Interlock mechanism for lateral file cabinets

• US 20060267461A1
• Filed: 11/26/2003
• Published: 11/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Knape & VOGT Manufacturing Company
• Original Assignee: Knape & VOGT Manufacturing Company
• Inventors: Hoffman, Keith A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,484,817 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 312/219
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/466 with tensionable or flexible elements, e.g. cables, bands, chains or ropes

Abstract

The invention relates to interlocks for file cabinets and the like which generally prevent more than one drawer from being opened at a given time. The interlocks include a cable which is changeable from a slack condition to a taut condition. In the taut condition, the interlocks prevent the associated drawer from being opened. In the slack condition, the interlock allows the associated drawer to be opened. The interlocks may be used in conjunction with a lock that selectively changes the tension in the cable from a slack condition to a taut condition and vise versa. The interlocks may be constructed to exert a tension on a cable that is independent of the pulling force exerted on a locked drawer. Alternatively, the interlocks may be constructed to exert a force on the cable that is a small fraction of the pulling force exerted on a locked drawer.

Claims

1. An interlock for a drawer positionable within a cabinet, the drawer being movable in the cabinet in a first direction toward an open position and in a second, opposite direction toward a closed position, said interlock comprising:

an elongated, flexible member;

a rotatable level adapted to switch the amount of slack in said elongated, flexible member between a low slack condition and a high slack condition by rotating between a first and second position, respectively;

an engagement member attached to said drawer and positioned to cause said rotatable lever to rotate toward said first position when said drawer is initially moved from the closed position in the first direction; and

a biasing member positioned adjacent said lever, said biasing member adapted to exert a biasing force that tends to prevent said lever from rotating from said second position to said first position until said drawer is moved in said first direction to the open position.

2. The interlock of claim 1 wherein said biasing member is a spring.

3. The interlock of claim 2 wherein said spring is coupled to said lever.

4. The interlock of claim 1 wherein said elongated, flexible member is a cable.

5. The interlock of claim 1 wherein said elongated, flexible member is in communication with at least one other drawer interlock associated with another drawer, said at least one other drawer interlock adapted change said elongated, flexible member from the high slack to the low slack condition when the another drawer is moved to an open position.

6. The interlock of claim 1 wherein said elongated, flexible member is in communication with a lock, said lock adapted to selectively change said elongated, flexible member between said low and high slack conditions.

7. The interlock of claim 6 further including a second, elongated flexible member in communication with a second lock and said lever, said second lock adapted to selectively change said second elongated, flexible member between said low and high slack conditions.

8. The interlock of claim 1 wherein said lever and said biasing member are mounted on a drawer slide member, said drawer slide member mounted to said cabinet and adapted to allow said drawer to slide between said open and said closed position.

9. The interlock of claim 8 wherein said interlock is solely mounted to said drawer slide member such that removal of the drawer slide member from the cabinet also removes said interlock.

10. The interlock of claim 1 wherein said rotatable lever is configured to translate a first force exerted on the drawer in the first direction into a second force exerted against said elongated, flexible member that is less than said first force.

11. The interlock of claim 10 wherein said second force is less than one-half of said first force.

12. The interlock of claim 10 wherein said second force is less than one-fifth of said first force.

13. The interlock of claim 10 wherein said second force is less than one-twentieth of said first force.

14. The interlock of claim 12 wherein said interlock is secured to an end of a drawer slide in which said drawer slides between said open and said closed position.

15. The interlock of claim 4 further including a cable guide adapted to snap-fittingly receive the cable from at least one direction.

16. An interlock for a drawer positionable within a cabinet, the drawer being movable in the cabinet in a first direction toward an open position and in a second, opposite direction toward a closed position, said interlock comprising:

an elongated, flexible member adapted to be changeable between a high slack condition and a low slack condition; and

an actuating member positioned to be operatively engageable with said elongated, flexible member, said actuating member adapted to change said elongated, flexible member to said low slack position when the drawer is opened and to allow said elongated flexible member to exist in said high slack condition when the drawer is closed, said actuating member adapted to translate a first force exerted on said drawer in said first direction to a second force on said elongated, flexible member which is less than said first force.

17. The interlock of claim 16 wherein said actuating member comprises:

a rotatable lever adapted to alter the amount of slack in said elongated, flexible member, said lever being rotatable between a low slack position and a high slack position, said low slack position creating the low slack condition in said elongated, flexible member and said high slack position allowing said elongated, flexible member to exist in the high slack condition; and

an engagement member attached to said drawer and positioned to cause said rotatable lever to rotate to said low slack position when said drawer is initially moved in the first direction from the closed position.

18. The interlock of claim 17 further including a retainer adapted to retain said rotatable lever in said low slack position while said drawer is moved to said open position.

19. The interlock of claim 18 wherein said retainer includes a cam said cam member being coupled to said lever.

20. The interlock of claim 17 further including a spring that exerts a force on said lever that resists movement of said lever from said high slack position to said low slack position.

21-64. -64. (canceled)