Downstop for glovebox

• US 10,625,681 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2018
• Issued: 04/21/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Liu, Frank Qiukui, Cousino, David L., Gillis, Francis Raymond
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Kiran B
• Application Number:
  US15/972,482
• Publication Number:
  US 20190337459A1
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/06 mounted on or below dashboards
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 5/06 Buffers or stops limiting opening of swinging wings, e.g. floor or wall stopsE05F5/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/224 Stops
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/41 Concealed
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/404 against component faults or failure
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/676 Plastics
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/538 Interior lids

Abstract

A vehicle glovebox includes a bin rotationally operable within a housing. A downstop is defined within the housing. The downstop is in a blocking position and engages the bin to define a fully open position of the bin. The downstop is operable to a release position that defines rotation of the bin beyond the fully open position.

Claims

1. A vehicle glovebox, comprising:

a bin rotationally operable within a housing; and

a downstop defined within the housing, wherein

the downstop in a blocking position engages the bin to define a fully open position of the bin, wherein

the downstop is operable to a release position that defines rotation of the bin beyond the fully open position, wherein the housing comprises a frame, wherein

the downstop is attached to the frame, wherein the downstop comprises a first flange and a second flange, and wherein the second flange is transverse to the first flange.

2. The vehicle glovebox of claim 1, wherein a reinforced position of the downstop is defined by an outward deflection of the first flange of the downstop of a first distance from the blocking position and a downward deflection of the second flange of the downstop of a second distance from the blocking position.

3. The vehicle glovebox of claim 2, wherein the release position of the downstop is defined by an inward deflection of the downstop of a third distance from the blocking position.

4. The vehicle glovebox of claim 2, wherein the reinforcing position of the bin is defined by a downward force applied to the bin when the bin is in the fully open position.

5. The vehicle glovebox of claim 4, wherein the frame includes a brace, the second flange includes an interlock feature, and the brace supports the interlock feature in the reinforced position and limits the outward deflection of the first flange to the first distance.

6. The vehicle glovebox of claim 5, wherein the first flange engages a back wall of the bin in the blocking position when the bin is in the fully open position and wherein, when the bin is in the reinforcing position, the first flange engages the bin and the interlock feature of the second flange engages the brace.

7. The vehicle glovebox of claim 5, wherein a back wall of the bin engages a rear surface of the first flange in the fully open position and the reinforcing position and wherein a bottom surface of the interlock feature engages the brace in the reinforcing position.

8. The vehicle glovebox of claim 4, wherein the downstop is moved to the reinforcing position upon application of a first force upon the downstop and in a direction substantially normal to and toward a rear surface of the first flange, wherein the first force has a first magnitude, and wherein the downstop is moved to the release position upon application of a second force upon a front surface of the first flange and in a direction generally opposed to the first force and toward an interior of the frame, wherein the second force has a second magnitude, and wherein the first magnitude is greater than the second magnitude.

9. The vehicle glovebox of claim 4, wherein the first flange is a substantially rigid member that rotates about a first living hinge and wherein the second flange is a substantially rigid member that rotates around a second living hinge.

10. The vehicle glovebox of claim 9, wherein the second living hinge is disposed proximate a ceiling of the frame.

11. The vehicle glovebox of claim 4, wherein a ridge extends from the first flange to the second flange.

12. The vehicle glovebox of claim 4, wherein, when the downstop is in the release position, the first flange is at least partially disposed within the interior of the frame and the bin is adapted to bypass the frame to define a removal position of the bin, wherein the bin is removable from the frame in the removal position.

13. A vehicle, comprising:

a housing disposed within a dashboard;

a bin rotationally operable within the housing; and

a downstop integral to the housing and protruding into the bin, wherein the downstop is operable between a blocking position that engages the bin in a fully open position, a release position wherein the bin is selectively removable from the housing, and a reinforced position wherein a first flange of the downstop operably engages the bin and a second flange of the downstop operably engages a brace of the housing for limiting over rotation of the bin, wherein the housing comprises a frame, and wherein the downstop is integral to the frame, and wherein the reinforced position of the downstop is defined by an outward deflection of the first flange of a first distance from the blocking position and a downward deflection of the second flange of a second distance from the blocking position, wherein the release position of the downstop is defined by an inward deflection of the first flange of a third distance from the blocking position, and wherein the third distance from the blocking position is greater than the first distance from the blocking position.

14. A glovebox, comprising:

a housing;

a bin having an interior; and

a downstop protruding from the housing into the interior, wherein the bin is rotationally coupled to the housing, and wherein the downstop comprises a first flange and a second flange, wherein the first flange is selectively and alternatively positionable in release, blocking, and reinforced positions relative to the bin, and wherein the second flange is selectively and alternatively positionable in release, blocking, and reinforced positions relative to a brace of the housing, wherein the housing comprises a frame including the downstop and the brace, and wherein the frame, the downstop, and the brace are an integrally molded part.