A door locking mechanism for a sterilizer that minimizes the occurrence of jamming during operation, and that can be manually actuated if necessary. The door locking mechanism abuts the door of the sterilizer, and comprises a locking arm hingedly connected to a frame to permit the locking arm to move between a locked position and an unlocked position, the locking arm having a cutaway portion, the cutaway portion permitting an extendible portion of the door to extend therethrough; a sensor arm arranged adjacent to the locking arm, the sensor arm being flexible to permit the sensor arm to be at least partially displaced away from the locking arm in response to applied pressure to the sensor arm from the extendible portion of the door as it passes through the cutaway portion; a motor in communication with the operating system; a camshaft actuated by the motor; a cam attached to the camshaft, the cam being in contact with the locking arm to move the locking arm between the locked position and the unlocked position; a closing switch positioned within the locking mechanism to detect displacement of the sensor arm, the closing switch being in communication with an operating system of the sterilizer such that when the closing switch detects displacement of the sensor arm it signals to the operating system that the door is in a latched position; and a locking switch positioned within the locking mechanism to detect movement of the locking arm into the locked position, the locking switch being in communication with the operating system such that when the locking switch detects the movement of the locking arm into the locked position it signals to the operating system that the door is in the locked position.

A latching mechanism can secure one or more moveable members in a cabinet. The latching mechanism includes a support having a back plate mounted to the moveable member and having an opening extending therethrough, an end cap attached to the support and having a mating stem that extends into the support, and a latch having a leading end that extends through the opening in the back plate and a trailing end having a mating bore that is sized to receive the mating stem of the end cap. The mating bore of the latch defines a pivotal axis. The latch is configured to pivot along the pivotal axis between an open position in which the moveable member is moveable in the cabinet and a closed position in which the latch prevents the moveable member from moving away from the cabinet. A locking mechanism for this type of cabinet is also provided.

A latching mechanism can secure one or more moveable members in a cabinet. The latching mechanism includes a support having a back plate mounted to the moveable member and having an opening extending therethrough, an end cap attached to the support and having a mating stem that extends into the support, and a latch having a leading end that extends through the opening in the back plate and a trailing end having a mating bore that is sized to receive the mating stem of the end cap. The mating bore of the latch defines a pivotal axis. The latch is configured to pivot along the pivotal axis between an open position in which the moveable member is moveable in the cabinet and a closed position in which the latch prevents the moveable member from moving away from the cabinet. A locking mechanism for this type of cabinet is also provided.

A drawer assembly is described that includes one or more mini-drawer assemblies. A mini-drawer assembly comprises a sliding tab along a rear-to-front axis, a release mechanism coupled to the sliding tab, and a body having a body bottom coupled from the body bottom to the sliding tab. The body may slide over the sliding tab. The mini-drawer assembly may include a plurality of compartments in the body and a plurality of lids that are hingedly coupled to the compartments. Each lid may have a respective fastening element. A plurality of latches may couple to the body such that each latch is coupled to a corresponding compartment. The latch may hold the respective fastening element of the lid. When the body is pulled out along the rear-to-front axis, the release mechanism may engage with the latch to release the respective fastening element and to unlatch the lid of the compartment.

A drawer assembly is described that includes one or more mini-drawer assemblies. A mini-drawer assembly comprises a sliding tab along a rear-to-front axis, a release mechanism coupled to the sliding tab, and a body having a body bottom coupled from the body bottom to the sliding tab. The body may slide over the sliding tab. The mini-drawer assembly may include a plurality of compartments in the body and a plurality of lids that are hingedly coupled to the compartments. Each lid may have a respective fastening element. A plurality of latches may couple to the body such that each latch is coupled to a corresponding compartment. The latch may hold the respective fastening element of the lid. When the body is pulled out along the rear-to-front axis, the release mechanism may engage with the latch to release the respective fastening element and to unlatch the lid of the compartment.

A lock with a handle assembly and a lock articulating assembly. The handle assembly has a handle member and a lock assembly. The handle member has a central bore and a locking plug groove. The lock assembly has a lock arm with a body positionable within the central bore. The body includes a central bore and a radial bore which is alignable with the locking plug groove. The lock assembly further has an outward locking plug configured to translate along the radial bore and selectively into the locking plug groove. The lock articulating assembly includes a slider (or a second cam), an actuator, a cam coupled to a motor. The cam is selectively engageable with the slider to rotate and/or translate the slider. The actuator is coupled to the slider, so that movement to the slider imparts movement of the actuator.

A drawer assembly includes a member having a first locking element. A drawer includes a frame and a handle. The handle includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is coupled to the frame. The second portion is coupled to the first portion. A drawer release includes a first end and a second end. The drawer release is rotatably coupled to the drawer. The first end includes a second locking element. The second portion is rotatable relative to the first portion to move the drawer release from a first orientation in which the second locking element directly engages the first locking element to prevent the drawer from sliding relative to the member to a second orientation in which the second locking element is spaced apart from the first locking element to allow the drawer to slide relative to the member. Systems and methods of use are disclosed.

A drawer assembly includes a member having a first locking element. A drawer includes a frame and a handle. The handle includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is coupled to the frame. The second portion is coupled to the first portion. A drawer release includes a first end and a second end. The drawer release is rotatably coupled to the drawer. The first end includes a second locking element. The second portion is rotatable relative to the first portion to move the drawer release from a first orientation in which the second locking element directly engages the first locking element to prevent the drawer from sliding relative to the member to a second orientation in which the second locking element is spaced apart from the first locking element to allow the drawer to slide relative to the member. Systems and methods of use are disclosed.

A container is disclosed that has a housing and a lid. The lid has a planar portion and a latch that is freely movable parallel to the planar portion of the lid. The latch has a retention feature and a first reference surface that is perpendicular to the planar portion of the lid. There is a latch mechanism coupled to the housing that has an engagement element configured to engage the retention feature of the latch and a first alignment feature having a first alignment surface. The first alignment feature is configured to laterally displace the latch in a first direction such that the first reference surface aligns with the first alignment surface when the lid is brought together with the housing with the fastener laterally displaced away from the engagement element in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction.

A container is disclosed that has a housing and a lid. The lid has a planar portion and a latch that is freely movable parallel to the planar portion of the lid. The latch has a retention feature and a first reference surface that is perpendicular to the planar portion of the lid. There is a latch mechanism coupled to the housing that has an engagement element configured to engage the retention feature of the latch and a first alignment feature having a first alignment surface. The first alignment feature is configured to laterally displace the latch in a first direction such that the first reference surface aligns with the first alignment surface when the lid is brought together with the housing with the fastener laterally displaced away from the engagement element in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction.