Patent US3866993A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3866993A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cabinet interlock mechanism
Assignee: Hutchinson Aerospace and Industry Inc
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Filing: 1973-09-27
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Granted: 1975-02-18
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Expires: 1993-09-27
Abstract
Abstract The invention provides a mechanism for interlocking the pull-out drawers or shelves of a storage cabinet so that when a specified drawer or shelf is pulled out, the remaining drawers or shelves are interlocked in a closed or retracted position. The invention constitutes an improvement over the invention of U.S. Pat. No. 3,404,929 in that it permits the arrangement and number of drawers or shelves in a cabinet to be varied without having to replace the interlock bar.
Inventors
- 👤 Carl J Dean
- 👤 David M Wright
- 👤 Bernard T Cournoyer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 17:05
CPC Classifications
E; E05; E05B; E05B65/00; E05B65/46; E05B65/462; E05B65/463; E05B15/00; E05B15/0053; E05B15/006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
239 words
In a filing cabinet containing at least two pull-out storage components, apparatus for maintaining prescribed ones of said components in retracted position when a selected one of said components is pulled out to an extended position, comprising: a slidable locking bar assembly spanning said pull-out components, said locking bar assembly comprising a locking bar, at least two locking pins, one for each of said pull-out components, and lock means releasably securing said locking pins to said locking bar, said locking pins being moveable lengthwise of said locking bar when said lock means are released, said locking pins projecting laterally of said locking bar into adjacent relation with said pull-out components, and cam means mounted on each of said pull-out components in position to engage the adjacent locking pin, said cam means each comprising a first portion for engaging and camming the adjacent locking pin so as to move said locking bar in a first direction from a first unlocking position to a second locking position when the pull-out component on which said cam means is mounted is pulled out to an open position, and a second portion for engaging said adjacent locking pin so as to prevent the pulling out of the pull-out component on which said cam means is mounted when said locking bar has been moved to said second locking position by the camming action of another of said cam means on another of said locking pins.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
239 words
In a filing cabinet containing at least two pull-out storage components, apparatus for maintaining prescribed ones of said components in retracted position when a selected one of said components is pulled out to an extended position, comprising: a slidable locking bar assembly spanning said pull-out components, said locking bar assembly comprising a locking bar, at least two locking pins, one for each of said pull-out components, and lock means releasably securing said locking pins to said locking bar, said locking pins being moveable lengthwise of said locking bar when said lock means are released, said locking pins projecting laterally of said locking bar into adjacent relation with said pull-out components, and cam means mounted on each of said pull-out components in position to engage the adjacent locking pin, said cam means each comprising a first portion for engaging and camming the adjacent locking pin so as to move said locking bar in a first direction from a first unlocking position to a second locking position when the pull-out component on which said cam means is mounted is pulled out to an open position, and a second portion for engaging said adjacent locking pin so as to prevent the pulling out of the pull-out component on which said cam means is mounted when said locking bar has been moved to said second locking position by the camming action of another of said cam means on another of said locking pins.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
85 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said cam means each comprises a third portion for (1) engaging said adjacent locking pin when said locking bar is in said second locking position and the pull-out component on which said cam means is mounted is in a pulled-out position and (2) camming said adjacent locking pin so as to move said locking bar in a second direction to said first unlocking position when the pull-out component on which it is mounted is moved to a closed position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 further including means for maintaining said locking bar in a discrete one of said first and second positions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a guide means for said locking bar, telescoping suspension arms attached to said cabinet and supporting said pull-out components, and spacer means slidably restrained by said suspension arms for holding said locking bar in slidable engagement with said guide means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said spacer means is integral with said lock means for releasably securing said locking pins to said locking bar.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
68 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said locking pins each has a threaded extension; and further wherein said lock means for securing said locking pins to said locking bar each comprises a locking plate engaging one surface of said locking bar and having a hole through which said threaded extension protrudes, and a nut screwed onto said threaded extension and engaging an opposite surface of said locking bar.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
95 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said cam means includes a fourth portion for (1) engaging said adjacent locking pin when said locking bar is inadvertently in said first unlocking position and the respective pull-out component on which said cam means is mounted is in a pulled-out position and (2) camming said adjacent locking pin so as to move said locking bar in said first direction to said second locking position before said third portion engages and cams said adjacent locking pin so as to move said locking bar to said first unlocking position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3325234A
Cited
US3404929A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-17 | 1978-08-19 | 1979-02-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-17 | 1982-08-19 | 1983-02-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-17 | 1986-08-19 | 1987-02-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |