FR2514236A1 - Filing cabinet with locking catch - incorporates outward protruding finger on drawer engaging fork on inside of cabinet - Google Patents

Abstract

The filing cabinet consists of at least two sides (2a) each with slide guides (3) on the inside surface, to support the drawers (1). One of the sides of each drawer has an outward-protruding finger (5). The side (2a) of the cabinet towards which the protuberance extends has a fork (7) joined to a fixed axis (6) at right angles to the side. The fork is attached to at least one spring (8), and has unequal prongs (7a,7b). When the drawer is closed, the fork engages with the finger.

Description

Filing cabinet with drawers with call device at the end of the drawer closing stroke.

 Some filing cabinets include a plurality of drawers superimposed in a vertical box, the drawers being in particular intended to receive hanging files, therefore of fairly large capacity.

 In addition, these drawers are mounted on slides which allow the almost total output cantilevered on the front of the cabinet to facilitate access. As a result, these files present a risk of tipping over if two full drawers - in particular the hanging drawers - are fully extended.

 I1 is therefore necessary to provide in these types of furniture means to first of all oppose the spontaneous exit of the drawers. Indeed, if the filing cabinet is not correctly level, a slight slope forward can lead to the spontaneous exit of the drawers. There are currently several solutions to prevent this effect. One of them consists in the extent that the slides use rollers, to provide a slight 'notch in the slide so that at the end of the re-entry travel of the drawer, the bottom roller comes to be housed in this notch and hold the drawer. This notch also produces a call effect at the time of closing by the descending part of the notch traversed by the roller under the effect of the weight of the drawer. However, it will be noted that a bad setting of the piece of furniture reduces the effort of restraint and weakens this appeal effect. In addition, for ball bearing slides, such an arrangement cannot be implemented.

 I1 is also necessary to provide in addition, means prohibiting the simultaneous opening of more than one drawer. This locking function is ensured in known devices either by a set of links connecting the drawers so that the extraction of one causes the retraction of the one which would already be out, or by a locking rod which has cooperating elements with on the one hand stops and on the other hand ramps carried by the drawers so that any exit from one of the drawers actuates by means of the ramps the displacement of the rod to place said elements opposite the stops of the other drawers to lock the outlet and that any closure of the drawer places said rod in a position in which said elements are "erased" relative to the stops thus allowing the exit of any other drawer. It will further be noted that said rod can be actuated by means of a lock to serve as a means of locking the entire piece of furniture.

Link devices have many drawbacks and great complexity as soon as there are more than two drawers in a piece of furniture. Rod devices are such that the rod can be placed in its unlocked position without the drawer being completely closed. Another drawer can then be opened and cause the drawer not completely closed with the risk of tilting that this entails. This drawback is encountered when there is no call device - or when the drawer is ineffective closing
The present invention intends to remedy all these drawbacks by proposing a filing cabinet with drawers provided with an effective device for calling the drawer at the end of the closing stroke, the effect of which can be made independent of the good or bad setting of the furniture and which is of sufficient amplitude to support the drawer and close it automatically from a point in its travel located beyond the critical position in which the unlocking of all the drawers is carried out without the drawer controlling this unlocking is fully retracted and therefore not likely to be locked itself.

 To this end, the cabinet according to the invention comprising at least two side walls, each fitted internally with a plurality of sliding elements which cooperate with and support drawers whose front face constitutes the front of the cabinet, is mainly characteristic in that each of said drawers is provided on one of its lateral flanks with an external protruding member towards one of said lateral walls while said wall carries an element articulated around a fixed axis perpendicular to said wall, located on the path of said member and cooperating with the latter when the drawer is in the vicinity of its "closed" position, said element being coupled to at least one elastic member so that its effect first tends to oppose an angular displacement from the element to a neutral point beyond which said effect causes said element to continue its angular movement.

In a first embodiment, said articulated element is in the form of a fork with uneven branches while the aforementioned member secured to the drawer consists of a finger housed between the above branches when the drawer is in the vicinity of its position "closed"
In a second embodiment, said element is a toothed sector while the member integral with the drawer is a rack portion meshing with said sector when the drawer is in the vicinity of its "closed" position.

 I1 will be advantageous that the pivoting of said articulated element is limited by stops, symmetrical with respect to a vertical axis passing through said articulation axis that the said elastic member is constituted by a spring coupled between this element and a fixing means integral with the wall so as to pass from one side to the other of the above-mentioned axis of articulation during the pivoting of said element, and is inclined relative to said vertical axis so as to increase the angular range of its driving effect on the articulated element during its rotation between the two stops in the direction of the bottom of the cabinet.

 In practice, the articulation axis of the element and the means of fixing the elastic member to said wall are carried by a plate capable of being made integral with the wall at a certain distance from it, the elastic member being located between said plate and the wall while the element is located on the other side of the plate.

 In the case where the cabinet of the invention has a locking device constituted in the vicinity of said side wall by a vertical rod for locking the drawers in their "closed" position, provided with at least one stop element per drawer and vertically movable between an unlocking position in which said abutment elements are vertically offset with respect to corresponding means integral with the drawers and a locking position in which said abutment elements are away from said means, said pivoting element advantageously constitutes a vertical operation of the above rod. In this case, each pivoting element comprises a catch for driving a corresponding pin secured to the rod. Furthermore, the rod can be coupled to an elastic return member in its unlocked position. This elastic-return member of the rod can constitute, with the rod, the pin and the abovementioned cleat, the rotational drive member of all the elements articulated in the direction of. the front of the furniture.

 The invention will be better understood during the description given below by way of purely indicative and nonlimiting example which will make it possible to identify the advantages and the secondary characteristics thereof.

Reference will be made to the accompanying drawings in which
FIG. 1 is a general view of a piece of furniture according to the invention,
- Figure 2 is a block diagram of the calling device of the cabinet drawer according to the invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates by a perspective, a practical embodiment of the device of FIG. 2,
FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment of FIG. 2,
- Figures SA and 5B schematically illustrate the control of a locking mechanism by the call device according to the invention.

 Referring first to + a Figure 1, we see a filing cabinet drawers 1, slidably mounted in a box 2, having two parallel side faces 2a and 2b equipped with a plurality of elements 3 (or telescopic slides) which cooperate in known manner with the drawers 1 to support them sliding.

The front face of the drawers 1 constitutes the front elements of the cabinet when it is closed.

 In Figure 2, there is shown schematically one of the essential characteristics of the invention, namely a mechanism for calling the drawer in its closed position. The plane of this figure consists of the internal face of one of the walls 2a, or 2b above on which the profile of the bottom of the drawer 1, the slide 3 and the bottom 4 of the piece of furniture have been projected. The side 1a (see FIG. 1)) of the drawer 1 adjacent to the wall 2a has a finger 5 projecting towards this visible wall in projection in FIG. 2. This finger therefore has a path parallel to the slide 3 during the movements of the drawer . Around a fixed axis 6 perpendicular to the wall 2a, an element 7 is articulated so as to be able to pivot in a plane pa parallel to the wall 2a. This element 7 is shaped into a fork whose branches 7a and 7b are of unequal length. Beyond the axis 6 with respect to said fork, the element extends into a part 7c. This part constitutes the point of attachment of a tension spring 8 coupled by its other end to a fixing means 9 secured to the wall 2a.

 The movement of the element 7 around the axis 6 is limited by two stops symmetrical to one another with respect to a vertical axis 10 passing through the axis 6. These stops are here constituted by the edges lla and llb of a return portion ll of the aforementioned portion 7c and by a horizontal surface 12 integral with the wall 2a.

 The position of the spring 8 is such that during the pivoting of the element 7, its two coupling points at position 7c and by means 9 pass through a position in which they are aligned with the axis 6. This position constitutes a neutral in which the effect of the spring on the element 7 is zero. In the other positions, the effect of this spring tends to angularly distance the element 7 from its neutral position.

 It can thus be seen that, when the drawer is returned, the finger 5 arrives in its position 5a in which it comes into contact with the branch 7a (the longest) of the fork which is kept inclined (dashed line in FIG. 2 ) by the spring 8 whose direction is represented by the dashed line 8a. This position is a first abutment position by cooperation of the abovementioned edge 1 with the surface 12. When the drawer is retracted, the finger 5 causes the element 7 to pivot clockwise against the effect. resistant to spring 8, an effect which decreases to cancel out when passing the above neutral point. Beyond this neutral point, the spring drives the element 7 in a rotation of the same direction (clockwise) and the branch 7b is supported behind the finger 5 to push it towards the bottom 4 of the piece of furniture. The spring is chosen to so that this action is sufficient to drive the drawer. We thus created a call effect which automatically ends the re-entry of the drawer. The amplitude of the movement of the drawer under this calling effect must be sufficient for the support of the drawer to be achieved. Before passing a critical position such as that recalled in the preamble above (approximately 4 centimeters) .

 This amplitude depends on the dimensions of the element 7 and the position of the spring 8. It will have been noted in this regard, that the latter is in its neutral position, tilted downwards and the front of the piece of furniture This inclination makes it possible to share the movement of the element 7 in two uneven angular ranges on either side of said dead center, the smallest being that in which the element 7 is biased in counterclockwise rotation, the largest being that of the stress clockwise thus favoring the aforementioned calling effect and likewise the effort of retaining the drawer in its closed position.

 In an outward movement of the drawer, the finger 5 causes the element 7 to rotate anticlockwise by driving the short branch 7b against the effect of the spring 8 íuntil neutral and in the direction of this effect au- beyond, until finger-5 escapes said branch 7b. It will be noted that the shortening of the latter in relation to the branch 7a allows faster escape of the finger after therefore a slight rotation of the element 7 beyond neutral.

 However, it is necessary to have passed this neutral position so that the element-7 keeps its position under the effect of the spring 8 and remains on hold for finger 5 for the next closure of the drawer.

 Figure 3 shows a practical embodiment of the device described with reference to Figure 2 in which there are some of the elements already described with the same references. We see that the axis 6, the means 9 and the surface 12 are carried by a plate 13 which can be attached to the wall 2a of the cabinet. This arrangement makes it possible to simply modify the already existing pieces of furniture, provided furthermore that the drawers are provided with a finger 5. It will be noted that the spring 8 is in fact disposed on one side 'of the plate 13 (therefore between the wall 2a and the plate) while the element 7 is located on the other side: the attachment of the spring to the element 7 is then carried out on the part 11 in return of the latter.

 The arrangements described above suffer from many variations. This is how the tension spring 8 can be replaced by a compression spring. It suffices to modify the coupling points of the latter to the element 7 and the plate 13 to always keep a neutral position. In addition, the means of the invention have been described above in a lateral plane between the drawer flank and the lateral wall. These means can be arranged in a horizontal plane under the drawer, the finger 5 being fixed to the bottom of the latter and the plate 13 held horizontally relative to a side wall or bottom of the cabinet.

 FIG. 4 schematically illustrates another variant in which the pivoting element is constituted by a toothed sector 14, while the member integral with the drawer is a rack 15. The longitudinal members and the respective locations of the teeth will be determined so as to obtain a satisfactory and reproducible escapement and meshing of the teeth during drawer movements. The element 7 can also be replaced by an articulated lever provided at one of its ends with a friction shoe or roller of elastically deformable material which would cooperate with a horizontal surface integral with the drawer.

 As has been recalled in the preamble, certain filing cabinets include a vertical rod 16 (FIGS. 5A and 5B) for locking the drawers not operated at the opening of the one gods. This locking is achieved by projections or tabs 17 carried by the rod which are moved opposite corresponding projections 18 carried by the drawers during locking or offset vertically relative to the latter during unlocking (these positions are respectively shown in broken lines and full in Figures 5Ai and 5B). The movement is controlled by cam surfaces carried by the drawers and their position can be maintained by an elastic device with two stable positions of the kind of that 7-8 described above.

 The drawer calling device according to the invention makes it possible to prevent the drawer from being stopped in a position in which the unlocking is already-controlled while the drawer is not fully retracted. This configuration is possible because of the slope lengths necessary for the cam surfaces to cooperate with the rod.

 Adaptations of the call mechanism of the invention to the control of the movement of such locking rods are illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B. These adaptations eliminate the previously planned cam system.

 In FIG. 5A, it can be seen that the element 7 is provided laterally with a cleat 19 on which carries a pin 20 secured to the rod 16. In the solid line position of the element 7, the drawer is completely retracted. The cleat 19 and the pin 20 are in their lower position, which places all the pins 17 under all the stops 18 of the drawers. We can therefore open any of these. The opening of a drawer causes the element 7 to tilt, the cleat 19 to rotate and therefore the pin 20 and the rod 16 to rise, thus placing each pin 17 in its dotted position 17a opposite the stop 18 of every other drawer. Indeed, for the drawers during opening, the pin 17 will be raised behind the stop 18 which will have been moved to the right with the drawer. In the direction of reentry, it will be noted that the lowering of the rod will have occurred before the passage of the stopper 18 at the level of the pin 17.

We will have determined the necessary profiles of the cleats to obtain these movement advances or delays. The rod 16 may return to its unlocking position under the effect of its own weight (since it is retained in the high position by the cleat 19) or under the assistance of a spring 21 constantly pulling it down. We can also use said rod 16 as a means of general condemnation of the furniture. In this case, it suffices to have a lock at the top of the piece of furniture, the actuation of which, when closing, lifts the rod while, on opening, it allows it to move vertically.

 In addition, it should be noted that one can always voluntarily open two drawers simultaneously. The closing of only one of these drawers is then only possible if provision has been made for erasing one or other of the stops 17 or 18 in the direction of the retraction of the drawer. These means, not shown, can be constituted either by a slope provided at the rear of the stop 18 which would lift the pin 17, or by a retraction of the stop 18 by rotation in a counterclockwise direction thereof. when the pin 17 passes around an upper articulation. Finally, in FIG. 5B, an alternative embodiment of the control of the rod 16 by the element 7 is shown, in which the rod is constantly stressed in its position of locking by a spring 22 pulling it upwards. The element 7 then carries a cleat 23 which lowers the rod at the time of the retraction of the drawer. It will then be noted that such an arrangement makes it possible to place the spring 8 so that its neutral point is reached when the element 7 is in its position of maximum inclination towards the front of the piece of furniture, that is to say its position waiting for finger 5 of the open drawer (shown in dashed line in FIG. 5B). In fact, this position is maintained by the spring 22, the rod 16, the pin 20 and the cleat 23.

 The means of the invention as described above therefore make it possible to guarantee that a single drawer can be opened and reduce the risks of their spontaneous opening.

 The invention finds an interesting application in the field of office furniture.

Claims (9)

1. Filing cabinet comprising at least two side walls (2a, 2b) each fitted internally with a plurality of sliding elements (3) which cooperate with and support drawers (1) whose front face constitutes the front of the cabinet ,  characterized in that each of said drawers (1) is provided on one of its lateral sides (la) with a member (5) projecting externally towards one of said side walls (2a) while said wall (2a ) carries an element (7) articulated around a fixed axis (6) perpendicular to said wall (2a) located on the path of each aforementioned member (5, 15) and cooperating with the latter when the drawer (1) is at near its position 1, closed'1, said element (7) being coupled to at least one elastic member (8) in such a way that its effect tends first to oppose an angular displacement of the element (7) up to has a neutral point beyond which said effect causes said element to continue its angular movement. 2. Furniture according to claim 1, characterized in that said articulated element (7) is in the form of an oven Ce with uneven branches (7a, 7b) while the above-mentioned member integral with the drawer consists of a finger (S) housed between the aforementioned branches (7a, 7b) when the drawer (1) is in the vicinity of its "closed" position. 3. Furniture according to claim 1, characterized in that said element (7) is a toothed sector (14) while llor- gane integral with the drawer is a portion of rack (15) meshing with said sector (14) when the drawer (1) is in the vicinity of its "closed" position. 4. Furniture according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pivoting of said articulated element (7) is limited by stops (lla, îlb) symmetrical with respect to a vertical axis (10) passing through said axis of articulation (6) and in that the above-mentioned elastic member (8) is constituted by a spring harnessed between this element and a fixing means (9) integral with the wall (2a) so as to pass from one side to the other of the above-mentioned articulation axis (6) during the pivoting of said element (7), and is inclined relative to said vertical axis (10) so as to increase the angular range of its driving effect on the element ar ticked (7) during its rotation between the two stops Cîla, llb) towards the bottom of the cabinet. 5. Furniture according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the articulation axis (6) of the element (7) and the fixing means (9) of the elastic member (8) to said wall are carried by a plate (13) capable of being made integral with the wall (2a) at a certain distance from this, the elastic member (8) being located between said plate (13) and the wall (2a) while that the element (7) is located on the other side of the plate (13). 6. Furniture according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises, in the vicinity of said side wall, a vertical rod (16) for locking the drawers in their "closed" position provided with at least one element of stop (17) by drawer and movable vertically between an unlocking position in which said stop elements (17) are vertically offset relative to corresponding means (18), integral with the drawers and a locking position in which said stop elements (17) are opposite said means (18) and in that said pivoting element (7) constitutes a member for vertical operation of the above-mentioned rod (16). 7. Furniture according to claim 6, characterized in that each pivoting element (7) comprises a cleat (19, 23) ent ent ent of a pin (20) corresponding integral with the rod (16). 8. Furniture according to claim 6 or claim 7, characterized in that the rod (16) is coupled to an elastic member (21) for returning to its unlocked position. 9. Furniture according to claim 7, characterized in that the rod (16) is coupled to an elastic return member (22) in its locked position and in that said elastic return member (22) of the rod constitutes with the rod (16) the pin (20) and the cleat (23) aforesaid, the member for rotating all the elements (7) articulated in the direction of the front of the piece of furniture and for maintaining the inclination of this element at the end of said rotation.