Latch mechanism for tool cabinet drawers

Abstract

A latch mechanism for tool cabinets, for releasably holding a tool cabinet drawer in a closed position within a tool cabinet housing, comprising a handle for fixed installation about a front panel of the tool cabinet drawer. A latch release bar is movably attached to either one of the drawer front panel and the handle such that the latch release bar is installed in the vicinity of the handle, the release bar being movable between a rest position and a released position. A first retaining member, attached to the tool cabinet housing, cooperates with a second retaining member operatively connected to the latch release bar, wherein when the latch release bar is moved in its rest position, the second retaining member is moved in a first position, for releasable connection to the first retaining member when the drawer is in its closed position, and wherein when the latch release bar is moved in its released position, the second retaining member is moved in a second position, for disconnecting the first retaining member from the second retaining member when the drawer is in its closed position.

1 . A latch mechanism for tool cabinets, for releasably holding a tool cabinet drawer in a closed position within a tool cabinet housing, comprising: 
 a handle for fixed installation about a front panel of the tool cabinet drawer;    a latch release bar for movable attachment to either one of the drawer front panel and said handle such that said latch release bar is installed in the vicinity of said handle, said release bar being movable between a rest position and a released position;    a first retaining member for attachment to the tool cabinet housing;    a second retaining member operatively connected to said latch release bar, wherein when said latch release bar is moved to said rest position, said second retaining member is moved to a first position, for releasable connection to said first retaining member when the drawer is in its closed position, and wherein when said latch release bar is moved to said released position, said second retaining member is moved to a second position, for disconnecting said first retaining member from said second retaining member when the drawer is in its closed position.    
   
   
       2 . A latch mechanism according to  claim 1 ,  
     further comprising biasing means for biasing said latch release bar towards said rest position.  
   
   
       3 . A latch mechanism according to  claim 2 ,  
     wherein said biasing means comprise a weight integral to said latch release bar, said weight being of such magnitude as to allow said latch release bar to be continuously biased towards said rest position under the influence of gravity.  
   
   
       4 . A latch mechanism according to  claim 1 ,  
     wherein said first retaining member comprises a stationary female retaining member, and said second retaining member comprises a movable male retaining member engageable in said female retaining member when said latch release bar is in said rest position.  
   
   
       5 . A latch mechanism according to  claim 4 ,  
     wherein said female retaining member defines an aperture, and said male retaining member comprising a hook-shaped catch member having a retaining portion engageable in said aperture when said latch release bar is in said rest position.  
   
   
       6 . A latch mechanism according to  claim 2 ,  
     wherein said latch release bar and said handle are of elongated shape and are in parallel arrangement relative to each other.  
   
   
       7 . A latch mechanism according to  claim 6 ,  
     wherein said handle comprises a downwardly curved hand gripping lip, and said latch release bar is pivotally attached to said handle such that it is concealed underneath said gripping lip, wherein an operator's hand can pivot said latch release bar against the bias of said biasing means and away from said rest position.  
   
   
       8 . A drawer for mounting in a tool cabinet housing and movable relative thereto between a closed position and an open position, comprising: 
 a main body defining an inner compartment, said main body provided with a front panel having an inner surface facing said inner compartment and an outer surface opposite said inner surface;    a handle fixedly installed about said drawer front panel outer surface;    a latch mechanism for releasably holding said drawer in said closed position within the tool cabinet housing, said latch mechanism comprising: 
 a latch release bar movably attached to either one of said front panel and said handle such that said latch release bar is installed in the vicinity of said handle, said latch release bar being movable between a rest position and a released position;  
 a first retaining member for attachment to the tool cabinet housing;  
 a second retaining member operatively connected to said latch release bar, wherein when said latch release bar is moved in said rest position, said second retaining member is moved in a first position, and is releasably connected to said first retaining member when said drawer is in said closed position, and wherein when said latch release bar is moved in said released position, said second retaining member is moved in a second position, and is disconnected from said first retaining member when said drawer is in said closed position.  
   
   
   
       9 . The drawer according to  claim 8 ,  
     wherein said second retaining means include a hook-shaped catch member.  
   
   
       10 . The drawer according to  claim 8 ,  
     further including drawer mounting carriage means for movement of said drawer relative to the tool cabinet housing, said first retaining member comprising an aperture defined in said drawer mounting carriage means.  
   
   
       11 . The drawer according to  claim 10 ,  
     wherein said drawer mounting carriage means include telescopic slides.  
   
   
       12 . The drawer according to  claim 8 ,  
     further comprising biasing means for biasing said latch release bar towards said rest position.  
   
   
       13 . The drawer according to  claim 12 ,  
     wherein said biasing means comprise a weight integral to said latch release bar, said weight being of such magnitude as to allow said latch release bar to be continuously biased towards said rest position under the influence of gravity.  
   
   
       14 . The drawer according to  claim 8 ,  
     wherein said latch release bar and said handle are of elongated shape and are in parallel arrangement relative to each other.  
   
   
       15 . The drawer according to  claim 14 ,  
     wherein said handle comprises a downwardly curved hand gripping lip, and said latch release bar is pivotally attached to said handle such that it is concealed underneath said gripping lip, wherein an operator's hand can pivot said latch release bar against the bias of said biasing means and away from said rest position.  
   
   
       16 . In combination, a sliding drawer for mounting in a cabinet with a cabinet wall and front opening, said drawer to be supported by telescoping slides attached to the cabinet and to said drawer, said drawer including a front side wall with a top edge and lateral side walls, these telescoping slides for attachment to said lateral side walls of the drawer for support and movement of said drawer into and out of the cabinet, and a latch mechanism for releasably locking said drawer into the cabinet, said latch mechanism comprising: 
 a drawer handle, mounted on said front side wall of said drawer, said drawer handle including a plate pivotal on said top edge of the drawer between a drawer retention first position and a drawer release second position; said plate projecting outwardly of said drawer from said front side wall thereof and including a catch member attached to said handle adjacent one of said lateral side walls of the drawer, said catch member positioned to retain said handle from lateral, side to side sliding movement, said catch member including a catch tab projecting generally transverse to the direction of drawer slide movement;    a strike for mounting on the inside of the cabinet at the front opening thereof adjacent said drawer top edge when said drawer is closed into the cabinet, said strike positioned for coming in register with said catch member when said drawer is in its said first position, said strike having a female component complementary to said catch tab; and    passive system means continuously biasing said plate and said catch member about said front edge, for locking engagement of said catch member tab with said strike female component when said drawer is closed into the cabinet, and for disengagement therefrom when said plate is manually pivoted about the top edge to said drawer second position by moving the handle against the force of said passive system biasing means.    
   
   
       17 . A latch mechanism as in  claim 16 ,  
     wherein said passive system biasing means consists of a weight member, mounted integral to an edge portion of said plate opposite said drawer.  
   
   
       18 . A latch mechanism as in  claim 17 ,  
     further including a flange cover, integrally carried by said drawer front side wall top edge and projecting outwardly from said drawer and closely spacedly overhanging said handle, an access mouth defined between said flange cover and said drawer front side wall for manual access of said handle.