US1730909A - Locking mechanism for drawers - Google Patents

Description

1929- G. ANDERSON ET AL 1,730,909

LOCKING MECHANISM FOR DRAWERS Filed Jan; 9, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 1929. G. ANDERSON ET AL 1,730,909

LOCKING MECHANISM FOR DRAWERS Filed Jan. 9, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ila Oct. 8, 1929. c. ANDERSON ET AL.

LOCKING MECHANISM FOR DRAWERS 5 SheetS-Sheet Filed Jan. 9, 1926 z CM Patented Oct. 8, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

GEORGE ANlDERSON AND VICTOR A, GRONBERG, OF JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TO ART METAL CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, OF JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK LOOKING MECHANISM FOR DRAWERS Application filed January 9, 1926. Serial No. 80,314.

This invention relates to locking mechanisms for the movable drawers or elements of desks and analogous articles of furniture, in which apluralit-y of movable drawers or elements to be locked are disposed, for exam ple, in different vertical tiers or in laterally different positions, the mechanism being of that character in which, by the actuation of a single operating bar or other member, all or several of the drawers or elements are locked and all are released, so that they may be opened or moved by unlocking a single lock.

Locking mechanisms of various different constructions for such purposes have been proposed, and many different mechanisms have been made and used, but the locking mechanisms as heretofore designed for the purpose are not entirely satisfactory from one standpoint or another. While some of these previous mechanisms have more or less successfully accomplished the intended purpose, they are complicated and composed of many parts which are diflicult or troublesome to assemble, thus unduly increasing the cost of the mechanisms. Some of the previous constructions, while operating to securely lock the movable drawers or members, are'so designed that they do not operate freely and smoothly, and considerable effort is required to actuate the mechanisms to lock and release the drawers, thus making them objectionable from a practical standpoint.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to produce a mechanism for locking drawers or other movable elements disposed in different vertical tiers, at different elevations, or different lateral or other dispositions, which is of simple and comparatively inexpensive construction and composed of the minimum number of parts, which can be readily made, assembled and installed in the desk or other article, and which at the same time will insure ease of operation of the mechanism for locking and releasing the drawers or elements. Other objects of the invention are to design the mechanism so that it is more or less flexible and adapted to be readily modified as may be necessary to suit different arrangements or dispositions of the drawers or elements, and also to improve lockin mechanisms of the sort mentioned in the ot ier respects hereinafter described and set forth in the claims. 3

In the accompanying drawings, the locking mechanism is shown as applied to a desk of that type which is provided with drawers in vertical tiers in the pedestals at opposite ends of the desk, and also with a movable typewriter cover or top section between the deskpedestals for moving a typewriter or analo gous machine to and from an operative position and enclosing and protecting the same when not in use. The invention is also illustrated in connection with a roll top desk in which the curtain is employed as the actuat-. ing member for the locking mechanism. It will be apparent, however, that the locking mechanism is such that with but slight and obvious modifications it can be readily adapted for desks having drawers in one or more pedestals and also over the knee space between the pedestals, or other dispositions of the drawers or elements, and for analogous articles having a plurality of movable drawers or elements requiring to be locked.

'In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation on a reduced scale, of a typewriter desk provided with locking mechanism embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a central, sectional elevation thereof. a

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view on an enlarged scale on line 3+3, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal, sectional elevation thereof on line 4-4, Fig 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, sectional plan showing the mechanism adapted for locking a central drawer between the pedestals.

Figs. 6 and 7 are similar enlarged, transverse, sectional elevations of the locking mechanism on line 66, Fig. 3, showing re spectively the locked and released position of the parts.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal, sectional elevation thereof on line 88, Fig. 7

Fig. 9 is a fragn'ientary section similar to Fi 6, showing the locking bolt for the typewriter cover' in position about to lock the cover.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged, transverse, sectional elevation of the locking mechanism on line 1o-10, Fig. 3.

Fig. 11 is a similar section thereof on line 11-11, Fig. 12.

Fig. 12 is a sectional elevation 12-12, Fig. 10.

Fig. 13 is a sectional elevation on line 13-13, Fig. 12.

Fig. 1a is an enlarged, sectional detail of the locl 'ng mechanism on line 14.14, Fig. 6.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary, sectional, elevation showing a modification in which one of the drawers is utilized as the operating member for actuating the mechanism to lock the remaining drawers.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary, sectional plan view of the lower portion of a roll top desk illustrating the use of the roll curtain for actuating the drawer-locking mechanism.

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary, longitudinal, sectional elevation thereof on line 1717 Fig. 16, showing the parts in unlocked position.

Fig. 18 is a similar figure showing the parts in locked position.

A metal desk is shown in the drawings having pedestals a, b at opposite ends separated by a knee space 0 adapted to house a typewriter or other machine. Three drawers (Z are shown in a vertical tier in the left hand pedestal a and two drawers d, one above the other, are shown in the right hand pedestal, while in the space between the pedestals is shown a movable support 6 for a typewriting or other machine, and a cover f which is adapted to move to and from the horizontal position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in which it forms the middle section of the desk top and overlies the machine support 6. The cover 7 is movable rearwardly and downwardly into the desk for uncovering and raising the supnort 6 with the machine thereon to position for operating the machine, the cover being on line connected to the machine support 6 by usual means, not shown, whereby the machine support is actuated by the movement of the cover The several drawers (Z in the two pedestals and the cover or top section 7 between the pedestals are all adapted to be locked by the locking mechanism hereinafter described.

20 represents a horizontal rock shaft which extends in a direction from end to end of the desk, or transversely thereof and of the vertical planes in which the drawers or elements to be locked move. This shaft is connected by a rock arm 21 to a push rod 22 which extends forwardly from the rock shaft with its front end or extremity projecting through and guided in an opening in the front of the desk so that the rod can be pushed inwardly to oscillate the rock shaft. The rock shaft is also connected by rock arms 2% to vertical keeper or locking bars 25. Preferably, the

.rock arms are pivoted directly to the push rod and locking bars. A suitable spring", preferably a spring wire 23, coiled about the rock shaft with its ends hooked over the arm 21 and the shaft bearing 26, tends to lower the locking bars and move the push rod forwardly. There is one of these vertical looking bars for each vertical tier of drawers, ach bar being arranged in rear of or adjacent to a tier of drawers so as to engage latches connected to the'several drawers in the tier. Two locking bars 25 are shown, one for the drawers in each pedestal of the desk, but it will be manifest that if more than two tiers of drawers or elements to be locked are employed, it is only necessary to add an additional bar 25 with its connected rock arm for each additional tier of elements, and further, that the rock shaftis adapted to be sin'iilarly equipped with a rock arm and latch: engaging member for one or more drawers or eiements arranged between the pedestals.

The rock shaft 20 is preferably join-nailed in bearing brackets 26, which as shown, consist of angle-shaped metal plates welded or otherwise suitably secured to the vertical, inner side walls 27 of the pedestals. Supplemental angle-shaped, metal bearing plates 28 are welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the bearing brackets 26, and are provided with holes in which the extremities of the rock shaft bear and are adapted to turn. lflach of the rock arms 21 and 2d preferably consists of a metal stamping and is secured to the rock shaft as shown in Figs. 10 to 12,

by slotting the arm at 29 so as to straddle the shaft with the edges of the slot 29 fitting in a a pair of narrow, transverse saw kerfs or slots 30 formed in opposite sides of the shaft. The slots in the arm and shaft are made so as to cause a tight lit of the shaft in the slot 29 and of the bifurcated portion of the arm in the saw kerfs. T he parts have a driving fit or, if desired, the parts can be pinched or upset slightly so as to prevent disengagement of the arm from the shaft. This manner of attaching the rock arms to the shaft provides a very simple and inexpensive connection between the parts, which is nevertheless very rigid and secure and prevents the arms from turning or shifting axially on the shaft.

As shown, the rock arms 2% for the locking bars are located close to the inner faces of the supplemental bearing plates 28, and the rock arm 21 is located at the outer face of the vertical portion of the bearing bracket 26 so that the rock arms thus serve to prevent axial shifting or displacement of the rock shaft in its bearings.

Each of the vertical locking bars 25, which are preferably angle bars, extends through and is adapted to slide vertically in guide holes 31 in the horizontal portion of one of the bearing brackets 26, and in a vertical bracket 32 welded or otherwise suitably secured to the inner pe lestal wall at the lower portion of the locking bar, see Fig. 4. A latch or catch 33, see Figs. 4 and 10, is attached to each of the drawers and is adapted to interlockwith a portion of the locking bar for locking the drawer. As shown, each latch is pivoted to a flanged bar 34 fixed to and extending rearwardly from one of the drawers, and the latch is adapted to enter a hole 35 in the front flange of the locking bar, the latch having in its underside a notch 36 adapted to engage the lower edge of the hole 35 to lock the drawer. Preferably, the latch is held yieldingly down against the lower flange of the bar 34 by a spring 37 secured in a hole in the latch pivot and having a bent end hooked over the free end of the latch. Figs. 3 and 4: show the unlatched or released position of the parts, and Figs. 10 and 13 show respectively by full and broken lines, the released and locked position of the parts, It will thus be seen that when the operating push rod 22 is in the forward position shown, with its front end'projecting outwardly from the front face of the disk, the locking bars will be in their lowermost position, and the latches 33 are adapted to move freely hori llontally into and out of the holes 35 in the locking bars. When the drawers are closed, the notches 36 in the latches will be in the vertical plane of the slotted front flange of the locking bars, and if the push rod 22 is then shoved inwardly, the locking bars will be lifted, thereby interlocking the edges of the holes of the locking bars with thenotched latches and thus securing or looking the drawers. The rear ends of the latches are bevelled, as shown, and if a drawer should be pushed in or closed when the locking bar for the same is in its upper locking position, the latch of said drawer will ride upwardly over the lower edge of its hole 35 and the latch spring will throw the latch into holding engagement with the locking bar when the drawer is fully closed, so that the drawers 7 will always be locked when moved inwardly to their closed position, notwithstanding that the locking bars or locking mechanism may have been previously moved to locking position. i

In the case of a desk which has a central drawer instead of the typewriter cover f over the knee space or between the pedestals, represented in Fig. 5, in which 9 indicates the drawer, then another rock arm 24, Fig. 5, similar to the rock arms 24, is

secured to the rock shaft 20 between the pedestals, and a locking member 25 attached to the arm is adapted to engage a latch 33 carried by the drawer g for locking the latter. lVhen there is only one central drawer g which is usually the case, a vertical lockin bar, such as the bars 25, is not necessary, and the locking member 25 can be formed by a simple cross piece fixed to the arm 24 as shown in Fig. 5. It will be apparent, however, that a central tier of drawers between the pedestals could be locked simply by connecting another locking bar 25 to the rock arm 24?, for engagement with latches carried by each of the several drawers of the central tier. As shown in Fig. 3, the rock shaft 20 is provided with notches 30 for the attachment of thearm 24 so that the arm 24 can be used when the mechanism is to be applied to a desk having a central drawer, or omitted when the mechanism is used on desks having no central drawer, In like manner, the mechanism can be readily adapted for desks in which the drawers are differently located,

simply by providing the rock arms and lock-.

mg bars or members at appropriate points along the rock shaft 20. I

For a desk having a movable typewriter cover or top section 7", which is the type shown in the drawings except in Fig. 5, a spring actuated bolt or latch L0 is preferably provided, arranged at one side of the front end of the cover for locking the cover in closed position. As shown, the bolt is adapted to enter a slot 41 in the adjacent vertical edge of the cover 7. This bolt is preferably slidably mounted in the inner, front pedestal leg of the desk just above the front portion of the push rod 22 and at right angles thereto. Both the push rod 22, which operates the locking mechanism for the pedestal drawers, and the bolt for locking the cover are locked or secured in looking position by the same lockcontrolling mechanism, which, in the preferred construction, will now be described, see particularly Figs. (3-D.

43 represents a key actuated lock of any desired type, such for instance as a Yale barrel lock. This lock is secured to the horizontal bottom of a metal support or frame t l which is stationarily secured by means, not shown, in the front pedestal leg, with the front end of the lock, in which the keyhole is located, expose d through a hole 415 in the front wall of the leg, so as to permit the insertion of the key into the keyhole. The lock is provided at its rear end with a cam or arm 46 which This cam 4-6 engages a forwardly projecting lug on a vertical locking plate l? arranged.

lull

to slide vertically against the vertical back I of the support M. This locking plate is guided by a tongue or projection 4-8 at its lower end passing through a guide hole in the bottom of the support it and by a log projecting inwardly from the upper portion of a side vertical flange of the support 44:. The locking plate f? has an opening 50 through which the push rod 22 passes and the latter has in its upper edge a in which the upper edge of the hole 50 is adapted to drop when the push rod is in its inward locking posit ion. The plate is pres ed downwardly by a suitable spring 52 carried by the support 44 and engaging a lug 49 of notch 51. q

.bolt 40, so

shaft and raise the locking bars to lock the locking plate, and the plate is adapted to be lifted against the action of this spring by the key-operated cam 16 which bears against this lug, shown in 1?. l l hen the push rod 22 in its forward position, that is the drawer-releasing position, the locking plate 47 will be held elevated by engagement or" the uper edge of its slot 50 with the top edge of the push rod. ll hen tl e push rod is moved inwar ly for locking the drawers, the locking plate el-T will be lowered by its s1 ring 52 with the upper edge of the hole 50 engaging in the slot 51 in the -oush rod, therei by locking the latter, and the drawer-locking parts connected therewith.

The belt d0 for the cover is also r to release the cover through the medium or this same locking plate l7. For his ourpose, a lever 53 is pivoted on a stud 51: projecting forwardly from the back ot the support 4% through an elou; e he plate 47. A stud 55 fixed to the a J xtends into a slot in the lever I ant. the upper portion of the lever is provided b op ing 57 into which projects a that when th locku raised by er draws the bolt d0 inwardl 7. A suitable spring 59, engagi -g stud 58 moves the bolt 40 to locl i i this is permitted by the dcwnw r or the locking plate 4'7. The bolt elled upper edge, so that ii are covt when the bolt 4.0 is pro 'ected, or ii position, the bolt wi l be forced has. cover and will then be th *ust into locking engement with the cover by spring 59. The opening 57 in the lever is shaped to permit this movement of the belt independently of the lever and the lock 9; plate l? when the latter are in locl'ed posit on, so that the cover can be closed and locked without requiring the actuation of the lock by met ns oi? the key.

The locking mechanism hereindescribed is simple and composel of few parts of simple construction, adapted to be readily and quickly mace and assembled, and the construction is such that the mechanism can be operated with ease to lock the drawers, simply by pushing inwardly on the front end of the push rod 22 and to release or unlock the drawers by inserting and turning the key in the lock Q3. The push rod is directly pivoted to an arm on the rock shaft 20, which in turn is pivotally connected by rock arms with the vertical keeper or locking bars 25, so that very little eliort is requiree to move the push rod inwardly to rock the the drawers, and inasmuch as the weight of the vertically movable locking bars supplemented by the light spring 23 tends to move the parts to releasing oosition, very little cflort is required to unlock the drawers, and

the key can be easily turned for this pur pose. As thus indicated, the mechanism can be operated with ease both to lock and release the drawers, and nevertheless the construction is such that proper locking of the drawers or elements is insured, and the simplicity of the mechanism and the direct connection of the parts insures that the mechanism will not readily get out of order.

The push rod 22 can be omitted, and if desired, one of the drawers utilized in its stead to operate the mechanism to lock the drawers. This can be done, as shown in Fig. 1*, simply by fixing to one of the drawers, for instance, the top drawer in the right hand pedestal, a rearwardly projecting bar or member 60 having a cam or bevelled end adapted, when the drawer is shoved into its closed position to enter a slot in the companion locking bar 25 and liftthe bar to lockin position. In such case, the drawer which operates the locking bar is provided with a lock of any suitable kind for looking it when shut. This drawer must be unlocked to open it, and the opening of the drawer permits the locking mechanism to act as when the push rod 22 is released, to unlock the other drawers.

'1 he invention is illustrated in Figs. 16 to 18 applied to a roll top desk, in which construction the roll curtain is used to actuate the locking members 25 and rock shaft 20. For this purpose, one of the locking members 25 (the right hand one in Fig. 1G) is provided with a rearwardly extending bracket arm 62 secured thereto, and which is adapted to project into the path or the heel: edge portion of the roll curtain. When the curtain is moved to its open position, its rear edge 63 passesdownwardly in guides (not shown) in rear of the drawers 6%: in the pedestals a b of the desk (portions only of which are shown), engaging the bracket 62 and depressing the adjacent locking member 25, see Fig. 1'7, so as to disconnect the same from the drawer latches 33 and permit the drawers to be withdrawn. hen, however, the rear edge 63 of the roll curtain moves upwardly away from the bracket 62 in the closing movement of the curtain, a tension spring 65 connected to the bracket 62, or other partof the locking member, and to a fixed part of the desk, such as the bracket or plate 26, pulls the locking member upwardly into locking engagement with the latches 33 and prevents the drawer from bewithdrawn. Thus, it will be seen that the curtain 63 constitutes the operating member tor actuating one locking member 25 by engaging the bracket 62, and through this member 25, rocks the shaft 20, thus actuating the other locking member 25 in the left hand pedestal. The desk, of course, is provided with the usual lock for locking the curtain all the drawers are locked by the locking mechanism, as in the other constructions. If desired, all of the locking members could be provided with bracket arms 62 for direct actuation of these members by the roll curtain.

We claim as our invention 1. In a locking mechanism, the combiuation of a rock shaft, means for rocking the same, a rock arm secured to said shaft, and a locking member actuated by said rock arm, said arm having a bifurcated portion straddling said shaft and having a driving lit in opposed transverse segmental slots in said shaft whereby said rock arm is rigidly secured to said shaft and prevented from turning or endwise movement relative to said shaft.

2. In a locking mechanism, the combination of a rock shaft, a locking member actuated thereby, means for rocking said shaft including'a rock arm secured to said shaft, said arm having a bifurcated portion forming a slot with parallel inner side edges, and which straddles said shaft and fits in opposed transverse segmental slots in said shaft, said slots having parallel bottom walls against which said slot walls bear tightly whereby said rock arm is rigidly secured to said shaft and prevented from turning or endwise movement relative to said shaft without the use of fastening devices.

3. The combination with a plurality of drawers or elements to be locked arranged to move in different vertical planes disposed laterally relatively to each other, of locking mechanism therefor comprising a horizontal rock shaft extending transversely of said vertical planes, a vertically movable locking member actuated by said rock shaft for locking one of said elements, a push rod for rocking said shaft, a transverse horizontally,

slidable locking bolt for another element arranged adjacent to and transversely of said push rod, a lock for said push rod, and mechanism controlled by said lock for releasing both said push rod and said bolt.

l. The combination with a plurality of drawers or elements to be locked, of locking mechanism for one of said elements including an operating push rod, a transversely movable sliding locking bolt for another element arranged adjacent to said push rod to move transversely thereof, a vertically movable locking plate arranged parallel with said bolt to engage said push rod to lock the same, a vertically swinging plate to release said push rod, and means also actuated by said lock for releasing said bolt.

5. A plurality of elements arranged in a vertical tier, and locking mechanism for said elements including a rock shaft, latches on said elements, a vertical locking bar operatively connected to said rock shaft and which is movable up and down to engage or release said latches by rocking said shaft in opposite directions, and an operating push rod for rocking said shaft in combination with another element disposed laterally relativel to said tier of elements, a transverse, sli ing lock bolt for said other element located adjacent said push rod, and a lock controlled mechanism which locks said push rod and is actuated by the operation of said lock to rele said push rod and move said bolt to resaid other element.

6. The combination with an element to be locked, and locking mechanism therefor, ineluding an operating push rod, and a lock for locking said push rod to hold said locking mechanism in locking element, a transverse horizontally sliding locking bolt for the same arranged adjacent said push rod and which is adapted to enter an opening in said element and is actuated by said lock to release said element when said lock is operated to release said push rod.

7. Thecombination with a plurality of elements to be locked, of locking mechanism for one of said elements including an operating push rod, a lock, a locking bolt for another element arranged adjacent to said push rod g to move transversely thereof, a locking plate arranged parallel with said bolt to engage said push rod to lock the same, an arm on said lock engageable with said locking plate to release said push rod, and means also actuated by said arm for releasing said bolt.

8. The combination with a plurality of elements to be locked, of locking mechanism for one of said elements including an operating push rod, a look, a locking bolt for another element arranged adjacent to said push rod to move transversely thereof, a locking plate ar-' ranged parallel with said bolt to engage said push rod to lock the same, an arm connected with said lock to swing against said locking plate to release said push. rod when said lock is operated, and a pivoted lever also actuated by movement of said arm to retract said bolt to release said other element.

9. The combination with a plurality of elements to be locked, of locking mechanism for one of said elements including an operating push rod, a lock, a locking bolt for another element arranged adjacent to said push rod to move transversely thereof, a locking plate arranged parallel with said bolt to engage said push rod to lock the same, means for yieldingly holding said locking plate in looking position, an arm on said lock engageable with said plate to move the same against the action of said yielding holding means to release said push rod, and means also actuated by said arm for releasmg said bolt.

10. The combination with a plurality of elements to be locked, of locking mechanism for one of said elements including an operating push rod, a look, a locking bolt for another element arranged adjacent to said push rod to move transversely thereof,

position, of a seconda locking plate arranged said last mentioned 'tical tiers disposed parallel with said bolt to engage said push rod to lock the same, means for yieldingly holding said locking plate in looking position, an arm on said lock engageable with said plate to move the s me against the action of said yielding holding means to release said push rod, a pivoted member engageable with said bolt, means for yieldingly holding said bolt in looking position, and said bolt being also movable to a position to release said other element against the action of yielding means by the movement of said arm.

11. The combination with a plurality of elements to be locked arranged in different verlaterally relatively to each other, of locking mechanism therefor comprising a rock shaft extending transversely of and inrear of said tiers of elements, said shaft having a plurality of spaced pairs of notches formed therein, a rock arm fixed on said shaft for each different tier of elements, said rock arms each having a bifurcated part adapted to fit in one of said pairs of in said rock shaft, whereby said arms can be positioned at different points on said shaft in accordance with the spacings of different sets of tiers, a locking member connected to each of said roci; arms, a latch connected to each of said elements and arranged to cooperate with one of said locking members for locking said elements, said latches being engaged and released respectively by upward and downward movements of said locking members, an operating member for rocking said rock shaft to lock said elements, and a lock for said operating member.

12. A locking mechanism including a rock shaft and a rock arm, said shaft having transverse opposed segmental slots therein and said arm having a bifurcated portion which straddles said rock shaft and fits tightly in 7 said slots so as to prevent turning and endwise movements of said arm relatively to said shaft, and the interfitt-ing of said interengaging parts of said arm and shaft also pre venting the disconnection of saidarm from said shaft.

GEORGE ANDERSON.

VICTOR A. GRONBERG.

notches

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