FORM 2
THE PATENT ACT 1970
&
The Patents Rules, 2003
PROVISIONAL / COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (See section 10 and rule 13)
1. TITLE OF THE INVENTION
Glove Box lid operating mechanism.

2. APPLICANT
(a) NAME
(b) NATIONALITY
(c) ADDRESS

: MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA LTD
: An Indian Company registered under the
Companies Act, 1956
: R&D Centre, Auto sector, 89, M.I.D.C, Satpur, Nashik- 422007. Maharashtra State, India

3. PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION

PROVISIONAL
The following: inventior
describes the
COMPLETE
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

Technical Field:
The present invention relates to lid operating mechanism of glove box for moving the lid position between an open position and close position relative to the surface of the instrument panel.
Background and Prior Art:
In an automotive vehicle glove box is generally mounted in the instrument panel opposite to the co-driver's seat. The lid of the glove box pivots upward or downward (depending on the arrangement) about its hinge when the glove box is opened. Different mechanisms to operate the lid of glove box, e.g. wire springs in hinge mechanism, cam deflected spring mechanism, compressible rubber wheel mechanism, three piece latching mechanism are well known in the public domain.
US patent No. 5868448 describes a glove box structure that uses clip members fixed to a glove box slidably engaging arms that extend inwardly from a lid. Resilient cam surfaces in the clip members support beads on the arms for maintaining the lid in an open position. Resilient cam surfaces flex outward to allow slidable passage of the arms and the beads when the lid is moved between the open position and a closed position. The resilient cam surfaces return inward below the beads to support the lid in its open position until additional manual force is applied to close the lid.
The mechanism is complex and involves number of different components connected with each other. The continued use of the system may lead to the loss of hold open ability.
Patent Nos. GB 2407358, US 6799785 and DE 102004047378 discloses glove box door damping device that comprises a cam assembly mounted on or moulded into a glove box lid and a spring portion mounted on or moulded into an instrument panel retainer. The cam assembly including a cam lobe which
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rotationally moves against the spring portion to slow the descent of the glove box lid during opening. The glove box damper device is suitable for use with glove box lids having a sheet metal insert to meet automotive safety requirements.
It is a complex mechanism and requires minimum three mounting spindles and retaining slots. In this the lid is opened in downward direction and the mechanism smoothen the movement of the lid instead of maintaining the position of the lid.
Patent Nos. US 6678918, JP 2002322861, DE 10218326 teaches open close apparatus for glove box lid of an automobile in which a sliding resistance member is interposed between a glove box and a rod type air damper. It is assumed that when a glove box lid corresponding to a open-close member starts opening, the rod type air damper rotates while running idle in conjunction therewith, in a relation in which the rotary type oil damper is positively interposed between the glove box corresponding to the mounting shaft and the rod type air damper. However, since a braking force of the sliding resistance member is applied to the side of the open-close member in a rotating section of the rod type air damper, a sufficient damper effect can be obtained even when the open-close member starts opening.
In these patents rod type damper and sliding resistance member is used to control the speed of open-close member and these patents do not discuss the positioning of the lid.
Patent Nos. WO2007135287, FR2901206 relates to Glove box with center position return means. The invention relates to a glove box which includes a body, which delimits an opening, and a door intended to close the opening, which pivots about an axis and holds an arm in the form of an annular sector, which is arranged in a plane perpendicular to the pivoting axis of the door, the arm passing into a slot formed in the body of the glove box so that it limits the pivoting angle of the door in the direction of its open position. When the door is in its closed position,
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the arm holds an elastic member in its portion adjacent to the slot and on the side opposite that of the door, which is placed in contact with the body and exerts a force having an ascending component. Applicable to motor vehicles.
Patent No. KR100354086B relates to stopper for glove box of automobile for limiting opening degree of the glove box improving assemblability and reducing molding cost. A glove box is connected to a space portion formed in right side of an instrument panel with a hinge. A knob is attached to the front of the glove box. The knob is inserted and fixed to a striker attached to the upper wall of the space portion. A stopping bracket is installed in rear outer wall of the glove box to limit opening of the glove box by catching with the striker in rotation of the glove box.
Patent application No. JP2006307512 discloses lid opening / closing device. The
lid opening/closing device is formed of a recess, the lid, engaging holes, lock
portions, a spring, and an operating element. The device is comprised of a lock
member holding means which engages with the lock portions when the lock
portions are drawn toward the lid and at the same time the lid is opened, and keeps
the lock portion in a drawn state, whereas when the lid is closed, it is separated
from the lock portions to cancel the engagement. Thus when the lid is to be
closed, the lid is inserted into an internal periphery of the recess, and then the lock
portions are pushed out to be fitted into the engaging holes. Therefore an impact
sound occurring when the lid is closed and locked is extremely lessened, and
therefore the lid is quietly closed and locked.
The concepts disclosed in above patents involve complex mechanism and more number of components. Furthermore these patents focus on damping the noise while operating the lid.
Deficiencies of Prior Art:
1. The prior art mechanism is complex involving number of different components connected with each other.
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2. The continued use of the system may lead to the loss of hold open ability.
3. Require more time for assembly.
Therefore, there is a need of a glove box lid operating mechanism which is efficient, easy to assemble, cost effective and reduced breakage during operation.
Object of the Present Invention:
Object of the present invention is to provide two position smooth operating mechanism for the glove box lid on the upper surface of instrument panel so that when the glove box lid is in open position, the mechanism will not allow it to close automatically and vice-versa, unless and until sufficient pressure is applied to it.
Further more object of present invention is to provide a glove box lid opening mechanism which overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art. Further more object of present invention is to provide simple and cost effective lid operating mechanism for the glove box.
Summary of present invention
A conventional automobile has an instrument panel facing the driver and co-driver seats. A glove box is generally mounted in the instrument panel opposite the co-driver seat. The glove box has a lid which closes over the glove box to prevent items placed inside the glove box to fall out. In the vehicles where the glove box is provided on lower side of the instrument panel, the lid remains open due to gravity. In the vehicles where the glove box is provided on the upper surface of the instrument panel, a person has to hold the lid of the glove box in open condition which results in troublesome operation. Therefore present invention "Glove Box lid operating mechanism" to maintain the open and close position of glove box lid, this innovative and smooth operating mechanism is developed.
Description of figures:
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Figure (1) shows the exploded perspective view showing the lid operating
mechanism according the present invention.
Figure (2) shows the cross sectional view when the present invention mechanism
is inserted within the instrument panel with the lid of the glove box in closed
position.
Figure (3) shows the cross sectional view when the present invention mechanism
is inserted within the instrument panel with the lid of the glove box in open
position.
Description of the invention:
The foregoing objects of the invention are accomplished and the problems and shortcomings associated with prior art techniques and approaches are overcome by the present invention as described bellow in the preferred embodiment. This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, through out which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures.
The present invention "Glove Box lid operating mechanism" referring to figure 1, the lid operating mechanism (1) comprises of a lid (2), spring housing (3) and a hinge (4). The spring housing (3), hinge (4) and lid (2) are connected to each other in such way that all three forms an integral part. Spring housing (3) houses a spring (5) and stem (7) of the slider (6). The wings (8) of the slider (6) gets locked over the spring housing (3) at the stepped position (9) as shown in Figure. The locking of the slider (6) over the spring housing (3) is necessary so that the stem of the slider should not get out of the spring housing during operation of the lid. Referring figure 2, slider guide (10), having the stepped wall at 12, 13 & 14, is the part of the instrument panel (11). Lid movement stop arrangement (15) is provided on either side of the lid over the spring housing. A slot (16) is made in the instrument panel in which the projection (17) moves to limit the movement of the lid. This mechanism makes the lid of glove box to open up to 110° so that it does not touch the wind screen.
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Referring to figure 2, when the lid of the glove box is in closed position, the right wing of the slider rests on stepped wall of slider guide at 12. Referring to figure 3, when the lid of the glove box is opened, the slider moves upward over the stepped wall of slider guide and lower wing of the slider rests on stepped wall of the slider guide at 13. The smooth movement of the slider is achieved against the compression of the spring (5). Thus the lid of the glove box can be tilted upward up to 110° so that it does not touch the wind screen. Thus, the objective of the present invention is fully achieved by means of lid operating mechanism as disclosed here above.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and its fitting in the instrument panel as mentioned in the above description or illustrated in the drawings to have smooth lid operating mechanism. The mechanism can be made of any suitable material of required strength and flexibility. The terminologies used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
Advantages of the Present Invention:
1. More robust structure. - 2. Easy and smooth operation of the mechanism.
3. Require less assembly time
4. Does not hinder to the aesthetic look of the instrument panel since the structure is inside the IP.
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We claim:
1. Glove box lid operating mechanism comprises of lid (2), spring housing (3)
and a hinge (4); the spring housing (3), hinge (4) and lid (2) are connected to each other in such way that all three forms an integral part; spring housing (3) houses a spring (5) and stem (7) of the slider (6); wings (8) of the slider (6) gets locked over the spring housing (3) at the stepped position (9); the locking of the slider (6) over the spring housing (3) is necessary so that the stem of the slider (6) should not get out of the spring housing during operation of the lid; slider guide (10), having the stepped wall at (12), (13) & (14), is the part of the instrument panel (11). Lid movement stop arrangement (15) is provided on either side of the lid over the spring housing; a slot (16) is made in the instrument panel in which the projection (17) moves to limit the movement of the lid; this mechanism makes the lid of glove box to open up to 110°.
2. Glove Box lid operating mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein lid movement limiting mechanism is provided comprising of a slot in IP and a projection on spring housing making angular movement of the lid within the limit of slot in IP maximum up to 110° so that lid does not touches the windscreen.
3. Glove Box lid operating mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mechanism is fabricated from or any suitable material of required strength and flexibility or combination of thereof.
4. Glove Box lid operating mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein it can be used to open the glove box lid in any of the directions namely opening in upward direction or downward direction.
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5. Lid operating mechanism as claimed in above wherein apart from for glove box of motor vehicles it can be used to operate the lid of any type of box, enclosures and like wise.

Date 5th May 2008


M. D. Bhate. Agent for applicant.

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