Claims:We Claim:
1. A glove box assembly (100) for a vehicle interior, the glove box assembly (100) comprising:
a storage box (20) having a pivoting mechanism (30) configured between the storage box (20) and a housing (10) of an interior panel of the vehicle interior ;
the pivoting mechanism (30) adapted to move the storage box (20) from a stow position (22) to an open position (24), the pivoting mechanism (30) having four links (32,34,36 and 38) with a first pair of links (32,34) and a second pair of links (36,38) arranged on each side of the storage box (20) parallelly ;
wherein the four links (32, 34, 36, and 38) having a first end (32a, 34a, 36a, and 38a) pivotally connected to the storage box (20) and a second end (32b, 34b, 36b, and 38b) of the four links (32,34,36 and 38) are connected to the housing (10) of the interior panel of the vehicle interior;
wherein the second end (32b, 34b,36b, and 38b) of the four links (32, 34, 36, 38) are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the housing (10) of the interior panel of the vehicle interior.
2. The glove box assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second end (32b, 34b, 36b, and 38b) of the four links (32, 34,36 and 38) having a protrusion (40a, 40b, 40c, and 40d) engages with an arcuate slot (42a, 42b, 42c, and 42d) configured on the housing (10) of the interior panel of the vehicle interior, the arcuate slot (42a) restricts the movement of the storage box (20) in the open position (24).
3. The glove box assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a biasing member (50) arranged on the protrusion (40a, 40b, 40c, and 40d) of the second end (32b, 34b, 36b, and 38b) of the four links (32, 34, 36, 38 ), the biasing member (50) biases the storage box (20) in the stow position (22).

4. The glove box assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pivoting mechanism (30) is a parallelogram mechanism.

5. The glove box assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein in the stow position (22), the storage box (20) is latched inside the interior panel, and in the open position (24) the storage box (20) is accessible and moves towards a user.

6. The glove box assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a primary stopper (58a, 58b, 58c, and 58d) configured on the four links (32, 34, 36, and 38) reduces vibration in the storage box (20) in the open position (24) and a secondary stopper (60) to avoid disengagement of the link (32, 34, 36 and 38) in a y-direction.

7. The glove box assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the protrusion (40a, 40b, 40c, and 40d) of the four links (32, 34, 36, 38) moves in the arcuate slot (42a, 42b, 42c, and 42d) of the housing (10) when the storage box (20) is moved to the open position (24) or in the stow position (22) of the storage box (20).

8. The glove box assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the storage box (20) has an integral lid (26).
9. The glove box assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interior panel is the instrument panel of the vehicle interior.

10. The glove box assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a storage area of the storage box (20) is substantially same as that of the housing (10) of the interior panel of the vehicle interior.
, Description:Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a glove box assembly for a vehicle interior. More particularly, the present invention relates to a mechanism for operating a glove box assembly for a vehicle interior.

Background of the Invention

[0002] Generally, in the existing vehicles, the glove box is fixed in the instrument panel therein, which makes it difficult for a user to access. Also, the instrument panel is getting slimmer, therefore, there will be less space utilized for configuring the large size glove box, hence provides lesser space for storing articles therein. Further, the leg space cannot be changed with the fixed glove box even when the glove box is in a stowed position.

[0003] As of date, there is no such glove box that provides easy access to the user with more storage space, when the glove box is in a stowed position.

[0004] Therefore, there is a requirement of such a glove box that can overcome the limitation of the existing prior art.

Objects of the Invention
[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a glove box assembly for a vehicle interior.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide a glove box assembly for a vehicle interior, which provides more leg space for the occupant.

[0007] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a glove box assembly for a vehicle interior, which provides easy access to the user.

[0008] Further object of the present invention is to provide a glove box assembly for a vehicle interior, having better stability and equal distribution of closing forces for the left and right side of the glove box.

[0009] Further one object of the present invention is to provide a glove box assembly for a vehicle interior, having reduced stroke length of the damper.

[0010] One more object of the present invention is to provide a glove box assembly for a vehicle interior, which is robust and economical.

Summary of the invention

[0011] According to the present invention, there is provided a glove box assembly for a vehicle interior. The glove box assembly is having a storage box. The storage box having at least a bottom, and sides defining a storage area. The storage area of the storage box is substantially the same as that of the housing of the interior panel of the vehicle interior. The storage box may be connected to a housing of an interior panel of the vehicle interior. In an embodiment, the interior panel is the instrument panel of the vehicle interior. Also, the storage box may have an integral lid. A pivoting mechanism is configured between the storage box and the housing of an interior panel of the vehicle interior. The pivoting mechanism is adapted to move the storage box from a stow position to an open position. Specifically, the pivoting mechanism is adapted to swivel the storage box from the stow position to the open position. The pivoting mechanism may have four links, with a pair of two links and a pair of other two links arranged on each side of the storage box parallelly. In an embodiment, the pivoting mechanism is a parallelogram mechanism.

[0012] Also, the four links are having a first end pivotally connected to the storage box and a second end of the four links is connected to the housing. Specifically, the second end of the four links is arranged along the longitudinal direction of the housing. The second end of the four links having a protrusion engages with an arcuate slot. The arcuate slot is configured on the housing. The arcuate slot restricts the movement of the storage box in an open position. Further, the protrusion of the four links moves in the arcuate slot of the housing, when the storage box moves to the open position or in the stow position. More specifically, the protrusion of the first link moves in the arcuate slot of the housing in the open position and in a stow position of the storage box.

[0013] Upon pushing the lid of the storage box in an upward direction, the pivoting mechanism moves the storage box from the stow position to the open position. In an embodiment, in the stow position, the storage box may be latched inside the interior panel and in the open position, the storage box is accessible and moves towards the user, Also, a primary stopper may be configured on the four links to reduce the vibration in the storage box in the open position. Further, a secondary stopper may be provided to avoid the disengagement of the link in a y-direction. Moreover, a biasing member may be arranged on the protrusion of the second end of the four links. The biasing member biases the storage box in the stow position. In an embodiment, the biasing member is a torsion spring.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014] The advantages and features of the present invention will be understood better with reference to the following detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:

[0015] Figure 1a illustrates a sectional view of a glove box in an open position in accordance with the present invention;

[0016] Figure 1b illustrates a sectional view of the glove box in a stow position;

[0017] Figure 1c illustrates a sectional view of the glove box showing a first link and a fourth link;

[0018] Figure 2a is a schematic representation of an arcuate slot with a biasing member;

[0019] Figure 2b is a schematic representation of a link with a stopper and the biasing member;

[0020] Figure 2c is a schematic representation of the stopper in accordance with the present invention;

[0021] Figure 3 is a schematic representation of the glove box in the open condition; and

[0022] Figure 4 illustrates a schematic view of the connection between a third link and a fourth link.

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0023] An embodiment of this invention, illustrating its features, will now be described in detail. The words "comprising, "having, "containing," and "including," and other forms thereof, are intended to be equivalent in meaning and be open-ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items, or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items.

[0024] The terms “first,” “second,” and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another, and the terms “an” and “a” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.

[0025] The disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms.

[0026] The present invention describes a glove box assembly. The glove box is referred to as a glove compartment, which is built in an instrumental panel of the vehicle interior. Also, the glove box is often referred to as cubby-hole and jockey boxes in other parts of the world. The glove box is used for keeping the articles therein such as tissues, pens, electronic cables, and sunglasses, and the like. Further, in most of the vehicles, the glove box comes with a latch with an option of being locked with a key, thereby keeping valuables safe from valets and passers-by.

[0027] Referring now to figures 1a, 1b, and 3, a glove box assembly (100) for a vehicle interior in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. The glove box assembly (100) is having a storage box (20). The storage box (20) is connected to a housing (10) of an interior panel of the vehicle interior. The storage box (20) is having at least a bottom, and sides defining a storage area. In the present embodiment, the storage box (20) has a bottom and four sides defining a storage area, it may be obvious to a person skilled in the art to configure the storage box (20) with lesser or more side. The storage area of the storage box (20) is substantially the same as that of the housing (10). In the present embodiment, the interior panel is the instrument panel of the vehicle interior. The glove box assembly (100) is rectangular in shape. Also, the storage box (20) is having an integral lid (26). i.e. the lid (26) and the storage box (20) are molded together.

[0028] A pivoting mechanism (30) is configured between the storage box (20) and the housing (10). In the present embodiment, the pivoting mechanism (30) is a parallelogram mechanism. The pivoting mechanism (30) is adapted to move the storage box (20) from a stow position (22) to an open position (24). Specifically, the pivoting mechanism (30) is adapted to swivel the storage box (20) from the stow position (22) to the open position (24). The pivoting mechanism (30) is having four links (32,34,36 and 38) with a first pair of links (32,34) and a second pair of links (36,38) arranged on each side of the storage box (20) parallelly. Specifically, a first link (32) and a fourth link (38) is configured on a first side of the glove box assembly (100) and a second link (34) and a third link (36) is configured on a second side of the glove box assembly (100).

[0029] Further, the four links (32, 34, 36, and 38) are having a first end (32a, 34a, 36a, and 38a) pivotally connected to the storage box (20). Specifically, the first link (32) of the first pair of the link (32, 34) is having a first end (32a), which is pivotally connected with the storage box (20). Similarly, the second link (34) of the first pair of links (32, 34) is having a first end (34a), which is pivotally connected with the storage box (20). The third link (36) of the second pair of links (36, 38) having a first end (36a) is pivotally connected to the storage box (20). Similarly, the fourth link (38) of the second pair of links (36, 38) having a first end (38a) is pivotally connected to the storage box (20). Specifically, the third link (36) and the fourth link (38) are connected by a bridge (70) (as shown in figure 4). The bridge (70) is configured on the backside of the glove box assembly (100). The bridge (70) is adapted to provide stability and strength to the glove box assembly (100). Also, it reduces the stroke length of a damper (72) positioned in the centre.

[0030] A second end (32b, 34b,36b, and 38b) of the four links (32,34,36 and 38) are connected to the housing (10) of the interior panel of the vehicle interior. The second end (32b, 34b,36b, and 38b) of the four links (32, 34, 36, 38) are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the housing (10). Specifically, in the present embodiment, the second end (32b, 34b,36b, and 38b) of the four links (32,34,36 and 38) are arranged in a plane extending parallel to the bottom of the storage box (20). The second end (32b, 34b, 36b and 38b) of the four links (32, 34, 36 and 38) has a protrusion (40a, 40b, 40c and 40d) which engages with an arcuate slot (42a, 42b, 42c and 42d) configured on the housing (10) . The protrusion (40a, 40b, 40c, and 40d) of the four links (32, 34, 36, 38) moves in the arcuate slot (42a, 42b, 42c, and 42d) of the housing (10) when the storage box (20) is moved to the open position (24) or in the stow position (22) of the storage box (20). Specifically, the second end (32b) of the first link (32) is having the protrusion (40a), which engages with the arcuate slot (42a) configured on the housing (10) (as shown in figure 2a). Similarly, the second end (34b) of the second link (34) is having the protrusion (40b), which engages with the arcuate slot (42b) configured on the housing (10 (as shown in figure 1a). The second end (36b) of the third link (36) is having the protrusion (40c) engages with the arcuate slot (42c) configured on the housing (10 (as shown in figure 1a). Similarly, the second end (38b) of the fourth link (38) is having the protrusion (40d), which engages with the arcuate slot (42d) configured on the housing (10) (as shown in figure 1c). More Specifically, the first link (32) and the second link (34) of the first pair of links (32,34) is arranged parallelly on the front side of the storage box (20) (as shown in figure 3). The third link (36) (as shown in figure 1a) and the fourth link (38) of the second pair of links (36, 38) is arranged parallelly on the backside of the storage box (20) (as shown in figure 1a and 1c).
[0031] Further, a biasing member (50) is arranged on the protrusion (40a, 40b, 40c, and 40d) of the second end (32b, 34b, 36b, and 38b) of the four links (32, 34, 36, and 38). The biasing member (50) biases the storage box (20) in a stow position (22). In the present embodiment, the biasing member (50) is a torsion spring. It may be obvious to a person skilled in the art to use any other spring as a biasing member (50).

[0032] Upon pushing (slight upward push) the lid (26) of the storage box (20) in an upward direction, the pivoting mechanism (30) moves the storage box (20) from the stow position (22) to an open position (24) in X-Z direction. In the stow position (22), the storage box (20) is latched inside the interior panel of the vehicle interior (as shown in figure 1b) and in the open position (24), the storage box (20) is accessible and moves towards the user (as shown in figure 1a). Specifically, upon unlatching a lid (26) of the storage box (20), the first end (32a) of the first link (32) of the first pair of links (32,34) moves towards the user i.e. “X” and “Z” direction (as shown in figure 1a) and the protrusion (40a) on the second end (32b) of the first link (32) moves anticlockwise in the arcuate slot (42a) thereby moving the storage box (20) towards the user and making the storage box (20) accessible to the user.

[0033] The arcuate slot (42a) in the housing (10) restricts the movement of the storage box (20) in the open position (24) beyond which the storage box (20) may collapse. In the present embodiment, a primary stopper (58a, 58b, 58c, and 58d) is configured on the link (32, 34, 36, and 38) for reducing the vibration of the storage box (100) in the open position (24). Specifically, in the present embodiment, four primary stoppers (58a, 58b, 58c, and 58d) are provided on the respective links (32, 34, 36, and 38) to prevent vibrations between the links (32, 34, 36, and 38) and the housing (10). Also, a secondary stopper (60) is arranged over the protrusion (40a) to avoid disengagement of the link (32, 34, 36, and 38) from the housing (10) in Y-direction (as shown in figure 2c). In the present embodiment, four secondary stoppers are provided. Specifically, the first link (32) is having the first secondary stopper (60), the second link (34) is having a second secondary stopper (not shown), the third link (36) is having a third secondary stopper (not shown) and the fourth link (38) is having a fourth secondary stopper (not shown). Further, upon latching the lid (26) of the storage box (20), the first end (32a) of the first link (32) of the first pair of links (32,34) moves in the "X" direction (as shown in figure 1b) and the protrusion (40a) of the second end (32b) of the first link (32) moves clockwise, thereby latching the storage box (20) within the housing (10) inside the interior panel of the vehicle interior (as shown in figure 1b).

[0034] Furthermore, a first end (34a) of a second link (34) of the first pair of links (32,34) is pivotally connected with the storage box (20). The second end (34b) of the second link (34) of the first pair of links (32,34) is connected to the housing (10). The second end (34b) of the second link (34) having a protrusion (40b), which engages with the arcuate slot (42b) configured on the housing (10). Upon pushing (slight upward push) the lid (26) of the storage box (20), the pivoting mechanism (30) moves the storage box (20) moves from the stow position (22) to the open position (24). Upon unlatching the lid (26) of the storage box (20), the first end (34a) of the second link (32) of the first pair of links (32,34) moves towards the user i.e. “X” and “Z” direction and the protrusion (40b) of the second end (34b) of the second link (34) moves anticlockwise in the arcuate slot (42b), thereby moving the storage box (20) towards the user and making the storage box (20) accessible to the user (as shown in figure 1a). The arcuate slot (42b) in the housing (10) restricts the movement of the storage box (20) in the open position (24). Also, upon latching the lid (26) of the storage box (20), the first end (34a) of the second link (34) of the first pair of links (32,34) moves in “X” direction and the protrusion (40b) of the second end (34b) of the second link (34) moves clockwise, thereby latching the storage box (20) within the housing (10) inside the interior panel of the vehicle interior (as shown in figure 1b).

[0035] Similarly, a first end (36a) of the third link (36) of the second pair of links (36, 38) is pivotally connected to the storage box (20) (as shown in figure 1a and 1b) and a first end (38a) of the fourth link (38) of the second pair of links (36, 38) is pivotally connected to the storage box (20) ( as shown in figure 3). The second end (36b) of the third link (36) and the second end (38b) of the fourth link (38) has a protrusion (40c and 40d) respectively, which engages with an arcuate slot (42c and 42d) respectively on the housing (10).

[0036] Therefore, the present invention has the advantage of providing a glove box assembly (100). The glove box assembly (100) has more leg space for the occupant. Also, the glove box assembly (100) provides easy access to the user. Further, the glove box assembly (100) has better stability and equal distribution of closing forces for the left and right sides. Furthermore, the glove box assembly (100) has reduced the stroke length of the damper (72) positioned at the centre. Moreover, the glove box assembly (100) is robust and economical.

[0037] The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but such omissions and substitutions are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the scope of the claims of the present invention.