Metal Works, Inc.

Laude E Hartrum

Raymond J Smuda

An interlock assembly (20) for two or more horizontally sliding drawers (11, 13) in a cabinet (10) to prevent opening more than one drawer at a time is described. The interlock assembly is characterized by each drawer having rotating cam members (21, 23) with lobes (21A, 23A) and valleys (21B, 23B) which mate with blocks (25, 27, 29, 31) having corresponding lobes (25A, 27A, 29A, 31A) and valleys (25C, 27C, 29C, 31C). When a first cam member (23) is rotated by opening a drawer (13) the lobes (23A) of the cam member (23) engage lobes (29A, 31A) of the corresponding blocks (29, 31) to move the blocks (25, 27, 29, 31 ) and cam member (23) towards the cabinet (10) to provide the interlock for the drawers so that the other drawer (11) can not be opened. Mating male pins (29D, 31D) extend from the cam blocks (29, 31) along the axis and mates with opposed female openings (23C) in the cam members (23) so that the cam members (23) is rotatably connected to the cam blocks (29, 31) for rotational movement of the cam member (23) around the axis. The cam member (21) and cam blocks ( 25, 27) have a similar mating pin (25D, 27D ) and female opening (21C) rotatable connection. Also, the blocks are provided with extension portions that mount on a guide bracket (45) that helps to keep the interlock assembly mounted along the axis.

Interlock assembly

An interlock assembly (20) for two or more horizontally sliding drawers (11, 12) in a cabinet (10) to prevent opening more than one drawer at a time is described. The interlock assembly is characterized by each drawer having rotating cam members (22, 23) with lobes (23a and 23b) and valleys (23c and 23d) which mate with corresponding lobes (26a, 27a) and valleys (26c, 27c) in blocks (26 and 27). When the cam member (23) is rotated the lobes (23a, 23b) and (23c and 23d) engage lobes (26a and 27a) of the blocks (26 and 27) to move the blocks and cam members as a train so as to engage the cabinet (10) to provide the interlock of the drawers.

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Pentwater, MI, United States of America

Laude E Hartrum