Abstract:
An apparatus for selectively latching a drawer for storing objects and movable in a travel direction from beneath an automotive seat. The apparatus comprises one or more latches movable transverse to the travel direction from a latched position retaining the drawer closed and an unlatched position, the latch including a follower. A vertically movable handle including a cam cooperating with the follower for moving the latch to the unlatched position for releasing the drawer for opening. The latches and handle may be securely supported for sliding movement by vertical and lateral guides on a front wall of the drawer.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This document relates generally to the motor vehicle field and, more particularly, to a latching mechanism for an automotive under seat drawer. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Under seat drawers conveniently allow for the secure storage of articles in an automobile. Opening and closing of the drawer may be achieved using a latching mechanism. The latching mechanism should be inexpensive to implement, easy to use, reliable in operation, and perhaps most importantly should not create excessive noise during the operation of the automobile. For various reasons, past approaches have not met with success on these fronts, particularly in relation to the issue of noise. 
         [0003]    Accordingly, a need is identified for an improved latching mechanism for an automotive under seat drawer. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    According to one aspect of the disclosure, an apparatus is providing for storage under an automotive seat. The apparatus includes a drawer movable in a travel direction from beneath the automotive seat. A latch is movable transverse to the travel direction from a latched position retaining the drawer closed and an unlatched position, the latch including a follower. A vertically movable handle includes a cam cooperating with the follower for moving the latch to the unlatched position for releasing the drawer for opening. 
         [0005]    In one embodiment, a second latch movable transverse to the travel direction from a latched position retaining the drawer closed and an unlatched position for releasing the drawer for opening is also provided. The second latch includes a second follower for engaging a second cam of the handle. The first and second latches are movable in opposite directions between the latched and unlatched positions. 
         [0006]    Each follower may comprise a sloped wall on the latch. Each cam may comprise a pin for engaging the sloped wall and moving the latch inwardly as the handle moves upwardly in the vertical direction. Guides on a front wall of the drawer may support the latch and the handle. A spring for urging the latch to the latched position may also be provided. 
         [0007]    A guide may also be provided for receiving a first portion of the latch in the latched position. The first portion of the latch may disengage the guide for releasing the drawer for opening. The guide may comprise an opening elongated in a vertical direction. The guide may further include a wall for engaging a second portion of the latch in the latched and unlatched positions. 
         [0008]    According to another aspect of the disclosure, the automotive under seat storage apparatus comprises a drawer movable in a travel direction from beneath the automotive seat and opposed latches movable in a direction transverse to the travel direction from latched positions retaining the drawer closed and unlatched positions. A handle is adapted for moving the opposed latches toward each other in the transverse direction to an unlatched position for releasing the drawer for opening. 
         [0009]    Each latch may include a sloped wall, and the handle may include a pin for engaging the sloped wall and moving the latch inwardly when the handle moves upwardly in a vertical direction. The drawer may include a wall including a first guide for guiding the handle for movement in a vertical direction and a second guide for guiding the first latch for movement in a direction transverse to the travel direction. 
         [0010]    Still a further aspect of the disclosure pertains to an apparatus for storing articles beneath an automotive seat including a drawer movable in a travel direction from a closed position beneath the automotive seat to an open position. A first latch is for latching the drawer in the closed position, and a handle is provided for releasing the first latch. The drawer includes a wall including a first guide for guiding the handle for movement in a vertical direction and a second guide for guiding the first latch for movement in a direction transverse to the travel direction. 
         [0011]    A second latch may be provided for latching the drawer in the first position, the handle for releasing the second latch, and the wall may include a third guide for guiding the second latch in the transverse direction. The second guide may comprise a T-shaped projection and the first latch includes a groove for receiving the projection. 
         [0012]    In the following description, several embodiments of latching mechanism for an automotive under seat drawer are shown and described. As it should be realized, the arrangement is capable of other, different embodiments and its several details are capable of modification in various, obvious aspects all without departing from the latching mechanism for an automotive under seat drawer as set forth and described in the following claims. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions should be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
         [0013]    The accompanying drawing figures incorporated herein and forming a part of the specification, illustrate several aspects of the disclosed latching mechanism for an automotive under seat drawer, serve to explain certain principles thereof. In the drawing figures: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a partially cutaway side view of an automobile, illustrating one possible application of certain aspects of this disclosure; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a front view of an under sear drawer with a latching mechanism according to the disclosure; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a front view of a front wall of the drawer showing the positioning of opposed latches for latching the drawer closed; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3A  is a sectional view taken along line  3 A- 3 A of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a partially cutaway bottom view of a front end of the drawer; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is an isometric view showing the engagement of the handle and latches; 
           [0020]      FIGS. 6 and 7  are cutaway front views illustrating the relative movement of the handle and latches; and 
           [0021]      FIGS. 8, 9, and 10  are cutaway side views illustrating further details of the latches. 
       
    
    
       [0022]    Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the latching mechanism, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing figures. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]    Reference is now made to  FIGS. 1-10 , which illustrate a drawer  10  with an improved latching mechanism  12  forming an aspect of the disclosure. The drawer  10  may be used in a cabin C of an automobile A and, in particular, under or beneath a seat S for a vehicle operator or passenger, and arranged for movement in a travel direction T typically aligned with the direction of vehicle movement when traveling. The illustration in  FIG. 1  shows the drawer  10  used in connection with a rear seat (arrow R), but it can be appreciated that the drawer may be used in connection with the front seat (arrow F) as well, or possibly at other convenient locations in an automobile. 
         [0024]    Turning to  FIGS. 2-3 , the latching mechanism  12  is illustrated in detail. The mechanism  12  includes a pair of opposed latches  14 ,  16  for latching or locking the drawer  10  in a closed position, and for unlatching or unlocking to allow the drawer to move to an open position for accessing an associated storage compartment and any articles therein. The latches  14 ,  16  are mounted for sliding movement along corresponding guides  18  (only one shown in  FIG. 3A ), which are supported by the drawer  10 , and in particular a front wall  10   a  thereof in the illustrated embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 3A , the guides  18  may take the form of T-shaped projections  18   a  that slidably fit into elongated grooves  14   a ,  16   a  formed in the latches  14 ,  16  (see  FIG. 5 ), and thus allow for relative sliding movement in a direction transverse D to the travel direction T. Using a secure type of one-way connection such as this advantageously allows for the latches  14 ,  16  to move to and fro in a highly repeatable and reliable manner with a minimum amount of rattling and resulting noise. 
         [0025]    A cooperating handle  20  may also be provided for moving the latches  14 ,  16  in concert to release the drawer  10  for opening. Turning to  FIGS. 2 and 4  in particular, the handle  20  may be guided for movement in a vertical direction V along the front wall  10   a  of the drawer  10 . Specifically, the front wall  10   a  may include a pair of spaced, lateral guides  22  for interfacing with corresponding projections  20   a ,  20   b  on the handle  20 . A central guide  24  may also be provided, which may comprise a groove  24   a  for interfacing with a portion  20   c  of the handle between the projections  20   a ,  20   b . In view of the engagement with the guides  22 ,  24  in this manner, the stable and reliable movement of the handle  20 , such as when an outwardly projecting portion  20   d  is grasped by a seated user and lifted, is assured without lateral shifting or rattling. Thus, a further contribution is thus made to the noise reduction issue that can plague conventional latching mechanisms for drawers, and particularly those used in automobiles in the under seat location and subjected to significant vibrations throughout their service life. 
         [0026]    With combined reference to  FIGS. 5-8 , the manner in which the latches  14 ,  16  are actuated by the handle  20  when lifted in the vertical direction V to release the drawer  10  for opening is illustrated. As perhaps best understood from  FIGS. 5 and 6  together, each latch  14 ,  16  includes a follower, which may take the form of a surface  14   b ,  16   b  sloping inwardly in the vertical direction V toward the center of the drawer  10 . The handle  20  in turn includes cams in the forms of projecting pins  20   e  arranged to engage the respective surfaces  14   b ,  16   b  of the latches  14 ,  16 , such as by moving therealong, in response to the linear movement in the vertical direction V. As a result of this engagement, and as can be understood by comparing  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the handle  20  is raised in the vertical direction V, the latches  14 ,  16  are caused to travel inwardly in an opposite fashion in alignment with the transverse direction D (note positions  16 ′ and  20 ′ in  FIG. 7 ). The surfaces  14   b ,  16   a  may also extend in the transverse direction D to provide a resting place for the cams or pins  20   e  when the handle  20  is in the home condition, which thus means the latches  14 ,  16  partially surround and capture the pins. 
         [0027]    The movement of the latches  14 ,  16  inwardly is completed by raising the handle  20  until the unlatched position is achieved and the drawer  10  is free for moving to the open position. As can be understood from  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the movement of the handle  20  may cause the latches (only latch  16  shown) to withdraw from a corresponding opening  26   a , which may be formed in an associated railing  26  extending in the travel direction T. This railing  26  may also serve to support and guide the drawer  10  for movement to and fro in the travel direction T during opening and closing. 
         [0028]    As indicated in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the drawer  10  may also carry a guide  28  for guiding the latch  16  into the latched position. Specifically, the guide  28  may include a retainer, such as an opening  28   a  elongated vertically, for receiving a first projecting portion  16   c  of the latch  16  and guiding it into the opening  26   a  in a guide rail  26  when aligned therewith. To lend stability to the assembly and provide guidance during the opening of the drawer  10 , the guide  28  may also include a face  28   b  for engaging a second projecting portion  16   d  of the latch  16 , which may extend outwardly to engage a corresponding retainer, such as a wall  26   b  extending vertically from rail  26  (and arranged in a different vertical plane, as can be understood from  FIGS. 6 and 7 ). A spring  30  may also extend between the drawer  10  and the latch  16  for similar construction may be provided for latch  14 , but of course operating with that latch moving in the opposite direction as a result of actuation of the handle  20 . 
         [0029]    With reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7  again, it can be understood that when the latch  16  is withdrawn to the maximum extent by the raising of the handles, the projections  16   c ,  16   d  are moved clear of the corresponding retainers, which are the opening  26   a  and the wall  26   b  of the rail  26 . As can be understood from  FIG. 2 , a spring  30  may also extend between the drawer  10  and each latch  14 ,  16  to urge it toward the latched condition. Movement of the handle  20  vertically and the resulting camming engagement thus causes the springs  30  to expand concurrently. 
         [0030]    Once the latches  14 ,  16  are released, the drawer  10  is thus cleared to move to the open position by pulling on the portion  20   d  once in the raised position. The handle  20  may then be released once moved forward. The combined forces of gravity acting thereon and the springs  30  return the latches  14 ,  16  toward the latched position, but removed from the engagement with the opening  26   a  and wall  26   b  to allow for free movement. 
         [0031]    To reform the locking engagement, the handle  20  may simply be lifted and the drawer  10  returned to the closed position. The handle  20  may then be released when the projections  16   c ,  16   d  are in the proper alignment with the respective retainers (opening  26   a  and wall  26   b ). To aid in providing the proper locating function, the opening  26   a  may be elongated in the vertical direction V, and thus form a slot, as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0032]    The bodies of the latches  14 ,  16  and handle  20  may be formed of lightweight, durable materials, such as plastic. These parts may be easily formed using existing injection molding techniques, and in a manner that allows for relatively tight-fitting engagement to be realized on assembly. This mode of fabrication, combined with the above-mentioned construction, avoids creating any metal-on-metal contact, and thus contributes to reduced noise associated with rattling or the like during the operation of the automobile A. Yet, the secure engagement provided between the latches  14 ,  16  and the associated retainers, plus the reliable dual opposing movement caused by the single handle  20 , provides a robust and reliable arrangement. 
         [0033]    In summary, an improved latching mechanism  12  for an automotive under seat drawer  10  is provided. The latching mechanism  12  includes opposed latches  14 ,  16  slidably mounted to a guide  18  on a common support with a handle  20  mounted for moving in a vertical direction V, also by sliding along guides  22 ,  24 . The result is a secure latching arrangement that can be constructed out of low cost, plastic parts without compromising security and without increased vehicle noise as a result of rattling or the like. 
         [0034]    The foregoing has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. For instance, while two latches  14 ,  16  create a secure arrangement, only one latch might be used, in which case the handle  20  would engage only the single latch  14  or  16 . Furthermore, the latches might not be of the same or similar construction. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled.