Claims:We Claim:

1. Storage box (100) for a vehicle, comprising
a housing (13),
a lid body (10) which is pivotable about a pivot axis (11) between a close position (200) and an open position (300) in order to close and to open the housing (13),
a locking member (20) connected with the lid body (10) for locking the lid body (10) with the housing (13), the locking member (20) comprising a striker (22) and a hook (23),
a striking member (30) connected to the housing (13) comprising a slot (32) for receiving the hook (23) in the close position of the housing (13),
wherein the locking member (20) and the striking member (30) are adapted to move relative to each other;
wherein upon opening of the housing (13), the striker (22) is abutting the striking member (30) thereby moving at least one of the locking member (20) and striking member such that the hook (23) is guided out of the slot (32).

2. The storage box (100) for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the striking member (30) is pivotably connected to the housing and / or the locking member (20) is pivotably connected to the lid body (10) such that the locking member (20) and / or the striking member (30) pivots upon opening of the housing (13) of the storage box (100) so that the hook (23) is guided out of the slot (32).
3. The storage box (100) for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1 and 2, wherein the striking member (30) has a biasing member (31) for forcing the striking member in a position for receiving the hook (23).

4. The storage box (100) for a vehicle as claimed in claims 1 to 3, wherein the locking member (20) has a biasing member (21) for forcing the hook (23) in an engaging position with the striking member (30).

5. The storage box (100) for a vehicle as claimed in claims 1 to 4, wherein the striker (22), the hook (23) and the slot (32) are configured such that only the hook (23) can engage with the slot (32).

6. The storage box (100) for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the storage box (100) is a central console of the vehicle.

7. The storage box (100) for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lid body (10) is an armrest of a central console of the vehicle.

8. The storage box (100) for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the storage box (100) is a glove box of the vehicle.

9. The storage box (100) for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein a simple push on the top of the lid body (10) opens the housing (13) of the storage box (100).

10. The storage box (100) for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein a push / pull button or knob is arranged on the lid body (10) or on the interior panel of the vehicle for opening the housing (13) of the storage box (100).
, Description:Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a storage box for a vehicle. More specifically, the present invention relates to a simple arrangement for opening and closing a housing of the storage box for keeping articles therein.

Background of the Invention

[0002] Some existing storage box of the vehicle such as central console is provided with a lid to cover and to lock a housing of the storage box. The construction elements for the locking and unlocking the lid are cumbersome and may consume more space in the vehicle interior. As these locking and unlocking arrangements include more number of constructive elements therein, the construction of these enclosures is complex.

[0003] Therefore, there is a need for a simple lid locking and unlocking design for a storage box of a vehicle, which overcomes the problems of the prior art.

Objects of the Invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is to propose a storage box which overcomes the drawback explained above.
[0005] Another object of the present invention is to provide an easy to use and easy to operate storage box.

[0006] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a structurally simple means of closing and opening the storage box.

[0007] One more object of the present invention is to avoid unwanted opening of the storage box.

Summary of the invention

[0008] The invention is relates to a storage box for a vehicle, comprising a housing, a lid body which is pivotable about a pivot axis between a close position and an open position in order to open and to close the housing, a locking member connected with the lid body for locking the lid body with the housing, the locking member comprising a striker and a hook, a striking member connected to the housing comprising a slot for receiving the hook of the locking member in the close position of the housing.

[0009] The locking member and the striking member are adapted to move relative to each other. Upon opening of the housing, the striker is abutting the striking member thereby moving at least one of the locking member and striking member such that the hook is guided out of the slot. A simple push on the top of the lid body may open the housing of the storage box without requiring any button or knob or in an another arrangement a push / pull button or knob may be arranged on the lid body or on the interior panel of the vehicle for opening the housing of the storage box.

[0010] In an embodiment, the striking member is pivotably connected to the housing and the locking member is pivotably connected to the lid body such that the locking member and the striking member pivots upon opening of the housing so that that the hook is guided out of the slot.

[0011] In an embodiment, the striking member has a biasing member for forcing the striking member in a position for receiving the hook of the locking member. The locking member also has a biasing member for forcing the hook in an engaging position with the striking member. The striker, the hook and the slot are configured such that only the hook of the locking member can engage with the slot of the striking member.

[0012] In an embodiment, the storage box is a central console of the vehicle and the lid body is an armrest of the central console of the vehicle.

[0013] In a further embodiment, the striking member is pivotably connected to the housing and the locking member is connected to the lid body such that the striking member pivots upon opening of the housing so that that the hook is guided out of the slot.

[0014] In a still further embodiment, the striking member is connected to the housing and the locking member is pivotably connected to the lid body such that the locking member pivots upon opening of the housing so that that the hook is guided out of the slot.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0015] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent when reading the detailed description given below, purely by way of example and in a non-limitative manner, referring to the following figures:

[0016] Figure 1 shows a cross sectional view of a storage box for a vehicle in accordance with the present invention where the storage box is a central console with a lid acts as an armrest;

[0017] Figure 2 shows another cross-sectional view and a perspective view of a part of the storage box of the figure 1 without an armrest;

[0018] Figure 3a shows cross-sectional view of a storage box in a close position;
[0019] Figure 3b shows cross-sectional view of a storage box in an open position;

[0020] Figure 4 shows cross-sectional view of a locking member of the storage box;

[0021] Figure 5 shows perspective view of a striking member of the storage box;

[0022] Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional view and a perspective view of a second embodiment of the storage box; and

[0023] Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view and a perspective view of a third embodiment of a storage box.

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0024] 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.
[0025] 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.

[0026] The disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms.

[0027] Referring now to figures 1 and 2, a storage box (100) for a vehicle in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. In the present embodiment, the storage box (100) is a central console. The central console has an armrest as lid body (10). The lid body (10) is pivotable about a pivot axis (11) between a close position (200) and an open position (300) in order to open and to close the opening (12) of a housing (13) of the storage box (100). A locking member (20) is pivotably connected to the lid body (10) for locking the lid body (10) with the housing (13), the locking member includes a striker (22) and a hook (23). A striking member (30) is pivotably connected to the housing (13) comprising a slot (32) for receiving only the hook (23) in the closed position (200) of the storage box (100). The striker (22), the hook (23) and the slot (32) are configured such that only the hook (23) can engage with the slot (32). In an embodiment, the storage box (100) is a glove box of the vehicle.

[0028] Upon simple push on the lid body (10), the striker (22) is abutting the striking member (30) thereby pivoting the locking member (20) and striking member (30) in the opposite direction such that the hook (23) is guided out of the slot (32) and thereby opens the housing (13) as shown in figure 3a and 3b. The locking member (30) and striking member (30) has a biasing member (21, 31) respectively as shown in figure 4 and 5, for retaining the close position (200) of the housing (13) in absence of external force refer 3b. Specifically, the biasing member (31) forces the striking member (30) in a position for receiving the hook (23). The biasing member (21) forces the hook (23) in an engaging position with the striking member (30).

[0029] A push / pull button or knob (not shown) can be arranged on the lid body (10) for opening the housing (13) of the storage box (100). When the storage box (100) is in open position (300) the housing (13) is accessible to a user for keeping articles therein form the opening (12) of the storage box (100). After keeping article inside the housing (13), the lid body (10) can be moved to close position (200) as shown in figure 3a and 3b.

[0030] In a second embodiment of the present invention as shown in figure 6, the storage box has as lid body (10). The lid body (10) is pivotable about a pivot axis (11) between a close position (200) and an open position (300) in order to open and to close a housing (13) of the storage box (100). The locking member (20) is pivotably connected to the lid body (10) for locking the lid body (10) with the housing (13), the locking member includes a striker (22) and a hook (23). A striking member (30) is connected to the housing (13) comprising a slot (32) for receiving only the hook (23) in the closed position (200) of the storage box (100).

[0031] Upon simple push on the lid body (10), the striker (22) is abutting the striking member (30) thereby pivoting the locking member (20) such that the hook (23) is guided out of the slot (32) and thereby opens the housing (13).

[0032] In a third embodiment of the present invention as shown in figure 7, the storage box has as lid body (10). The lid body (10) is pivotable about a pivot axis (11) between a close position (200) and an open position (300) in order to open and to close a housing (13) of the storage box (100). The locking member (20) is connected to the lid body (10) for locking the lid body (10) with the housing (13), the locking member includes a striker (22) and a hook (23). A striking member (30) is pivotably connected to the housing (13) comprising a slot (32) for receiving only the hook (23) in the closed position (200) of the storage box (100).

[0033] Upon simple push on the lid body (10), the striker (22) is abutting the striking member (30) thereby pivoting the striking member (20) such that the hook (23) is guided out of the slot (32) and thereby opens the housing (13).

[0034] Therefore, the present invention has an advantage of providing a storage box (100) for a vehicle for placing articles therein. The storage box 100 is having a simple and compact locking and unlocking arrangement of a lid body (10) for closing and opening a housing (13) of the storage box (100).

[0035] 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 utilise 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.