Patent Application
20070257588
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a drawer latch, and more particularly to a drawer latch that automatically locks the drawer when the drawer is closed.
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 an accidentally operation. 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.
The main objective of the present invention is to provide an improved drawer latch that automatically locks the drawer when the drawer is closed.
To achieve the objective, the drawer latch in accordance with the present invention comprises a controller mounted on an outer side of the drawer. The controller includes an axle extending through a front panel of the drawer and an enlarged head formed on one end of the axle. A resilient member is sleeved on the axle and having a first end fixed on the axle. A fixing plate is secured on the outer side of the drawer and corresponds to the axle. The fixing plate has a connecting portion and an engaging portion respectively extending therefrom. A through hole is defined in the connecting portion to allow the axle extending through the connecting portion and a second end of the resilient member abuts the connecting portion. A lever is reciprocally and pivotally mounted on an inner side of a cabinet, which contains the drawer, for selectively engaged to the controller. The lever has a shank with a first end pivotally mounted to the inner side of the cabinet and corresponding to the fixing plate. The shank has a second end formed with an inclined side and a hook. A free end of the axle abuts the inclined side and the hook is engaged to the engaging portion to prevent the drawer from an accidentally operation when the drawer is closed.
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.
Referring to the drawings and initially to
A drawer latch in accordance with the present invention comprises at least one controller (10) mounted on at least one of the two outer sides (31) of each of the drawers (30). At least one lever (20) is pivotally mounted on at least one of the two inner sides (42) for selectively engaged to the at least one controller (10). The lever (20) automatically engaged to the controller (10) to prevent the drawer (30) from an accidentally operated when the drawer (30) is closed.
With reference to
A fixing plate (14) is secured on one of the two outer sides of the drawer (30) and corresponding to the axle (12) and the lever (20). The fixing plate (14) has a connecting portion (141) and an engaging portion (143) respectively extending therefrom. The fixing plate (14) and the connecting portion (141) form an L-shape. A through hole (142) is defined in the connecting portion (141) to allow the axle (12) extending through the connecting portion (141) and the second end (132) of the resilient member (13) abuts the connecting portion (141). In addition, the diameter of the first end (131) of the resilient member (13) is greater than that of the through hole (301) in the front panel of the drawer (30) such that the axle (12) would not be detached from the front panel of the drawer (30) without extra locking member due to the first end (131) of the resilient member (13).
The lever (20) has a shank (21) with a first end pivotally mounted to the inner side (42) of the cabinet (40) and corresponding to the fixing plate (14). A torsion spring (22) is mounted between the shank (21) and the inner side of the cabinet (40). The torsion spring (22) has a first end abutting against a stopper (421) that extends from the inner side (42) of the cabinet (40) and a second end abutting against the shank (21) for providing a restitution force to the lever (20). The shank (21) has a second end formed with an inclined side (23) and a hook (24). A free end of the axle (12) abuts the inclined side (23) and the hook (24) is engaged to the engaging portion (143) to prevent the drawer from accidentally opening when the drawer (30) is closed.
With reference to
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.
