Patent US3123173A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3799638A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3799638A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Drawer interlock
Assignee: Steelcase Inc
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Filing: 1972-08-17
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Granted: 1974-03-26
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Expires: 1992-08-17
Abstract
Abstract A drawer interlock employs a ribbon stop member positioned on the inside of a cabinet and extending along the cabinet in a slack fashion adjacent a plurality of cam members positioned on the cabinet to be actuated by an associated catch member positioned on each of a plurality of drawers. As a drawer is extended from the cabinet, the camming member associated with the drawer is rotated to allow the passage of the catch thereby, while simultaneously engaging the ribbon to take up the slack in the ribbon such that no additional cams can fully rotate to allow the opening of associated drawers. When the drawer is closed, the drawer catch rotates the cam as it passes returning the stop member to the slack condition so that another or the same drawer can be opened.
Inventors
- 👤 F Faiks
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 16:22
CPC Classifications
E; E05; E05B; E05B65/00; E05B65/46; E05B65/462; E05B65/463; E05B65/466; A; A47; A47B; A47B88/00; A47B88/70
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
242 words
In a cabinet having at least two drawers, a drawer interlock for preventing the simultaneous opening of two drawers comprising: a cam operably connected to the cabinet adjacent each drawer, said cam being movable between first and second positions and including at least a first cam arm extending therefrom into the path followed by an engaging means on a drawer when the drawer is opened; engaging means on each of said drawers for engaging said first cam arm of said cam and for moving said cam from said first position to said second position as a drawer is opened, said engaging means disengaging said cam as said cam reaches said second position whereby said drawer is free to pass by said cam and open; stop means mounted on said cabinet adjacent all of said cams, said stop means being movable between first and second positions, without itself effecting movement of other cams, when engaged by any one of said cams, each of said cams being blocked from movement from its said first position into its said second position when said stop means is in its said second position; said stop means in said second position being movable 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 engaging means can be moved past an associated cam and opened at any one time.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
242 words
In a cabinet having at least two drawers, a drawer interlock for preventing the simultaneous opening of two drawers comprising: a cam operably connected to the cabinet adjacent each drawer, said cam being movable between first and second positions and including at least a first cam arm extending therefrom into the path followed by an engaging means on a drawer when the drawer is opened; engaging means on each of said drawers for engaging said first cam arm of said cam and for moving said cam from said first position to said second position as a drawer is opened, said engaging means disengaging said cam as said cam reaches said second position whereby said drawer is free to pass by said cam and open; stop means mounted on said cabinet adjacent all of said cams, said stop means being movable between first and second positions, without itself effecting movement of other cams, when engaged by any one of said cams, each of said cams being blocked from movement from its said first position into its said second position when said stop means is in its said second position; said stop means in said second position being movable 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 engaging means can be moved past an associated cam and opened at any one time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The drawer interlock as defined in claim 1 wherein said cam comprises an eccentric cam rotatably positioned on the cabinet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
The drawer interlock as defined in claim 2 wherein said cam includes a second cam arm which moves into the line of travel of said engaging means after said engaging means has disengaged said cam as a drawer is opened whereby as the drawer is closed, said engaging means engages said second arm to rotate said cam in a direction toward said first position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
93 words
The drawer interlock as defined in claim 3 wherein said cam engaging means includes first and second spaced cam-engaging members wherein said first cam-engaging member engages said fIrst cam arm to rotate said cam from said first to second positions as a drawer is opened and said second cam arm as a drawer is closed to partially rotate said cam from said second to first positions, and said second cam engaging member engages said first cam arm to complete the rotation of said cam to said first position as a drawer is closed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
116 words
The drawer interlock as defined in claim 1 wherein said engaging means comprises a drawer catch including at least three cam engaging surfaces and said cam includes a second cam arm extending therefrom in spaced relationshp whereby one of said cam engaging surfaces contacts said first cam arm as a drawer is opened to rotate said cam to said second position, and whereby a second cam engaging surface contacts said second cam arm to partially rotate said cam in a direction toward said first position as a drawer is partially closed, and a third cam engaging surface contacts said first cam arm to finally rotate said cam into said first position as a drawer is closed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
114 words
The drawer interlock as defined in claim 5 wherein said cam further includes a spring arm extending therefrom and means fixedly positioned on the cabinet to engage said spring arm such that during installation of a drawer into the cabinet, said cam is rotated by said second cam engaging surface pushing against said first cam arm until said spring arm contacts said means fixed on the cabinet, and as the drawer is moved to a closed position, said second cam engaging surface clears said first cam arm and said spring arm rotates said cam in an opposite direction such that said first cam arm is captured between said first and third cam engaging surfaces.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
148 words
A drawer interlock mechanism for cabinets and the like having a plurality of drawers, said mechanism comprising: a flexible stop means mounted on a cabinet between two fixed points adjacent a plurality of drawers, said flexible stop means being movable between slack and taut positions; a cam means movably mounted to a cabinet adjacent each drawer and adjacent said stop member; cooperating means on said cam and said drawer cooperating to move said cam means into said flexible stop means when a drawer is moved from a closed position in the cabinet; said flexible stop means being dimensioned such that movement of one of said cam means into said flexible stop means takes up the slack in said flexible stop means and said flexible stop means restricts movement of additional cam means causing said cooperating means to act as a stop preventing movement of an additional drawer therepast.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
148 words
A drawer interlock mechanism for cabinets and the like having a plurality of drawers, said mechanism comprising: a flexible stop means mounted on a cabinet between two fixed points adjacent a plurality of drawers, said flexible stop means being movable between slack and taut positions; a cam means movably mounted to a cabinet adjacent each drawer and adjacent said stop member; cooperating means on said cam and said drawer cooperating to move said cam means into said flexible stop means when a drawer is moved from a closed position in the cabinet; said flexible stop means being dimensioned such that movement of one of said cam means into said flexible stop means takes up the slack in said flexible stop means and said flexible stop means restricts movement of additional cam means causing said cooperating means to act as a stop preventing movement of an additional drawer therepast.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
The drawer interlock as defined in claim 7 wherein said cooperating means comprises a cam arm extending from said cam means, and a cam engaging member positioned on a drawer to engage said cam arm as a drawer is moved between closed and open positions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
83 words
The drawer interlock as defined in claim 7 wherein said cam means is movable by the opening of a drawer from a first position in which said stop member is slack, to a second position in which said cam means deflects said stop member into a taut position and during the motion of said cam means from said first to second positions, said cam arm moves to allow said cam engaging member to clear said cam arm permitting the opening of said drawer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The drawer interlock as defined in claim 9 wherein said cam means is eccentric and rotatably positioned in a cabinet and is rotated by the movement of said cam engaging member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
175 words
In a cabinet having at least two drawers, a drawer interlock for preventing the simultaneous opening of two drawers comprising: a flexible ribbon positioned between two fixed points on the cabinet; a catch positioned on each drawer; and a cam operably positioned on the cabinet adjacent each drawer and adjacent said ribbon; said cam being movable between first and second positions, said cam engaging said flexible ribbon and taking up slack in said flexible ribbon between said fixed points when in said second position; Said cam and said catch including first cooperating means which engage as a drawer is opened to move said cam from said first to said second position; said first cooperating means disengaging when said cam reaches said second position to allow said drawer catch and drawer to pass by said cam; said flexible ribbon having sufficient slack between said two fixed points to allow one and only one of said cams to be moved into said second position whereby only one drawer in the cabinet can be opened at a time.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
175 words
In a cabinet having at least two drawers, a drawer interlock for preventing the simultaneous opening of two drawers comprising: a flexible ribbon positioned between two fixed points on the cabinet; a catch positioned on each drawer; and a cam operably positioned on the cabinet adjacent each drawer and adjacent said ribbon; said cam being movable between first and second positions, said cam engaging said flexible ribbon and taking up slack in said flexible ribbon between said fixed points when in said second position; Said cam and said catch including first cooperating means which engage as a drawer is opened to move said cam from said first to said second position; said first cooperating means disengaging when said cam reaches said second position to allow said drawer catch and drawer to pass by said cam; said flexible ribbon having sufficient slack between said two fixed points to allow one and only one of said cams to be moved into said second position whereby only one drawer in the cabinet can be opened at a time.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
The drawer interlock as defined in claim 11 wherein said cam comprises an eccentric cam rotatably positioned on the cabinet and wherein said first cooperating means comprises a first cam arm extending from said cam and a first cam arm-engaging member on said catch to selectively contact said cam arm.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
70 words
The drawer interlock as defined in claim 12 wherein said cam includes a second cam arm which moves into the line of travel of said first cam engaging member after said first cam engaging member has disengaged said cam as a drawer is opened whereby as the drawer is closed, said first cam engaging member engages said second arm to rotate said cam in a direction toward said first position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
89 words
The drawer interlock as defined in claim 13 wherein said catch includes a second cam-engaging member wherein said first cam-engaging member engages said first cam arm to rotate said cam from said first to second positions as a drawer is opened and said second cam arm as a drawer is closed to partially rotate said cam from said second to first positions, and said second cam engaging member engages said first cam arm to complete the rotation of said cam to said first position as a drawer is closed.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
The drawer interlock as defined in claim 14 and further including guide means adjacent each cam and constraining said ribbon on either side of each of said cams whereby movement of said ribbon by said cam is localized deflection of said ribbon.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The drawer interlock as defined in claim 15 wherein said guide means comprises a bracket segmented into ribbon guiding channels between which are positioned a plurality of cam mounting locations.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
123 words
The drawer interlock as defined in claim 11 wherein said drawer catch includes at least three cam-engaging surfaces and said cam is rotatably positioned on the cabinet and includes two cam arms extending therefrom in spaced relationship whereby one of said cam-engaging surfaces contacts a first one of said cam arms as a drawer is opened to rotate said cam to said second position, and whereby a second cam-engaging surface contacts a second one of said cam arms to partially rotate said cam in a direction toward said first position as a drawer is partially closed, and a third cam-engaging surface contacts said first one of said cam arms to finally rotate said cam into said first position as a drawer is closed.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
111 words
The drawer interlock as defined in claim 17 wherein said cam further includes a spring arm extending therefrom and means fixedly positioned on the cabinet to engage said spring arm such that during installation of a drawer into the cabinet, said cam is rotated by said second cam-engaging surface pushing against said first cam arm until said spring arm contacts said means fixed on the cabinet, and as the drawer is moved in a closed position, said second cam-engaging surface clears said fist cam arm and said spring arm rotates said cam in an opposite direction such that said first cam arm is captured between said first and third cam-engaging surfaces.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
45 words
The drawer interlock as defined in claim 15 wherein said cam includes a cam surface which progressively deflects said ribbon as said cam is rotated and a ribbon guide integrally formed therewith for holding said ribbon in alignment with said cam as it is rotated.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
34 words
The drawer interlock as defined in claim 19 and further including guide means positioned on the cabinet for permitting only a section of said ribbon to be deflected by the movement of a drawer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
THe drawer interlock as defined in claim 11 wherein said ribbon includes take-up means to control the slack in said ribbon.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The drawer interlock as defined in claim 21 wherein said take-up means comprises a loop integrally formed in said ribbon.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
The drawer interlock as defined in claim 21 wherein said take-up means comprises a leaf spring anchored at one end to said bracket and extending into biased contact with said ribbon.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
35 words
The drawer interlock as defined in claim 21 wherein said ribbon is positioned in the cabinet in a generally straight line and is deflected in a direction generally perpendicular to the length of said ribbon.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
38 words
The drawer interlock as defined in claim 16 wherein said bracket includes ribbon supporting lands extending from an edge of each channel into said cam mounting locations in the direction of deflection of said ribbon by said cam.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
59 words
The drawer interlock as defined in claim 25 wherein each cam mounting location of said mounting bracket includes a detent, and wherein each of said cams includes a deflectable detent engaging member to contact said detent when said cam is in said second position to insure said cam remains in said second position until the associated drawer is closed.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-03-25 | 1977-09-24 | 1978-03-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-03-25 | 1981-09-24 | 1982-03-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-03-25 | 1985-09-24 | 1986-03-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |