Reinforcing support incorporated into a glove box retaining structure located proximate a pivot actuating handle mechanism

• US 7,422,261 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2006
• Issued: 09/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Atsushi, Zellner, Kerry Scott Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): LYJAK, LORI LYNN
• Application Number:
  US11/348,394
• Publication Number:
  US 20070205624A1
• Time in Patent Office: 946 Days
• Field of Search: 296/37.8, 296/37.12, 224/483
• 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

Abstract

A pivotally actuated glove box mounted within a vehicle dashboard and exhibiting reinforcing support proximate a mounting location of an exterior handle mechanism. A volume-holding bin includes an inner panel secured to locations associated with the bin. Projecting portions defined upon an opposite surface of the inner panel align with selected inwardly directed support ribs associated with an outer panel and which is vibrational welded with said inner panel along contact locations established between said panels. The placement of the projecting portions coincides with the contact locations associated those inwardly directed support ribs of the outer panel which are proximate the location of a handle mechanism secured to an exposed face of the outer panel and which, upon actuating the handle mechanism, prevent damage to the inwardly contacting edges of the outer panel structural rib supports.

Claims

1. A reinforcing structure incorporated into an openable/closable glove box mounted within a vehicle dashboard, comprising:

a three-dimensional and volume-holding bin;

an inner panel secured to locations associated with said bin, said inner panel exhibiting an exposed plurality of support ribs;

an outer panel substantially matching said inner panel in overall configuration and including a further plurality of support ribs opposing said support ribs of said inner panel, said inner and outer panels being welded together along contact locations established between said support ribs, said outer panel exhibiting an exposed face when the bin is mounted within the dashboard; and

a handle mechanism securing to said exposed face of said outer panel, proximate to at least one welded rib location established between said inner and outer panels and which further comprises an additional support rib extending between said outer and inner panels proximate said handle mechanism.

2. The reinforcing structure as described in claim 1, further comprising first and second pairs of tab-shaped projections being formed in spaced apart fashion upon said inner panel, said additional support rib extending from said outer panel and seating within gap locations defined between said pairs of tab-shaped projections, at which said additional support rib is welded to said inner panel.

3. The reinforcing structure as described in claim 2, said pairs of tab-shaped projections being formed in vertically aligned and horizontally spaced fashion during an injection molding process for creating said inner panel.

4. The reinforcing structure as described in claim 1, said exposed surface of said outer panel further comprising a recessed area against which is mounted said handle mechanism, at least one fastener inserting through an inside surface of said outer panel and engaging a support associated with said handle.

5. The reinforcing structure as described in claim 4, said handle mechanism further comprising, a rotating lever biasingly secured to said support, an angled projection defined on said lever in opposite fashion with regards to a grasping portion, a stop projecting from said support and defining a substantially unlatching condition associated with said handle.

6. The reinforcing structure 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.

7. The reinforcing structure as described in claim 6, said bin further comprising at least one side projecting support adapted to contact said dash upon outward pivoting of said glove box and in order to define a fully opened condition.

8. The reinforcing structure as described in claim 1, each of said inner and outer panels further comprising a grid of interconnecting support ribs, selected contact locations established within web locations of said inner panel support grid defining vibratory weld points for securing corresponding inwardly directed rib supports of said outer panel.

9. The reinforcing structure as described in claim 8, said contact locations further comprising collar shaped portions defined within said exposed web locations of said inner panel.

10. 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.

11. A pivotally actuating glove box mounted within a vehicle dashboard and exhibiting reinforcing support proximate a mounting location of a handle mechanism, comprising:

a three-dimensional and volume-holding bin;

an inner panel secured to locations associated with said bin, at least one projecting portion defined upon a surface of said inner panel and in a direction opposite said bin;

an outer panel substantially matching said inner panel in overall configuration and including a plurality of support ribs contacting said inner panel, said inner and outer panels being welded together along contact locations established between said panels, placement of said projecting portions coinciding with contact locations associated with at least one inwardly directed support rib of said outer panel; and

the handle mechanism securing to an exposed face of said outer panel, proximate to an additional support rib extending between said outer and inner panels.

12. The glove box as described in claim 11, further comprising first and second pairs of tab-shaped projections being formed in spaced apart fashion upon said inner panel, said additional support rib extending from said outer panel and seating within gap locations defined between said pairs of tab-shaped projections, at which said additional support rib is welded to said inner panel.

13. The glove box as described in claim 12, said pairs of tab-shaped projections being formed in vertically aligned and horizontally spaced fashion during an injection molding process for creating said inner panel.

14. The glove box as described in claim 11, said exposed surface of said outer panel further comprising a recessed area against which is mounted the handle mechanism, at least one fastener inserting through an inside surface of said outer panel and engaging a support associated with the handle.

15. The glove box as described in claim 14, the handle mechanism further including a rotating lever biasingly secured to the support, an angled projection defined on the lever in opposite fashion with regards to a grasping portion, a stop portion projecting from the support and defining a substantially unlatching condition associated with the handle.

16. The glove box as described in claim 11, said inner panel further comprising hinge supports extending along a lower surface thereof and which are adapted to secure said bin in pivoting fashion within the vehicle dashboard.

17. The glove box as described in claim 16, said bin further comprising at least one side projecting support adapted to contact the dash upon outward pivoting of said bin and in order to define a fully opened condition.

18. The glove box as described in claim 11, each of said inner and outer panels further comprising a grid of interconnecting support ribs, selected contact locations established within web locations of said inner panel support grid defining vibratory weld points for securing corresponding inwardly directed rib supports of said outer panel.

19. The glove box as described in claim 18, said contact locations further comprising collar shaped portions defined within said exposed web locations of said inner panel.

20. The glove box as described in claim 11, 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.