Supports: cabinet structure – Gang-bar type locking or latching means – Concealed
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-12
2001-02-13
Cuomo, Peter M. (Department: 3624)
Supports: cabinet structure
Gang-bar type locking or latching means
Concealed
C312S222000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06186606
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
I. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a locking system for a file cabinet and, in particular, to a rotatable cam lock which engages the individual drawer and simultaneously blocks the interlocking mechanism of the file system.
II. Background of the Invention
File systems typically include a plurality of drawers or cabinet doors positioned in a vertical arrangement to maximize storage space. In the case of drawers, the individual drawers are slidably extractable from the cabinet to allow access to the interior contents of the drawer. A flip up door may be employed to enclose the individual storage units facilitating access from the front of the unit rather than the top as in a drawer. In order to maintain stability of the cabinet, it is preferred that only one drawer be allowed to be extracted at a time. Interlocking systems have long been employed which prevent multiple drawers from being opened in such cabinets. However, the prior known file systems employ interlocking systems which are separate from the overall locking assembly for the cabinet. The increased part requirements for such a separate locking system increases the costs and complexity of manufacturing of the cabinet.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior known file cabinets by providing a simple locking system which engages the individual file drawer or door while also blocking the interlocking mechanism of the cabinet to control opening of the drawers.
The file cabinet of the present invention incorporates a plurality of file drawers positioned vertically within the cabinet for individual extraction from the cabinet. The drawers ride on a slider assembly for simple movement into and out of the cabinet. The locking system is incorporated into the side wall of the cabinet for engagement with the individual drawers for locking the entire cabinet preventing extraction of any of the drawers. The lock assembly is a single cam lock which hooks into a front panel of the uppermost drawer and engages the interlocking mechanism of the cabinet thereby preventing the other drawers from being opened.
The locking assembly includes a key-operated spindle rotatable within the cabinet wall. Mounted to the rotatable spindle is a lever hook which is movable between an unlocked position and a locked position. The lever hook includes a hook and an end-plate. In the locked position the hook is inserted into an aperture of the front panel of the cabinet while the end plate engages the interlocking mechanism preventing extraction of the drawers. The interlocking mechanisms controls movement of the drawers when one of the drawers has been pulled out. As a result, a simple, single locking mechanism is used to control access to the contents of the file cabinet.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1013444 (1912-01-01), Robbins
patent: 1740672 (1929-12-01), Vignos
patent: 2097504 (1937-11-01), Wells
patent: 2448748 (1948-09-01), Vanderveld
patent: 2750901 (1956-06-01), McClellan
patent: 2882112 (1959-04-01), Jarvi
patent: 3223466 (1965-12-01), Roberts
patent: 3649095 (1972-03-01), Gunzberg
patent: 3936108 (1976-02-01), Chitester
patent: 4040653 (1977-08-01), Takahashi
patent: 4132440 (1979-01-01), Johnson
patent: 4239309 (1980-12-01), DeFouw et al.
patent: 4453787 (1984-06-01), Staropoli
patent: 4465328 (1984-08-01), Tihanyi et al.
patent: 4477130 (1984-10-01), Frantz
patent: 4525012 (1985-06-01), Dunner
patent: 4662689 (1987-05-01), Chatterson et al.
patent: 4820002 (1989-04-01), Lechner et al.
patent: 5176436 (1993-01-01), Mitchell
patent: 5199774 (1993-04-01), Hedinger et al.
patent: 5249443 (1993-10-01), Anderson
patent: 5292191 (1994-03-01), Slivon
patent: 5988778 (1999-11-01), Lammens
patent: 1084096 (1980-08-01), None
patent: 1255213 (1961-01-01), None
patent: 1454844 (1966-08-01), None
patent: 2523631 (1983-09-01), None
patent: 25176 (1899-01-01), None
patent: 1584777 (1981-02-01), None
Allred David E.
Cuomo Peter M.
Doigna Lloyd D.
The Marvel Group, Inc.
Zarins Edgar A.
LandOfFree
Lateral File Locking System does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Lateral File Locking System, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Lateral File Locking System will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2587516