Abstract: A cammed lever is configured to nest and lock with a cam follower at a recess formed on the cammed lever or the cam follower. Upon rotation of the lever, the cam follower and the cammed lever are disengaged at the recess to form a gap when the cammed lever is rotated upon outward movement of a drawer or drawer slide. The lock assembly includes the cammed lever and cam follower in a stacked array for use in a storage unit having multiple drawers. Preferably, only one drawer is permitted to open in the stacked array. The cammed lever, when unlocked, is permitted to rotate between the open and closed positions. When locked, the cam follower prevents rotation of the cammed lever to an open position. An optional sliding bracket is provided for added security when the drawers are locked.

Abstract: A locking apparatus includes a fixed housing with a longitudinal elongated bore between two open ends. One end defines an arcuate track with a new rotational displacement range. A pivoting riser extends from a driver to an elongated retainer moving across a locking core configured with a predefined rotational range. A follower on the driver travels within the track. The core and the driver may be connected and inserted via the same open end for rotation within the bore. When the locking core is unlocked and rotated with an operating key, the riser displaces the retainer to retain the core within the housing, while the follower continues to rotate within the track so that the rotational range of the core is changed to the new rotational displacement range. The apparatus may include the core. The apparatus may exclude the core to allow separate installation for combined rotation with the driver.

Abstract: A cammed lever is configured to nest and lock with a cam follower at a recess formed on the cammed lever or the cam follower. Upon rotation of the lever, the cam follower and the cammed lever are disengaged at the recess to form a gap when the cammed lever is rotated upon outward movement of a drawer or drawer slide. The lock assembly includes the cammed lever and cam follower in a stacked array for use in a storage unit having multiple drawers. Preferably, only one drawer is permitted to open in the stacked array. The cammed lever, when unlocked, is permitted to rotate between the open and closed positions. When locked, the cam follower prevents rotation of the cammed lever to an open position. An optional sliding bracket is provided for added security when the drawers are locked.

Abstract: A locking apparatus includes a fixed housing with a longitudinal elongated bore between two open ends. One end defines an arcuate track with a new rotational displacement range. A pivoting riser extends from a driver to an elongated retainer moving across a locking core configured with a predefined rotational range. A follower on the driver travels within the track. The core and the driver may be connected and inserted via the same open end for rotation within the bore. When the locking core is unlocked and rotated with an operating key, the riser displaces the retainer to retain the core within the housing, while the follower continues to rotate within the track so that the rotational range of the core is changed to the new rotational displacement range. The apparatus may include the core. The apparatus may exclude the core to allow separate installation for combined rotation with the driver.

Abstract: An anti-tip lock assembly for a storage compartment includes a pair of geared actuators mounted on a base abutting against a follower. The follower and the base are configured to travel a limited distance along a vertical track installed in a storage unit. When the compartment is closed, the actuators are aligned with the track. When the compartment is opened, the actuators are moved out of alignment to block access to the moving components of the assembly. When the anti-tip lock assembly is operational, the array of like anti-tip assemblies in the track allow displacement of only one pair of actuators to occupy the limited distance at one time. A security bar array interacts with the actuators and other assemblies in the storage unit, to prevent simultaneous opening of two or more compartments. The security bar is provided with the track to lock and unlock the assembly.

Abstract: An anti-tip lock assembly for a storage compartment includes a pair of geared actuators mounted on a base abutting against a follower. The follower and the base are configured to travel a limited distance along a vertical track installed in a storage unit. When the compartment is closed, the actuators are aligned with the track. When the compartment is opened, the actuators are moved out of alignment to block access to the moving components of the assembly. When the anti-tip lock assembly is operational, the array of like anti-tip assemblies in the track allow displacement of only one pair of actuators to occupy the limited distance at one time. A security bar array interacts with the actuators and other assemblies in the storage unit, to prevent simultaneous opening of two or more compartments. The security bar is provided with the track to lock and unlock the assembly.

Abstract: A cylindrical lock assembly has a locking core which separates into two portions when the locking core is struck along or across its axis. A reinforced barrier is positioned near a break zone between two portions of the locking core to promote separation at the break zone. The lock housing contains the locking core for movement between locked and unlocked positions. An optional reinforced tumbler prevents unauthorized removal of the locking core from the lock housing. The housing includes an optional reinforced section to inhibit unauthorized removal of the locking core from the lock housing.

Abstract: A modular housing assembly is stacked in a vertical array of similar assemblies within a multi-drawer storage unit. A modular housing assembly includes a housing and a linear channel extending though opposite ends of the housing. The channel opens into the interior of the housing. Two bar end modules slide along the channel. The end modules may be connected to bar spacers cut from separate pieces to form assembled sliding bars. An actuator, including a fork and a cam, is provided to lock the sliding bars to prevent more than one drawer from opening at one time. The housing includes a pair of opposing, sloped surfaces to align an activator mounted on an associated drawer so that the activator will travel along a guide when the drawer is returned to its closed position. The actuator engages with the activator when the activator travels along the guide, causing the actuator to rotate within the housing, about a pin mounted between two walls of the housing.

Abstract: A rotating modular arm with two arm segments is used in a cabinet locking system. The two arm segments are urged apart by a spring. Each arm segment is connected to a lock bar. When the modular arm is rotated, the arm segments displace the lock bars to lock or unlock the drawers of the cabinet. One of the arm segments defines an elongated asymmetrical slot with two slot portions. The first slot portion is elongated and has a width that is less than the diameter of the second slot portion. A keyed lock housing includes a rotating lock core attached to a Z-shaped crank. A retainer is securely attached to the crank. The retainer has a diameter that is less than the diameter of the second slot portion, but the retainer diameter is greater than the width of the first slot portion. During installation, the retainer is engaged with the modular arm by first inserting the crank through the second slot portion.

Abstract: A rotating modular arm with two arm segments is used in a cabinet locking system. The two arm segments are urged apart by a spring. Each arm segment is connected to a lock bar. When the modular arm is rotated, the arm segments displace the lock bars to lock or unlock the drawers of the cabinet. One of the arm segments defines an elongated asymmetrical slot with two slot portions. The first slot portion is elongated and has a width that is less than the diameter of the second slot portion. A keyed lock housing includes a rotating lock core attached to a Z-shaped crank. A retainer is securely attached to the crank. The retainer has a diameter that is less than the diameter of the second slot portion, but the retainer diameter is greater than the width of the first slot portion. During installation, the retainer is engaged with the modular arm by first inserting the crank through the second slot portion.

Abstract: A modular housing assembly is stacked in a vertical array of similar assemblies within a multi-drawer storage unit. A modular housing assembly includes a housing and a linear channel extending though opposite ends of the housing. The channel opens into the interior of the housing. Two bar end modules slide along the channel. The end modules may be connected to bar spacers cut from separate pieces to form assembled sliding bars. An actuator, including a fork and a cam, is provided to lock the sliding bars to prevent more than one drawer from opening at one time. The actuator rotates within the housing, about a pin mounted between two walls of the housing. A modular housing and a kit for installing a modular housing assembly are also described.

Abstract: A modular housing assembly is stacked in a vertical array of similar assemblies within a multi-drawer storage unit. A modular housing assembly includes a housing and a linear channel extending though opposite ends of the housing. The channel opens into the interior of the housing. Two bar end modules slide along the channel. The end modules may be connected to bar spacers cut from separate pieces to form assembled sliding bars. An actuator, including a fork and a cam, is provided to lock the sliding bars to prevent more than one drawer from opening at one time. The housing includes a pair of opposing, sloped surfaces to align an activator mounted on an associated drawer so that the activator will travel along a guide when the drawer is returned to its closed position. The actuator engages with the activator when the activator travels along the guide, causing the actuator to rotate within the housing, about a pin mounted between two walls of the housing.

Abstract: A modular housing assembly is stacked in a vertical array of similar assemblies within a multi-drawer storage unit. A modular housing assembly includes a housing and a linear channel extending though opposite ends of the housing. The channel opens into the interior of the housing. Two bar end modules slide along the channel. The end modules may be connected to bar spacers cut from separate pieces to form assembled sliding bars. An actuator, including a fork and a cam, is provided to lock the sliding bars to prevent more than one drawer from opening at one time. The actuator rotates within the housing, about a pin mounted between two walls of the housing. A modular housing and a kit for installing a modular housing assembly are also described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mounting clip used to secure a lock housing within an opening in a storage compartment. The mounting clip is provided with an arcuate clamp to secure the clip to the housing. The clip may be mounted on the housing at a point outside of the compartment, prior to installation of the housing into the opening in the compartment wall. The housing may include a channel or other elements to firmly secure the clip against accidental displacement from the housing during installation or subsequent operation. The clip includes a spring like arm that may be compressed to abut closely against the housing during insertion into the wall of the compartment. After installation is complete, the spring like arm extends away from the housing. When the arm is extended, it presses firmly against the wall of the compartment to prevent removal of the lock housing from the compartment wall.

Abstract: A locking apparatus is provided that includes a unitary driver comprising a driving portion and a tenon portion. The driver is machined as a single part. A hollow housing is provided with an open end for receiving the driver. The tenon extends from the open end. The driving portion is rotatable in the housing between locked and unlocked positions. A channel is provided between opposing surfaces of the housing and the driver, within the interior of the housing. A retainer is received in transverse openings communicating with the channel. A number of retainer members may extend into the housing to engage the driving portion of the driver. A detent feature may be provided to identify discrete locked and unlocked positions. A locking latch is coupled to the tenon. A stop member is coupled to the housing. The stop member extends along the housing and engages the drawer to prevent removal of the housing from the drawer.

Abstract: A latching mechanism for stacked drawer arrangements comprises operating parts for each drawer which are mounted on the drawer slide for the respective drawer. Such an arrangement may allow any arrangement of drawers of different depths in a cabinet because no actuating parts are provided at fixed intervals on the cabinet. A flexible band having slack length therein is provided on the cabinet over its height. The band is deflectible by the actuating parts when a drawer is withdrawn to take up the slack length. Thus, when one drawer is withdrawn, no slack length is available to allow withdrawal of another drawer. Guides are provided on the drawer slides to maximize deflection of the band.

Abstract: A batching mechanism for an anti-tipping drawer mechanism rigidly attaches adjacent stacked drawers in the retracted position, thus mitigating the tendency to looseness in the mechanism. Preliminary withdrawal movement of any one drawer detaches the latching means and thereafter, further movement of the drawer actuates anti-tipping latching of the other drawers.