Abstract:
A drawer security attachment includes an attachment flange or brackets and a cover extending from the bracket. The flange or brackets attach to the inner surface of the drawer face, and the cover extends across the width of the otherwise open top of the drawer to inhibit access to the drawer contents. The flange and cover may be a single, monolithic sheet of flexible plastic, or may comprise rigid components secured to one another by a hinge. The cover portion includes a catch engagement passage(s), with a pin(s) extending downwardly from the upper portion of the drawer opening. The panel is urged upwardly against the upper portion of the drawer opening, with the engagement passage(s) automatically catching on the pin(s) as the drawer is opened. The cover can include extendable wings to match an overall width of the cover to the drawer width.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/810,647, filed Jun. 5, 2006. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to security devices, and more particularly to a protective panel automatically deployed across the top of an open drawer to conceal and protect the contents of the drawer, particularly from younger and/or smaller children. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The typical household contains innumerable devices and articles that are best kept from persons not authorized to see or use them. This is particularly true where children are living in the household, or at least have occasion to visit from time to time. People, and particularly children, tend to be curious and inquisitive by nature, and will explore areas that are, or should be, off limits to them. This has led to tragic accidents from time to time when unauthorized persons, particularly children, gain access to firearms, matches, knives, and/or other potentially hazardous or dangerous devices or materials without the knowledge of their parents or guardian. While such potentially dangerous articles as those noted above are of particular concern for the physical safety and well being of the child and/or others in the household, the list of articles and devices that should be kept from visitors and children goes far beyond those articles, and may include such sensitive devices as important documents, small valuables, etc. 
   Accordingly, a number of different devices have been developed to preclude or limit access to the drawer of a desk, kitchen drawers, chest of drawers, or the like. These various devices generally comprise relatively thin, elongate hooks, rods, or similar structures, which connect between the inner surface of the face of a movable drawer and the fixed structure (cabinet, chest, etc.) supporting the drawer. Some of these devices attach to the side of the drawer and engage the side of the drawer opening. All such devices are intended to drastically limit the opening of the drawer, but the relatively narrow shanks of such devices do nothing to prevent someone from reaching into the drawer through the limited opening provided. In fact, access to the drawer interior is required with most of these devices in order to allow a person to unhook or disconnect the device from the interior of the cabinet or chest in order to allow the drawer to be opened fully. 
   The present inventors have recognized that a person (particularly a small child with small hands) may reach into the drawer through the limited opening and access the contents of the drawer. The heretofore known devices do little to block the opening between the front of the drawer and the face of the cabinet or chest of drawers to preclude access to the contents of the drawer through the limited opening. 
   Thus, the present inventors have recognized that a drawer security attachment solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The drawer security attachment has a continuous panel that extends from the inner surface of the face of a drawer across the otherwise open top of the drawer, and spans the entire width of the drawer to completely block access to the contents of the drawer. The device includes a drawer face attachment flange that secures to the inner surface of the face of the drawer, and a cover that extends over the otherwise open top of the drawer. The attachment flange and cover may comprise a single, monolithic sheet of flexible plastic, allowing the cover to flex at its juncture with the attachment flange, or may comprise relatively rigid components secured to one another by a mechanical hinge or series of hinges. In the various embodiments, the cover is urged upwardly either by its monolithic attachment with the flange or brackets or by one or more springs at the hinge connection between the cover and flange. 
   All embodiments include at least one catch engagement passage formed through the sheet or panel, which automatically engages a corresponding number of pins secured to the underside of the upper portion of the drawer opening. As the drawer is opened, the panel is urged against the upper portion of the drawer opening and the engagement passage(s) catch(es) on the pin(s) to stop further opening of the drawer. The engagement passages(s) may be configured with a narrower slot extending therefrom, and the pin(s) may be configured with a narrower portion between the head and the base. This arrangement captures the engagement slot positively upon the pin as the narrower slot is pulled about the narrower portion of the pin, thereby preventing a person from pushing the protective panel downwardly into the drawer. The engagement passage(s) may be symmetrical, with a narrower slot extending to each side or end of the centrally disposed larger diameter opening. The drawer is closed, or opened, slightly to align the larger diameter portion of the engagement passage with the head of the pin before the panel may be lowered to disengage it from the pin and allow the drawer to be either opened fully or closed. 
   According to one embodiment, the cover is comprised of three portions, a central portion and opposite end portions that are adjustably extendable laterally in order to match the overall width of the cover to an inside width of the drawer to ensure substantially complete coverage of the drawer opening. 
   Numerous other advantages and features of the present invention will be become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof, from the claims and from the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an environmental, perspective view of the drawer security attachment according to the present invention, showing its general configuration and operation. 
       FIG. 2  is a side elevation view in section through a chest of drawers, showing further details of the drawer security attachment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a partial bottom perspective view of the drawer security attachment of the present invention, showing the security catch mechanism. 
       FIG. 4  is a side elevation view in section through a chest of drawers, showing details of an alternative embodiment of a drawer security attachment according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 6  is an exploded top perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 7  is a rear perspective view of a portion of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 8  is a bottom view of the embodiment of  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 9  is a sectional view taken generally along line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 10  is a plan view of the embodiment of  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 11  is a front view of the embodiment of  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 12  is a bottom view of the embodiment of  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 13  is a fragmentary, enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 12 . 
       FIG. 13A  is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line  13 A- 13 A of  FIG. 13 . 
       FIG. 14  is a bottom view of a center portion of the embodiment of  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 15  is a bottom view of an end portion of the embodiment of  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 16  is a fragmentary, enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 15 . 
   

   Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail preferred features of the invention. It will be understood, however, that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific form of the combination of features that are illustrated and described. 
   The present invention comprises various embodiments of a drawer security attachment having a flexible or hinged panel that spans substantially the entire interior volume of the drawer and extends over at least a portion of the interior volume of the drawer and its contents to block casual access to the contents of the drawer.  FIG. 1  provides an environmental perspective view showing the operation of the drawer security attachment  10  installed within a drawer D that has been pulled open by a small child C. The security attachment  10  includes a panel or drawer content cover  12  which spans essentially the entire width W of the drawer D, as is clearly shown in  FIG. 1 , to preclude casual access to the contents of the drawer D. 
   In the case of drawers D having relatively low sides, the cover  12  may optionally include lateral extensions  13 , as shown in broken lines to the left side of the drawer cover  12  in  FIG. 1 . Such extensions  13  overlap the upper edge of the side panels of the drawer, thereby making it more difficult for a person to insert his or her hand between the cover  12  and the upper edge of a relatively low drawer side panel. 
   The cover  12  automatically locks into place against the overlying upper frame member U of the drawer opening O to keep the drawer D from being opened further without proper manipulation of the drawer D and cover  12 , as explained further below. 
     FIG. 2  provides a more detailed side elevation view in section of the present drawer security attachment  10 , showing further details thereof. The content cover  12  comprises a flexible panel of plastic or other suitable material, which is formed integrally with a drawer front attachment flange  14 . The attachment flange  14  may comprise a single, elongate flange having essentially the same width as the drawer content cover  12  and spanning essentially the entire interior width W of the drawer D, or may alternatively comprise a series of tabs extending from the attachment edge of the cover  12 . The attachment flange  14  secures to the inner surface I of the drawer front face F, e.g., by screws  16  or other suitable attachment means. 
   The drawer content cover  12  flexes resiliently along its integral attachment edge  18  with the drawer front attachment flange  14 . The attachment edge  18  may be thinned or narrowed, as shown in  FIG. 2 , to facilitate flexibility along that line. The cover  12  need not be particularly deep, i.e., need not extend deeply into the drawer D from the front face F of the drawer toward the back of the drawer. The depth need only be sufficient to provide essentially complete coverage of the drawer contents when the drawer D is opened a few inches or so, generally as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
   The drawer content cover  12  has an upwardly convex arch toward the upper frame member U of the drawer opening O when the drawer D is opened, as is shown clearly in the side elevation view in section in  FIG. 2 . The hinge line  18  joining the content cover  12  to the flange  14  is formed to urge or flex the content cover  12  upwardly, to be biased against the overlying upper frame member U of the drawer opening O when the drawer D is opened. The resilient, flexible nature of the cover  12  and its hinge line  18  with its attachment flange  14  results in the upper surface of the cover  12  bearing against the lower surface L of the upper frame member U of the drawer opening O, or against any protrusions depending from the lower surface L of the upper member U. 
   The drawer content cover  12  is formed with at least one, pin engagement passage(s)  20  therethrough, an example of which is shown in the detailed perspective view of  FIG. 3 . These passages  20  automatically engage corresponding cover catch pins  22 , which are secured to the lower surface L of the upper frame member U of the drawer opening. The pins  22  may alternatively comprise conventional screws  24 , as shown in the side elevation view in section of  FIG. 2 . Preferably the pins  22  or screws  24  are provided with a relatively narrow shank or neck portion  26  and a relatively larger diameter distal head portion  28 , as shown clearly in  FIG. 3 . The pin engagement passages  20  are preferably formed to have a relatively wider or larger diameter catch pin clearance portion  30 , which is at least slightly larger in diameter than the head  28  of the catch pin  22  or screw  24 . A narrower slot extends from the wider diameter portion  30 , which the slot being narrower than the diameter of the catch pinhead  28 , but at least slightly wider than the diameter of the narrower neck portion  26 . At least one such slot is provided, but preferably two slots  32   a  and  32   b  are provided on diametrically opposite sides of the central larger diameter catch pin clearance portion  30  of the passage  20 . 
   When the drawer D is pulled open, the inherent upward bias of the drawer content cover  12  causes the catch pin clearance portion  30  of the pin engagement passage  20  to pass upwardly around the head  28  of the catch pin  22  (or screw  24 , as in  FIG. 2 ), toward the narrower neck portion  26  of the pin. Further opening of the drawer D results in the narrower slotted portion  32   a  of the catch pin engagement passage  20  sliding about the narrower necked portion  26  of the pin. This simultaneously prevents the drawer D from being opened further, and also prevents the cover  12  from being pushed downwardly to disengage from the pin  22  (or  24 ) due to the slotted portion  32  of the passage  20  being too narrow to pass over the larger diameter head  28  of the catch pin  22  or screw  24 . The only way the drawer D may be opened further is to first push it slightly closed to align the larger diameter portion  30  of the catch pin engagement passage  20  with the head  28  of the pin or screw, and then to push the cover  12  slightly downwardly (as shown in broken lines in  FIGS. 2 and 4 ) to cause the larger diameter portion  30  of the passage  20  to pass over the head  28  of the pin or screw, while simultaneously pulling the drawer D open. The relatively shallow depth of the cover  12  allows the cover to flex upwardly to a vertical position, or for the user to flex the cover upwardly, without having the cover block a substantial vertical span or area above the drawer front F. 
   A person who does not have a thorough understanding of the above described latch or catch assembly, may attempt to disengage the cover  12  from the pin(s)  22  by pushing the drawer closed again, essentially attempting to reverse the action which cased the cover  12  to catch on the pin(s)  22 . However, with the two diametrically opposed slots  32   a  and  32   b , the cover  12  will remain engaged upon the pin(s)  22  as the drawer is pushed closed and the second slot  32   b  engages the narrower shank portion  26  of the pin(s). It will thus be seen that the drawer D must be precisely positioned to align the wider central catch pin clearance portions(s)  30  of the passage(s)  20  with the corresponding head(s)  28  of the pin(s)  22 , in order to disengage the cover  12  from the pin(s). A person who understands the above described catch pin and engagement passage configuration need only apply slight downward pressure to the drawer content cover  12  while sliding the drawer D slightly inwardly or outwardly until the wider central portion  30  of the engagement passage(s)  20  align with the head(s)  28  of the pin(s)  22 . When this occurs, the cover  12  will flex downwardly to disengage from the pin(s)  22 , whereupon the drawer D may be opened further as desired. Once the drawer D is opened sufficiently for the distal edge of the cover  12  to clear the drawer opening, the inherent spring tension provided by the material along the hinge line  18  causes the cover  12  to fold upwardly, thereby exposing the contents of the drawer for access. 
     FIG. 4  of the drawings provides a side elevation view in section of an alternative embodiment of a drawer security attachment, designated as attachment  50 . The embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4  is quite similar to the embodiment  10  of  FIGS. 1 through 3 , excepting the connection between the drawer content cover panel and its drawer front attachment flange. In the embodiment  50  of  FIG. 4 , the drawer content cover  52  is connected to the attachment flange  54  by a mechanical cover attachment hinge  58 , rather than the cover and flange being formed as a unitary flexible sheet, as in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The attachment flange  54  is secured to the inner surface I of the front face F of the drawer D by a series of screws  56 , corresponding to the attachment screws  16  of the embodiment  10  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , or other suitable attachment means. In the embodiment  50  of  FIG. 4 , the cover  52  (and flange  54 ) may be formed of more rigid materials, e.g., sheet metal, etc., if so desired. One or more springs  59  (e.g., coiled about the hinge  58 , or leaf or other spring type) are biased against the face of the drawer front attachment flange  54  and attachment edge portion of the cover  52 , urging the cover  52  upwardly against the lower surface L of the upper frame member U of the drawer opening O to engage the catch pin, e.g., screw  64  in  FIG. 4 , just as in the case of the embodiment  10  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The springs  59  provide sufficient force to cause the cover  52  to pivot upwardly about its hinge  58  to allow complete access to the interior of the drawer when the distal edge clears the drawer opening as the drawer is more fully opened. 
     FIG. 5  provides a perspective view of an alternate embodiment drawer security attachment assembly  100  to be installed within a drawer D such as shown in  FIG. 1  in a similar fashion to the previously described embodiments. The security attachment assembly  100  includes a panel or drawer content cover  112  which spans essentially the entire width W of the drawer D, to preclude casual access to the contents of the drawer D. 
   The cover  112  automatically locks into place against the overlying upper frame member U of the drawer opening O to keep the drawer D from being opened farther without proper manipulation of the drawer D and cover  112 , as explained further below. 
   The cover  112  includes a central portion  114  and two adjustably extendable end portions  116 ,  118  that are identical in configuration. The center portion  114  includes a longitudinal slot  122 , and two collinear lateral slots  124 ,  126 . The center portion  114  is connected via plastic living hinges  130   a ,  132   a  to two attachment brackets  130 ,  132  that secure to the inner surface I of the drawer front face F. e.g., by screws  16  or other suitable attachment means such as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
   The central portion  114  and end portions  116 ,  118  each comprise a flexible panel of plastic or other suitable material. The central portion  114  flexes resiliently along the living hinges  130   a ,  132   a  of the brackets  130 ,  132 . The brackets  130 ,  132  are formed integrally with the central portion  114  and the living hinges  130   a ,  132   a  are formed by the material between the central portion  114  and the brackets  130 ,  132  being thinned or narrowed to facilitate flexibility along that hinges. 
   The cover  112  need not be particularly deep, i.e., it need not extend deeply into the drawer D from the front face F of the drawer toward the back of the drawer. The depth need only be sufficient to provide essentially complete coverage of the drawer contents when the drawer D is opened a few inches or so, generally as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
   The drawer content cover  112 , including the portions  114 ,  116 ,  118 , has an upwardly convex arch toward the upper frame member U of the drawer opening O when the drawer D is opened as shown in  FIG. 9 . The hinges  130   a ,  132   a  joining the content cover  112  to the brackets  130 ,  132  is formed to urge or flex the content cover  112  upwardly, to be biased against the overlying upper frame member U of the drawer opening O when the drawer D is opened. The resilient, flexible nature of the cover  112  and its hinges  130   a ,  132   a  with its attachment brackets  130 ,  132  results in the upper surface of the cover  112  bearing against the lower surface L of the upper frame member U of the drawer opening O, or against any protrusions depending from the lower surface L of the upper member U. 
   The slot  122  automatically engages a corresponding cover catch pin  138  formed on an L-shaped bracket  140 , which is secured to the lower surface L of the upper frame member U of the drawer opening. The inside surfaces  140   a ,  140   b  ( FIG. 9 ) of the L-shaped bracket can be provided with an adhesive covered by a release sheet that can be removed during installation of the apparatus to a drawer and the bracket  140  pressed against the surfaces L and/or M respectively ( FIG. 2 ) to install the bracket  140  and thus the pin  138  to the frame member U instead of by fastening the pin by screwing as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
   The pin  138  is provided with a relatively narrow shank or neck portion  141  and a relatively larger diameter distal head portion  142 , as shown clearly in  FIG. 7 . The slot  122  is preferably formed to have a relatively wider or larger diameter catch pin clearance portion  146 , which is at least slightly larger in diameter than the head  142  of the catch pin  138 . Narrower slot portions  148 ,  149  extends in opposite longitudinal directions from the wider diameter portion  146 , which the slot being narrower than the diameter of the catch pin head  142 , but at least slightly wider than the diameter of the narrower neck portion  141 . 
   When the drawer D is pulled open, the inherent upward bias of the drawer content cover  112  causes the catch pin clearance portion  146  of the pin engagement slot  122  to pass upwardly around the head  142  of the catch pin  138 , toward the narrower neck portion  141  of the pin. Further opening of the drawer D results in the narrower slotted portion  149  of the catch pin engagement slot  122  sliding along the narrower necked portion  141  of the pin until the pin reaches a terminal point  149   a  of the slotted portion  149 . This simultaneously prevents the drawer D from being opened further, and also prevents the cover  112  from being pushed downwardly to disengage from the pin  138  due to the slotted portion  149  of the slot  122  being too narrow to pass over the larger diameter head  142  of the catch pin  138 . The only way the drawer D may be opened further is to first push it slightly closed to align the larger diameter portion  146  of the catch pin engagement slot  122  with the head  142  of the pin  138 , and then to push the cover  112  slightly downwardly to cause the larger diameter portion  146  of the slot  122  to pass over the head  142  of the pin, while simultaneously pulling the drawer D open. The relatively shallow depth of the cover  112  allows the cover to flex upwardly to a vertical position, or for the user to flex the cover upwardly, without having the cover block a substantial vertical span or area above the drawer front F. 
   A person who does not have a thorough understanding of the above described latch or catch assembly, may attempt to disengage the cover  112  from the pin  138  by pushing the drawer closed again, essentially attempting to reverse the action which caused the cover  112  to catch on the pin  138 . However, with the two diametrically opposed slots  148 ,  149 , the cover  112  will remain engaged upon the pin  138  as the drawer is pushed closed and the second slot  148  engages the narrower shank  141  of the pin. It will thus be seen that the drawer D must be precisely positioned to align the wider central catch pin clearance portion  146  of the slot  122  with the corresponding head  142  of the pin  138 , in order to disengage the cover  112  from the pin. When the head  142  registers with the wider clearance portion  146  a slight click may be felt. A small formation such as a small molded bump or button (not shown) can be molded onto an underside of the central portion  114  adjacent the clearance portion  146  to amplify or enhance this click. 
   A person who understands the above described catch pin and engagement passage configuration need only apply slight downward pressure to the drawer content cover  112  while sliding the drawer D slightly inwardly or outwardly until the wider clearance portion  146  of the engagement slot  122  aligns with the head  142  of the pin  138 . When this occurs, the cover  112  will flex downwardly to disengage from the pin  138 , whereupon the drawer D may be opened further as desired. Once the drawer D is opened sufficiently for the distal edge of the cover  112  to clear the drawer opening, the inherent spring tension provided by the material along the hinges  130   a ,  132   a  causes the cover  112  to fold upwardly, thereby exposing the contents of the drawer for access. 
   The embodiment of  FIGS. 5-16  provides enhanced coverage of the top open space of an opened drawer in that the end portions  116 ,  118  are adjustable outwardly from the central portion  114  to create an overall lateral dimension W 1  ( FIG. 10 ) that substantially matches the width W of the drawer. 
   To accomplish this lateral adjustability, the end portions  130 ,  132  each include a body portion  160  formed with opposing guide portions  164 ,  166 . The guide portions  164 ,  166  include detents  164   a ,  166   a  that have tapered ends that extend longitudinally in opposite directions. The detents  164   a ,  164   b  are formed on cantilever portions  164   b ,  166   b  (see  FIGS. 15  and  16 ) and are offset in elevation from the cantilever portions, as shown in  FIG. 13A . 
   During assembly of the end portions  116 ,  118  with the central portion  114 , outer edge regions of the guide portions  164 ,  166  of each end portion  116 ,  118  are slidably or telescopically fit into respective laterally extending C-shaped channels  167 ,  169  that are arranged on opposite longitudinal ends of the central portion  114 . The channels  167 ,  169  are formed by L-shaped walls  176 ,  178  extending down from of the central portion.  FIGS. 13 and 13A  illustrate a guide  166  slid into the channel  167  formed by the wall  176 . The simultaneous fitment of the opposite guide  164  into the channel  169  is identical. 
   One of two pins  168  or other suitable element slides through the respective collinear lateral slot  124 ,  126  during lateral dimension adjustment of the cover  112 . The pins serve as limit stops for the inward and outward movement of the end portions  116 ,  118  with respect to the central portion  114 , and help to guide the lateral adjustment along with the channels  167 ,  169 . 
   The opposite detents  164   a ,  166   a  engage selected oppositely disposed notches  176   a ,  178   a  formed along the facing surfaces of the laterally extending walls  176 ,  178  of the central portion  114 , as shown in  FIG. 12 . The detents  164   a ,  166   a  are offset in elevation on the cantilever portions  164   b ,  166   b  of the guides  164 ,  166  respectively so that the detents  164   a ,  166   a  can engage the notches  176   a ,  178   a  while the outside edges of the guides  164 ,  166  can slide through the channels  167 ,  169 . The detents  164   a ,  166   a  are formed on the cantilever portions  164   b ,  166   b  of the guides  164 ,  166  respectively such that the detents have sufficient resiliency to be flexibly released from the notches  176   a ,  178   a  by bending of the cantilever portions  164   b ,  166   b  toward each other. 
   In conclusion, the drawer security attachment in its various embodiments provides excellent protection against casual entry into a kitchen drawer, a drawer in a chest of drawers, when installed therein. The upward biasing of the cover panel assures that it will automatically engage the cooperating catch pin to stop the opening of the drawer after only a few inches or so. Moreover, the configuration of the catch pin(s) and corresponding passage(s) in the cover require specific manipulation of the drawer in order to disengage the cover from the pin(s), which will likely be beyond the knowledge or abilities of a small child who is unaware of the operation of the drawer security attachment. 
   However, when a knowledgeable adult desires access to the contents of the drawer, he or she need only pull the drawer open, then push the drawer slightly closed while pushing downwardly on the cover to disengage the cover from the pin(s). The drawer may then be opened normally, with the biasing of the cover urging it to a fully opened position to provide complete access to the contents of the drawer. Closure of the drawer is accomplished by reversing the above procedure, i.e., tucking the cover back into the drawer opening and pushing the drawer closed. Accordingly, the drawer security attachment will prove to be a most valuable and desirable household accessory for parents and guardians of small children and others who have need to protect drawers and the like from casual entry. 
   It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.