DESC:TECHNICAL FIELD
[001] The embodiments herein generally relate to a glove box in a vehicle and more particularly, to an apparatus and a method for locking and unlocking the glove box in the vehicle.

BACKGROUND
[002] A glove box is a compartment provided in a dashboard of a vehicle for storage of user’s things. Usually, to secure the things placed in the glove box, a glove box lock is provided in a glove box latch to open and close the glove box. A conventional glove box locking device (10), as shown in fig. 1a to fig. 2b) includes a lock cylinder (11), as shown in fig. 1b to fig. 2b), an outer housing (12), as shown in fig. 1b to fig. 2b), a cover (13), as shown in fig. 1b to fig. 2b), a retainer (14), as shown in fig. 1b to fig. 2b) and a locking lever (15), as shown in fig. 1b to fig. 2b). The lock cylinder (11) includes a plurality of metallic louvers (11L). A key is inserted into a key hole (11K), as shown in fig. 2a) of the lock cylinder (11) and the key is rotated to move the locking lever (15) to a locked position in which a locking lever arm (15L) of the locking lever (15) is received into and engaged with a slot (S), as shown in fig. 1b) provided in the dashboard (D) for the locking the glove box. To access the things in the glove box, the key is re-inserted into the lock cylinder (11) and the key is rotated to move the locking lever (15) to an unlocked position in which the locking lever arm (15L) of the locking lever (15) is moved away and dis-engaged from the slot (S) for unlocking the glove box. The conventional glove box locking device (10) facilitates easy locking of the glove box to secure things placed inside the glove box. However, the conventional glove box locking device (10) is complex in design and assembling of parts is tedious and a time consuming process due to usage of many parts and increases an overall weight of the vehicle due to usage of metallic parts.
[003] Another conventional locking device (20), as shown in fig. 3a and fig. 3b) includes a lock cylinder (21), an outer housing (22), a lock cover (23), a spring (24), an external casing (25) and a locking lever (26). The locking device (20) is an exterior door lock which is complex in design and incurs high costs.
[004] Therefore, there exists a need for an apparatus and a method for locking and unlocking a glove box in a vehicle, which obviates the aforementioned drawbacks.

OBJECTS
[005] The principal object of an embodiment herein is to provide an apparatus for locking and unlocking a glove box in a vehicle.
[006] Another object of an embodiment herein is to provide a method for locking and unlocking the glove box in the vehicle.
[007] Another object of an embodiment herein is to provide a lightweight apparatus for locking and unlocking the glove box in the vehicle, which is reliable.
[008] Another object of an embodiment herein is to provide an apparatus for locking and unlocking the glove box in the vehicle, which consumes less space and is inexpensive.
[009] These and other objects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0010] The embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, throughout which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:
[0011] Fig. 1a depicts a front view of a conventional glove box locking device provided on a dashboard of a vehicle;
[0012] Fig. 1b depicts a cross-sectional view of the conventional glove box locking device;
[0013] Fig. 2a and fig. 2b depict perspective views of the conventional glove box locking device;
[0014] Fig. 3a depicts a perspective view of a conventional door lock device;
[0015] Fig. 3b depicts a cross-sectional view of the conventional door lock device;
[0016] Fig. 4 depicts a cross-sectional view of an apparatus for locking a glove box in a vehicle, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0017] Fig. 5a depicts a cross sectional view of the apparatus, where a locking member of the apparatus is in an unlocked position for unlocking the glove box, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0018] Fig. 5b depicts another cross sectional view of the apparatus, where the locking member of the apparatus is in a locked position for locking the glove box, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0019] Fig. 6a and fig. 6b depict cross sectional and perspective views of the locking member of the locking apparatus, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0020] Fig. 7a depicts a perspective view of the locking member, a glove box latch bracket and a glove box latch, where the locking member is in the unlocked position; according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0021] Fig. 7b depicts another perspective view of the locking member, the glove box latch bracket and the glove box latch, where the locking member is in the locked position; according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0022] Fig. 8 depicts cross sectional view of the locking member, the glove box latch bracket and the glove box latch, where the locking member is in the unlocked position; according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0023] Fig. 9 depicts cross sectional view of the locking member, the glove box latch bracket and the glove box latch, where the locking member is in the locked position; according to embodiments as disclosed herein
[0024] Fig. 10 depicts a flowchart indicating a method of locking or unlocking the glove box in the vehicle, according to embodiments as disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0025] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
[0026] The embodiments herein achieve an apparatus and a method for locking and unlocking a glove box in a vehicle. Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 4 through 10, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown embodiments.
[0027] Fig. 4 depicts a cross-sectional view of an apparatus (100) for locking a glove box (GB) in a vehicle, according to embodiments as disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the apparatus (100) includes a locking member (102), (as shown in 5a), a key (104), (as shown in 8 and fig. 9). and a plurality of locking louvers (106), (as shown in 6a). For the purpose of this description and ease of understanding, the apparatus (100) is explained herein below with reference to locking and unlocking the glove box (GB) provided in the vehicle. However, it is also within the scope of the invention to provide the apparatus (100) for locking and unlocking any other storage compartment provided in the vehicle or any other applications, where securing the things placed in the storage compartment is required, without otherwise deterring the intended function of the apparatus (100) as can be deduced from the description and corresponding drawings.
[0028] The locking member (102) is adapted to be assembled to a glove box latch (GBL) and a glove box latch bracket (GLB), (as shown in fig. 4). The locking member (102) is adapted to facilitate locking and unlocking of the glove box (GB). The locking member (102) is inserted into a glove box latch (GBL), as shown in fig. 4, fig. 5a, fig. 5b and fig. 7a to fig. 8) from a rear side. The glove box latch (GBL) is connected to a glove box latch bracket (GLB). The glove box bracket (GB) is supported by a glove box outer lid (GU), as shown in fig. 4 to fig. 5b). The locking member (102) includes at least one locking portion (102L) as shown in fig. 5b to fig. 6b). The glove box latch bracket (GLB) includes a locking portion (GLL), as shown in fig. 7a). The locking member (102) is rotated 90 degrees by using the key (104) to move the locking member (102) to a locked position in which at least one locking portion (102L) of the locking member (102) is engaged with the locking portion (GLL), as shown in fig. 5b and fig. 7b and fig. 9) of the glove box latch bracket (GLB) thereby locking the glove box (GB), as shown in fig. 5b, fig. 7b and fig. 9).
[0029] To unlock, the glove box (GB), the key (104) is re-inserted into the keyhole (102K) of locking member (102) and the locking member(102) is rotated by the key (104) to move the locking member (102) to an unlocked position in which the at least one locking portion (102L) of the locking member (102) is moved away and dis-engaged from the locking portion (GLL) of the glove box latch bracket (GLB) thereby unlocking the glove box (GB), as shown in fig. 5a and fig. 7a and fig. 8).
[0030] The locking member (102) is considered to be a lock cylinder. The locking member (102) is made of non-metallic material such as plastic. It is also within the scope of the invention to provide the locking member (102) to be made of any other material.
[0031] In an embodiment, the locking member (102) includes a head (102H), a body (102B) and a locking portion (102L). The body (102B) of the locking member (102) extends from the head (102H). The locking member (102) is adapted to be moved between one of, a locked position in which the locking portion (102L) is engaged with corresponding locking portion (GLL) of the glove box latch bracket (GLB) to facilitate locking of the glove box (GB), and an unlocked position in which the locking portion (102L) is dis-engaged from the locking portion (GLL) of the glove box latch bracket (GLB) to facilitate unlocking of the glove box (GB). The locking portion (102L) of said locking member (102) is a locking lug, where the locking portion (102L) defines a L-shape. The locking portion (102L) of the locking member (102) is defined at a bottom end of the body (102B) of the locking member (102). The locking portion (GLL) of the glove box latch bracket is a protrusion or a wall.
[0032] The key (104) adapted to be inserted into a key hole (102K) defined in the head (102H) and the body (102B) of the locking member (102) to move the locking member (102) to one of the locked position or the unlocked position. The locking member (102) defines at least one locating portion (102X) adapted to facilitate positioning and assembly of the locking member (102) with respect to the glove box latch (GBL) and the glove box latch bracket (GLB). The plurality of locking louvers (106) disposed inside the body (102B) of the locking member (102).
[0033] Fig. 10 depicts a flowchart indicating a method (200) of locking the glove box (GB) in the vehicle, according to embodiments as disclosed herein. For the purpose of this description and ease of understanding, the method (200) is explained herein below with reference to locking or unlocking the glove box (GB) in the vehicle. However, it is also within the scope of this invention to practice/implement the entire steps of the method (200) in a same manner or in a different manner or with omission of at least one step to the method (200) or with any addition of at least one step to the method (200) for locking or unlocking any other storage compartment present in the vehicle or any other application, where securing the things placed inside the storage compartment is required, without otherwise deterring the intended function of the method (200) as can be deduced from the description and corresponding drawings. At step (202), the method (200) includes inserting a key (104) into a keyhole (102K) defined in a head (102H) and a body (102B) of a locking member (102). At step (204), the method (200) includes locking the glove box (GB) by engaging a locking portion (102L) of the locking member (102) with corresponding locking portion (GLL) of a glove box latch bracket (GLB) in response to rotating the locking member (102) by the key (104) in a first direction.
[0034] Further, the method (200) includes unlocking the glove box (GB) by dis-engaging the locking portion (102L) of the locking member (102) from the locking portion (GLL) of the glove box latch bracket (GLB) in response to rotating the locking member (102) by the key (104) in a second direction opposite to the first direction. For example, the first direction is clockwise and the second direction is anti-clockwise.
[0035] The technical advantages of the glove box locking apparatus (100) are as follows. The apparatus (100) is lightweight and is reliable and consumes less packaging space.
[0036] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
,CLAIMS:We claim:
1. An apparatus (100) for locking a glove box (GB) in a vehicle, said apparatus (100) comprising:
a locking member (102) having a locking portion (102L), said locking member (102) is adapted to be moved between one of,
a locked position in which said locking portion (102L) is engaged with corresponding locking portion (GLL) of a glove box latch bracket (GLB) to facilitate locking of the glove box (GB); and
an unlocked position in which said locking portion (102L) is dis-engaged from the locking portion (GLL) of the glove box latch bracket (GLB) to facilitate unlocking of the glove box (GB).

2. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said locking member (102) includes a head (102H) and a body (102B) extending from said head (102H).

3. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said locking member (102) is adapted to be assembled to a glove box latch (GBL) and the glove box latch bracket (GLB);
said locking portion (102L) of said locking member (102) is a locking lug, where said locking portion (102L) defines a L-shape;
said locking portion (102L) of said locking member (102) is defined at a bottom end of said body (102B) of said locking member (102); and
said locking portion (GLL) of the glove box latch bracket (GLB) is a protrusion or a wall.

4. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said apparatus (100) comprises a key (104) adapted to be inserted into a key hole (102K) defined in said head (102H) and said body (102B) of said locking member (102) to move said locking member (102) to one of the locked position or the unlocked position.

5. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said body (102B) of said locking member (102) defines at least one locating portion (102X) adapted to facilitate positioning and assembly of said locking member (102) with respect to the glove box latch (GBL) and the glove box latch bracket (GLB).

6. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said apparatus (100) includes a plurality of locking louvers (106) disposed inside said body (102B) of said locking member (102).

7. A method (200) for locking a glove box (GB) in a vehicle, said method (200) comprising:
inserting a key (104) into a keyhole (102K) defined in a head (102H) and a body (102B) of a locking member (102); and
locking the glove box (GB) by engaging a locking portion (102L) of the locking member (102) with corresponding locking portion (GLL) of a glove box latch bracket (GLB) in response to rotating the locking member (102) by the key (104) in a first direction.

8. The method (200) as claimed in claim 7, wherein said method (200) comprises unlocking the glove box (GB) by dis-engaging the locking portion (102L) of the locking member (102) from the locking portion (GLL) of the glove box latch bracket (GLB) in response to rotating the locking member (102) by the key (104) in a second direction opposite to the first direction.