Vehicle glove box adapted to receive and power electrical equipment

• US 5,808,373 A
• Filed: 03/10/1997
• Issued: 09/15/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd. (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Harness System Technologies Research, Ltd. (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamagishi, Hiroshi, Hamanishi, Nobutaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Elms, Richard T.
• Application Number:
  US08/814,109
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1, 307/10.1-10.5, 307/10.8, 362/80, 315/77, 315/84, 340/458, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 280/202, 219/202, 37/366, 224/400, 439/374
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/50 Instruments characterised by their means of attachment to or integration in the vehicle B60K35/231 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/00 Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0252 for personal computers, e.g. laptops, notebooks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0207 Wire harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0005 Dashboard
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0073 using key-type connections
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0082 collapsible, e.g. for storing after use
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0094 characterised by means for covering after user, e.g. boxes, shutters or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/06 mounted on or below dashboards

Abstract

Various electric equipment which are increasing more and more are accommodated in a glove box. The accommodating means has such a structure in which a computer C, a cellular telephone T and the like are fitted on rails provided on a glove box cover. By the fitting of those equipments, power sources and signals can be delivered (supplied) between the electric equipment and other various equipment provided in an instrument panel through connectors and cords. The delivery is performed under distribution and processing in a conversion substrate. A glove box lamp is attached to a substrate on a opening of the glove box so as to be connected to the current conduction path. A switch for turning on/off the glove box lamp is further attached to the substrate so as to be connected to the current conduction path. Respective lead wires of wire harness W/H are connected directly to the current conduction path of the substrate without interposition of any connector.

Claims

1. A vehicle glove box structure which is provided in a front portion in a vehicle, comprising:

a first glove box provided in an instrument panel, said first glove box including at least one item of electric equipment in an inside thereof, said first glove box being detachably connected to said instrument panel so as to be replaced by a second glove box which has the same dimensions as that of said first glove box.

2. A vehicle glove box structure according to claim 1, further comprising:

attaching means for detachably attaching said at least one item of electric equipment to said first glove box;

connection means for receiving power sources and signals for said at least one item of electric equipment in said first glove box from other equipment provided outside said glove box; and

distribution means for distributing said power sources and signals to said at least one item of electric equipment;

wherein said attaching means, said connection means and said distribution means are provided in said first glove box.

3. A vehicle glove box structure according to claim 2,

wherein said power sources and signals for said at least one item of electric equipments provided in said glove box are supplied from an instrument panel side.

4. A vehicle glove box structure according to claim 3, wherein said attaching means comprises;

a first rail provided with said first glove box; and

a second rail provided with said at least one item of electric equipments, said second rail is engaged with said first rail.

5. A vehicle glove box structure according to claim 3,

wherein said at least one item of electric equipment includes at least one of a computer, a cellular telephone and a transceiver.

6. A vehicle glove box structure according to claim 3,

wherein the inside of said first glove box is supplied with heat from a radiator.

7. An attachment structure of a car glove box lamp, comprising:

a substrate having said glove box lamp and a switch for turning on/off said lamp, said substrate comprising a printed wiring board and said substrate being attached in a glove box;

a current conduction path provided on said substrate; and

at least one lead wire of a wire harness being directly connected to said current conduction path of said substrate.

8. An attachment structure of a car glove box lamp according to claim 7,

wherein said wire harness connected to said current conduction path of said substrate is constituted by a flat harness.

9. An attachment structure of a car glove box lamp, comprising:

a resinous protector attached to an inside wall of a car glove box, said protector having said glove box lamp and a switch for turning on/off said lamp attached to a side wall thereof and said protector forming a channel; and

a wire harness constituted by ribbon jumper wires and inserted into the channel of said protector;

wherein a part of said ribbon jumper wires is connected to said lamp and to said switch.