US3857620A

US3857620A - Desk lock system

Info

Publication number: US3857620A
Application number: US00366071A
Authority: US
Inventors: D Korell
Original assignee: Steelcase Inc
Current assignee: Steelcase Inc
Priority date: 1973-06-01
Filing date: 1973-06-01
Publication date: 1974-12-31
Anticipated expiration: 1991-12-31
Also published as: CA1010103A

Abstract

A locking system for desks or the like including an elongated rock bar pivotally suspended from the desk top and actuated to fore and aft movement by a key lock whose actuator is connected to the rock bar through a pivotally mounted bell crank. A linkage member or members from one or more secondary locking systems located in the desk pedestal or like compartment is fitted into one of a plurality of spaced apertures in the rock bar so that the movement of the rock bar is transmitted to the secondary locking system. Movement of the secondary locking system, in turn, locks or unlocks the drawers or doors located in the pedestal.

Description

United States Patent [191 Korell Dec. 31, 1974 DESK LOCK SYSTEM [75] Inventor: Donald D. Korell, Grand Rapids,

Mich.

[73] Assignee: Steelcase Inc., Grand Rapids, Mich.

[22] Filed: June 1, 1973 [21] Appl; No.: 366,071

[52] U.S. Cl. 312/219 Primary ExaminerJames C. Mitchell Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Price, Heneveld, Huizenga & Cooper 5 7] ABSTRACT A locking system for desks or the like including an elongated rock bar pivotally suspended from the desk top and actuated to fore and aft movement by a key lock whose actuator is connected to the rock bar through a pivotally mounted bell crank. A linkage member or members from one or more secondary locking systems located in the desk pedestal or like compartment is fitted into one of a plurality of spaced apertures in the rock bar so that the movement of the rock bar is transmitted to the secondary locking system. Movement of the secondary locking system, in turn, locks or unlocks the drawers or doors located in the pedestal.

22 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures llO FIG. 6

PATENTED 1 3,857, 620

sum u or 4 7 1 DESK LOCK SYSTEM BACKGROUND The present invention relates to locking systems for desks, cabinets orother articles of furniture. Specifically, it relates to gang locking mechanisms which facilitate locking of a plurality of drawers, doors or other .like components.

Gang locking mechanisms typically are complicated and noisy. The activation of typical prior art gang looking mechanisms sets off a symphony of clanking and clattering as a result of its many knee bone to ankle bone connections. Sliding bars make metal-to-metal sliding noises. Vertically dropping bars make clattering noises. In metal furniture, these noises are amplified by the metal walls and panels of the article of furniture. In this age when noise pollution in a'crowded office can be overpowering, such noisy mechanisms are not welcomed by the consumer.

Prior art mechanisms also lack flexibility. Some employ a key lock actuated sliding bar to which a plurality of secondary locking systems located in the pedestals can be connected. Such connections can be made at various points along the length of. the bar. However, the connecting means employed are typically of the nut and bolt variety. Accordingly, any rearrangement of location of the secondary locking systems is anything but quick and easy.

Another problem encountered in connection with gang locking mechanisms is their lack of security. In most prior art systems, it is too easy to slip a thin screwdriver or tile into just the right crack or crevice and unlock the entire system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a locking system which is quiet, flexible and secure. A rock bar is mounted in a desk, cabinet or like article of furniture for fore and aft movement. A lock means operably connected to the rock bar controls this fore and aft movement. Preferably, the rock bar is pivotally suspended in order to maximize silence of operation. A secondary locking means is operably connected with a drawer, door or like component to facilitate locking of the components. This secondary locking means is operably connected to the rock bar such that movement of the rock bar in a fore and aft direction controls the locking and unlocking-of the component or components with which the secondary locking means is associated.

Preferably, the secondary locking system includes linkage means having a free end located generally adjacent the rock bar. The rock bar includes receiving means for releasably receiving a free end of the'linkage means. By providing a plurality of such receiving means at spaced intervals along the length of the rock bar, one can locate the secondary locking means at various locations along the length of the rock bar. Because the receiving means are adapted to releasably receive the free end of the linkagemeans, one can readily relocate the secondary locking means as desired. Preferably, this flexibility is achieved by providing some type of holding means for holding the linkage means in a position with its free end located in an aperture in the rock bar, such an aperture serving as the receiving means referred to above.

Security in this system is preferably provided by a shroud which completely enshrouds the rock bar. The

secondary locking means are located in pedestals or like components mounted below the shroud. The top of the pedestal or other component generally abuts against the bottom of the shroud. To prevent insertion of a thin screwdriver or other tool into the crack between the component and the shroud, one or the other of the component or shroud is provided with a projecting ridge, the other of the shroud or component being provided with a mating relief whereby the ridge actually projects to a position at least completely blocking the crevice between the two.

These and other features, objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully appreciated and understood by reference to the written specification and appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a lateral cross-sectional view showing the lock bar, key lock and'free end of the linkage rod of the locking system of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along plane II-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the means whereby the rock bar is pivotally suspended from a hanger flange associated with the desk top;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional-view taken generally along plane IV-IV of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is the same cross-sectional view as FIG. 4, except that the holding clip for holding the linkage rod in position with its free end engaging the rock bar has been released from its holding position, thereby releasing the free end of the linkage rod from engagement with the rock bar;

FIG. 6 is a partially broken perspective view of a pedestal having the secondary locking system of the present invention mounted therein;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the vertical lock bar employed in the secondary locking system shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an end elevational view of the vertical lock.

bar shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view showing a lock tab positioned within the vertical lock bar;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along plane XX of FIG. 9;

FIG. 1 l is a top plan view of the vertical lock bar and an associated lock tab mounted in a pedestal adjacent a drawer; and

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view comparable to FIG. 1, except that the desk top is oriented at a sloping angle with respect to the desk pedestal.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the preferred embodiment, an elongated tubular rock bar 10 is pivotally suspended from the top 20 of desk 1 (FIG. 1). Key lock 30 controls fore and aft movement of rock bar 10 through an interconnecting bell crank 40 (FIGS. 1 and 2). Rock bar 10, key lock 30 and bell crank 40 are completely enshrouded by a shroud 50 which is joined to top 20 (FIG. l). Movement of rock bar 10 activates a secondary pedestal locking mechanism 100 which is mounted in pedestal (FIG. 6). The free end 111 ofa linkage rod 110 of v secondary locking mechanism projects upwardly through the top wall 71 of pedestal 70, through shroud 50 and is received in a linkage receiving aperture 14 in rock bar 10 (FIGS. 1, 3 and 6).

Linkage rod 110 is pivotally secured at its other end bracket 140 which, in turn, is welded to the inside of .pedestal 70. One or more lock tabs 130 are releasably mounted in receiving channels 126 in lock bar 120 to serve as lock stops for adjacent drawers 80 or other like components (FIG. 11). When rock bar is swung forwardly to its forward position as shown in FIG. 1, vertical lock bar 120 is rotated to' its out or locking position with its lock tabs 130 positioned in line with a lock stop 81 on an adjacent drawer 80 (FIG. 11). When rock bar 10 is rotated to its rearward position as shown in phantom in FIG. 1, vertical lock bar 120 is rotated to its unlocked position with'lock tabs 130 out of the way of lock stops 81 on drawers 80. The transmission of the' fore and aft movement or rock bar 10 to pivotal'movement of lock bar 120 about a vertical axis is effected through linkage rod 110.

To prevent unauthorized entry into the drawers or doors included in the system, the top wall 71 of pedestal 70 includes an upwardly projecting security ridge 75 (FIG. 1). A relief 57 is shroud 50 matingly receives security ridge 75 whereby security ridge 75 completely blocks passage through the crevice between shroud 50 and pedestal top wall 71.

Rock bar 10 is formed of tubular steel stock (FIGS. 1 and 3). Hanger brackets l 1, each defining a hook 11a are welded to rock bar 10 to facilitate its pivotal suspension from desk top 20. Three or four brackets 11 are usually sufficient. To facilitate cooperation between rock bar 10 and linkage rod 110, a plurality of link receiving apertures 14 are provided at spaced intervals along the length of the bottom wall of rock bar 10 (FIG. 3). By providing a plurality of such apertures 14 at spaced intervals along the length of rock bar 10, one can locate one or more secondary locking systems 100 at any of several points along the length of rock bar 10. This means, for example, that one is free to provide one, two or more pedestals along the length of the desk 1, beneath desk top 20, and that one can vary the particular positions at which one locates one or more such pedestals 70.

In order to facilitate joining of bell crank 40 to rock bar 10, rock bar 10 is provided with an opening 12 in the front wall thereof through which bell crank 40 passes (FIGS. 1 and 2). A slot 13 is provided in the bottom of rock bar 10 to facilitate the actual physical connection between bell crank '40 and rock bar 10.

Desk top includes a top laminate surface 27 on a substrate sheet of metal 28. This is reinforced by a reinforcing hat section 21. Another reinforcing rail 22 is, joined to hat section 21 by bolts 21a or the like and depends downwardly from hat section 21. Reinforcing rail 22 provides the mounting surface for key lock 30.

A rearward projecting hanger flange 23, which is an extension of reinforcing rail 22 (FIGS. 1 and 3), is used to pivotally suspend rock bar 10. Hanger flange 23 includes slots 24 for receiving the hook portion 11a of hanger ll of rock bar 10. Hanger flange 23 also includes a threaded aperture adjacent one of the slots 24 for receiving a stop bolt 25. Each slot 24 is sufficiently large that the hook portion 11a of hanger 11 can be passed therethrough and can be slid to one side so that rock bar 10 is pivotally suspended from hanger flange 23. Once hanger flange 11 is so located, bolt 24 is threaded into hanger flange 23 adjacent one edge of hanger bracket 11 to thereby prevent further longitudinal movement of hanger bracket 11 within slot 24. Thus, stop bolt 25 positively prevents hook 11a from falling out of slot 24.

Hanger flange 23 also aids in mounting shroud 50. A plurality of spaced shroud tab slots 26 are positioned along the rear of hanger flange 23. These receive tabs 55 of shroud 50 to thereby support the rear of shroud 50.

Bell crank 40 is mounted on a mounting flange 41 which, in turn, is secured to hanger flange 23 (FIG. I). A fixed pivot bolt 42 joins bell crank 40 to mounting flange 41. Bell crank 40, itself, is generally triangular in configuration (FIG. 2) and is driven at one corner by a pin 43'operably connected to the'actuator or bolt 31 of key lock 30. At another corner, bell crank 40 includes a rock bar pin 44 depending downwardly therefrom and passing through slot 13 in rock bar 10.

Key lock 30, itself, is conventional having an actuator or bolt 31 controlled by a key 32. A bracket 34, which contains pin 43, is fastened to actuator 31 to facilitate actuation of bell crank 40. The pin 43 projects upwardly from bracket 34 and is received in a notch 45 in the corner of bell crank 40. Key lock 30 is mounted to reinforcing rail 22 by means of a suitable mounting plate 33 and other conventional securing means. When the actuator 31 of key lock 30 is shifted to the left as shown in FIG. 2, bell crank 40 pivots about its fixed pivot 42, thereby shifting rock bar 10 rearwardly to the position shown in phantom in FIG. 2.

Shroud 50 is bent of sheet metal so as to define a top front lip 52, a front wall 51, a bottom wall 53 and a rear wall 54 (FIG. 1). A plurality of tabs 55 are bent over at the top of rear wall 54 for mating engagement within slots 26 of hanger flange 23. A plurality of screws, usually six, in line with bolt 76 as viewed in FIG. 1 and therefore not shown, hold the forward portion of shroud 50 in place on rail 22. Shroud 50 extends generally the length of desk top 20 and completely enshrouds rock bar 10, key lock 30 and bell crank 40.

For each link receiving aperture 14 in rock bar 10, shroud 50 includes a corresponding linkage access hole 56. This allows the free end 111 of linkage rod 110 to pass upwardly through hole 56 and into hole 14 in rock bar 10. Shroud 50 also includes an upwardly deformed relief 57 running generally the length thereof for matingly receiving the security ridges 75 in the top walls 71 of any pedestals which are secured to desk top 20. The relief 57 actually allows ridge to project upwardly to a point where it is at least generally in line with the rest of the flat bottom wall 53 of shroud 50. In this manner, security ridge 75 acts to completely block passage through the space between the top wall 71 of pedestal 70 and the bottom wall 53 of shroud 50.

Pedestal 70 can be of any of a number of constructions having a top wall 71, sidewalls 72, bottom walls 73 and a rear wall (FIG. 6). Top wall 71 includes an upwardly projecting security ridge 75 generally at the front thereof. Suitable bolt holes'77 are provided at the front and each side of pedestal top wall 71 to facilitate mounting of pedestal 70 to reinforcing rail 22 via mounting bolts 76. In all other respects, pedestal 70- cation, Steelcase Inc. The disclosure of this copending application is incorporated herein by reference.

The drawers mounted in pedestal 70 are generally conventional in nature and for purposes of the present invention, it is only important that the drawers include some sort of lock stop for cooperating with lock tabs 130 (FIG. 11). Drawer 30 includes a lock stop 81 projecting outwardly from the sidewall 84 of drawer 80. Actually, lock stop 81 projects outwardly from a plate or lever 83, through a hole in the side of drawer 80. Lever 83 is pivotally mounted on the inside of drawer 80 and in spring biased towards the position shown in FIG. 11. Plate 83 also includes an outwardly projecting out stop82, but out stop 82 is not in line with lock tab 130 and is provided only to prevent one from readily pulling the drawer 80 out of pedestal 70. While the present application specifically discloses the secondary locking system 100 being used to lock drawers 80, secondary locking system 100 could be used to lock other like components such as doors. To be sure, this would require a relocation and perhaps other modifications of the secondary locking system 100.

One very useful feature of the present invention is the means whereby linkage rod 110 is releasably joined to rock bar 10. This is achieved in the present invention by merely inserting the free end 111 of linkage rod 110 into an aperture 14 in rock bar 10. Then, one merely provides holding means for holding linkage rod 110 up with free end 111 in aperture 14. The present specification discloses two alternative means for holding linkage rod 110 in this position.

The first holding means disclosed in a spring wire clip 60 (FIGS. 4 and 5). Spring 'wire 60 is formed into the shape of a closed loop having an arrow shaped head 61, notches 62 at the base of arrowhead 61 and a bottom retaining portion 63. At one point, there is a gap or split 64 in wire 60 in order to facilitate insertion of linkage rod 110 into the retaining portion 63 of clip 60 and in order to facilitate mounting of spring clip 60 to pedestal top wall 71. Pedestal top wall 71 is provided with a pair of spaced holes 78 defining a bridge 79 therebetween. By manipulating split 64 in clip 60, one can slip clip 60 over bridge 79 such that clip 60 will always be secured with respect to pedestal top wall 71 (see FIG. 5, particulary). Shroud 50 is provided with a plurality of clip receiving apertures 58 generally at the rear thereof (FIG. 1) into which clips 60 can be inserted. The arrowhead portion 61 of clip 60 is pushed up through aperture 58 and the spring wire then snaps back such that notches 62 are captured on either side of aperture 58. Thispositively holds linkage rod 110 up with its free end 111 positioned in a receiving aperture 14 in rock bar 10. If one desires to change the system, as for example by changing the position of pedestal 70, one simply pulls spring wire clip 60 downwardly out of aperture 58. In order to prevent complete disassembly of the overall system, the arrowhead portion 61 catches on and hangs from bridge 79 to thereby prevent linkage rod 110 from completely falling down and getting in the way of workers as they change the position of pedestal 70. Also, linkage rod 110 is in a convenient position for reinsertion into rock bar 10.

An alternative holding system is disclosed in FIG. 6. In this alternative embodiment, a bracket 90 is welded to the top wall 71 of pedestal 70 at a point approximately midway between the ends of linkage rod 110.

Bracket 90 includes a mounting flange 91 which is welded or otherwise secured to top wall 71 of pedestal (FIG. 6). A wall 92 depends downwardly therefrom and a bottom wall 93 extends laterally from wall 92, generally parallel to top wall 71. This makes it possible to slip linkage rod 110 on top of wall 93 and into the position in bracket which is shown in FIG. 6. Downwardly depending wall 92 includes an aperture 96 therein through which the end of U-shaped deviation 112 projects. The bottom wall 93 of bracket 90 includes an aperture 97 therein which allows one to gain access to adjustment U" 112, which is bent into rod 110, with a pair of pliers or a screwdriver or the like. Basically, the purpose of bracket 90 is to hold linkage rod up with its free end 111 engaged within rock bar 10. Once linkage rod 110 is in position in holding bracket 90, its free end 111 is held up in engagement with an aperture 14 in rock bar It). Linkage rod 110 is preferably formed of a slightly resiliently flexible steel rod material such that when one desires to disengage linkage rod 110 from rock bar 10, one can simply pull downwardly on the forward portion thereof to thereby pull the end 111 out of aperture 14. There is sufficient distance between bracket 90 and rock bar 10 that the free end portion to linkage rod 110 can readily be forced downwardly. This makes it possible to completely remove pedestal 70 and secondary locking systern 100 from a particular relationship with respect to rock bar 10 and rearrange them in another location along the length of rock bar 10.

The specific details of the construction of secondary locking system I00 are more fully set forth in the copending patent application entitled PEDESTAL LOCK SYSTEM filed on even date herewith by Douglas Sheerhorn, Robert G. Mohr and Donald D. Korell, Ser. No. 366,162, assigned to the same assignee as the present application, Steelcase Inc. This specification specifically incorporated herein by reference. Generally, secondary locking system 100 includes a vertical lock bar hingedly mounted on a bracket 140 which is, in turn, welded to the inside of pedestal 70 (FIG. 6). Lock bar 120 includes a plurality of lock tab receiving channels 126 therein for receiving a plurality of lock tabs 130 (FIGS. 6, 7, 8, 9, l0 and Ill). Linkage rod 110, formed of a steel rod material, has one end 113 pivotally connected to lock bar 120 and a free end 111 located generally adjacent rock bar It) for receipt in an aperture 14 of rock bar 10. Movement of rock bar 10 to its fore position, toward the front of the desk or to the left as viewed in FIG. I, swings vertical lock bar 120 to its locked position with lock tabs 130 in line with the lock stops 81 on drawers 80 (FIG. 11). To facilitate system flexibility, each lock tab 130 can be removed from lock bar 120 by placing a coin or screwdriver in a notch therein and prying outwardly (FIG. 9). Lock tab 130 can then be relocated in a different channel I26 so as to facilitate mounting different sized drawers in pedestal 70 or mounting different arrangements of drawers in pedestal 70.

OPERATION In operation, rock bar 10, bell crank 40, reinforcing rail 22, key lock 30 and shroud 50 are mounted to a desk top 20 in the manner heretofore described. Then the desk I can be provided with any number of pedestals or compartments 70 as may be desired. Once pedestal 70 is mounted to the desk, the secondary locking system 100 which is mounted within the pedestal 70 is joined to rock bar by pushing linkage rod 110 upwardly until its free end] 1 l is received within a link receiving aperture 14 in rock bar 10. Linkage rod 110 is held in this up position either by bracket 90 or by spring wire clip 60. Now, one can lock or unlock drawers or like components within pedestal 70 by use of a single key lock 30. Rotation of key 32 moves actuator bolt 31 laterally, thereby rotating bell crank 40 and effecting movement of rock bar 10 either fore or aft. This movement is transferred to vertical lock bar 120 via linkage rod 110. Changes in pedestal arrangement can be readily effected simply by pulling the free end 111 of linkage rod 1 10 downwardly out of engagement with its aperture 14 in rock bar 10 and, thereafter, removing and remounting pedestal 70.

Of course, it is understood that the above is merely a preferred embodiment of the invention and that various changes and alterations can be made thereof without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows.

l. A locking system for the drawers, doors or like components of a desk, cabinet or like articles of furniture, said locking system comprising: an elongated rock bar pivotally suspended in said article of furniture for fore and aft swinging movement; lock means operably connected to said rock bar for controlling the fore and aft swinging movement thereof; secondary locking means operably connected with said components for locking and unlocking said components; said rock bar and said secondary locking means including cooperating means cooperating to operably connect said rock bar to said secondary locking means whereby said fore and aft swinging movement of said rock bar effects locking and unlocking movement in said secondary locking means.

2. A locking system for the drawers, doors or like components of a'desk, cabinet or like articles of furniture, said locking system comprising: an elongated rock bar mounted in said article of furniture for fore and aft movement; lock means operablyconnected to said rock bar for controlling the fore and aft movement thereof; secondary locking means operably connected with said components for locking and unlocking said components; said rock bar and said secondary locking means including cooperating means cooperating to operably connect said rock bar to said secondary locking means whereby said fore and aft movement of said rock bar effects locking and unlocking movement in said secondary locking means; said secondary locking means including linkage means having a free end positioned generally adjacent said rock bar; said rock bar including receiving means releasably receiving said free end of 'said linkage means; said receiving means in said rock bar including an aperture therein; said locking system including holding means secured to said article of furniture independently of said rock bar for holding said linkage up with its said free end positioned within said aperture.

3. The locking system of claim 2 in which said holding means comprises a clip; said article of furniture in cluding a clip receiving aperture into which said clip is releasably received whereby said clip can be removed from said clip receiving aperture to thereby allow said linkage to fall free of said rock bar.

4. The locking system of claim 2 in which said linkage comprises an elongated rod; said holding means comprising a bracket mounted in said article, said rod passing through said bracket; said bracket being spaced from said rock bar whereby a substantial portion of said rod extends between said bracket and said rock bar, said portion of said rod being sufficiently flexible that it can be flexed downwardly to thereby facilitate removal of its free end from said aperture in said rock bar, but whereby it is biased upwardly into said aperture.

5. The locking system of claim 1 in which said lock means includes a movable actuator; a bell crank pivotally mounted to said article of furniture and pivotally connected to said actuator and said rock bar whereby activation of said lock means activates said movable actuator, which, in turn, rotates said bell crank which, in turn, moves said rock bar in a fore and aft direction.

6. The locking system of claim 5 in which said rock bar includes a slot; said bell crank including a pin; said bell crank being pivotally joined to saidrock bar by means of said pin being received in said slot in said rock bar, said slot being sufficiently long to allow freedom of movement of said bell crank without binding.

7. The locking system of claim 6 in which said rock bar comprises an elongated tubular member; said tubular member including a bell crank opening therein whereby said bell crank passes into said tubular member for pivotal connection thereto.

8. A locking system for drawers, doors or like components of a desk, cabinet or like articles of furniture, said article of furniture having a top, said locking system comprising: an elongated rock bar pivotally suspended from said top of said article of furniture for fore and aft swinging movement; lock means operably connected to said rock bar for controlling the fore and aft movement thereof; secondary locking means operably connected with said components for locking and unlocking said components; said rock bar including a plurality of receiving means at different locations along the length of said rock bar, each of said receiving means being adapted to releasably cooperate with said secondary lock means whereby said secondary lock means and its respective components can be located at one of a plurality of locations along the length of said rock bar; said secondary lock means including means cooperating with one of said receiving meansto thereby operably connect said secondary locking means to said rock bar whereby said fore and aft movement of said rock bar effects locking and unlocking movement in said secondary locking means.

9. The locking system of claim 8 in which said component to be locked is positioned within a compartment, said compartment being joined to said top of said article of furniture; said secondary lock means including a linkage having a free end generally adjacent said rock bar, said free end comprising said means cooperating with said receiving means to operably connect said secondary locking means with said rock bar; said receiving means comprising an aperture into which said free end of said linkage extends; said system including holding means holding said linkage up with said end in said aperture.

10. The locking system of claim 9 in which said holding means comprises a bracket mounted to the top of said component; said linkage comprising an elongated rod passing through said bracket; said bracket being positioned such that a substantial portion of said rod passes between said bracket in said rock bar; said portion of said linkage having sufficient resilient flexibility whereby said linkage can be flexed downwardly and thereby removed from said aperture in said rock bar, but is biased upwardly into engagement in said aperture in said rock bar.

11. The locking system of claim 8 in which a shroud enshrouds said rock bar, said shroud being joined to said top; said secondary locking means including linkage means having a free end generally adjacent said rock bar; said receiving means in said rock bar comprising an aperture, said system including holding means holding said linkage up with said free end in said aperture; said holding means comprising a clip; said shroud including a clip receiving aperture for releasably receiving said clip whereby said clip can be inserted intoand held in said clip receiving aperture or can be removedtherefrom.

12. The locking system of claim 11 in which said clip comprises a piece of wire having resilient spring-like properties formed into a closed loop, said linkage passing through said loop; said loop including an inward deviation at each side thereof for seating on opposite sides of said clip receiving aperture in said shroud.

13. The locking system of claim 12 in which said components are positioned within a compartment; said compartment being mounted to said top with the top of said compartment abutting against said shroud; said compartment including a top having a pair of spaced holes therein defining a bridge therebetween; said clip wire passing through each of said holes and being closed at its top whereby when said clip wire is removed from said clip receiving aperture in said shroud, it is held generally at the top of said compartment by said bridge.

14. The locking system of claim 8 including a shroud mounted to said top around said rock bar, thereby enshrouding said rock bar to prevent access thereto, said shroud including apertures located generally at each of said receiving means; said secondary lock means including a portion passing through said apertures in said shroud to facilitate operable connections of said secondary lock means to said rock bar.

15. The locking system of claim 14 in which said component and said secondary locking system are mounted in a compartment, said compartment being secured to said article of furniture generally below said shroud; said compartment including a top wall positioned generally in abutting relationship with respect to the bottom wall of said shroud; said top wall of the compartment including an aperture through which a portion of said secondary locking means passes, said aperture being generally adjacent an aperture in said shroud; said top wall including a security ridge projecting upwardly therefrom generally in front of said aperture and said portion of said secondary locking means which passes through said aperture, said shroud including an upward deviation therein defining a relief conforming generally in configuration to said security ridge whereby said security ridge projects upwardly to a point at least in line with generally the bottom wall of said shroud whereby insertion of a tool into the space between said shroud and said top wall of said compart ment is prevented.

16. The locking system of claim 8 in which said lock means includes a movable actuator; a bell crank pivotally mounted to said article of furniture and pivotally connected to said actuator and said rock bar whereby activation of said lock means activates said movable actuator, which in turn rotates said bell crank which in turn moves said rock bar in a fore and aft direction.

17. The locking system of claim 16 in which said rock bar includes a slot; said bell crank including a pin; said bell crank being pivotally joined to said rock bar by means of said pin being received in said slot in said rock bar, said slot being sufficiently long to allow freedom of movement of said bell crank without binding.

18. The locking system of claim 17 in which said rock bar comprises an elongated tubular member; said tubu lar member including a bell crank opening therein whereby said bell crank passes into said tubular member for pivotal connection thereto.

19. The locking system of claim 18 in which said rock bar includes at least a pair of spaced hooks projecting upwardly therefrom; said top including a flange having a slot therein for each said hook; each said hook being positioned within each said slot to thereby suspend said rock bar from said flange.

20. The locking system of claim 19 in which said slot is sufficiently long to allow said hook to be inserted thereinto; stop means being releasably secured to said flange generally adjacent said hook for preventing removal of said hook after it has been inserted into said slot.

21. The locking system of claim 8 in which said rock bar includes at least a pair of spaced hooks projecting upwardly therefrom; said top including a flange having a slot therein for each said hook; each said hook being positioned within each said slot to thereby suspend said rock bar from said flange.

22. The locking system of claim 21 in which said slot is sufficiently long to allow said hook to be inserted thereinto; stop means being releasably secured to said flange generally adjacent said hook for preventing removal of said hook after it has been inserted into said slot.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. 3 3,857,620

DATED 1 December 31, 1974 INVENTOR(S) 1 Donald D. Korell It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, line 16;

"or" should be of Column 3, line 22;

"is" should be in Column 3, line 66;

"24" should be 25 Column 5, line 7;

"30" should be 80 Column 5, line 11;

"on" should be to Column 5, line 12;

"in" should be is (olumn 5, line 32;

"in" should be is Column 5, line 39;

After "spring" insert wire UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. 3,357, 20 PAGE 1 2 DATED 3 December 31, 1974 'NVENTOR(S) Z Donald D. Korell it is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 6, line 24;

"to" should be of Column 8, line 67;

"component" should be compartment Signed and sealed this 0th day of June 1975.

(SEAL) Attest:

C. MARSHALL DANN RUTH C. MASON Commissioner of Patents Attesting Gfficer and Trademarks

Claims

1. A locking system for the drawers, doors or like components of a desk, cabinet or like articles of furniture, said locking system comprising: an elongated rock bar pivotally suspended in said article of furniture for fore and aft swinging movement; lock means operably connected to said rock bar for controlling the fore and aft swinging movement thereof; secondary locking means operably connected with said components for locking and unlocking said components; said rock bar and said secondary locking means including cooperating means cooperating to operably connect said rock bar to said secondary locking means whereby said fore and aft swinging movement of said rock bar effects locking and unlocking movement in said secondary locking means.

2. A locking system for the drawers, doors or like components of a desk, cabinet or like articles of furniture, said locking system comprising: an elongated rock bar mounted in said article of furniture for fore and aft movement; lock means operably connected to said rock bar for controlling the fore and aft movement thereof; secondary locking means operably connected with said compOnents for locking and unlocking said components; said rock bar and said secondary locking means including cooperating means cooperating to operably connect said rock bar to said secondary locking means whereby said fore and aft movement of said rock bar effects locking and unlocking movement in said secondary locking means; said secondary locking means including linkage means having a free end positioned generally adjacent said rock bar; said rock bar including receiving means releasably receiving said free end of said linkage means; said receiving means in said rock bar including an aperture therein; said locking system including holding means secured to said article of furniture independently of said rock bar for holding said linkage up with its said free end positioned within said aperture.

3. The locking system of claim 2 in which said holding means comprises a clip; said article of furniture including a clip receiving aperture into which said clip is releasably received whereby said clip can be removed from said clip receiving aperture to thereby allow said linkage to fall free of said rock bar.

6. The locking system of claim 5 in which said rock bar includes a slot; said bell crank including a pin; said bell crank being pivotally joined to said rock bar by means of said pin being received in said slot in said rock bar, said slot being sufficiently long to allow freedom of movement of said bell crank without binding.

8. A locking system for drawers, doors or like components of a desk, cabinet or like articles of furniture, said article of furniture having a top, said locking system comprising: an elongated rock bar pivotally suspended from said top of said article of furniture for fore and aft swinging movement; lock means operably connected to said rock bar for controlling the fore and aft movement thereof; secondary locking means operably connected with said components for locking and unlocking said components; said rock bar including a plurality of receiving means at different locations along the length of said rock bar, each of said receiving means being adapted to releasably cooperate with said secondary lock means whereby said secondary lock means and its respective components can be located at one of a plurality of locations along the length of said rock bar; said secondary lock means including means cooperating with one of said receiving means to thereby operably connect said secondary locking means to said rock bar whereby said fore and aft movement of said rock bar effects locking and unlocking movement in said secondary locking means.

11. The locking system of claim 8 in which a shroud enshrouds said rock bar, said shroud being joined to said top; said secondary locking means including linkage means having a free end generally adjacent said rock bar; said receiving means in said rock bar comprising an aperture, said system including holding means holding said linkage up with said free end in said aperture; said holding means comprising a clip; said shroud including a clip receiving aperture for releasably receiving said clip whereby said clip can be inserted into and held in said clip receiving aperture or can be removed therefrom.

15. The locking system of claim 14 in which said component and said secondary locking system are mounted in a compartment, said compartment being secured to said article of furniture generally below said shroud; said compartment including a top wall positioned generally in abutting relationship with respect to the bottom wall of said shroud; said top wall of the compartment including an aperture through which a portion of said secondary locking means passes, said aperture being generally adjacent an aperture in said shroud; said top wall including a security ridge projecting upwardly therefrom generally in front of said aperture and said portion of said secondary locking means which passes through said aperture, said shroud including an upward deviation therein defining a relief conforming generally in configuration to said security ridge whereby said security ridge projects upwardly to a point at least in line with generally the bottom wall of said shroud whereby insertion of a tool into the space between said shroud and said top wall of said compartment is prevented.

18. The locking system of claim 17 in which said rock bar comprises an elongated tubular member; said tubular member including a bell crank opening therein whereby said bell crank passes into said tubular member for pivotal connection thereto.