Mutually restricted multi-drawer locking mechanism and drawer cabinet

Abstract

The invention discloses a mutual restriction multi-drawer locking mechanism and a drawer cabinet. The mechanism comprises an installation base body, a linkage restriction assembly, a limiting and resetting assembly and a main lock assembly. The number of the locking units corresponds to that of the drawers, and each locking unit comprises a first locking piece, a second locking piece and a triggering piece; the connecting structure is rigidly connected in series with the second locking pieces and the first locking pieces of all the locking units; the limiting and resetting assembly comprises a fixing plate, a sliding stop block and an elastic element. The main lock assembly comprises a spring bolt capable of moving horizontally. According to the invention, mechanical switching between a full-locking state and a single-unlocking state is realized. After the spring bolt is pulled out, the restriction principle that one drawer is opened to occupy the whole movable space is utilized, it is ensured that only one drawer can be pulled out each time, other drawers are automatically locked, and safety accidents caused by the fact that the multiple drawers slide out at the same time are fundamentally prevented. The multi-drawer cabinet is simple in structure and reliable in linkage, and the use safety of the multi-drawer cabinet is remarkably improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of mechanical locking devices, and in particular to a multi-drawer locking mechanism and drawer cabinet with mutual constraints. Background Technology

[0002] Multi-drawer toolboxes are widely used in factories, workshops, and laboratories. To prevent drawers from sliding out during movement or vibration, and for safety management purposes, they are usually equipped with locking devices.

[0003] Currently, there are two main types of multi-drawer locking structures. The first type is an integrated linkage lock, which locks or unlocks all drawers simultaneously via a main bolt or lever. While this structure is simple, all drawers can be freely pulled open when unlocked. When the operator is retrieving or placing items in a vibrating environment, there is a risk that multiple drawers may slide out simultaneously, potentially affecting cabinet stability and operational safety.

[0004] The second type is a mutual restraint lock, which can lock all drawers at once, but in the unlocked state, only one drawer is allowed to be fully opened at a time, while the other drawers remain locked, thus fundamentally avoiding the risk of multiple drawers sliding out at the same time.

[0005] However, existing inter-restraint locking mechanisms generally have a large number of parts, complex linkage relationships, and may suffer from reliability issues due to wear after long-term use. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present invention provides a multi-drawer locking mechanism and drawer cabinet with mutual constraints, which can overcome the above-mentioned defects of the prior art.

[0007] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention provides a multi-drawer locking mechanism with mutual constraints, comprising: a mounting base, a linkage constraint component, a limit and reset component, and a master lock component; The linkage constraint component is slidably mounted on the mounting base and includes multiple locking units and connection structures; The number of locking units corresponds to the number of drawers. Each locking unit includes a first locking element, a second locking element, and a trigger element. The first locking element and the second locking element are arranged adjacent to each other vertically. The trigger element is rotatably mounted on the first locking element via a pivot and can be driven to rotate by the drive shaft of the corresponding drawer. The trigger element is provided with a lifting part for pushing the second locking element when rotating, so that the first locking element produces a vertical unlocking displacement relative to the second locking element. The connecting structure rigidly connects the second locking member and / or the first locking member of all the locking units in series, so that all the locking units form a whole that is displaced and linked in the vertical direction; The limiting and resetting assembly includes a fixed plate, a sliding block, and an elastic element; the fixed plate is fixed to the mounting base; the sliding block is located below the fixed plate, connected to or abutting against the linkage constraint assembly and moving synchronously; the elastic element acts between the fixed plate and the sliding block, and provides the linkage constraint assembly with an elastic force tending towards the locking direction; The main locking assembly includes a horizontally movable latch that can be inserted into the gap between the fixed plate and the sliding stop to lock the sliding stop.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, when the bolt of the main lock assembly is not inserted, there is a movable gap between the lower surface of the fixed plate and the upper surface of the sliding block. The size of the movable gap is greater than or equal to the unlocking displacement of a single locking unit and less than the sum of the unlocking displacements of two locking units.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the mounting base is provided with a guide groove in the vertical direction, and the first locking member, the second locking member and the sliding stop are slidably disposed on the guide groove.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the trigger is a pendulum hook having a force-receiving part for being driven by the drive shaft, and a lifting part having a thickness greater than or equal to the diameter of the drive shaft.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first locking member is provided with a receiving cavity, the swing hook is rotatably housed in the receiving cavity via a rotating shaft, and the lifting part is located outside the receiving cavity.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the connection structure includes a plurality of spacers disposed between adjacent locking units.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the main lock assembly further includes a slide groove, a slider, and a transmission mechanism; the slider is slidably disposed in the slide groove, and the locking tongue is disposed on the slider; the transmission mechanism is rotatably connected to the slider and is used to convert the rotational input into the horizontal linear motion of the slider.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the transmission mechanism includes a rotating shaft block and a connecting rod; the rotating shaft block is rotatably disposed, and the two ends of the connecting rod are respectively hinged to the rotating shaft block and the slider.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the locking tongue is a block-shaped protrusion fixed to the front end of the slider.

[0016] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention also provides a drawer cabinet, including a cabinet body, a plurality of drawers that can be pulled out and disposed in the cabinet body, and the aforementioned multi-drawer locking mechanism that mutually restricts each other; wherein, each drawer is fixedly connected to a drive shaft, and each drive shaft is engaged with a trigger element of the corresponding locking unit.

[0017] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: This invention provides a multi-drawer locking mechanism with mutual constraints. Through the cooperation of the linkage constraint components and the limiting gap, it achieves mechanical switching between two states: fully locked and single-open. When the locking tongue is pulled out, the constraint principle that opening one drawer occupies all movable space ensures that only one drawer can be opened at a time, while the others automatically lock, fundamentally preventing safety accidents caused by multiple drawers sliding out simultaneously. This invention has a simple structure, reliable linkage, and significantly improves the safety of multi-drawer cabinets. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of a preferred embodiment of a multi-drawer locking mechanism with mutual constraints according to the present invention; Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A front view of the structure without the master lock assembly; Figure 3 yes Figure 2 Enlarged structural diagram of the middle circle section; Figure 4 This is an exploded structural diagram of the first locking component and the swing hook shown. Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the drawer shown. Figure 6 yes Figure 5 Enlarged structural diagram of the middle circle section; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the drawer's structure when the lock is on and the drawer is not pulled out. Figure 8 This is a structural diagram of the locking unit corresponding to the drawer being pulled out. The components in the attached diagram are labeled as follows: 10. Install the base; 11. Guide groove; 20. Locking unit; 21. First locking element; 22. Second locking element; 23. Trigger element; 211. Upper limit of swing hook; 212. Lower limit of swing hook; 213. Collar support seat; 231. Circular hole; 232. Support block; 30. Spacer; 40. Limiting and resetting assembly; 41. Fixing plate; 42. Sliding stop; 43. Elastic element; 50. Main lock assembly; 51. Lock tongue; 52. Slider; 53. Slide rail; 54. Slide rail fixing plate; 55. Connecting rod; 56. Rotating shaft block; 100. Drawer, 110. Drive shaft seat, 120. Drive shaft. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, so that the advantages and features of the present invention can be more easily understood by those skilled in the art, thereby providing a clearer and more explicit definition of the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0020] Example 1 like Figure 1-3 As shown, the present invention discloses a multi-drawer locking mechanism with mutual constraints, including: a mounting base 10, a linkage constraint component, a limit and reset component 40, and a main lock component 50.

[0021] Specifically, the mounting base 10 is a long strip of metal plate, which is fixed to the inner side panel of the cabinet with screws. A guide groove 11 running vertically through the entire length is formed on the mounting base 10 by stamping. In this embodiment, the guide groove 11 is a C-shaped groove with a C-shaped cross-section, which is used to provide precise vertical guidance for moving parts.

[0022] The linkage constraint assembly is slidably mounted on the guide groove 11 of the mounting base 10. This assembly includes six locking units 20 and multiple spacers 30 serving as connecting structures. The number of locking units 20 corresponds one-to-one with the number of drawers 100.

[0023] like Figure 5-6 As shown, a drive shaft seat 110 is fixed to the back of each drawer 100, on which a drive shaft 120 is vertically mounted. When the drawer is fully closed, the lower end of the drive shaft 120 extends into the slot (force-bearing part) of the corresponding rocker hook 23. The diameter of the drive shaft 120 is D.

[0024] like Figure 3-4 As shown, each locking unit 20 includes a first locking member 21, a second locking member 22, and a swing hook 23 as a trigger. The first locking member 21 and the second locking member 22 are not fixedly connected, but are arranged independently and adjacent to each other, and their back sides are matched with the guide groove 11 and can slide up and down along the guide groove 11.

[0025] The first locking member 21 has a receiving cavity, with an upper limit position 211 for the swing hook on the left side and a lower limit position 212 for the swing hook on the right side of the top wall of the receiving cavity. A collar support seat 213 is provided inside the cavity.

[0026] The second locking member 22 has a structure that is narrow at the top and wide at the bottom, and its top end is flat.

[0027] The rocker hook 23 engages with the collar support 213 through a round hole 231 at its top, and is rotatably mounted in the receiving cavity of the first lock member 21 by a pivot (such as a pin). A slot is provided on one side of the lower part of the rocker hook 23, forming a force-bearing part for engagement with the drawer drive shaft 120. On the back opposite the slot, a protruding support block 232 is provided, forming a lifting part. The support block 232 is located outside the receiving cavity of the first lock member 21, and its thickness is B.

[0028] The connection structure consists of five metal spacers 30. Each spacer 30 is sandwiched between two adjacent locking units 20. Specifically, the upper surface of the spacer 30 contacts the second locking member 22 of the previous locking unit, and the lower surface contacts the first locking member 21 of the next locking unit. Through this structure, all the first locking members 21 and second locking members 22 are rigidly connected in series through the spacers 30, thereby making all six locking units 20 a single unit with coordinated displacement in the vertical direction. The vertical displacement of any locking unit is forcibly transmitted to the adjacent unit through the spacers 30.

[0029] like Figure 1 As shown, the limiting and resetting assembly 40 includes a fixed plate 41, a sliding block 42, and an elastic element 43. The fixed plate 41 is fixed to the top of the mounting base 10 by screws. The sliding block 42 is located directly below the fixed plate 41 and can also slide along the guide groove 11. The bottom of the sliding block 42 directly abuts against the first locking member 21 of the uppermost locking unit 20; therefore, the sliding block 42 is linked to the aforementioned "displacement-linked assembly".

[0030] In this embodiment, the elastic element 43 is a compression spring. After assembly, the spring is pre-compressed between the fixed plate 41 and the sliding stop 42, thereby generating a constant preload force. When the main lock assembly 50 is in the unlocked position (i.e., the latch 51 is not inserted), this preload force presses the sliding stop 42 and the entire linkage constraint assembly linked with it downwards, stabilizing the system in the locked position and ensuring automatic reset after the drawer is closed.

[0031] In this state, the cavity between the lower surface of the fixed plate 41 and the upper surface of the sliding block 42 is defined as the movable gap A. The size design of the movable gap A must meet the interlocking requirements: that is, it must be greater than or equal to the unlocking displacement h of a single locking unit 20 (this displacement is determined by the drive shaft diameter D and the hook structure, usually h > D), and less than 1.5 times the sum of the unlocking displacements of the locking units (1.5h).

[0032] In this embodiment, the unlocking displacement h is equal to the thickness B of the support block 232, and B is designed to be greater than or equal to the diameter D of the drive shaft 120 (i.e., h = B > D). Therefore, the movable gap A must satisfy: 1.5D > A > h > D. This dimensional relationship is key to the interlocking function: it ensures that when the main lock is open, the opening action of any drawer can only consume the allowable space (gap A) of the entire linkage assembly moving upward, so that the other drawers cannot be opened due to insufficient upward space (less than their own required unlocking displacement h), thereby achieving mutual restraint.

[0033] The main lock assembly 50 includes a latch 51, a slider 52, a slide groove 53, a slide groove fixing plate 54, a connecting rod 55, and a pivot block 56. The slide groove fixing plate 54 is fixed to the cabinet body, and the slide groove 53 is horizontally mounted on it. The slider 52 is horizontally slidable within the slide groove 53, and its front end is fixed with a hexagonal square nut that serves as the latch 51. The pivot block 56 can be rotated by a key and is hinged to the slider 52 via the connecting rod 55, thereby converting the rotational motion of the pivot block 56 into the horizontal linear motion of the slider 52 and the latch 51.

[0034] This invention utilizes a carefully designed movable gap and rigidly connects all locking units in series to form a vertically linked whole. This ensures that the unlocking displacement of the first locking element necessary for opening any drawer is converted into an equal upward movement of the entire linkage assembly through the connecting structure. Since the total height of the movable gap is limited to accommodate only the unlocking displacement of a single locking unit, once a drawer is opened and the gap is "consumed," the remaining locking units cannot unlock due to insufficient upward movement space. This mechanically enforces an interlocking function that allows only one drawer to be opened at a time. This design principle is simple and efficient, fundamentally avoiding complex logic control or redundant locking components.

[0035] The working principle of this invention is as follows: All drawers locked: Turning the key, the locking tongue 51 is horizontally inserted into the area between the fixed plate 41 and the sliding block 42, preventing the sliding block 42 from sliding upward. Since the sliding block 42 is linked with the linkage constraint assembly, all locking units 20 are fixed. The gap between the first locking member 21 and the second locking member 22 of each locking unit is less than the diameter D of the drive shaft, causing all drawers to be unable to be pulled out, thus locking all drawers.

[0036] Interlocked state (master lock open): Turn the key, the bolt 51 is removed from between the fixed plate 41 and the sliding block 42, and the sliding block 42 can slide upward, releasing the fixation of each locking unit 20.

[0037] like Figure 7As shown, in the normal state (drawer fully closed): the slots of the rocker hooks 23 of each locking unit 20 face the drawer side, and the drive shaft 120 is embedded in the corresponding slot of the rocker hook 23.

[0038] like Figure 8 As shown, taking the opening of the Nth drawer as an example, in the initial closed state, the drive shaft 120 corresponding to this drawer is located in the slot of the hook 23. When the user pulls the drawer outward, the drive shaft 120 moves forward and applies a force to the inner wall of the slot of the hook 23, pushing the hook 23 to rotate downward around its pivot (i.e., the collar support 213).

[0039] As the drawer is pulled out further, the support block 232 on the back of the hook 23 gradually enters the gap between the first locking member 21 and the second locking member 22, and finally abuts against the upper surface of the second locking member 22. At this time, the hook 23 continues to rotate under the continuous push of the drive shaft 120 until it is limited by the lower limit 212 of the hook of the first locking member 21. During this process, the support block 232 acts as a rigid fulcrum, converting the rotational motion of the hook 23 into a downward pushing force on the second locking member 22. Since the second locking member 22 is rigidly connected in series by the connecting structure and linked with the locking members below through the spacer 30, it cannot move downward freely. Therefore, the reaction force pushes the first locking member 21 to slide upward in the guide groove 11, generating a vertical displacement of magnitude h.

[0040] As the first locking member 21 moves upward, the distance between it and the second locking member 22 gradually increases. When this distance exceeds the diameter D of the drive shaft 120, the drive shaft 120 disengages from the slot of the hook 23. Once the drive shaft 120 disengages from the slot, the drawer enters a freely sliding state, and the user can continue to pull the drawer out completely. During this process, because the entire linkage constraint assembly moves upward with the first locking member 21, and the size limitation of the movement gap A (1.5D > A > h > D), the gap between the first and second locking members of the other locking units is still less than D, and cannot form an effective unlocking, thus ensuring that only the current drawer is opened individually.

[0041] Drawer closing and mechanism reset process: When the user closes the pulled-out drawer, the reset process is as follows: Taking the Nth drawer as an example, during the closing process, the drive shaft 120 fixed to the back of the drawer moves inward with the drawer. When the drive shaft 120 approaches the hook 23 of its corresponding locking unit 20, its front end will contact the slot of the hook 23. Under the pushing force of the drawer being pushed in continuously, the drive shaft 120 slides into the slot of the hook 23 along the inclined surface.

[0042] After the drive shaft 120 enters the slot, it continues to move inward, and its sidewalls exert a force on the inner wall of the slot of the swing hook 23, pushing the swing hook 23 to rotate upward around its axis (the collar support seat 213). As the swing hook 23 rotates upward, the support block 232 on its back gradually exits from the gap between the first locking member 21 and the second locking member 22.

[0043] At this point, the preload force of the elastic element 43 (compression spring) acting on the limiting and resetting assembly 40 begins to take effect. This preload force acts downward on the entire linkage constraint assembly through the sliding stop 42. Under the restoring force of the elastic element 43, the entire linkage constraint assembly (including all the first locking members 21, the second locking members 22, and the spacer 30) slides downward along the guide groove 11 as a whole, returning to the initial locking position.

[0044] After the linkage constraint assembly is fully reset, the gap between the first locking member 21 and the second locking member 22 returns to a size smaller than the diameter D of the drive shaft 120. At the same time, with the drive shaft 120 fully embedded and its own structure working together, the swing hook 23 rotates back to its initial angle, its slot is now aligned with the entry and exit path of the drive shaft 120, and is limited by the upper limit stop 211 of the swing hook in the first locking member 21, ensuring its stable position.

[0045] At this point, the locking unit 20 returns to the fully locked state. When the drawer is pushed further in to the fully closed position, the drive shaft 120 is fully accommodated in the slot of the rocker hook 23, and because the gap between the first locking member 21 and the second locking member 22 is less than D, the drive shaft 120 is effectively "locked," the drawer is locked, and it cannot be pulled out directly.

[0046] Reset linkage under interlocked state: In the interlocked state (master lock open), if a drawer is opened and then closed, the reset of its corresponding locking unit 20 will cause the entire linkage constraint assembly to move downward, thereby releasing the activity gap A. At this time, the system returns to the initial interlocked standby state of "allowing any drawer to be opened", providing conditions for the next single drawer opening.

[0047] Example 2 The present invention also provides a drawer cabinet, including a cabinet body 200 and a plurality of drawers 100 that are removably disposed in the cabinet body 200, wherein the cabinet body 200 is equipped with a multi-drawer locking mechanism that mutually restricts each other as shown in Embodiment 1.

[0048] The above description is merely an embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the patent scope of the present invention. Any equivalent structural or procedural transformations made based on the content of the present invention's specification and drawings, or direct or indirect applications in other related technical fields, are similarly included within the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A multi-drawer locking mechanism with mutual constraints, characterized in that, include: Mounting base, linkage constraint components, limit and reset components, and main lock components; The linkage constraint component is slidably mounted on the mounting base and includes multiple locking units and connection structures; The number of locking units corresponds to the number of drawers, and each locking unit includes: a first locking element, a second locking element, and a trigger element; The first lock and the second lock are arranged adjacent to each other vertically. The trigger is rotatably mounted on the first lock via a pivot and can be driven to rotate by the drive shaft of the corresponding drawer. The trigger is provided with a lifting part, which is used to push the second lock when rotating, so that the first lock produces a vertical unlocking displacement relative to the second lock. The connecting structure rigidly connects the second locking member and / or the first locking member of all the locking units in series, so that all the locking units form a whole that is displaced and linked in the vertical direction; The limiting and resetting assembly includes a fixed plate, a sliding block, and an elastic element; the fixed plate is fixed to the mounting base; the sliding block is located below the fixed plate, connected to or abutting against the linkage constraint assembly and moving synchronously; the elastic element acts between the fixed plate and the sliding block, and provides the linkage constraint assembly with an elastic force tending towards the locking direction; The main locking assembly includes a horizontally movable latch that can be inserted into the gap between the fixed plate and the sliding stop to lock the sliding stop.

2. The multi-drawer locking mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the bolt of the main lock assembly is not inserted, there is a movable gap between the lower surface of the fixed plate and the upper surface of the sliding block. The size of the movable gap is greater than or equal to the unlocking displacement of a single locking unit and less than the sum of the unlocking displacements of two locking units.

3. The multi-drawer locking mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The mounting base is provided with a guide groove in the vertical direction, and the first locking member, the second locking member and the sliding stop are slidably disposed on the guide groove.

4. The multi-drawer locking mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The trigger is a swing hook, which has a force-receiving part for being driven by the drive shaft, and a lifting part, the thickness of which is greater than or equal to the diameter of the drive shaft.

5. The multi-drawer locking mechanism according to claim 4, characterized in that, The first locking member has a receiving cavity, the swing hook is rotatably housed in the receiving cavity via a rotating shaft, and the lifting part is located outside the receiving cavity.

6. The multi-drawer locking mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The connection structure includes multiple spacers, which are disposed between adjacent locking units.

7. The multi-drawer locking mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The main lock assembly also includes a slide groove, a slider, and a transmission mechanism; the slider is slidably disposed in the slide groove, and the locking tongue is disposed on the slider; the transmission mechanism is rotatably connected to the slider and is used to convert the rotational input into the horizontal linear motion of the slider.

8. The multi-drawer locking mechanism according to claim 7, characterized in that, The transmission mechanism includes a rotating shaft block and a connecting rod; the rotating shaft block is rotatably disposed, and the two ends of the connecting rod are respectively hinged to the rotating shaft block and the slider.

9. The multi-drawer locking mechanism according to claim 7, characterized in that, The locking tongue is a block-shaped protrusion fixed to the front end of the slider.

10. A drawer cabinet, characterized in that, The device includes a cabinet, multiple drawers that can be pulled out and disposed in the cabinet, and a multi-drawer locking mechanism that is mutually constrained as described in any one of claims 1 to 9; wherein each drawer is fixedly connected to a drive shaft, and each drive shaft is engaged with a trigger element of the corresponding locking unit.

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