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. 29, 2000
Filed:
Nov. 23, 1998
Gregg Walla, Lake Bluff, IL (US);
E Grant Swick, Bartlett, IL (US);
William E Ruehl, Elgin, IL (US);
Timberline Lock Ltd., Lake Bluff, IL (US);
Abstract
A drawer system is provided having a frame, first and second drawers that are each slidable guidingly on the frame between open and closed positions, and a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism has a first blocking element mounted for movement relative to the frame between a blocking position and a neutral position and a second blocking element mounted for movement relative to the frame between a blocking position and a neutral position. A first actuating surface is provided on the first drawer, with a second actuating surface being provided on the second drawer. The first blocking element in its blocking position prevents the second blocking element from moving from its neutral position into its blocking position. The second blocking element in its blocking position prevents the first blocking element from moving from its neutral position into its blocking position. The first actuating surface moves the first blocking element from its neutral position into its blocking position as an incident of the first drawer moving from its closed position into its open position. The second actuating surface moves the second blocking element from its neutral position into its blocking position as an incident of the second drawer moving from its closed position into its open position.