EP0352990A1 - Cabinet - Google Patents
Cabinet Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0352990A1 EP0352990A1 EP89307466A EP89307466A EP0352990A1 EP 0352990 A1 EP0352990 A1 EP 0352990A1 EP 89307466 A EP89307466 A EP 89307466A EP 89307466 A EP89307466 A EP 89307466A EP 0352990 A1 EP0352990 A1 EP 0352990A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- drawer
- catch
- shaft
- frame
- cabinet
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
- E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
- E05B65/00—Locks or fastenings for special use
- E05B65/46—Locks or fastenings for special use for drawers
- E05B65/462—Locks or fastenings for special use for drawers for two or more drawers
- E05B65/468—Locks or fastenings for special use for drawers for two or more drawers using rotary locking bars
Definitions
- This invention relates to a cabinet of the kind suitable for storing files, stationery and the like.
- a cabinet of the kind described may include a plurality of drawers arranged in a vertical array, one above the other.
- the drawers may be large and, when filled with stationery, have a substantial mass. If more than one drawer is opened, at the same time, then there is a danger that the combined mass of the open drawers can be such that the cabinet is caused to overturn. This is a dangerous situation.
- the invention is concerned with a cabinet which may contain a plurality of drawers which can be locked or unlocked in unison and which includes the safety feature that only one drawer can be opened at a time.
- the invention provides a cabinet which includes a frame and at least one drawer which is movable into or out of the frame between closed and opened positions, and a catch mechanism which includes a first member adapted to be secured to the drawer, a shaft which is rotatably mounted to the frame, a catch which is fixed to, and which is rotatable with, the shaft, means for moving the catch between a first position at which it engages with a locking formation on the first member thereby to prevent the drawer from being opened and a second position at which the catch is disengaged from the first member, and biasing means which acts on the catch, when the drawer is open, thereby causing movement of the catch to the first position.
- the drawer may include two of the catch mechanisms located respectively on opposing lateral sides of the drawer.
- the drawer when closed, may actuate or cause movement of the biasing means so that the catch can be moved between the first and second positions.
- the cabinet may include a plurality of the drawers each of which includes at least one of the catch mechanisms, the respective catches of the catch mechanisms being mounted on a common shaft.
- the plurality of the catches on the common shaft are rotatable in unison with the shaft and one another.
- the biasing means acts on any one of the catches and causes it to move to the first position the shaft is simultaneously rotated and all of the catches are moved in unison to the first position.
- this biasing means is moved out of engagement with its respective catch, by closure of the associated drawer, the common shaft and all of the catches may then be counter-rotated so that the catches are moved to the second positions.
- the first member may be made from any suitable material and preferably is a moulded plastics component.
- the first member may include at least one sloping face, but preferably has first and second sloping faces which are engagable respectively with the biasing means and with the catch respectively.
- the first and second sloping faces may be vertically spaced.
- the biasing means may comprise a sheet of spring steel or the like which is fixed to the frame.
- the batch may comprise any suitable component and may include a formation such as a projection which overlies the biasing means.
- a formation such as a projection which overlies the biasing means.
- the first member may include a recess or other locking formation, on one side of the second sloping face, with which the catch is engagable or into which the catch is insertable.
- all of the drawers may be locked simultaneously by causing rotation of the common shaft. This requires little physical effort. This may be accomplished by means of a key operated locking device or any similar component.
- the locking device may be coupled to the common shaft by means of any suitable link. When all the drawers are locked no drawer can be retracted. If the shaft is rotated so that the catches are disengaged from the respective first members then each catch abuts its respective biasing means and deflects the biasing means. If any drawer is removed then the biasing means associated with that drawer deflects the associated catch and all of the catches are moved in unison to their respective locking positions.
- FIG. 1 illustrates a cabinet 10, according to the invention, which includes a frame 12 and a number of drawers 14 which are mounted in any suitable way so that they are respectively individually slidable into or out of the frame.
- the cabinet is shown schematically only for the construction of the cabinet frame, and of the drawers, is not important to an understanding of the invention.
- Each drawer has associated with it, on opposed lateral sides, two catch mechanisms 16.
- a lock 18, which is mounted at a suitable position on the cabinet 10, is connected via wire links 20 to steel shafts 22 and 24 which extend down opposed sides of the frame.
- Figure 2 illustrates in enlarged detail a portion of the frame 12 and two of the catch mechanisms 16.
- Each catch mechanism includes a flat spring steel member 26 which is fixed to the frame 12 by means of a screw 28, and a locking member 30 which is mounted to the associated shaft 24.
- the locking members 30 are rotatable together with the shaft.
- the locking member 30 has a projection 32 which overlies the spring steel member 26.
- the shaft 24 passes through a number of spaced guides 34 along the height of the frame 12. At its upper end the shaft has a coil spring 36 which surrounds it. One end 38 of the spring is anchored in a hole in the frame 12 while an upper end 40 of the spring passes through a hole 42 in the shaft. The end 40 is connected to one of the wire links 20 which extend from the lock 18, shown in Figure 1.
- Figure 3 illustrates a side wall 44 of a drawer 14. Fixed to the side wall, at a suitable location, is a moulded plastic member 46. This member is shown from the side in Figure 3 and in plan in Figure 5. The member includes a hole 48 through which passes a screw, not shown, whereby the member is fixed to the wall 44 of the drawer.
- the member has a first sloping face 50 on one side and a second sloping face 52 on an opposed side.
- the faces 50 and 52 are on a leading side of the member when referring to the direction in which the drawer is moved when it is moved to a closed position.
- Visible in Figure 3 is a deep recess 54 to the right hand side of the second sloping face 52. It can also be seen that the first sloping face 50 terminates, at its upper end, in a raised formation or detent 56.
- Figure 3 illustrates the drawer 14 in an open position i.e. in a position at which the member 46 is displaced from the spring 26 and the catch 30.
- the catch 30 is movable from a position at which the projection 32 abuts the spring steel member 26 to a position 39, shown in dotted outline, at which the projection 32 is displaced well clear from the spring steel member 26.
- the drawers can be all locked or, alternatively, the individual catches of the drawers are moved to positions, i.e. the solid line positions in Figure 3, at which any one drawer can be removed.
Landscapes
- Drawers Of Furniture (AREA)
- Bidet-Like Cleaning Device And Other Flush Toilet Accessories (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- This invention relates to a cabinet of the kind suitable for storing files, stationery and the like.
- The use of the cabinet, and the principles described hereinafter, are however not confined to this particular application.
- A cabinet of the kind described may include a plurality of drawers arranged in a vertical array, one above the other. The drawers may be large and, when filled with stationery, have a substantial mass. If more than one drawer is opened, at the same time, then there is a danger that the combined mass of the open drawers can be such that the cabinet is caused to overturn. This is a dangerous situation.
- The invention is concerned with a cabinet which may contain a plurality of drawers which can be locked or unlocked in unison and which includes the safety feature that only one drawer can be opened at a time.
- The invention provides a cabinet which includes a frame and at least one drawer which is movable into or out of the frame between closed and opened positions, and a catch mechanism which includes a first member adapted to be secured to the drawer, a shaft which is rotatably mounted to the frame, a catch which is fixed to, and which is rotatable with, the shaft, means for moving the catch between a first position at which it engages with a locking formation on the first member thereby to prevent the drawer from being opened and a second position at which the catch is disengaged from the first member, and biasing means which acts on the catch, when the drawer is open, thereby causing movement of the catch to the first position.
- The drawer may include two of the catch mechanisms located respectively on opposing lateral sides of the drawer.
- The drawer, when closed, may actuate or cause movement of the biasing means so that the catch can be moved between the first and second positions.
- The cabinet may include a plurality of the drawers each of which includes at least one of the catch mechanisms, the respective catches of the catch mechanisms being mounted on a common shaft.
- The plurality of the catches on the common shaft are rotatable in unison with the shaft and one another. Thus when the biasing means acts on any one of the catches and causes it to move to the first position the shaft is simultaneously rotated and all of the catches are moved in unison to the first position. On the other hand when this biasing means is moved out of engagement with its respective catch, by closure of the associated drawer, the common shaft and all of the catches may then be counter-rotated so that the catches are moved to the second positions.
- The first member may be made from any suitable material and preferably is a moulded plastics component. The first member may include at least one sloping face, but preferably has first and second sloping faces which are engagable respectively with the biasing means and with the catch respectively. The first and second sloping faces may be vertically spaced.
- The biasing means may comprise a sheet of spring steel or the like which is fixed to the frame.
- The batch may comprise any suitable component and may include a formation such as a projection which overlies the biasing means. Thus movement of the biasing means in one direction causes corresponding movement of the catch while movement of the biasing means in the opposing direction does not interact with the catch.
- The first member may include a recess or other locking formation, on one side of the second sloping face, with which the catch is engagable or into which the catch is insertable.
- With the cabinet of the invention all of the drawers may be locked simultaneously by causing rotation of the common shaft. This requires little physical effort. This may be accomplished by means of a key operated locking device or any similar component. The locking device may be coupled to the common shaft by means of any suitable link. When all the drawers are locked no drawer can be retracted. If the shaft is rotated so that the catches are disengaged from the respective first members then each catch abuts its respective biasing means and deflects the biasing means. If any drawer is removed then the biasing means associated with that drawer deflects the associated catch and all of the catches are moved in unison to their respective locking positions.
- A preferred embodiment of the invention is further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings which;
- Figure 1 is a frontal view of a cabinet according to the embodiment;
- Figure 2 is a side view of portion of the cabinet of Figure 1, on an enlarged scale,
- Figure 3 is a plan view, in cross section, of the cabinet portion shown in Figure 2, taken on a line 3 - 3, and illustrating a portion of a drawer which is open,
- Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but with the drawer in a closed position, and
- Figure 5 is a plan view of a catch member used in the cabinet.
- Figure 1 illustrates a
cabinet 10, according to the invention, which includes aframe 12 and a number ofdrawers 14 which are mounted in any suitable way so that they are respectively individually slidable into or out of the frame. The cabinet is shown schematically only for the construction of the cabinet frame, and of the drawers, is not important to an understanding of the invention. - Each drawer has associated with it, on opposed lateral sides, two
catch mechanisms 16. Alock 18, which is mounted at a suitable position on thecabinet 10, is connected viawire links 20 tosteel shafts - Figure 2 illustrates in enlarged detail a portion of the
frame 12 and two of thecatch mechanisms 16. - Each catch mechanism includes a flat
spring steel member 26 which is fixed to theframe 12 by means of ascrew 28, and alocking member 30 which is mounted to the associatedshaft 24. Thelocking members 30 are rotatable together with the shaft. - The
locking member 30 has aprojection 32 which overlies thespring steel member 26. - The
shaft 24 passes through a number ofspaced guides 34 along the height of theframe 12. At its upper end the shaft has acoil spring 36 which surrounds it. Oneend 38 of the spring is anchored in a hole in theframe 12 while anupper end 40 of the spring passes through ahole 42 in the shaft. Theend 40 is connected to one of thewire links 20 which extend from thelock 18, shown in Figure 1. - Figure 3 illustrates a
side wall 44 of adrawer 14. Fixed to the side wall, at a suitable location, is a mouldedplastic member 46. This member is shown from the side in Figure 3 and in plan in Figure 5. The member includes ahole 48 through which passes a screw, not shown, whereby the member is fixed to thewall 44 of the drawer. The member has a first slopingface 50 on one side and a second slopingface 52 on an opposed side. Thefaces deep recess 54 to the right hand side of the second slopingface 52. It can also be seen that the first slopingface 50 terminates, at its upper end, in a raised formation or detent 56. - Figure 3 illustrates the
drawer 14 in an open position i.e. in a position at which themember 46 is displaced from thespring 26 and thecatch 30. Thecatch 30 is movable from a position at which theprojection 32 abuts thespring steel member 26 to aposition 39, shown in dotted outline, at which theprojection 32 is displaced well clear from thespring steel member 26. - Assume that all of the drawers of the cabinet are closed i.e. fully pushed into the frame. Each drawer then has an orientation, relatively to the
frame 12, substantially as shown in Figure 4. Thespring steel member 26 is displaced by theface 50 of themember 46 to a position at which acurved portion 58 of the spring steel member engages with the detent 56. This provides a slight degree of rocking action for the drawer. If the drawer is retracted then provided a certain minimum force is applied to the drawer the spring is deflected and the drawer can be drawn out with the spring riding down the slopingface 50. - Still referring to Figure 4 it is apparent that the
catch 30 is located in therecess 54 of themember 46. It has been pointed out that the catch is firmly fixed to theshaft 24. The shaft in turn is rotatable by means of thelock 18 via the wire links 20. Thus actuation of the lock causes rotation of thecatches 30 between the position shown in Figure 4 which is obviously a locking position, and the solid line position shown in Figure 3 at which the catch abuts thespring steel member 26. - Thus, with all of the drawers closed, through the medium of the
lock 18 the drawers can be all locked or, alternatively, the individual catches of the drawers are moved to positions, i.e. the solid line positions in Figure 3, at which any one drawer can be removed. - Assume that a drawer is removed i.e. is moved to the position shown in Figure 3. When this happens the
first face 50 of themember 46 moves out of contact with thespring steel member 26. Under its resilience themember 26 moves towards thewall 44 of the drawer and engages with theprojection 32 on thecatch 30. The catch is thereby moved to the dotted line position i.e. the locking position, even though the drawer is in the open position. - Movement of the catch to the locking position causes rotation of the
shaft 24. All of the remainingcatches 30 are thus simultaneously moved to their respective locking positions and engage respectively with thedeep recesses 54 of therespective members 46. The other drawers are thereby automatically locked in the closed positions and cannot be retracted. - If the open drawer is now closed then the second
sloping face 52 strikes thecatch 30 and causes it, together with theshaft 24, to rotate to the solid line position shown in Figure 3. The various catches which are fixed to the shaft are thus simultaneously moved to the unlocked positions and it then becomes possible to open any one of the drawers as required. When this occurs the same procedure to that described takes place. - When all the catches are in the unlocked positions the
shaft 24 is in a neutral position. Any rotational movement of the shaft away from the neutral position, in either direction, is against a biasing action exerted by the spring. Similarly when all the catches are in the locked positions the shaft is again in a different, neutral position and can only be rotated in either direction against the biasing action of the spring. - The invention has been described with reference to the working of one catch mechanism but obviously the same procedure takes place with both catch mechanisms which are located on opposing sides of the drawer. It is apparent that the number of drawers is not really important for merely by extending the
shaft 24 any number of drawers can be interconnected in the manner described which ensures that only one drawer can be opened at any one time. The invention in addition makes it possible to lock all of the drawers simultaneously.
Claims (8)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AT89307466T ATE94943T1 (en) | 1988-07-22 | 1989-07-21 | WARDROBE. |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
ZA885327 | 1988-07-22 | ||
ZA885327 | 1988-07-22 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0352990A1 true EP0352990A1 (en) | 1990-01-31 |
EP0352990B1 EP0352990B1 (en) | 1993-09-22 |
Family
ID=25579346
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP89307466A Expired - Lifetime EP0352990B1 (en) | 1988-07-22 | 1989-07-21 | Cabinet |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0352990B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JPH0234106A (en) |
AT (1) | ATE94943T1 (en) |
CA (1) | CA1327628C (en) |
DE (1) | DE68909347D1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN106998036A (en) * | 2016-12-19 | 2017-08-01 | 广州迅速光电科技有限公司 | Improved electric meter box device |
CN106996996A (en) * | 2016-12-19 | 2017-08-01 | 广州迅速光电科技有限公司 | Novel ammeter case device |
CN107625307A (en) * | 2017-11-08 | 2018-01-26 | 贵州大学 | A kind of marketable securities classification storage cabinet |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP4094894B1 (en) * | 2021-05-24 | 2024-04-17 | Stanley Black & Decker MEA FZE | A container |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3297376A (en) * | 1964-11-02 | 1967-01-10 | American Metal Products | Cabinet latching mechanism |
US4352529A (en) * | 1980-11-03 | 1982-10-05 | Lyon Metal Products, Incorporated | Drawer locking system |
US4605266A (en) * | 1984-10-19 | 1986-08-12 | Haworth, Inc. | Pivoted drawer lock mechanism |
-
1989
- 1989-03-22 JP JP1067790A patent/JPH0234106A/en active Pending
- 1989-07-14 CA CA000605766A patent/CA1327628C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1989-07-21 AT AT89307466T patent/ATE94943T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1989-07-21 EP EP89307466A patent/EP0352990B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1989-07-21 DE DE89307466T patent/DE68909347D1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3297376A (en) * | 1964-11-02 | 1967-01-10 | American Metal Products | Cabinet latching mechanism |
US4352529A (en) * | 1980-11-03 | 1982-10-05 | Lyon Metal Products, Incorporated | Drawer locking system |
US4605266A (en) * | 1984-10-19 | 1986-08-12 | Haworth, Inc. | Pivoted drawer lock mechanism |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN106998036A (en) * | 2016-12-19 | 2017-08-01 | 广州迅速光电科技有限公司 | Improved electric meter box device |
CN106996996A (en) * | 2016-12-19 | 2017-08-01 | 广州迅速光电科技有限公司 | Novel ammeter case device |
CN107625307A (en) * | 2017-11-08 | 2018-01-26 | 贵州大学 | A kind of marketable securities classification storage cabinet |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CA1327628C (en) | 1994-03-08 |
JPH0234106A (en) | 1990-02-05 |
ATE94943T1 (en) | 1993-10-15 |
DE68909347D1 (en) | 1993-10-28 |
EP0352990B1 (en) | 1993-09-22 |
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