Automatic locking/unlocking apparatus for a drawer

• US 8,556,305 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2011
• Issued: 10/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sun Chain Metal Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Sun Chain Metal Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Juan, Teng-Yi, Chen, Shih-Wang
• Primary Examiner(s): Lugo, Carlos
• Application Number:
  US13/025,844
• Publication Number:
  US 20120001441A1
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• Field of Search: 292/1, 292/164, 292332-336, 292/DIG.4, 312/333, 312/319.1, 312/334.44, 312/334.46, 312/334.47
• US Class Current: 292/164
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 88/463 self-opening
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/03 Miscellaneous
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/097 Operating means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/54 Trippers

Abstract

A locking/unlocking apparatus for a drawer is applicable to be assembled on a fixed slide rail and a slidable slide rail of a drawer or on a drawer body and a drawer cabinet. The locking/unlocking apparatus comprises a drive element disposed on the slidable slide rail or the drawer body, a main body fixed on the fixed slide rail or the drawer cabinet, a slide block slidably disposed on the main body, and a spring disposed between the main body and the slide block. By such arrangements, when the drawer is pulled by a large force, it can prevent the slide rails, the drawer body or the locking/unlocking apparatus from being damaged.

Claims

1. A locking/unlocking apparatus for a drawer being applicable to be assembled on a fixed slide rail and a slidable slide rail of a drawer, the automatic locking/unlocking apparatus comprising:

a drive element being formed on the slidable slide rail and including a drive portion;

a main body being fixed on the fixed slide rail and including a rail groove, a bar hole formed in a bottom surface of the rail groove, a slot which is formed above the bar hole and will deform when being pressed, and an annular guide groove in communication with the rail groove, the annular guide groove including an internal annular surface and an external annular surface connected to a groove surface of the rail groove, the internal annular surface including a concave portion, the external annular surface including a protruding portion in alignment with the concave portion;

a slide block including a first protrusion to be pushed by the drive portion of the drive element, a second protrusion to be pushed by the drive portion of the drive element, a first protruding cylinder which is slidably disposed in the rail groove and engaged in/disengaged from the concave portion of the annular guide groove, and a second protruding cylinder which is slidably disposed in the rail groove; and

a spring including a first end connected to the main body, and a second end connected to the slide block.

2. The locking/unlocking apparatus for a drawer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rail groove of the main body includes a first groove section, a second groove section bent from a first end of the first groove section, and a third groove section bent from a second end of the first groove section, the bar hole is formed in the first groove section.

3. The locking/unlocking apparatus for a drawer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the internal annular surface is formed by annularly connecting an upper guide surface, a first surface, a second surface, and a lower guide surface in order, the first surface and the second surface are connected and form a concave portion, the protruding portion of the annular guide groove is higher than the second surface but lower than the first surface.

4. The locking/unlocking apparatus for a drawer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main body further includes an engaging portion connected to the first end of the spring, the slide block further includes a fastening portion connected to the second end of the spring.

5. The locking/unlocking apparatus for a drawer as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the first protruding cylinder of the slide block is engaged in the concave portion, the second protruding cylinder is located in the bar hole and the slot.