US858896A - Drawer-lock for desks. - Google Patents

Description

:No. 858,896. PATENTED JULY 2, .1907.

' I. MODOWELL, Sn.

DRAWERLOGK FOR DESKSi V APPLIOATION FILED ArB.s.19o7.

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JOHN MCDOWELL, SR,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

DRAWER-LOCK FOR DESKS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Ju1y 2, 1907.

Application filed April 3,1907. Serial No. 366.158.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN MCDOWELL, Sr., a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Drawer-Lock for Desks, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to certain improvements in mechanism for locking the drawers of a desk,- cabinet or other piece of furniture in their closed position, and

relates more particularly to locking means adapted to be operated by a roller top or other movable section of the piece of furniture, and serving to engage with each of the drawers to prevent the opening thereof while the roller top or other movable section is closed.

The invention also relates to certain improvements in the supporting and guiding means for the locking member, whereby it is prevented from binding or otherwise failing to operate due to warping, swelling, or other causes.

The invention consists in certain features of construction and combination of parts, all of which will be fully set forth hereinafter and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the Views, and in which Figure 1 is an end elevation of a roller top desk, a portion thereof being broken away to show the construction and operation of my improved mechanism; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the locking member; and Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

To clearly disclose the construction and operation of my device I have illustrated it in connection with a desk 10 having a roller top 11, although it is evident that the device may be used in connectionwith any cabinet or other article of furniturehaving a plurality of sliding shelves or drawers and having a movable door or other section. The roller top desk illustrated in the drawings is provided with a plurality of drawers 12, the rear ends of which terminate adjacent the back wall 13 of the desk, and intermediate thisback wall 13 and the ends of the drawers is provided my improved locking mechanism. This mechanism preferably comprises a longitudinally movable rod or bar 14 having catches 15 on the front side thereof adapted to engage with similar but oppositely disposed catches 16 carried by the drawers, and so constructed that when the rod is raised longitudinally the catches 15 engage with the catches 16 and prevent any of the drawers from being opened, while by moving the rod 14 downward longitudinally the catches are caused to disengage and the opening of the drawers is permitted. The desk is so constructed that when the roller top 11 is in the open position illustrated in Fig. 1, the rear edge thereof descends adjacent the back wall 13 of the desk, and the rod or bar 14 is of such a length and so disposed that it is engaged by this roller top when the latter is in its open position. As shown, the roller top engages with the end of the rod 14 and pushes said rod downward to disengage the coacting catches of said rod and the drawers. The rod or bar 14 is normally supported in its uppermost position by means of a suitable spring 17 engaging with a lug or projection 18 on the rod, and the upper end of the'rod is preferably provided with a metal bearing plate adapted to engage with the roller top 11 when the latter is in its open position. For supporting and guiding the rod 14, I provide a plurality of transverse bars 20, each having a rectangular recess 21 therein of the proper size and shape to receive the longitudinally movable rod 14.

To construct the desk in the most economical manner, it is found desirable to manufacture the longitudinally movable rod 14 and the supporting'and guiding bars 20 of wood, and it is also desirable that the longitudinally movable rod 14 be held against lateral move ment so as to prevent rattling or accidental displace ment of the parts. As the wood is liable to swell due to climatic changes, and is also liable to warp, I so construct the guiding and supporting members as to permit of a ready adjustment of the parts to accommodate for any changes in the size and shape of the longitudidally movable rod 14. Preferably each supporting bar is provided with a movable section 22 in engagement with one side of the rod 14, and this section is so secured to the remaining portion that its position may be adjusted in relation thereto. Preferably each movable section 22 is provided with elongated slots 23, and extending through these slots 1 provide a plurality of screws 24. By loosening the screws, each movable section 22 may be so adjusted as to make the corresponding recess 21 as wide or as narrow as may be desired, and the proper engagement of the locking bar 14 with the supporting and guiding members may thus be readily secured.

For holding the locking bar within the recesses, I provide a plurality of metal strips 25 so connected to the supporting and guiding bars 20 that they may be very readily moved aside to permit of the complete removal of the locking bar should it be found necessary to repair the latter or replace it by a new one or plane it down to improve the operation thereof. These metal strips may be secured in place in a variety of ways, as, for instance, by pivotally connecting one end and holding the opposite end behind a catch 26, as illustrated at the upper end of the bar 14; or each strip may be provided with a slot 27 through which the pivotal screw extends and also provided with a recess 28 extending into the opposite end and adapted to engage with a second screw 29, as illustrated at the intermediate and lower portions of the bar. In the latter case, by loosening one of the screws the strip 25 may be moved longitudinally until the recess 28 no longer engages with the screw 29 and the strip may then be moved upon the opposite screw asa pivot to disengage said strip from contact with the front of the locking bar 14.

By means of the mechanism above described, I hold the drawers in their locked position until the roller top is opened to the fullest extent and engages with the end of the bar 14 to move the same. The locking bar may be very readilyadjusted or may be readily removed without necessitating the partial disassembling oi the entire piece of furniture. All that is necessary to secure the removal of the locking bar is to withdraw the several drawers 12 and move aside the several strips 25. The guides of the locking bar may be adjusted to any desired extent without removing said guides or the locking bar supported thereby.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A piece of furniture, comprising a case, a plurality of drawers contained therein, and means for locking said drawers in their closed position, said means comprising a longitudinally movable rod, means operatively connected thereto for engaging with said drawers, and adjustable guiding means for said rod.

2. In combination with a suitable case having a plurality of drawers located therein and having a movable sec tion, of a longitudinally movable locking bar adapted to be engaged by said movable section when the latter is in its open position, means carried by said bar for engaging with said drawers to hold the latter in their closed position, and adjustable supporting and guiding means for said bar.

3. In combination with a suitable ease having a plurality of drawers located therein and having a movable sertien, of a longitudinally movable locking bar adapted to be engaged by said movable section when the iaiier is in its open position, means carried by said bar for engaging with said drawers to hold the latter in their closed position, and adjustable supporting and guiding means for said bar, said means comprising a plurality of transverse bars each having a, recess therein, a laterally adjustable section adjacent one 01' id recesses, and pivoted means adapted to hold said locking bar within said recesses.

4. In combination with a suitable casc having a drawer therein, a longitudinally-movable locking bur adapted to engage with said drawer to hold the same in its closed position, and adjustable supporting and guiding means for said rodfsaid means including a transverse bar having :1 recess therein, a laterally adjustable section adjacent said recess, and means adapted to hold said l0cking bar within said recess.

5. In combination with a suitable case having a drawer located therein, a longitudinallyanovablc locking bar adapted to engage with said drawer for holding the latter in its closed position, and adjustable supporting and guiding means for said bar, including a member having a recess therein through which said locking bar extends, and means for adjusting the size of said recess to fit said bar.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

.lOllN MClJOlVlCLL, Sn.

Witnesses JOHN P. DAVIS, CLAIR W. lrrinmimic.

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