초록 ▼

A locking system for drawers may include a lock with a lock driver that is configured for engaging a drive actuator. The drive actuator may have a lock bar slider in communication with a lock bar. A slave actuator may also be provided in communication with the drive actuator through a shaft. The dri

A locking system for drawers may include a lock with a lock driver that is configured for engaging a drive actuator. The drive actuator may have a lock bar slider in communication with a lock bar. A slave actuator may also be provided in communication with the drive actuator through a shaft. The drive actuator and slave actuator may be respectively positioned so as to lock opposite ends of a drawer. The locking system may also provide the lock with a lock driver that is prevented from being moved into a locked position when the drawer is opened. One of several different resulting arrangements prevents unintentional or inadvertent locking until the drawer is placed into engagement with a drive actuator.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A locking system for a file cabinet having at least one drawer which is movable between an open and closed position thereof relative to the file cabinet, and which file cabinet has respective left and right side panels, said locking system comprising: respective left and righ

What is claimed is: 1. A locking system for a file cabinet having at least one drawer which is movable between an open and closed position thereof relative to the file cabinet, and which file cabinet has respective left and right side panels, said locking system comprising: respective left and right lock bars that slide generally vertically for alternately locking and unlocking depending on their vertical positioning; a lock having a keyhole for receipt of a key therein for placing said lock in one of either a predetermined locked position or a predetermined unlocked position thereof; a drive actuator, engaged with said lock and associated with one of the respective left and right lock bars, such that movement of said lock between said locked and unlocked positions thereof is translated by said drive actuator into vertical slide motion of the associated one lock bar for corresponding locking and unlocking; a connection member, operatively associated with said drive actuator for corresponding movement thereof as the associated one lock bar is moved by said drive actuator; and a follower actuator, engaged with said drive actuator via said connection actuator and associated with the other of the respective left and right lock bars, such that movement of said lock between said locked and unlocked positions thereof which is translated by said drive member to the associated one lock bar is also translated by said follower actuator into vertical slide motion of the associated other lock bar for corresponding locking and unlocking, such that locking and unlocking functionality of said lock is positively translated between the respective left and right lock bars; wherein said lock further includes a lock driver comprising a resiliently mounted plunger pin, which is biased by such resilient mounting thereof for a position which prevents said lock from assuming a locked position while the locking system is in an open position; and wherein said drive actuator defines at least one pin situated for deflecting said plunger pin of said lock driver whenever the locking system is in a closed position, so as to permit the lock to assume a locked position thereof, whereby said lock driver is prevented from being moved into a locked position whenever the locking system is in the open position. 2. A locking system as in claim 1, wherein said connection member comprises a rotatable shaft, rotatably mounted and associated with said drive actuator and said follower actuator such that rotation of said rotatable shaft by said drive actuator causes rotatable movement to be transmitted to said follower actuator. 3. A locking system as in claim 1, wherein said vertical slide movement effected by said drive actuator is not one-to-one proportional to the actuating movement received by said drive actuator. 4. A locking system for a file cabinet having a plurality of drawers which are movable between respective open and closed positions thereof relative to the file cabinet, and which file cabinet has respective left and right side panels, said locking system comprising: a lock having a keyhole for receipt of a key therein for placing said lock in one of either a predetermined locked position or a predetermined unlocked position thereof in response to corresponding rotational movement of a key in such keyhole; elongated respective left and right lock bars that slide generally vertically within for alternately locking and unlocking depending on their vertical positioning; a connecting shaft member, rotatably supported, said connecting shaft member having respective ends thereof situated respectively adjacent a primary actuator and a secondary actuator; said primary actuator, operatively engaged with said lock, with one of said respective left and right lock bars, and with one respective end of said connecting shaft member, such that movement of said lock between said locked and unlocked positions thereof is translated by said primary actuator into vertical slide motion of said associated one lock bar for corresponding locking and unlocking, and is translated into rotational movement of said connecting shaft member; and said secondary actuator, engaged with the other respective end of said connecting shaft member and associated with the other of said respective left and right lock bars, such that movement of said lock between said locked and unlocked positions thereof which is translated by said primary member to said one respective end of said connecting shaft member is also translated by said secondary actuator into vertical slide motion of said associated other lock bar for corresponding locking and unlocking, such that locking and unlocking functionality of said lock is positively translated to both of said left and right lock bars; wherein said lock further includes a lock driver comprising a resiliently mounted plunger pin, which is biased by such resilient mounting thereof for a position which prevents said lock from assuming a locked position while the locking system is in an open position; and wherein said primary actuator defines at least one pin situated for deflecting said plunger in of said lock driver whenever the locking system is in a closed position, so as to permit the lock to assume a locked position thereof, whereby said lock driver is prevented from being moved into a locked position whenever the locking system is in the open position. 5. A locking system as in claim 4, wherein said vertical slide movement effected by said primary actuator is not one-to-one proportional to the actuating movement received by said primary actuator. 6. An improved file cabinet locking system for a file cabinet having a plurality of drawers which are movable between respective open and closed positions thereof relative to the file cabinet, and which file cabinet has respective left and right side panels, said locking system comprising: a lock having a keyhole for receipt of a key therein for placing said lock in one of either a predetermined locked position or a predetermined unlocked position thereof in response to corresponding rotational movement of a key in such keyhole; respective left and right look bar means, for alternately locking and unlocking such drawers; rotatable shaft means, for translating rotatable movement disposed between a said primary actuator means and a secondary actuator means; primary actuator means, operatively engaged with said lock, with one of said respective left and right lock bar means, and with said rotatable shaft means, for actuating said associated one lock bar means in response to movement of said lock between said locked and unlocked positions thereof, for corresponding locking and unlocking of the drawers, and for correspondingly rotating said rotatable shaft means; and said secondary actuator means, operatively engaged with said rotatable shaft means and with the other of said respective left and right lock bar means, for actuating said associated other lock bar means in response to rotation of said rotatable shaft means by said primary actuator means, such that locking and unlocking functionality of said lock is positively translated between said left and right lock bar means; wherein said primary actuator means further includes safety interlock means operatively associated with said lock, for preventing said lock from assuming said locked position thereof whenever the locking system is in an open position. 7. An improved file cabinet locking system as in claim 6, wherein said respective left and right lock bar means comprise elongated respective left and right lock bars that slide generally vertically for alternately locking and unlocking depending on their vertical positioning. 8. An improved file cabinet locking system as in claim 6, wherein said actuating of said associated one lock bar means by said primary actuator means is not one-to-one proportional to movement of said lock between said locked and unlocked positions thereof. 9. An improved file cabinet locking system as in claim 6, wherein said primary actuator means further includes adjustment screw means for adjusting operation of said primary actuator means.