Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to filing cabinets and
more particularly to drawer lockout mechanisms used in filing
cabinets to preclude more than one drawer being opened at a time.
BACRGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Filing cabinets of the type typically used in offices
usually have two, three, or more drawers displaced one on top of
the other. In some models of cabinets, particularly those
referred to as "lateral" type cabinets, the drawers may be in the
form of open-front sliding shelves, wherein a corresponding front
door flips upwardly out of the way of one or more of such sliding
shelves, so as to allow the shelves to be slid in and out of the
cabinet for access. The mechanism of the present invention is
equally adapted to be utilized with either of such drawers or
sliding shelves, and, for the sake of brevity, the words "drawer"
or "drawers" will be used hereafter in the present specification
and claims to include both sliding shelves of the nature
described above and the more typical full-fronted sliding drawers
illustrated in the Figures.
In some models of filing cabinets, one or more of the
drawers can be simultaneously opened. In such instance, at least
where the drawers are filled with files or the like, the entire
filing cabinet could tip over, particularly where the uppermost
drawer(s) are amongst those opened. Since a filing cabinet and
the contents therein can weigh many hundreds of pounds, such
tipping presents a serious safety risk, particularly to a person
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~ ~ ~ç ~ 7
standing or crouching in front of the fil:ing cabinet, having just
opened a drawer thereof.
Various prior art mechanisms have been developed that
allow for any one drawer of a filing cabinet to be opened only
when all other drawers are closed. Such mechanisms are in common
use, are well-known, and are generally referred to in this
specification and the appended claims as "drawer lockout
mechanisms". One well-known prior art lockout mechanism has a
rotatable hub associated with each drawer with vertically
oriented rods attached to each of the hubs. When a particular
file drawer is opened, the hub associated therewith is rotated
so as to push in an upward direction a first rod that extends
upwardly therefrom and to hold down a second rod that extends
downwardly therefrom. The first rod is pushed upwardly so as to
block the outward movement of any drawers above the drawer that
has been opened. The second rod is held down to block the
outward movement of any drawers below the drawer that has been
opened.
It has been found that such prior art mechanisms are
somewhat bulky, complicated and have a great number of parts.
Large size limits the drawer applications with which such lockout
mechanisms can be used. Moreover, malfunctioning of such lockout
mechanisms is not uncommon because of the complexity and the
relatively large number of parts. Further, because many die cast
parts are utilized in prior art lockout mechanisms, such
mechanisms are expensive to manufacture.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a drawer lockout
mechanism for use in conjunction with a filing cabinet, with the
filing cabinet having at least a first drawer and a second drawer
each mounted thereon in generally horizontally translatable
relation between a closed and an opened configuration via
respective slidably operable first and second track assemblies,
and with the first drawer being disposed above the second drawer.
The drawer lockout mechanism comprises:
a first sliding member having a first ramped surface
and being operatively retained within a first guide means mounted
either directly or indirectly on an interior side wall of the
filing cabinet, the first sliding member being translatable in
a first generally horizontal plane between a retracted position
and an extended position during corresponding translation of the
first drawer between its respective closed and opened
configurations;
a second sliding member having a second ramped surface
and being operatively retained within a second guide means
mounted either directly or indirectly on the interior side wall
of the filing cabinet, the second sliding member being
translatable in a second generally horizontal plane between a
retracted and an extended position during corresponding
translation of the second drawer between its respective closed
and opened configurations;
2~7~13F~
a first rod member having opposed upper and lower ends
and being operatively retained within the first guide means for
translational sliding motion along a generally vertical axis
oriented generally transversely to the first plane between a
first position and a second position, the rod member having a
first edge portion adjacent its lower end adapted for operative
engagement with the first ramped surface of the first sliding
member when the first sliding member is in its retracted position
and the first rod member is in its first position;
0
a second rod member having opposed upper and a lower
ends and being operatively retained within the second guide means
for translational sliding motion along the vertical axis between
a first position and a second position, the second rod member
having a second edge portion adjacent its lower end adapted for
operative engagement with the second ramped surface of the second
sliding member when the second sliding member is in its retracted
position and the second rod member is in its first position;
wherein, upon the horizontal translation of the first
drawer from its closed configuration to its opened configuration,
the first sliding member moves from its retracted position toward
its extended position thereby causing the first edge portion of
the first rod member to engage and ride up the first ramped
surface of the first sliding member causing upward translational
movement of the first rod member along the generally vertical
axis from its first position to its second position, at which
second position the first sliding member is permitted to pass
beneath the first rod member to its extended position, at which
extended position the first sliding member intersects the
vertical axis thereby to prevent upward translational movement
of the second rod member along the vertical axis from its first
position to its second position and thereby causing the second
rod member to prevent the generally horizontal translat~onal
movement of the second sliding member which prevents the s~cond
drawer from being moved from its closed configuration towards its
opened configuration; and,
wherein, upon the horizontal translation of the second
drawer from its closed configuration to its opened configuration,
the second sliding member moves from its retracted position
toward its extended position thereby causing the second edge
portion of the second rod member to engage and ride up the second
ramped surface of the second sliding member causing upward
translational movement of the second rod member along the
vertical axis from its first position to its second position, at
which second position the second sliding member is permitted to
pass beneath the second rod member to its extended position so
as to allow the generally horizontal translational movement of
the second sliding member, which allows the second drawer to be
translated from its closed configuration to its opened
configuration, and at which second position the second rod member
intersects the first horizontal plane, so as to thereby block the
first sliding member from sliding from its retracted to its
extended position thereby to prevent the first drawer from being
translated from its closed configuration to its opened
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i ~ 7 ~1 ~,3 ~
configuration.
Advantages of the drawer lockout mechanism of the
present invention include reduction in size and weight over prior
art mechanisms. This, in turn, provides design application
flexibility. Further, the drawer lockout mechanism of the
present invention has only two die cast metal parts in contrast
to prior art drawer lockout mechanisms, typically having about
five die cast metal parts. Reduction in both the size and the
number of die-cast metal parts reduces the cost of the mechanism.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention
to provide a filing drawer lockout mechanism that is smaller,
lightweight and inexpensive to produce.
It is a further object of the present invention to
produce a filing drawer lockout mechanism that is easy to
install, even in the field.
It is a further object of the present invention to
produce a filing drawer lockout mechanism that has a minimum
number of die cast parts, since such parts are relatively
expensive to produce.
It is a further object of the present invention to
provide a filing drawer lockout mechanism that has replicated
parts so as to minimize manufacturing costs.
-- 6 --
It is a further object of the present invention to
provide a filing drawer locking mechanism that is readily
adaptable to filing cabinets having two, three, four or more
drawers.
Other objects, features and characteristics of the
present invention, as well as methods of operation and functions
of the related elements of the structure, and the combination of
parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent
upon consideration of the following detailed description and the
appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all
of which form a part of this specification.
DETAI~ED DEBCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED ENBODIMENT
::
Introduction to the Drawings
Figure 1 of the drawings is a is an isometric view of
a typical three-drawer filing cabinet having a drawer lockout
mechanism according to the present invention (shown in ghost
outline) installed thereon;
Figure 2a of the drawings is an isometric view of the
drawer lockout mechanism of Figure 1, with parts omitted for
clarity, showing the mechanism in a configuration corresponding
to all of the drawers of the filing cabinet being closed;
Figure 2b of the drawings is an view similar to Figure
$~ ~
za, showing the mechanism in a configuration corresponding to the
middle drawer of the filing cabinet being partially opened.
Figure 3 of the drawings is an exploded isometric view
of a portion of the drawer lockout mechanism of Figure 1 from a
first side thereof;
Figure 4 of the drawings is an exploded isometric view
similar to Figure 3, from an opposite second side thereof;
Figure 5a of the drawings is an isometric view of a
portion of the lockout mechanism of Figures 1-4, with parts
omitted for clarity, corresponding to a drawer specifically the
middle drawer of Figure 1, being in a closed position;
Figure 5b of the drawings is an isometric view similar
to Figure Sa, corresponding to a drawer specifically the middle
drawer of Figure 1, being in a partially opened position;
Figure 5c of the drawings is an isometric view similar
to Figures Sa and Sb, corresponding to a drawer specifically the
drawer of Figure 1, being in a substantially fully opened
position;
Figure 6a of the drawings is a partially cutaway side
elevational view of a portion of the present invention with parts
omitted for clarity, corresponding generally to the configuration
of Figure Sa;
Figure 6b of the drawings is a partially cutaway side
elevational view of a portion of the present invention with parts
omitted for clarity, corresponding generally to the configuration
of Figure 5b;
Figure 6c of the drawings is a partially cutaway side
elevational view of a portion of the present invention with parts
omitted for clarity, corresponding generally to the configuration
of Figure 5c;
Figure 7a of the drawings is a sectioned top plan view
of a portion of the present invention corresponding generally to
the configuration of Figures 5a and 6a;
Figure 7b of the drawings is a sectional top plan view
of a portion of the present invention corresponding generally to
the configuration of Figures 5b and 6b, and
Figure 7c of the drawings is a sectional top plan view
of a portion of the present invention corresponding generally to
the configuration of Figure~ 5c and 6c, but with the drawer more
fully opened.
Referring now to Figure 1 of the drawings, there will
be seen a filing cabinet 20 having a first drawer 22, a second
drawer 24 and a third drawer 26, with the first drawer being
disposed above the second drawer 24 and the second drawer 24
being disposed above the third drawer 26. Each of the first 22,
the second 24 and third 26 drawers are mounted on the filing
cabinet 20 in generally horizontally translatable relation
between a closed and an opened configuration via respective
slidably operable first 23, second 25 and third 27 track
assemblies. Each track assembly is substantially identical and
for that reason, and in the interests of brevity, reference will
be made for the purposes of describing the track assemblies to
the second track assembly 25 only (See Figures 1, 3 and 4). The
second track assembly 25 includes a fixed track portion 100 that
is securely affixed to a first interior side wall 29 of the
filing cabinet 20 by any well known fastening means such as
machine screws or rivets, and a movable track portion 104 that
is securely affixed to the first drawer 22. The fixed track
portion 100 and the movable track portion 104 are of
substantially conventional design, and interfit in slidable
relation to each other by means of ball-bearing mounts (not
shown). There is a flange 102 that projects transversely from
one end of the fixed track portion 100 (see Figure 3), and a
rubber end cap 106 at the opposite end of the movable track
portion 104 that also protrudes transversely therefrom.
Together, the flange 102 and the rubber end cap 106 limit the
relative sliding travel of the also opposed fixed track portion
100 and the movable track portion 104 with respect to each other.
In a similar manner, the first 23 and third 27 track assemblies
each have a fixed track portion and a movable track portion (not
shown).
As seen in Figure 1, the second drawer 24 has been
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~ ~ 7 ~ ~ ~ b
moved outwardly to a substantially opened configuration, while
the first 22 and third 26 drawers remain in their closed
configurations in the filing cabinet 20.
Referring now to Figures 2a and 2b in order to explain
the basic operational logic of the drawer lockout mechanism 28
of the present invention, there will be seen three sliding
members: a first sliding member 30; a second sliding member 40;
and a third sliding member 50. Figure 2b shows each of the first
30, second 40 and third 50 sliding members in their respective
positions corresponding to the configuration of the drawers as
shown in Figure 1, while Figure 2a shows the positions of the
sliding members when all three drawers 22, 24, and 26 are closed.
Except as otherwise noted herein, reference will
initially be made in this detailed description to the second
sliding member 40 and those portions of the illustrated lockout
mechanism immediately interacting therewith as the second drawer
24 moves from its closed to its substantially opened
configuration as indicated by arrow A of Figure 1. The
configurations, mounting and mode of operation of each of the
first 30 and third 50 sliding members is substantially similar
to that of the second sliding member 40, so that a complete
description of the structure and form of each is not separately
required for a full understanding of the teachings of the
invention. Rather, for the sake of brevity, only significant
differences in the form or function of the essential components
of the interlocking mechanism associated with each of the first
.
2~7~3~ ~?
22, second 24 and third 26 drawers will be detailed herein.
However, the interaction of such essential components so as to
allow only the opening of one of these drawers at a time will be
described in detail.
The second sliding member 40 has a ramped surface 44
thereon at a leading edge thereof. The second sliding member 40
is operatively retained within a second guide means 42 that is
in turn rigidly fixed to an interior side wall 29 of the filing
cabinet 20, preferably by agency of machine screws 70 attaching
it to the fixed track portion 100 of the second track assembly
25. The second sliding member 40 is operatively retained within
a generally horizontally disposed cooperating slot 74 that is
formed in the second guide means 42. The cooperating slot 74
extends from the front 76 to the rear 78 of the second guide
means 42. The second sliding member 40 is translatable in a
second generally horizontal plane, generally designated by
reference arrow "B" between a retracted position as shown in
Figures 2a and 6a and an extended position as shown in Figures
2b and 6c during corresponding translation of the second drawer
24 between its respective closed and opened configurations. The
retracted position of the second sliding member 40 is defined as
the position that allows the lower end 47 of the second rod
member 46 to be in contact with the upper end 53 of the third rod
member 56. At its retracted position, the ramped surface 44 of
the second sliding member 40 is generally adjacent the edge
portion 45 at lower end 47 of the second rod member 46. The
extended position of the second sliding member 40 is defined as
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.
2 ~
the position that causes the lower end 47 of the second rod
member 46 to be functionally separated from the upper end 53 of
the third rod member 56. At its fully extended position, the
lower end 47 of the second rod member 46 contacts the top surface
5 140 of the second sliding means 40.
The second sliding member 40 has a detent 41 arranged
along a respective top surface 140. The purpose of the detent
41 will be described subsequently.
The detent 41 is defined by a rearwardly sloping
surface 49 at the front thereof and by a generally vertically
oriented surface 48 at the rear thereof. A generally horizontal
adjoining surface 141 extends between the rearwardly sloping
15 surface 49 and the generally vertically oriented surface 48 so
as to adjoin them.
Analogously to the second sliding member 40, the first
sliding member 30, and the third sliding member 50 are similarly
20 configured are retained in respective second guide means 32 and
52 (see Figure 1), and also operate, in a similar manner to that
of the second sliding member 40 as detailed more fully below.
There is also provided a second rod member 46 that has
25 opposed upper 43 and lower 47 ends. The second rod member 46 is
operatively retained within a generally vertically disposed
cooperating slot 80 within the second guide member 42 for
translational sliding motion along a generally vertical axis
.. . , ~ . . .
,
..
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.: ..
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:.
2 ~ 7 ~ 3 ~3 ~
designated by reference line "c-C". The generally vertically
disposed cooperating slot 80 extends from the top 82 to the
bottom 84 of the second guide means 42. The generally vertical
axis "C-C" is oriented generally transversely to the second
generally horizontal plane referenced by arrow "B" and the second
rod member 46 translates generally vertically between a first
position as shown in Figures 2a and 6a and a second position as
shown in Figures 2b and 6c. The first position of the second rod
member 46 is defined as the position wherein the lower end 47 of
the second rod member 46 contacts the upper end 53 of the third
rod member 56. The second position of the second rod member 46
is defined as the position wherein the lower end 47 of the second
rod member 46 is functionally separated from the upper end 53 of
the third rod member 56. The second rod member 46 has an edge
portion 45 adjacent its lower end 47. The edge portion 45 is
adapted for operative engagement with the ramped surface 44 of
the second sliding member 40 when the second sliding member 40
is in its retracted position and the second rod member 46 is in
its first position. The edge portion 45 of the lower end 47 of
the second rod member 46 is preferably radiused. In the
preferred embodiment, the edge portion 47 of the second rod
member 46 is coincident with the lower end of the second rod
member 46.
The first 36, second 46 and third 56 rod members are
spring biased downwardly along the generally vertical axis "C-C"
by a biasing spring 69. In the preferred embodiment shown, one
end of the biasing spring 69 is attached to the first rod member
- 14 -
~6. The other end of the biasing spring 69 is indirectly
attached to the filing cabinet 20 via protruding insertion into
socket 73 in the first guide means 32 associated with the first
drawer 22, which socket 73 is analogous to socket 73 of the
second guide means 42 (see Figures 3 & 4).
Upon horizontal translation of the second drawer 24
from its closed configuration to its opened configuration, as
shown in Figure 1, the second sliding member 40 is moved from its
retracted position towards its extended position thereby causing
the edge portion 45 of the second rod member 46 to engage and
ride up the ramped surface 44 of the second sliding member 40 and
to subsequently engage the detent 41 therein. This movement of
the second sliding member 40 causes upward translational movement
of the second rod member 46 along the vertical axis "C-C" from
its first position to its second position, at which second
position the second sliding member 40 is permitted to pass
beneath the second rod member 46 to its extended position, so as
to allow the second drawer 24 to be translated from its closed
configuration to its opened configuration. Further, at this
extended position, the second sliding member 40 intersects the
vertical axis "C-C" and blocks the upper end 53 of the third rod
member 56 thereby to prevent upward translational movement of the
third rod member 56 along the vertical axis "C-C" from its first
position to its second position.
At its second position, the second rod member 46
intersects the first horizontal plane "D" so as to thereby block
- 15 -
.
-:
:
the first sliding member 30 from translating from its retracted
position to its extended position, thereby to prevent the first
drawer 22 from being translated from its closed configuration to
its opened configuration. The second sliding member 40, being
in its extended position as shown in Figures 5c and 6c, causes
the third rod member 56 to remain in its first position, which
prevents generally horizontal translational movement of the third
sliding member 50 from its retracted position towards its
extended position, which in turn prevents the third drawer 26
from being moved from its closed configuration towards its opened
configuration.
Upon horizontal translation of the first drawer 22 from
its closed configuration to its opened configuration, which
translation is not shown in the Figures, the first sliding member
30 moves from its retracted position towards its extended
position, thereby causing the edge portion 35 of the first rod
member 36 to engage and ride up the ramped surface 34 of the
first sliding member 30 and to subsequently engage the detent 31
therein. The purpose of the detent 31 is to limit the forward
travel of the first sliding member 30. Such engagement of the
ramped surface 34 by the edge portion 35 causes upward
translational movement of the first rod member 36 along the
generally vertical axis 66 from its first position to its second
position, at which second position the first sliding member 30
is permitted to pass beneath the first rod member 36 to its
extended position. At this extended position the first sliding
member 30 intersects the vertical axis "C-C" and blocks the upper
2 0 r~ 3 7
end 43 of the second rod member 46 thereby to prevent upward
translational movement of the second rod member 46 along the
vertical axis "C-C" from its first position to its second
position. The second rod member 46 therefore remains in its
first position and prevents generally horizontal translational
movement of the second sliding member 40 from its retracted
position towards its extended position, which in turn prevents
the second drawer 24 from being moved from its closed
configuration towards its opened configuration. Further, the
second rod member 46 remaining in this first position causes the
third rod member 56 to be blocked from moving from its first
position to its second position so as to prevent generally
horizontal translational movement of the third sliding member 50
from its retracted position towards its extended position, which
in turn prevents the third drawer 26 from being moved from its
closed configuration towards its opened configuration.
Upon horizontal translation of the third drawer 26 from
its closed configuration to its opened configuration, which
translation is not shown in the Figures, the third sliding member
56 moves from its retracted position towards its extended
position, thereby causing the edge portion 55 of the third rod
member 56 to engage and ride up the ramped surface 54 of the
third sliding member 50. This causes upward translational
movement of the third rod member 56 along the vertical axis "C-C"
: from its first position to its second position, at which second
position the third sliding member 50 is permitted to pass beneath
the third rod member 56 to its extended position. At this
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s~7 ~ 7~
extended position the third sliding member 50 intersects the
vertical axis "C-C". The third sliding member 50, then being in
its extended position, allows the third drawer 26 to be
translated from its closed translation to its opened
configuration.
When the third rod member 56 is in its second position,
it intersects the second generally horizontal plane "B", so as
to thereby block the second sliding member 40 from sliding from
its retracted position to its extended position, which in turn
prevents the second drawer 24 from being translated from its
closed configuration to its opened configuration. Further,
vertical movement of the third rod member 56 from its first
position to its second position also causes upward translational
movement of the second rod member 46 along the vertical axis "C-
C" from its first position to its second position. At this
second position the second rod member 46 intersects the first
horizontal plane "D", so as to thereby block the first sliding
member 30 from translating from its retracted position to its
extended position, which in turn prevents the first drawer 24
from being translated from its closed configuration to its opened
configuration.
As can be best seen in Figures 3 through 7c, the second
sliding member 40 is moved between its first and second positions
by a carrier means, generally designated by the reference numeral
61, which carrier means is firmly attached to the movable track
portion 104 by fasteners 66. The carrier means 66 comprises a
- 18 -
carrier pin 116 that is selectively actuated into and Qut of
engagement with the second sliding member 40. The carrier pin
116 moves horizontally, but in a direction generally transverse
to the direction of translation of the second sliding member 40
between a projecting position, wherein the carrier pin 116
engages an elongated aperture 94 (see, for example, Figures 5a
and 7a) and a withdrawn position wherein the carrier pin 116 does
not engage the elongated aperture 94 (see, for example, Figures
5c and 7c). The elongated aperture 94 in the second sliding
member 40 is adapted to receive the carrier pin 116 therein. The
moveable track portion 104 of the second track assembly 25 has
a carrier bracket 110 mounted thereon, with the carrier pin 116
being mounted for movement within first 120 and second 122
openings in the carrier bracket 110. The first opening 121 is
in a first vertical wall portion 124 and the second opening 122
is in a second vertical wall portion 126. The projecting
position and the withdrawn position of the carrier pin 116 are
referenced with respect to the carrier bracket 110, with the
projecting position shown in Figure 7a and the withdrawn position
shown in Figure 7b and 7c.
The carrier pin 116 is selectively actuated by an
actuation means 86 that is integrally die cast as a portion of
the second guide means 42. In the preferred embodiment shown,
the actuation means 86 extends outwardly from the second guide
means 42 and terminates in an upwardly directed pair of arms 90.
-- 19 --
One end of the carrier pin 116 is in operative sliding
contact with a flexible cam surface in the form of a leaf spring
118, at a generally central position on the concave side of the
leaf spring. A coil spring 67 (see Figures 7a -7c) encircles
the carrier pin 116 and biases it towards the withdrawn position.
The spring 86 acts between a raised shoulder portion 87 on the
one end of the carrier pin 116, which raised shoulder portion
slides within the first opening 120 in first vertical wall 124.
The leaf spring 118 is mounted on the carrier bracket 110 with
a bent portion at each end thereof serving to assist in retaining
the leaf spring 118 on the carrier bracket 110.
When the second sliding member 40 is in its retracted
position, arms 90 of the actuation means 86 displace the leaf
spring 118 so as to actuate the carrier pin 116 to its projecting
position, thereby to engage the elongated aperture 94 of the
second sliding member 40.
When the second sliding member 40 is translated to its
extended position, which occurs when the second drawer 24 is
moved from its closed configuration to its opened configuration,
the actuation means 86 no longer displaces the leaf spring 118,
and the carrier pin 116 is thereby urged under the biasing of the
coil spring 67 to move from its projecting position to its
withdrawn position, so as to thereby disengage from the elongated
aperture 94 of the second sliding member 40 and to move forwardly
therefrom.
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2 ~ ri
The curved leaf spring 118 is retained within and
oriented along a first channel 112 within the carrier bracket
110. The first channel 112 is oriented generally parallel to the
direction of translation of the second sliding member 40. The
5convex side 123 of the leaf spring 118 generally faces into the
first channel 112. When in use, the arms of the actuation means
86 pass through the first channel 112 thereby contacting the
convex side 123 of the leaf spring 118 and deforming the leaf
spring 118 toward a generally flattened configuration, so as to
10cause the pin 116 to translate to its projecting position.
Each of the movable track assemblies 23, 27 associated
with the respective first 22 and third 27 drawers has associated
with it a respective carrier pin, actuation means, guide means
15and leaf spring, all of which are not specifically illustrated
or described above, but which are structurally the same as the
carrier pin 116, guide means 42, actuation means 86 and leaf
spring 118 and functionally analogous thereto in their respective
modes of interaction with the respective sliding members 30 and
2050. For the sake of brevity, detailed descriptions of these
structures will not be repeated, their placement and operation
being obvious to one skilled in the art in view of the preceding
description.
25While but a single preferred embodiment of drawer
lockout mechanism according to the invention is shown and
described herein, it is to be understood that various
modifications and rearrangements may be resorted to without
- 21 -
~7~?~7
departing from the scope of the invention disclosed and claimed.
For example, it is specifically contemplated that the mechanism
may be utilized with filing cabinets having as few as two drawers
and more than three drawers.
