Drawer-locking system

Claim 2

A drawer-locking system comprising a cabinetlike body having drawer support structure therein, at least one drawer mounted in said body on said support structure for movement inwardly and outwardly with respect thereto and having a keeper thereon, lock mechanism carried by said drawer and movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, a cable extending through said body adjacent to said drawer and having one end movably mounted with respect to said body, and a latch mounted on said cable adjacent to said drawer and movable with said cable between a locking position wherein said latch is in position to engage said keeper and a release position wherein said latch is out of position to engage said keeper, said lock mechanism being operable to move said latch between the locking and release positions thereof, whereby movement of said lock mechanism between the locked position and the unlocked position thereof moves said latch between the locking position and the release position thereof, movement of said latch from said locking position thereof to said release position thereof being accomplished without shifting said drawer inwardly or outwardly with respect to said body.

Claim 3

The drawer locking system set forth in claim 1 and further comprising means secured to said one end of said cable for maintaining said cable taut in all positions of said lock mechanism.

Claim 4

The drawer locking system set forth in claim 1, wherein said cable is a flexible wire cable.

Claim 5

The drawer locking system set forth in claim 1, and further comprising at least one stop arm carried adjacent to the rear of said drawer, said stop arm being cooperable with said drawer support structure to prevent complete removal of said drawer from said body.

Claim 6

The drawer locking system set forth in claim 1, wherein said body comprises the pedestal of a modular unit.

Claim 7

A drawer-locking system comprising a cabinetlike body having drawer support structure therein, at least one drawer mounted in said body on said support structure for movement inwardly and outwardly with respect thereto and having a keeper thereon, lock mechanism carried by said drawer and movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, a cable extending through said body adjacent to said drawer, resilient means interconnecting one end of said cable and said body to hold said cable taut in all positions of said lock mechanism, and a latch mounted on said cable adjacent to said drawer and movable with said cable between a locking position wherein said latch is in position to engage said keeper and a release position wherein said latch is out of position to engage said keeper, said lock mechanism being operable to move said latch between the locking and release positions thereof, whereby movement of said lock mechanism between the locked position and the unlocked position thereof moves said latch between the locking position and the release position thereof, movement of said latch from said locking position thereof to said release position thereof being accomplished without shifting said drawer inwardly or outwardly with respect to said body.

Claim 8

A drawer-locking system comprising a cabinetlike body having drawer support structure therein, at least one drawer mounted in said body on said support structure for movement inwardly and outwardly with respect thereto and having a keeper thereon, lock mechanism carried by said drawer and movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, a cable extending through said body adjacent to said drawer, resilient means interconnecting one end of said cable and said body to hold said cable taut in all positions of said lock mechanism, and a latch mounted on said cable adjacent to said drawer and movable with said cable between a locking position wherein said latch is in position to engage said keeper and a release position wherein said latch is out of position to engage said keeper, said lock mechanism being operable to move said latch between the locking and release positions thereof, whereby movement of said lock mechanism between the locked position and the unlocked position thereof moves said latch between the locking position and the release position thereof, movement of said latch from said locking position thereof to said release position thereof being accomplished without shifting said drawer inwardly or outwardly with respect to said body.

Claim 9

The drawer-locking system set forth in claim 6, wherein said resilient means is a spring having said one end connected to sAid cable at a point below said drawer and having the other end connected to a lower point on said body.

Claim 10

A drawer-locking system comprising a cabinetlike body having drawer support structure therein, a plurality of vertically aligned drawers mounted in said body on said support structure for movement inwardly and outwardly with respect thereto, each of said drawers having a keeper thereon, lock mechanism carried by one of said drawers and movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, a cable extending through said body adjacent to said drawers, resilient means interconnecting one end of said cable and said body to hold said cable taut in all positions of said lock mechanism, and a corresponding plurality of latches mounted on said cable respectively adjacent to said drawers and movable with said cable between locking positions wherein said latches are in position respectively to engage said keepers and prevent outward movement of said drawers and release positions wherein said latches are out of position to engage said keepers to allow outward movement of said drawers, said lock mechanism carried by said one drawer being operable to move the respectively adjacent one of said latches between the locking and release position thereof, whereby movement of said lock mechanism between the locked position and the unlocked position thereof moves the adjacent one of said latches between the locking position and the release position thereof and concurrently effects movement of said cable and thereby the remainder of said latches between said latch adjacent to said one drawer and said resilient means between the locking positions and the release positions thereof, movement of said latches from said locking positions thereof to said release positions thereof being accomplished without shifting said one drawer inwardly or outwardly with respect to said body.

Claim 11

A drawer-locking system comprising a cabinetlike body having drawer support structure therein, a plurality of vertically aligned drawers mounted in said body on said support structure for movement inwardly and outwardly with respect thereto, each of said drawers having a keeper thereon, lock mechanism carried by one of said drawers and movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, a cable extending through said body adjacent to said drawers, resilient means interconnecting one end of said cable and said body to hold said cable taut in all positions of said lock mechanism, and a corresponding plurality of latches mounted on said cable respectively adjacent to said drawers and movable with said cable between locking positions wherein said latches are in position respectively to engage said keepers and prevent outward movement of said drawers and release positions wherein said latches are out of position to engage said keepers to allow outward movement of said drawers, said lock mechanism carried by said one drawer being operable to move the respectively adjacent one of said latches between the locking and release position thereof, whereby movement of said lock mechanism between the locked position and the unlocked position thereof moves the adjacent one of said latches between the locking position and the release position thereof and concurrently effects movement of said cable and thereby the remainder of said latches between said latch adjacent to said one drawer and said resilient means between the locking positions and the release positions thereof, movement of said latches from said locking positions thereof to said release positions thereof being accomplished without shifting said one drawer inwardly or outwardly with respect to said body.

Claim 12

The drawer-locking system set forth in claim 8, wherein said one drawer carrying said lock mechanism is the uppermost drawer in said body.

Claim 13

A drawer-locking system comprising a cabinetlike body having drawer support structure therein, a plurality of vertically aligned drawers mounted in said body on said support structure for movement inwardly and outwardly with respect thereto, each of said drawers having a keeper thereon, lock mechanism carried by one of said drawers and movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, said one drawer being disposed below the uppermost drawer in said body, a cable extending through said body adjacent to said drawers, resilient means interconnecting one end of said cable and said body to hold said cable taut in all positions of said lock mechanism, a plurality of latches mounted on said cable respectively adjacent to said one drawer and the drawers positioned between said one drawer and said resilient means and movable with said cable between locking positions wherein said latches are in position to respectively engage said keepers and prevent outward movement of said one drawer and those positioned between said one drawer and said resilient means and release positions wherein said latches are out of position to engage said keepers to allow outward movement of said drawers, and guard means secured to said body adjacent to said one drawer and overlying the respectively adjacent latch for preventing manipulation of said cable and said latch, said lock mechanism carried by said one drawer being operable to move the respectively adjacent one of said latches between the locking and release positions thereof, whereby movement of said lock mechanism between the locked position and the unlocked position thereof moves the adjacent one of said latches between the locking position and the release position thereof and concurrently effects movement of said cable and thereby the remainder of said latches between said one drawer and said resilient means between the locking positions and the release positions thereof.

Claim 14

A drawer-locking system comprising a cabinetlike body having drawer support structure therein, a plurality of vertically aligned drawers mounted in said body on said support structure for movement inwardly and outwardly with respect thereto, each of said drawers having a keeper thereon, lock mechanism carried by one of said drawers and movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, said one drawer being disposed below the uppermost drawer in said body, a cable extending through said body adjacent to said drawers, resilient means interconnecting one end of said cable and said body to hold said cable taut in all positions of said lock mechanism, a plurality of latches mounted on said cable respectively adjacent to said one drawer and the drawers positioned between said one drawer and said resilient means and movable with said cable between locking positions wherein said latches are in position to respectively engage said keepers and prevent outward movement of said one drawer and those positioned between said one drawer and said resilient means and release positions wherein said latches are out of position to engage said keepers to allow outward movement of said drawers, and guard means secured to said body adjacent to said one drawer and overlying the respectively adjacent latch for preventing manipulation of said cable and said latch, said lock mechanism carried by said one drawer being operable to move the respectively adjacent one of said latches between the locking and release positions thereof, whereby movement of said lock mechanism between the locked position and the unlocked position thereof moves the adjacent one of said latches between the locking position and the release position thereof and concurrently effects movement of said cable and thereby the remainder of said latches between said one drawer and said resilient means between the locking positions and the release positions thereof.

Claim 15

The drawer-locking system set forth in clAim 10, wherein said guard means for preventing cable manipulation comprises a plate secured to said body adjacent to said one drawer and disposed between said cable and said one drawer, said plate having an opening therein adapted to receive said one latch and permitting movement of said one latch between the locking and release positions thereof, and a shield secured to a lower surface of said one latch and extending from said one latch through said opening in said plate and overlying said opening regardless of the position of said one latch, whereby said guard means precludes manipulation of said cable and said one latch when said one latch is in the locking position thereof.

Claim 16

A drawer-locking system comprising a cabinetlike body having drawer 4 support structure therein, at least one drawer mounted in said body on said support structure for movement inwardly and outwardly with respect thereto and having a keeper thereon, lock mechanism carried by said drawer and movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, a cable extending through said body adjacent to said drawer, resilient means interconnecting one end of said cable and said body to hold said cable taut in all positions of said lock mechanism, and a latch mounted on said cable adjacent to said drawer and movable with said cable, said lock mechanism engaging said latch to effect movement of said latch between a locking position wherein said latch is in position to engage said keeper and thereby prevent outward movement of said drawer and a release position wherein said latch is out of position to engage said keeper, whereby movement of said lock mechanism between the locked position and the unlocked position thereof moves said latch between the locking position and the release position thereof.

Claim 17

A drawer-locking system comprising a cabinetlike body having drawer 4 support structure therein, at least one drawer mounted in said body on said support structure for movement inwardly and outwardly with respect thereto and having a keeper thereon, lock mechanism carried by said drawer and movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, a cable extending through said body adjacent to said drawer, resilient means interconnecting one end of said cable and said body to hold said cable taut in all positions of said lock mechanism, and a latch mounted on said cable adjacent to said drawer and movable with said cable, said lock mechanism engaging said latch to effect movement of said latch between a locking position wherein said latch is in position to engage said keeper and thereby prevent outward movement of said drawer and a release position wherein said latch is out of position to engage said keeper, whereby movement of said lock mechanism between the locked position and the unlocked position thereof moves said latch between the locking position and the release position thereof.

Claim 18

The drawer-locking system set forth in claim 12, wherein said resilient means is a spring having one end connected to said cable at a point below said drawer and having the other end connected to a lower point on said body.

Claim 19

A drawer-locking system comprising a cabinetlike body having drawer support structure therein, at least one drawer mounted in said body on said support structure for movement inwardly and outwardly with respect thereto and having a keeper thereon, lock mechanism carried by said drawer and movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, a cable extending through said body adjacent to said drawer, resilient means interconnecting one end of said cable to said body for maintaining said cable taut in all positions of said lock mechanism, a latch mounted on said cable adjacent to said drawer and movable with said cable between a locking position wherein said latch is in position to engage said keeper and a release position wherein said latch is out of position to engage said keeper, and cable-lifting means secured to said cable adjacent to said drawer and movable with said cable, said lock mechanism being cooperable with said cable-lifting means to effect movement of said cable and thereby said latch between said locking position and said release position thereof, whereby movement of said lock mechanism between the locked position and the unlocked position thereof moves said cable-lifting means and thereby said latch between the locking position and the release position thereof.

Claim 20

A drawer-locking system comprising a cabinetlike body having drawer support structure therein, at least one drawer mounted in said body on said support structure for movement inwardly and outwardly with respect thereto and having a keeper thereon, lock mechanism carried by said drawer and movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, a cable extending through said body adjacent to said drawer, resilient means interconnecting one end of said cable to said body for maintaining said cable taut in all positions of said lock mechanism, a latch mounted on said cable adjacent to said drawer and movable with said cable between a locking position wherein said latch is in position to engage said keeper and a release position wherein said latch is out of position to engage said keeper, and cable-lifting means secured to said cable adjacent to said drawer and movable with said cable, said lock mechanism being cooperable with said cable-lifting means to effect movement of said cable and thereby said latch between said locking position and said release position thereof, whereby movement of said lock mechanism between the locked position and the unlocked position thereof moves said cable-lifting means and thereby said latch between the locking position and the release position thereof.

Claim 21

The drawer-locking system set forth in claim 14, wherein said cable-lifting means and said latch comprise different surfaces of a single member.

Claim 22

The drawer-locking system set forth in claim 14, wherein said latch has a first cam surface on the rear portion thereof engageable with said keeper when said latch is in the locking position and said drawer is in the closed position thereof, and said cable-lifting means comprises a second cam surface on the forward portion of said latch.

Claim 23

A drawer-locking system comprising a cabinetlike body having drawer support structure therein, at least one drawer mounted in said body on said support structure for movement inwardly and outwardly with respect thereto and having a keeper thereon, a cable extending through said body adjacent to said drawer and having one end movably mounted with respect to said body, resilient means interconnecting said one end of said cable to said body for maintaining said cable taut, a latch mounted on said cable adjacent to said drawer and movable with said cable, and a crank mounted on a sidewall of said drawer and disposed adjacent to said cable when said drawer is in the closed position thereof and carrying a lever arm movable therewith between a locked position and an unlocked position, movement of said lever arm between the locked position and the unlocked position moving said cable and said latch between a locking position wherein said latch is in position to engage said keeper and prevent outward movement of said drawer and a release position wherein said latch is in a position to engage said keeper so as to allow outward movement of said drawer, whereby movement of said crank between the locked position and the unlocked position thereof when said drawer is in the closed position thereof moves said latch between the locking position and the release position thereof.

Claim 24

A drawer-locking system comprising a cabinetlike body having drawer support structure therein, at least one drawer mounted in said body on said support structure for movement inwardly and outwardly with respect thereto and having a keeper thereon, a cable extending through said body adjacent to said drawer and having one end movably mounted with respect to said body, resilient means interconnecting said one end of said cable to said body for maintaining said cable taut, a latch mounted on said cable adjacent to said drawer and movable with said cable, and a crank mounted on a sidewall of said drawer and disposed adjacent to said cable when said drawer is in the closed position thereof and carrying a lever arm movable therewith between a locked position and an unlocked position, movement of said lever arm between the locked position and the unlocked position moving said cable and said latch between a locking position wherein said latch is in position to engage said keeper and prevent outward movement of said drawer and a release position wherein said latch is in a position to engage said keeper so as to allow outward movement of said drawer, whereby movement of said crank between the locked position and the unlocked position thereof when said drawer is in the closed position thereof moves said latch between the locking position and the release position thereof.

Claim 25

The drawer-locking system set forth in claim 17, wherein said crank comprises a longitudinally extending member mounted for rotation about the longitudinal axis thereof and said lever arm is carried at one end of said member, said crank being rotatable between said locked position wherein said lever arm is rotated to engage said cable-lifting means and lift same and said unlocked position wherein said lever arm is rotated so that it is out of position for engagement with said cable-lifting means, and means carried by said drawer for effecting rotation of said crank.

Claim 26

A lock drawer for use in a cabinetlike body having drawer support structure therein for mounting the drawer for movement inwardly and outwardly with respect thereto and having a cable extending through the body adjacent to the drawer and movably mounted with respect to the body and having a latch mounted on the cable adjacent to the drawer and movable between locking and release positions relative to the drawer, the lock drawer comprising, a bottom wall, a pair of longitudinally extending sidewalls connected to opposite edges of said bottom wall, a front drawer head extending between said sidewalls, a keeper mounted on one of said sidewalls on the side thereof adapted to be positioned adjacent to the associated latch, and lock mechanism carried by said drawer and movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, said lock mechanism being positioned for cooperable engagement with the associated latch mounted in the associated body, whereby movement of the lock mechanism between the locked position and the unlocked position thereof moves the associated latch between the locking position thereof wherein the latch is in position to engage said keeper and prevent outward movement of the drawer and the release position thereof wherein the latch is out of position to engage said keeper.

Claim 27

A lock drawer for use in a cabinetlike body having drawer support structure therein for mounting the drawer for movement inwardly and outwardly with respect thereto and having a cable extending through the body adjacent to the drawer and movably mounted with respect to the body and having a latch mounted on the cable adjacent to the drawer and movable between locking and release positions relative to the drawer, the lock drawer comprising, a bottom wall, a pair of longitudinally extending sidewalls connected to opposite edges of said bottom wall, a front drawer head extending between said sidewalls, a keeper mounted on one of said sidewalls on the side thereof adapted to be positioned adjacent to the associated latch, and lock mechanism carried by said drawer and movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, said lock mechanism being positioned for cooperable engagement with the associated latch mounted in the associated body, whereby movement of the lock mechanism between the locked position and the unlocked position thereof moves the associated latch between the locking position thereof wherein the latch is in position to engage said keeper and prevent outward movement of the drawer and the release position thereof wherein the latch is out of position to engage said keeper.

Claim 28

The lock drawer set forth in claim 19, wherein said lock mechanism includes first means rotatably mounted on said one sidewall of said drawer for movement between said locked and unlocked positions relative to the associated latch and second means mounted on said front drawer head for effecting rotation of said first means between said locked and unlocked positions thereof.

Claim 29

A lock drawer for use in a cabinetlike body having drawer support structure therein for mounting said drawer for movement inwardly and outwardly with respect thereto and having a cable extending through the body adjacent to the drawer and movably mounted with respect to the body and having a latch mounted on the cable adjacent to the drawer and movable between locking and release positions relative to the drawer, the lock drawer comprising, a bottom wall, a pair of longitudinally extending sidewalls connected to opposite edges of said bottom wall, a fronT drawer head extending between said sidewalls, a keeper mounted on one of said sidewalls on the side thereof adapted to be positioned adjacent to the associated latch, a crank mounted on said one sidewall and carrying a lever arm movable therewith between a locked position and unlocked position, said lever arm being positioned for cooperable engagement with the associated latch in the associated body to effect movement of the latch between the locking and release positions thereof corresponding to the locked and unlocked positions of said crank, and means carried by said front drawer head for effecting movement of said crank between the locked and unlocked positions thereof, whereby movement of said crank between the locked position and the unlocked position thereof moves the associated latch between the locking position thereof wherein the latch is in position to engage said keeper and prevent outward movement of the drawer and the release position thereof wherein the latch is out of position to engage said keeper.

Claim 30

A lock drawer for use in a cabinetlike body having drawer support structure therein for mounting said drawer for movement inwardly and outwardly with respect thereto and having a cable extending through the body adjacent to the drawer and movably mounted with respect to the body and having a latch mounted on the cable adjacent to the drawer and movable between locking and release positions relative to the drawer, the lock drawer comprising, a bottom wall, a pair of longitudinally extending sidewalls connected to opposite edges of said bottom wall, a fronT drawer head extending between said sidewalls, a keeper mounted on one of said sidewalls on the side thereof adapted to be positioned adjacent to the associated latch, a crank mounted on said one sidewall and carrying a lever arm movable therewith between a locked position and unlocked position, said lever arm being positioned for cooperable engagement with the associated latch in the associated body to effect movement of the latch between the locking and release positions thereof corresponding to the locked and unlocked positions of said crank, and means carried by said front drawer head for effecting movement of said crank between the locked and unlocked positions thereof, whereby movement of said crank between the locked position and the unlocked position thereof moves the associated latch between the locking position thereof wherein the latch is in position to engage said keeper and prevent outward movement of the drawer and the release position thereof wherein the latch is out of position to engage said keeper.

Claim 31

A lock drawer for use in a cabinetlike body having drawer support structure therein for mounting said drawer for movement inwardly and outwardly with respect thereto and having a cable extending through the body adjacent to the drawer and movably mounted with respect to the body and having a latch mounted on the cable adjacent to the drawer and movable between locking and release positions relative to the drawer, the lock drawer comprising, a bottom wall, a pair of longitudinally extending sidewalls connected to opposite edges of said bottom wall, a front drawer head extending between said sidewalls, a keeper mounted on one of said sidewalls on the side thereof adapted to be positioned adjacent to the associated latch, a crank mounted on said one sidewall and carrying a lever arm movable therewith between a locked position and an unlocked position, said lever arm being positioned for cooperable engagement with the associated latch in the associated body to effect movement of the latch between the locking and release positions thereof corresponding to the locked and unlocked positions of said crank, a lock mounted on said front drawer head and movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, a first link having one end pivotally mounted on said front drawer head, a second link interconnecting the other end of aid first link and one end of said crank, a flexible cable interconnecting said first link and said lock, and biasing means interconnecting said first link and said front drawer head for maintaining said flexible cable taut in all positions of said lock, whereby movement of said lock between the locked position and the unlocked position thereof causes said flexible cable to effect movement of said first and second links so as to effect rotation of said crank between the locked position and the unlocked position thereof, movement of said crank between the locked position and the unlocked position thereof being effective to move the associated latch between the locking position thereof wherein the latch is in position to engage said keeper and prevent outward movement of the drawer and the release position thereof wherein the associated latch is out of position to engage said keeper.

Claim 32

A lock drawer for use in a cabinetlike body having drawer support structure therein for mounting said drawer for movement inwardly and outwardly with respect thereto and having a cable extending through the body adjacent to the drawer and movably mounted with respect to the body and having a latch mounted on the cable adjacent to the drawer and movable between locking and release positions relative to the drawer, the lock drawer comprising, a bottom wall, a pair of longitudinally extending sidewalls connected to opposite edges of said bottom wall, a front drawer head extending between said sidewalls, a keeper mounted on one of said sidewalls on the side thereof adapted to be positioned adjacent to the associated latch, a crank mounted on said one sidewall and carrying a lever arm movable therewith between a locked position and an unlocked position, said lever arm being positioned for cooperable engagement with the associated latch in the associated body to effect movement of the latch between the locking and release positions thereof corresponding to the locked and unlocked positions of said crank, a lock mounted on said front drawer head and movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, a first link having one end pivotally mounted on said front drawer head, a second link interconnecting the other end of aid first link and one end of said crank, a flexible cable interconnecting said first link and said lock, and biasing means interconnecting said first link and said front drawer head for maintaining said flexible cable taut in all positions of said lock, whereby movement of said lock between the locked position and the unlocked position thereof causes said flexible cable to effect movement of said first and second links so as to effect rotation of said crank between the locked position and the unlocked position thereof, movement of said crank between the locked position and the unlocked position thereof being effective to move the associated latch between the locking position thereof wherein the latch is in position to engage said keeper and prevent outward movement of the drawer and the release position thereof wherein the associated latch is out of position to engage said keeper.

Claim 33

The lock drawer set forth in claim 22, wherein said flexible cable is adjustably mounted relative to said first link.

Claim 34

The lock drawer set forth in claim 22, and further comprising cable guide means fixedly secured to said front drawer head for guiding said cable in its movements between said lock and said first link.

Claim 35

The drawer locking system set forth in claim 22, wherein said biasing means comprises a spring connecting said first link and said drawer front wall.

Claim 36

A drawer-locking system comprising a cabinetlike body having a drawer support structure therein, a plurality of vertically aligned drawers mounted in said body on said support structure for movement inwardly to a closed position and outwardly with respect thereto, a cable extEnding through said body adjacent to said drawers, resilient means interconnecting one end of said cable and said body to hold said cable taut in all positions of said lock mechanism, each of said drawers having a keeper thereon, and a corresponding plurality of latches mounted on said cable respectively adjacent to said drawers and movable with said cable between locking positions wherein said latches are in position respectively to engage said keepers and prevent outward movement of said drawers and release positions wherein said latches are out of position to engage said keepers to allow outward movement of said drawers, lock mechanism carried by one of said drawers and moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position to move said latches between the locking and release positions thereof, each of said latches having a first cam surface on the rear portion thereof engageable with the respective one of said keepers when said latches are in the locking position and said drawers are in the closed position thereof, each of said latches having a second cam surface on the forward portion thereof engageable with the adjacent one of said keepers when said latches are in the locking position thereof and all of said drawers except said one drawer are in the open positions thereof such that when said locking mechanism is moved to place the adjacent one of said latches in the locking position thereof with the remainder of said drawers in the open positions movement of said drawers to the closed position causes each of said keepers respectively to engage the adjacent ones of said second cam surfaces and to move the adjacent one of said latches against the urging of said resilient means to permit said keeper and said drawer to move to the closed position after which said resilient means moves said latch to the locking position thereof with respect to said keeper to place said first cam surface in position to engage said keeper.

Claim 37

A drawer-locking system comprising a cabinetlike body having a drawer support structure therein, a plurality of vertically aligned drawers mounted in said body on said support structure for movement inwardly to a closed position and outwardly with respect thereto, a cable extEnding through said body adjacent to said drawers, resilient means interconnecting one end of said cable and said body to hold said cable taut in all positions of said lock mechanism, each of said drawers having a keeper thereon, and a corresponding plurality of latches mounted on said cable respectively adjacent to said drawers and movable with said cable between locking positions wherein said latches are in position respectively to engage said keepers and prevent outward movement of said drawers and release positions wherein said latches are out of position to engage said keepers to allow outward movement of said drawers, lock mechanism carried by one of said drawers and moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position to move said latches between the locking and release positions thereof, each of said latches having a first cam surface on the rear portion thereof engageable with the respective one of said keepers when said latches are in the locking position and said drawers are in the closed position thereof, each of said latches having a second cam surface on the forward portion thereof engageable with the adjacent one of said keepers when said latches are in the locking position thereof and all of said drawers except said one drawer are in the open positions thereof such that when said locking mechanism is moved to place the adjacent one of said latches in the locking position thereof with the remainder of said drawers in the open positions movement of said drawers to the closed position causes each of said keepers respectively to engage the adjacent ones of said second cam surfaces and to move the adjacent one of said latches against the urging of said resilient means to permit said keeper and said drawer to move to the closed position after which said resilient means moves said latch to the locking position thereof with respect to said keeper to place said first cam surface in position to engage said keeper.

Claim 38

The drawer-locking system set forth in claim 8, wherein said one drawer carrying said lock mechanism is the drawer furthest away from said resilient means.