Automatic locking device for a drawer
An automatic locking device for a drawer includes a hinge secured on one side of the drawer, a lever laterally attached to the hinge, a restoring element mounted on the hinge and a latch mounted on a frame. The latch corresponds to the lever. The lever is automatically engaged to the latch due to a restitution force of the restoring element when the drawer is closed.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a locking device, and more particularly to an automatic locking device for a drawer.
2. Description of Related Art
A drawer is widely used in much furniture, such as a table, a cabinet or a wardrobe, for containing objects. The conventional drawer may have lock for locking the drawer. However, the lock usually has a complicated structure and is operated with a key such that the manufacturing cost of the drawer is raised. In addition, the drawer may not be always maintained in a locked condition. Furthermore, the conventional drawer has no automatic locking device for locking the drawer when the drawer is closed to prevent the drawer from accidentally opening. Consequently, the conventional drawer is inconvenient to operate.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the disadvantages of the conventional drawer that has no automatic locking device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe main objective of the present invention is to provide an improved locking device for a drawer, which automatically locks the drawer when the drawer is closed.
To achieve the objective, the locking device in accordance with the present invention comprises a hinge secured on one side of the drawer, a lever laterally attached to the hinge, a restoring element mounted on the hinge and a latch mounted on a frame. The latch corresponds to the lever. The lever is automatically engaged to the latch due to a restitution force of the restoring element when the drawer is closed. The lever has a first end extending through a panel of the drawer for user to operate the lever and a second end engaged to the latch. The second end of the lever is formed with a guiding plan and an engaging structure engaged to the latch. The latch has an engaging side that is selectively engaged to a periphery of the engaging structure of the lever, and a guiding structure formed on a free end of the latch.
Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring to the drawings and initially to
The lever (20) has a first end extending through a through hole (15) that is defined in a panel of the drawer for user to operate the lever (20) and a second end engaged to the latch (40) when the drawer is closed. The second end of the lever (20) is formed with a guiding plan (21) and an engaging structure (22) engaged to the latch (40). In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the guiding plan (21) is formed on a terminal of the second end of the lever (20), which is inward bent, and the engaging structure (22) is a through hole that receiving a free end of the latch (40).
The restoring element (25) is a stretch spring that has two opposite ends respectively secured on the hinge (10) and the lever (20).
The latch (40) has an engaging side (41) that is selectively engaged to a periphery of the engaging structure (22) of the lever (20), and a guiding structure (42) formed on a free end of the latch (40). In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the guiding structure (42) is a ramp that is parallel with the guiding plan (21) of the lever (20).
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Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
Claims
1. An automatic locking device for a drawer, comprising:
- a hinge adapted to be secured on one side of the drawer, a lever laterally attached to the hinge, a restoring element mounted on the hinge and a latch adapted to be mounted on a frame, the latch corresponding to the lever, the lever automatically engaged to the latch due to a restitution force of the restoring element when the drawer is closed, the lever having a first end extending through a panel of the drawer for user to operate the lever and a second end engaged to the latch, the second end of the lever formed with a guiding plan and an engaging structure engaged to the latch, the latch having an engaging side that is selectively engaged to a periphery of the engaging structure of the lever, and a guiding structure formed on a free end of the latch.
2. The locking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guiding plan of the lever is formed on a terminal of the second end of the lever, which is inward bent, and the engaging structure is a through hole that receiving a free end of the latch.
3. The locking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second end of the lever is bent toward the latch and formed a hook, thereby the outer side of the hook is used as the guiding plan and the terminal of the hook is used as the engaging structure for engaging to the latch.
4. The locking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second end of the lever is sequentially bent to form a vertical portion and an inclined portion, thereby the inclined portion is used as the guiding plan and the vertical portion is used as the engaging structure for engaging to the latch.
5. The locking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second end of the lever has a fan-shaped block formed thereon corresponding to the latch, thereby the fan-shaped block has a curved portion used as guiding plan and a vertical portion facing the latch, which is used as the engaging structure for engaging to the latch.
6. The locking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the latch has a cross-section that shows a right triangle, and has a hypotenuse corresponding to the hinge and an adjacentside used as the engaging side, a vertex angle of the latch being curved and used as the guiding structure.
7. The locking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the restoring element is a stretch spring that has two opposite ends respectively secured on the hinge and the lever.
8. The locking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the restoring element is a torsion spring sleeved on an axle of the hinge.
Type: Application
Filed: May 18, 2005
Publication Date: Nov 23, 2006
Inventors: Kung-Cheng Chen (Taichung Hsien), Lung-Chuan Huang (Taichung Hsien)
Application Number: 11/131,616
International Classification: A47B 88/00 (20060101);