Automatic closing arrangement for vehicle stowage compartments

A vehicle stowage assembly including a storage compartment defining an opening to permit access to the compartment. A door is movably mounted proximate the opening. An actuator is operably connected to the door to move the door from an open position to a closed position. After the door has been opened, the actuator automatically closes the door after a predefined period of time has passed from the time at which the door was opened. The stowage assembly may include a mechanical timer or an electronic controller. The actuator may comprise a spring that biases the door towards the closed position, or the actuator may comprise an electric motor or other powered actuator. The assembly may include a sensor to prevent closure while in use and delay closing time.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to vehicle stowage compartments, and in particular to a storage compartment that closes automatically.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Motor vehicles may include various stowage compartments such as glove boxes, sunglass holders, storage trays, or the like. Such stowage assemblies may be located in a vehicle interior, or, in some cases, a vehicle exterior. Such storage compartments may include a door that can be opened and closed by a user, and the door may include a lock to prevent unauthorized access to the storage compartment. However, known storage compartments may suffer from various drawbacks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the present invention is a vehicle stowage assembly including a storage compartment defining an opening to permit access to the compartment. A door is movably mounted to the compartment proximate the opening for movement between open and closed positions. An actuator is operably connected to the door to move the door from the open position to the closed position. After the door has been opened, the actuator automatically closes the door after a predefined period of time has passed from the opening of the door. The stowage assembly may include a mechanical timer or an electronic timer/controller. The actuator may comprise a mechanical device such as a spring that biases the door towards the closed position, or the actuator may comprise an electric motor or other suitable powered actuator. The door may include a lock that is automatically locked upon closing of the door, or upon locking of the main vehicle doors.

Another aspect of the present invention is a vehicle stowage assembly including a storage compartment and a door that selectively closes off an opening to the compartment. An electric motor is operably connected to the door, and a sensor is positioned adjacent the opening. A controller causes the electric motor to close the door after a predefined time from an event, wherein the event consists of either opening the door or detection of an object in the opening by the sensor.

Another aspect of the present invention is a vehicle stowage assembly including a storage compartment defining an opening to permit access to the compartment. A door is movably mounted to the compartment proximate the opening for movement between open and closed positions. A spring biases the door towards the closed position, and a releasable retaining device selectively retains the door in the open position. A timer is operably connected to the retaining device, and the timer releases the retaining device after a predefined time period from opening of the door such that the door moves from the open position to the closed position due to the bias of the spring.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference toFIG. 1, a vehicle1includes a roof structure2, or in the case of a convertible, a front header above the windshield, a windshield4, a plurality of doors6having glass8, and a dash10. Vehicle1may include a powered door lock system, and one or more of the doors6may include powered door lock mechanisms7that can be actuated by a remote fob9and/or interior switches11that communicate with an onboard controller (not shown). In the illustrated example, the vehicle1further includes a center console12and bin14. Bin14is movably mounted to the roof structure2for upward and downward movement as indicated by the arrow “A” to provide access to interior16through opening18such that sunglasses20or other items can be stored in the interior space16. Vehicle1also includes a glove box22having a door24(see alsoFIG. 2) that can be opened to provide access to interior space or compartment26. As discussed in more detail below, the glove box22may include a lock28that selectively retains the door24in a closed position to prevent unauthorized access to the interior space or compartment26(FIG. 2) of glove box22through opening30.

With further reference toFIGS. 3 and 4, the door24of glove box22can be moved from a closed position (FIG. 3) to an open position (FIG. 4) to permit access to the interior space or compartment26through upwardly facing opening30of glove box22. It will be understood that opening30may face in virtually any direction as may be required for a particular compartment configuration. The door24may be movably mounted to the passenger side of dash structure10by a pin or hinge32that provides for pivoting of door24. In the illustrated example, the door24includes a bin structure34that moves outwardly with the door24, and wherein the interior space or compartment26is formed by the bin structure34. However, it will be understood that the interior space or compartment26may be formed by a bin structure that is fixed to the dash10or other vehicle structure, such that the interior space or compartment26does not move upon movement of door24.

A spring device36biases the door24from the open position (FIG. 4) towards the closed position (FIG. 3). With further reference toFIG. 5, the spring mechanism36may comprise a housing38that mounts to the dash structure10, and a resilient member such as torsion spring40having a first end42that is connected to a shaft44, and a second end46that is secured to housing38. Shaft44may be fixed to door24, such that rotation of door24causes shaft44to rotate and further stretch/tension torsion spring40. The torsion spring40thereby biases the door24towards the closed position (FIG. 3). A mechanical timer48(FIGS. 5 and 6) is operably connected to the shaft44by a gear set50including gears50A and50B. Opening of door24winds a spring49(FIG. 6) on a shaft51in the mechanical timer48. Mechanical timer48may comprise a conventional device such as a Marktime19series Spring Driven Timing Mechanism sold by MH Rhodes Cramer. The mechanical timer48includes a releasable retaining mechanism52that selectively retains the shaft44and prevents rotation of shaft44when the door24is in an open position. Releasable retaining mechanism52is triggered when shaft44rotates to an angle corresponding with door24at its full downward (open) position. Triggering of the releasable retaining mechanism52starts the countdown of timer48.

Referring again toFIG. 6, retaining mechanism52may comprise a retaining member such as plunger86that is biased by a spring92into engagement with a hold or cavity88in a collar90that is fixed to shaft44. Spring92may comprise a coil spring that is disposed between a fixed member94that is secured to a stationary dash structure and a washer96that is fixed to plunger86. Timer48includes an output member such as lever98that is operably connected to plunger86. Plunger86engages cavity88to prevent rotation of shaft44when door24is in an open position. As discussed above, opening of door24winds spring49of timer48. After a predefined period of time, output lever98of timer48shifts in the direction of arrow “B” to thereby pull plunger86out of engagement with cavity88of shaft44, thereby permitting rotation of shaft44. The bias of spring40then causes door24to return to the closed position, and latch mechanism54latches to retain door24in the closed position. It will be understood that the present invention is not limited to the specific mechanical timer48and retaining mechanism52ofFIGS. 5 and 6. Virtually any suitable mechanical timer and retaining mechanism could be used in accordance with the present invention.

In use, a user pulls the door24from the closed position (FIG. 3) to the open position (FIG. 4), thereby winding/tensioning the spring40. As discussed above, the mechanical timer48may include a timer spring49that is wound (tensioned) as the door24is moved from the closed position to the open position to thereby transfer energy into the timer spring49of mechanical timer48where it is stored by the timer spring49. The timer spring49thereby provides power to operate the timer48. The timer spring49may comprise a torsion spring of a known configuration that is wound up as door24is opened. When the door24reaches the open position, the retaining mechanism52prevents rotation of the shaft44to thereby retain the door24in the open position. Also, the timer48is initially set when the door24reaches the open position. After a predefined period of time (e.g. 30 seconds, 60 seconds, or 2 minutes), the timer48causes the retaining mechanism52to release the shaft44, and the torsion spring40then causes the door24to rotate from the open position4back to the closed position (FIG. 3). The door24may include a latch mechanism54that automatically latches when the door24reaches the closed position. The latch mechanism54may include a release button56or the like that can be actuated by a user to unlatch the latch54to permit the door24to be opened.

Thus, the door24of glove compartment22ofFIGS. 3 and 4is automatically returned to the closed position after a predefined period of time has passed from when the door24is opened. It will be understood that the glove box22is an example of a storage compartment according to one aspect of the present invention. However, the spring mechanism36and timer48may be utilized in connection with other vehicle storage compartments such as overhead bin14(FIG. 1) or other interior or exterior vehicle storage compartments.

With further reference toFIG. 7, a storage compartment according to another aspect of the present invention includes a glove box22A having a door24A that can be moved between opened and closed positions. The glove box22A includes an interior space or compartment26A that can be accessed through an opening30A of a bin structure34A when door24A is in an open position. The door24A is fixed to a shaft44A. A powered actuator such as an electric motor64is operably connected to shaft44A to provide for powered closing of door24A. Electric motor64may be operably connected to the shaft44A by gears58,60, and62whereby the electric motor64can move the door24A from the open position to the closed position. The electric motor64may also, optionally, be configured to move the door24A from the closed position to the open position. The electric motor64is operably connected to a controller66and a power supply such as a battery68. It will be understood that a solenoid or other powered actuator such as a stepper motor may also be utilized to provide for powered closing of door24A.

The storage compartment22A may also include a lock mechanism72that is configured to secure the door24A in the closed position. Lock mechanism72may include a lock cylinder76that can be actuated by a key74to selectively lock or unlock the door24A when it is in the closed position. The lock mechanism72may also include an electrically powered solenoid70that provides for powered locking and unlocking of the door24A. A switch78may also be operably connected to the controller66to provide a signal indicating that the door24A is in a closed position.

In use, a user unlocks the lock mechanism72(if the lock mechanism72is locked) utilizing key74. Controller66may also be configured to receive a signal from the fob9(FIG. 1), such that the controller66can actuate solenoid70to unlock the lock mechanism72utilizing solenoid70. It may also be configured to receive the unlock signal from other sources such as the onboard controller. After a user moves the door24A to the open position, the controller66actuates electric motor64to close the door24A after a predefined period of time has passed (e.g. 30 seconds, 60 seconds, 2 minutes, etc.) to drive the door24A back to the closed position. Controller66may be configured to start the time interval when switch78generates a signal indicating that the door24has been opened. Alternatively, the door22A may include a switch (not shown) that is actuated when the door24A reaches the open position, and controller66may begin the time period when the door24A reaches the fully opened position. Stowage compartment22A may include a mechanical latch80that automatically latches when the door24A is moved to the closed position. The latch80may be unlatched by a button82or the like. The door22A may also be locked utilizing key74or as a result of a signal from controller66actuating the solenoid70. In general, the door22A may include only a latch mechanism80, only a lock mechanism72, or both a latch mechanism80and a lock mechanism72.

Controller66may be configured to automatically lock the lock mechanism72when the door24A is in a closed position, or the controller66may be configured to lock the lock mechanism72after a predefined time period has passed from closing of the door22A. Furthermore, the controller66may be operably connected to the powered door locks7(FIG. 1) of the vehicle1, such that the lock mechanism72is locked if the powered door locks7are locked as a result of actuation of interior switches11or remote fob9.

The stowage compartment22A may also include a capacitive sensor84that is configured to detect the presence of a user's hand or other object in or adjacent the opening30A. The capacitive sensor84is operably connected to the controller66, and the controller66may be configured such that controller66does not actuate electric motor64to close door24A if sensor84detects the presence of a user's hand in or adjacent the opening30A. Controller66may be configured such that detection of a user's hand by capacitive sensor84resets the timer to thereby delay closing of door24A. For example, controller66may be configured to actuate electric motor64to close door24A 60 seconds after the door24A is opened, and to reset the 60 second time period from the time at which a user's hand is last detected by capacitive sensor84.

The vehicle stowage assembly of the present invention ensures that the doors of glove boxes or other stowage compartments of a vehicle are not inadvertently left open. Furthermore, the present invention may include an automatic lock feature that ensures that glove boxes or other stowage compartments are always closed and locked when not in use.