Drawer latch

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.

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' 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.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, a cabinet10includes a first lateral sidewall12and a second lateral sidewall14parallel to and spaced from wall12. The walls12and14in combination with the other walls and braces forming the cabinet define an enclosure16. A first telescopic slide20is attached to the inside of lateral wall or side12. A second telescopic slide22is attached to the opposite lateral side or wall14. The telescopic slides20and22include multiple sections such as sections24,26and28of slide20. The slides, such as slide20, are affixed to the lateral sidewalls12,14by interengagement of appropriate tabs, tangs and slots in a manner known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The telescopic sections24,26and28slide with respect to one another again in a manner known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Section24is maintained fixed within the enclosure16defined by the cabinet10. The slide22comprises a mirror image of the slide20.

The slides20and22together support a single drawer30which includes a back wall or back side32, a first lateral side wall34, and a second, parallel spaced lateral side36, as well as a front side wall38. The drawer30is supported by the telescopic section, such as telescopic section28, which is affixed to drawer side wall34by 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 slides20and22is effected so that the drawer30will efficiently and effectively slide into and out of the cabinet10. Slides20,22extend along the top edge of the drawer30.

The subject matter of the invention relates, in particular, to a front handle40which includes a latch mechanism for maintaining the drawer30in a closed position except when the handle40is appropriately actuated to release the drawer30from the closed position. The mechanism for effecting such retention is depicted in greater detail inFIGS. 2-5. Thus, the front side wall38of the drawer30includes a top edge44which, in the embodiment depicted, comprises a horizontal run46extending from a vertical front face or run48defining the front side wall38. The horizontal run46extends outwardly from the interior of the drawer30. The run46extends between the lateral side34and36. A series of horizontal slots50are provided in face48adjacent the upper edge44in the front side wall38.

The handle or handle member40includes a horizontal run52which typically fits against the run46. Downwardly depending decorative and protective edge54connects with the run52on the outside of the drawer30. Depending vertically downward from the run52is a downward run56which extends on the inside of the drawer30spaced inwardly from the front side wall38. At strategic positions along the width of the downwardly depending front run56are a series of notched tabs58which are designed to fit through the horizontal openings50in face48.

Catch members60and62are positioned at the opposite ends on the lateral sides of the run56. The catch members60,62comprise vertical plates attached to the downwardly depending run56. Each catch member60,62includes an upwardly extending tab or tang64. The catch members60and62are positioned on the inside of the walls or lateral sides34and36, respectively. Thus, the catch members60and62preclude lateral or side to side movement of the handle40when the assembly comprising the handle40is in position. Spring members, such as coil springs66, are positioned intermediate the run56and the wall38to bias the handle40in the counterclockwise direction inFIG. 2thereby positioning the catch members60and62in an extended counterclockwise position, or locking or closed position.

Strikes or strike members70,72are constructed for cooperation with the catch members60and62respectively and are attached as an integral part of the telescoping slides20and22. Thus, the strike member70is a component part of the section24of the telescopic slide20. The strikes70,72comprise a horizontal plate with a strike passage76defined in the plate for receipt of a catch tab64as depicted in FIG.2.

Thus, in operation, the drawer30is moved to the closed position by pushing the drawer30into the enclosure16of the cabinet10. This causes the telescopic slide members20and22to telescope to the closed position. The locking tab64as associated with each catch60,62will then ride into the opening76. It is to be noted that there is a ramp or cam surface78on each of the catch members60and62. The cam surface78engages against the front edge80of the strikes70and72forcing the handle40to pivot against the biasing force of the spring66about the top edge46of wall38until the catch60,62is biased in the counterclockwise direction to fit into the opening76. In the position depicted inFIG. 2, in solid lines, the drawer30is maintained in the closed and locked position. To release the drawer30one must manually engage the handle40and pivot the handle about the top edge46against the biasing force of the spring66to the position depicted in phantom in FIG.2. This enables the drawer30to be released and the telescopic members20and22then permit the drawer30to be withdrawn from the enclosure16.

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 handle40extends across the entire front face of the drawer, positioning and engaging the handle40is easily accomplished. Because of the manner in which the component parts are interengaged, the handle40remains locked or fixed in position pivotally on the top edge of the drawer30, yet cannot be removed from the drawer30. Additionally, because there are catch members60,62on each side of the drawer30, the drawer30cannot be easily skewed and there is positive locking.

The particular shape of the catch members60,62may be altered in order to adjust the force of the engagement of the catch member60,62and the strike70,72. Also, the part defining the strike70,72and the part defining the catch member60,62may have a reversed shape configuration. That is, the strike opening76may be positioned in place of the catch member60and 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.