Storage Cabinet Travel Lock

Some missile systems require the use of vans which must accompany the missile in the field. Some of these vans carry material such as repair parts and test equipment which are necessary to the successful operation of the missile. Storage means must be provided in the vans for safely storing the material. The storage means typically is in the form of cabinets having a plurality of drawers therein which must be tightly secured against accidental opening while the vans travel over rough terrain with the missile as the missile is positioned in the field.

Cabinets are manufactured with built-in latches for securing the drawers in secured relation. However such latches are not capable of securing the drawers when the cabinets are subjected to vibrations such as encountered when the cabinets are mounted in vans and moved over rough terrain. In the past, the drawers have been additionally secured by various type of locking devices including barn door type of locking devices (hasps and staple) or the like. Usually such type of locking devices include a separate padlock or pin for attachment to each individual drawer for secured relation thereof to the cabinet. Each individual locking device must include a loosely carried pin or padlock.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a locking device which is self storing.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a locking device which will maintain drawers in secured relation in cabinets while said cabinets are transported over rough terrain

A locking device for retaining a plurality of drawers in secured relating in a cabinet even while the cabinet is transported over rough terrain. The device includes a rod which extends the height of the cabinet and is supported by a pair of brackets or support members secured to the upper and lower front surfaces of the cabinet. The rod is moveable in one direction in a pair of circular openings in the support members, for engagement with each drawer of the cabinet and for release of the drawers subsequent to movement of the rod in a second direction.

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a cabinet having the locking device of the present invention in position for retaining the cabinet drawers in secured relation.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are elevational views of the rod used in the locking device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a top elevational view of the upper support member for the rod illustrated in FIG. 2

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the upper support member of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an end view taken along line 6--6 of the upper support member of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a top elevational view of the lower support member for the rod illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the lower support member of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an end view taken along line 9--9 of the lower support member of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is an elevational side view of the rod and upper support member in the secured position.

As seen in FIG. 1 a cabinet 10 includes a frame 12 having a plurality of drawers 14 slidably carried therein. Typically the drawers are retained in the frame by latching devices illustrated at 15. However, such devices have proven incapable of securing the drawers in the frame when the cabinets are subjected to vibrations. A second locking mechanism 16, therefore, is provided for releasably securing the drawers 14 in frame 12 under these conditions.

Locking mechanism 16 includes a rod 18 supported on cabinet 10 by upper and lower brackets or support members 20 and 22, respectively. As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 the rod is provided with a rod positioner 24 having a beveled surface 25 thereon. A handle in the form of a dowel pin 26 is positioned 90.degree. from positioner 24 on the rod. A pair of grooves 28 and 30 are provided adjacent ends 32 and 34, respectively of the rod. A roll pin 36 is secured to the rod at end 34 adjacent groove 30.

Upper support member 20 is illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 and includes a pair of legs 38 and 40. Member 20 further includes a horizontally extending portion 42. Legs 38 and 40 include holes 44 for receiving rivets or the like for securing support member 20 to frame 12 of the cabinet as seen in FIG. 1. A stop member 46 is secured to horizontally extending portion 42 of 20 and includes a beveled surface 48. Horizontal portion 42 of member 20 is cut away to form a pair of substantially semi-circular joined openings 50 and 52 having a flat surface 54 therebetween. Lower support member 22 is similar to upper support member 20 except member 20 may be considered "right handed" and member 22 "left handed". Lower support member 22 is illustrated in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9. Lower support member 22 includes a pair of legs 60 and 62. Member 22 further includes a horizontally extending portion 64. Legs 60 and 62 includes holes 66 for receiving rivets or the like for securing support member 22 to frame 12 of the cabinet as seen in FIG. 1. A stop member 68 may be secured to horizontally extending portion 64 of member 22 and includes a beveled surface 70. Horizontal portion 64 is cut away to form a pair of substantially semi-circular joined openings 72 and 74 having a flat surface 76 therebetween.

FIG. 10, illustrates the rod and support member 20 in locked position as shown in FIG. 1. In the locked position rod 18 is positioned in opening 50 with beveled surface 48 of stop member 46 in mating relation with beveled surface 25 of positioning member 24. In this position the inner surface 56 of rod 18 is in mating engagement with the front surface of the cabinet drawers to snugly retain the rod in opening 52 and the respective beveled surfaces 25 and 48 in mating engagement. When rod 18 has its upper portion in opening 50 of upper bracket 20 its lower portion is in opening 74 of bracket 22 and the rod is in engagement with the drawers for secured relation thereof. When rod 18 has its upper portion in opening 52 of upper bracket 20 its lower portion is in opening 72 of bracket 22 and the rod is moved out of engagement with the drawers and adjacent frame 12 of the cabinet. The drawers are not secured by the rod in this position.

Stop member 68 is not required on lower bracket 22 but is provided thereon during manufacture, in the event that it is desired that brackets 20 and 22 be placed on the other side of the cabinet from that shown in FIG. 1. In that case lower bracket 22 would be placed on the right hand upper corner of the cabinet and bracket 20 would be placed on the lower right side of the cabinet.

To release the drawers to permit opening thereof, pin 26 is grasped and the rod is lifted and rotated so that grooves 28 and 30 of the rod are adjacent surfaces 54 and 76 of support members 20 and 22, respectively. Grooves 28 and 30 are slid across surface 54 and 76 of members 20 and 22 as the rod is moved out of openings 50 and 74 and into openings 52 and 72 of brackets 20 and 22. A pin 58 is provided adjacent groove 30 of the rod for engagement with the underside of member 22 to serve as a stop by engaging member 46 to prevent the rod from being removed from members 20 and 22 when the rod is lifted for rotation thereof.