Glove box door assembly

• US 20040262937A1
• Filed: 06/27/2003
• Published: 12/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Automotive Components Group North America (Lear Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Mikhjian, Sarkis B., Delong, Aaron M., Peck, John F. Jr., Righter, David E.
• Granted Patent: US 6,945,579 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/37.12
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/06 mounted on or below dashboards

Abstract

A glove box door assembly for a glove box provided in an opening of an instrument panel of a vehicle defining an engagement surface includes a door body rotatably attached to an instrument panel of a vehicle about an axis of rotation. The door body has an inner surface and an outer surface. A bin extends outwardly from the inner surface of the door body, and includes an outer wall. A damper extends outwardly from the outer wall of the bin, and includes a damper surface. The glove box door assembly is movable between a closed position and an open position. The damper surface is disposed at an acute angle relative to a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation, and engages an engagement surface of an opening of the instrument panel to decelerate the glove box door assembly when the glove box door assembly moves from the closed position to the open position.

Claims

1. A glove box door assembly for a glove box provided in an opening of an instrument panel of a vehicle defining an engagement surface, the glove box door assembly comprising:

a door body rotatably attached to an instrument panel of a vehicle about an axis of rotation, the door body having an inner surface and an outer surface;

a bin extending outwardly from the inner surface of the door body, the bin having an outer wall; and

a damper extending outwardly from the outer wall of the bin, the damper including a damper surface;

wherein the glove box door assembly is movable between a closed position and an open position;

wherein the damper surface is disposed at an acute angle relative to a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation; and

wherein the damper surface engages an engagement surface of an opening of the instrument panel to decelerate the glove box door assembly when the glove box door assembly moves from the closed position to the open position.

2. The glove box door assembly according to claim 1, wherein the engagement surface of the opening of the instrument panel flexes when the door assembly moves from the closed position to the open position.

3. The glove box door assembly according to claim 1, wherein the damper surface flexes when the door assembly moves from the closed position to the open position.

4. The glove box door assembly according to claim 1, wherein the damper surface frictionally engages the engagement surface of the opening of the instrument panel to decelerate the glove box door assembly when the door assembly moves from the closed position to the open position.

5. The glove box door assembly according to claim 1, further including a reinforcement panel disposed between the door body and the bin.

6. The glove box door assembly according to claim 1, further including a stop extending outwardly from the outer wall of the bin, the stop including a stop surface, such that in the open position, the engagement surface of the stop engages an inner surface of the instrument panel.

7. The glove box door assembly according to claim 6, wherein the stop is integrally formed with the outer wall of the bin.

8. The glove box door assembly according to claim 1, wherein the damper comprises a plurality of substantially parallel ribs.

9. A glove box door assembly for a glove box provided in an opening of an instrument panel of a vehicle defining an engagement surface, the glove box door assembly comprising:

a door body rotatably attached to an instrument panel of a vehicle about an axis of rotation, the door body having an inner surface and an outer surface;

a bin extending outwardly from the inner surface of the door body, the bin having an outer wall; and

a damper integrally formed with and extending outwardly from the outer wall of the bin, the damper including a damper surface;

wherein the glove box door assembly is movable between a closed position and an open position;

wherein the damper surface is disposed at an acute angle relative to a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation; and

wherein the damper surface engages an engagement surface of an opening of the instrument panel when the door assembly is moved between the closed position and the open position.

10. The glove box door assembly according to claim 9, wherein the damper surface engages the engagement surface of the opening of the instrument panel to decelerate the glove box door assembly when the door assembly moves from the closed position to the open position.

11. The glove box door assembly according to claim 9, wherein the engagement surface of the opening of the instrument panel flexes when the door assembly moves from the closed position to the open position.

12. The glove box door assembly according to claim 9, wherein the damper surface flexes when the door assembly moves from the closed position to the open position.

13. The glove box door assembly according to claim 9, wherein the damper surface frictionally engages the engagement surface of the opening of the instrument panel to decelerate the glove box door assembly when the door assembly moves from the closed position to the open position.

14. The glove box door assembly according to claim 9, further including a reinforcement panel disposed between the door body and the bin.

15. The glove box door assembly according to claim 9, further including a stop extending outwardly from the outer wall of the bin, the stop including a stop surface, such that in the open position, the engagement surface of the stop engages an inner surface of the instrument panel.

16. The glove box door assembly according to claim 15, wherein the stop is integrally formed with the outer wall of the bin.

17. The glove box door assembly according to claim 9, wherein the damper comprises a plurality of substantially parallel ribs.

18. A glove box door assembly for a glove box provided in an opening of an instrument panel of a vehicle defining an engagement surface, the glove box door assembly comprising:

a door body rotatably attached to an instrument panel of a vehicle about an axis of rotation, the door body having an inner surface and an outer surface;

a bin extending outwardly from the inner surface of the door body, the bin having an outer wall; and

a stop integrally formed with and extending outwardly from the outer wall of the bin, the stop including a stop surface;

wherein the glove box door assembly is movable between a closed position and an open position; and

wherein in the open position, the engagement surface of the stop engages an inner surface of the instrument panel.

19. The glove box door assembly according to claim 18, wherein the stop comprises a plurality of substantially parallel ribs.

20. The glove box door assembly according to claim 18, wherein the stop surface is formed of a substantially resilient material.