Patent Publication Number: US-2019176675-A1

Title: Motor vehicle equipped with a strongbox and method for securing a valuable item in a motor vehicle

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This document relates generally to the motor vehicle equipment field, and more particularly, to a motor vehicle equipped with a strongbox providing added security for a valuable item as well as to a method for securing a valuable item in a motor vehicle. 
     BACKGROUND 
     It is known in the art to equip a motor vehicle with a storage compartment in a glovebox and/or a center console that may only be accessed through a locking glovebox door or cover. Unfortunately, while glovebox doors and console covers may be locked, they do not provide high security. As a consequence they may be relatively easily opened and the contents can be removed by unauthorized persons. 
     This document relates to a motor vehicle incorporating a strongbox with an electronically controlled dedicated locking mechanism linked to the vehicle&#39;s security system. Advantageously, the strongbox is resistant to forced opening and may be permanently attached to the motor vehicle in a manner that provides substantial additional security over state-of-the-art locking gloveboxes and center console compartments. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with the purposes and benefits described herein, a motor vehicle is provided. That motor vehicle includes or comprises a strongbox, a strongbox door, a dedicated locking mechanism for the strongbox door and a mounting feature securing the strongbox in the motor vehicle. 
     More specifically, the mounting feature may secure the strongbox directly to a sheet metal structure of the motor vehicle. In one of many possible embodiments, the mounting feature secures the strongbox to a floor pan of the motor vehicle. In another of the many possible embodiments, the mounting feature secures the strongbox directly to a frame of the motor vehicle. In yet another embodiment, the mounting feature secures the strongbox directly to a cross car beam of the motor vehicle. In one or more of these embodiments, the mounting feature may be at least one weld permanently securing the strongbox to any part of the metal superstructure of the motor vehicle. 
     The strongbox may be mounted under a seat of the motor vehicle. In other embodiments, the strongbox may be mounted in a console of the motor vehicle. In still other embodiments, the strongbox may be mounted in a glovebox of the motor vehicle. In still other embodiments, the strongbox may be mounted in or on a cargo floor of the motor vehicle. 
     In substantially any of these embodiments, the strongbox and the strongbox door may both be made from a high strength steel material resistant to being opened and damaged without the dedicated locking mechanism being properly activated. 
     That dedicated locking mechanism may be an electronic latch module. Further, the dedicated locking mechanism may be controlled by a controller. That controller may be configured to only open the dedicated locking mechanism when a key of the motor vehicle is in the motor vehicle. This increases the security of the strongbox. 
     In accordance with an additional aspect, a method is provided for securing a valuable item in a motor vehicle. That method comprises the steps of locating a strongbox within the motor vehicle and permanently securing the strongbox to a metal superstructure of the motor vehicle. 
     The method may further include the step of welding the strongbox to the superstructure. Further, the method may include providing the strongbox with a strongbox door. Still further, the method may include providing a dedicated locking mechanism for the strongbox door. 
     The method may further include the step of making the strongbox and the strongbox door from a high grade steel that is resistant to tampering and provides additional security. Still further, the method may include using an electronic latch module for the dedicated locking mechanism of the strongbox. 
     In the following description, there are shown and described several preferred embodiments of the motor vehicle equipped with a new and improved strongbox. As it should be realized, the motor vehicle and the related method for securing a valuable item in a motor vehicle, are capable of other, different embodiments and their several details are capable of modification in various, obvious aspects all without departing from the motor vehicle and method 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 
       The accompanying drawing figures incorporated herein and forming a part of the specification, illustrate several aspects of the motor vehicle and the method of securing a valuable item in a motor vehicle and together with the description serve to explain certain principles thereof. 
         FIG. 1 a    is schematic view of a motor vehicle showing a strongbox permanently mounted by welds to a floor pan underneath a front seat. 
         FIG. 1 b    is a perspective view of the strongbox that may be directly secured and even permanently attached to a sheet metal structure or the metal superstructure of the motor vehicle. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a motor vehicle wherein the strongbox is mounted within a console and welded to the floor pan in the motor vehicle. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic block diagram of the security system of the motor vehicle including a dedicated locking mechanism for the strong box in the form of an electronic latch module responsive to a controller of the motor vehicle. 
     
    
    
     Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the motor vehicle and the related method for securing a valuable item in a motor vehicle, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing figures. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference is now made to  FIG. 1 a    illustrating a portion of an interior of a motor vehicle  10  including a front seat  12  held on a seat position adjustment rack  14  that is fixed to the floor pan  16  of the motor vehicle. That floor pan  16  is covered by a decorative carpet  18 . A layer of sound deadening insulation  20  is provided between the carpet and the floor pan  16 . A strongbox, generally designated by reference numeral  22 , is provided between the bottom seat cushion  24  and the floor pan  16 . 
     As should be appreciated from reviewing  FIGS. 1 a  and 1 b   , the strongbox  22  comprises an enclosure  26  having a single access opening  28  and a strongbox door  30 , pivotally attached to the enclosure  26  and adapted for opening and closing the closure. 
     The strongbox  22 , including enclosure  26  and the strongbox door  30 , are preferably made from a high strength material resistant to tampering and theft. Preferably a high strength steel material is utilized. For added security the strongbox door  30  may be secured to the housing or enclosure  26  by an internal hinge  32  hidden from view when the strongbox door  30  is closed. 
     A dedicated locking mechanism, generally designated by reference numeral  34  is provided for the strongbox door  30 . The deadbolt  36  of the dedicated locking mechanism is made from a high strength steel as is the striker  38  that receives the deadbolt. 
     A mounting feature  40  secures the strongbox  22  in the motor vehicle  10 . In the illustrated embodiment, the mounting feature  40  comprises at least one weld that permanently attaches the enclosure  26  of the strongbox  22  to the floor pan  16 . That weld  40  may be hidden from view by the overlying carpet  18  if desired. 
     It should be appreciated that  FIG. 1 a    illustrates a single embodiment of the motor vehicle  10  and should be considered illustrative rather than limiting in scope. As more generally illustrated in  FIG. 1 b   , the mounting feature  40  may be utilized to secure the strongbox  22  directly to substantially any sheet metal structure  42  of the motor vehicle  10  including the metal superstructure or any part of that metal superstructure including, for example, the frame or the cross car beam of the motor vehicle. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 a   , the strongbox  22  is mounted under the front seat  12  of the motor vehicle. Other mounting locations are possible. Thus, as more broadly illustrated in  FIG. 1 b   , the strongbox  22  may be mounted to any sheet metal structure  42  such as to a cross car beam in a glovebox or on or in a cargo floor of the motor vehicle. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the strongbox  22  may be mounted in a center console  46  of the motor vehicle  10 . Such a mounting position would be particularly useful in larger vehicles such as a pickup truck. In any and all embodiments, the strongbox  22  may be permanently fixed to the superstructure of the motor vehicle by any appropriate mounting feature  40  for that purpose. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the dedicated locking mechanism  34  may comprise an electronic latch module  50 . That electronic latch module  50  may be linked to the motor vehicle security system through the motor vehicle security system controller  52 . The controller  52  may comprise a computing device such as a dedicated microprocessor or an electronic control unit (ECU) operating in accordance with instructions from appropriate control software. Thus, the controller  52  may comprise one or more processors, one or more memories and one or more network interfaces all in communication with each over a communication bus. 
     As further illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the controller  52  may be connected to the vehicle key ignition  54 , where the motor vehicle includes a state-of-the-art key controlled ignition switch, as well as to the vehicle cluster and center display  56  by a communication bus. The controller  52  may also be configured for wireless communication with a vehicle key fob  58 , matched by security code to the motor vehicle  10  and/or a smart phone  60  adapted to communicate with the controller  52  through a Bluetooth or other wireless connection. 
     In one possible embodiment of the invention, the controller  52  is adapted or configured to only open the dedicated locking mechanism  34  (the electronic latch module  50  of the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 ) when the key of the motor vehicle is in the motor vehicle  10 . Accordingly, the controller  52  must detect the presence of the vehicle key fob  58  within the motor vehicle  10  before the controller will unlatch the electronic latch module  50  to allow one to open the strongbox door  30  and access the contents of the strongbox  22 . This provides an added level of security and limited access to any valuable item that might be stored in the strongbox  22 . Thus, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the controller  52  may be configured to open the electronic latch module  50  in a motor vehicle  10  incorporating a traditional key when that traditional key is in the vehicle key ignition  54 . 
     In contrast, where the motor vehicle includes a keyless ignition system, the controller  52  must detect the presence of the vehicle key fob  58  within the motor vehicle before the controller will release the electronic latch module  50  through operator input via Bluetooth from the smart phone  60  or via human interface input through the vehicle cluster and/or center display  56  of the motor vehicle. In still other possible embodiments, the vehicle key fob  58  may include one or more buttons that may be depressed to open the electronic latch module  50 . 
     An enhanced level of security is provided for any valuable item held in the strongbox  22  in a number of different ways. Advantageously, the strongbox  22 , including the enclosure  26  and the strongbox door  30 , are made from high strength materials resistant to tampering and damage. The internal hinge  32  for the strongbox door  30  and the deadbolt  36  and striker  38  of the dedicated locking mechanism  34  are both protected from prying and concealed within the strongbox when the strongbox door  30  is closed and locked. 
     As a further advantage, the strongbox  22  is permanently attached by the mounting feature  40  to the sheet metal structure/metal superstructure of the motor vehicle including, for example, the floor pan  16 , the frame and the cross car beam of the motor vehicle. As a further security feature, the controller  52  is adapted or configured to only release the dedicated locking mechanism  34  to allow the opening of the strongbox door  30  when the motor vehicle key, either in traditional or key fob form, is present in the motor vehicle. 
     Considered together, these features provide enhanced security for any valuable item held in the strongbox  22  that far exceeds that provided by standard, state-of-the-art locking gloveboxes and center console storage compartments. 
     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 example, the electronic latch module  50  may be provided with a mechanical override if desired. 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.