Glove box door with integral latch mount

• US 6,164,711 A
• Filed: 05/17/1999
• Issued: 12/26/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Noble Advanced Technologies, Inc. (Noble Corporation plc)
• Original Assignee: Noble Advanced Technologies, Inc. (Noble Corporation plc)
• Inventors: Mawby, Andrew D., Neal, Gary F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan, D. Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): ENGLE, PATRICIA LYNN
• Application Number:
  US09/313,509
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 296/37.8, 296/37.12, 292/123, 292/118, 292/99, 292/223, 292/117, 292/97
• US Class Current: 296/37.12
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/06 mounted on or below dashboards
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/30 for glove compartments
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/02 Lock casings
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 3/24 in the form of a bifurcated member automatic catches with a bifurcated latch E05C19/024; locks with a bifurcated bolt E05B65/0046, E05B85/243
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0929 Link and lever
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0948 Closure

Abstract

A monolithic glove box door having a panel and a release assembly mount integral with the panel. The release assembly mount is adapted to couple a glove box latching mechanism to the panel for movement relative thereto as well as including an aperture adapted to receive a glove box handle for movement relative to the panel.

Claims

1. A door for use in a glove box assembly that is connectable to the instrument panel of a vehicle and includes a latching mechanism and a handle mechanism, the handle mechanism being connectable to the latching mechanism to move the latching mechanism between a latched position wherein the latching mechanism is adapted to fix the door in a closed position relative to the housing and an unlatched position wherein the door is movable relative to the instrument panel, said door comprising:

a monolithic panel having a latch mount integral with a panel member, said latch mount adapted to movably couple the latching mechanism to the panel member, said latch mount including a mounting stand having a pair of upstanding side walls integral with said panel member, a top integral with said side walls and a catch mount integral with said top, said catch mount having a hub assembly with a mounting aperture adapted to receive a pin to couple the latching mechanism to said latch mount.

2. The door of claim 1 wherein said hub assembly includes a pair of opposed support hubs each having first and second columns, each of said first columns including a rearward face, each of said second columns including a forward face, said rearward faces of said pair of opposed support hubs opposing said forward faces thereof to define a striker recess therebetween.

3. The door of claim 2 wherein said mounting aperture extends through each of said first columns.

4. The door of claim 1 wherein said top is spaced from said panel member to define a first cavity between said top and said panel member.

5. The door of claim 4 wherein said mounting stand further includes a front wall integral with said side walls, said top, and said panel, said front wall having a passage communicating with said first cavity and adapted to receive a connecting rod for operably coupling the handle mechanism to the latching mechanism.

6. The door of claim 5 wherein said each of said side walls include a pivot pin aperture to pivotably couple a pawl to the stand, the pawl being adapted to operably interconnect the connecting rod to a rotary catch.

7. The door of claim 4 wherein said stand further includes a second cavity passing through said top and communicating with said first cavity.

8. The door of claim 7 wherein said latch mount further includes opposed guide tabs extending from said top adjacent said second cavity.

9. The door of claim 1 wherein said monolithic panel further includes a handle mount integral with said panel member.

10. The door of claim 9 wherein said integral handle mount defines a handle cavity adapted to receive a handle for movement therewithin and an aperture adapted to receive a pivot pin to couple a handle to said panel.

11. The door of claim 1 wherein said latch mount includes a mounting stand integral with said panel member, said mounting stand including a mounting surface spaced from said panel member, said latch mount further including a catch mount integral with said mounting surface.

12. A glove box connectable to an instrument panel of an automobile, the instrument panel having a striker, said glove box comprising:

a door adapted for pivotable connection to the instrument panel for movement between an opened position and a closed position, said door including a monolithic panel having a panel member, a latch mount, and a handle mount, said latch mount including a mounting stand having a mounting surface spaced from said panel member, a pair of upstanding side walls integral with the panel, a top integral with the side walls and spaced from said panel member to define said mounting surface, a first cavity between said top and said panel member and a catch mount integral with the top and having a hub with a mounting aperture formed in said hub;

a latching mechanism coupled to said latch mount for movement between a latched position wherein said latching mechanism is adapted to secure the door in a fixed position relative to the instrument panel and an unlatched position wherein the door is movable relative to the instrument panel; and

a handle mechanism coupled to said handle mount for movement between a released position and an actuated position, said handle mechanism operatively connected to said latching mechanism to move said latching mechanism into said unlatched position when said handle mechanism is placed in said released position.

13. The glove box of claim 12 wherein the catch mount includes a pair of opposed support hubs each having first and second columns, each of said first columns including a rearward face, each of said second columns including a forward face, said rearward face of said pair of opposed support hubs opposing said forward faces thereof to define a striker recess therebetween.

14. The glove box of claim 12 wherein said latch mount further includes a front wall integral with said upstanding side walls and said top, said front wall having an opening and wherein said latching mechanism includes a connecting rod disposed in said opening and operatively connecting said catch to said handle mechanism.

15. The glove box of claim 14 wherein said latching mechanism further includes a pawl operatively coupling said connecting rod to said catch, said pawl having a mounting pin pivotably coupling said pawl to said upstanding side walls.

16. The glove box of claim 15 wherein said catch is pivotably coupled to said mounting aperture in said hub and wherein said mounting stand further includes a second cavity passing through said top and communicating with said first cavity, said pawl being operably coupled to said connecting rod in said first cavity and extending into said second cavity for operable coupling to said catch.

17. The glove box of claim 12 wherein said integral handle mount defines a handle cavity and wherein said handle mechanism includes a handle disposed in said handle cavity and a pivot pin pivotably connecting the handle to the handle mount.

18. An automobile comprising:

an automobile body having an instrument panel and a striker fixed to said instrument panel;

a glove box door pivotably connected to the instrument panel for movement between an opened position and a closed position, said glove box door including a monolithic door panel having a panel member, a latch mount and a handle mount, said latch mount including a mounting stand having a pair of upstanding side walls integral with said panel member, a top integral with said side walls and a catch mount integral with said top and having a hub assembly with a mounting aperture adapted to receive a pin to couple the latching mechanism to the latch mount;

a latch mechanism coupled to said latch mount for movement between a latched position wherein said latch secures the door in a fixed position relative to the instrument panel and an unlatched position wherein the door is movable relative to the instrument panel; and

a handle mechanism coupled to the handle mount for movement between a released position and an actuated position, said handle mechanism operatively connected to said latching mechanism to move said latching mechanism into said unlatched position when said handle mechanism is placed in said released position.

19. A method for making a glove box door comprising the steps of:

forming a monolithic panel having a panel member, a latch mount including a pair of upstanding side walls integral with said panel member, a top integral with said side walls, and a catch mount integral with said top and having a hub with said aperture and a handle mount integral therewith;

connecting a latch mechanism to said latch mount, said latch mechanism coupled to said latch mount for movement between a latched position and an unlatched position; and

connecting a handle mechanism to the handle mount for movement relative thereto between an engaged and released position, said handle mechanism in operative engagement with the latch to move said latch between said latched and unlatched positions.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said latch mount includes an aperture, the latch mechanism includes a rotary catch with a pivot pin and the step of coupling the latch mechanism to the latch mount includes inserting the pivot pin through said aperture to couple the latch mechanism to the latch mount.