Glove box structure

• US 5,868,448 A
• Filed: 12/05/1996
• Issued: 02/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
• Inventors: Izumo, Norifumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Pedder, Dennis H.
• Application Number:
  US08/760,560
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: 296/37.1, 296/37.8, 296/37.12, 224/483, 292/338, 220/335, 217/60 B, 217/60 C
• US Class Current: 296/37.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/06 mounted on or below dashboards
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/65 Braces

Abstract

A glove box structure uses clip members fixed to a glove box slidably engaging arms that extend inwardly from a lid. Resilient cam surfaces in the clip members support beads on the arms for maintaining the lid in an open position. Resilient cam surfaces flex outward to allow slidable passage of the arms and the beads when the lid is moved between the open position and a closed position. The resilient cam surfaces return inward below the beads to support the lid in its open position until additional manual force is applied to close the lid.

Claims

1. A door control structure comprising:

a face having an opening therein;

a door fittable to said opening;

means for permitting said door to rotate upward and downward between a closed position where said door covers said opening and an open position where said door exposes said opening;

at least one arcuate arm extending inward rigidly from said door for guiding said door about said center point;

said at least one arcuate arm having a bead adjacent a free end thereof;

said bead having a thickness greater than an adjacent portion of said at least one arcuate arm;

at least one clip member adjacent a side of said opening;

said at least one arcuate arm slidably engaging said clip member;

at least one cam surface in said clip member adjacent passage of said at least on arcuate arm;

said bead urging said cam surface outwardly to permit upward passage of said bead; and

said cam surface resiliently returning inwardly below said bead after upward passage of said bead to prevent downward passage of said bead under a weight of said door.

2. A structure according to claim 1, wherein:

said at least one arcuate arm includes first and second arcuate arms;

said first and second arcuate arms being parallel;

said at least one clip member includes first and second clip members;

said first and second clip members being disposed on opposing sides of said opening;

said first arcuate arm slidably engaging said first clip member; and

said second arcuate arm slidably engaging said second clip member.

3. A structure according to claim 1, wherein:

said means for permitting said door to rotate includes at least one hinge;

a first portion of said at least one hinge being mounted above said opening; and

a second portion of said at least one hinge being connected to a back side of said door.

4. A structure according to claim 1, wherein:

said free end of said at least one arcuate arm includes a stop member for preventing said door from rotating upward beyond said open position.

5. A structure according to claim 1, wherein:

said face includes a U-shaped bar fixed to said face within said opening so said U-shaped bar projects upwardly into said opening;

said door includes a locking mechanism for engaging said U-shaped bar; and

said locking mechanism and said U-shaped bar engage to hold said door in said closed position.

6. A glove box structure comprising:

a glove box;

said glove box including a front wall having an opening therein;

a lid fittable to said opening;

said lid rotatably mounted on said glove box by first and second hinges;

said first and second hinges having first portions being mounted to said glove box above said opening;

said first and second hinges having second portions being connected to a back side of said lid;

said lid rotatably mounted above said opening so said lid pivots about a center point located above said opening;

said lid rotating upward and downward between a closed position where said lid covers said opening and an open position where said lid exposes said opening;

first and second clip members being disposed on opposing sides of said opening;

first and second arcuate arms extending inward rigidly from said lid;

said first and second arcuate arms being parallel;

said first arcuate arm slidably engaging said first clip member;

said second arcuate arm slidably engaging said second clip member;

said first arcuate arm having a first bead adjacent a free end thereof;

said second arcuate arm having a second bead adjacent a free end thereof;

said first and second beads having thicknesses greater than adjacent portions of said first and second arcuate arms;

a first cam surface in said first clip member adjacent passage of said first arcuate arm;

a second cam surface in said second clip member adjacent passage of said second arcuate arm;

said first bead urging said first cam surface outwardly to permit upward passage of said first bead;

said second bead urging said second cam surface outwardly to permit upward passage of said second bead;

said first and second cam surfaces resiliently returning inwardly below said first and second beads after upward passage of said first and second beads to prevent downward passage of said first and second beads under a weight of said lid;

said first and second arcuate arms having stop members at said free ends thereof;

said stop members for preventing said lid from rotating beyond said open position;

a U-shaped bar fixed to said glove box within said opening so said U-shaped bar projects upwardly into said opening;

a locking mechanism extending through said lid; and

said locking mechanism engaging said U-shaped bar when said lid is in said closed position to hold said lid in said closed position.