BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional kit.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the chest of the invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the drawer of the invention.
FIG. 4A is a schematic side view of an embodiment of the latch assembly of the invention.
FIG. 4B is a schematic view according to FIG. 4A in an operating condition.
FIG. 4C is a sectional view according to FIG. 4B.
FIG. 5A is a schematic plane view of a second embodiment of the latch assembly of the invention.
FIG. 5B is a schematic view according to FIG. 5A in an operating condition.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Please referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the slipping-proof kit drawer structure according to the invention includes:
a rectangular chest 10 (such as a kit) which has a rectangular opening 11 on a front side, a pair of handles 12 on an outer surface of a left side wall and a right side wall, two pairs of sliding tracks 13 on an inner side of the two opposing side walls, and a vertical fastening plate 14 on an inner side of the left side and right side thereof;
two rectangular drawers 20 each has a face panel 21 on a front side and a straddle track 23 located respectively on a left side wall and a right side wall. The face panel 21 has a fastening surface 22 respectively on the left side and right side. The straddle track 23 is parallel with the side wall of the drawer 20 and straddles the sliding track 13 in a slidable manner of the chest 10; and
a latch assembly 30 (also referring to FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C) which includes two pairs of clipping members 31 fastened to the fastening plates 14 on the left side and right side inside the chest 10, and a pair of latch members 32 installed on the fastening surface 22 of the drawer 20 face panel 21. The clipping member 31 has a rectangular and hollow box 311 which has an orifice 312 on the front side and a bar type latch claw 313 pivotally coupled on an inner side of a rear wall. The latch claw 313 has a strut type wedge portion 314 extended downwards from a front end as shown in FIG. 4C. The inner side of the rear wall of the box 311 is coupled with a rear end of a spring 315. The spring 315 has a front end coupling with an extensible latch 316 which is extendable through the orifice 312 of the box 311. The extensible latch 316 has a reverse-U shaped flute track 317 on an outer side with an opening directing outwards. The flute track 317 forms an irregular heart-shaped latch groove 318 on the bottom. The extensible latch 316 further has an elastic hook 319 on an inner side. The wedge portion 314 of the latch claw 313 is wedged in the latch groove 318 and slidable therein. The latch groove 318 has an indented detent portion 318a corresponding to the latch claw 313, a concave brake portion 318b in the center of the front side to anchor the latch claw 313, a wedge-shaped switch portion 318c on the front side of the brake portion 318b, and a channeling portion 318d on one side of the detent portion 318a to direct the latch claw 313 to the original position. Thereby when the extensible latch 316 is pushed by a user's hand, the wedge portion 314 of the latch claw 313 is moved along the latch groove 318 to the detent portion 318a, the spring 315 is compressed. When the hand is released, the elastic force of the spring 315 pushes the wedge portion 314 to the brake portion 318b to form an anchoring condition. When the extensible latch 316 is pushed again, the wedge-shaped switch portion 318c directs the wedge portion 314 to the channeling potion 318d. When the hand is released again, the latch claw 313 of the clipping member 31 is freed from harness and moved to the original position along the latch groove 318.
The latch member 32 further has a second hook 321 extended towards the rear side of the drawer 20 corresponding to the elastic hook 319 of the clipping member 31 to form a coupling and anchoring condition.
By means of the construction set forth above, when in use, push the drawer 20 into the chest 10, the latch member 32 on the face panel 21 of the drawer 20 inserts into the extensible latch 316 of the chest 10; the extendible latch 316 inserts into the box 311, the elastic hook 319 is retracted to engage with the second hook 321 of the latch member 32. When user's hand is released, the extensible latch 316 is moved along the latch groove 318 through the latch claw 313 to the brake portion 318b and anchored. On the other hand, when unloading of the drawer 20 is desired, depress the face panel 21 of drawer 20, the wedge-shaped switch portion 318c of the latch groove 318 located on the extensible latch 316 pushes the wedge portion 314 of the wedge claw 313 sideward, and the elastic force of the spring 315 moves the latch claw 313 to the original position; the extensible latch 316 extends outwards through the orifice 312 of the box 311; the elastic hook 319 on one side of the extensible latch 316 is released and disengaged with the second hook 321 of the latch member 32 on the panel 21 of drawer 20, thereby the drawer 20 can be moved outwards.
Therefore during moving of the chest 10 (such as kit), the drawer 20 does not slip out even if the chest 10 is tilted one side. And the tools held in the drawer 20 do not drop, and incidental hazards can be prevented.
Refer to FIGS. 5A and 5B for another embodiment of the latch assembly 30 of the invention. The latch assembly 30a in this embodiment includes at least a clipping member 31a and a latch member 32a. The clipping member 31a is fastened to the fastening plate 14 (not shown in the drawings) on the left side and right side of the chest 10. The clipping member 31a has a rectangular and hollow box 311a with two elastic clipping claws 312a movable inward towards each other so that they may be squeezed and retracted in the box 311a. The latch member 32a is mounted onto the fastening surface 22 (not shown in the drawings) on an inner side of the face panel 21 of the drawer 20. The latch member 32a has a head 321a on the front end that has two sides extending outwards to be clipped by the clipping claws 312a of the clipping member 31a.
The latch assembly 30a of the second embodiment functions like the latch assembly 30 in the previous embodiment. When the drawer 20 is pushed into the chest 10, the latch member 32a moves towards the clipping member 31a into the clipping claws 312a and pushes the two clipping claws 312a so that they are retracted into the box 311. The two clipping claws 312a move towards each other to clip the latch member 32a. As a result, the drawer 20 is latched without slipping out even if the drawer 20 is tilted during moving.
Prototypes of the invention have been made and tested satisfactorily. The object and functions previously discussed are fully accomplished. It offers a significant improvement over the conventional techniques.
While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been set forth for the purpose of disclosure, modifications of the disclosed embodiments of the invention as well as other embodiments thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all embodiments which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Patent Application
20080030111
