The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 09, 1994
Filed:
Jan. 08, 1993
Laude E Hartrum, Pentwater, MI (US);
Raymond J Smuda, Manistee, MI (US);
Metalworks, Inc., Ludington, MI (US);
Abstract
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.