DESC:FIELD OF INVENTION
The Invention relates to a storage box of a vehicle, more particularly locking system and mechanism for a lid to cover the storage box.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED INVENTION
This invention takes priority from an earlier filed provisional patent application no. 201921026425 filed on July 02, 2019; which is incorporated herein as reference
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In vehicles, generally storage or luggage areas are provided to store any luggage or any documents or rider’s riding gears. For example, glove box generally provides in front portion of the vehicle to store miscellaneous stuff when not in use. It can also be used for storing vehicle documents, driver or rider license etc. There is possibility of loss of stuff stored in glove box due to falling out from the glove box when vehicle is in rest or in running condition. There are many possible reasons for such events of loss, such as vehicle vibrations, vehicle maneuvering on inclined road and also while negotiating a turn. Such loss of any stuff or important documents may lead driver or rider in to trouble. To prevent such losses, vehicle manufacturers provide lid to cover above mentioned glove box so the stuff stored in the storage or luggage area should not fall out. These lids generally require a lock to keep lid in closed position.
Generally key actuated locking mechanism are used presently in the vehicles. Rider or driver has to take off or take out key from the ignition or handlebar switch and put it into key slot provided on the lock of glove box and rotate to unlock the lid. Here, rider or driver has to follow above mentioned operation every time when it is required to open the glove box. Otherwise separate key is generally provided for glove box lid to lock and unlock. In this way rider or driver have to handle double keys along with on the ride. Further, there is possibility of the event of loss of key. In such situation rider or driver may not able to access glove box. Such situations may push rider or driver in trouble. It requires more human effort in inserting the key and rotating it. Over the period of time it tends to become sticky due to dust accumulation requiring more human effort.
Another problem regarding key actuated locking mechanism for the glove box is sometimes due to environmental or atmospheric conditions keys or some internal metal parts of the locking mechanism gets rusted. Rusted parts of mechanism and key may stuck during operation which leads to apply extra force on key by rider or driver. Applying extra force may damage not only key but also locking mechanism and glove box lid. Hence it is necessary to provide locking mechanism to lock glove box or any other storage or luggage area with lid which addresses above mentioned problems.
OBJECTIVE OF INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a locking system solving problems mentioned above such that rider may not require to take out key from ignition switch to unlock glove box. This may lead to reduction in human efforts.
Another object of invention is to provide a locking system which is easy to access and operate. Also, to avoid effect of environmental or atmospheric conditions on metal parts.
Yet another object of invention is to provide a locking system which is simple in operation and aesthetically appealing.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The objective mentioned above is achieved by providing electrically actuating locking mechanism system.
An automotive vehicle comprised of a body, a frame structure and a glove box or storage box. Opening of the said storage box or glove box covered by means of a lid. The said glove box and its lid are provided with a locking mechanism. The said locking mechanism may be electrically actuated wherein the said locking mechanism comprises of actuator which may be actuated by actuating means, for ex by push button, switch etc. The said actuating means provided at easily accessible location to rider, characterized in that the electrically actuating locking mechanism may be mounted on inner portion of a glove box. The actuator may be comprised of a housing and a plunger which is axially movable in desired direction, for example forward-backward or up and down direction. Actuator mounting may be provided to mount actuator on inner side of a glove box. The actuator may be mounted in inclined position with respect to the vertical plane when seen in side view. Actuator housing provided with an opening oriented downwardly made for a plunger, the said position and orientation of the actuator and /or position/inclination of plunger reduces force required to pull the plunger in backward or upward direction to unlock glove box lid which leads to reduction in power requirement and hence load on battery may be reduced. The said actuator may be of electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic type. In preferred embodiment of the present invention solenoid is used as an actuator.
The said lid of the glove box may be provided with a hook. The hook may be fixed to the lid by any means from inner side and facing glove box when lid is in closed condition.
In one of embodiment of the present invention, a roller may be mounted at the engaging portion of the hook. Roller arrangement reduces pulling force required for solenoid to pull the plunger and avoids hook to get stuck with the plunger.
In closed condition of a lid on glove box, said solenoid plunger may be in pushed position against hook mounted on a lid. While in actuating condition plunger may be in pulled position. Said plunger may also be provided with a spring to resist backward movement of a plunger. One end of the said spring is attached to the plunger and other end to the said housing.
In another aspect of present invention, limiting and holding means provided to limit further movement of a hook inside glove box and to maintain pressure on a hook to retain in latched condition with plunger. The said limiting and holding means may be in the form of spring plate, pressure plate or torsional spring which may be supported either on solenoid housing or directly on body.
Solenoid gets actuated when rider pushes button provided on handle bar to unlock the lid of a glove box. Plunger gets pulled due to actuation of a solenoid and hook gets unlatched from the plunger which leads to unlock the lid of a glove box.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the said electrically actuating locking mechanism is capable to operate only when a wireless key device or smart key is present within the radius of predefined distance from vehicle, for example radius of 5 meters. The said wireless key device may be in communication with the vehicle through any wireless connection such as infrared, Bluetooth, radio signal etc.
Yet in another aspect of present invention, lid of the glove box provided with at least a hinge part positioned at a distance from the hook. The hinge part allows lid to rotate about an axis of hinge and close or open the glove box. One end of the hinge part connected to a lid and other end hinged to the vehicle body wherein the said hinge part comprised of a torsional damper having axis concentric with axis of hinged portion at other end of hinged part.
In another embodiment of the same invention, lid may be hinged to the body, the said damper may be provided concentric with the said hinge. The said damper may be capable of retarding rotation speed of the lid while opening of the lid. Due to rotational retardation, lid may not fall drastically while opening and hence potential damage of the lid due to impact may be avoided. And also it may hold stuff in the glove box from falling dawn while opening the lid.
The said electrically operated locking system communicates with a wireless key device by means of a wireless communication.
Actuating means such as push button, switch etc. provided on vehicle body /frame or on handle bar, dashboard etc. to actuate the locking mechanism becomes operable only when a smart key is present in predefined distance range.
The said electrically actuating locking system may also applicable to seat lock or luggage box lock provided on the vehicle.
The summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example with reference to the embodiments shown in the figures mentioned below:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of two wheeled vehicle with glove box;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of actuating and locking mechanism according to one of the embodiment of present invention;
FIG. 3 is a detailed view of actuating and locking mechanism according to one of the embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of arrangement of actuating and locking mechanism according to one of the embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a detailed view of hinge of a lid and its arrangement according to one of the embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one of the embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Embodiments of present invention will now be explained with the help of figures herein below. All the aspects described 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 preferred 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 herein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and the present invention herein includes all such modifications.
FIG. 1 shows preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 front portion of two wheeled vehicle 101, comprised of a body 102, frame structure 103 (not shown), handlebar 104, a glove or storage box 105 which is provided in front portion of a vehicle. Lid 106 provided to close the opening 108 of a glove or storage box 105. Further, handlebar may be comprised of various switches such as headlight switch, horn switch, and turn indication switch. Handlebar 4 of two wheeled vehicle 1 may also comprised of a switch 107 to unlock glove or storage box lid 106.
The said glove box 105 provided with an electrically actuating locking mechanism which may be operated through the said switch 107 provided on handle bar as shown in FIG.1. The said electrically actuating locking mechanism 201 mounted in inner portion of the glove box 105 when seen in side view as shown in FIG. 2 and 3. According to embodiment of the present invention electrically actuating locking mechanism 201 positioned in upper portion of the glove box 105. The said electrically actuating locking mechanism may comprised of actuator 202 which may be electrically connected to the switch provided on handlebar 104. According to the embodiment of the present invention, the said actuator may be positioned in inclined with vertical plane or at an acute angle a to the vertical plane 203 when seen in side view as shown in FIG. 2. Further, opening 204 of the housing 205 of said actuator made for a plunger which may be oriented towards substantially downward direction. The said actuator may be a solenoid.
FIG. 3(a) shows detailed view of electrically actuating locking mechanism 201. The said electrically actuating locking mechanism may comprised of solenoid mounting 301 to mount solenoid 202 and a plunger 302 which is capable to move in forward-backward direction through the opening 204 on solenoid housing 205. Plunger 302 may have wage shape at one end 303. In general, said plunger may be in pushed condition or forward position. And backward movement of the plunger resisted by means of a spring 304. One end of the said spring butted on the surface of solenoid housing 205 while other end pushes plunger in forward or downward direction. FIG. 3(a) also shows lid 106 covering glove box opening 108 comprised of a hook 305 having particular profiles or a shape. Hook may be fixed to the lid near upper edge 306 of the lid from inner side by any means, facing opening 108 of a glove box. The said hook 305 may be capable to get latched with plunger 302 of the said solenoid 202. The said spring maintains plunger 302 and hook 305 in latched condition when solenoid is not actuated such that lid of the glove box maintained in closed condition. FIG. 3(b) shows detailed view of solenoid and its various parts according to one of the embodiment of present invention.
When rider pushes button provided on a handlebar to open the lid of a glove box, solenoid of the electrically actuating locking mechanism gets actuated. Actuation leads solenoid to apply pulling force on a plunger. This force is applied against the force exerted by spring on to the plunger. Application of pulling force applied on the plunger can be observed by movement of the plunger in backward or upward direction. Due to upward movement of plunger, hook gets unlatched and lid of the glove box gets open.
Positioning solenoid inclined with respect to vertical plane when seen in side view as shown in FIG. 2 causing reduction in pulling force required to pull plunger upward while actuation. That reduces load on the battery. To close the lid of a glove box, rider can push the lid in the direction of glove box. Pushing of lid causes hook to lift the plunger in upward direction against the spring. Once hook portion of the hook moves ahead of the plunger in the perpendicular direction of the plunger movement, spring pushes plunger in forward or downward direction to latch the hook.
In another aspect of present invention, limiting and holding means 401 provided to limit further movement of hook inside glove box and to maintain pressure on hook to be in latched condition with plunger as shown in FIG. 4. The said limiting and holding means may be in the form of spring plate, pressure plate or torsional spring and it may be supported by support means 402 attached to the solenoid mounting or directly to the body 102 of the vehicle.
In another embodiment of the present invention, lid of the glove box 105 may be provided with hinge part 501 at a distance from the hook or near the edge 307 opposite to the edge 306 near which hook may be mounted. One end 502 of a hinge part is joined to the said lid 106 and another end 503 is hinged to the body 102 wherein torsional damper 504 is provided at hinged portion of hinge part such that axis of hinged portion 503 of the hinge part is concentric with axis of the torsional damper. In other words it can be state that the axis of rotation of the lid along with hinge part is concentric with axis of torsional damper. In another embodiment of the same invention lid may be directly hinged to the body 102, the said damper may be provided concentric with the said hinge.
According to another embodiment of the present invention the lid 106 of a glove box 105 may also directly hinged to the body 102. A torsional damper 504 may be provided at hinge such that axis of the hinge is concentric with the torsional damper.
According to one of the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6(a) and 6(b) shows roller 601 which may be mounted at engaging portion 602 of the hook 305. Roller helps to reduce pulling force required for solenoid to pull plunger and it also avoids hook to get stuck with plunger.
The said electrically actuating and locking mechanism and hinge part may be arranged in such a way that no any part of locking mechanism or hinge part may not be visible from the outside when lid is in closed condition. Hence the arrangement may be aesthetically acceptable. Due to arrangement of damper in concentric with the axis of hinge retards rotational motion of the lid while opening. Hence damage of lid causing due to impact is avoided and it also avoids falling of stuff from the glove box while opening of the lid.
Present inventive locking mechanism and damper arrangement may have various applications in two wheeled vehicle such as seat lock, luggage box lock etc. which falls in to the scope of the invention.
Although the invention has been described with regard to its embodiments, specific embodiments, and various examples, which constitute the best mode presently known to the inventors, it should be understood that various changes and modifications as would be obvious to one having the ordinary skill in this art may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth in the examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole. All changes that come with meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope
,CLAIMS:1. A storage box (105) for a vehicle (101) comprises
an opening (108);
a lid (106) covering the opening (108); wherein the storage box (105) and the lid (106) are provided with a locking mechanism (201);
characterized in that the locking mechanism (201) comprises an actuator (202) being actuated by an electrical actuating means (107); the locking mechanism (201) is mounted on inner portion of the storage box (105).
2. A storage box (105) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuator (202) comprises a housing (205) and an axially movable plunger (302).
3. A storage box (105) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the housing (205) is provided with an opening to allow axial movement of the plunger (302) through it and the plunger (302) is connected with a spring (304) at one end and on other end the spring fixed to the housing (205); wherein the spring is resists the movement of plunger (302) in axial direction.
4. A storage box (105) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the actuator (202) is mounted on upper inner portion of storage box (105) in inclined position with respect to the vertical plane when seen in side view.
5. A storage box (105) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuating means is provided at an accessible location to the rider and wherein; the actuating means (107) can be a push button or a switch.
6. A storage box (105) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lid (106) of the storage box (105) is provided with a hook (305) and wherein the hook (305) is connected to the lid (106) at its inner surface and is provided with an engaging portion (602).
7. A storage box (105) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the hook (305) is provided with a roller (601) mounted at the engaging portion of the hook (305).
8. A storage box (105) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plunger (302) remains abutted or engaged against the engaging portion of hook (305) in closed condition of the lid (106) and remains in disengaged condition from the engaging portion of lid (106) while the actuator (202) being actuated to open the lid (106).
9. A storage box (105) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the locking mechanism (201) provided with a limiting and holding means (401) to limit the inwardly movement of the hook (305) in the storage box (105) and to maintain pressure on a hook (305) to remain in engaged condition with the actuator (202) plunger (302).
10. A storage box (105) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the limiting and holding means (401) is in the form of spring plate or pressure plate or torsional spring and is supported either on housing (205) or on body (102) of storage box (105) .
11. A storage box (105) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the actuator (202) is a solenoid.
12. The storage box (105) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism (201) communicates with a wireless key device by means of a wireless communication; wherein the locking mechanism (201) is capable to operate when a wireless key device is available within the radius of predefined distance from vehicle.
13. The storage box (105) as claimed in claim 12, wherein the wireless key device is in communication with the vehicle and the locking mechanism (201) through wireless connection such as infrared, Bluetooth, radio signal.
14. The storage box (105) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lid (106) is provided with at least a hinge part (501); the hinge part allowing lid (106) to rotate about an axis of hinge to close or open the storage box (105).
15. The storage box (105) as claimed in claim 14, wherein the one end (502) of the hinge part (501) is connected to the lid (106) and other end is hinged to the vehicle body or lid (106) is hinged to the body through hinged portion (503).
16. The storage box (105) as claimed in claim 15, wherein the hinge part (501) comprises a torsional damper (504) is provided at the hinged end (503) of the hinge part such that axis of the torsional damper is concentric with axis of hinged portion (503) of the hinged part (501); the damper (504) is capable of retarding rotational speed of the lid (106) while opening of the lid (106).