File locking mechanism

Claim 1

A drawer file comprising a drawer file cabinet, a key controlled lock comprising a lock housing, means to support said lock housing in said cabinet for axial reciprocation, first spring means to project said lock housing from said cabinet when the lock is unlocked, means to retain said lock housing in retracted position when it is pushed-in to non-projecting position, a slider attached to said lock housing for reciprocal movement therewith, means to mount said slider on said support means for sliding movement together with said lock housing, a vertical lock rod in said cabinet, means in said cabinet to support said lock rod for vertical reciprocation, second spring means interconnected from said lock rod to said cabinet to bias said lock rod upwardly, means on said slider to move said lock rod downwardly, when said lock housing is being pushed-in from projected to retracted position, and to allow said second spring means to bias the lock rod upwardly when the lock housing is projected upon unlocking said lock, a drawer slidably mounted in said cabinet, and means to lock said drawer against opening when said lock housing is in retracted condition, and to allow said drawer to be opened when said lock housing is in open, projected position, and to automatically lock said drawer against being pulled open should the drawer be pushed-in to shut position while the lock housing is in pushed-in, retracted position, a drawer stop fixed on said drawer, said last means comprising means fixed on said lock rod and disposed in a position to be clear of said drawer stop and below said door stop, when the lock housing is in projected position and said lock rod is in raised position under influence of said second spring means, to allow the drawer to be moved from shut to open position, and said means on said lock rod, being in the path of said drawer stop and in front thereof, when said lock housing is in retracted condition and said lock rod has been moved down by said cam means, to prevent opening of the drawer, and cooperating cam means on said lock rod and drawer stop to lower said lock rod when the drawer is moved from open to closed position, while the lock housing is in retracted position, to allow the drawer to be closed, and to allow the lock rod to be raised by said second spring means when said drawer stop has passed beyond said means on said lock rod, to allow said means on said lock rod to again move into position in front of, and in the path of, said drawer stop, to automatically lock said drawer against being opened.