LOCKING MECHANISM FOR A GLOVE COMPARTMENT LID

Abstract: A locking mechanism for a glove compartment lid or similar, which comprises a cam (3) having at least one radially extending arm (6a, 6b), said arm (6a, 6b) being engaged in a groove (8) defined by two side walls in a locking rod (1) having a boss (4), characterized in that a lip (13) on the cam (3) contacts a portion of the locking rod (1) and serves as a stop so that the boss (4) is prevented from exiting too far out from the housing (2) and in that, in the locking position, the lip (13) forces the arm (6a, 6b) into contact with a side wall of the groove (8) in the locking rod (1). This locking mechanism overcomes the problems relating to rattling from the cam arms and locking rods and also simplifies the construction of the locking mechanism.

Description: TITLE: Locking mechanism for a glove compartment lid. TECHNICAL FIELD: The present invention relates to a locking mechanism for a glove compartment lid according to the preamble of claim 1. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION: A locking mechanism for a glove compartment lid is known and shown in Fig. 1, where a cam 3 having two opposite arms 6 is rotatable around a point 7 in a housing 2 which, in turn, is attached to the glove compartment lid (not shown). Each arm 6 is engaged in a groove 8 on a locking rod 1, so that the rod 1 slides back and forth between two end positions when the cam 3 is rotated back and forth, the rod 1 being slidingly held by two support points 10, 11 and urged by a spring 9 towards the locked position . At the outer end of the locking rod 1 is a boss 4 which passes through an opening 11 in the housing 2, the locking rod 1 and boss 4 together forming a unit which is comparable to a spring bolt in a conventional locking mechanism. The boss 4 engages a recess or hole (not shown) in the dashboard construction (not shown) surrounding the glove compartment lid so that the two locking rods 1 thus prevent the opening of the lid in the locked position of the rods 1. A flange 5, positioned towards the outer end of the locking rod 1 such that it presses against the housing 2 when the rod 1 is in its outermost (locking) position, serves as a stop so that the boss 4 is prevented from exiting too far out from the housing 2. To reduce rattling generated by vehicle vibrations and the contact between the flange 5 and the housing 2, cushion pieces 12 of foam rubber, or the like, are fastened between the flange 5 and the housing 2. The cam 3 on its support 7 and the arms 6 on the cam are, however, left free to rattle against the support 7 and the insides of the grooves 8 in the locking rods 1, respectively, because the spring torque of the springs 9 is not large enough to keep the cam under tension. Stiffer springs cannot solve this problem and would also make it inconvenient to operate the lock knob (not shown), used to transmit a turning motion to the cam 3 or a sliding motion to the rod 1, which cannot be too large owing to size restrictions dictated by safety and other reasons. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION: It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a locking mechanism for a glove compartment lid which overcomes the problems relating to rattling from the cam arms and locking rods and also simplifies the construction of the locking mechanism. This object is achieved in accordance with the present invention by a locking mechanism for a glove compartment lid according to claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the present invention are detailed in the dependent claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS: The invention will be described in greater detail in the following by way of example only and with reference to the attached drawings, in which: Fig.1 is a schematic drawing showing one locking rod according to the Prior Art, and Fig. 2 is a schematic drawing showing one locking rod according to the invention, and Fig. 3 is a schematic drawing showing one embodiment of actuating the locking mechanism according to the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS: Fig. 2 shows a locking mechanism for a glove compartment lid (not shown), in accordance with the present invention, which comprises a cam 3 having preferably two opposed arms 6a/6b. The cam 3 is rotatable around an axis 7 in a housing 2 which, in turn, is attached to the glove compartment lid. Each arm 6a/6b is engaged in a groove 8 defined by two side walls in a respective locking rod 1, so that the rod 1 slides back and forth between two end positions when the cam 3 is rotated back and forth, the rod being slidingly held by at least two support points 10, 11 and urged by a spring 9 towards the locked position . At the outer end of the locking rod 1 is a boss 4 which passes through an opening 11 in the housing 2 which opening also serves as a support point for the rod. The locking rod 1 and boss 4 together form a unit which is comparable to a spring bolt in a conventional locking mechanism. The boss 4 engages a recess or hole (not shown) in the dashboard construction (not shown) surrounding the glove compartment lid so that the two locking rods 1 thus prevent the opening of the lid in the locked position of the rods 1. In place of the stop flange of the prior art mechanism, the mechanism of the present invention makes use of a lip 13 on the cam 3 for each rod. The lip 13 serves as a stop so that the boss 4 is prevented from exiting too far out from the housing 2. In the locking position, the lip 13 forces the arm 6a/6b into contact with a side wall of the groove 8 on the locking rod 1, thus effectively prohibiting any vibration induced rattling between the cam arms 6a/6b and the rod 1. The spring 9, which is weak enough to facilitate the turning of the lock knob, imparts sufficient tension to the cam/locking rod system to hold it in the locked position. Fig. 3 shows the application of a handle 14 which engages a stop 16 on the locking rod 1 so that when the handle 14 is tilted around the axis 15 the lever arm 17 is pushed against the stop 16 thus propelling the locking rod 1 in a direction to compresses the spring 9. The rod 1 thus rotates the cam 3 via the arm 6a and the cam 3, in turn, moves the other rod via the other, opposed arm 6b. The present invention is not restricted to the embodiments described above and illustrated by way of example in the drawings, but may be varied within the scope of the appended claims. It is to be understood that the term "cam" is intended to encompass an element which is used to transfer either the rotary movement of a lock knob to a linear movement of the locking rods, via the cam arms engaging the locking rod grooves or the rocking/tilting motion of a lever arm or handle, which moves one of the rods back so that the spring is compressed, this rod thus rotates the cam and the cam, in turn, moves the other rod. Naturally, the mechanism may be used on any other type of lid which may be subject to vibrations.

Claims: CLAIMS: 1. A locking mechanism for a glove compartment lid or similar, comprising a cam (3) having at least one radially extending arm (6a, 6b), said arm (6a, 6b) being engaged in a groove (8) defined by two side walls in a locking rod (1) having a boss (4) for engagement with a receiving element external of the lid, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that a lip (13) on the cam (3) contacts a portion of the locking rod (1) and serves as a stop so that the boss (4) is prevented from exiting too far out from the housing (2) and in that, in the locking position, the lip (13) forces the arm (6a, 6b) into contact with a side wall of the groove (8) in the locking rod (1). 2. The locking mechanism according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that said rod (1) is slidingly held by at least two support points (10, 11) so that the rod (1) can slide back and forth between two end positions when the cam (3) is rotated back and forth, said rod being urged by a spring (9) towards the locked position. 3. The locking mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that said cam (3) has two radially opposed arms (6a, 6b) each cooperating with respective locking rod (1). 4. The locking mechanism according to one of claims 1- 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that, said spring (9), which is weak enough to facilitate the turning of the lock knob, imparts sufficient tension to the cam/locking rod system to hold it in the locked position.

Inventors: VAN NULAND AAD, VAN NULAND, AAD
Applicants: NULAND AAD VAN, VOLVO AB, AB VOLVO, VAN NULAND, AAD
Application year: 1996
Main classification: E05B65
IPC codes: E05B15, E05B17, E05B65, E05C1, E05C9