Patent ID: 6497462
Filing Date: 2002-12-24
Classification: E05B,Y10T

Abstract:
In a storage cabinet having a frame, said frame supporting first and second upright side walls in laterally spaced relation with one another, a generally upright rear wall extending laterally between respective upright rear edges of said first and second side walls, and a generally horizontally oriented top wall extending laterally between respective upper edges of said first and second side walls, said rear, side and top walls together defining a hollow interior which opens forwardly through a front end of said cabinet, at least one drawer being slidably mounted within said front end and being movable between a closed position wherein said drawer is disposed within said hollow interior and an open position wherein said drawer projects outwardly from said front end, a locking arrangement for locking said drawer in said closed position, said locking arrangement including a generally horizontally oriented first locking bar mounted for rotation adjacent said top wall, a generally vertically oriented second locking bar connected to said first locking bar and mounted for reciprocating vertical movement relative to said drawer adjacent one of said side walls, and a lock mounted on a front wall of said drawer, said first locking bar defining an actuator portion for cooperation with said lock, said lock including a lug element rotatably mounted on said drawer front and mounting thereon a cam member which is movable between a locked position wherein said cam member engages said actuator portion of said first locking bar to move said second locking bar into engagement with said drawer and lock same in said closed position, and an unlocked position wherein said cam member is disengaged from said actuator portion and said second locking bar is disengaged from said drawer, comprising the improvement wherein said cam member is mounted for sliding movement relative to said lug element to effect automatic re-adjustment of a position of said cam member relative to said actuator portion during movement of said cam member between said locked and unlocked positions.