Console box

A console box includes a box body with an opening, a pair of lids hinged to the box body to open and close the opening, and a lock mechanism configured to lock the lids in closed positions for closing the opening. The lock mechanism includes a first operation member configured to unlock the pair of lids separately from each other, and a second operation member configured to unlock the pair lids simultaneously with each other.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit of Japanese patent application number 2018-027787 filed on Feb. 20, 2018 and entitled “Console Box,” which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a console box, and more particularly, to a console box including a box body having an opening, two lids each hinged to the box body so that the opening can be opened and closed by the lids, and a lock mechanism that can lock the lids in a closed position with respect to the box body.

Automobiles are often provided with holders for storing and/or holding cans, bottles or other items. For example, a console box is often mounted on the floor of the automobile at a position between the driver's seat and the front passenger seat. The console box typically includes a box body with an opening and one or more lids hinged to the box body to close the opening. The user can store items in a storage space of the box body through the opening.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In one aspect according to the present disclosure, a console box may comprise a box body with an opening, two lids hinged to the box body to open and close the opening, and a lock mechanism configured to lock the lids in closed positions for closing the opening, the lock mechanism comprising: a first operation member operable to unlock the two lids separately from each other, and a second operation member operable to unlock the two lids simultaneously with each other.

In some embodiments, the console box may further comprise a first biasing device and a second biasing device configured to bias the first operation member and the second operation member, respectively, so that the lids are locked separately from each other, wherein a biasing force of the first biasing device is set to be smaller than a biasing force of the second biasing device.

In some embodiments, the first operation member comprises two first operation members; and the first biasing device comprise two biasing members configured to bias the two first operation members to keep the lids in locked positions.

In some embodiments, the first operation member comprises two first operation members each having a handle portion and configured to be pivotable by a force applied to the handle portion for unlocking the corresponding one of the lids, and the second operation member comprises a push portion and is configured to be pushed by a force applied to the push portion.

In some embodiments, the first operation member comprise two first operation members corresponding to the two lids, the first operation members each having an engagement claw, the second operation member has two engagement holes, and the lock mechanism is configured to lock the lids by engagement of the engaging claws of the first operation members with the engaging holes of the second operation member.

In some embodiments, the lock mechanism may be configured such that: when one of the first operation members moves against the first biasing device in a first direction, the engagement claw of the same first operation member disengages from the corresponding engagement hole of the second operation member; and when the second operation member moves against the second biasing device in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction, both engagement claws of the first operation members disengage from the engagement holes of the second operation member.

In another aspect according to the present disclosure, a console box may comprise: a box body with an opening, a first lid and a second lid coupled to the box body and each configured to be movable between an open position for opening a portion of the opening and a closing position for closing the portion of the opening; and a lock device. The lock device may comprise: a first lock member coupled to the first lid; a second lock member coupled to the second lid; and a third lock member coupled to the box body. The first lock member, the second lock member and the third lock member may be configured such that: each of the first lock member, the second lock member and the third lock member is configured to be movable between a lock position and an unlock position; the first lock member engages the third lock member to lock the first lid at the closing position when both of the first lock member and the third lock member are positioned at the lock positions; the second lock member engages the third lock member to lock the second lid at the closing position when both of the second lock member and the third lock member are positioned at the lock positions; both of the first lock member and the second lock member disengage from the third lock member when the third lock member moves from the lock position to the unlock position; the first lock member disengages from the third lock member when the first lock member moves from the lock position to the unlock position; and the second lock member disengages from the third lock member when the second lock member moves from the lock position to the unlock position.

In some embodiments, the lock device may further comprise a first biasing device, a second biasing device and a third biasing device configured to respectively bias the first lock member, the second lock member and the third lock member toward the lock positions; and the biasing direction of each of the first and second biasing devices is opposite to the biasing direction of the third biasing device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As previously described, automobiles typically have a console box including a box body with an opening and one or more lids hinged to the box body to close the opening. For example, JP 2009-006830 A discloses a console box that includes two lids located on the driver side and the front passenger side, respectively. The console box is configured such that the lids can be unlocked separately from each other. Therefore, to open both lids the user requires two unlocking actions, one for each lid.

As another example, JP 2009-143375 A discloses a console box401as shown inFIG. 12that includes two lids420located on the driver side and the front passenger side, respectively. The two lids420are mechanically coupled such that the user requires the unlocking action at only one time for unlocking both lids. That is, the two lids can be unlocked simultaneously. However, even when it is desired to open only one lid420, both lids420have to be opened. Therefore, the console box of this publication is still not convenient. Thus, there is thus a need in the art for a console box capable of unlocking two lids not only separately but also simultaneously. Accordingly embodiments described herein are directed to console boxes configured to allow unlocking of two lids independently and simultaneously.

Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following, upward, downward, front, rear, left and right directions of a console box1correspond to directions that are indicated in the drawings and may be taken when the console box1is mounted to an automobile (not shown).

Referring toFIG. 1, the console box1may generally include a box body10, a pair of left and right lids20, and a lock mechanism40(FIG. 6).

Referring toFIG. 2, the box body10has a container space12for storing items (not shown). The container space12has, on the upper side, an opening14through which the items can be put into and pulled out of the container space12. This allows the items to be stored in the container space12through the opening14.

A frame16with an opening16amay be attached to the upper end of the peripheral wall of the box body10defining the container space12and the opening14. The opening16aof the frame16is aligned with the opening14of the box body10as shown inFIG. 6. The opening16amay be the same in size and shape as those of the opening14. Therefore, the items can be stored into the container space12without being obstructed by the attached frame16.

As shown inFIG. 6, the frame16includes a front side portion18provided with a spring holding portion18bon which one end66aof a compression spring66of a second lock60, which will be described later, can be hooked. The spring holding portion18bmay have a U-shaped groove18cinto which a guide pin64cof the second lock60can be inserted.

As can be seen inFIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5, in this embodiment, the two lids20are the same, and thus, only the left lid20will be described below with the understanding the right lid20is the same. Referring toFIG. 4, The left lid20includes an inner member22, an outer member24welded to the upper side of the inner member22, and a skin member26covering the surface of the outer member24(FIGS. 2 and 4).

The inner member22has, in the front right corner portion thereof, a recess22athat is recessed inward (upward inFIG. 4). The outer member24has, in the front right corner portion thereof, a notch24aaligned with the recess22aof the inner member22. The front right corner portion of the skin member26has a notch26aaligned with the recess22aof the inner member22and the notch24aof the outer member24.

As shown inFIGS. 4 and 6, the lock mechanism40includes two first locks50and a second lock60.

Referring toFIG. 4, each first lock50includes a base52attached to a concave surface22bof the recess22aof the inner member22of the lid20and a first operation member56pivotally attached to the base52via a hinge pin54.

As shown inFIG. 6, the first operation member56is a manually pivotable element including a handle portion56athat can be lifted by a finger(s) of a user for pivoting the first operation member56. In addition, the first operation member56has an engagement claw56bthat can be urged in such a direction that the engagement claw56bmoves into a corresponding one of engagement holes64bof a second operation member64of the second lock60, which will be described later, by an urging device such as a torsion spring58(FIG. 4) to lock the lid20.

Referring toFIGS. 3 and 6, the second lock60includes a base62attached to the lower side of the front side portion18of the frame16of the box body10, and a second operation member64attached to the base62so as to be slidable in the front and rear directions along a guide rib62aformed on the base62. As shown inFIG. 6, the second operation member64is a manually pushable element including a push portion64athat can be pushed by a finger(s) of a user to slide the second operation member64. The second operation member64is urged by an urging device such as left and right compression springs66in such a direction that the engagement claw56bof the first operation member56of each first lock50enters the corresponding engagement hole64bof the second operation member64to lock the lid20.

Each compression spring66may be fitted on corresponding one of guide pins64cextending from the second operation member64, and opposite ends66aand66bof the compression spring66are hooked on the spring holding portion18bof the front side portion18of the frame16and on the base of the guide pin64cof the second operation member64, respectively. The biasing force (urging force) of the torsion spring58is set to be smaller than the biasing force (urging force) of the compression springs66.

As shown inFIG. 2, the left and right lids20are attached to the rear portion of the upper end of the peripheral wall of the box body10via hinge pins30so that the opening14is opened and closed as the lids20pivot in the front and rear directions. The lids20are each urged by a corresponding torsion spring32in the opening direction. The box body10of the console box1may be mounted on the floor of the automobile at a position between a driver's seat and a front passenger seat (neither is shown).

Each lid20of the console box1can be switched between the closed position (FIG. 1) and the opened position (FIG. 5) by pivoting each lid20about the corresponding hinge pin30. As a result, the opening14of the box body10can be closed and opened. When the lids20are in the closed position, the engagement claws56bof the left and right first operation members56can be engaged with the engagement holes64bof the second operation member64, as shown inFIG. 6. The lids20can thus be locked against the box body10.

As described above, each of the lids20is urged by the corresponding torsion spring32in the opening direction. When the lock mechanism40is operated to unlock the closed lids20, each of the lids20automatically returns to the opened position by the biasing force of the corresponding torsion spring32.

Referring toFIGS. 6 to 8, operation of the lock mechanism40of the console box1will now be described. The lock mechanism40allows two different unlocking modes for the lids20: one for unlocking of each lid20individually (the first mode) and the other for unlocking of the two lids20simultaneously (the second mode).

The first mode for unlocking the left and right lids20will be described. To open the left lid20that is locked to the box body10, the user may lift the handle portion56aof the first operation member56for the left lid20as shown inFIG. 7. The first operation member56then pivots against the biasing force of the torsion spring58for the left lid20, causing the engagement claw56bof the first operation member56for the left lid20to disengage from the corresponding engagement hole64bof the second operation member64. As a result, the lock mechanism40can be operated to unlock only the left lid20, allowing the left lid20to transition to the opened position.

If the left lid20thus opened is moved back toward the closed position, the engagement claw56bof the first operation member56may first contact the peripheral edge of the engagement hole64bof the second operation member64. As the left lid20is further moved back to the closed position, the engagement claw56bof the first operation member56may push the second operation member64rearward against the biasing force of the torsion spring58, so that the engaging claw56bcan pass over the peripheral edge of the engagement hole64bto enter the engaging hole64b. In this way, the left lid20can be locked in the closed position with respect to the box body10as shown inFIG. 6.

The right lid20can likewise be switched to the opened position and back to the closed position. In this way, the left and right lids20can be separately unlocked.

The second mode for unlocking the left and right lids20will now be described. To open the lids20that have been locked against the box body10, the user may push the push portion64aof the second operation member64as shown inFIG. 8. The second operation member64then slides backward against the biasing forces of the left and right compression springs66, thereby causing the engaging claws56bof the first operation members56for the two lids20to simultaneously disengage from the engagement holes64bof the second operation member64.

As a result, the lock mechanism40unlocks both left and right lids20simultaneously, allowing both lids20to switch to the opened position. That is, the left and right lids20can be opened by a single action, i.e. the pushing operation of the second operation member64. In this way, the left and right lids20can be unlocked simultaneously.

The left and right lids20thus opened can be switched back to the closed position in the same manner as described above in connection with the first unlocking mode.

The embodiment described above may have the following advantages:

The lock mechanism40includes two first operation members56for unlocking the left lid20and right lid20separately from each other, and the second operation member64for unlocking the left and right lids20simultaneously with each other. Therefore, the left and right lids20can be unlocked not only separately but also simultaneously. As a result, both lids20do not necessarily have to be opened if it is desired to open only one of the lids20, as is the case of the known art.

Each of the first operation members56is urged by the torsion spring58in such a direction that the engagement claw56bof each first operation member56engages with the corresponding hole64bof the second operation member64of the second lock60to lock the lid20. The second operation member64is urged by the left and right compression springs66in such a direction that the engagement claws56bof the first operation members56of the first locks50engage with the corresponding engagement holes64bof the second operation member64to lock the lids20. The biasing force of the torsion spring58is smaller than the biasing force of the compression springs66. This differential in the biasing forces, when one of the lids20is being closed, may prevent the first operation member56for the closing lid20from pushing the second operation member64to inadvertently open the other lid20that is in the closed position.

Each of the first operation members56has the handle portion56afor the manual pivotal operation, while the second operation member64has the push portion64afor the manual pushing operation. Since the first operation members56are operated in a different manner from the second operation member64, the user can therefore feel, without need of visual determination, which operation is being performed between the individual unlocking operation and the simultaneous unlocking operation. This can prevent inadvertent unlocking of both lids20when it is desirable to open only one of the lids20and vice versa.

Each of the first operation members56includes the engagement claw56b. The second operation member64includes the engagement hole64b. The lock mechanism40can lock the closed lids20through engagement of the engagement claws56bof the first operation members56with the engagement holes64bof the second operation member64. Therefore, the lock mechanism40is simple in construction.

The above embodiment may be modified in various ways.

In the above embodiment, the left and right lids20are attached to the box body10via the hinge pins30so that the lids20can be opened and closed in the front-rear direction. That is, the axes of the hinge pins30are oriented left to right. In an alternative embodiment, the left and right lids20may be attached to the box body10via the hinge pins30so that the opening14can be opened and closed in the left and right directions. That is, the axes of the hinge pins30are oriented front to rear.

Further, in the above embodiment, the first operation members56are configured to be pivoted for the unlocking operation, and the second operation member64is configured to be pushed for the unlocking operation. However, the first and second operation members56and64may be configured to be operated in different manners from those in the above embodiment.

For example,FIG. 9shows a console box101according to another embodiment, wherein the first operation members56are configured to be pushed for the unlocking operation, while the second operation member64is configured to be pushed for the unlocking operation as in the above embodiment shown inFIG. 6. In this embodiment, the engaging claw56bmay be formed on a pivotable member156that can pivot by the pushing operation of the first operation member56. Rearwardly pushing the first operation member may cause the pivotable member156to pivot to disengage the engaging claw56bfrom the corresponding engagement hole64bof the second operation member64so that the corresponding lid20can be unlocked.

FIG. 10shows a console box201according to a further embodiment, wherein the first operation members56are configured to be pushed for the unlocking operation as in the embodiment shown inFIG. 9, while the second operation member64is configured to be pivoted for the unlocking operation. In this embodiment, the second operation member64is pivotably attached to the base62. When the user lift the handle portion64aof the second operation member64, the second operation member64rotates to allow the engagement claw56bof the pivotable member156to disengage from the engagement hole64bso that the corresponding lid20is unlocked.

FIG. 11shows a console box301according to yet another embodiment, wherein the first operation members56are configured to be pivoted for the unlocking operation as in the embodiment shown inFIGS. 1 to 8, while the second operation member64is configured to be pivoted for the unlocking operation as in the embodiments shown inFIG. 10.

The above embodiments have been described in connection with the box body10of the console box1that may be mounted on the floor of an automobile at a position between the driver's seat and the front passenger seat. However, the box body10of the console box1may be mounted at any position of the floor of the automobile.

In some embodiments, cold air may be generated within the container space12of the box body10. That is, the console box1may be configured as a refrigerator. In this case, when putting in or taking out items (e.g. juice cans), the driver needs to open and close only the right lid20. Likewise, the front passenger only needs to open and close the left lid20. It is therefore possible to restrict the cold air escaping from the container space12as the items are put into or taken out of the console box.