Patent GB-744698-A (GB)
Title: Filing cabinet locking controls
Inventor: MCCLELLAN RALPH ELLSWORTH
IPC: E05B65/462
Filed: 1953-07-13
Abstract: 744,698. Multiple fastenings. MEILINK STEEL SAFE CO. July 13, 1953, No. 21324/53. Class 44. A filing cabinet 1 or the like provided with an interlinked locking system is characterized by a housing having an opening, a closure for the opening, a pivoted latch 30 mounted on and inside the housing, a latch seat 32 connected with the closure, a movable plunger 7 mounted on the closure, a member 17 for movement relative to the housing, means (11) operable by the plunger for engaging the member 17 when the closure is in closed position to operate the latch 30 to engage the seat 32 to lock the closure in the housing opening, means (8) pivotally mounted with respect to the closure for locking the plunger in the closure when the closure is out of its closed position and cam means 13 on the housing for operating the means 8 to release the plunger to permit the engagement of the means 11 with the member 17. In one example, Fig. 2, each drawer carries a bracket 33 having a recess 32 engageable by the latch 30 pivoted at 27 in the cabinet 1, and the latches 30 are operated simultaneously by means of pin-and-slot connections 24, 25 with a vertically slidable bar 23. A lever 17 pivoted at 18 has a pin-and-slot connection 21, 22 with the bar 23 and can be rotated to effect locking of the drawers by means of the plunger 7 which is slidable when released by a latch 5 controlled by a combination lock 3. If any drawer is open, locking of the drawers is prevented by a slidable latch bar 33<SP>1</SP> having a portion 35 adapted to engage a notch 41, Fig. 2a, in the bar 23 and prevent movement of this bar. On closing the drawer the bar 33<SP>1</SP> is pushed out of the way against spring action. The plunger 7 has a portion 8 pivoted thereto and provided with a notch 9 adapted to engage a stop 12 when the plunger 7 is in its projecting position (Fig. 8, not shown). When the drawer 2 is closed an adjustable stop 11 on the portion 8 rides up the cam 13 so as to engage the lever 17. The lever 17 and latches 30 are thus unaffected by the momentum of the drawer when being closed. In a second embodiment, Fig. 12, a plunger 54 mounted in the front of the top drawer 52 incorporates a key operated bot 55 and has an adjustable stop 56 adapted to engage a thrust bar 57 slidably mounted on pins 60 carried on the cabinet. Movement of the bar 57 against a compression spring 62 effects rocking of a vertically extending bar 65 having a radially projecting pin 64, Fig. 27, engaging a notch in the bar 57 (Fig. 24, not shown). A lever 69 pivoted at 70 is biased by a spring 71 so that one end 68 of the lever 69 engages a cam notch 67 in the bar 65 and so that a pawl 73 connected to the other end of the lever 69 engages a recess 76 in a bracket 77 on the drawer 52. The pawl 73 is pivoted to an overhanging member 72 on the cabinet and has a pin and slot connection 74, 75 with the lever 69. Rocking of the bar 65 effects movement of the pawl 73 into and out of the recess 76. Each drawer carries a bracket 78 with an adjustable stop 79 adapted to abut against a latch 81 as the drawer is closed. The latch 81 is slidably mounted on pins 82 and has a projection 85 biased, by a spring 84 towards engagement with a recess 86, Fig. 27, in the bar 65. Thus if any drawer is open, its projection 85 engages a recess in the bar 65 and prevents rocking thereof. A portion 90 of a spring-biased lever 89 pivoted at 88 on the drawer prevents the plunger 54 being pushed inwardly when the drawer 52 is open, but is moved out of the way, as the drawer is closed, by means of a cam 94 which engages a portion 93 of the lever 89.