Drawer and latch therefor

Abstract

A drawer in accordance with the invention comprises a base having a drawer member attached thereto and a latch. The base has a structure for mating with the latch and is connected to the drawer member via a conventional slide assembly which allows the drawer to move in and out of the base. The latch is connected to the drawer member and has a corresponding mating structure for mating with the mating structure of the base. The latch is movable between a first position, or locked position, wherein the mating structures on connected, preventing the drawer member from moving out of the base, and a second position, or released position, wherein the mating structures are disengaged, allowing the drawer member to be moved out of the base.

1 . A drawer comprising: 
 a base having a structure for mating with a latch;    a drawer member connected to the base for movement in and out thereof; and    a latch connected to the drawer member and having a corresponding mating structure for mating with the mating structure of the base, the latch being movable between a first locked position wherein the mating structures are engaged, preventing the drawer member from moving out of the base, and a second released position wherein the mating structures are disengaged, allowing the drawer member to be moved out of the base.    
   
   
       2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the mating structure of the base is an opening defined by the base and the mating structure of the latch is a protrusion extending therefrom, the protrusion being disposed in the opening of the base when the latch is in the locked position and removed from the opening of the base when the latch is in the released position.  
   
   
       3 . An apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein the latch has a biasing mechanism for biasing the latch in the locked position.  
   
   
       4 . An apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein the biasing mechanism is at least one of a bend and a spring for biasing the latch in the locked position.  
   
   
       5 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the latch is connected to the drawer member and extends from a lower surface thereof.  
   
   
       6 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein at least one of the drawer member, base and latch is made out of a non-ferrous metal.  
   
   
       7 . An apparatus according to  claim 6  wherein the non-ferrous metal is aluminum.  
   
   
       8 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein at least one of the drawer member and the base is made from a single sheet of aluminum, bent at a plurality of locations to form at least one of a bottom wall, opposing side walls, and opposing front and rear walls.  
   
   
       9 . An apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein the front wall of the drawer member is angled from an upper rear position toward a lower forward position and forms a drawer pull for an operator to use to move the drawer member between an open position and a closed position.  
   
   
       10 . An apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein the front wall of the drawer member is angled to provide a surface for placing indicia to identify at least one item that may be stored in the drawer member.  
   
   
       11 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the drawer member is connected to the base via a sliding rail which allows the drawer member to be moved in and out of the base.  
   
   
       12 . An apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein the sliding rails include a pair of elongated channels mounted on opposing sides of the base and a pair of elongated brackets having wheels attached thereto for traveling in the elongated channels when the drawer member is moved in and out of the base.  
   
   
       13 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein at least one of the base and drawer member defines at least one opening for reducing the weight thereof.  
   
   
       14 . An apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein the base defines a large opening in order to reduce the weight thereof and the bottom wall of the drawer member defines a plurality of openings to reduce the weight thereof.  
   
   
       15 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the mating structure of the latch is an opening defined by an end of the latch and the mating structure of the base is a protrusion extending therefrom, the protrusion being disposed in the opening of the latch when the latch is in the locked position and removed from the opening of the latch when the latch is in the released position.  
   
   
       16 . An apparatus according to  claim 15  wherein the latch has a bend biasing the latch in the locked position.  
   
   
       17 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the drawer comprises a velocity controller for controlling at least a portion of travel of the drawer member in order to prevent it from damaging the rail system when moved between its open and closed positions.  
   
   
       18 . An apparatus according to  claim 17  wherein the velocity controller is a hydraulic damper that disperses a fluid in order to control the velocity of the drawer member as it approaches its limit of travel so that the rail system is not damaged when the drawer member reaches a limit of travel.  
   
   
       19 . An apparatus according to  claim 17  wherein the velocity controller is a rubber bumper that decelerates the drawer member by absorbing an impact force generated when drawer member reaches a limit of travel.  
   
   
       20 . A latch comprising a body of metal having a first portion which serves as a handle therefor, a second portion connected to the first portion and forming a mating structure for mating with a corresponding mating structure on a base, and a third portion connected to the second portion and extending therefrom for connecting the latch to the base and having a bend therein for biasing the latch into a preferred position.  
   
   
       21 . An apparatus according to  claim 20  wherein the mating structure forms a shoulder for connecting to the catch.  
   
   
       22 . An apparatus according to  claim 20  wherein the body of metal is a body of aluminum.  
   
   
       23 . A mobile tool store comprising: 
 a vehicle defining a space for storing or displaying tools; and    light-weight drawers located within the space defined by the vehicle for storing or displaying the tools.    
   
   
       24 . A mobile tool store according to  claim 23  wherein the vehicle is a truck and the light-weight drawers are aluminum drawers capable of being moved between a stored position wherein the tools are stored away and an open position wherein the tools are readily accessible.  
   
   
       25 . A mobile tool store according to  claim 24  wherein the drawers have damping mechanisms for decelerating the drawer when moved from the stored position to the open position.