Abstract:
A lid open-close apparatus including: a lid openably mounted in a concave portion, which is provides at a vehicle side; a lock device for locking a closed state of the lid; and an operating element, which is disposed at the vehicle side close to the concave portion, for releasing the lock device, wherein: the lock device has a lock piece, which is provided in the lid and moves into and out of the lid from a peripheral edge thereof and is usually elastically pushed in such a way as to project from the peripheral edge thereof and engages with an engaging hole provided in an inner periphery of the concave portion; and the operating element has a pusher adapted to push a receiving portion, which is provided in a part interconnected to the lock piece, to thereby cancel engagement of the lock piece.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a lid open-close apparatus for opening, closing, and locking, for example, a glove box of an automobile. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   A glove box is mounted on, for example, a front passenger seat side of an automobile instrument panel. This glove box is openably mounted in a concave portion provided in the instrument panel. The glove box has a locking piece, which engages with the inner periphery of the concave portion when closing the glove box, and an operating element for disengaging the locking piece therefrom by drawing back the locking piece. Various mechanisms for implementing the locking piece and the operating element have been known. The operating element is usually mounted on the face side of the glove box. 
   However, because the operating element is mounted on the face side of the glove box, for instance, when a driver wishes to open the glove box, he should operate the operating element by largely moving his body toward the front passenger seat side. Consequently, there has been a problem that during stopped at a tollbooth or the like, the glove box cannot quickly and readily be opened. 
   Thus, in the following JP-A-5-338500, there has been proposed a lock apparatus adapted so that an opener for unlatching a latch mechanism, which locks the glove box, through a remote control cable by pushing a pushbutton is disposed at a place located away from a position, at the glove box is disposed, toward the center of the instrument panel. 
   However, because the latch mechanism for locking the glove box is unlatched through a remote control cable by pushing a pushbutton, the lock apparatus has problems that the configuration thereof is complex, that the number of components is large, that the assembling thereof is time-consuming, and that the manufacturing cost thereof is high. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An object of the invention is to provide a lid open-close apparatus enabled to easily achieve opening and closing operations from a relatively remote position with a simple structure and with a small number of components. 
   To achieve the foregoing object, according to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a lid open-close apparatus including a lid openably mounted in a concave portion, which is provided at a vehicle side, a lock device for locking a closed state of the lid, and an operating element, which is disposed at the vehicle side close to the concave portion, for releasing the lock device. The lock device has a lock piece, which is provided in the lid and moves into and out of the lid from a peripheral edge thereof and is usually elastically pushed in such a way as to project from the peripheral edge thereof and engages with an engaging hole provided in the inner periphery of the concave portion. The operating element has a pusher adapted to push a receiving portion, which is provided in a part interconnected to the lock piece, to thereby cancel the engagement of the lock piece. 
   According to a second aspect of the invention in the first aspect of the invention, there is provided a lid open-close apparatus, in which the lock device has a rotation lever turnably supported by the lid, a pair of link rods having base portions, which are pivotally mounted on opposed arm ends provided on the rotation lever, and extending in directions of both sides of the lid, the lock pieces attached to ends of the link rods, and an elastic member for elastically pushing the lock pieces in such a way as to project from both side walls of the lid. 
   According to a third aspect of the invention in the second aspect of the invention, there is provided a lid open-close apparatus, in which an end portion of one of the link rods is bifurcated into one end part, which extends nearly coaxially with the base portion and has an end constituting a receiving portion to be pushed by the pusher, and into the other end part extending in nearly parallel to the one end part and having an end constituting the lock piece, and wherein the elastic member disposed in such a way as to axially push the base portions of the link rods. 
   According to a fourth aspect of the invention in the second aspect of the invention, there is provided a lid open-close apparatus, in which an end portion of one of the link rods is bifurcated into one end part, which extends nearly coaxially with the base portion and has an end constituting the lock piece, and into the other end part extending in nearly parallel to the one end part and having an end constituting a receiving portion to be pushed by the pusher. 
   According to a fifth aspect of the invention in one of the first to fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a lid open-close apparatus, in which the receiving portion provided in a part interconnected to the lock piece has a slope, which has a part provided at a face side thereof projects and a part provided at a rear side thereof retreats and provides a reaction force in a direction, in which the lid is opened, when pushed by the pusher. 
   According to a sixth aspect of the invention in one of the first to fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided a lid open-close apparatus, in which each of the lock pieces has a slope, which has a part provided at a face side of the lid projects and a part provided at a rear side of the lid retreats, and abuts against a peripheral edge of the concave portion and is drawn into the lid when the lid is closed, and in which the lock piece projects outwardly from the lid more largely than the receiving portion. 
   According to the invention, the pusher is pushed out by operating the operating element provided at a vehicle side. Thus, a receiving portion provided in a portion interconnected to the lock piece is pushed. Consequently, the engagement of the lock piece with the lid is canceled, so that the lid can be opened. Thus, the opening and closing of the lid can easily be performed from a relatively remote position. Further, the operating element has only to have a structure adapted to push the pusher thereby to simply push the receiving portion provided in the portion interconnected to the lock piece. Thus, the configuration of the apparatus is simple. The number of components thereof is small. The assembling thereof can be facilitated. The manufacturing cost thereof can be reduced. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other objects and advantages of this invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a lid open-close apparatus according to the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a lock device used in the lid open-close apparatus; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating an operating element used in the lid open-close apparatus; 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state of the operating element, in which a pushbutton is not pushed; 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state of the operating element, in which the pushbutton is pushed; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating a mounting condition of the operating element, which is taken from a rear side thereof; 
       FIG. 7  is an explanatory view illustrating a lock state of the lid open-close apparatus, which is taken frown a front side thereof; 
       FIG. 8  is an explanatory view illustrating a lock cancellation state of the lid open-close apparatus, which is taken from a front side thereof; and 
       FIG. 9  is an explanatory view illustrating another embodiment of the lid open-close apparatus according to the invention, which is taken from a front side thereof. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Next, an embodiment of a lid open-close apparatus according to the invention is described herein below by referring to  FIGS. 1 to 8 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , this lid open-close apparatus has a lid  30  openably mounted in a concave portion  12 , which is provided in an instrument panel  10  of an automobile. In the case of this embodiment, the concave portion  12  is shaped like a laterally-elongated rectangle, and a rightwardly upwardly corner portion is inwardly cut out, as viewed in the figure. Thus, the lid  30  is also shaped like a laterally-elongated rectangle, which can be fitted to the concave portion  12 . The rightwardly upwardly corner portion thereof is inwardly cut out. Further, the instrument panel  10  has a mounting hole  14  for mounting an operating element  70  at the rightwardly upper part of the concave portion  12 . 
   The lid  30  includes a lid body  31  and a face plate  33  fitted to a peripheral wall  32 . Plural cylindrical spacers  34  are erected on the inner surface of the lid body  31 . When the faceplate  33  is fitted thereto, the faceplate  33  is fixedly attached to the spacers  34  by means such as adhesion or screwing. Paired shafts  35 ,  35  are attached to bottom parts of both sides of the peripheral wall  32  of the lid body  31  in such a way as to project from both lateral sides, respectively. These shafts  35  are inserted to shaft holes  15  respectively provided in both sides of the inner periphery  13  of the concave portion, and support the lid  30  in such a manner as to be able to open and close. 
   Further, paired guide arms  36 ,  36  each extending like a circular arc are attached to both sides of the back surface of the lid body  31 . Incidentally,  FIG. 1  shows only one of the guide arms  36 , for convenience. Each of the guide arms  36  has a slit  36   a  at the center thereof and also has a claw portion  36   b  at an end thereof. Furthermore, an end portion of this guide arm  36  is inserted into a guide hole  16  provided in the inner periphery  13  of the instrument panel  10 . Thus, the claw portion  36   b  engages with a back side of the guide hole  16  thereby to prevent the lid  30  from opening. That is, the lid  30  opens and closes by being guided by the guide arms  36  while supported by the shafts  35 . The lid  30  opens to an angle at which the claw portion  36   b  of each of the guide arms  36  engages with the guide hole  16 . 
   A lock device  40  for locking a closed state of the lid  30 , which is caused by pushing the lid  30  into the concave portion  12  and then closing the concave portion  12 , is provided in the lid  30 . This lock device  40  includes a first link rod  41 , a second link rod  42 , a rotation lever  43  for connecting the base portions of these link rods to each other, and a spring  44  for elastically pushing the first link rod  41  outwardly from a side of the lid  30 . 
   Referring this figure together with  FIG. 2 , the rotation lever  43  has a central cylindrical portion  54 , and a pair of arms  52   a ,  52   b  respectively extending outwardly from positions opposed in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical portion  54 . Further, the shafts  371  (see  FIG. 1 ) provided in such a way as to project to the inner surface of the lid body  31  are inserted into the cylindrical portion  54 , so that the rotation lever  43  is turnably supported by the lid  30 . 
   The fist link rod  41  has a holding hole  53  in a base portion  41   a . One  52   a  of the arms of the rotation lever  43  is inserted into this holding hole  53 , and the lever  43  is connected thereto in such a way as to be turnable around a support shaft (not shown). The first link rod  41  has an end portion coaxially extending from the base portion  41   a  through a slightly obliquely inclined intermediate portion  41   b . This end portion is bifurcated into an end part  41   c  and the other end part  41   d.    
   The latter end part  41   d  extends in parallel to the former end part  41   c  in such a way as to be longer than the end part  41   c . A lock piece  45  is formed at an end of the end part  41   d . Further, an end face of the lock piece  45  is formed like a slope  45   a  in such a way as to project at the side of the face of the lid  30  and as to recede at the side of the back of the lid  30 . Meanwhile, an end of the end part  41   c  is formed as a receiving portion  55 , whose an end face is formed like a slope  45   a  in such a way as to protrude at the side of the face of the lid  30  and as to recede at the side of the back of the lid  30 . Incidentally, an amount L 1  of projection of the slope  45   a  of the lock piece  45  is more than that L 2  of projection of the slope  55   a  of the receiving portion  55 . 
   A guide portion  47  constituted by a portion, which is enlarged in diameter, is formed in the intermediate portion  41   b  of the first link rod  41 . A guide hole  48  is formed in this guide portion  41 . A guide shaft  50  is provided closer to the base end of the base portion  41   a  of the first link rod  41  in such a way as to protrude therefrom. An engaging claw  51  is formed at an end of this guide shaft  50 . 
   The second link rod  42  has a structure nearly similar to that of the first link rod  41  except the shape of an end portion thereof. That is, the holding hole  53  is formed in the base portion  42   a  thereof. The other arm  52   b  of the rotation lever  43  is inserted into this holding hole  53 , and the lever  43  is connected thereto in such a way as to be turnable around a support shaft (not shown). 
   The second link rod  42  has an end portion  42   c  extending more frontwardly through the slightly inclined intermediate portion  42   b . Further, a lock piece  45 , which is similar to that provided in the case of the first link rod  41 , is formed at an end of the end portion  42   c . A slope  45   a  is formed in an end face of this lock piece  45 , similarly to that provided in the aforementioned case. 
   Further, a guide shaft  50 , which is similar to that provided in the case of the first link rod  41 , is provided closer to the base end of the base portion  42   a  of the second link rod  42  in such a way as to protrude therefrom. An engaging claw  51  is formed at an end of this guide shaft  50 . 
   Each of the guide shafts  50  is inserted into the guide hole  48  of the other guide portion  47 . Further, the engaging claw  51  is engaged with the peripheral edge of the guide hole  48  to thereby prevent these paired fist and second link rods  41  and  42  from being slipped off each other. Thus, the link rods  41  and  42  are assembled in such a way as to be expandable and contractable in directions toward both sides thereof. 
   Also, the spring  44  is intervened between portions provided on the outer periphery of the guide shaft  50  of the first link rod  41 . The first link rod  41  is always pushed by this spring  44  in such a way as to outwardly be protruded. This pushing force is transmitted to the second link rod  42  through the arms  52   a  and  52   b  of the rotation lever  43 , so that the second link rod  42  is elastically pushed in such a way as to outwardly project therefrom. The spring  44  constitutes an elastic member according to the invention. Incidentally, various kinds of spring members or rubber can be used as the elastic member. 
   The paired left and right lock pieces  45  of the lock device  40  are inserted into lock piece insertion holes  38 , which are formed in side walls of the lid body  31 , thereby to be projected from both sides of the lid  30 . At that time, each of the engaging claws  51  of the guide shafts  50  engages with the peripheral edge of the associated guide hole  48  to thereby restrict a maximum amount of projection thereof. Further, the receiving portion  55  of the first link rod  41  is projected from a receiving portion insertion hole  39  formed in an upper portion of the right side face of the lid body  31 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 6 , this receiving portion insertion hole  39  has a cutout  39   a  formed toward the back surface of the lid  30 . A pusher  74  of an operating element  70  (to be described later) can be passed through this cutout  38   a  toward the rear thereof. Also, an engaging hole  17 , with which the lock piece  45  engages, is formed in each of both side walls of the inner periphery  13  of the concave portion of the instrument panel  10 . 
   Next, the structure of the operating element  70  is described by referring to  FIGS. 3 to 6 . As described above, the operating element  70  is mounted in the mounting hole  14  of the instrument panel  10 . That is, the operating element  70  mainly includes a housing  71  attached to the inside of the mounting hole  14  of the instrument panel  10 , a pushbutton  72  attached to this housing  71  in such a way as to be pushed thereinto, a slide bar  73  that is inserted through the housing  71  in such a way as to be able to laterally slide and caused by the pushbutton  72  in such a manner as to slide, and a spring  75  for elastically pushing this slide bar  73  in a predetermined direction. 
   The housing  71  has a concave portion surrounded by a guide frame  76  so as to accept the pushbutton  72 . The pushbutton  72  is provided with a pair of guide pieces  77 ,  77  to be inserted into the concave portion of the housing  71 . A pushing rod  78  is provided between the guide pieces  77  in such a way as to project therefrom. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , an end surface of the pushing rod  78  is formed as a slope  78   a . Meanwhile, the slide bar  73  is passed through the housing  71  laterally, and has a through hole  79  in the intermediate portion. A slope  79   a  abutting against the slope  78   a  of the pushing rod  78  is formed in the inner surface of this through hole  79 . 
   A projection portion  80  is provided at one of end port ions of the slide bar  73 . A spring receiver  81  is provided in this projection portion  80  in such a manner as to protrude therefrom. Meanwhile, the housing  71  is provided with a spring receiver  82  formed on a surface opposed to the projection portion  80 . Further, the aforementioned spring  75  has an end, which is supported by the spring receiver  81  of the projection portion  80 , and the other end supported by the spring receiver  82  of the housing  71 . The spring  75  elastically and rightwardly pushes the slide bar  73 , as viewed in  FIG. 4 . 
   Then, when the pushbutton  72  is pushed, the pushing rod  78  is pushed, and thereby the slope  78   a  pushes the slope  79   a  formed on the inner surface of the through hole  79  in the slide bar  73  and to move the slide bar  73  against the pushing force of the spring  75  leftwardly, as viewed in  FIG. 4 , and to bring the left end portion thereof into a condition shown in  FIG. 5 . 
   The pusher  74  is attached to the left end portion of the slide bar  73 . An end surface of this pusher  74  is formed as a slope  74   a  whose part provided at the side of the inside of the concave portion  12  more largely projects therefrom. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the pusher  74  is adapted to project from the inner periphery  13  of the concave portion of the instrumental panel  10  through a hole  18  formed in a rightwardly upwardly wall part of the inner periphery  13  thereof. 
   Further, when the lid  30  is closed, the receiving portion  55  of the first link rod  41  is placed in the hole  18  of the instrument panel  10 . The slide bar  73  is slid by the pushbutton  72 . When the pusher  74  is pushed out, the slope  55   a  of the receiving portion  55  is pushed by the slope  74   a  of the pusher  74 . 
   Next, an operation of this lid open-close apparatus is described hereinbelow. 
   When the lid  30  is turned toward the concave portion  12  in a direction in which the lid  30  is closed, the inner periphery  13  of the concave portion abuts against the slope  45   a  of the lock piece  45  projecting from the lock piece insertion hole  38 . Consequently, each of the lock pieces  45  is pushed by being guided by the slope  45   a . The paired left and right link rods  41  and  42  slide against the pushing force of the spring  44  in such a way as to be drawn into the lid  30 , while turning the rotation lever  43 . Thus, when the lid  30  is fitted into the concave portion  12 , the lock pieces  45  reach the engaging holes  17  formed in both sides of the inner periphery  13  of the concave portion and engage with the engaging holes  17  by being fitted thereinto by the pushing force of the spring  44 . Consequently, the lid  30  is locked in a state in which the concave portion  12  is closed. 
     FIG. 7  shows this lock state. At that time, as described above, the paired left and right lock pieces  45  protrude from the lock piece insertion holes  38  of the lid  30 . Further, the lock pieces  45  are fitted into the engaging holes  17  of the inner periphery  13  of the concave portion. Furthermore, the receiving portion  55  of the first link rod  41  outwardly projects from the lid  30  through a receiving portion insertion hole  39  of the lid  30  and is inserted into the hole  18  of the inner periphery  13  of the concave portion. 
   In this case, as described above, the amount L 1  of projection of the slope  45   a  of the lock piece  45  is larger than that L 2  of projection of the slope  55   a  of the receiving portion  55 . Additionally, an amount A of projection of the lock piece  45  from the side wall of the lid  30  is set to be larger than that B of projection of the receiving portion  55  from the side wall of the lid  30 . Thus, when the lock piece  45  abuts against the inner periphery  13  of the concave portion and is drawn into the lid  30 , the receiving portion  55  is surely drawn into the lid  30  in such a way as to be prevented from getting caught in the inner periphery  13  of the concave portion. 
   Next, an operation of canceling the lock of the lock device  40  and opening the lid  30  is described hereinbelow. When the lid  30  is opened, it is necessary only to push the pushbutton  72  of the operating element  70 . That is, when the pushbutton  72  is pushed, the slope  78   a  of the pushing rod  78  pushes the slope  79   a  provided in the through hole  79  of the slide bar  73 , as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . Thus, the slide bar  73  is slid leftwardly against the pushing force of the spring  75 , as viewed in  FIG. 4 . Thus, the pusher  74  is pushed out, as shown in  FIG. 5 . The pushed-out pusher  74  projects from the hole  18  of the inner periphery  13  of the concave portion and pushes the slope  55   a  of the receiving portion  55  of the first link rod  41  provided in the lid  30 . Consequently, the first link rod  41  is slid in such a way as to be drawn into the lid  30 . The lock piece  45  is inwardly drawn from the lock piece insertion hole  38  of the lid  30 . 
   Further, when the first link rod  41  slides, the second link rod  42  is also drawn into the lid  30  through the rotation lever  43 . The lock piece  45  of the second link rod  42  is also drawn into the lock piece insertion hole  38 . Consequently, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the engagement of the paired left and right lock pieces  45  with the engaging holes  17  of the inner periphery  13  of the concave portion is canceled, so that the lock of the closed state of the lid  30  is canceled. Further, when the slope  74   a  of the pusher  74  pushes the slope  55   a  of the receiving portion  55 , such slopes cause a force to act in a direction in which the lid  30  is opened. Thus, the lock of the lid  30  is canceled. Simultaneously, the lid  30  is pushed out slightly frontwardly. Consequently, the own weight of the lid  30  causes the lid  30  to more largely open. The lid  30  turns to a position, in which the claw portion  36   b  of the guide arm  36  engages with the guide hole  16 , and stops. 
   Incidentally, in some cases, the lid  30  is not opened by the own weight thereof according to the mounting position of the lid  30 . However, in such a case, the slopes  74   a  of the pusher  74  and the slope  55   a  of the receiving portion  55  bring the lid  30  into a state in which the lid is slightly opened frontwardly. Thus, the lid  30  can easily be opened by engaging a finger therewith. 
   Incidentally, in this embodiment, as described above, the concave portion  12  has a shape, in which the right corner portion of the rectangle is inwardly cut out. The operating element  70  is mounted in this cutout portion through the mounting hole  14 . Thus, the entire lid open-close apparatus is fitted into a rectangle. Consequently, a space for adjacent equipment and materials can be ensured. Incidentally, in a case where there is spatial margin, each of the concave portion  12  and the lid  30  can be shaped like a rectangle. Thus, the operating element  70  can be provided thereoutside. 
   Furthermore, in this embodiment, the receiving portion  55  pushed by the pusher  74  and the base portion  41   a  of the first link rod  41  are placed substantially coaxially. Additionally, the guide shaft  50  extends to a side closer to the base end of the base portion  41   a . The spring  44  attached to the outer periphery thereof outwardly pushes the first link rod  41 . Further, a pressing force which the receiving portion  55  undergoes acts upon the guide shaft  50 , to which the spring  44  is attached by insertion, nearly coaxially. This enables reduction of a prying force and a bending force and smoothly achieves a lock cancellation operation. 
     FIG. 9  shows another embodiment of the lid open-close apparatus according to the invention. This embodiment differs from the aforementioned embodiment in the shape of the first link rod  41 . That is, an end portion of the first link rod  41  is bifurcated, so that the lock piece  45  is formed at the end portion  41   c  extending coaxially with the base portion  41   a . Further, the other end portion  41   d , which is also bifurcated, extends in parallel to the end portion  41   c . The receiving portion  55  is formed at an end part thereof. 
   The lock pieces  45  of the paired left and right link rods, that is, the first link rod  41  and the second link rod  42  are outwardly projected from the positions close to the top corner portions on both side surface of the lid  30 . Meanwhile, the receiving portion  55  formed at the other end portion  41   d  of the first link rod  41  projects from a central portion of the right side surface of the lid  30 . The operating element  70  is provided at a part located thereoutside. 
   Because the lock pieces  45  of the paired left and right link rods, that is, the first link rod  41  and the second link rod  42  are placed in such a way as to outwardly be projected from the upper parts of both side surfaces of the lid  30 , the lock state of the lid  30  can be held more securely. 
   Incidentally, although each of the aforementioned embodiments is applied to a side lock mechanism in which paired lock pieces move into and out of the lid  30  from both side surfaces thereof, the invention can be applied to a lock device of the type adapted so that one lock piece moves in and out of the lid  30  from a central part of the top side thereof. Further, although the lid  30  is shaped like a plate as a whole and opens and closes an opening part of the concave portion  12  in the embodiments, the invention can be applied to an open-close apparatus of what is called the glove box type, in which the lid  30  itself constitutes a storage container. Additionally, the operating element is not limited to the aforementioned pushbutton type one and may be that a lever type one. 
   The apparatus according to the invention can be utilized as the lid open-close apparatus enabled to easily perform operations of opening, closing, and locking, for example, a glove box of an automobile from a relatively remote position, with a simple structure using a small number of components.