Bi-directional drawer system

• US 5,829,859 A
• Filed: 10/04/1996
• Issued: 11/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kimball International Incorporated (HNI Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Plan Hold Corporation
• Inventors: Cram, Ronald
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, STEPHEN A
• Application Number:
  US08/727,851
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 312/216, 312/217, 312/218, 312/221, 312/283, 312/286, 312/287, 312/219
• US Class Current: 312/221
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 88/403 Drawer slides being extractable on two or more sides of the cabinet
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/464 comprising two or more lock elements aligned in end-to-end abutting relation

Abstract

A drawer system with an improved drawer interlock mechanism has a frame which slidably supports at least one drawer and at least one column of locking bars, perpendicular to the movement of the drawer. Each drawer includes a cam associated with a set of cam followers disposed on facing ends of adjacent locking bars. Each drawer cam is normally aligned to separate its associated set of cam followers and the associated locking bars when the drawer is opened, thereby displacing all locking bars in the column. The displaced locking bars misalign the cam followers associated with unopened drawers thereby preventing them from opening. Bias means returns the column of locking bars to a normal rest position when the drawer is retracted. A locking cam can be actuated to displace all locking bars toward said bias means to prevent all drawers from opening. Separate interlocking mechanisms can be located adjacent diagonal corners of the frame so that drawers can be interchangeably oriented to operate from one of two faces in an independent fashion.

Claims

1. A bi-directional drawer system comprising:

(a) a frame having two opposed faces;

(b) two drawers slideably supported by said frame, each mounted for operation from one of said faces;

(c) two independent interlocking means, each associated with one of said faces;

(d) each interlocking means comprising;

(i) a support means;

(ii) a pair of locking bars slideably supported by said support means;

(iii) a set of cam followers disposed adjacent facing ends of said locking bars;

(iv) a locking cam; and

(v) means for biasing said locking bars into a rest position;

(e) each drawer having a side with a drawer cam adapted to separate an associated set of cam follower means and locking bars when the drawer is opened;

(f) each set of cam follower means being substantially symmetrically disposed on the associated pair of locking bars, and each drawer cam having a substantially rectangular portion with a width at least equal to a distance between corresponding portions of said sets of cam follower means;

(g) each locking cam being operable to urge one of said pairs of locking bars into a locking position, wherein relative to said rest position, said one pair of locking bars is displaced from the rest position, and wherein one of said sets of cam follower means is displaced relative to an associated drawer cam;

(h) each locking cam being operable to displace an associated pair of locking bars a distance at least substantially equal to one-half said distance between corresponding portions of said sets of cam follower means; and

(i) said two interlocking means being located adjacent opposed, diagonal corners of said frame such that said first and second drawers can be alternately mounted for operation and locking from either said first face or said second face.

2. A bi-directional drawer system as in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said first and second drawers are operable from first and second faces, respectively;

(b) said drawer system further comprises a third drawer operable from said first face; and

(c) one of said interlocking means is associated with said first face and comprises first and second sets of locking bars associated with said first and third drawers, respectively;

each set of locking bars having a set of cam followers disposed adjacent facing ends of said locking bars;

(d) said third drawer has a side with a drawer cam adapted to separate the associated set of cam followers; and

(e) said interlocking means associated with said first face is operable to prevent the simultaneous opening of said first and third drawers.

3. A bi-directional drawer system comprising:

(a) a frame having first and second faces;

(b) first and second interlocking means, each comprises of two bars slideably mounted to said frame in an end-to-end column configuration, said column having a rest position in which said two bars are abutting one another, a cam follower connected to each bar, means to bias said column of bars in said rest position, and locking means to displace said column of bars from said rest position a distance at least equal to half a distance between corresponding portions of said cam followers;

(c) said frame having opposed diagonal corners, said first and second interlocking means being associated with said first and second faces of said frame, respectively, and each being disposed adjacent an opposite one of said diagonal corners;

(d) first and second drawers slideably mounted to said frame, each drawer having a cam on a side thereof, said cam being adapted to separate said cam followers of one of said first and second interlocking means from the rest position when the drawer associated with said cam is opened; and

(e) said first and second drawers being adapted to be alternatively mounted for operation from either said first face or said second face.

4. A bi-directional drawer system as in claim 3 wherein:

(a) said first and second drawers are operable from first and second faces, respectively;

(b) said drawer system further comprises a third drawer operable from said first face; and

(c) one of said interlocking means is associated with said first face and comprises first and second sets of locking bars associated with said first and third drawers, respectively;

each set of locking bars having a set of cam followers disposed adjacent facing ends of said locking bars;

(d) said third drawer has a side with a drawer cam adapted to separate the associated set of cam followers; and

(e) said first interlocking means associated with said first face is operable to prevent the simultaneous opening of said first and third drawers.

5. A bi-directional drawer system, comprising:

(a) a frame having first and second opposed faces;

(b) an independent drawer interlocking means associated with each face, said independent interlocking means being substantially identical and located adjacent opposed, diagonal corners of said frame, each interlocking means comprising;

(i) a pair of locking bars slideably supported by said frame;

(ii) a set of cam follower means associated with said locking bars;

(iii) a means for biasing said pair of locking bars into a rest position; and

(iv) a locking cam operable to displace said pair of locking bars into a locking position;

(c) first, second and third drawers slideably supported by said frame, said first and third drawers being operable from said first face and said second drawer being operable from said second face;

(d) each of said first, second and third drawers being substantially identical and including a drawer cam disposed along a side thereof, said drawer cam being adapted to engage an associated set of cam follower means;

(e) one of said interlocking means being associated with said first face and comprising first and second sets of locking bars associated with said first and third drawers, respectively, each set of locking bars having a set of cam followers disposed adjacent facing ends of said locking bars;

(f) said first interlocking means associated with said first face being operable to prevent the simultaneous opening of said first and third drawers; and

(g) said first and second drawers being adapted to be alternatively mounted for operation from either said first face or from said second face.