Knape & Vogt Manufacturing Company

Sharon M Carson

Keith A Hoffman

Interlocks for file cabinets and the like which generally prevent more than one drawer from being opened at a given time. The interlocks include a cable which is changeable from a slack condition to a taut condition. In the taut condition, the interlocks prevent the associated drawer from being opened. In the slack condition, the interlock allows the associated drawer to be opened. The interlocks may be used in conjunction with a lock that selectively changes the tension in the cable from a slack condition to a taut condition and vise versa. The interlocks may be constructed to exert a tension on a cable that is independent of the pulling force exerted on a locked drawer. Alternatively, the interlocks may be constructed to exert a force on the cable that is a small fraction of the pulling force exerted on a locked drawer.

Interlock mechanism for lateral file cabinets

An under mounted drawer slide assembly with a cabinet channel and drawer slide that interface so as to avoid the necessity of creating an opening in the lower portion of the drawer's rear panel. A bracket for the drawer slide is formed to fit around the lower edge of the drawer's rear panel and includes an elongated roller mounted thereto at a height below the lower edges of the drawer panels. The roller has a smaller diameter than conventional rollers but is elongated to provide greater support and stability to the drawer slide system. This roller travels within a generally C-shaped channel that is also located beneath the lower edges of the drawer panels. Both the roller and channel are low profile components so as to fit within the tight space constraints between the lower edges of the drawer and the cabinet opening, thereby avoiding having to mount the channel and slide within the recess created by the bottom panel of the drawer.

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Zeeland, MI, United States of America

Sharon M Carson