Latch mechanism for glove box door

• US 5,823,583 A
• Filed: 12/29/1995
• Issued: 10/20/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NYX Incorporated
• Original Assignee: NYX Incorporated
• Inventors: Lilov, Lev, Sandhu, Chain
• Primary Examiner(s): Lindsey, Rodney M.
• Application Number:
  US08/581,161
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• Field of Search: 292/175, 292/173, 292/DIG. 38, 292/DIG. 31, 292/DIG. 64, 292/169, 292/165
• US Class Current: 292/173
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 13/002 locking the handle E05B13/10, E05B47/0657 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/30 for glove compartments
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/18 a longitudinal grip part being pivoted about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the grip part
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 1/145 flush
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/31 Lever operator, flush
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0971 Cam and lever
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0994 Lever

Abstract

A glove box door latching assembly comprises a latching mechanism including three plastic molded parts and a spring. The mechanism includes an offset latch member which allows positioning of the mechanism closely adjacent a longitudinal end of a glove box door. The assembly also includes a lock tube formed integrally therewith for receiving a locking mechanism. The lock tube is flush with the front face of the mechanism to allow the lock tube to be covered by the glove box door if the locking feature is not desired. The universal latch assembly design is widely applicable to various glove box door assemblies.

Claims

1. A latch mechanism for securing a vehicle glove box door relative to an adjoining panel surface, said door having first and second longitudinal ends, said latch mechanism comprising:

a body having first and second longitudinal ends, and forming a transverse channel through the body at one of said ends of said body and further having at least one mounting flange positioned for attachment to the door;

a latch member slidably disposed in said channel;

a handle pivotally mounted on said body for movement between latched and unlatched positions, said handle including an axle member extending longitudinally with respect to said body, and said handle further including a lever arm extending radially from said axle member for engagement with said latch member; and

a biasing member positioned with respect to said handle and said body for biasing said handle toward the latched position.

2. The latch mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a lock tube formed integrally with said body adjacent said channel to facilitate locking of the latch mechanism.

3. The latch mechanism of claim 1, wherein the latch mechanism comprises no more than three plastic parts and a spring.

4. The latch mechanism of claim 1, wherein said body forming a pair of receiving apertures at said longitudinal ends of said body for receiving said axle member.

5. The latch mechanism of claim 1, wherein each of said mounting flanges forms an aperture therethrough for attachment of said body to the door.

6. The latch mechanism of claim 2, wherein said lock tube being disposed flush with said handle whereby to allow the lock tube to be disposed in a hidden position behind the door if the lock tube is not required.

7. The latch mechanism of claim 1, wherein said latch member forming a slot for engagement with said lever arm.

8. The latch mechanism of claim 2, further comprising a locking mechanism secured within said lock tube for selective locking engagement with said latch member.

17. The latch mechanism of claim 1, wherein only said handle is aesthetically comparable in color to the glove box door, whereby to reduce manufacturing costs.

9. A latch mechanism for securing a vehicle glove box door relative to an adjoining panel surface, said door having first and second longitudinal ends, said latch mechanism comprising:

a body having first and second longitudinal ends, and forming a transverse channel through the body at one of said ends of said body, and further having at least one mounting flange positioned for attachment to the door;

a latch member slidably disposed in said channel;

a handle pivotally mounted on said body for movement between latched and unlatched positions, said handle including an axle member and a lever arm extending radially from said axle member for engagement with said latch member;

a biasing member positioned on said body for biasing said handle toward the latched position; and

a lock tube formed integrally with said body adjacent said channel.

10. The latch mechanism of claim 9, wherein the latch mechanism comprises no more than three plastic parts and a spring.

11. The latch mechanism of claim 9, wherein said body forming a pair of receiving apertures at said longitudinal ends of said body for receiving said axle member.

12. The latch mechanism of claim 9, wherein each of said mounting flanges forms an aperture therethrough for attachment to the door.

13. The latch mechanism of claim 9, wherein said lock tube being disposed flush with said handle whereby to allow the lock tube to be disposed in a hidden position behind the door if the lock tube is not required.

14. The latch mechanism of claim 9, wherein said latch member forming a slot for engagement with said lever arm.

15. The latch mechanism of claim 9, further comprising a locking mechanism secured within said lock tube for selective locking engagement with said latch member.

16. A latch mechanism for securing a vehicle glove box door in a flush position relative to an adjoining panel surface, said door having first and second longitudinal ends, said latch mechanism comprising:

a body having first and second longitudinal ends, and forming a transverse channel through the body at one of said ends of said body, and further having at least one mounting flange positioned for attachment to the door, said body further including a pair of receiving apertures formed thereon at said longitudinal ends of said body;

a latch member slidably disposed in said channel, said latch member forming a slot therein;

a handle pivotally mounted on said body, said handle including an axle member extending longitudinally with respect to said body and engageable within said receiving apertures, and said handle further including a lever arm extending radially outward from said axle member for engagement within said latch member slot;

a spring positioned with respect to said handle and said body for biasing said handle toward a latched position;

said body further comprising a lock tube formed integrally therewith adjacent said channel to facilitate locking of the latch mechanism, said lock tube being disposed flush with said handle whereby to allow the lock tube to be disposed in a hidden position behind the door if the lock tube is not required;

said latch mechanism comprising no more than three plastic parts; and

whereby to facilitate positioning of said latch mechanism closely adjacent one of said longitudinal ends of said door.