Safety closure latch

Abstract

The safety closure latch includes a stop member depending from the upper wall of the drawer opening. The stop member is generally rectangular and has a pair of vertically aligned rectangular openings. The latch member is mounted on the inner face of the front vertical wall of the drawer adjacent the top. The latch member comprises a mounting base and a pair of vertically spaced parallel arms extending horizontally from the base into the drawer. Each arm terminates in a hooked end having a shoulder, the hook on the upper arm extending upwardly and the hook on the lower arm extending downwardly. The arms are so aligned that when the drawer is closed, the arms will slide into the aligned openings of the stop member, the hook portion on the upper arm snapping by the upper edge of the upper opening, and the hook portion of the lower arm snapping by the lower edge of the lower opening. When the drawer is pulled open, the hook portions will engage the edges of the openings and prevent the drawer from being opened more than the length of the arms. This prevents small children from getting into the drawer. An adult can reach it with the thumb and forefinger, grasp the arms and squeeze them together. The hooked ends will then clear the openings and the drawer can be opened completely. Since both arms must be cleared, the device provides a double safety latch.