Abstract:
A glove box hinge mechanism may include a plurality of linkages pivotally attaching a glove box to a vehicle dashboard structure. The linkages may be configured to pivot and translate the glove box upwards and outwards, limiting downward travel of the glove box. At least one torque tube may extend between the plurality of linkages to coordinate movement of the linkages. The torque tube may rotate with the plurality of linkages. A striker may be affixed to the torque tube so that the striker rotates towards a latch when the glove box is closed and so that the striker rotates to provide unobstructed access to the glove box in the open position.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application U.S. Ser. No. 61/096,390, filed Sep. 12, 2008, which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    a. Field of Invention 
         [0003]    The invention relates generally to automotive storage units, and, more particularly, to a mechanism for an automotive glove compartment. 
         [0004]    b. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    Automobile manufacturers have implemented a variety of glove boxes for storing items in passenger compartments. One line of glove boxes features a pivot located near the base of the glove box. When a passenger unlatches the glove box to access its contents, the glove box rotates outwards about the pivot. While this line of glove boxes is simple and lightweight, there are numerous associated drawbacks. First, when opened by a front seat passenger, the front closure of the glove box pivots downwards, generally towards the knees, shins, and/or lower extremities of a front seat passenger. If the front passenger does not exercise full care when opening the glove box, the front closure can strike the knees of the passenger. This line of glove boxes also is disadvantageous to front passengers by requiring them to lean considerably forward when attempting to replace or retrieve an item from the glove box. 
         [0006]    Another form of glove box design implements at least one pin disposed along one or more lateral sides or edges of the glove box. Such pins generally work in conjunction with a track or stopping device to limit the range of rotation experienced by the glove box. Often these glove boxes initially open to a first, intermediate position. The pin temporarily restricts further movement of the glove box by moving to a first, intermediate position along the track. A passenger may then choose to manipulate the glove box to further pivot it to a second, fully-open position. While this type of design helps to prevent the glove box from striking the knees of the front passenger, the passenger must still use full care when opening the glove box to the second, fully-open position. Further, having to complete two distinct motions to fully open the glove box is inconvenient. This design also requires a passenger to lean considerably forward when attempting to replace or retrieve an item from the glove box. 
         [0007]    A third line of glove boxes features hybrid designs. Some of these designs continue to involve glove boxes that open downwardly. Other designs similarly attempt to solve this passenger intrusion problem, yet involve elaborate designs having excessive components that add weight, cost, and also complexity that increases the opportunity for malfunction. 
         [0008]    Accordingly, there remains a need for a glove box that appears aesthetically pleasing and provides advantages over known glove boxes. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0009]    A glove box hinge mechanism is provided and may include a vehicle dashboard structure, a striker, a glove box with a plurality of sides, a front closure member, a latch, and a plurality of rotatable linkages. The vehicle dashboard structure may have an opening where the glove box may be disposed, and the striker may be disposed along a portion of the opening in the vehicle dashboard structure. The glove box may retain stowables in a closed position and provide access to stowables in an open position. The front closure member may form one of the sides of the glove box and may be integral with the vehicle dashboard structure when the glove box is in the dosed position. The latch may be provided along the front closure member or the glove box for selective engagement with the striker to retain the glove box in the closed position. The rotatable linkages may pivotally attach the glove box to the vehicle dashboard structure, and may rotate and translate the glove box and front closure member outward and upward towards the open position when the latch releases the striker. This motion can help limit the downward travel of the glove box and the front closure member. One possible approach to achieve this combined translational and rotational movement is to make some of the plurality of rotatable linkages longer than others. This may cause the glove box and front closure member to become more horizontal as the glove box translates outward and upward. 
         [0010]    The glove box hinge mechanism may further include at least one torque tube disposed along the opening of the vehicle dashboard structure. The torque tube may extend between, affix to, and rotate with at least two of the rotatable linkages. The torque tube may help coordinate movement between at least two of the rotatable linkages. The torque tube may define the portion of the opening that the striker is affixed to and rotates with, and the striker may be rotated towards and away from the glove box. When the glove box approaches a closed position, the torque tube may rotate the striker to engage with the latch disposed on the front closure member. When a passenger opens the glove box, the torque tube may rotate the striker away from the glove box to provide unobstructed access to stowables in the glove box. 
         [0011]    The glove box hinge mechanism may further include an extension spring attached to one of the plurality of rotatable linkages and the vehicle dashboard structure. The extension spring may act on one of the plurality of rotatable linkages to articulate the glove box towards and maintain the glove box in the open position. The extension spring may also provide a closing force that a passenger must overcome to articulate the glove box from the open position to the closed position. 
         [0012]    The glove box hinge mechanism may further include a stopping mechanism or mechanisms along the glove box. The stopping mechanisms may contact the torque tube to stop rotation when the glove box approaches the open position. A release button may also be disposed along the glove box or the front closure member. To open the glove box from the closed position, a passenger triggers the release button that may be configured to release the striker from the latch. 
         [0013]    Additional features, advantages, and embodiments of the invention may be set forth or apparent from consideration of the following detailed description, drawings, and claims. Moreover, it is to be understood that both the foregoing summary of the invention and the following detailed description are exemplary and intended to provide further explanation without limiting the scope of the invention as claimed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and, together with the detailed description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1A  is a side view of a prior art glove box shown in a closed position; 
           [0016]      FIG. 1B  is a side view of the prior art glove box of  FIG. 1A  shown in an open position; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a glove box hinge mechanism according to the invention shown without an adjacent instrument panel or vehicle dashboard structure; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a glove box hinge mechanism showing components otherwise obscured by a glove box in hidden; 
           [0019]      FIGS. 4A-4E  are side views of the glove box hinge mechanism of  FIG. 3  showing a sequence in which the hinge mechanism may open to allow access; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the glove box hinge mechanism of  FIG. 3  in an open position and an opened front closure from representative prior art transposed for comparison; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the glove box hinge mechanism of  FIG. 3  having a protrusion and a spring that may assist in opening the hinge mechanism and maintaining the hinge mechanism in an open position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0022]    Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,  FIGS. 1A and 1B  illustrate a conventional prior art glove box  20 . Prior art glove box  20  is shown in a closed position  22  in  FIG. 1A  and in an open position  24  in  FIG. 1B . Prior art glove box  20  generally has a storage compartment  26  with a door  28 . When opened for access, storage compartment  26  rotates about a pivot  30 . As described earlier, this motion can cause door  28  to strike the knees of a passenger. Further, when prior art glove box  20  is fully opened, storage compartment  26  remains distant from the passenger, requiring the passenger to lean considerably forward to reach the contents of storage compartment  26 . 
         [0023]    Now referring to  FIGS. 2-6 , various embodiments of a glove box hinge mechanism, generally designated “glove box hinge mechanism”  50 , are disclosed. Referring to  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  6 , glove box hinge mechanism  50  is shown generally attached to a frame  52  for illustrative purposes only. Frame  52  may represent portions of a vehicle dashboard structure. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , glove box hinge mechanism  50  may have a glove box  54  defined by a first sidewall  56 , a second sidewall  58 , a bottom  60 , an inside surface  62  of a front closure member  64 , and a back wall  66 . Glove box  54  may retain various articles that a passenger wishes to stow. To selectively conceal glove box  54  when glove box hinge mechanism  50  is in a closed position, glove box hinge mechanism  50  may further include front closure member  64 . To retain glove box hinge mechanism  50  in a dosed position, a latch  68  may be disposed along inside surface  62  of front closure member  64 . When glove box hinge mechanism  50  is closed, latch  68  may engage a striker  70  to retain front closure member  64  and to conceal glove box  54 . 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , glove box hinge mechanism  50  may include a first and second upper linkages  72 ,  74 . First upper linkage  72  may pivotally attach to glove box  54  at a pivot  76  disposed alongside first sidewall  56 . First upper linkage  72  may also attach at a joint  78  to a torque tube  80  supporting striker  70 . Likewise, second upper linkage  74  may pivotally attach to glove box  54  at a pivot  82  disposed alongside second sidewall  58 . Second upper linkage  74  may also attach to torque tube  80  at a joint  84 . Torque tube  80  may help coordinate movement of both upper linkages  72 ,  74  when glove box  54  and front closure member  64  articulate. Torque tube  80  may pivotally attach to frame  52  or other vehicle structures such that it is free to rotate. In one embodiment, torque tube  80  may be affixed to upper linkages  72 ,  74  such that it rotates with upper linkages  72 ,  74 . 
         [0026]    Glove box hinge mechanism  50  may further include a first and second lower linkages  86 ,  88 . First lower linkage  86  may pivotally attach to front closure member  64  at a pivot  90 . Likewise, second lower linkage  88  may pivotally attach to front closure member  64  at a pivot  92 . Though first and second lower linkages  86 ,  88  are shown pivotally attached to frame  52  at pivots  94 ,  96  respectively, in practice, a number of vehicle structures could support torque tube  80 , lower linkages  86 ,  88 , and glove box hinge mechanism  50  in general. In one embodiment, upper linkages  72 ,  74  may be substantially parallel, and lower linkages  86 ,  88  may be substantially parallel. Linkages  72 ,  74 ,  86 , and  88  may be oriented outside glove box  54  such that they are hidden from the view of passengers. Pivots  90 ,  92  may be disposed in a variety of places, such as inside surface  62 , a lower end  98  of front closure member  64 , or an edge of glove box  54 . Though operation of glove box hinge mechanism  50  is described below, to stop front closure member  64  and glove box  54  from opening further once in an open position, stoppers  100  may be provided along the rear of back wall  66 . Once glove box  54  is in the open position, stoppers  100  may contact torque tube  80  and prevent further rotation and translation. 
         [0027]    Next,  FIGS. 4A-4E  illustrate the articulation of glove box hinge mechanism  50 . Specifically, as shown in  FIG. 4A , glove box  54  and glove box hinge mechanism  50  are shown in a closed position. When closed, front closure member  64  may be integral with a dashboard  120 . In this closed position, front closure member  64  conceals the contents of glove box  54  as latch  68  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) retains striker  70  (shown in  FIG. 3 ). As a passenger presses or engages a release button  122 , latch  68  may release striker  70  causing front closure member  64  to separate from its integral position with dashboard  120 . 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIG. 4B , first upper linkage  72  and first lower linkage  86  may start to rotate counterclockwise about joint  78  and pivot  94  respectively. Meanwhile, glove box  54  and front closure member  64  may start to rotate clockwise, causing front closure member  64  to become more horizontal. From the side, second upper linkage  74  and second lower linkage  88  are hidden in  FIGS. 4A-4E . As mentioned above though, second upper linkage  74  and second lower linkage  88  may rotate in coordination with first upper linkage  72  and first lower linkage  86 . In one embodiment, first and second upper linkages  72 ,  74  may rotate with and about torque tube  80 . 
         [0029]      FIGS. 4C and 4D  illustrate how linkages  72 ,  86  continue to translate glove box  54  generally outwards and upwards towards an open position shown in  FIG. 4E . In addition to this translation, glove box  54  rotates clockwise about itself, becoming increasingly horizontal. Glove box  54  may be said to articulate when these rotational and translational motions are combined. To provide articulation, upper linkages  72 ,  74  may be longer than lower linkages  86 ,  88 . As glove box  54  approaches the open position of  FIG. 4E , stoppers  100  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) on back wall  66  of glove box  54  may contact torque tube  80  to stop glove box  54  in the open position. 
         [0030]    This outwards and upwards articulation of glove box  54  and front closure member  64 , shown in  FIGS. 4A-4E , as opposed to the movement of prior art glove boxes shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , is beneficial for multiple reasons. First, additional knee clearance is provided for a front seat passenger, as glove boxes may be placed further away from a passenger if need be. Second, the passenger does not have to use caution when accessing glove box  54 , since articulation of glove box  54  reduces the chance that front closure member  64  will strike the extremities of a passenger. Third, extra components causing glove box  54  to open in multiple stages are unnecessary. Fourth, glove box hinge mechanism  50  features a simple design without having elaborate components that add weight, complexity, and cost to the vehicle. Lastly, instead of opening outwards and downwards like various prior art designs, glove box  54  opens outwards and upwards. This articulation of glove box  54 , shown in  FIG. 4E , reduces the reach required to access items in glove box  54 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 5  transposes door  28  of the prior art shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  onto a side view of glove box  54  in the open position. Though the drawings may not be to scale, it can be seen that when both the prior art glove box and glove box hinge mechanism  50  are fully opened, glove box  54  and front closure member  64  appear much closer to a passenger than door  28  of the prior art. One skilled in the art would appreciate such articulation, especially in sports cars due to the reclined occupant position. More senior passengers might also appreciate such articulation because of the reduced need to lean forward to access the contents of glove box  54 . From an aesthetics standpoint, glove box hinge mechanism  50  also provides desirable rotational and translational motion for front closure member  64 , as opposed to the simple pivoting motion of conventional glove box doors. 
         [0032]    Referring back to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , in one embodiment striker  70  may be affixed to torque tube  80  and rotate therewith. In another embodiment, striker  70  may be formed integral with torque tube  80  to rotate therewith.  FIGS. 2 and 3  show glove box hinge mechanism  50  in an open position. As shown, striker  70  is positioned upwards, providing full, unobstructed access to glove box  54 . When glove box  54  starts to close, torque tube  80  may rotate along with upper linkages  72 ,  74 . Hence when glove box  54  starts to close, torque tube  80  may also rotate striker  70  downwards, towards glove box  54 . As torque tube  80  rotates striker  70  towards glove box  54 , latch  68  on front closure member  64  approaches striker  70 . When front closure member  64  approaches a fully dosed position, striker  70  is positioned downwards for engagement with latch  68 . Accordingly, front closure member  64  may become integral with dashboard  120  while latch  68  retains striker  70 . Stated in the reverse, when front closure member  64  is opened and articulated outwards and upwards, torque tube  80  may rotate in the opposite direction, pivoting striker  70  upwards as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
         [0033]    Now referring to  FIG. 6 , in one embodiment second upper linkage  74  may include a protrusion  124  extending beyond joint  84 . Protrusion  124  may connect to a spring  126  that is attached to frame  52 , or another vehicle structure. Spring  126  may be tensioned such that when a passenger engages release button  122  (shown in  FIG. 4A ), spring  126  pulls downwards on protrusion  124 . This in turn causes second upper linkage  74 , torque tube  80 , and first upper linkage to rotate and thus articulate glove box  54  outwards and upwards. When glove box  54  is opened, spring  126  may still be in tension, maintaining glove box  54  in an open position until a passenger desires to close glove box  54  by overcoming the force spring  126  supplies. While protrusion  124  is shown extending from second upper linkage  74 , the present disclosure contemplates other variants of articulating glove box  54 . For example, protrusion  124  may extend from first upper linkage  72  and spring  126  may be located on the other side of glove box  54 . In a further example, spring  126  may attach to other locations, such as linkages, front closure member  64 , side walls  56 ,  58 , and the like. 
         [0034]    Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those particular embodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.