OF INVENTION
This invention relates to an improved single piece glove box for a vehicle and a
novel see-saw type latch. The box avoids interference of the items during
operation of latch.
BACKGROUNDIPRIOR ART OF THE INVENTION
Glove box is known to have been provided in the front pan of the vehicle, which
is located on the left side of dash board. Said glove box is used to provide utility
space for important documents like owner's manual, registration certificate etc.
The opening and closing of the box is carried out by means of latch provided
inside.
Reference may be made to some prior arts discussed hereinbelow:-
JP10100798:- This invention discloses a glove box made of resin material and
having a cover part 10 facing the inside of a car cabin, and on the back surface
of this cover part 10, a box part 11 with over-part left open is formed in a single
piece structure and mounted on an instrument panel in such a way as capable
of being opened and shut round the bottom part as fulcrum. A flange 16 having
an approx. channel-shaped section opening to the inside of the box part 11 is
formed at each side of the cover part 10 in a single piece structure, and a
hollow part 17 having a large wall thickness is provided at the top of the cover
part 10 so that a sense of thickness is equipped.
This patent also discloses a single piece glove box. However, it is provided with
a plunger type of latch, which is expensive.
KR 1020060004220:- It is directed to a glove box of a vehicle for inserting a
bolster(20) to a recessed part(l2) formed on the outer surface of a glove box
housing(l0) and welding a peripheral part of a glove box cover(30) and the glove
box housing, the bolster has latticed ribs(l2 1) formed at both sides of a
support plate and plural projections(l23) formed on plural horizontal ribs(122)
arranged on the lateral side in parallel to the horizontal ribs. The bolster is
temporally joined to the recessed part by a temporal combining unit(l30). The
glove box housing is inserted and welded to a support wall(31) formed around
the glove box cover. The inside of the glove box cover is welded with the
projection.
The glove box mentioned hereinabove comprises of three parts, which again
make it expensive.
Now, reference may be made to a single piece glove box with see-saw type latch.
As can be seen in fig. 1 & 2, the Glove box (1) comprises of a latch (2) provided
with support ribs (3). However, the disadvantages associated with the same are
that, the inside items (4) create interference during operation of latch. It
engages with striker rod (5) in closed position. The locking area of the latch
protrudes out from the inner side of Glove Box. The items when kept on the
Glove Box can interfere with the latch during operation of Glove Box, there by
resulting in the unlocking of the Glove Box. Forceful operation of the latch may
damage the items.
Further, due to gap between the support ribs (3) as shown in fig. 2, user's
finger/nail can be injured during operation of latch due to exposure to inside
surface of ribs. Again, in open condition of glove box carpet is visible through
the gap between the latch and glove box.
Therefore, it is required to develop an improved single piece glove box for
vehicle and a novel latch so as to address the aforesaid drawbacks of the
known arts.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved single
piece glove box for a vehicle and a novel see-saw type latch which overcomes
disadvantages of the prior arts.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved single piece
glove box for a vehicle and a novel see-saw type latch which is simple in
construction.
Further object of the present invention is to provide an improved single piece
glove box for a vehicle and a novel see-saw type latch which is cost effective
and reliable.
STATEMENT OF INVENTION
According to this invention there is provided an improved single piece glove box
for a vehicle and a novel see-saw type latch comprising of a cover over latch of
the glove box so as to avoid interference of items during operation and a safety
plate in the latch to avoid injury to finger during operation of the latch.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
Further objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent from
the ensuing description when read in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings and wherein:
Figure 1 and 2 shows: conventional single piece glove box with see-saw type
latch.
Figure 3 shows: cover over the latch of glove box according to the present
invention.
Figure 4 and 5 shows: glove box of the present invention.
Figure 6 shows: profile of glove box in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE
ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The present invention is directed to an improved single piece glove box for
vehicle and a novel latch. Now, reference may be made to fig. 3, wherein the
glove box comprising of a cover (1) over latch. This avoids interference of items
during use of glove box i.e. while opening and closing the box. This is due to
provision of a particular type of profile/shape to the cover. The profile
constitutes upwardly extended face of the cover. This keeps the items away
from the operating path of the latch provided in the cover of the glove box. Said
extended face is provided with a smooth curve as shown.
During designing of cover shape following is taken into consideration.
Reference may be made to fig. 4.
I 1) Width (W) of the cover is governed by the following:
i) The assembly of the Knob on the Glove Box: The width should be
such that the assembling part (Knob) N does not foul with the
main part (Glove box) during assembly. Also there should not be
any scratch marks on the Glove box during assembly of the Knob
(Fig. 4).
ii) Glove box utility space: The width should be increased in such a
! way that the effective utility space of the Glove Box is sufficient.
Also it enables visibility of the objects through the clearance i
between the latch and the extending surface in the opening state of
the Glove Box.
Hence, the width (W) is optimized by .providing sufficient clearance (Cz) from
Knob (N) during assembling, at the same time avoiding excessive gap between
Cover and Knob.
Height (H) of the cover shape is governed by the following:
i) The opening/closing operation of the Knob, Glove box: The Height
should be such that it does not foul with Knob, Glove box during
rotation which is required for the opening/closing of the Glove box.
Further, the inner surface of the covering should not hinder the
operation of the Knob. (Fig. 5).
ii) Glove box utility space: The height should be increased in such a
way that the utility space of the Glove Box is sufficient. Also bigger
height leads to visibility of the objects through the clearance space
between the latch and the extending surface in the opening state of
the Glove Box.
Hence, the Height is optimized for providing required clearance (Cl) from the
moving path/locus of the Knob glove box and at the same time maximizing the
Glove box utility space.
Profile (P) is optimized by considering the following:
i) The inside items like user manual or tissue box does not come in
the rotation path of the Knob.
ii) The profile should be matching with the depression provided for
allowing the finger to operate the Knob (N).
Reference may be made to fig. 6 indicating the following:-
Inside item (I)
Covering profile (P)
Clearance face for Knob glove box operation (C)
Minimum depression for finger (M).
Further, a safety plate is provided in the latch. This avoids injury to fingerlnail
during operation of the latch of the box.
The safety plate provided in the latch connecting the hinge area as a countermeasure
for fingerlnail injury. Therefore, the operator fingerlnails do not come
in contact with the inside surface of vertical ribs. Also, it hides the gap between
the latch and glove box.
In the opening state of glove box, the visibility through the clearance space
between the latch and the extending surface is reduced by safety plate, due to
which the carpet or floor is not visible through the clearance space. Thus,
providing better appearance to the passenger.
It is to be noted that the present invention is susceptible to modifications,
adaptations and changes by those skilled in the art. Such variant embodiments
employing the concepts and features of this invention are intended to be within
the scope of the present invention, which is further set forth under the
following claims: -

WE CLAIM:
1. An improved single piece glove box for a vehicle and a novel see-saw type
latch comprising of a cover over latch of the glove box so as to avoid
interference of items during operation and a safety plate in the latch to
avoid injury to finger during operation of the latch.
2. An improved single piece glove box for a vehicle and a novel see-saw type
latch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover over the latch constitutes
an upwardly extended face to keep the items away from thc operating
path of the latch.
3. An improved single piece glove box for a vehicle and a novel see-saw type
latch as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the extended face is provided
with a smooth curve.
4. An improved single piece glove box for a vehicle and a novel see-saw type
latch as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein width of the
cover is provided such as herein described.
5. An improved single piece glove box for a vehicle and a novel see-saw type
latch as claimed in claim 4 wherein the width is optimized by providing
sufficient clearance from the knob of latch and avoiding excessive gap
between the cover and knob.
6. An improved single piece glove box for a vehicle and a novel see-saw type
la'tch as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein height of the
cover is provided such as herein described.
7. An improved single piece glove box for a vehicle and a novel see-saw type
latch as claimed in claim 6 wherein the height is optimized for providing
required clearance from the moving path of the knob and maximizing the
glove box utility space.
8. An improved single piece glove box for a vehicle and a novel scc-saw type
latch as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein profile of the
cover is such that, it should match with the depression provided for
allowing the finger to operate the knob and inside items in the box
should not come in the rotation path of the knob.
9. An improved single piece glove box for a vehicle and a novel scc-saw type
latch substantially as herein described with reference to the
accompanying drawings.