Work site storage lock system
AssigneeApex Brands, Inc.
InventorsRichard A. Samsel, Matthew Poppe, Andrew Speciale
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tool chest may include a base portion, two opposing sidewalls, a drawer portion and a lid. The sidewalls extend substantially parallel to each other on opposite sides of the base portion to define a tool repository between the sidewalls. The lid has a closed position covering a top of the tool chest, and an open position in which access is provided to the tool repository. The drawer portion is slidable to at least partially remove the drawer portion from the base portion. The drawer portion is automatically locked by closing the lid via a locking assembly that is operable configured to automatically unlock with the lid is open unless the locking assembly is retained in a locked position.
Claims18
A tool chest comprising:
- a base portion;
- two opposing sidewalls extending substantially parallel to each other on opposite sides of the base portion to define a tool repository between the sidewalls;
- a lid that has a closed position covering a top of the tool chest, and an open position in which access is provided to the tool repository;
- and
- a drawer portion that is slidable to at least partially remove the drawer portion from the base portion,
- wherein the drawer portion is automatically locked by moving the lid to the closed position via a locking assembly that is configured to automatically unlock when the lid is in the open position unless the locking assembly is retained in a locked state
- wherein the locking assembly comprises a latch pin configured to translate between a locked position defining the locked state of the locking assembly, and an unlocked position defining an unlocked state for the locking assembly, and
- wherein the latch pin is biased by a spring to the locked position.
A locking assembly for a tool chest that has a drawer portion and a lid that has a closed position preventing access to a tool repository of the tool chest, and an open position in which access is provided to the tool repository, the locking assembly comprising:
- a latch pin configured to translate between a locked position defining a locked state of the locking assembly, and an unlocked position defining an unlocked state for the locking assembly, and
- a spring configured to bias the latch pin to the locked position,
- wherein the locking assembly is configured to automatically lock the drawer portion responsive to the lid being in the closed position and to automatically unlock when the lid is in the open position unless the locking assembly is retained in a locked state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.