Latch mechanism for a cabinet drawer

A latch mechanism includes a trim member secured to a drawer pull at the front of a drawer. An actuator plate is located under the drawer pull and is disposed in a slot of a trim member on the drawer pull. A keeper is located on a side wall of the cabinet adjacent the hook. A hook is attached to one end of the actuator plate and is arranged to engage the keeper when the drawer is closed. The hook is releasable from the keeper by pivoting the actuator plate toward the drawer pull to open the drawer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Known latch mechanisms for holding drawers in a closed position of the type 
that automatically latch before closing the drawer are typically comprised 
of many parts. As a result, manufacture is undesirably complicated and 
expensive. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved 
latch mechanism for a cabinet drawer which is of simpler construction. 
In summary, there is provided a latch mechanism for a drawer of a cabinet 
including side walls, the drawer including an elongated drawer pull having 
a depending member with a free end, the latch mechanism comprising means 
at the free end of the depending member defining a slot, an elongated 
actuator plate on the underside of the drawer pull and extending 
substantially the length of the drawer pull, the actuator plate being 
disposed in the slot for pivotal movement thereof, a hook at one end of 
the actuator plate, and a keeper on the adjacent one of the side walls of 
the cabinet, the hook being arranged to engage the keeper when the drawer 
is closed, the hook being releasable from the keeper by pivoting the 
actuator plate toward the drawer pull. 
According to one embodiment of the invention, the means for receiving the 
actuator plate is a separate trim member secured to the depending member 
of the drawer pull, the trim member having a slot for securely receiving 
the free end of the depending member of the drawer pull. 
The invention consists of certain novel features and a combination of parts 
hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and 
particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that 
various changes in the details may be made without departing from the 
spirit, or sacrificing any of the advantages of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Turning now to the drawings and, more particularly, to FIG. 1 thereof, 
there is depicted a tool storage cabinet, generally designated 10, 
including side walls 12 and a plurality of sliding drawers 20. An 
elongated metal drawer pull 21 is located at the front end of each of the 
drawers 20 and extends along its entire length Referring to FIGS. 2-6, 
each drawer pull 21 has a generally horizontal portion 22 and a generally 
vertical portion 23 depending therefrom. 
Associated with each pull 21 is a latch mechanism 30 embodying the features 
of the present invention. Latch mechanism 30 comprises an elongated metal 
trim member 40 which includes a generally horizontal slot 41 and a 
generally vertical slot 42, both extending the length of member 40. Slot 
42 is defined by the space between two legs 43 and 44 which are slightly 
converging. The outer end of leg 44 is enlarged, defining a head 45. Trim 
member 40 is secured to member 23 of drawer pull 41 by virtue of member 23 
being disposed between legs 43 and 44. Because of the convergence of the 
legs and their resilience, member 23 is tightly gripped between leg 43 and 
head 45. 
Latch mechanism 30 further comprises an elongated metal actuator plate 50, 
of generally flattened S shape, including an intermediate portion 53 and 
end portions 54 and 55. A stud 56 is secured to portion 53 generally 
centrally thereon. One end of portion 54 is bent downwardly to form a tab 
57. Actuator plate 50 is located under drawer pull 21. Portion 54 thereof 
is loosely located in slot 41 of trim member 40. Plate 50 is, therefore, 
pivotable with respect to member 40. 
Latch mechanism 30 additionally comprises a latch member 60 including a 
base 61, an arm 62 depending therefrom, and a hook 63 at the end of arm 
62. The rear end of hook 63 defines a camming surface 63a. Base 61 is 
attached as by welding to the underside of portion 53 at the end thereof 
opposite to tab 57. As a result, arm 62 extends laterally from plate 50. 
Latch member 60 and tab 57 prevent plate 50 from sliding longitudinally in 
slot 41, thus preventing plate 50 from sliding out at the ends of trim 
member 40. 
Latch mechanism 30 further comprises a spring 70, one end of which is 
secured to leg 44 of trim member 40 and the other end of which is secured 
to stud 56 on the plate 50. Spring 70 biases actuator plate 50 clockwise, 
as viewed in FIG. 4. 
Latch mechanism 30 further comprises keeper structure 80 which includes a 
base 81, an arm 82 extending upwardly therefrom, and a keeper 83 extending 
outwardly and perpendicularly from arm 82. Base 81 is secured to side wall 
12 of cabinet 10 adjacent latch member 60. 
Hook 63 is biased clockwise by gravity and the action of spring 70, so as 
to be automatically hooked onto keeper 83 when the drawer is closed. 
In order to open a drawer, one's fingers are placed beneath the drawer pull 
21 and in contact with intermediate portion 53 of actuator plate 50. As 
one pulls against the drawer pull 21 so as to open the drawer, actuator 50 
is pivoted counterclockwise towards member 23. As a result, latch member 
60 is disengaged from keeper 83, thereby unlatching the latching mechanism 
as depicted in FIG. 5. Drawer pull 21 can be grasped at any point along 
the length thereof to unlatch the latching mechanism and enable drawer 20 
to be opened. Then, actuator 50 is released whereupon latch member 60 
returns to its maximum clockwise position under the influence of spring 70 
and gravity. When the drawer is thereafter closed, cam surface 63a, being 
aligned with keeper 83 strikes it, causing member 60 to be pivoted 
counterclockwise until it clears the keeper, and then snaps to the 
latching position depicted in FIG. 4 by the action of spring 70. 
What has been described therefore is an improved latch mechanism of simpler 
construction than that heretofore available. While a particular embodiment 
of this invention has been described, it is understood that changes can be 
made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention 
as defined in the claims.