Drawer interlocking means for storage cabinet

Claim 2

A storage assembly comprising; a housing means (20) defining an enclosure, a plurality of storage units (38) each supported by said housing means (20) for movement between a closed position within the enclosure and an open position extending out of said housing means, and blocking means (40) disposed on a vertical axis (A) along side of said storage units (38) for preventing opening movement from said closed position of all but one of said storage units (38) in response to opening movement of said one of said storage units (38), said blocking means (40) characterized by including control means (42) associated with each storage unit (38) and vertically movable between a neutral opening position allowing opening movement of the associated storage unit (38) and upper and lower blocking positions respectively vertically above and below said neutral opening position for preventing opening movement of the associated storage unit (38) in either of said blocking positions and for vertically moving all control means (42) thereabove upwardly to their respective blocking positions and for vertically moving all control means (42) therebelow downwardly to their respective blocking positions while remaining in said neutral opening position in response to initial opening movement of the associated storage unit.

Claim 3

An assembly as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by each control means (42) including; transmission means (44) coacting with the associated storage unit (38) for rotating said control means (42) between an unactuated position and an actuated position, and key means (66) coacting between said housing means (20) and said control means (42) for limiting vertical movement of said control means (42) to said neutral position during rotation thereof between said unactuated and actuated positions.

Claim 4

An assembly as set forth in claim 2 further characterized by each control means (42) including shifting means (50,42) for vertically moving all other control means (42) from their respective neutral positions to respective blocking positions in response to rotation of said control means (42) from said unactuated position to said actuated position.

Claim 5

An assembly as set forth in claim 3 further characterized by said blocking means (40) including link means (54,56,58,60,54',58',98,99) movably supported by said housing means (20) and responsive to said shifting means (50,52) for vertically moving all of said control means (42) in response to rotation of one of said control means (42) from said unactuated position upon initial opening movement of the associated storage unit (38).

Claim 6

An assembly as set forth in claim 4 further characterized by said link means including a plurality of link elements (54,56,58,60,54',58',98,99) between next adjacent control means (42); said elements mating and being separable at the division (34) between next-adjacent storage units (38) so that the blocking means (40) may be of variable lengths to accommodate various numbers of storage units (38).

Claim 7

An assembly as set forth in claim 5 further characterized by said link means and said control means (42) being of different vertical dimensions to accommodate storage units (38) of various different vertical dimensions.

Claim 8

An assembly as set forth in claim 4 further characterized by each control means (42) including lug means (64) extending radially for blocking engagement with the associated storage unit (38) when in said upper and lower blocking positions and for rotating with said control means (42) to said actuated position.

Claim 9

An assembly as set forth in claim 7 further characterized by said key means (66) coacting with said lug means (64) during rotation of said control means (42) from said unactuated position to said actuated position for limiting said vertical movement of the associated control means (42) during rotational movement thereof.

Claim 10

An assembly as set forth in claim 8 further characterized by including guide means (68,70) extending from said housing means (20) for preventing rotation of said link means ((54,56,58,60,54',58',98,99) about said vertical axis (A) while guiding vertical movement thereof.

Claim 11

An assembly as set forth in claim 9 further characterized by including lost motion means (76) for supporting the stack of control means (42) and link means (54,56,58,60,54',58',98,99) in said vertically neutral positions and for allowing vertical movement of the link means above and below each control means (42) in opposite vertical directions in response to rotation thereof to move all other link means and control means (42) to said blocking positions.

Claim 12

An assembly as set forth in claim 10 further characterized by each control means (42) including a shaft (48) having top (50) and bottom (52) ends, said shifting means comprising cam surfaces at said top and bottom ends and inclined relative to said vertical axis (A) for effecting a wedging action with the adjacent link means (54,56,58,60,54',58',98,99) to vertically move same.

Claim 13

An assembly as set forth in claim 11 further characterized by said transmission means comprising a pinion gear (44) extending about said shaft (48), a rack (46) extending from each storage unit (38) for engaging and rotating the pinion gear (44) of the associated control means (42) during opening movement thereof.

Claim 14

An assembly as set forth in claim 12 further characterized by said link means including a top link element (54,5,54',98,99) engaging said top cam surface (50) and a bottom link element (56,60,56',98) engaging said bottom cam surface (52).

Claim 15

An assembly as set forth in claim 13 further characterized by each of said top and bottom elements having a four-sided cross section to coact with said guide means (68,70) to prevent rotation of said elements about said vertical axis (A).

Claim 16

An assembly as set forth in claim 14 further characterized by one (58,58') of said top elements mating with one (56,56') of said bottom elements at the division (34) between next-adjacent storage units so that a shaft (48) and top and bottom elements are associated with each storage unit (38).

Claim 17

An assembly as set forth in claim 15 further characterized by said lost motion means comprising a spring (76) supporting the lower-most bottom element (60) on said housing means (20) for up and down vertical movement of said lower-most bottom element (60).

Claim 18

An assembly as set forth in claim 16 further characterized by said lug means comprising a pair of vertically spaced lugs (64) extending radially from said shaft (48) and said key means comprises a projection (66) extending from said housing means (20) in vertical alignment with the space between said lugs (64) so that said projection (66) is disposed between said lugs (64) upon rotation of said shaft (48) by said pinion gear (44) from said unactuated position.

Claim 19

An assembly as set forth in claim 17 further characterized by including a tab (78) extending from each storage unit (38) in vertical alignment with the space between said lugs (64) when in said neutral position and aligned for blocking engagement with said lugs (64) when in said blocking position.

Claim 20

An assembly as set forth in either of claims 1, 4 or 18 further characterized by including independent locking means for vertically shifting all of said control means (42) to one of said blocking positions to prevent all of said storage units (38) from being opened to lock the assembly for security.

Claim 21

An assembly as set forth in claim 19 further characterized by said locking means including a locking bar (82) supported for vertical movement along the opposite side of said storage (38) and a crossover means interconnecting the lower end of said blocking means (40) and the lower end of said locking bar (82).

Claim 22

An assembly as set forth in claim 20 further characterized by said locking means including a lock (84) movable from an unlocked position to a locked position for moving said locking bar (82) from a resting position to a locked position, said crossover means being movably supported by said housing means (20) for vertically moving said blocking means (40) and all of said control means (42) therein upwardly from said neutral positions to said upper blocking positions.

Claim 23

An assembly as set forth in claim 21 further characterized by said crossover means including a pair of rocker arms (88) pivotally supported (90) by said housing means (20) on opposite sides of the bottom storage unit for rocking movement about a pivot axis, one of said rocker arms (88) having its forward end operatively connected (92) to said blocking means (40) and the other of said rocker arms (88) having its forward end operatively connected (94) to said locking bar (82), a tie rod (96) interconnecting the opposite rear ends of said rocker arms (88) on the other side of said pivot axis (90) from said forward ends thereof.

Claim 24

An assembly as set forth in any one of claims 1, 3, 4, 10, 16 or 18 further characterized by including stop means limiting the amount of vertical movement of said blocking means (40) for preventing simultaneous actuation of two of said control means (42) in response to simultaneous opening forces on two of said storage units.

Claim 25

A storage assembly comprising; a housing means (20) defining an enclosure, a plurality of storage units (38) each supported by said housing means (20) for movement between a closed position within the enclosure and an open position extending out of said housing means, and blocking means (40) disposed on a vertical axis (A) along side of said storage units (38) for preventing opening movement from said closed position of all but one of said storage units (38) in response to opening movement of said one of said storage units (38), said blocking means (40) control means (42) associated with each storage unit (38) for allowing opening movement of the associated storage unit (38) for preventing opening movement of the associated storage unit (38); each control means (42) including transmission means (44) coacting with the associated storage unit (38) for rotating said control means (42) between an unactuated position and an actuated position, shifting means (50, 42) for vertically moving all other control means (42) in response to rotation of said control means (42) from said unactuated position to said actuated position, said blocking means (40) including link means (54,56,58,60,54',58',98,99) movably supported by said housing means (20) and responsive to said shifting means (50,52) for vertically moving all of said control means (42) in response to rotation of one of said control means (42) from said unactuated position upon initial opening movement of the associated storage unit (38), each control means (42) including a shaft (48) having top (50) and bottom (52) ends, said shifting means comprising cam surfaces at said top and bottom ends and inclined relative to said vertical axis (A) for effecting a wedging action with the adjacent link means (54,56,58,60,54',58',98,99) to vertically move same, said link means and shafts (48) being independent and separately stacked along said vertical axis (A), and guide means (68,70) extending from said housing means (20) for engaging the exterior of and preventing rotation of said link means (54,56,58,60,54',58',98,99) about said vertical axis (A) while grinding vertical movement thereof, said shafts (48) stacked among said link means for rotation independently of said link means.

Claim 26

A storage assembly comprising; a housing means (20) defining an enclosure, a plurality of storage units (38) each supported by said housing means (20) for movement between a closed position within the enclosure and an open position extending out of said housing means, and blocking means (40) disposed on a vertical axis (A) along side of said storage units (38) for preventing opening movement from said closed position of all but one of said storage units (38) in response to opening movement of said one of said storage units (38), said blocking means (40) control means (42) associated with each storage unit (38) for allowing opening movement of the associated storage unit (38) for preventing opening movement of the associated storage unit (38); each control means (42) including transmission means (44) coacting with the associated storage unit (38) for rotating said control means (42) between an unactuated position and an actuated position, shifting means (50, 42) for vertically moving all other control means (42) in response to rotation of said control means (42) from said unactuated position to said actuated position, said blocking means (40) including link means (54,56,58,60,54',58',98,99) movably supported by said housing means (20) and responsive to said shifting means (50,52) for vertically moving all of said control means (42) in response to rotation of one of said control means (42) from said unactuated position upon initial opening movement of the associated storage unit (38), each control means (42) including a shaft (48) having top (50) and bottom (52) ends, said shifting means comprising cam surfaces at said top and bottom ends and inclined relative to said vertical axis (A) for effecting a wedging action with the adjacent link means (54,56,58,60,54',58',98,99) to vertically move same, said link means and shafts (48) being independent and separately stacked along said vertical axis (A), and guide means (68,70) extending from said housing means (20) for engaging the exterior of and preventing rotation of said link means (54,56,58,60,54',58',98,99) about said vertical axis (A) while grinding vertical movement thereof, said shafts (48) stacked among said link means for rotation independently of said link means.

Claim 27

An assembly as set forth in claim 24 further characterized by including lug means (64) extending radially from said shafts (48) for blocking engagement with the associated storage unit (38) and for rotating with said associated shaft (48) to said actuated position.

Claim 28

An assembly as set forth in claim 25 further characterized by key means (66) extending from said housing means (20) for coacting with said lug means (64) during rotation of said associated shaft (48) from said unactuated position to said actuated position for limiting vertical movement of the associated shaft (48) during rotational movement thereof.

Claim 29

An assembly as set forth in claim 26 further characterized by including lost motion means (76) for supporting the stack of said shafts (48) and link means (54,56,58,60,54',58',98,99) in a neutral opening position allowing opening movement of the associated storage unit (38) and for allowing vertical movement of the link means above and below each actuated shaft (48) in opposite vertical directions in response to rotation thereof to move all other link means and shafts to said blocking positions.

Claim 30

An assembly as set forth in claim 27 further characterized by said lug means comprising a pair of vertically spaced lugs (64) extending radially from said shaft (48) and said key means comprises a projection (66) extending from said housing means (20) in vertical alignment with the space between said lugs (64) so that said projection (66) is disposed between said lugs (64) upon rotation of said shaft (48) from said unactuated position to prevent vertical movement of the associated shaft in either direction from said neutral opening position.