Vehicle glove box door incorporating variations in rib structure for adjusting impact deformation proximate to respective knee and hand hit areas

• US 20070182145A1
• Filed: 02/07/2006
• Published: 08/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation
• Inventors: Penner, Benjamin
• Granted Patent: US 7,513,528 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/752
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/055 Padded or energy-absorbing fittings , e.g. seat belt anchors sun visors B60J3/00; head rests B60N2/80
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/06 mounted on or below dashboards

Abstract

A glove box assembly exhibiting controlled deformation characteristics and including a three-dimensional and volume holding bin. A door includes an inner panel incorporating a variety of stiffening and supporting ribs projecting in a substantially grid-shaped fashion and along specified areas of the inner panel associated with an occupant knee impact zone. Additional uninterrupted surfaces are separated by the ribs and create softer hand impact zones. An outer panel substantially matches the inner panel in overall configuration and, upon being vibrationally welded to the inner panel along selected ribs, exhibits an exposed face defining the knee and hand impact zones when the glove box assembly is recess mounted within a vehicle dashboard.

Claims

1. A vehicle dashboard mounted glove box exhibiting controlled deformation characteristics, comprising:

a three-dimensional and volume holding bin;

an inner panel secured to locations associated with said bin, said panel exhibiting an exposed face, a plurality of stiffening and supporting ribs projecting in substantially grid-shaped fashion along at least a portion of said exposed face; and

an outer panel substantially matching said inner panel in overall configuration and, upon being welded to said inner panel along contact locations established between said support ribs and an inner surface of said outer panel, establishing a glove box door with an exposed face when said bin is mounted within the dashboard;

arrangement of said support ribs associated with said inner panel causing varying deformation characteristics of said door, and proximate to respective hand and knee contact zones of an occupant impacting the door.

2. The glove box as described in claim 1, said exposed surface of said outer panel further comprising a recessed area against which is mounted a handle mechanism.

3. The glove box as described in claim 1, said inner panel further comprising hinge supports extending along a lower surface thereof and which are adapted to secure the glove box in pivoting fashion within the vehicle dashboard.

4. The glove box as described in claim 1, said bin further comprising at least one side projecting support adapted to contact the dash upon outward pivoting of the glove box and in order to define a fully opened condition.

5. The glove box as described in claim 1, each of said inner and outer panels having a specified shape and size and further comprising being vibration welded together along horizontal extending ribs associated with said inner panel.

6. The glove box as described in claim 1, said exposed face of said inner panel further comprising at least one area corresponding to at least one of weakened and removed support ribs.

7. The glove box as described in claim 6, said exposed inner panel face further comprising an uninterrupted surface proximate first and second vertically extending sides, and corresponding to said hand contact zones exerted against the welded door.

8. The glove box as described in claim 7, said exposed inner panel face further comprising an upper horizontally extending and uninterrupted surface interconnecting said first and second side surfaces.

9. The glove box as described in claim 7, further comprising a sub-plurality of structurally weakened support ribs located proximate said extending side surfaces.

10. The glove box as described in claim 9, said weakened support ribs further comprising arcuately recessed configurations extending vertically and between successively spaced and horizontally interconnecting support ribs.

11. The reinforcing structure as described in claim 1, each of said bin, inner panel and outer panel having a specified shape and size and being constructed of a plasticized material in an injection molded process.

12. The glove box as described in claim 11, further comprising a plurality of ejector bosses configured within web locations along said inner panel interconnecting said grid-shaped support ribs.

13. A door incorporated into a dashboard mounted glove box assembly, said door exhibiting controlled deformation characteristics and comprising:

an inner panel incorporating a plurality of stiffening and supporting ribs projecting in substantially grid-shaped fashion along at least selected portions of said inner panel; and

an outer panel substantially matching said inner panel in overall configuration and being vibrationally welded to said inner panel along at least a sub-plurality of horizontally extending ribs, said outer panel exhibiting an exposed face when said glove box assembly is recess mounted within the dashboard;

arrangement of said support ribs associated with said inner panel causing varying deformation characteristics of said door, and proximate to respective hand and knee contact zones of an occupant impacting the door.

14. The glove box door as described in claim 13, said exposed face of said inner panel further comprising at least one area corresponding to at least one of weakened and removed support ribs.

15. The glove box door as described in claim 14, said exposed inner panel face further comprising an uninterrupted surface proximate first and second vertically extending sides, and corresponding to said hand contact zones exerted against the welded door.

16. The glove box door as described in claim 15, said exposed inner panel face further comprising an upper horizontally extending and uninterrupted surface interconnecting said first and second side surfaces.

17. The glove box door as described in claim 15, further comprising a sub-plurality of structurally weakened support ribs located proximate said extending side surfaces.

18. The glove box as described in claim 17, said weakened support ribs further comprising arcuately recessed configurations extending vertically and between successively spaced and horizontally interconnecting support ribs.

19. The reinforcing structure as described in claim 13, each of said bin, inner panel and outer panel having a specified shape and size and being constructed of a plasticized material in an injection molded process.

20. A glove box assembly exhibiting controlled deformation characteristics and comprising:

a three-dimensional and volume holding bin;

a door comprising an inner panel incorporating a variety of stiffening and supporting ribs projecting in a substantially grid-shaped fashion and along selected portions of said inner panel associated with an occupant knee impact zone, additional uninterrupted surfaces separated by said ribs, creating softer hand impact zones; and

an outer panel substantially matching said inner panel in overall configuration and being vibrationally welded to said inner panel along selected ribs, said outer panel exhibiting an exposed face defining said knee and hand impact zones when said glove box assembly is recess mounted within a vehicle dashboard.