Abstract:
A striker assembly, and method of forming, for use with a closure for a vehicle compartment is disclosed. The striker may have a main shaft with a hoop extending from a first end, threads extending around the main shaft, and a rotational retention feature adjacent to the threads. A bracket may have a pair of mounting flanges, a first wall including a threaded hole therethrough that engages the threads, a second wall, spaced from the first wall, having a hole therethrough that engages the main shaft, and a flexible arm having a catch engageable with the rotational retention feature.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to a striker for a vehicle closure, and in particular to an adjustable striker assembly for engaging a latch on a compartment door. 
         [0002]    Closures in vehicles commonly have a latch and striker type of arrangement for holding the closure in its closed position. Often, the latch will be mounted to the closure with a button or other type of release mechanism controlling the latch. A striker is then mounted to a vehicle component or structure and located so the latch will engage the striker when the closure is moved to its fully closed position. The latch engagement with the striker then holds the closure in its closed position until the button is actuated to release the latch from the striker. 
         [0003]    A common use for a latch and striker assembly is a vehicle glove box, with the latch mounted to the glove box door and the striker mounted to the glove box portion of an instrument panel. The glove box door is fitted to provide a flush fitting condition. In modern vehicles, the styled surfaces of instrument panels typically do not provide natural overhangs or features that will hide improper door fit. Consequently, for proper aesthetics, automotive glove box doors are required to fit nearly perfectly on every vehicle. 
         [0004]    When an automotive instrument panel is assembled and the various components are fitted, the flushness can be accomplished relatively easily, resulting in good appearance and satisfying the desired styling look for the instrument panel assembly. After this instrument panel assembly is shipped from the supplier to the automotive assembly plant and attached to the vehicle body, however, these fits invariably change. This may be due to changes in the instrument panel assembly during shipping and handling, as well as variances in each automotive body that may distort the instrument panel assembly when attached to the automotive body. The change in the fit of the glove box door, then, may necessitate an adjustment to assure the latch and striker assembly engage properly. 
         [0005]    Typical strikers used with glove box closures are made of bent steel wire, which is welded to a steel plate that is then riveted or screwed to the instrument panel. Many times the strikers are not precisely located when installed on the instrument panel—due to tolerances in locating the plate or twisting that may occur when mounting screws are tightened. These tolerances may add to the concern with the glove box door fit. 
         [0006]    Because the flush fit of the door is important to the appearance and quality of the vehicle interior—despite the fact that every instrument panel is installed into a vehicle body that has some variation due to manufacturing tolerances—the strikers must be readjusted by assembly personnel on most vehicles. 
         [0007]    In addition, the need arises—whether due to instrument panel installation variations, striker installation variations, or both—to adjust the striker so the latch will engage properly with it when the glove box door is closed. Conventionally, this adjustment is accomplished by guessing what adjustment is needed and manually bending the wire of the striker. This is a very crude and inexact process that often results in the striker being bent and moved in unintended directions. The unwanted distortion from this crude adjustment process may increase the friction between the latch and striker and so may raise operating efforts—even possibly cause some binding in the latching assembly. Moreover, this crude alignment process may add to labor costs, and also may risk damaging the striker. Thus, the adjustment process, while assuring that the latch will engage the striker, may prevent the smooth operation of the latch and striker assembly and add to the vehicle assembly costs. 
         [0008]    It is desirable, therefore, to provide a striker that is used with a latch on a vehicle closure that allows for easy and accurate adjustment of the striker to assure that the latch and striker assembly works smoothly and properly when the closure is properly aligned with its compartment. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    An embodiment contemplates a striker assembly for use with a closure for a vehicle compartment. The striker assembly may comprise a striker and a bracket. The striker may have a main shaft with a first end and an opposed second end, a hoop extending from the first end, threads extending around the main shaft, and a rotational retention feature adjacent to the threads on the main shaft. The bracket may have a pair of mounting flanges adapted to be mounted to one of the closure and the vehicle compartment, a first wall including a threaded hole therethrough that operatively engages the threads on the main shaft, a second wall, spaced from the first wall, having a hole therethrough that engages the main shaft to allow for axial and rotational movement of the main shaft relative to the second wall, and a flexible arm having a catch operatively engageable with the rotational retention feature such that the flexible arm is in a substantially relaxed position when the catch is aligned with the rotational retention feature and is in a flexed position when the catch is not aligned with the rotational retention feature. 
         [0010]    An embodiment contemplates a method of forming an adjustable striker assembly that can be used with a closure for a vehicle compartment, the method comprising the steps of: forming a striker having a main shaft with a first end and an opposed second end, a hoop extending from the first end, threads extending around the main shaft, and a rotational retention feature adjacent to the threads on the main shaft; and insert molding a single piece bracket around the striker, including forming a first wall including a threaded hole therethrough that engages the threads on the main shaft, a second wall, spaced from the first wall, having a hole therethrough that engages the main shaft, and a flexible arm having a catch engaging the rotational retention feature such that the flexible arm is in an as molded position when the catch is aligned with the rotational retention feature and is in a flexed position when the catch is not aligned with the rotational retention feature. 
         [0011]    An embodiment contemplates a striker assembly mounted to a vehicle glove box and adapted to engage a latch of a glove box door. The striker assembly may comprise a striker having a main shaft with a first end and an opposed second end, a hoop extending from the first end and adapted to engage the latch, threads extending around the main shaft adjacent to the second end, and a rotational retention feature on the main shaft between the threads and the hoop; and a bracket having a pair of mounting flanges mounted to the vehicle glove box, a first wall including a threaded hole therethrough that operatively engages the threads on the main shaft, a second wall, spaced from the first wall, having a hole therethrough that engages the main shaft adjacent to the first end, and a flexible arm having a catch operatively engageable with the rotational retention feature, the bracket being a single, monolithic piece. 
         [0012]    An advantage of an embodiment is that the adjustable striker assembly is relatively quick and easy to adjust to assure proper alignment with a corresponding latch. In addition, the initial torque required to initiate the adjustment is relatively low because there need only be one V-groove engaged with one flexible arm to hold the striker in the correct position after adjustment. And the adjustment friction (torque required to rotate the striker and effect the adjustment) is relatively low due to the fact that there only needs to be one engaged adjustment thread between the bracket and striker. 
         [0013]    An advantage of an embodiment is that the adjustable striker assembly can be adjusted while minimizing the risk of damaging the striker, thus assuring smooth operation of the latch and striker assembly without increased friction or binding concerns. 
         [0014]    An advantage of an embodiment is that the adjustable striker assembly may not require assembly of separate components since the bracket body can be formed on the striker. With only two parts, the striker assembly is relatively simple and durable. 
         [0015]    An advantage of an embodiment is that the adjustable striker assembly can be adjusted easily without tools, and yet maintain the proper position after adjustment. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a striker assembly according to a first embodiment. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the striker assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is an end view of the striker assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of the striker assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a striker assembly and mounting location according to a second embodiment. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a plan view of a striker assembly according to a third embodiment. 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a section view taken along line  7 - 7  in  FIG. 6 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is a section view taken along line  8 - 8  in  FIG. 6 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is a partial section view taken along line  9 - 9  in  FIG. 6 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]      FIGS. 1-4  illustrate a striker assembly, indicated generally at  20 , which engages with a latch (not shown) of a latch and striker assembly, indicated generally at  22 . The striker assembly  20  is mounted to one of a door or compartment (not shown in the first embodiment), with the latch being mounted to the other of the door or compartment. The striker assembly  20  may be secured to the door or compartment with rivets (not shown in the first embodiment) or other suitable fastening mechanisms. The compartment may be, for example, a glove box opening in an instrument panel. 
         [0026]    The striker assembly  20  includes a striker  30 . The striker  30  may be made of, for example, a metal such as steel—although, other suitable materials may be employed instead. The striker  30  includes a main shaft  32 , which is generally cylindrical, having a first end  34  from which a D-shaped hoop  36  extends, and a second end  38  from which a retention flange  40  extends. Both the retention flange  40  and the hoop  36  will resist impact loading, preventing the striker  30  from being either pulled or pushed out of a bracket (discussed below) of the striker assembly  20 . The hoop  36  may be formed into shapes other than the D-shape, if so desired. 
         [0027]    The striker  30  also has threads  42  formed onto its main shaft  32  adjacent to the retention flange  40 . Recessed within the main shaft  32 , between the threads  42  and D-shaped hoop  36 , are two V-grooves  48 . These V-grooves  48  are oriented to extend longitudinally on the main shaft  32  and be located one hundred eighty degrees apart from each other. While having the V-grooves  48  recessed into the main shaft  32  creates one type of catch, other types of rotational retention features that will selectively catch and release the striker  30  from the bracket (discussed below) for selective rotation may be employed instead, if so desired. Moreover, while it is preferred to have a pair of V-grooves  48 , the striker  30  may include only one if so desired. 
         [0028]    The striker assembly  20  also includes a bracket  60 . The bracket  60  may be formed from, for example, molded plastic, or other suitable materials. The bracket  60  has mounting flanges  62  with mounting holes  64  for receiving the fasteners when securing the striker assembly  20  to the compartment or door. Side support walls  65 —extending generally parallel to the main shaft  32  and normal to the plane of the mounting flanges  62 —define a central opening  66  through which the striker  30  extends. Rear support walls  74  extend from the side support walls  65 , adjacent to and on both sides of the retention flange. 
         [0029]    The bracket  60  includes a trunnion plate  68  that surrounds and supports the main shaft  32  of the striker  30  at an end of the central opening  66  adjacent to the D-shaped hoop  36 . The trunnion plate  68  defines an opening  69  that is generally smooth and circular where it contacts the main shaft  32  of the striker  30 . Thus, when the striker  30  is rotated relative to the bracket  60 , the trunnion plate  68  allows rotation without significant resistance, while providing support for the striker  30  (i.e., providing a bearing function). 
         [0030]    The bracket  60  also includes an end wall  70  that surrounds and supports the main shaft  32  at the location of the threads  42 , adjacent to the retention flange  40 . The end wall  70  extends parallel to the trunnion plate  68 . The end wall  70  defines a threaded hole  72  that engages the threads  42  on the main shaft  32 . Accordingly, when the striker  30  is rotated relative to the bracket  60 , the engagement of the threads  42  with the threaded hole  72  will cause the striker  30  to also move axially relative to bracket  60  by an amount determined by the pitch of the threads  42 . The threaded hole  72  also provides a bearing surface for the striker  30 . 
         [0031]    A flexible arm  76  extends from one of the side support walls  65  into the central opening  66 , and has a free end  80  adjacent to the main shaft  32  of the striker  30 . Near the free end  80 , a catch, such as a barb  78 , extends from the arm  76  toward the main shaft  32  and is shaped to engage the V-groove  48 . The axial location of the barb  78  relative to the V-groove is such that, as one rotates the striker  30  relative to the bracket  60 , the barb  78  will engage each V-groove (when rotationally aligned) for the full distance of axial travel (in both directions) of the striker  30  relative to the bracket  60 . The barb  78  and V-grooves  48  are located so that the D-shaped hoop  36  is held in the proper rotational orientation each time the barb  78  engages one of the V-grooves  48 . 
         [0032]    In this first embodiment, the number of threads  42 , thread pitch, and length of V-grooves  48  are configured to allow for two half-turns in either direction from a nominal central position. Of course, the number of threads  42 , thread pitch, length of V-grooves  48 , and length of the main shaft  32  can be modified, if so desired, to provide for a greater or lesser amount of adjustment capability. Moreover, if so desired, the bracket may have a second flexible arm and barb (not shown), located and oriented one hundred eighty degrees from the first so that both V-grooves  48  are engaged at the same time. This may, however, add more cost and complexity and increase the adjustment torque more than is desirable. 
         [0033]    The manufacturing of the striker assembly  20  may include the bracket  60  being formed around the striker  30 , if so desired. For example, if the striker  30  is metal and the bracket  60  is made of plastic or some other similar, suitable material, then the striker  30  may be insert-molded into the bracket  60 . The trunnion plate  68  is molded around the main shaft  32  to form the opening  69 , and the end wall  70  is molded around the threads  42  to form the threaded hole  72 . In addition, the flexible arm  76  and barb  78  are molded so that the barb  78  is molded into one of the V-grooves  48 . Thus, when the striker  30  is in the as-molded position, the flexible arm  76  is also in its as-molded position, and so is not flexed. The flexible arm  76  is flexed when one rotates the striker  30  sufficiently to cause the barb  78  to be pushed out of the V-groove  48 . 
         [0034]    This particular manufacturing process is advantageous in that it creates a two piece adjustable striker assembly  20  that does not require assembly after forming, while still allowing for adjustment between the D-shaped hoop  26  that engages the latch (not shown) and the mounting holes  64  where the striker assembly  20  is mounted to the door or compartment (not shown in this embodiment). Also, by forming the bracket  60  this way, the bracket can be a single, monolithic piece. 
         [0035]    While the insert molding of a plastic bracket  60  around a metal striker  30  is a preferred method, other materials may be used and other fabrication and assembly methods may be employed instead, if so desired. For example, the bracket and striker may both be made of metal and/or the bracket formed in multiple pieces that are assembled to the striker. 
         [0036]    The installation and adjustment of the adjustable striker assembly  20  will now be described. The mounting flanges  62  are placed in the desired location of the door or compartment, as the case may be, and the fasteners (not shown in this embodiment) are installed through the mounting holes  64  to secure the striker assembly  20  in place. If the D-shaped hoop  36  is in the proper location for engagement with the latch, then no further adjustment needs to be made. If the D-shaped hoop  36  does not engage properly with the latch, then the hoop  36  is grasped and rotated one-half turn relative to the bracket  60 —clockwise or counterclockwise depending upon the direction of misalignment. If additional adjustment is needed, then it can be rotated another half turn. 
         [0037]    When the D-shaped hoop  36  is grasped and a significant level of torque is applied, the torque causes the barb  78  of the flexible arm  76  to be flexed out of the V-groove  48 . This then releases the main shaft  32  to continue rotation through one hundred eighty degrees. At that time, the barb  78  aligns with the opposite V-groove  48 , allowing the arm  76  to flex back and bias the barb  78  into this opposite V-groove  48 . This will hold the striker  30  in its new position and correct orientation relative to the bracket  60 . One will note that the adjustment has been accomplished without the need for any tools. Thus, if misalignment should occur due to installation of an instrument panel (not shown) into a vehicle body (not shown), adjustment can be made quickly and easily. One will also note that the amount of torque required to cause rotation of the striker  30  relative to the bracket  60  may be easily tuned during design of the bracket  60  for a particular application by making small changes to the thickness of the flexible arm  76  and/or changes to the barb  78  and V-groove  48 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 5  illustrates a second embodiment. This embodiment has many items in common with that of the first embodiment, and to avoid unnecessary repetition of the description, the same reference numerals have been used but falling within the 100-series. The striker assembly  120  is shown mounted to a door or compartment  124 , as the case may be, and held in place with fasteners  126  (only two shown) that engage mounting holes  164  in the mounting flanges  162 . The striker  130  may be the same as in the first embodiment, if so desired, while the bracket  160  has changed somewhat. 
         [0039]    In this embodiment, the side support walls and rear support walls have been eliminated. So, the trunnion plate  168 , end wall  170 , and flexible arm  176  extend directly from the mounting flanges  162 . Also, the edges of the mounting flanges  162  now define the central opening  166 . The fabrication of the striker assembly  120  and method of adjustment may be the same as in the first embodiment. 
         [0040]      FIGS. 6-9  illustrate a third embodiment. This embodiment has many items in common with that of the first embodiment, and to avoid unnecessary repetition of the description, the same reference numerals have been used but falling within the 200-series. For this striker assembly  220 , the striker  230  may again be the same as in the first embodiment, if so desired, while the bracket  260  has changed. 
         [0041]    The flexible arm  276 , mounting flanges  262 , side support walls  265 , trunnion plate  268  and rear support walls  274  may be the same as in the first embodiment. In this embodiment, however, the end wall  270  is canted to match the angle of the threads  242  on the main shaft  232 . While this end wall  270  and threaded hole  272  may possibly be easier to mold around the threads  242  than the first embodiment, it may induce more friction between the threads  242  and the threaded hole  272  than the configuration in the first embodiment. 
         [0042]    While certain embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the invention as defined by the following claims.