US 4,683,736 A · Cabinet lock with recessed handle

Abstract

A cabinet lock has an elongate body. An operating handle is connected to the body for pivotal movement about an axis that extends transverse to the length of the body. The body slidably mounts (1) a spring-projected latch bolt for linear movement along a path of travel that substantially parallels the axis of pivotal movement of the handle, and (2) an operating member for linear movement along a path of travel that substantially parallels the length of the body. The handle has a formation that drivingly engages the operating member for moving the operating member from a latched position to an unlatched position in response to pivotal movement of the handle from a nested position to an operating position. A key cylinder is rotatably mounted on the housing and carries a stop formation that is operable (1) when the key cylinder is in an unlocked position to permit sliding movement of the operating member along the body in response to movement of the operating handle from its nested to its operating position, and (2) when the key cylinder is in a locked position to retain the operating member in its latched position and to retain the handle in its nested position. The slide bolt retracts from its normally projected position in response to movement of the operating member from its latched to its unlatched position.

A low profile cabinet lock, comprising:

(a) a one-piece structure including an elongate front wall and an elongate back wall that are relatively closely spaced, and a pair of opposed, elongate side walls, with the front, back and side walls cooperating to define a relatively thin, elongate housing, and with the elongate side walls of the body structure extending substantially parallel to each other and defining the width of the housing;
(b) the housing additionally having:
(i) first formation means defining a forwardly facing cavity for receiving and nesting at least portions of an operating handle, and the housing having an opening formed through the back wall that communicates with the cavity;
(ii) second formation means defining a passage that opens through the front and back walls for receiving and rotatably mounting a key cylinder for movement between locked and unlocked positions in response to operation of the key cylinder using an appropriately configured key;
(iii) third formation means defining a slide bolt channel that opens through one of the side walls and through the back wall for receiving and slidably mounting a slide bolt;
(iv) fourth formation means including:
(A) guide formations defined along the opposed side walls for receiving and slidably mounting opposed side wall portions of an operating member such that the operating member can move closely alongside the back wall in a direction paralleling the length of the housing as guided by the guide formations, and with the guide formations including grooves that are formed in the recessed side wall surfaces, the grooves extending along the recessed side wall surfaces in directions that parallel the length of the housing;
and,
(B) a pair of elongate, recessed side wall surfaces that are inset from the elongate side walls that define the width of the housing, with the recessed side wall surfaces extending substantially parallel to the length of the housing;
(c) operating handle means including an operating handle pivotally connected to the housing for movement between nested and extended positions relative to the housing, the handle having portions that extend into the cavity, and having a rearwardly projecting portion that extends through the back wall opening;
(d) key cylinder means including a key cylinder positioned in the passage and rotatably connected to the housing for movement relative thereto between locked and unlocked positions in response to the key cylinder's being operated using an appropriately configured key;
(e) slide bolt means including a slide bolt positioned in the channel and slidably connected to the housing for movement relative thereto between projected and retracted positions;
(f) biasing means connected to the housing for biasing the slide bolt toward its projected position;
(g) operating means including an operating member extending closely alongside the back wall and having opposed side wall portions that engage the guide formations, the operating means being slidably connected to the housing for movement relative thereto closely alongside the back wall between latched and unlatched positions, and being operable:
(i) to engage the slide bolt and to retain the slide bolt in the channel;
(ii) to engage the key cylinder and to retain the key cylinder in the passage;
(iii) to engage the projecting formation means and to establish a driving connection between the operating handle and the slide bolt that will cause the slide bolt to move toward its retracted position in response to pivotal movement of the operating handle toward its extended position;
and,
(iv) to engage and to cooperate with the key cylinder when the key cylinder is in its locked position to retain the operating handle in its nested position and to retain the operating member in its latched position;
and,
(h) the operating member being formed by a stamped metal part that has a base wall that interconnects the opposed side wall portions and that extends closely alongside the back wall of the housing, with the opposed side wall portions of the operating member (i) extending substantially parallel to each other, (ii) lying closely alongside the recessed side wall surfaces of the body, (iii) engaging the guide formations, and (iv) defining the width of the operating member, with the width of the operating member being substantially the same as the width of the body.

18 more elements

Cabinet lock with recessed handle

Life of this patent

Cabinet lock with recessed handle

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23