Combination lock and interlock for a file cabinet
AssigneeKimball International, Inc.
InventorsPaul R. Hedinger, Steven F. Trinkel, David L. Hostetter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cabinet assembly having a plurality of vertical rows of drawers. A combination lock and interlock system is provided wherein a cable having a predetermined slack is positioned adjacent the plurality of drawers and interacts with a catch that is positioned on each drawer. Upon opening of a drawer, the catch moves the cable from a slack position which permits a drawer to be opened to a taut position which prevents the opening of a second drawer. One end of the cable is attached to a remote locking device which selectively pulls the cable taut and releases it to a slack position to allow remote locking and unlocking of all drawers while in their closed positions.
Claims26
A cabinet comprising:
- at least two drawers, each having a closed position and an open position;
- cable means extending adjacent each said drawer for preventing outward movement of said drawer, said cable means being movable between a slack position to allow outward movement of any one of said drawers and a taut position to prevent outward movement of any of said drawers;
- engaging means associated with each of said drawers for engaging and moving said cable means from said slack position to said taut position upon outward movement of one of said drawers, whereby only one drawer may be in said open position at any one time;
- and
- remote locking means attached to said cable means for selectively moving said cable means between said slack position and said taut position while each said drawer is in said closed position.
A cabinet comprising:
- at least two drawers;
- rotatable lever means attached to the cabinet adjacent each drawer, each said lever means rotatable between a first position and a second position, said lever means blocking movement of its respective said drawer when in its first position;
- a trip member attached to each of said drawers for engaging and moving a respective said lever means between said first position and said second position upon outward movement of the respective said drawer;
- a flexible cable means mounted on said cabinet adjacent said lever means, said cable means being moveable between a slack position to allow rotation of any one of said lever means to its second position and a taut position to prevent subsequent rotation of any of said lever means to its second position;
- each said lever means engageable with said cable means whereby movement of one of said lever means from said first position to said second position pulls said cable means from said slack position to said taut position to allow only one drawer to be opened at any one time;
- and
- remote locking means attached to said cable means for selectively moving said cable means between said slack position and said taut position while each said lever means is in said first position.
In a cabinet having at least two drawers, a combination lock and interlock assembly comprising:
- a cam operatively attached to a cabinet adjacent each drawer, said cam being moveable between a first position and a second position, said cam including a cable engaging portion and a drawer engaging portion;
- a trip member attached to each said drawer and engaging a respective said drawer engaging portion and moving said cam from said first position to said second position as one of said drawers is opened, said trip member disengaging said drawer engaging portion as said cam reaches said second position to allow said drawer to freely open;
- a cable mounted on said cabinet adjacent each said cam and moveable between a slack position and a taut position, each said cam being prevented from movement from said first position to its said second position when said cable is in its taut position;
- said cable in said second position being moveable only back to said first position thereby preventing more than one of said cams being moved to their said second positions at any one time, whereby only one drawer and trip member can be moved past an associated cam and opened at any one time;
- and
- locking means attached to said cable for selectively moving said cable between said slack position and said taut position while each said drawer is in said closed position, said locking means being operated by one of a key or combination lock mechanism.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.