EP3473134B1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: EP3473134B1
Application number: EP17290129.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Arnaud BELGUEUL; Benoit Ozenne
Original assignee: Stanley Black and Decker MEA FZE
Current assignee: Stanley Black and Decker MEA FZE
Priority date: 2017-10-17
Filing date: 2017-10-17
Publication date: 2020-04-29
Anticipated expiration: 2037-10-17
Also published as: EP3473134A1; WO2019079452A1

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention deals with a cabinet comprising at least one drawer.

STATE OF THE ART

US Patent Application Publication 2014/0167574 to Schoenfelddiscloses a file cabinet that permits a user to access to a single drawer/locked compartment at a time. The cabinet includes a at least one pull-out drawer with a lock mechanism that self locks when the drawer is pushed in and closed, and has an electro-mechanical servo to release the drawer for authorized access.
As disclosed in Schoenfeld, it is known to have a cabinet comprising a housing, a drawer able to slide relative to the housing between an open position and a closed position, and locking means for locking the drawer to the housing so as to retain the drawer in the closed position, and for unlocking the drawer from the housing, so as to allow the drawer to leave the closed position.
For this purpose, the locking means comprises a notch formed in the drawer, and a bar mounted on the housing which slides relative to the housing in a vertical direction. When the drawer is in the closed position, the bar is in front of the notch.
Once the drawer has reached the closed position, the bar can be caused, by means of an actuator comprising a key lock, to slide in the notch in order to lock the drawer. To unlock the drawer, the bar is caused to slide out of the notch by means of the same actuator.
However, a drawback of this cabinet is that a user must perform two subsequent actions to get the drawer locked: first, sliding the drawer into the closed position, then using the key lock.
Another drawback of this cabinet is that the drawer cannot be locked if it has not reached the closed position, since in such case the notch is not in front of the bar. As a consequence, a user has to ensure that the drawer has reached the closed position before using the key lock, which is uncomfortable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of the invention is to lock a drawer in a cabinet in an easier manner.
For this purpose, it is proposed a cabinet comprising:

a housing,
a first drawer arranged to slide relative to the housing between an open position and a closed position,
a first snap fit lock mechanism for locking automatically the first drawer to the housing when the first drawer reaches the closed position, so as to retain the first drawer in the closed position, and
an actuator for causing the first snap fit lock mechanism to unlock the first drawer from the housing, so as to allow the first drawer to leave the closed position.

The cabinet may comprise the following optional features taken alone or in combination when it is technically feasible.
The first snap fit lock mechanism comprises a first locking member mounted on the first drawer and a second locking member mounted on the housing, wherein one of the first locking member and the second locking member is moveable between an engaged position, wherein the second locking member is engaged with the first locking member while the first drawer is in the closed position, and a disengaged position, wherein the second locking member is disengaged from the first locking member allowing the drawer to slide relative to the housing.
The actuator may be configured to move said one locking member from the engaged position to the disengaged position and maintain said one locking member in the disengaged position for a predetermined duration.
The first snap lock mechanism may comprise a resilient member arranged for urging the said one locking member towards the engaged position.
The first locking member may protrude from a back of the first drawer.
The cabinet comprises a shutter arranged between the first drawer and the second locking element at least partially, wherein the shutter comprises an opening to allow the first locking element pass through the shutter.
The second locking member may be rotatably moveable relative to the housing between the engaged position and the disengaged position.
One of the first locking member and the second locking member may comprises a hook, and the other of the first locking member and the second locking member may define a recess for receiving the hook.
The actuator may comprise a sliding pen which is adapted for urging the second locking member towards the disengaged position.
The housing may comprise a back wall towards which the first drawer gets closer when sliding towards the closed position, and wherein the actuator is arranged between the back of the first drawer and the back wall of the housing.
The actuator may be motorized.
The cabinet may further comprise a radio communication interface, for instance of NFC type, for receiving a control signal, and a controller configured to operate the motorized actuator such that the actuator unlocks the first snap fit lock mechanism when the control signal is received.
The actuator may comprise a key lock adapted to cooperate with a key for manually operating the actuator.
The cabinet may further comprise:

a second drawer arranged to slide relative to the housing between an open position and a closed position,
a second snap fit lock mechanism for locking automatically the second drawer to the housing when the second drawer reaches the closed position, so as to retain the second drawer in the closed position, and

The first snap fit lock mechanism comprises a first locking member mounted on the first drawer and a second locking member mounted on the housing, and the second snap fit lock mechanism may comprise a third locking member mounted on the second drawer and the second locking member. In such embodiment, the second locking member is moveable between an engaged position wherein the second locking member is engaged with the first locking member and the third locking member while the first drawer and the second drawer are both in their closed position, and a disengaged position, wherein the second locking member is disengaged from the first locking member and from the third locking member allowing the drawers to slide relative to the housing.
The third locking member may protrude from a back of the second drawer.
The third locking member may comprise a hook, and the second locking member may comprise a folded bar defining a recess for receiving the hooks of the first and third locking members.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Further details, features and advantages of the invention are explained in more detail below with the aid of the exemplary embodiments of the invention that are illustrated in the figures in which:

Figure 1 and2 are two different perspective views of a cabinet according to an embodiment of the invention.
Figures 3 and4 are two different perspective views of components located within the cabinet shown onfigure 1 and2.
Figures 5 and6 are top views of a snap fit lock mechanism located in the cabinet offigures 1-4, in two different configurations.
Figure 7 is another perspective view of components located within the cabinet shown onfigure 1 and2.

Similar features have identical numbers in all figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AT LEAST ONEEMBODIMENT

1/ Description of a cabinet comprising drawers

Referring tofigures 1 and2, acabinet 1 comprises ahousing 2 and at least afirst drawer 4a and at least a second drawer 4b. The cabinet comprises for instance sixdrawers 4a-4f.
Thehousing 2 comprises abottom 6, atop 8, twoside walls 10, 12 and aback wall 14.
The twoside walls 10, 12 and theback wall 14 extend vertically and connect thebottom 6 to thetop 8. Theback wall 14 interconnects the twoside walls 10, 12.
Thehousing 2 defines at least a cavity located between thebottom 6 and thetop 8, and between the twoside walls 10, 12, wherein thedrawers 4a-4f can slide.
Thehousing 2 further defines at least one front opening for accessing the cavity. The front opening is opposite theback wall 14 relative to the cavity.
Thecabinet 1 further comprises fourfeet 16 extending from thebottom 6 of thehousing 2. Each foot is rotatably mounted on thebottom 6. Thecabinet 1 further comprises fourwheels 18 for rolling thecabinet 1 on a floor. Eachwheel 18 is mounted on acorresponding foot 16.
The housing comprises ahandle 20, for instance affixed to thetop 8 of thehousing 2. Thehandle 20 can be seized by a user for moving and steering thecabinet 1 mounted onwheels 18.
Eachdrawer 4a-4f comprises afront 22, aback 24, abottom 26 and twolateral walls 28, 30 forming together a top-opened container.
Alldrawers 4a-4f have the same length measured in the sliding direction, and have the same width (which corresponds substantially to the distance between the twoside walls 10, 12). However, thedrawers 4a-4f may have various heights, so as to form top-opened containers have various storage volumes. In the embodiment depicted infigure 1, thedrawers 4a-4d have a small storage volume, the drawer 4e has a larger storage volume and the drawer 4f, closest to thebottom 6, has an even larger storage volume.
Each drawer4a-4f is arranged to slide relative to thehousing 2 between an open position and a closed position, in a sliding direction.
Thefront 22 of eachdrawer 4a-4f comprises a handle which can be seized by a user for sliding the drawer relative to thehousing 2.
Eachdrawer 4a-4f is located at a specific altitude between the bottom 6 and the top 8. The drawers are located one above the others between the bottom 6 and thetop 8 of thehousing 2. They can slide independently relative to thehousing 2.
In its open position, any of thedrawers 4a-4f at least partially extends outside thehousing 2, such that a user can access to the top-opened container formed by this drawer.
When any of thedrawers 4a-4f is moved from its open position to its closed position, the drawer gets closer to theback wall 14 of thehousing 2.
In its closed position, any of thedrawers 4a-4f is located between the bottom 6 and thetop 8 of thehousing 2, such that a user cannot access a content stored in the top-opened container. In its closed position, the back 24 of a drawer and theback panel 14 of thehousing 2 remain spaced apart.
For instance,figure 1 showstop drawer 4a in its open position, and other drawers 4b-4f in their closed position. Infigure 2, alldrawers 4a-4f are in their closed position.
Now referring tofigures 3and4, showing the cavity defined in thehousing 2, thecabinet 1 comprises a first snap fit lock mechanism for locking automatically thefirst drawer 4a to thehousing 2 when thefirst drawer 4a reaches the closed position, so as to retain thefirst drawer 4a in the closed position.
The first snap fit lock mechanism comprises afirst locking member 32 mounted on thefirst drawer 4a, and asecond locking member 34 mounted on thehousing 2.
Thefirst locking member 32 protrudes from the back 24 of thefirst drawer 4a. Such arrangement is advantageous in that thecabinet 1 cannot be easily broken by a user inserting a flat rod between two drawers in attempt to manually operate the first snap fit lock mechanism.
Thefirst locking member 32 comprises for instance ahook 36. Thehook 36 extends parallel to the bottom 26.
Referring tofigures 5and6, thehook 36 comprises afirst portion 38 extending towards thesecond locking element 34 in the sliding direction, and anend portion 40 extending from the first portion in a direction towardsside wall 10. Theend portion 40 comprises anouter slant 42 with respect to the sliding direction. Theouter slant 42 faces thesecond locking member 34, so as to contact thesecond locking member 34 when thefirst drawer 4a is moved towards the closed position. The end portion further comprises an engagingsurface 44 opposite theouter slant 42 relative to theend portion 40. The engagingsurface 44 faces thefirst drawer 4a. The engagingsurface 44 is designed to engage with a surface of thesecond locking member 34 which will be described later. As shown onfigure 5, thehook 36 may have the form of a "1".
Thesecond locking member 34 is moveable between an engaged position (visible onfigure 5 and a disengaged position (visible onfigure 6).
In the engaged position, thesecond locking member 34 is engaged with the first lockingmember 32. When thesecond locking member 34 is in the engaged position, while thefirst drawer 4a is in the closed position, the second locking member prevents thedrawer 4a to leave the closed position.
In the disengaged position, thesecond locking member 34 is disengaged from the first lockingmember 32 allowing the drawer to slide relative to thehousing 2.
Thesecond locking member 34 extends vertically between the bottom 6 and thetop 8 of thehousing 2.
Thesecond locking member 34 is rotatably moveable relative to thehousing 2 between the engaged position and the disengaged position.
Referring tofigure 4, thesecond locking member 34 is mounted on thebottom 6 and thetop 8 of thehousing 2 by means of apivot 46, for instance made in polyamide, such that the rotation axis of thesecond locking member 34 is vertical.
Thesecond locking member 34 comprises a folded bar 48 extending vertically between the bottom 6 and thetop 8 of thehousing 2. The folded bar 48 defines arecess 50 for receiving theend portion 40 of thehook 36 of thefirst drawer 4a.
More specifically, the folded bar 48 comprises anend portion 52 comprising anouter slant 54 facing the first lockingmember 32, and an engagingsurface 56 opposite theouter slant 54. The inner surface partially defines therecess 50.
Theouter slant 54 is arranged to face theouter slant 44 of the first lockingmember 32 when thefirst drawer 4a slides is in its closed position.
The folded bar 48 has a V-shaped profile in a plane parallel to thebottom 6 of thehousing 2.
Thesecond locking member 34 further comprises aprimary support 58. Theprimary support 58 comprises an engaging surface oriented in a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction. Theprimary support 58 is affixed to the folded bar 48 at a first altitude.
Thesecond locking member 34 further comprises asecondary support 60. Like theprimary support 58, thesecondary support 60 comprises an engaging surface oriented in a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction.
Thesecondary support 60 is affixed to the folded bar 48 at a second altitude different from the first altitude. Thesecondary support 60 is for instance closer to thebottom 6 of thehousing 2 than the primary support, as shown infigure 4.
Besides, the first snap lock mechanism comprises aresilient member 62 arranged for urging thesecond locking member 34 towards the engaged position. Theresilient member 62 is for instance a spring comprising a first end affixed to the folded bar 48 and a second end affixed to thehousing 2.
Referring tofigure 5, thecabinet 1 further comprises at least one actuator, for instance aprimary actuator 64 and asecondary actuator 65, for causing the first snap fit lock mechanism to unlock thefirst drawer 4a from thehousing 2, so as to allow thefirst drawer 4a to leave the closed position. Eachactuator 64, 66 is configured to move the lockingmember 34 from the engaged position to the disengaged position.
Theprimary actuator 64 is a motorized actuator.
Theprimary actuator 64 is arranged in the cavity between thedrawers 4a-4f and theback wall 14 of thehousing 2.
Theprimary actuator 64 comprises abody 66 and apen 68 able to slide relative to thebody 66. Thebody 66 is affixed to an inner surface of theback wall 14. Thepen 68 is adapted for pushing theprimary support 58 of the lockingmember 34, when the lockingmember 34 is in the engaged position, so as to urge the lockingmember 34 towards the disengaged position.
The slidingpen 68 is arranged to slide parallel to the back wall 14 (i.e. perpendicularly to the sliding direction).
Thecabinet 1 further comprises aradio communication interface 70, for instance of NFC type, is adapted to communicate with an object located outside, for instance a mobile terminal or a chip card. It is arranged in thetop 8 of thehousing 2, such that it can be visible on the front of thecabinet 1, as shown onfigure 1.
Thecabinet 1 further comprises a controller configured to operate the motorized actuator based on signals received by theradio communication interface 70. The controller is arranged in the cavity between the drawers and theback wall 14. The controller is for instance located in thebody 66 of the actuator. At least one wire (not shown on the figures) makes theradio communication interface 70 and the controller communicate together.
Thecabinet 1 further comprises apower supply 72 for supplying the controller, theradio communication interface 70 and themotorized actuator 64 with power.
Thepower supply 72 is arranged in the cavity between thedrawers 4a-4f and theback wall 14 of thehousing 2.
Besides, thesecondary actuator 65 comprises a key lock 74 (visible onfigures 1,3,4). Thekey lock 74 comprises a stator and a rotor rotatably mounted on the stator. The rotor is adapted to cooperate with a key for manually operating thesecondary actuator 65.
Thekey lock 74 is arranged on theback wall 14 of thecabinet 1. The stator may for instance be affixed to theback wall 14.
Thekey lock 74 comprises apin 76 moveable between a first position wherein thepin 76 pushes thesecondary support 60, so as to urge the lockingelement 34 into its disengaged position despite the action of theresilient member 62, and a second position wherein thepin 76 is distant from thesecondary support 60, such that the second locking element is free to reach its engaged position by means of theresilient member 62.
Thepin 76 is for instance affixed to the rotor of thekey lock 74 and is eccentric relative to a rotation axis of said rotor.
Thecabinet 1 comprises additional snap fit mechanisms (one snap fit mechanism per drawer). Each snap fit lock mechanism is adapted for locking automatically one of thedrawers 4a-4f to thehousing 2 when said drawer reaches its closed position, so as to retain said drawer in the closed position. Thecabinet 1 illustrated on the figures therefore comprises six snap fit lock mechanisms for locking the sixdrawers 4a-4f.
Each snap fit lock mechanism comprises a locking element mounted on a corresponding drawer. All locking elements mounted on drawers have a similar shape (for instance a hook protruding from the back of a drawer, like thehook 36 of thefirst drawer 4a).
However, all snap fit lock mechanisms have in common the lockingelement 34 mounted to thehousing 2 described above comprising a folded bar 48. This lockingelement 34 allows alldrawers 4a-4f, when in their closed position, to be unlocked from the housing in one single action. For this purpose, multiple locking elements mounted ondifferent drawers 4a-4f can be simultaneously engaged with the lockingelement 34. When said multiple locking elements comprise a hook and when the lockingelement 34 defines arecess 50, end portions of said hooks can be received simultaneously in therecess 50 at different altitudes between the bottom 6 and thetop 8 of thehousing 2.
Referring tofigure 7, thecabinet 1 further comprises ashutter 78 arranged to hide thesecond locking element 34 at least partially. Theshutter 78 is arranged between thedrawers 4a-4f and thesecond locking element 34.
Theshutter 78 comprises aplate 80 extending parallel to the back wall between the bottom 6 and the top 8.
Theshutter 78 also comprises at least oneopening 82 arranged in theplate 80 between thefirst locking element 32 mounted on thefirst drawer 4a, and thesecond locking element 34. Theopening 82 is arranged to receive thefirst locking element 32 and to allow thefirst locking element 32 to reach thesecond locking element 34 hidden behind theshutter 78, when thedrawer 4a slides towards the closed position. Theopening 82 is for example a horizontal slot sized in accordance with thehook 36.
Theshutter 78 comprises as many openings as the number ofdrawers 4a-4f in the cabinet 1 (six openings in the embodiment illustrated in the figures). The openings are formed in theshutter 78 at different altitudes between the bottom 6 and the top 8. Each opening is arranged to receive the locking element mounted on a corresponding drawer and to allow said locking element to reach thesecond locking element 34 hidden behind theshutter 78.
Thanks to theshutter 78, a user inserting a flat rod between two drawers in attempt to manually operate the first snap fit lock mechanism cannot easily access thesecond locking element 34. Thecabinet 1 is therefore even more difficult to break in.
Theshutter 78 may also comprise aprimary opening 84 in front of theprimary support 58 and a secondary opening in front of thesecondary support 60. Thanks to bothopenings 84 and 86, both supports 58 and 60 have enough space to pivot even if theshutter 78 is placed very close to theback wall 14.

2/ Use of the cabinet for closing or opening at least one drawer

Let us assume that thefirst drawer 4a is in its opened position, as shown infigure 1. At this stage, thehook 36 mounted on the back of thefirst drawer 4a is distant from the folded bar 48 rotatably mounted on thehousing 2.
Besides, the slidingpen 68 is distant from theprimary support 58, and thepin 76 is distant from thesecondary support 60, such that thesecond locking member 34 is in its engaged position, by means of theresilient member 62.
Thefirst drawer 4a can be locked to thehousing 2 as follows.
A user pushes thefirst drawer 4a so as to make it slide in the sliding direction towards theback wall 14 of thehousing 2. Therefore, thehook 36 mounted on the back of thefirst drawer 4a gets closer to the folded bar 48.
When thedrawer 4a reaches an intermediate position between the opened position and the closed position, theouter slant 42 of thehook 36 mounted on theback 24 of thefirst drawer 4a contacts theouter slant 54 of the first lockingmember 32.
When the user pushes further thedrawer 4a from the intermediate position towards the closed position, thehook 36 urges the folded bar 48 from its engaged position to its disengaged position while the outer slant of the first locking element slips along the outer slant of thesecond locking member 34.
Slightly before thefirst drawer 4a reaches the closed position, theouter slant 42 of thehook 36 leaves theouter slant 54 of the folded bar 48. As a consequence, thehook 36 does not urge the folded bar 48 anymore; the folded bar 48 is then free to move back in the engaged position. As a matter of fact, the folded bar 48 automatically returns in this engaged position by means of theresilient member 62. The end portion of thehook 36 enters therecess 50 formed by the folded bar 48. The folded bar 48 is now in its engaged position, while thefirst drawer 4a is in the closed position, as shown onfigure 5.
When the first drawer is in the closed position, theend portion 40 of thehook 36 is located between theend portion 52 of the lockingelement 34 and theback wall 14. Moreover, engagingsurfaces 44 and 56 face each other.
If the user ever attempts to move thefirst drawer 4a from the closed position towards the open position, the engagingsurface 44 of thehook 36 will abut against the engagingsurface 56 of the folded bar 48. In other words, thefirst drawer 4a is automatically locked to thehousing 2 by the snap fitlock mechanism housing 2 when thefirst drawer 4a reaches the closed position, so as to retain thefirst drawer 4a in the closed position.
Any other drawer in its opened position can be moved in its closed position in the same manner. Once a second drawer has reached its closed position, the end portion of the hook of the second drawer is in therecess 50 formed in the folded bar 48 as well as the end portion of thehook 36 of thefirst drawer 4a. Both hooks simply engage the same folded bar 48 at different altitudes.
Many drawers 4a-4f can also be moved simultaneously from their opened position to their closed position. In this case, the end portions of their hooks will enter therecess 50 of the folded bar 48 substantially at the same time.
It can be noted that theprimary actuator 64 is not used for closing and automatically locking anydrawer 4a-4f in its closed position.
Opening at least one of thedrawers 4a-4f, for instance thefirst drawer 4a, can be carried out by means of theprimary actuator 64 as follows.
First, theradio communication interface 70 can receive a radio signal emitted by a chip card or a mobile terminal held by a user, wherein the radio signal is designed to trigger such opening.
The radio signal is then transmitted by theradio communication interface 70 to the controller. Upon receiving the radio signal, the controller operates theprimary actuator 64 so as to slide thepen 68 towards theprimary support 58 of the folded bar 48 relative to thebody 66. The slidingpen 68 pushes theprimary support 58 such that thesecond locking element 34 is moved from the engaged position into the disengaged position. In this movement, thehook 36 is moved out of therecess 50 formed by the folded bar 48, and theresilient member 62 stretches.
Once thesecond locking member 34 has reached the disengaged position, as shown infigure 6, the engagingsurface 56 of the folded bar 48 does not face anymore the engagingsurface 44 of any hook mounted on a drawer, especially thehook 36 mounted on thefirst drawer 4a.
Theprimary actuator 64 maintains thesecond locking member 34 in the disengaged position for a period of predetermined duration. This predetermined duration can be programmed in the controller by means of a timer. This duration preferably depends on the number ofdrawers 4a-4f of thecabinet 1. This duration is for instance equal to kT, wherein k is the number of drawers, and T is greater than 5 seconds.
The predetermined duration can be set by a user by means of an appropriate configuration signal received by theradio communication interface 70 and transmitted to the controller.
During this period, the user can pull thefirst drawer 4a or any other drawer 4b-4f from the closed position to the opened position.
When this period expires, the actuator ceases to maintain thesecond locking member 34 in the disengaged position. Thus, theresilient member 62 causes thesecond locking member 34 to pivot into the engaged position.
If the user has not pulled thefirst drawer 4a in this period, thehook 36 moves back into therecess 50 formed by the folded bar 48. Therefore, the drawer is automatically relocked relative to thehousing 2.
If thefirst drawer 4a has left the closed position before the period of predetermined duration expires, thesecond locking element 34 pivots into the engaged position while thehook 36 is outside therecess 50 formed in the folded bar 48. Therefore, thedrawer 4a can slide in the sliding direction towards the opened position or the closed position.
Opening thefirst drawer 4a can be also carried out by means of thesecondary actuator 65 as follows.
A user inserts a key in the rotor ofkey lock 74.
When the user manually rotates the key and the rotor relative to the stator of thekey lock 74, theeccentric pin 76 moves as well around the rotation axis of the rotor and pushes thesecondary support 60, such that thesecond locking element 34 is moved from its engaged position into the disengaged position. In this movement, thehook 36 is moved out of therecess 50 formed by the folded bar 48, and theresilient member 62 stretches. Once the lockingmember 34 has reached its disengaged position, the engagingsurface 56 of the folded bar 48 does not face anymore the engagingsurface 44 of thehook 36.
In the disengaged position, the forces applied by theresilient member 62 and by thepin 76 to thesecond locking element 34 compensate, such that thesecond locking element 34 can remain in the disengaged position even if the user releases the key inserted in thekey lock 74.
From this point on, the user can pull thefirst drawer 4a or any other drawer 4b-4f towards in its opened position.
Thissecondary actuator 65 can be advantageously used instead of theprimary actuator 64, if theprimary actuator 64 does not work properly (because of an internal failure or if thepower supply 72 runs out of power).
Later on, the user can rotate back the key relative to thekey lock 74, so as to cause thepin 76 to move away from thesecondary support 60. Thus, thesecond locking element 34 is urged towards its engaged position by theresilient member 62. Anydrawer 4a-4f of thecabinet 1 in its closed position will be retained in its closed position, whereas anydrawer 4a-4f of thecabinet 1 which is not in its closed position will be free to slide in the sliding direction either towards the opened position or the closed position.

Claims

A cabinet comprising:
a housing (2);
a first drawer (4a) arranged to slide relative to the housing (2) between an open position and a closed position;
a first snap fit lock mechanism for locking automatically the first drawer (4a) to the housing (2) when the first drawer (4a) reaches the closed position, so as to retain the first drawer (4a) in the closed position, and comprising
a first locking member (32) mounted on the first drawer (4a);
a second locking member (34) mounted on the housing (2); and
wherein one of the first locking member and the second locking member is moveable between an engaged position, wherein the second locking member (34) is engaged with the first locking member (32) while the first drawer (4a) is in the closed position, and a disengaged position, wherein the second locking member (34) is disengaged from the first locking member (32) allowing the drawer to slide relative to the housing (2);
an actuator (64, 65) for causing the first snap fit lock mechanism to unlock the first drawer (4a) from the housing (2), so as to allow the first drawer (4a) to leave the closed position; and
characterized in that the cabinet further comprises a shutter (78) arranged between the first drawer (4a) and the second locking element (34) at least partially, wherein the shutter comprises an opening (82) to allow the first locking element (34) to pass through the shutter (78).
Cabinet according to claim 1, wherein the actuator (64, 65) is configured to move said one of the first locking member (32) and the second locking member (34) from the engaged position to the disengaged position and maintained in the disengaged position for a predetermined duration.
Cabinet according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first snap lock mechanism further comprises a resilient member (62) arranged for urging the said one locking member towards the engaged position.
Cabinet according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first locking member (32) protrudes from a back of the first drawer (4a).
Cabinet according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second locking member (34) is rotatably moveable relative to the housing (2) between the engaged position and the disengaged position.
Cabinet according to any of the preceding claims, wherein one of the first locking member (32) and the second locking member (34) comprises a hook (36), and wherein the other of the first locking member (32) and the second locking member (34) defines a recess (50) for receiving the hook (36).
Cabinet according to any of the preceding claims , wherein the actuator (64, 65) comprises a sliding pen which is adapted for urging the second locking member (34) towards the disengaged position.
Cabinet according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (2) comprises a back wall towards which the first drawer (4a) gets closer when sliding towards the closed position, and wherein the actuator (64, 65) is arranged between the back of the first drawer (4a) and the back wall of the housing (2).
Cabinet according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the actuator (64, 65) is motorized.
Cabinet according to claim 9, wherein the cabinet further comprises:
a radio communication interface (70), for instance of NFC type, for receiving a control signal,
a controller configured to operate the motorized actuator (64, 65) such that the actuator (64, 65) unlocks the first snap fit lock mechanism when the control signal is received.
Cabinet according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the actuator (64, 65) comprises a key lock adapted to cooperate with a key for manually operating the actuator (64, 65).
Cabinet according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising
a second drawer (4b-4f) arranged to slide relative to the housing (2) between an open position and a closed position,
a second snap fit lock mechanism for locking automatically the second drawer (4b-4f) to the housing (2) when the second drawer (4b-4f) reaches the closed position, so as to retain the second drawer (4b-4f) in the closed position, and
wherein the actuator (64, 65) is adapted for causing the second snap fit lock mechanism to unlock the second drawer (4b-4f) from the housing (2), so as to allow the second drawer (4b-4f) to leave the closed position.
Cabinet according to claim 12, wherein the first snap fit lock mechanism comprises:
a first locking member (32) mounted on the first drawer (4a),
a second locking member (34) mounted on the housing (2),
and wherein the second snap fit lock mechanism comprises:
a third locking member mounted on the second drawer (4b-4f),
the second locking member (34),
wherein the second locking member (34) is moveable between an engaged position wherein the second locking member (34) is engaged with the first locking member (32) and the third locking member while the first drawer (4a) and the second drawer (4b-4f) are both in their closed position, and a disengaged position, wherein the second locking member (34) is disengaged from the first locking member (32) and from the third locking member allowing the drawers to slide relative to the housing (2).
Cabinet according to claim 13, wherein the third locking member protrudes from a back of the second drawer (4b-4f).
Cabinet according to any of claims 13 to 14, wherein the third locking member comprises a hook, and wherein the second locking member (34) comprises a folded bar defining a recess (50) for receiving the hooks of the first and third locking members.