Patent Publication Number: US-7901017-B1

Title: Security file cabinet with self-closing, self-locking drawers

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention pertains to locking and closing assemblies and mechanisms for lateral and vertical security file cabinets, and more particularly pertains to a security file cabinet having a drawer return mechanism that closes the drawers at a controlled rate and wherein a lock return mechanism returns the lock to the locked position and the key is released by the user. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In this era of competition and competitiveness regarding information of any kind, and especially the confidential information of a business, medical, legal, or scientific company or institution, the secure storage of such information is of critical importance to all businesses and institutions. While information is stored electronically and on various types of computer disks and drives, a large bulk of information is still recorded on paper files and documents, and must be securely stored with access controlled thereto. Thus, filing and storage cabinets are the primary storage device for all manner of hard copy records, files, and documents, and a wide range of locking, closing, latching and access devices and mechanisms have been used to safely store such vital items and control access to these items. 
     For example, representative references in the prior art that disclose drawer cabinets that include self-closing drawers in which the drawers are provided with a spring mechanism for biasing the drawer to a closed position upon release include: the Becker Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 2,873,159), the Rock Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,207,781), the Lam et al. Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,953,233), the Wiklund et al. Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 7,077,488), and the Lee Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 7,083,243). 
     The Chen Patent (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0261716) discloses a file cabinet system in which the drawer automatically locks when disposed in the closed position, and stays in that state until the locking device is released. Other Patents that disclose this type of assembly include: the Schaffert Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 1,006,983), the Wolters Patent (1,700,299), the Ratner Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 3,674,360), the Chovance et al. Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 3,774,985), the Steinke Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,352,529), the McKernan et al. Patent (4,606,266), the Kritselis Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,721,347), and the Cho Patent (6,347,848). 
     References that disclose locks in general that require the lock to be in the locked position before the key can be removed from the lock include: the Schribner Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 851,900), the Diehl Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 973,920), the Lapidus Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 1,076,587), the Sedlacsek Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 1,154,271), the Wyckoff Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 1,239,244), and the Swanson Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 2,469,018). 
     References that disclose the general state of the art of locking mechanisms and assemblies include: the Heotes Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 1,450,974), the Miller et al. Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 2,105,983), the Chatterson et al. Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,662,689), and the Lambert Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,723,850). 
     Nonetheless, despite the wide-ranging ingenuity of the above mechanisms, assemblies, and devices in the security file, cabinet, and drawer fields, there remains a need for a security file cabinet assembly that includes the capability of returning the lock to the locked position when the key is released by the user and a constant rate return mechanism that returns the drawer to the closed position within the cabinet upon release of the drawer. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention comprehends a security file cabinet having at least one self-closing and self-locking drawer and a return mechanism for returning the drawer to the closed position at a constant rate after the drawer has been released by the user. 
     The security file drawer includes a security file cabinet having at least one, and generally, two or more slidable and lockable cabinet drawers. The security file cabinet includes a top wall, a bottom panel, opposed sidewalls, a back wall, and an upper front panel strip, and is also defined by having a front and a back or rear. Mounted to the inside surfaces of the sidewalls are guide rails that support and guide the slidable movement of the cabinet drawers during their opening and closing. In addition, a channel is centrally mounted to the back wall and vertically extends therealong from the bottom panel to the top wall. A lock assembly is mounted to the upper front panel strip so that the individual can insert a key in the lock and rotate the lock clockwise for opening the file drawer. A spring return mechanism automatically returns the lock of the lock assembly to the locked position immediately upon the individual manually releasing his or her grasp on the key. 
     Mounted to each inside surface of each sidewall, and adjacent to the front of the file cabinet, is a lock bar. The lock bars are further denoted as the left hand lock bar and the right hand lock bar relative to the individual situated directly in front of the security file cabinet, and the lock bars are slidably movable up and down consonant with the rotation of the lock as part of the process of opening (unlocking) and closing (locking) the cabinet drawer(s). Each lock bar is attached at its respective upper end to the lock assembly by an intermediate linkage bar that extends along the inside of the upper front panel strip. Inserting the key in the lock assembly and turning the key causes the lock to rotate, and this rotation is conveyed by a lock cam to the intermediate linkage bars, which, in turn, is transmitted to the lock bars as linear motion thereby actuating the up and down movement of the lock bars for unlocking and locking the cabinet drawers. It should be noted that during the process of both unlocking and locking the cabinet drawers, the vertical movement of the left hand lock bar is in the opposite direction as the vertical movement of the right hand lock bar. 
     Each file drawer for the security file cabinet includes a drawer front panel, opposed drawer side panels, a drawer back panel, and a drawer underside or bottom panel. Mounted on the exterior sides of the side panels of each drawer is a protrusion, and the protrusions are positioned so that they interact with lock catches that are pivotally mounted to the lock bars for allowing the drawers to be opened when the lock is turned to the unlock position, and for preventing the drawers from being pulled open after the drawers have been released, have passed by the lock catches, and returned to the closed position. A security file cabinet having two lateral sliding security file drawers will have four pivotally mounted lock catches, more specifically denoted an upper and a lower lock catch pivotally mounted to the left hand lock bar and an upper and lower lock catch pivotally mounted to the right hand lock bar. The pivotal movement of the lock catches occurs when the drawers are released so that as the drawers close the protrusions contact and pivot the lock catches out of the way thereby permitting the drawers to return to the fully closed and locked position. 
     The security file cabinet of the present invention also includes a return mechanism that returns the drawers to the closed position at a constant and controlled speed to avoid the drawers banging against the back wall of the security file cabinet upon their release by the individual. The return mechanism can be adapted for one or more drawers, and if the security file cabinet contains, for example, two drawers, each drawer has its own automatic return mechanism that operates independently of the return mechanism for the other drawer. The return mechanism includes a coil spring mounted to the back channel by an axle and bracket. The distal end of the coil spring, sized to control the rate of acceleration, is attached to the drawer underside, and when the drawer is unlocked and then pulled out the coil spring is unwound or paid out with the opening of the drawer. As soon as the individual releases the key so that the lock return mechanism returns the lock to the locked position, and then releases his/her hold on the drawer, the coil spring instantly actuates to slowly wind at a controlled rate of acceleration and return the drawer, concomitant with the winding of the coil spring, to the closed position within the security file cabinet. 
     The lock return mechanism, the pivotally mounted lock catches, and the controlled rate of acceleration coil spring can also be adapted to function with a no key lock assembly that may consist of access code buttons and a rotatably mounted lock engagement button that is rotated for unlocking the drawer after the correct access code has been entered via the access code buttons. Other types of no key or keyless lock assemblies that can be incorporated into the system of the present invention can include electronic locks (combination, proximity, or remote access), biometric locks and RFID-based locks. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a self-closing, self-locking security file drawer that includes a return mechanism centrally mounted to the inside back wall surface of the cabinet for returning the drawer to the closed position at a controlled rate of acceleration upon the drawer being released by the user. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a self-closing, self-locking security file drawer wherein the return mechanism is a constant force return spring with one end attached to the underside of the drawer. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a self-closing, self-locking security file drawer wherein the key can only be removed from the lock when the lock is in the locked position so that the key stays with the lock when in the unlocked position. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a self-closing, self-locking security file drawer wherein the controlled rate of acceleration return mechanism can be integrated with no key lock assemblies. 
     It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a self-closing, self-locking security file drawer that includes a lock assembly that is spring biased for automatically returning the lock of the lock assembly to the locked position upon release of the key by the user. 
     It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a self-closing, self-locking security file drawer wherein the spring biased return mechanism for the lock of the lock assembly is accomplished by an extension spring. 
     These and other objects, features, and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a perusal of the following detailed description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures and appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of the self-closing, self-locking security file cabinet of the present invention showing the disposition of the constant force return springs and the lock catches for the drawers of a lateral file cabinet when the drawers are in the closed and locked disposition; 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the self-closing, self-locking security file cabinet of the present invention showing the unwound disposition of the upper constant force return spring when the upper cabinet drawer is fully opened; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the self-closing, self-locking security file cabinet of the present invention illustrating the mounting of the constant force return spring to a channel centrally mounted to the inside surface of the back wall of the cabinet with the return spring unwound concomitant with the opening of the drawer; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the self-closing, self-locking security file cabinet of the present invention illustrating the rotation of the key in the lock for permitting the opening of the upper drawer of the file cabinet; 
         FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the self-closing, self-locking security file cabinet of the present invention illustrating the orientation of one lock catch mounted to the lock bar designated the left hand lock bar; 
         FIG. 6  is a side elevational view of the self-closing, self-locking security file cabinet of the present invention illustrating the pivotal mounting of the lock catches, specifically designated the upper and lower left hand lock catches, to the lock bar denoted the left hand lock bar; 
         FIG. 7  is a top plan view of the self-closing, self-locking security file cabinet of the present invention illustrating the orientation of one lock catch mounted to the lock bar denoted the right hand lock bar; 
         FIG. 8  is a side elevational view of the self-closing, self-locking security file cabinet of the present invention illustrating the pivotal mounting of the lock catches, specifically designated the upper and lower right hand lock catches, to the lock bar denoted the right hand lock bar; 
         FIG. 9  is a sectioned elevational view of the self-closing, self-locking security file cabinet of the present invention illustrating the securement of the distal end of the constant rate coil spring to the underside of one drawer; 
         FIG. 10   a  is a partial top plan view of the self-closing, self-locking security file cabinet of the present invention illustrating the lock assembly and the lock return mechanism in the form of an extension spring that automatically returns the lock assembly to the lock position when the key is released; 
         FIG. 10   b  is a partial front elevational view of the self-closing, self-locking security file cabinet of the present invention illustrating the disposition of the lock assembly when the drawer is in the locked disposition; 
         FIG. 11   a  is a partial side elevational view of the self-closing, self-locking security file cabinet of the present invention illustrating the upper drawer fully opened and the constant rate coil spring paid out or unwound as a result of the upper drawer being opened; 
         FIG. 11   b  is a partial side elevational view of the self-closing, self-locking security file cabinet of the present invention illustrating the upper drawer in an intermediate position between the opening and closing of the drawer; 
         FIG. 11   e  is a partial side elevational view of the self-closing, self-locking security file cabinet of the present invention illustrating the upper drawer of the file cabinet in the completely closed and locked disposition and the constant rate coil spring in the fully wound disposition; 
         FIG. 12   a  is a front elevational view of the self-closing, self-locking security file cabinet of the present invention illustrating the disposition of the left hand and right hand lock bars and the upper and lower left hand and right hand lock catches relative to the corresponding protrusions on the file drawers after the lock has been rotated to the open position for opening the upper and lower drawers of the cabinet; 
         FIG. 12   b  is a front elevational view of the self-closing, self-locking security file cabinet of the present invention illustrating the disposition of the left hand and right hand lock bars and the upper and lower left hand and right hand lock catches relative to the corresponding protrusions on the file drawers when the lower and upper file drawers of the cabinet are in the closed and locked disposition; 
         FIG. 13   a  is a partial side elevational view of the self-closing, self-locking security file cabinet of the present invention illustrating the disposition of one drawer as the drawer closes and the lock catch passes underneath and adjacent to the corresponding drawer protrusion mounted to the external surface of one sidewall of the drawer; 
         FIG. 13   b  is a partial side elevational view of the self-closing, self-locking security file cabinet of the present invention illustrating the disposition of the drawer shown in  FIG. 13   a  as the drawer protrusion engages and forces the lock catch to pivot downward as part of the process of the drawer automatically returning upon release to the closed disposition; 
         FIG. 13   c  is a partial side elevational view of the self-closing, self-locking security file cabinet of the present invention illustrating the disposition of the drawer when the drawer protrusion has completely cleared and passed by the corresponding lock catch thereby allowing the lock catch to pivot upward to its normal position thereby blocking any forward movement by the drawer protrusion and maintaining the drawer in the closed disposition; 
         FIG. 14   a  is a partial perspective view of the self-closing, self-locking security file cabinet of the present invention illustrating an alternative key and lock assembly in the form of a no key lock assess system having a pivotal locking/unlocking member for unlocking and locking the file drawers of the security file cabinet; and, 
         FIG. 14   b  is a partial perspective view of the self-closing, self-locking security file cabinet of the present invention illustrating the locking/unlocking member pivoted to unlock the file cabinet after the user has entered the specific code or sequence of numbers using the access code buttons thereby allowing the user to rotate the locking/unlocking member and open the file drawers. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 14   b  is a self-closing, self-locking security file cabinet  10  that incorporates such features as a non-removable key when the lock is in the unlocked position, a lock return mechanism for returning the lock to the locked position by itself and without user assistance, and a drawer return mechanism that automatically returns the drawer to the closed position upon release of the drawer with a constant speed so that the drawer isn&#39;t damaged or bangs against the back wall of cabinet  10 . 
     Security file cabinet  10  of the present invention can include various makes, models, and designs of vertical or lateral file cabinets, and can further include lock assemblies such as a key lock, a combination lock or an electronic lock (combination, proximity, or remote access), as well as various no key lock assemblies. 
     Thus, shown in  FIGS. 1 through 4 , and  9  through  12   b , for representative purposes, is lateral security file cabinet  10  having a plurality of drawers  12  (two for the representative cabinet  10 ), with drawers  12  arranged one above the other, and which selectively open and close with a slidable lateral motion, and whose access is controlled by a standard key and modified lock assembly. Security file cabinet  10  includes a top wall  14 , an opposite bottom or floor panel  16 , opposed sidewalls  18 , and a back wall  20 . Security file cabinet  10  is further defined by having a rear or back area  22  adjacent the back wall  20  and a front area  24  at which drawers  12  open and close. As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , security file cabinet  10  includes an upper front panel strip  26  that horizontally extends across front  24  of cabinet  10  and is adjoined to sidewalls  18 . 
     In addition, each sidewall  18  includes an inside or interior surface  28 , and attached to each inside surface  28  is a sliding support or guide rail  30  for supporting and guiding the drawers  12  in their lateral movement during opening and closing. Two guide rails  30  are used for each drawer  12 , and thus for representative security file cabinet  10  of the present invention, there are two guide rails  30  for each drawer  12 —one guide rail  30  is mounted to each opposed inside surface  28  of each sidewall  18  for each drawer  12 . Sliding supports  30  can be of any conventional type or construction such as ball bearing, telescoping or roller. Mounting drawers  12  within cabinet  10  on such sliding supports  30  allows drawers  12  to be moved back and forth from their open to their closed position, as shown in  FIG. 2 , with the application of relatively little force. As shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  4 ,  9 ,  12   a , and  12   b , a channel  32  is centrally mounted to back wall  20  of cabinet  10  and extends from floor panel  16  to top wall  14 . 
     Illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 4  and  11   a  through  12   b  are drawers  12 , drawers  12  are identical in construction, and each drawer  12  includes a drawer front panel  34 , a drawer back panel  36 , and opposed drawer side panels  38  with the aforementioned elements forming a drawer cavity or body  40  for the placement and storage therein of files, papers, documents, etc. Each drawer  12  also includes an underside panel  42  and each side panel  38  is further defined by having an exterior side surface  44 . Each drawer  12  includes a drawer front  46  that is the area or portion adjacent drawer front panel  34  and a drawer rear or back  48  that is the area or portion adjacent drawer back panel  36 . In addition, fixedly mounted to exterior side surface  44  of each side panel  38  of each drawer  12  is a protrusion or projection  50 . Protrusions  50  are mounted to the adjacent front  46  of each drawer  12  and cooperate with elements hereinafter described to facilitate the opening and closing of drawers  12 . 
     Illustrated in  FIGS. 4 ,  10   a,    10   b,    12   a , and  12   b  is a key and lock assembly  52  for controlling access to the contents stored within drawers  12  so that only authorized personal personnel or employees can have access to the documents stored therein. Lock assembly  52  includes a slot  54  for insertion of an appropriate key  56 , a lock  58  that is rotatable clockwise, within the range of 90 degrees, upon insertion of key  56  and then rotation of key  56  in the desired direction, and a lock cam  60  interconnected to lock  58  but which is not visible to the user when situated in front  24  of security file cabinet  10 . The rotation of key  56  actuates the rotation of lock  58 , and the rotation of lock cam  60  occurs concomitant with the rotation of lock  58 . A pair of intermediate link bars  62  are pivotally adjoined to lock cam  60  with one intermediate link bar  62  adjoined to lock cam  60  and horizontally extending across front  24  of cabinet  10  immediately behind upper front panel strip  26  to sidewall  18  denoted the left hand sidewall (relative to the user standing in front of cabinet  10 ); and one intermediate link bar  62  extending across front  24  of cabinet  10  immediately behind upper front panel strip  26  to sidewall  18  denoted the right hand sidewall (also relative to the user situated directly in front of cabinet  10 ). Nylon lock nuts  64  attach inner ends  66  of intermediate link bars  62  to the rear of lock  58  via linkage members  68  positioned immediately adjacent lock cam  60  and that are part of key and lock assembly  52 . Attachment of inner ends  66  of intermediate link bars  62  to lock cam  60  through linkage members  68  allows the intermediate link bars  62  to freely pivot at these jointures as a result of the rotation of lock cam  60  when lock  58  is rotated for opening and closing drawers  12 . Each intermediate link bar  62  also includes a distal link bar end  70  that extend adjacent to opposed sidewalls  18  of cabinet  10 . 
     Illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 8 ,  12   a , and  12   b  are a pair of elongated lock channels  72  that are integrally formed on inside surfaces  28  of each sidewall  18  adjacent front  24  of cabinet  10 . Lock channels  72  extend therealong from top wall  14  to bottom floor panel  16 . Disposed alongside and parallel to each lock channel is a lock guide  74  with each lock guide  74  being coextensive in length with the respective lock channel  72 . Disposed within each lock channel  72  for selective slidable up and down movement is a lock bar  76  with the slidable up and down movement of lock bars  76  occurring in lock channels  72  and being constrained by adjacent lock guides  74 . The slidable movement of lock bars  76  results and is actuated by key and lock rotation and the engagement of lock cam  60  with inner ends  66  of intermediate link bars  62 . Lock bars  76  are further defined as a left hand lock bar and a right hand lock bar, and each lock bar  76  includes a lower lock bar end  78  and an upper lock bar end  80 . Located at upper end  80  of each lock bar  76  is a linkage slot  82  so that distal end  70  of each intermediate link bar  62  can be inserted into and through respective linkage slot  82 . 
     Illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 8  and  11   a  through  12   b  are a plurality of spring-loaded lock catches  84  that are pivotally mounted to lock bars  76 . Lock catches  84  cooperate with protrusions  50  to allow protrusions  50  to pass by lock catches  84  during the process of opening and closing drawers  12 . The lock catches lift on one side and lower on the other side to let drawers  12  pass when opening, and after the lock catches all rotate to let drawers  12  close. Specifically, for security file cabinet  10  of the present invention having two drawers  12 , four lock catches  84  will be utilized whereby two lock catches  84  are pivotally mounted to lock bar  76  denoted the left-hand lock bar with one lock catch  84  coacting with drawer  12  denoted the upper drawer and one lock catch  84  coacting with drawer  12  denoted the lower drawer. Two lock catches  84  are pivotally mounted to lock bar  76  denoted the right-hand lock bar with one lock catch  84  coacting with drawer  12  denoted the upper drawer and one lock catch  84  coacting with drawer  12  denoted the lower drawer. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 8 , each lock catch  84  is comprised of a mounting portion  86  and a trapezoidal-shaped portion  88 . Mounting portion  86  includes a mounting aperture  90  and an, and trapezoidal-shaped portion  88  includes a pivot aperture  94 . Trapezoidal-shaped portion  88  of each lock catch  84  includes a beveled side  96  that co-acts with corresponding protrusion  50  on drawer  12  to allow drawer  12  to pass by lock catch  84  as part of the process of closing drawer  12 . A mounting pin  98  is inserted through mounting aperture  90  of each lock catch  84  and through the desired opening in lock bar  76  for affixing lock catch  84  to that lock bar  76 . A limit pin  100  is mounted to lock bar  76  and projects slightly through oblong aperture  92  for delimiting the range of pivotal motion of lock catch  84  during the opening and closing of drawer  12 . Thus, each lock catch  84  pivots upon its respective mounting pin  98 , and the range of pivotal motion of each lock catch  84  is delimited by limit pin  100  protruding through oblong aperture  92 , the length or size of oblong aperture  92 , and the range of up-and-down reciprocable slidable movement of lock bars  76  within lock channels  72 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  4 ,  6 , and  8 , the spring loading for returning each lock catch  84  to the lock position (illustrated in  FIG. 1 ), immediately after protrusions  50  have cleared lock catches  84  is accomplished by attaching each lock catch  84  to the corresponding slidable lock bar  76  by a lock catch spring  104  that can be a flexible steel spring. Thus, lock catch springs  104  instantly force lock catches  84  back to the lock position immediately upon protrusions  50  clearing and rearwardly passing by the corresponding lock catches  84  during the process of closing drawers  12 . 
     It should be noted, as shown in  FIGS. 6 ,  8 ,  12   a , and  12   b , that lock catches  84  pivotally mounted to lock bar  76  denoted the left-hand lock bar are disposed below protrusions  50  on drawers  12 , and beveled sides  96  for these lock catches  84  face upper end  80  of this lock bar  76 ; while lock catches  84  that are pivotally mounted to lock bar  76  denoted the right-hand lock bar are disposed above the corresponding protrusions  50  on drawers  12  and their beveled sides  96  face downwardly toward lower end  78  of this lock bar  76 . Moreover, lock catch springs  104  for lock catches  84  on lock bar  76  denoted the left-hand lock bar exert an upwardly directed force to return these lock catches  84  to the locked position while lock catch springs  104  for lock catches  84  on lock bar  76  denoted the right-hand lock bar exert a downwardly directed force to return these lock catches  84  to the locked position. 
     Illustrated in  FIGS. 10   a,    10   b,    12   a , and  12   b  is a lock return means for automatically returning lock  58  to the locked position immediately upon key  56  being released by the user. The lock return means assures that lock  58  doesn&#39;t stay in the unlocked position when key  56  is released or lock  58  is deactivated. The lock return means of the present invention includes spring loaded lock cam  60  and a lock return spring  106  (such as a coil or extension spring) having one end connected to lock assembly  52  and a second end fixedly connected to a horizontal structural support member  108  located immediately behind upper front panel strip  26 . Lock return spring  106  is in the relaxed state, as shown in  FIG. 12   b , when drawers  12  are closed and in the locked position; and when lock  58  is rotated for initiating the process of unlocking drawers  12 , lock return spring  106  is stretched and under tension as shown in  FIG. 12   a . Immediately upon the user releasing lock  58  (by physically releasing his/her hold on key  56 ), spring  106  contracts and automatically returns lock  58  to the locked position. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  11   a  through  12   b , security file cabinet  10  of the present invention includes a controlled rate of acceleration drawer return and closure means for returning open drawer  12  to the closed position when released by the user. The force exerted by the user in opening drawer  12  is stored in and by the drawer return and closure means and used to close drawer  12  with a controlled speed. The force exerted during closure of drawer  12  by the controlled rate of acceleration drawer return and closure means is controlled and maintained at a minimum in order to prevent damage to drawers  12  or cabinet  10  when drawer  12  closes as opposed to drawer closure under standard conditions that do not utilize a closure means. The drawer return and closure means thus includes at least one controlled rate of acceleration coil spring  110  mounted to channel  32  located at back wall  20  of cabinet  10 . A bracket  112  having a pair of spaced-apart bracket members  114  is mounted to channel  32  and is positioned subjacent to underside panel  42  of drawer  12  with coil spring  110  rotatably disposed on an axle  116  with hubs  118  of axle  116  mounted to the opposed bracket members  114 . There will be one coil spring  110  for each drawer  12 , and thus with file cabinet  10  of the present invention will include two coil springs  110 . Each coil spring  110  has a distal end  120  that is secured to underside panel  42  at rear  48  of drawer  12  so that coil spring  110  unwinds as drawer  12  is pulled open after lock  58  is unlocked; and after lock  58  has been released and returned to the locked position by the action of lock return spring  106 , and the user releases his/her grip on drawer  12 , coil spring  110  winds back upon axle  116  in a controlled manner. This winding actuates the retraction of drawer  12  to the fully closed and locked position within cabinet  10 . 
     Illustrated in  FIGS. 14   a  and  14   b  is a representative no key lock assembly  122  that can be used as an alternative embodiment to lock assembly  52  shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  10   a,    10   b,    12   a , and  12   b . No key lock assembly  122  of  FIGS. 14   a  and  14   b  includes a button pad lock  124  that is interconnected to intermediate link bars  62  in any conventional manner, and five oblong-shaped spaced-apart access code buttons  126  that are pressed in a predetermined sequence for entering an access code. A pivotal oblong lock and unlock member  128  interacts with a retractable and extendable lock bolt  130  to actuate intermediate link bars  62  and lock bars  76  for unlocking and locking cabinet  10 .  FIG. 14   a  shows no key lock assembly  122  in the locked position with pivotal oblong lock and unlock member  128  held in the locked position and  FIG. 14   b  shows the no-key lock assembly in the unlocked position. Lock assembly  122  has a barrel identical to key lock  58  previously described. Lock assembly  122  fits into the same slot  54 . Lock assembly  122  is positioned concentric with the pivot point of oblong member  128 . After the user enters the appropriate access code by pressing access code buttons  126  in the right sequence, the lock bolt which is actuated to retract (by a solenoid or other conventional means), thereby allowing the user to rotate lock and unlock member  128  at least 90 degrees, as shown in  FIG. 14   b , to initiate the mechanical process that results in drawer(s)  12  being unlocked. Rotating oblong lock and unlock member  128  back to the horizontal position so that it initiates the process that results in the locking of drawer(s)  12 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 through 12   b , the basic operation of security file cabinet  10  will now be described. With drawers  12  in the closed and locked position as shown in  FIG. 1 , the user will insert key  56  into lock  58  and rotate key  56  for unlocking cabinet  10 . Turning lock  58  causes lock cam  60  to engage intermediate link bars  62  to pivot and move from the position shown in  FIG. 12   b  to the position shown in  FIG. 12   a . The pivotal movement of intermediate link bars  62  will be transmitted as linear motion to left and right lock bars  76  thereby causing lock bar  76  designated the left-hand lock bar to slide downward in its lock channel  72  while, at the same time, causing lock bar  76  designated the right-hand lock bar to slide upward in its lock channel  72 . The slidable opposite movement of lock bars  76  (the left and right-hand lock bars) allows protrusions  50  on all drawers  12  to clear lock catches  84 , and with the user maintaining his/her hold on key  56 , drawers  12  can now be pulled open. Coil spring  110  attached to underside panel  42  of each drawer  12  unwinds concomitant with drawer(s)  12  being pulled open so that when drawer(s)  12  are in the full open position, coil springs  110  are unwound and disposed in the orientation shown in  FIG. 11   a.    
     The user then releases his/her hold on key  56 , and immediately upon releasing key  56  lock return spring  106  automatically returns lock  58  to the locked position by its spring force action, and this transition from the unlocked to the locked state is shown in  FIGS. 12   a  and  12   b  as lock return spring  106  goes from the stretched to the relaxed state corresponding to the locked and then the unlocked positions. The user can then deactivate lock  58 , i.e., remove key  56  from lock  58  or remove the access card for a no key lock assembly, and, at the same time, remove the desired items, files, documents, etc., from drawers  12 . After the documents are retrieved, the user can then release his/her grip on drawers  12 . As the grip on drawers  12  is released, drawers  12  commence retraction back into cabinet  10  by the force of constant rate coil spring  110  as coil spring  110  winds upon axle  116  of bracket  112 . With reference to  FIGS. 13   a - 13   c , as a substantial portion of drawers  12  are retracted into cabinet  10  protrusions  50  on drawers  12  engage lock catches  84  pivotally mounted on lock bars  76  denoted the left and right-hand lock bars. Concomitant with the continued retraction of drawers  12  all protrusions  50  simultaneously contact beveled sides  96  of the corresponding lock catches  84  forcing lock catches  84  to momentarily pivot out of the way to permit the passage of protrusions  50  and the continued retraction of drawers  12 . This interaction between protrusions  50  and lock catches  84  is shown in  FIGS. 13   a  and  13   b . It should be noted that lock catch  84  being pivoted out of the way is one of lock catches  84  mounted to the left-hand lock bar  76  as also shown in  FIGS. 12   a  and  12   b . Lock catches  84  mounted to right-hand lock bar  76  are located above protrusions  50  mounted to drawers  12 , so that protrusions  50  engage and pivot these lock catches  84  upward and out of the way to allow drawers  12  to continue their retraction. Also, the winding of coil springs  110  to retract drawers  12  at a controlled rate of acceleration continues simultaneous with the contact of protrusions  50  with the corresponding lock catches  84 . As protrusions  50  clear lock catches  84  drawers  12  continue their smooth, continuous, uninterrupted rearward travel back into cabinet  10 , and lock catch springs  104  instantly return lock catches  84  to the locked position as shown in  FIG. 13   c . When lock catches  84  are in the position shown in  FIG. 13   c  it is not possible to pull drawers  12  back open as lock catches  84  block any forward movement of protrusions  50 . Drawer(s)  12  are now returned to their fully closed and locked position and coil springs  110  are fully wound back upon axles  116  and all lock catches  84  are disposed to the locked position. 
     A preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed herein, and it should be understood that numerous modifications, alterations, and variations are possible and practicable by those skilled in the art while still remaining within the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.