Abstract:
A lock mechanism for a sliding drawer of the type mounted on telescopic slides in a cabinet includes a pivotal handle bar on the top front edge of the cabinet drawer front wall. The handle includes catch mechanisms biased for engagement with a strike extending from the drawer slides mounted on the inside of the cabinet. Manual rotation of the handle moves the handle and thus the catch mechanisms out of engagement with the strike enabling the cabinet drawer to be opened.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In a principal aspect, the present invention relates to a latch mechanism for retaining a drawer mounted on telescopic slides in a cabinet. Mechanics&#39; cabinets and tool cabinets typically are fabricated from sheet metal and include a cabinet enclosure with drawers mounted on telescoping slides. A typical example of such a construction is depicted in U.S. Pat. No. 4,681,381 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,435,640 which are incorporated herewith by reference. 
     Typically, in order to provide security for the contents within the cabinet drawers, a locking system is provided. The locking system will normally include a key actuated mechanism which enables locking the drawers in a closed position. Actuation or release of the key operated mechanism is necessary in order to release or unlock the drawers. 
     In addition to permanently locking the drawers in a closed position, it is also appropriate and desirable to provide a means by which the drawers will remain or be retained in a closed position unless positively opened by the mechanic or user of the cabinet. This is a desirable feature in a cabinet construction in order to preclude accidental opening of drawers thereby resulting in an unbalanced condition that would cause the cabinet to turn over due to the weight of tools and other items in the drawers acting as a cantilever weight causing the cabinet to tip. Additionally, it is desirable to provide a positive mechanism to maintain the drawers in a closed position so that the drawers will not accidentally open when the cabinet is, for example, being transported from one position to another. Also, it is desirable to keep the drawers in a closed, but not necessarily locked, position so that the drawers will not protrude unexpectedly or undesirably thereby posing a danger. 
     Thus, there has developed a need to provide a mechanism that is inexpensive, yet reliable, and which enables unlocked drawers to remain in the closed position unless positively opened. Certain mechanisms of this nature are depicted in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,435,640 depicts a catch mechanism which maintains or holds a drawer in a closed position in a cabinet enclosure. The catch relies upon the elastomeric characteristics of the catch. In the event the elastomer material fails, however, the catch then fails. Thus, there has developed a need for an improved latch or safety catch mechanism for drawers which are not maintained in the locked position. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly, the present invention comprises a latch mechanism for a sliding drawer mounted in a cabinet supported by telescoping slides. The latch mechanism is attached to the front side of the sliding drawer and includes a handle which extends over the front edge of the front side of the drawer as well as a section depending from the front edge and extending into the interior of the cabinet. Catch members are attached to the ends of the handle on the inside of the drawer and a biasing mechanism, such as a coil spring, biases the handle member so that the catch members are biased upwardly into position for engagement with strikes located on the inside of the cabinet enclosure adjacent the top front edge of the cabinet drawer when the drawer is in the closed position. The handle also includes tabs which interlock and engage the handle with the front panel or front side of the cabinet drawer. 
     By positioning the catch members at the opposite ends of the handle and between the front sides of the drawer, lateral movement of the handle is precluded thereby maintaining the handle in a stable yet pivotal position on the front edge of the cabinet drawer. Strikes are included on a section of each of the telescoping slides attached to the interior side wall of the cabinet. 
     Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved latch mechanism which maintains sliding drawers in a cabinet in a closed position. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a latch mechanism which is rugged, comprised of a very few number of parts, and which must be positively actuated in order to effect opening of a drawer. 
     Yet another object of the invention is to provide a latch mechanism which may be incorporated in the front handle of a drawer and which will automatically hold the drawer in a closed position when the drawer is moved to that closed position. 
     These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention is set forth in the detailed description which follows. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     In the detailed description which follows reference will be made to the drawing comprised of the following figures: 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a typical cabinet having a construction which incorporates the latch mechanism of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a side cross sectional view of the latch mechanism as incorporated in a drawer depicting the latch mechanism in the closed or locked, as well as the open, or released position; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded enlarged isometric view of the latch mechanism depicted as detail  3  in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged isometric view of the strike portion of the latch mechanism of the invention as depicted at detail  4  in FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the assembly depicting the latch mechanism taken along the line  5 — 5  in FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the drawings, a cabinet  10  includes a first lateral sidewall  12  and a second lateral sidewall  14  parallel to and spaced from wall  12 . The walls  12  and  14  in combination with the other walls and braces forming the cabinet define an enclosure  16 . A first telescopic slide  20  is attached to the inside of lateral wall or side  12 . A second telescopic slide  22  is attached to the opposite lateral side or wall  14 . The telescopic slides  20  and  22  include multiple sections such as sections  24 ,  26  and  28  of slide  20 . The slides, such as slide  20 , are affixed to the lateral sidewalls  12 ,  14  by interengagement of appropriate tabs, tangs and slots in a manner known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The telescopic sections  24 ,  26  and  28  slide with respect to one another again in a manner known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Section  24  is maintained fixed within the enclosure  16  defined by the cabinet  10 . The slide  22  comprises a mirror image of the slide  20 . 
     The slides  20  and  22  together support a single drawer  30  which includes a back wall or back side  32 , a first lateral side wall  34 , and a second, parallel spaced lateral side  36 , as well as a front side wall  38 . The drawer  30  is supported by the telescopic section, such as telescopic section  28 , which is affixed to drawer side wall  34  by means of interengagement of tabs or projections with slots, again in the manner known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Positioning of the slides  20  and  22  is effected so that the drawer  30  will efficiently and effectively slide into and out of the cabinet  10 . Slides  20 ,  22  extend along the top edge of the drawer  30 . 
     The subject matter of the invention relates, in particular, to a front handle  40  which includes a latch mechanism for maintaining the drawer  30  in a closed position except when the handle  40  is appropriately actuated to release the drawer  30  from the closed position. The mechanism for effecting such retention is depicted in greater detail in FIGS. 2-5. Thus, the front side wall  38  of the drawer  30  includes a top edge  44  which, in the embodiment depicted, comprises a horizontal run  46  extending from a vertical front face or run  48  defining the front side wall  38 . The horizontal run  46  extends outwardly from the interior of the drawer  30 . The run  46  extends between the lateral sides  34  and  36 . A series of horizontal slots  50  are provided in face  48  adjacent the upper edge  44  in the front side wall  38 . 
     The handle or handle member  40  includes a horizontal run  52  which typically fits against the run  46 . Downwardly depending decorative and protective edge  54  connects with the run  52  on the outside of the drawer  30 . Depending vertically downward from the run  52  is a downward run  56  which extends on the inside of the drawer  30  spaced inwardly from the front side wall  38 . At strategic positions along the width of the downwardly depending front run  56  are a series of notched tabs  58  which are designed to fit through the horizontal openings  50  in face  48 . 
     Catch members  60  and  62  are positioned at the opposite ends on the lateral sides of the run  56 . The catch members  60 ,  62  comprise vertical plates attached to the downwardly depending run  56 . Each catch member  60 ,  62  includes an upwardly extending tab or tang  64 . The catch members  60  and  62  are positioned on the inside of the walls or lateral sides  34  and  36 , respectively. Thus, the catch members  60  and  62  preclude lateral or side to side movement of the handle  40  when the assembly comprising the handle  40  is in position. Spring members, such as coil springs  66 , are positioned intermediate the run  56  and the wall  38  to bias the handle  40  in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 2 thereby positioning the catch members  60  and  62  in an extended counterclockwise position, or locking or closed position. 
     Strikes or strike members  70 ,  72  are constructed for cooperation with the catch members  60  and  62  respectively and are attached as an integral part of the telescoping slides  20  and  22 . Thus, the strike member  70  is a component part of the section  24  of the telescopic slide  20 . The strikes  70 ,  72  comprise a horizontal plate with a strike passage  76  defined in the plate for receipt of a catch tab  64  as depicted in FIG.  2 . 
     Thus, in operation, the drawer  30  is moved to the closed position by pushing the drawer  30  into the enclosure  16  of the cabinet  10 . This causes the telescopic slide members  20  and  22  to telescope to the closed position. The locking tab  64  as associated with each catch  60 ,  62  will then ride into the opening  76 . It is to be noted that there is a ramp or cam surface  78  on each of the catch members  60  and  62 . The cam surface  78  engages against the front edge  80  of the strikes  70  and  72  forcing the handle  40  to pivot against the biasing force of the spring  66  about the top edge  46  of wall  38  until the catch  60 ,  62  is biased in the counterclockwise direction to fit into the opening  76 . In the position depicted in FIG. 2, in solid lines, the drawer  30  is maintained in the closed and locked position. To release the drawer  30  one must manually engage the handle  40  and pivot the handle about the top edge  46  against the biasing force of the spring  66  to the position depicted in phantom in FIG.  2 . This enables the drawer  30  to be released and the telescopic members  20  and  22  then permit the drawer  30  to be withdrawn from the enclosure  16 . 
     The construction of the present invention has various advantages. Positive holding of the drawer in the closed position is effected. The drawer may be opened by easy manual operation. Because the handle  40  extends across the entire front face of the drawer, positioning and engaging the handle  40  is easily accomplished. Because of the manner in which the component parts are interengaged, the handle  40  remains locked or fixed in position pivotally on the top edge of the drawer  30 , yet cannot be removed from the drawer  30 . Additionally, because there are catch members  60 ,  62  on each side of the drawer  30 , the drawer  30  cannot be easily skewed and there is positive locking. 
     The particular shape of the catch members  60 ,  62  may be altered in order to adjust the force of the engagement of the catch member  60 ,  62  and the strike  70 ,  72 . Also, the part defining the strike  70 ,  72  and the part defining the catch member  60 ,  62  may have a reversed shape configuration. That is, the strike opening  76  may be positioned in place of the catch member  60  and vice versa. Thus, there may be a reversal of component parts in order to effect the locking operation. Various other modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The invention is, therefore, to be limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.