Cabinet with drawer retainer/locking system

{
  "publication_number": "US6641236B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Cabinet with drawer retainer/locking system",
  "abstract": "Disclosed is an inexpensive and easy-to-use multi-drawer storage cabinet and cabinet drawer retaining/locking system particularly well adapted for use with a mobile cabinet or a cabinet exposed to a shaking environment. The system has only one moving part, namely a rigid cage or frame positioned in front of the drawers and held in place by tracks mounted on either side of the cabinet. In an engaged position, the cage physically prevents the entire bank of drawers from opening, even if the entire cabinet is shaking or moving. In a disengaged position, the cage may be moved away from the drawers to permit the drawers to be opened through the cage while the cage remains mounted on the front of the cabinet for ease of later re-engagement. The retaining/locking system may be either built into a cabinet at the time of manufacture, or retrofitted to an existing cabinet.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A cabinet drawer restraining/locking system for a storage cabinet having a plurality of drawers, the cabinet suitable for use in a shaking environment, the system comprising: a rigid, movable cage slidably mounted external to the cabinet and in front of all the drawers; and tracking systems externally mounted on either side of the cabinet and engaging the cage for holding the cage in place in front of the drawers in either an engaged position or a disengaged position, whereby in the engaged position the cage presses against the drawers and in the disengaged position the cage is slid downwardly away from the drawers while the cage remains mounted on the cabinet, to permit the drawers to be opened through the cage."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "This invention relates to storage cabinets having a plurality of drawers. More particularly, this invention relates to a multi-drawer cabinet with a retaining/locking system for preventing cabinet drawers from opening at inappropriate times, such as when the cabinet may be shaken or moved, as in a moving vehicle.\n\nIn today's increasingly mobile society, more and more entrepreneurs and craftsmen have a need to travel to customers and other locations with a full set of tools, parts and other items. For many skilled workers, a large number of items often must be transported, sometimes several times a day, in a truck, van, trailer or other vehicle.\n\nNumerous types of multi-drawer storage cabinets, tool boxes and the like are commercially available today for organizing and storing work items, and some of these cabinets may be mounted or placed in a vehicle, such as in the back of a truck or van. A recurring problem, however, is that as the vehicle is driven over rough roads, or when the vehicle turns a corner or starts or stops suddenly, the cabinet is frequently shaken or jarred, and may even slide around or fall over in the vehicle if the cabinet is not fixed to the vehicle. When this happens, the cabinet drawers tend to come open unexpectedly and spill their contents at inappropriate times. Similar undesirable shaking and movable environments are also found on boats and aircraft.\n\nA similar problem also exists in some factories, repair shops or other work environments.",
  "cpc": [
    "E05B 65/467",
    "A47B 88/944"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "A47B 88/00",
    "E05B 65/46"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Frank T. Grudzien"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2002-03-21",
  "publication_date": "2003-11-04",
  "grant_date": "2003-11-04",
  "priority_date": "2002-03-21",
  "application_number": "US-10304102-A",
  "family_id": "28040297",
  "cited_by_count": 37,
  "citations": [
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  ]
}