Lock for centrally locking and unlocking drawers

Info

Publication number: CA2100714A1
Application number: CA002100714A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Rolf Growoldt; Hans-P. Engelberth; Siegfried Klucke
Original assignee: Rolf Growoldt; Hans-P. Engelberth; Siegfried Klucke; Huwil-Werke Gmbh, Mobelschloss- Und Beschlagfabriken
Current assignee: Huwil Werke GmbH
Priority date: 1992-07-18
Filing date: 1993-07-16
Publication date: 1994-01-19

Abstract

Abstract The invention relates to a lock for centrally locking and unlocking drawers 4, 5 arranged one above the other in a piece of furniture 1. At a closing bar 12 adjustably guided at the piece of furniture 1 there are provided two control slides 13, 14; 13a, 14a per drawer 4, 5, which slides cooperate with control tracks 30, 31, 32 of a control element 9. One of the control slides serves as an opening slide 13, 13a and the other one as a locking slide 14, 14a. The control slides 13, 13a; 14, 14a are relatively adjustable along the closing bar 12 for the purpose of opening and closing one individual drawer and locking the drawers positioned above the individual drawer. The locking slides positioned underneath the actuated drawer are unmovably held via control means 29, 34, 40, 45 relative to the drawers positioned underneath.
The control slides of all drawers 4, 5, via the closing bar 12, are jointly movable into the open or closed position for locking or releasing all pushed-in drawers 4, 5. The measures described ensure that when actuating one drawer in the sense of opening it, all the remaining drawers are effectively secured against being pulled out.

Figure 1

Description

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Lock for centrally locking and unlocking drawers Description The invention relates to a lock for centrally locking and unlocking at least two drawers or similar pull-out units arranged one above the other in a piece of furniture, especially a cupboard, container or table, having side walls and a front panel, having a closing bar adjustably guided and positioned opposite at least one of the two side walls of the drawers at a side wall of the piece of furniture transversely to the sliding plane of the drawers, having actuating means , especially a locking cylinder with an eccentric, for adjusting the closing bar from a lowered open position to a lifted locking position, and having means associated with the closing bar and the drawers for locking the remaining drawers if one of the drawers is moved in the opening sense.

With such drawers arranged one above the other there ig a problem in that several drawers may be opened, which adversely affects the stability of the piece of furniture.
With the prior art assembly, the closing bar is moved via the control element associated with the drawer. If two drawers are actuated simultaneously and uniformly, both of them may be moved together out of the body o the piece of furniture. To prevent this from happening, it has already been proposed in DE 9113864 Ul to arrange the control elements in the drawers in an axially offset way.
This, admittedly, prevents several drawers from being :: l . . - . , ,: -; . -- ~ . .. . .,, .. ,, . .~. . ..
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completely pulled out simultaneously, but it is still possible to pull out the drawers by a certain amount of the offset. If a plurality of drawers is to be arranged one above the other, the prior art solution requires a considerable amount of offset, so that the amount by which some drawers may be pulled out of the body of the piece of furniture increases.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a lock which ensures that when a drawer is actuated in the sense of being pulled out, none of the other drawers may be pulled out of the body or piece of furniture in which they are received.

In accordance with the invention, the objective is achieved in that, in each case, one control element is attached at the side wall of the drawers so as to face the closing bar and, towards its upper end, comprises a control track, that per control element there are provided two control slides one of them being in contact with the control track of the upper end and serving as an opening slide and the other one serving as a locking slide, that the control slides of all control elements associated with one closing bar are relatively adjustable along the closing bar for the purpose of opening and closing in each case one individual drawer and for locking the drawers positioned above the individual drawer, that the locking slide associated with the actuated individual drawer is unmovably held via control means which, in turn, unmovably hold the drawers positioned underneath, and that, by adjusting the closing bar via the actuating means, the control slides of all drawers may be moved jointly into the open and closed position repsectively for locking or releasing all pushed-in drawers.

The advantage of the proposed solution is that by pulling out one drawer, all the remaining drawers are locked, so that they can no longer be pulled out. However, at the ... . . . . ..
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same time, the closing bar allows central locking and unlocking of all drawers. This means that all drawers, when they are in the pushed-in condition, may be locked or released simultaneously. Furthermore, it is possible to open just one drawer. Opening several drawers, when actuated simultaneously, is also effectively prevented. In addition, this design also prevents several drawers from being partially opened simultaneously.

The measure in accordance with the invention allows all opening slides and all locking slides, in each case, to be designed identically, so that the number of drawers arranged one above the other can be increased arbitrarily.
Only the length of the closing bar has to be adjusted, and each drawer has to be associated with one control element, one opening slide and one locking slide.

As soon as a drawer is pulled out of the piece of furniture in the sense of opening it, the movement of the control element relative to the control slides causes an upward movement of the opening slide associated with the drawer and, together therewith, an upward movement of all other control slides, i.e. the opening slides and locking slides of the drawers arranged thereabove. The locking slide associated with the drawer pulled out of the piece of furniture and the further control slides associated with the drawers positioned underneath the open drawer remain in their positions. All are arrested by the locking slide. The locking slides associated with the drawers positioned above the actuated drawer are moved upwards and prevent said drawers from being pulled out of the piece of furniture.--The locking slide -associated with the --moved drawer in cooperation with the control element associated with said drawer prevent the drawers positioned underneath the actuated drawer from carrying out an upward relative movement at the closing bar. Said drawers are thus also secured against being moved out of the piece of furniture. The control elements and closing bars with , . - -~ -- -, , . . ~
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control slides are preferably arranged on one side of the drawers. They may also be arranged on both sides, in which case the two closing bars, in respect of their movement, are connected by a coupling drive and jointly adjustable ~ia actuating means.

In accordance with a first embodiment, the control means are provided in the form of a control track associated with the lower end of the control element and a locking stop of the locking slide cooperating therewith. In the case of such an embodiment, the control element extends approximately along the extraction length of the associated drawer.

In a further embodiment it is proposed that, starting from the end face of the control element facing the front panel of the drawer, the control track associated with the upper end of the control element comprises a base face which extends parallel to the sliding plane of the drawer and is followed by an opening face rising away from the front panel, which opening face, in turn, is followed by a holding face extending parallel to the sliding plane, and that the control track associated with the lower end of the control element is formed by the end face and the adjoining locking face extending parallel to the holding face.

In a further embodiment of the opening slide, it cooperates with the upper end of the control element and comprises a first control face extending parallel to the base face and to the hol.ding face and a second control face matching the opening face, as well as an upper supporting face and a lower supporting face for contacting the locking slides arranged above and below the closing bar.

According to an embodiment of the locking slide, the locking stop of the locking slide comprises a stop face . . .
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2 1 ~ ~ 7 which, for the purpose of locking the associated drawer, may be moved in front of the end face of the control element, with the end face of the locking stop - when the associated drawer is pulled out - being supported on the locking face of the control element for the purpose of locking the drawers positioned underneath.

In order to avoid any jamming in the course of adjustment, for instance when actuating all control slides via the closing bar, it is proposed that, when the drawers are pushed in, a free space is provided between the end face of the respective control element and the stop face of the locking stop and between the end face of the locking stop and the locking face of the associated control element.

In a further embodiment according to the invention, the control means are provided in the form of a pivot bolt which is arranged at the opening slides and which is pivotable to a limited extent between an open position and a locked position around a bearing pin which is perpendicular to the cl~sing bar and projects towards the control element, that the pivot bolt is in the locked position when the associated drawer is in the open position while, via a locking face, supporting itself on the locking stop of the associated locking slide and holding the associated opening slide and the control slides of the drawers above in a position which is upwardly displaced relative to the locking slide and in which the opening slide associated with the uppermost drawer is in a position which has been brought closer to the locking- pin of the closing-bar.

The advantage of this design is that the control element needs to be only long enough to ensure that the pivot bolt may be moved from the open position into the locked position and vice versa in order to block and, respectively, release the control slides.

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Instead of having the control face, the opening slide may also comprise an opening pin projecting on to the control track associated with the upper end of the control element.

In a second embodiment of the invention including a pivot bolt it is proposed that, starting from the end face of the control element facing the front panel of the drawer, the control track associated with the upper end of the control element comprises a base face which is ~ollowed by an opening face rising away from the front panel and, in turn, being followed by a control face falling at least to the level of the base face.

To limit the pivot movement of the pivot bolt, the latter comprises an arched slot allowing the opening pin to pass through.

In order to securely position the opening slide and the control slides positioned thereabove relative to the associated locking slide and the control slides positioned underneath, it is proposed that the locking face is designed as a recess opening towards the end face of the pivot bolt positioned away from the bearing pin. When the pivot bolt is in the locked position, said recess extends over the corresponding locking stop of the locking slide positioned underneath.

In order to ensure that the pivot bolt is accurately moved from the open position into the locked position and vice versa, it is proposed that the pivot bolt comprises a control pin offset from the bearing pin to the locking stop of the associated locking slide, that the control element comprises a first control stop positioned close to the front panel and a second control stop positioned away therefrom, that the first control stop, when closing the respective drawer, loads the control pin and disengages . :. : ..................... : - :
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the pivot bolt from the locking stop and that the second control stop, when opening a drawer, loads the control pin and causes the pivot bolt to engage the locking stop of the associated locking slide.

The control slides are preferably provided with a guiding recess via which they embrace the closing bar. The control slides are movably guided on the closing bar via the guidlng recess.

The column formed of the opening slides and locking slides is supported on a closing bar stop arranged in the region of the locking slide associated with the lowest drawer.
In order to ensure that after opening and closing a drawer the opening and locking slides return into their starting positions where they support one another, the opening slide associated with the uppermost drawer is loaded via a spring to ensure it is displaced downwards in the direction of the closing bar to establish contact therewith. To limit the installation height, the locking slide is provided with a slot which guides the stop of the closing bar.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the closing bar and the control slides movable therefrom and thereon are slidably guided in holding devices secured to the side wall of the piece of furniture.

Furthermore, it is proposed that the holding device movably guides the opening slide associated with the uppermost drawer and that both the opening slide and the holding device-comprise fixing means in which a spring is suspended.

The control slides are preferably designed as plastic mouldings and consist of acetal homopolymer (POM).
Alternatively, they may be designed as zinc die castings.

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Alternatively, the object of the invention is achieved in that per drawer, there is provided a control element attached to the side wall of the piece of furniture with which the closing bar is associated, that the closing bar is associated with a plurality of control slides which are arranged one above the other and all of which, except for one, individually or in groups, are relatively adjustable relative to the closing bar which is in the open position, with two control slides arranged directly one above the other cooperating with a control element associated with the drawers and, for this purpose, each comprising a first and/or a second control pin, that the control element is associated with a slide which is displaceable in the sliding direction of the associated drawer and which comprises at least one locking face cooperating, as a function of its position, with the control pin(s) and a first control curvature via which, upon actuation of a drawer in the opening sense, the control slides of the drawers arranged threabove in the piece of furniture, together with their control pins, may be moved in front of the locXing face of the slide of the associated control element, and which slide comprises a second control curvature which may be moved in front of the second control pin, as a result of which the associated control slides of all drawers positioned underneath the drawer actuated in the sense of being pulled out are locked to prevent them from being pulled out, and that the slide is displaceable via an actuating pin arranged at the drawer.

The advantages achieved by this solution correspond to those achieved by the first embodiment in that it is ensured that by pulling out one drawer, all the remaining drawers are locked so that they can no longer be pulled out. In this way it is possible, via the closing bar, to achieve central locking and unlocking of all drawers.

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This embodiment has a further advantage in that, with theexception of the actuating pin, all parts of the control element may be associated with the side wall of the piece of furniture. Furthermore, the control elements may be designed in such a way that, at the same time, they serve to guide the closing bar and secure it relative to the piece of furniture.

Preferably, the design is such that, upon actuation of the drawer in the opening sense, the associated actuating pin loads a lever which transfers the slide into an advanced position, with the first control pin sliding on to the first control curvature and, thereafter, releasing the actuating pin, and that, upon actuation of the drawer in the closing sense, the associated actuating pin returns the slide into its inserted position when stopping against a stop cam of the slide.

In further developing this solution it is proposed that the lever is supported in its two end positions and that, after a certain pivot path has been exceeded, it is spring-loaded in the direction of its position corresponding to the inserted position of the slide.

The advantage of this solution is that in its end positions, the slide is accurately secured via the control lever so that during the phase where a drawer is pulled out completely, the position of the slide cannot change. Furthermore, the resilient type of support may be used for applying a force to the drawer in the sense of pulling it in. In this way it is ensured that all drawers are in the closed position and that thus the closing bar may be transferred into the locked position via the actuating means without causing any jamming or faulty closure.

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In order to ensure that the control slides are also accurately positioned, they are spring-loaded towards contacting one another.

The closing bar is preferably provided with a C-shaped cross-section. The control slides are guided in its enclosed space. The control pins associated with the control slides project from the slot of the C-shaped closing bar. The control slide arranged underneath the control element associated with the lowest drawer is firmly connected to the closing bar. This may be achieved by clamping the control slide in the free space of the closing bar via a clamping screw.

A further solution in accordance with the invention is characterised in that at the side wall of each drawer, there is attached a control element of the closing bar which control element faces said side wall and comprises a guiding track, that per control element there are provided two control slides, that at its front end facing the front panel of the drawer, the control element comprises a setting pin which is offset heightwise relative to the guiding track and projects towards the closing bar, that at the closing bar there are provided control slides which are arranged one above the other and all of which, with the exception of one, are adjustable relative to the closing bar for the purpose of moving the drawer into the open position, that per drawer there is provided a control slide pivotably supporting a control disc whose pivot bearing is formed by a pin which is arranged at the control slide, projects towards the control element and which enters the guiding track of the control element when the associated drawer is moved in the opening sense, with the control disc being pivotable clockwise and anti-clockwise via the setting pin engaging a guiding recess as a function of the movement of the drawer and, via a setting curvature arranged on its outer contour, lifting the control slides arranged thereabove .
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when the associated drawer is actuated and displacing the pin(s) of the drawer(s) positioned thereabove in front of a locking face of the associated control elementts).

This solution provides the same advantages as those described in connection with the other solutions. Again it is advantageous that the control elements do not have to be as long as the entire drawer extraction length, but they only need to comprise part of that length because the control disc secures the position assumed by the control slide.

In order to ensure that the control disc does not leave its position when the drawer is pulled out, the setting curvature comprises at least one engagement indentation.
In developing this solution further, it is proposed that one engagement indentation serves to support the control disc at the setting pin when the dr~wer is in the open position and that one engagement indentation serves to limit the pivot movement of the control disc by abutting the setting pin when closing the drawer.

In order to ensure that, when the drawer is pulled out, the control disc is returned into a pivot position corresponding to the inserted position, i.e. that, when the pulled-out drawer is pushed in, the control disc is transferred into the position corresponding thereto, it is proposed that the control disc comprises a control pin which is offset relative to the pin (78), which projects into the path of the control element and which cooperates with a guiding groove and the guiding track.

In such a case, when pushing in the drawer, the control element attached to the drawer first abuts the control pin and pivots the control disc around the pivot bearing formed by the pin (78), thereby ensuring that the setting pin is able to enter the recess in the control disc.

The control slides cooperating with the setting curvature - 12 _ 2 1 ~ ~ 7~ .~

are preferably associated with a setting pin via which they rest on the setting curvature of the control disc.

In Grder to ensure accurate guidance and functioning of all control slides at all times, it is proposed that when all drawers are in the closed condition, the control slides support one another and are loaded via a spring to contact one another and that the control slide associated with the lower drawer and carrying a control disc is firmly connected to the closing bar.

Four preferred embodiments suitable for achieving the objective of the invention are diagrammatically illustrated in the drawing wherein Fig. 1 is a sectional side view of a piece of furniture, with the actuating means being in the unlocked condition while eliminating or only roughly indicating the drawer side walls in order to make the parts of the lock visible, showing the lock in a first embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a section II-II according to Figure 1.

Fig. 3 is an illustration similar to that shown in Figure 1, with the lower drawer in the open condition.

Fig. 4 is an illustration similar to that shown in Figure 1, with the actuating means being in the locked condition.

Figs.5&6 two views of an opening slide of the first embodiment.

Figs.7&8 two views of a locking slide of the first embodiment.

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Fig. 9 a view comparable to that shown in Figure l, showing the lock' in a second embodiment.

Fig. lO a section X-X according to Figure 9.

Fig. 11 an illustration similar to that shown in Figure 9, with the actuating means in the locked condition.
Fig. 12 i~ an illustration similar to that shown in Figure ll, with the actuating means in the unlocked condition.

Figs.13~14 two views of an opening slide of the first embodiment.

Figs.15&16 two views of a locking slide of the second embodiment.

Fig. 17 a side view of a piece of furniture comparable to that shown in Figure 1 for an alternative lock embodiment, in the unlocked condition.

Fig. 18 a section XVIII-XVIII according to Figure 17.

Fig. 19 an illustration similar to that shown in Figure 17, with the lower drawer in the open condition.

Fig. 20 an illustration according to Figure 17, with the actuating means in the locked condition.

Fig. 21 a side view of a piece of furniture similar to that shown in Figure 1 for a further alternative lock embodiment, in the unlocked condition.

Fig. 22 a section XXII-XXII according to Figure 21.

Fig. 23 an illustration similar to that shown in Figure 21, with the lower drawer in the open condition.

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Fig. 24 an illustration according to Figure 21, with the actuating means in the locked condition.

First, a lock with its main components as associated with a piece of furniture 1 will be described with reference to Figures 1 ~nd 2. Only the cover panel 2 and a side wall 3 of the piece of furniture 1 are illustrated. In the piece of furniture 1, the two drawers 4, 5 may be pushed in and pulled out on rails not illustrated. The two drawers 4, 5 each comprise a front panel 7. Towards the cover panel 2 there is arranged a stationary panel 6. The two drawers 4, 5 each comprise a side wall 8, with a control element 9 being associated therewith. The control element 9 substantially extends along the entire extraction length of the two drawers 4, 5. The plane in which the two drawers 4, 5 may be moved has been given the reference number 10.

The side wall 3 of the piece of furniture 1 is provided with a recess 11. A closing bar 12 enters said recess 11 at least partially. The closing bar 12 is arranged so as to be transversely adjustable relative to the sliding plane 10 of the two drawers 4, 5. Opening slides 13, 13a and locking slides 14, 14a supporting one another are arranged one above the other on the closing bar 12, with one opening slide 13 and one locking slide 14 being associated with the drawer 4 and a further opening slide 13a and a further locking slide 14a being associated with the second drawer 5. The opening slides 13, 13a and the locking slides 14, 14a support one another and the locking slide 14a associated with the lower drawer 5 is supported on a stop 15 of the closing bar 12. The opening slides 13, 13a and the locking slides 14, 14a are held on the closing bar 12 so as to be slidable and movable relative to one another. The assembly is secured to the side wall 3 of the piece of furniture 1 via spaced holding devices 16. The holding devices have a guiding . ... ...., .- - -.. : . . . . .
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function and may be associated with the opening slides 13, 13a for example. One of the holding devices 16 is associated with the opening slide 13 of the uppermost drawer 4, i.e. it is arranged above the uppermost drawer 4. The holding device 16 comprises a suspension eye 17.
The upper end of the opening slide 13 associated with the uppermost drawer 4 also comprises a suspension eye 18.
The two suspension eyes 17, 18 hold a tension spring 19 which loads the opening slides 13,13a and locking slides 14, 14a arranged one above the other to the effect that they contact one another, so that the lower supporting face 21 of the respective upper opening slide 13, 13a is supported on the upper supporting face 22 of the locking slide 14, 14a arranged underneath. The lockins slide 14, in turn, via its lower supporting face 23, is supported on the upper supporting face 20 of the opening slide 13a of the drawer S positioned underneath. The locking slide 14a associated with the lowest drawer 5 is supported on a stop 15 of the closing bar 12. All opening slides 13, 13a and locking slides 14, 14a may be adjusted jointly via the closing bar 12. For adjusting purposes there are provided the actuating means 24 which may be designed in the form of a closing cylinder which is pivotable around a rotational axis. The actuating means 24 are provided with aneccentric pin 25 engaging a recess which is formed by a pin ~6 projecting from the closing bar 12 and by a clip ~7 formed by the bent end of the closing bar 12. By pivoting the actuating means 24, the height or the closing bar 12 is adjusted via the eccentric pin 25.

On its upper end 28, starting from the end face 29, the control element 9 associated with the two drawers 4, 5 comprises a base face 30 extending parallel to the sliding plane 10 of the associated drawer 4 or 5. From the level of the base face 30, an openiny face 31 extends away from the front panel 7 of the respective drawer 4 or S and rises upwardly. The opening face 31 is followed by the holding face 32 which extends parallel to the base .., ~ . ~ . . .
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face 30 and thus parallel to the sliding plane 10 of the drawer 4 or 5. ~he lower end 33 or the control element 9 is also provided with a control track which consists OI
the end face 29 of the control element and the locking face 34 extending parallel to the holding face 32 and thus to the sliding plane 10.

Below, there follows a description of the opening slide 13, 13aillustrated in an enlarged scale in Figures 5 and 6. The opening slide 13, 13a comprises a portion which extends parallel to the closing bar 12 and in which a guiding recess 37 is formed. The cross-section of the guiding recess 37 is adapted to the closing bar 12 so that the opening slide 13, 13a is easily ad~ustable thereon. Towards the side wall 3 of the piece of furniture, the guiding recess 37 is formed by webs 38 which, between them, form a slot 39. A projection extends from the base part Said projection comprises a first control face 35 towards the lower supporting face 21. The first control face 35 extends parallel to the supporting facè 21 and changes into an inclined second control face 36. The control race 36 substantially extends in the same way as the opening face 31 of the control element 9, whereas the first control face 35 extends approximately in the same way as the base face 30 of the control element 9.

The locking slide 14, 14a as illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 is enlarged relative to its illustration in Figures 1 to 4. The locking slide 14, 14a is also provided with a guiding recess 37a which is adapted to the cross-section of the closing bar 12 and which corresponds to the guiding recess 37 o~ the opening slide 13, 13a.
Towards the upper supporting face 22, the locking slide 14, 14a comprises a vertically extending locking stop 40.
The locking stop 40 comprises the stop face 41 and the end face 42. Towards its lower supporting face 23, the locking slide 14 is provided with a slot 43 which may be . ~ . .... . , - , ~ . - , . .:. ,. . : . ~ :: ~ . - : .

210~7 entered by the stop 15 of the closing bar 12 designed as a pin. The lifting stop 44 extends at a right angle relative to the stop face 41.

Below, the functioning of the lock will be explained in greater detail with reference to Figures 1 to 4, taking into account the design of the opening slides 13, 13a and locking slides 14, 14a, in connection with the design features as contained in the illustrations according to Figures 5 to 8.

It can be seen in Figure 1, that the first control face 35 of the opening slide 13 associated with the uppermost drawer 4 rests on the base face 30 of the control element 9. It can also be seen that the second control face 36 contacts the opening face 31 of the control element 9.
This also applies to the opening slide 13a of drawer 5.
Furthermore, the locking stop 41 of the locking slide 14 associated with the uppermost drawer 4 is in a position relative to the control element 9 where the end face 42 of the locking stop 40, together with a free space, is positioned underneath the locking face 34 of the control track associated with the lower end 33 of the control element 9. The same arrangement exists in the case of the inserted position of the drawers 4, 5 as illustrated in Figure 1, also in respect of the locking slide 14a associated with the drawer 5. In the case of the position of the drawers 4, 5 as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the closing bar 12 is in its lowered position. Via the actuating means 24 and the eccentric pin 25 connected thereto, all drawers 4, 5 are released to enable them to move into the pulled-.o.ut...pos.ition.. I.f . . . .
the lowest drawer 5 is opened parallel to the sliding plane 10, the associated control element 9 is moved transversely to the direction of movement of the closing bar 12 and the opening slides 13, 13a and locking slides 14, 14a positioned thereon.

By moving the opening face 31 close to the second control . , .; , .

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face 36 of the opening slide 13a, the latter carries out an upward movement on the closing bar 12 until its first control face 35 is positioned on the holding face 32 associated with the upper end 28 of the control element 9. When the drawer 5 is pulled out further, the associated opening slide 13a is not adjusted upwardly any further. The locking slide 14a associated with the lower end 33 remains in its position relative to the closing bar 12, i.e. it remains in contact with the stop 15 of the closing bar 12.

In the case of the above-described movement, the lower supporting race 21 of the opening slide 13a and the upper supporting face 22 of the locking slide 14a also separate. As a result of the upward displacement of the opening slide 13a, the locking slide 14 positioned thereabove and associated with the drawer 4 and the opening slide 13 supported on the locking slide 14 are also displaced upwardly on the closing bar 12. In the process, the locking face 41 of the locking stop 40 of the locking slide 14 is moved in front of the end face 29 og the control element 9 associated with the drawer 4, so that the drawer 4 cannot be moved out of the piece of furniture 1. At the same time, however, the locking slide 14a associated with the lower drawer 5 prevents the closing bar 12 from being displaced upwardly via the actuating means 24 into a locking position. This is achieved by the end face 42 abutting the locking face 34 associated with the lower end 33 of the control element 9. This also prevents further drawers arranged underneath the drawer 5 for example and associated opening slides and locking slides from moving upwards, so that also the opening slide of a drawer which may be arranged underneath the drawer 5 prevents the movement of such a drawer by blocking the associated control element 9. When the drawer 5 is returned into its closed position and if all drawers 4, 5 are to be locked via the actuating means 24, the closing bar 12 is displaced upwardly by rotating the actuating means 24 via the . ., . . ., . . : :. .: .~ :
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eccentric pin 25, with all opening slides 13, 13a and locking' slides 14, 14a arranged one above the other and supporting one another also moving upwards via the stop 15. In the process, the locking stop 40 of the two locking slides 14, 14a, with its locking face 41, is ~oved in front of the end face 29 of the control elements 9 associated with the drawers 4, 5 while locking same to prevent them from being pulled out. The upward movement is limited by the lifting stop 44 of the locking slides 14, 14a abutting the locking face 34 of the control elements.

In the case of the second embodiment according to Figures 9 to 16, the arrangement of the base parts of the lock and the design of the piece of furniture 1 correspond to those of the first embodiment. To that extent, their description also applies to the second embodiment.
However, the most important differences will be described below.

As compared to the embodiment as illustrated in Figures 1 to 8, the control element 9 of the second embodiment according to Figures 9 to 16 is shorter overall. Starting from its end face 29, it comprises a control track which is associated with the upper end 28 and which consists of a base face 13 extending approximately parallel to the sliding plane of the drawers 4, 5,ofan adjoining initially rising opening face 31 which then changes to a flat, arch-shaped course, and of a downwardly sloping control face 49. The opening slides 13, 13a are each associated with an opening pin 48. The opening pin 48 projects vertically from the opening slide 13, l~a and thus from the closing bar 12 in the direction of the control elemen~ 9.

A plate-shaped pivot bolt 45 is attached to each opening slide 13, 13a. The pivot bolt 45 is pivotably arranged ... . ' ': : -' ' - . .
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around the bearing pin 46 of the associated opening slide 13, 13a. The pivot bolt 45 comprises an arched slot 50 having a curvature around the bearing pin 46. The arched s,lot 50 is engaged by the opening pin 48 of the associated opening slide 13, 13a and limits the pivot movement of the pivot bolt 45 relative to the opening slide 13, 13a in cooperation with the opening pin 48. At its end face facing the associated locking slide 14, 14a, the pivot bolt 45 comprises a locking face 47 in the form of an approximately triangular recess. The locking face 47 is designed to match the facing face of the locking stop 40 of the locking slide 14, 14a. Furthermore, the pivot bolt 45 comprises a control pin 51 projecting towards the control element 9. When the actuating means 24 of the lock are in the open position as illustrated in Figure 9, i.e. when the closing bar 12 is lowered, said control pin 51, if viewed from the front panel 7 of the drawers 4, 5, is positioned behind the locking stop 40, holding the pivot bolt 45 in an open position pivoted towards the left, in which any of the drawers 4, 5 arranged one above the other may be opened.

If one of the drawers 4, 5 is moved out of the piece of furniture 1 in the sense of opening it, it is via the opening pin 48 which slides on to the opening face 31 starting from the base face 30 - said opening face 31 approaching as a result of the opening movement of the drawer - that the assembly arranged thereabove is displaced, said assembly consisting of the opening slide 13,13a associated with the opened drawer and the further control slides of the drawers arranged thereabove, whereupon said control slides move upwards in the direction of the locking pin 26 of the closing bar 12.
While the opening pin 48 slides upwards on to the opening face 31, the second control stop 53, as the drawer 5 is pulled out further, approaches the control pin 51 and, when abutting the control pin 51, moves the pivot bolt . : : . : .
- . . . . . . .
.
.

2 ~

anti-clockwise around the bearing pin 46 into a position aligned relative to t~e opening slide l3 a. As the drawer 5 is pulled out further, the second control stop 53 moves past the control pin 51. In the position as illustrated in Figure 11, the opening pin 48 has already passed the culmination point of the control track of the control element 9 associated with the upper end 28 and is positioned on the downwardly inclined control face 49. In the course of this movement, the pivot bolt 45, via its locking face 47, positions itself on the locking stop 40.
All control slides 13, 14 arranged above the opening slide 13a associated with the pivot bolt 45 are held by the pivot bolt 45 in a raised position and thus in a position close to the locking pin 26. If it was now attempted to pull drawer 4 according to Figure 11 out of the piece of furniture 1 as well, this would be prevented because the locking stop 40 of the locking slide 14 is positioned in front of the end face 29 of the control element 9. If the drawer 5 is now closed again, the control element 9, with its control face 49, approaches the opening pin 48 which slides upwards on its control face 49. At the same time, the opening slide 13a with the associated pivot bolt 45 are raised by a small amount. In the process, the control pin 51 associated with the pivot bolt 45 reaches a region above the second control stop 53, but the region of movement of the first control stop 52. When the first control stop 52 abuts the piYot bolt 45 which has now been lifted off the locking stop 40, the pivot bolt 45 is pivoted clockwise around the bearing pin 46 into the position identifiable in Figures 9 and 12. The opening slide 13a associated with the drawer 5 which is now pushed in is able to move downwards following the course of the opening face 31, so that the entire assembly of control slides associated with the drawers positioned above the drawer in the process of being closed is able to move downwards, with all control slides of all drawers 4, 5 again contacting one another via their end faces 20, 21, 22, 23. All -, . , ~ ~ -- ,. .. . . . : . -2~0~

slides 13, 13a, 14, 14a are held and loaded by the spring 19 in the direction of the stop 15 of the closing bar 12.
By actuating the actuating means 24 in the closing sense the closing bar 12 is moved upwards. At the same time, the locking stops 40 associated with the locking slides 14, 14a of all drawers 4,5 are moved in front of the end faces 29 of the control elements 9 of the drawers 4, 5.
All drawers 4, 5 are now locked and cannot be pulled out.
This position is illustrated in Figure 12.

Figures 13 and 14 show two views of the opening slides of the second embodiment. In respect of the guiding recess 37, the base part has the same design as that associated with the embodiment illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, but instead of the control faces shown in Figures 5 and 6, there is provided the projecting opening pin 48 which cooperates with the control element of the associated drawer.

Figures 15 and 16 show the design of the locking slide 14, 14a of the second lock embodiment. It differs from the locking slide design according to Figures 7 and 8 merely in respect of the shape of the locking stop 40.
It is tapered to form a point in the direction of its end face 22. This shape is designed to correspond to the locking face 47 of the pivot bolt 45, which has the shape of a triangular recess. The locking slide 14, 14a is also provided with a guiding recess 37a via which it is received on the closing bar.

In the case of the embodiment according to Figures 17 and 18, there is shown a piece of furniture with a cover panel 2, the side wall 3 and the drawers 4, 5, and above the drawer 4, towards the cover panel 2, there is provided a panel 6 which is associated with the actuating means 24 comprising an eccentric pin 25 for actuating the closing bar 12a. The closing bar 12a has a C-shaped cross-section. The resulting guiding means contain and . , - .

.: . : ... . . . ..

21 ;~7~ ~

movably guide control slides 55a, 55b, 55c arranged one above the other. The control slide 55c associated with ' the lower end of the closing bar 12a is firmly connected to the closing bar 12a. The control slides 55b and 55a positioned thereabove are located on the lowest control slide 55c. Between the uppermost control slide 55a and an end piece 74 inserted into the closing bar 12a and secured thereto, there is arranged a spring 73 which loads the control slides 55a, 55b, 55c to ensure they contact one another. The end piece 74 carries a locking pin 26 and a clip 27 bent in parallel to the locking pin 26, with the eccentric pin 25 of the actuating means 24 engaging therebetween. The height of the closing bar 12a may be adjusted by rotating the actuating means 24.

The control slide 55a carries a first control pin 56 projecting in the direction of the side wall of the drawer 4. The second control slide 55b carries a second control pin 57 projecting towards the first control pin 56 of the control slide 55a, and downwardly, at a distance from the second drawer 5, a further first control pin 56a. The final control slide 55c carries a second control pin 57a. The two control pins 56, 57 copperate with a first control element 54 associated with the upper drawer 4. A further control element 54 is associated with the second drawer 5 and cooperates with the control pins 56a and 57a. The two control elements 54 are secured ~o the side wall 3 of the piece of furniture and simultaneously serve to guide and adjust the height of the closing bar 12a. In the control element 54, a slide 58 is axially displaceable in the sliding direction of the drawers 4, 5. Starting from the end facing the front panel 7, the slide 58 comprises a first control curvature 60 which initially rises and then extends parallel to the sliding plane of the drawer 4. Said first control curvature 60 is designed to be slot-shaped and its width is such that the second control pin 57, 57a can enter the slot and slide on the first control ... :: . . ....... . . ,, . :
.. , :., . ............. : : ~:

, ~: ' : . : :: -' . . ' .
', ~' .

2~7~ 4 curvature 60. The two faces 59, 59a of the slide 58 facing the front pane~ 7 serve as locking faces. The lower end of the slide 58 is provided with a second control curvature 61 which extends substantially parallel to the sliding plane of the drawers 4, 5. The slide 58 is slidably supported on a housing 68 and connected to a lever 63. The lever 63 is pivotably supported in the pivot bearing 65 in the housing 68 of the control element 54. It can be seen that its end projecting beyond the pivot bearing 65 is provided with supporting faces 69, 70 which are arranged at an angle relative to one another and which are supported on corresponding counter faces of the housing designed to be flexible or on a resilient face. In the first position, the slide 58 is in the withdrawn position where the lever 63, via its supporting face 70, is supported on the wall of the housing 68 serving as a supporting base 71, i.e. the face 71 of the wall forms the supporting base for the supporting faces 69, 70 of the lever 63. The lever 63, with its slot 67, extends over a pin of the slide 58, which, for the purpose of gùiding the slide 58, is guided in a first guiding slot 66 of the housing 68, which extends parallel to the sliding plane. The second end of the lever 63 projects beyond said connecting region and forms a stop 64. Furthermore, the slide 58 comprises a stop cam 72 which is offset relative to the stop 64.

Between the stop cam 72 and the stop 64 there is received an actuating pin 62 which is secùred to the side wall of the associated drawer 4, S so as to project towards the side wall 3 of the piece of furniture 1. It engages between the stop cam 72 and the stop 64. In the case of the illustrations according to Figures 17 and 18, the closing bar 12a is in the lowered position. The control slides 55a, 55b, SSc are also in the lowered position, so that the first control pin 56 of the control slide S5a is positioned in front of the entrance of the slot of the slide 58 comprising the first control curvature : .

. - : . . :, ~ -: . , : :. :- . .
: :~

2~7t ~

60. The second control pin 57 associated with the control slide 55b is located below the second control curvature 61 of the slide. With reference to drawer S, the first ~ontrol pin 56a of the control slide 55b is also positioned in the region of the slot of the slide 58 comprising the first control curvature 60, and the second control pin 57 associated with the control slide 55c is positioned ~below the second control curvature 61 of the slide 58. In this position it is possible to pull one of the two drawers 4 or S out of the piece of furniture l. This is illustrated in Figure 19 with reference to drawer S.
By pulling the drawer 5, its actuating pin 62, too, is moved in the sliding direction against the stop 64 of the lever 63. As the lever 63 is articulated at the stationary pivot bearing 65, a moment rotating anticlockwise is applied to the lever 63, as a result of which the lever acts on the slide 58 and moves it to the right in the direction in which the drawer S is pulled out. In the process, the slide 58, with its first control curvature 60, is moved underneath the first control pin 56a. As a result, the associated control slide SSb is displaced upwardly in the closing bar 12a. As the control slide 55a positioned above is in contact with the control slide 55b, it is also displaced upwardly. In the process, the two control pins 56 and 57 are also displaced upwardly and are positioned in front of the locking faces 59, 59a of t~e slide 58 associated with the upper drawer 4. As a result, the upper drawer 4 is secured against being pulled out. If the drawer S is pulled out by a certain amount, the lever 63 is pivoted : far enough for its supporting face 69 to be in planar contact with the supporting base 71, so that the actuating pin 62 of the drawer S i5 able to pass the control lever 63 without being obstructed.

When the drawer S is transferred back into the closed position, the sequence of movements is reversed. The stop .. ,- ,. :

.. .. .. .. . .

2 ~ ~ 7 cam 72 of the slide 58 approaches the actuating pin. As soon as contact is established between the two parts, the slide 58 is displaced from the advanced position as illustrated in Figure 17 with reference to the drawer 5, with the control pin 56a sliding downwards on the first control face 60, so that the control slides 55b und 55a slide downwards in the closing bar 12a during which process they are assisted by the spring 73. In the pulled-out condition, the control slide 55c connected to the second actuating pin 57a and thus the closing bar 12a are prevented from moving upwards. If further drawers are arranged underneath the drawer 5, these further drawers, too, are also locked because if there are further drawers arranged underneath, the control slide 55c and any control slides positioned underneath are prevented from moving upwards.

Figure 20, finally, shows the locked position of the closing bar 12a. Via the actuating means 24 and the eccentric 25 connected thereto, the closing bar 12a, through acting on the clip 27, is displaced upwardly, with all control slides 55a, 55b und 55c being displaced upwardly at the same time. In the process, the first control pins 56, 56a and 57, 57a reach the region in front of the respective locking faces 59 and S9a of the associated control elements 54 of the drawers 4, 5 so that these are prevented from being pulled out.

Below, a further embodiment achieving the object of the invention will be explained in connection with Figures 21 to 24, but first reference is made to Figures 21 and 22 where it can be seen that the actuating means 24 are in the unlocked condition, but the two drawers 4, 5 are illustrated in the pushed-in condition. Again, there is provided a C-shaped closing bar 12b in whose slot-shaped hollow space control slides 55d, 55e and 55f are guided so as to be movable, but the control slide 55f associated - , . .. :
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. :, :

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with the lowest drawer 5 is firmly connected to the closing bar 12b. At their upper ends, the two control slides 55e and 55f each comprise a pin 78 which projects in the direction of the side wall of the drawer 4, 5 and on which a control disc 77 is pivotably supported.
Towards its lower end, the control disc 77 comprises a guiding recess 79 and towards its upper end a setting curvature 80. At its ends, the setting curvature/
comprises engagement indentations 81 and 81a. In addition, the control disc 77 comprises a control pin 83 which is offset relative to the pin 78 and which has a smaller diameter than the pin 78. The guiding recess 79 is engaged by a setting pin 76 which is arranged at the end face facing the front panels 7 of the drawers 4, 5 and projects in the direction of the closing bar and engages the guiding recess 79 in the position as illustrated in Figures 21 and 22. The setting pin 76 forms part of a control element 9b which is secured to the side wall of the drawer and comprises a groove-shaped guiding track which is tapered funnel-like from the end face facing the front panel 7 and increases in diameter towards the other end. Furthermore, the control element 9b comprises a second guiding groove 82 which also starts from the end face of the control element 9b facing the front panel 7 and ends in the guiding track 75. The guiding track 75 cooperates with the guiding pin 78 which enters the guiding track 75 when one of the drawers 4, 5 is pulled out. At the same time, the control pin 83 projecting in the direction of the side wall of the drawer enters the guiding groove 82.

In Figures 21 and 22, the closing bar 12b is shown in the open position of the actuating means 24. Together with the control slides 55d, 55e, 55f, it is in the lowered position. The setting pin 84 associated with the control slides 55e and 55d is located in the region of the engagement indentation 81a of the control disc 77. If the lowest drawer 5 is now pulled out, the control .. ..

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.

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element 9b moves together with the drawer 5, so that via the setting pin 76, the control disc 77 is pivoted anti-clockwise around the pin 78. In the process, the rising setting curvature 80 moves further underneath the setting pin 84 and, together therewith, displaces upwardly the control slide 55e and the control slide 55d supported thereon, with the pin 78 carrying the control disc 77 associated with the drawer 4 being moved in front of the end face of the control element 9b associated with the control element 9b, said end face serving as a locking face 85 which is locked so as to be unable to be displaced outwardly. When the drawer 5 is pulled out further, the control disc 77 is pivoted far enough to enable its engagement indentation 81 to receive the setting pin 84. In the process, the guiding recess 79 reaches a position where the setting pin 76 displaced together with drawer 5 is able to leave it, so that the drawer can again be pulled out without further influencing the position of the control disc 77.
When the drawer is pulled out further, the pin 78 is also able to leave the guiding track 75. During the pivot movement, the control pin 83, too, initially passes the guiding groove 82 and, as can be seen in Figure 23, reaches the region of the guiding track 75. If, after the drawer 5 has been pulled out to such an extent that both the control pin 83 and the pin 78 have left the guiding track 75, a force is erroneously applied to the control disc 77 for pivoting it clockwise, thereby assuming the position indicated in Figure 21, the drawer 5 can nevertheless be pushed in. While the drawer 5 is pushed in, the end of the control element 9b facing away from the front panel 7 of the drawer 5, together with the guiding track, reaches the region of the control pin 83 which, when entering the guiding track further, applies an anticlockwise moment around the pin 78 on to the control disc 77 and pivots it anticlockwise back into the position as illustrated in Figure 23 so that, when the drawer S is pushed further into the piece of furniture, the setting pin 76 is able to enter the guiding recess 79 ., `' ' ' . . . . . : - , : :

"' ' ' ' ' ' ,:

- 2i~7~ ~

of the control disc 77 while applying a clockwise moment thereto as said drawer is pushed in further, so that the control disc 77 is pivoted back into the position illustrated in Figure 21. After this position has been reached, the actuating means 24 may be adjusted so that it is possible, via the eccentric pin 25, to lift the closing bar 12b into the position illustrated in Figure 24. In the process, the control pins 78 of all control discs 77 associated with the various drawers 4, 5, together with the associated control slides 55d, 55e, 55f are moved upwards and reach the region in front of the locking faces 85 so that all drawers 4, 5 are secured against being displaced outwardly.

- - : . . . .. . - - -.. . . . . . .

, -.. - : - : - - -. , ;.. ... .

21 ~

List of reference numbers 1 piece of furniture 2 cover plate

3 side wall

4,5 drawers 6 panel 7 front panel -:
8 side wall of drawers 9,9a,9b control element sliding plane 11 recess in side wall 12,12a,12b closing bar 13,13a opening slide 14,14a Locking slide stop 16 holding device 17 suspension eye at holding device 18 suspension eye at opening slide 19 spring upper supporting face of opening slide 21 lower supporting face of opening slide 22 upper supporting face of locking slide 23 lower supporting face of locking slide ; 24 actuating means :
:::

, ", . .. .. ... . . . . . . . . . . . .

- 31 - ~ 7 pin of eccentric 26 locking pin 27 clip 28 upper end of control element 29 end face of control element base face 31 opening face 32 holding face 33 lower end of control element 34 locking face first control face 36 second control face 37,37a guiding recess 38 web 39 slot locking stop 41 stop face 42 end face 43 slot 44 lifting stop pivot bolt 46 bearing pin 47 locking face 48 opening pin 49 control face arched slot 51 control pin 52 first control stop 53 second control stop 54 control element 55,55a-f control slide 56,56a first control pin 57,57a second control pin 58 slide 59,59a+b locking face first control curvature 61 second control curvature 62 actuating pin , ., ~ . . . .. .. . .. . . . . . ... . .
, ,,, . , - . ( .. .. - : : ~ : . , :

- 32 - 21~97~

63 lever 64 stop pivot bearing 66 first guiding slot 67 second guiding slot 68 housing 69,70 supporting face 71 supporting base 72 stop cam 73 spring 74 end piece guiding track 76 setting pin 77 control disc 78 pin 79 guiding recess setting curvature 81,81a engagement indentation 82 guiding groove 83 control pin 84 setting pin locking face , . .. . .. .. . ........ . .

. . , ~ . . , :.: . :

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A lock for centrally locking and unlocking at least two drawers (4, 5) or similar pull-out units arranged one above the other in a piece of furniture (1), especially a cupboard, container or table, having side walls and a front panel, having a closing bar (12) adjustably guided and positioned opposite at least one of the two side walls (8) of the drawers (4, S) at a side wall (3) of the piece of furniture (1) transversely to the sliding plane (10) of the drawers (4, 5), having actuating means (24), especially a locking cylinder with an eccentric (25), for adjusting the closing bar (12) from a lowered open position to a lifted locking position, and having means associated with the closing bar (12) and the drawers (4, 5) for locking the remaining drawers if one of the drawers (4, 5) is moved in the opening sense, characterised in that at, in each case, one control element (9) is attached at the side wall (8) of the drawers (4, 5) so as to face the closing bar (12) and, towards its upper end (28), comprises a control track, that per control element (9) there are provided two control slides (13, 14; 13a, 14a), one of them cooperating with the control track (30, 31, 32) of the upper end (28) and serving as an opening slide (13, 13a) and the other one serving as a locking slide (14, 14a), that the control slides (13, 13a; 14, 14a) of all control elements (9) associated with one closing bar (12) are relatively adjustable along the closing bar (12) for the purpose of opening and closing in each case one individual drawer and for locking the drawers positioned above the individual drawer, that the locking slide (14, 14a) associated with the actuated individual drawer is unmovably held via control means (29, 34, 40, 45) which, in turn, unmovably hold the drawers (5) positioned underneath, and that, by adjusting the closing bar (12) via the actuating means (24), the control slides (13, 13a;
14, 14a) of all drawers (4, 5) may be moved into the open and closed position respectively for locking or releasing all pushed-in drawers (4, 5) (Figures 1 - 16).

2. A lock according to claim 1, characterised in that the control means are provided in the form of a control track (29, 34) associated with the lower end (33) of the control element (9) and a locking stop (40) of the locking slide (14, 14a) cooperating therewith.

3. A lock according to claim 2, characterised in that, starting from the end face (29) of the control element (9) facing the front panel (7) of the drawer (4, 5), the control track associated with the upper end (28) of the control element (9) comprises a base face (30) which extends parallel to the sliding plane (10) of the drawer (4, 5) and is followed by an opening face (31) rising away from the front panel (7), which opening face (31), in turn, is followed by a holding face (32) extending parallel to the sliding plane (10), and that the control track associated with the lower end (33) of the control element (9) is formed by the end face (29) and the adjoining locking face (34) extending parallel to the holding face (33) (Figures 1 - 9).

4. A lock according to any one of claims 2 or 3, characterised in that the opening slide (13, 13a) cooperating with the upper end (28) of the control element (9) comprises a first control face (35) extending parallel to the base face (30) and to the holding face (32) and a second control face (36) matching the opening face (31), as well as an upper supporting face (20) and a lower supporting face (21) for contacting the locking slides (14, 14a) arranged above and below the closing bar (12).

5. A lock according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterised in that the locking stop (40) of the locking slide (14, 14a) comprises a stop face (41) which, for the purpose of locking the associated drawer (4, 5), may be moved in front of the end face (29) of the control element (9), with the end face (42) of the locking stop - when the associated drawer is pulled out - being supported on the locking face (34) of the control element (9) for the purpose of locking the drawers (5) positioned underneath.

6. A lock according to any one of claims 4 or 5, characterised in that, when the drawers (4, 5) are pushed in, a free space is provided between the end face (29) of the respective control element (9) and the stop face (41) of the locking stop (40) and between the 'end face (42) of the locking stop (40) and the locking face (34) of the associated control element (9).

7. A lock according to claim 1, characterised in that the control means are provided in the form of a pivot bolt (45) which is arranged at the opening slides (13, 13a) and which is pivotable to a limited extent between an open position and a locked position around a bearing pin (46) which is perpendicular to the closing bar (12) and projects towards the control element (9), that the pivot bolt (45) is in the locked position when the associated drawer (4, 5) is in the open position while, via a locking face (47), supporting itself on the locking stop (40) of the associated locking slide (14, 14a) and holding the associated opening slide (13, 13a) and the control slides of the drawers (4) above in a position which is upwardly displaced relative to the locking slide (14, 14a) and in which the opening slide (14) associated with the uppermost drawer (4) is in a position which has been brought closer to the locking pin (26) of the closing bar (12) (Figures 9 to 16).

8. A lock according to any one of claims 1 or 7, characterised in that the opening slide (13, 13a) comprises an opening pin (48) projecting on to the control track of the upper end (28) of the control element (9).

9. A lock according to any one of claims 7 or 8, characterised in that, starting from the end face (29) of the control element (9) facing the front panel (7) of the drawer (4, 5), the control track associated with the upper end (28) of the control element (9) comprises a base face (30) which is followed by an opening face (31) rising away from the front panel (7) and, in turn, being followed by a control face (49) falling at least to the level of the base face (30).

10. A lock according to any one of claims 7 or 8, characterised in that the opening pin (48) passes through an arched slot (50) of the pivot bolt (45) and that both, together, limit the pivot movement of the pivot bolt (45).

11. A lock according to any one of claims 7 to 10, characterised in that the locking face (47) is designed as a recess opening towards the end face of the pivot bolt (45) positioned away from the bearing pin and extending over the corresponding locking stop (40).

12. A lock according to any one of claims 7 to 11, characterised in that the pivot bolt (45) comprises a control pin (51) offset from the bearing pin (26) to the locking stop (40) of the associated locking slide (14, 14a), that the control element (9) comprises a first control stop (52) positioned close to the front panel (7) and a second control stop (53) positioned away therefrom, that the first control stop (52), when closing the respective drawer, loads the control pin (51) and disengages the pivot bolt (45) from the locking stop (40) and that the second control stop (53), when opening a drawer, loads the control pin (51) and causes the pivot bolt (45) to engage the locking stop (40) of the associated locking slide (14, 14a).

13. A lock according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterised in that the control slides (13, 13a; 14, 14a) embrace the closing bar (12) via a guiding recess (37, 37a) (Figures 1 - 8, 9 - 16).

14. A lock according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterised in that the locking slide (14a) associated with the lowest drawer (5) abuts a stop (15) of the closing bar (12) and that the opening slide (13) associated with the uppermost drawer (4) is loaded by a spring (19) to be displaced downwards. (Figures 1 to 16).

A lock according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterised in that the locking slide (14a) comprises a slot (43) in which the stop (15) of the closing bar (12) is guided (Figures 1 - 16).

16. A lock according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterised in that the closing bar (12) and the control slides (13, 13a;
14, 14a) movable thereby and thereon are slidably guided in holding devices (16) secured to the side wall (3) of the piece of furniture (1). (Figures 1 - 16).

17. A lock according to any one of claims 1 to 16, characterised in that the holding device (16) movably guides the opening slide (13) associated with the uppermost drawer (4) and that both the opening slide (13) and the holding device (16) comprise fixing means (17, 18) in which a spring (19) is suspended. (Figures 1 - 16).

18. A lock according to any one of claims 1 to 17, characterised in that the control slides (13, 13a; 14, 14a) are designed as plastic mouldings or a zinc die castings. (Figures 1 - 16).

19. A lock according to any one of claims 1 to 18, characterised in that the control slides (13, 13a; 14; 14a) consist of acetal homopolymer (POM). (Figures 1 - 16).

20. A lock for centrally locking and unlocking at least two drawers (4, 5) or similar pull-out units arranged one above the other in a piece of furniture (1), especially a cupboard, container or table, having side walls and a front panel, having a closing bar (12a) adjustably guided and positioned opposite at least one of the two side walls (8) of the drawers (4, 5) at a side wall (3) of the piece of furniture (1) transversely to the sliding plane (10) of the drawers (4, 5), having actuating means (24), especially a locking cylinder with an eccentric (25), for adjusting the closing bar (12a) from a lowered open position to a lifted locking position, and having means associated with the closing bar (12a) and the drawers (4, 5) for locking the remaining drawers if one of the drawers (4, 5) is moved in the opening sense, characterised in that per drawer (4, 5) there is provided a control element (54) attached to the side wall of the piece of furniture (1) with which the closing bar (12a) is associated, that the closing bar (12a) is associated with a plurality of control slides (55) which are arranged one above the other and all of which, except for one, individually or in groups, are relatively adjustable relative to the closing bar (12a) which is in the open position, with two control slides (55c; 55b; 55a) arranged directly one above the other cooperating with a control element (54) associated with the drawers (4, 5) and, for this purpose, each comprising a first (56, 56a) and/or a second control pin (57, 57a), that the control element (54) is associated with a slide (58) which is displaceable in the sliding direction of the associated drawer (4, 5) and which comprises at least one locking face (59, 59a) cooperating, as a function of its position, with the control pin(s) (56, 56a; 57, 57a) and a first control curvature (60) via which, upon actuation of a drawer (5) in the opening sense, the control slides (55b, 55a) of the drawers (4) arranged thereabove in the piece of furniture (1), together with their control pins (57, 56), may be moved in front of the locking face (59, 59a) of the slide (58) of the associated control element (54), and which slide (58) comprises a second control curvature (61) which may be moved in front of the second control pin (57, 57a), as a result of which the associated control slides of all drawers (5) positioned underneath the drawer (4) actuated in the sense of being pulled out are locked to prevent them from being pulled out, and that the slide (58) is displaceable via an actuating pin (62) arranged at the drawer (4, 5). (Figures 17 - 20).

21. A lock according to claim 20, characterised in that, upon actuation of the drawer (4, 5) in the opening sense, the associated actuating pin (62) loads a lever (63) which transfers the slide (58) into an advanced position, with the first control pin (56, 56a) sliding on to the first control curvature (60) and, thereafter, releasing the actuating pin (62), and that, upon actuation of the drawer (4, S) in the closing sense, the associated actuating pin (62) returns the slide (58) into its inserted position when stopping against a stop cam (72) of the slide (58).

22. A lock according to claim 21, characterised in that the lever (63) is supported in its two end positions and that, after exceeding a certain pivot path, it is spring-loaded in the direction of its position corresponding to the inserted position of the slide (58).

23. A lock according to any one of claims 20 to 23, characterised in that, via a spring (73), the control slides (55) are loaded so as to contact one another.

24. A lock according to any one of claims 20 to 23, characterised in that the closing bar (12a) has a C-shaped cross-section, that the control slides (55) are guided in the enclosed free space and that the associated control pins (56, 56a;
57, 57a) project from the slot of the C-shaped closing bar (12a).

25. A lock for centrally locking and unlocking at least two drawers (4, 5) or similar pull-out units arranged one above the other in a piece of furniture (1), especially a cupboard, container or table, having side walls and a front panel, having a closing bar (12b) adjustably guided and positioned opposite at least one of the two side walls (8) of the drawers (4, 5) at a side wall (3) of the piece of furniture (1) transversely to the sliding plane (10) of the drawers (4, 5), having actuating means (24), especially a locking cylinder with an eccentric (25), for adjusting the closing bar (12b) from a lowered open position to a lifted locking position, and having means associated with the closing bar (12b) and the drawers (4, 5) for locking the remaining drawers if one of the drawers (4, 5) is moved in the opening sense, characterised in that at the side wall (8) of each drawer (4, 5) there is attached a control element (9b) of the closing bar (12b) which control element (9b) faces said side wall (8) and comprises a guiding track (75), that per control element (9b) there are provided two control slides (13, 14; 13a, 14a), that at its front end facing the front panel (7) of the drawer (4, 5), the control element (9b) comprises a setting pin (76) which is offset heightwise relative to the guiding track (75) and projects towards the closing bar (12b), that at the closing bar (12b) there are provided control slides (55d, 55e, 55f) which are arranged one above the other and all of which, with the exception of one, are adjustable relative to the closing bar (12) for the purpose of moving the drawer (4, 5) into the open position, that per drawer (4, 5) there is provided a control slide (55e, 55f) pivotably supporting a control disc (77) whose pivot bearing is formed by a pin (78) which is arranged at the control slide (55e, 55f), projects towards the control element (9b) and which enters the guiding track (75) of the control element (9b) when the associated drawer (4, 5) is moved in the opening sense, with the control disc (77) being pivotable clockwise and anti-clockwise via the setting pin (76) engaging a guiding recess (79) as a function of the movement of the drawer (4, 5) and, via a setting curvature (80) arranged on its outer contour, lifting the control slides (55e, 55d) arranged thereabove when the associated drawer (4, 5) is actuated and displacing the pin(s) (80) of the drawer(s) (4) positioned thereabove in front of a locking face (59b) of the associated control element(s) (9b). Figures 21 - 24).

26. A lock according to claim 25, characterised in that the setting curvature (80) comprises at least one engagement indentation (81).

27. A lock according to claim 26, characterised in that one engagement indentation (81) serves to support the control disc (77) at the setting pin (84) when the drawer (4, 5) is in the open position and that one engagement indentation (81a) serves to limit the pivot movement of the control disc (77) by abutting the setting pin (84) when closing the drawer (4, 5).

28. A lock according to claim 25, characterised in that the control disc (77) comprises a control pin (83) which is offset relative to the pin (78), which projects into the path of the control element (9b) and which cooperates with a guiding groove (82) and the guiding track (75).

29. A lock according to claim 25, characterised in that the setting curvature (80) acts on the control slide(s) (55e, 55d) arranged thereabove via a setting pin (84) associated with each of them.

30. A lock according to any one of claims 25 to 29, characterised in that when all drawers are in the closed condition, the control slides (55d, 55e, 55f) support one another and are loaded via a spring (73) to contact one another and that the control slide (55f) associated with the lowest drawer (4) and carrying a control disc (77) is firmly connected to the closing bar (12b).