Office cabinet

A locking system for a filing cabinet which permits only one drawer to be pulled out at a time includes a vertical track (30) at the side of the cabinet in which move vertically extending bars (42, 43, 44), one for each drawer, against the pressure of a spring (104) through a predetermined limited distance. When the cabinet is locked the bars are held against any movement. When the cabinet is unlocked, such movement is permitted. When one drawer is withdrawn, a two position cam (78) on the respective bar is rotated 90 DEG . The cam is rotationally mounted on one bar but bears against a projecting shelf (69) on the next adjacent bar or a fixed shelf. When the cam is rotated by the respective drawer being pulled out further movement of the bars is precluded locking all of the other drawers against withdrawal. Each cam includes a projection (90, 176) adapted to be engaged by a lateral pin (97) on the drawer as it is withdrawn and a hook (91, 180) which is positioned to catch the drawer pin when the drawer is replaced in the cabinet to return the cam to its original position. The cam may include a second hook (94) for engaging and releasing a flip-up door for each cabinet drawer. The spring may be positioned at the top or the bottom of the track with the limited movement of the bars being either up or down. The invention may be used with a full height cabinet or a shorter credenza or pedestal type cabinet.