Patent Abstract:
A push-button box-opening structure is provided in which a push button is pushed in from an unlocking starting position to an unlocking position to open a storage box. The unlocking starting position is set at a position where the push button is pushed in a given depth from a pushing-in starting position so as to prevent inadvertent opening of the storage box. The storage box does not open when the button is inadvertently pushed in up to the given depth.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to push-button box-opening structures, and more particularly, to a push-button box-opening structure in which a push button is pushed in to open a box in a closed position.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     A storage box for holding small things is provided in the interior of an automobile. Some storage boxes are so constructed that a lid of a storage box is opened by depressing a depressed portion (hereinafter referred to as a “push button”) (e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-331876).  
         [0003]     A storage box disclosed in 2002-331876 includes a storage pocket for holding small things and a lid for opening and closing an opening of the storage pocket. The lid is provided with a locking hook and an unlocking push button.  
         [0004]     To open the lid from a closed position, the push button is depressed to release engagement between the hook and a striker. Thus, since only depressing the push button permits the lid to open, a passenger can easily open the lid.  
         [0005]     However, since the above storage box has the lid opened only by depressing the push button, when an object in the vehicle interior (hereinafter referred to as an impacting object) strikes the push button, the push button can be depressed by the impacting object. If the push button is depressed, the lid can be opened inadvertently. Thus, there is room for improvement in being able to prevent opening of the box even when the push button is inadvertently depressed.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     According to the present invention, there is provided a push-button box-opening structure, which comprises: a box; a push button for opening the box; and a button housing for housing the push button in such a manner as to allow the push button to be pushed in from an unlocking starting position to an unlocking position to thereby open the box. The unlocking starting position is set at a position where the push button is pushed in a given depth from a pushing-in starting position.  
         [0007]     The push button is provided in the button housing in such a manner that it can be pushed in. Until the push button is pushed into the button housing by the given distance or depth, the box remains closed. Thus, even when the push button is inadvertently pushed in, the box is prevented from opening until the push button is pushed in by the given depth.  
         [0008]     When the push button is pushed into the button housing by the specified distance, further pushing of the push button into the unlocking position causes the box to open. Thus, a passenger can open the box only by pushing the push button in, and can easily open the box.  
         [0009]     Preferably, a surface of the push button is located at substantially the same level as a rim of the button housing.  
         [0010]     If the surface of the push button is protruded outwardly from the rim of the button housing, it is necessary to provide a large pushing-in distance of the push button against striking of an impacting object on the push button in order to keep the box closed. An increased pushing-in distance against striking of an impacting object results in an increased stroke of the push button for opening the box. The increased stroke of the push button requires a large space in which to dispose the push button to ensure the stroke.  
         [0011]     On the other hand, if the surface of the push button is recessed inwardly of the rim of the button housing, the push button is not easily seen from a passenger and is not easily pushed in with a finger. In addition, it is not preferable in appearance.  
         [0012]     For these reasons, in the present invention, the surface of the push button is located at substantially the same level as the rim of the button housing. Consequently, a stroke of the push button can be made relatively small to dispose the push button in a relatively small space.  
         [0013]     Further, the surface of the push button located at substantially the same level as the rim of the button housing allows the push button to be easily seen from a passenger and to be easily pushed in with a finger, and also provides a good appearance. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]     A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an instrument panel provided with a push-button box-opening structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view along line  2 - 2  in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view along line  3 - 3 , in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing the relationship between a push button and a locking means according to the first embodiment;  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional plan view of  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0020]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  are diagrams showing the push button in the first embodiment pushed in by a specified distance;  
         [0021]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  are diagrams showing the push button pushed in further from the position shown in  FIG. 6B ;  
         [0022]      FIGS. 8A and 8B  are diagrams showing an instance where an impacting object strikes the push button in the first embodiment;  
         [0023]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view showing a push-button box-opening structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0024]      FIGS. 10A and 10B  are diagrams showing an instance where a push button in the second embodiment shown in  FIG. 9  is pushed in to open a pocket; and  
         [0025]      FIG. 11  is a diagram showing an instance where an impacting object strikes the push button in the second embodiment. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0026]     First, with reference to FIGS.  1  to  8 B, a push-button box structure according to a first embodiment will be described.  
         [0027]     An instrument panel  10  shown in  FIG. 1  has a right end portion  11  provided with a box  12  in which to store small things.  
         [0028]     The storage box  12  includes a pocket  13  provided in the light end portion  11  of the instrument panel  10  and a lid  15  for opening and closing an opening  14  of the pocket  13 . The lid  15  is supported by right and left hinge means  17  (only the left hinge means  17  shown in  FIG. 2 ) to be swingable to a closed position P 1  (see  FIG. 3 ) and to an open position P 2  (see  FIG. 3 ). The storage box  12  has a push-button box-opening structure  20  in which a push button  21  is pushed in to open the lid  15  retained in the closed position P 1 .  
         [0029]     The right and left hinge means  17 ,  17  are constituted by identical components. Hereinafter, only the left hinge means  17  will be described to avoid a redundant description of the right hinge means  17 .  
         [0030]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the lid  15  includes an outer wall  25  formed in a dogleg shape by a lower outer panel  23  and an upper outer panel  24 , and an inner panel  26  in a dogleg shape located inside the outer wall  25 . A space  27  of a predetermined clearance is formed between the outer wall  25  and the inner panel  26 .  
         [0031]     A lower bracket  31  of the left hinge means  17  is attached to a left end lower portion of the inner panel  26  by a bolt  32 . An upper bracket  33  of the left hinge means  17  is attached to a left end of the instrument panel  10  by a bolt  34 . The upper bracket  33  and the lower bracket  31  are connected by a pair of links  35 ,  35 . Thus, the left end of the instrument panel  10  is connected to the left end lower portion of the inner panel  26  via the left hinge means  17 .  
         [0032]     Like the left hinge means  17 , the right hinge means  17  is used to connect a right end of the instrument panel  10  to a right end lower portion of the inner panel  26  via the right hinge means  17 .  
         [0033]     The right and left hinge means  17 ,  17  are used as described above, so that the lid  15  is mounted to the instrument panel  10  to be swingable to the closed position P 1  and to the open position P 2  (see  FIG. 3 ).  
         [0034]     The push button  21  of the push-button box-opening structure  20  is provided in a left end portion of the upper outer panel  24  (that is, in a left end upper portion of the lid  15 ) in such a manner that it can be pushed in. Specifically, the upper outer panel  24  has a button housing  36  including an opening formed in the left end portion thereof. The button housing  36  has guide grooves  37   a  and  38   a  formed in upper and lower walls  37  and  38 , respectively.  
         [0035]     The push button  21  has upper and lower sliders  41   a  and  42   a  formed in such a manner as to protrude from upper and lower walls  41  and  42  thereof, respectively.  
         [0036]     The upper slider  41   a  is movably fitted in the upper guide groove  37   a , and the lower slider  42   a  is movably fitted in the lower guide groove  38   a , so that the push button  21  is mounted movably as shown by a two-headed arrow in the button housing  36 .  
         [0037]     A small-diameter cylindrical protrusion (hereinafter referred to as an “inner cylinder”)  43  is formed within the push button  21 . A large-diameter cylindrical protrusion (hereinafter referred to as an “outer cylinder”)  44  is sidably fitted onto the inner cylinder  43 .  
         [0038]     The outer cylinder  44  has a flange  45  at the base. The flange  45  is fixed to a left end upper portion of the inner panel  26 .  
         [0039]     A compression spring  46  is disposed between the flange  45  and a ceiling face  21   a  of the push button  21 . The compression spring  46  biases the push button  21  in a direction in which to protrude it outwardly of the upper outer panel  24 .  
         [0040]     The push button  21 , the outer cylinder  44  and the compression spring  46  are provided in the space  27  between the upper outer panel  24  and the inner panel  26  within the lid  15 .  
         [0041]     Outer edge portions of the upper and lower sliders  41   a  and  42   a  abut outer edge portions  37   b  and  38   b  of the upper and lower guide grooves  37   a  and  38   a , so that the push button  21  rests.  
         [0042]     The outer edge portions  37   b  and  38   b  of the upper and lower guide grooves  37   a  and  38   a  and the outer edge portions of the upper and lower sliders  41   a  and  42   a  are positioned so that a surface  21   b  of the push button  21  in the above state is flush with a rim  36   a  of the button housing  36  and an outer surface  24   a  of the upper outer panel  24 .  
         [0043]     A position in which the surface  21   b  of the push button  21  is substantially flush with the rim  36   a  of the button housing  36  and the outer surface  24   a  of the upper outer panel  24  (that is, a position shown in  FIG. 2 ) is a pushing-in starting position P 3 . Pressure applied to the surface  21   b  inwardly of the lid  15  causes the push button  21  to be pushed against the spring force of the compression spring  46  into the button housing  36 .  
         [0044]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , a locking means  50  of the push-button box-opening structure  20  is provided in an upper substantially central portion of the lid  15 .  
         [0045]     The locking means  50  includes a latch  51  formed with an engagement groove  53 . The latch  51  is rotatably provided with a pin  52 . Engagement of a striker  54  with the engagement groove  53  retains the lid  15  in the closed position P 1  to keep the storage box  12  (see  FIG. 1 ) closed.  
         [0046]     The locking means  50  has a coil spring  55  mounted on the pin  52 . A first end  55   a  of the coil spring  55  is inserted into a mounting hole  51   a  formed in the latch  51 , and a second end  55   b  is inserted into a mounting hole  28   a  formed in a bracket  28 , so that the latch  51  is biased in the direction of an arrow, that is, in an opening direction of the lid  15 . The bracket  28  is a member attached to the inside of the outer wall  25 .  
         [0047]     The latch  51  has a positioning depression  57  formed in a lower portion thereof. The positioning depression  57  positions the latch  51  in a locking position (position shown in  FIG. 3 ). A lock bar  58  placed against the positioning depression  57  retains the latch  51  in the locking position against the spring force of the coil spring  55 .  
         [0048]     When the lock bar  58  is disengaged from the positioning depression  57 , the latch  51  rotates about the pin  52  in the direction shown by the arrow by the spring force of the coil spring  55 , and the lid  15  swingingly moves about the hinge means  17  shown in  FIG. 2 , so that the engagement groove  53  of the latch  51  disengages from the striker  54 . Thereafter, the lid  15  swingingly moves by a spring not shown from the closed position P 1  to the open position P 2  (position shown by imaginary lines). With this, the storage box  12  (see  FIG. 1 ) opens.  
         [0049]     The striker  54  has a U shape as shown in  FIG. 4 . Opposite end portions  54   a ,  54   a  of the striker  54  are inserted into mounting holes  61 ,  61  in the instrument panel  10 , and nuts  62 ,  62  are screw-connected to the end portions  54   a ,  54   a  protruded from the instrument panel  10 , respectively. Thus, the striker  54  is attached to the instrument panel  10 .  
         [0050]     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the push button  21  is provided in the button housing  36  in such a manner that it can be pushed in. Until the push button  21  is pushed into the button housing  36  by a specified distance, the locking means  50  is kept in a non-operated position. After the push button  21  is pushed into the button housing  36  by the specified distance, the push button  21  further pushed in releases the locking means  50  from the locking position. The shape of the button housing  36  (specifically, the height H of the button housing  36 ) is so determined that, when an impacting object  65  (see  FIG. 8 ) strikes the push button  21 , the rim  36   a  of the button housing  36  and the outer surface  24   a  of the upper outer panel  24  sustain the impacting object  65 , preventing the push button  21  from being pushed into the button housing  36  by the specified distance.  
         [0051]     In a comparison between the height H and the width W of the button housing  36 , the height H is smaller than the width W. Therefore, the intruding distance of the impacting object  65  into the button housing  36  is restricted by the height H.  
         [0052]     A pushing protrusion  67  for pushing is provided at a side wall  47  of the push button  21 . An operating link  68  is rotatably provided about a pin  69  in front of (in a pushing direction of) the pushing protrusion  67 . The operating link  68  has a first lever  71  extending in a curve toward the pushing protrusion  67 , and a second lever  72  extending rearward.  
         [0053]     A distal end portion  71   a  of the first lever  71  is disposed at a certain distance from the pushing protrusion  67 . A distal end portion  72   a  of the second lever  72  is inserted into an insertion hole  74  formed in a distal end portion  73   a  of a slider  73  and connected to the distal end portion  73   a  of the slider  73  via a connecting pin  75 .  
         [0054]     A connection hole  76  is formed in a proximal end portion  73   b  of the slider  73 . A bent portion  58   a  formed at a first end portion of the lock bar  58  is inserted into the connection hole  76 , whereby the bent portion  58   a  of the lock bar  58  is connected to the proximal end portion  73   b  of the slider  73 .  
         [0055]     A second end portion  58   b  of the lock bar  58  is placed against the positioning depression  57  formed in the latch  51 . The latch  51  is retained in the locking position against the spring force of the coil spring  55 . With this, the engagement groove  53  in the latch  51  engages the striker  54 , and the lid  15  (see  FIG. 3 ) is retained in the closed position P 1 .  
         [0056]     When the surface  21   b  of the push button  21  is pressed to push the push button  21  into the button housing  36 , the pushing protrusion  67  abuts on the distal end portion  71   a  of the first lever  71 , and the distal end portion  71   a  of the first lever  71  is pushed out forward by the pushing protrusion  67 .  
         [0057]     The relationship between the pushing-in distance of the push button  21  and the timing of abutting of the pushing protrusion  67  against the distal end portion  71   a  of the first lever  71  will be described in detail below with  FIG. 5 .  
         [0058]     When the distal end portion  71   a  of the first lever  71  is pushed out forward by the pushing protrusion  67 , the operating link  68  rotates as shown by an arrow, and the second lever  72  causes the slider  73  to slide as shown by an arrow.  
         [0059]     The slider  73  sliding as shown by the arrow causes the lock bar  58  to move as shown by an arrow, and the second end portion  58   b  of the lock bar  58  disengages from the positioning depression  57  in the latch  51 .  
         [0060]     The locking means  50  is released from the locking position, and the latch  51  rotates about the pin  52  as shown by an arrow by the spring force of the coil spring  55 . The engagement groove  53  of the latch  51  disengages from the striker  54  as described above.  
         [0061]     The push button  21 , the outer cylinder  44 , the compression spring  46 , the operating link  68 , the slider  73 , the lock bar  58 , the locking means  50  and the striker  54  are provided in the space  27  between the upper outer panel  24  and the inner panel  26  shown in  FIG. 3 , and are thus provided within the lid  15 .  
         [0062]     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the push button  21  is disposed in the pushing-in starting position P 3  so that the locking means  50  is in the locking position, that is, the second end portion  58   b  of the lock bar  58  is engaged with the positioning depression  57  of the latch  51  (see also  FIG. 4 ). In this state, the distal end portion  71   a  of the first lever  71  is disposed at a specified distance D 1  from the pushing protrusion  67  of the push button  21 . With this, unless the push button  21  is pushed by the specified distance D 1  into the button housing  36  so that the push button  21  reaches an unlocking starting position P 4 , the pushing protrusion  67  does not abut on the distal end portion  71   a  of the first lever  71 . Therefore, when the push button  21  is pushed into the button housing  36  as shown by an arrow by a pushing-in distance smaller than the specified distance D 1 , the operating link  68  is kept at rest, and the locking means  50  is kept in the locking position.  
         [0063]     When the push button  21  is further pushed in from the position where the pushing protrusion  67  of the push button  21  abuts on the distal end portion  71   a  of the first lever  71 , the pushing protrusion  67  of the push button  21  pushes out the distal end portion  71   a  of the first lever  71  forward.  
         [0064]     The pushing protrusion  67  pushing the distal end portion  71   a  of the first lever  71  forward causes the operating link  68  to rotate about the pin  69  as shown by an arrow. The rotation of the operating link  68  causes the second lever  72  to slide the slider  73  as shown by an arrow, causing the lock bar  58  to move as shown by the arrow.  
         [0065]     When the pushing-in distance of the push button  21  becomes equal to an operating distance D 2  and the push button  21  reaches an unlocking position P 5 , the second end portion  58   b  of the lock bar  58  pulls out from the positioning depression  57  of the latch  51 . This releases the locking means  50  from the locking position, and the latch  51  rotates about the pin  52  by the spring force of the coil spring  55  as shown by an arrow. The engagement groove  53  of the latch  51  disengages from the striker  54 , and the lid  15  is opened by the spring not shown from the closed position P 1  (see  FIG. 3 ) to the open position P 2  (see  FIG. 3 ).  
         [0066]     Thereafter, the push button  21  is further pushed in by a bottom-touching distance D 3  to cause the push button  21  to abut on the flange  45  and rest, and thereby to confirm that the push button  21  is certainly pushed into the unlocking position.  
         [0067]     Next, with reference to  FIGS. 6A  to  7 B, an instance of opening the lid  15  with the push button  21  will be described.  
         [0068]     Referring to  FIG. 6A , the push button  21  in the pushing-in starting position P 3  is pushed into the button housing  36  as shown by arrow a against the spring force of the compression spring  46 .  
         [0069]     Referring to  FIG. 6B , the push button  21  is pushed in by the specified distance D 1  to the unlocking starting position P 4  to make the pushing protrusion  67  abut on the distal end portion  71   a  of the first lever  71 . From this position, the push button  21  is pushed in by the operating distance D 2  (see  FIG. 5 ) to the unlocking position P 5  to cause the pushing protrusion  67  of the push button  21  to push out the distal end portion  71   a  of the first lever  71  forward.  
         [0070]     With the distal end portion  71   a  of the first lever  71  pushed out forward, the operating link  68  rotates about the pin  69  as shown by arrow b, causing the second lever  72  to slide the slider  73  as shown by arrow c. The slide of the slider  73  causes the lock bar  58  shown in  FIG. 5  to move as shown by the arrow.  
         [0071]     Referring to  FIG. 7A , when the push button  21  reaches the unlocking position P 5  and the pushing-in distance of the push button  21  is (specified distance D 1 +operating distance D 2 ), the second end portion  58   b  of the lock bar  58  disengages from the positioning depression  57  of the latch  51 .  
         [0072]     Referring to  FIG. 7B , the locking means  50  is released from the locking position, and the latch  51  rotates about the pin  52  as shown by arrow d by the spring force of the coil spring  55 . The engagement groove  53  of the latch  51  disengages from the striker  54 , and the lid  15  swingingly moves from the closed position P 1  (see  FIG. 3 ) to the open position P 2  (see  FIG. 3 ) by the spring not shown as shown by arrow e. Thus, the lid  15  swingingly moves to the open position P 2 , thereby opening the storage box  12  (see  FIG. 1 ).  
         [0073]     The latch  51  rotating about the pin  52  as shown by the arrow d is retained in a predetermined position by the positioning depression  57  abutting on a stopper  28   b , so as not to rotate over the position.  
         [0074]     Next, a situation where the impacting object  65  strikes the push button  21  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 8A and 8B .  
         [0075]     Referring to  FIG. 8A , when the impacting object  65  strikes the push button  21  as shown by arrow f, the impacting object  65  is sustained by the rim  36   a  of the button housing  36  and the outer surface  24   a  of the upper outer panel  24 .  
         [0076]     As described with  FIG. 4 , the button housing  36  is formed with the width W and the height H, the height H being smaller than the width W. The intruding distance of the impacting object  65  into the button housing  36  is restricted by the height H, and the intruding distance of the push button  21  is limited to D 4 .  
         [0077]     Referring to  FIG. 8B , with the intruding distance of the impacting object  65  into the button housing  36  restricted to D 4  by the height H (see  FIG. 8A ), the intruding distance D 4  of the impacting object  65  can be made smaller than the specified distance D 1 . Therefore, the push button  21  does not reach the unlocking starting position P 4 .  
         [0078]     As shown in  FIG. 5 , with the push button  21  disposed in the pushing-in starting position P 3 , the distal end portion  71   a  of the first lever  71  is disposed at the specified distance D 1  from the pushing protrusion  67  of the push button  21 . Therefore, when the impacting object  65  strikes the push button  21 , the pushing protrusion  67  does not abut on the distal end portion  71   a  of the first lever  71 .  
         [0079]     The operating link  68  is retained at rest, and the locking means  50  (see  FIG. 5 ) is kept in the locking position. This allows the lid  15  to rest in the closed position P 1  (see  FIG. 3 ) to keep the storage box  12  (see  FIG. 1 ) closed.  
         [0080]     Next, a box opening structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.  9  to  11 .  
         [0081]      FIG. 9  shows an instrument panel according to the second embodiment.  
         [0082]     An instrument panel  80  has a right end portion  81  provided with a storage box (box)  82  according to the present invention.  
         [0083]     The storage box  82  includes a pocket  83  provided in the right end portion  81  of the instrument panel  80 , a lid  85  provided at an outer wall  84  of the pocket  83 , and a push button  91  of a push-button box-opening structure  90  provided above the pocket  83 .  
         [0084]     The push-button box-opening structure  90  has substantially the same structure as the push-button box-opening structure  20  in the first embodiment.  
         [0085]     The pocket  83  is configured to swingingly move about a lower pin (not shown) as shown by arrow h so that an opening  86  of the pocket  83  protrudes outwardly from the instrument panel  80 , and to swingingly move about the lower pin (not shown) as shown by arrow i so that the opening  86  is fitted in the instrument panel  80 .  
         [0086]     Abase  92  of the push button  91  is connected to the instrument panel  80  via a tension spring  93 . Abutton body  94  of the push button  91  is opposed to a button housing (recess)  96 . The push button  91  is retained in a pushing-in starting position P 3  by the spring force of the tension spring  93 .  
         [0087]     When the push button  91  is located in the pushing-in starting position P 3 , a surface  91   a  of the push button  91  is substantially flush with a rim  96   a  of the button housing  96  and an outer surface  96   b  around the rim  96   a.    
         [0088]     To open the pocket  83 , pressure is applied to the button body  94  of the push button  91  as shown by arrow g to push the button body  94  into the button housing  96  against the spring force of the tension spring  93  by a predetermined distance (that is, specified distance D 1 +operating distance D 2 ) to an unlocking position P 5 .  
         [0089]     This releases the lock of a locking means (not shown), and causes the pocket  83  to swingingly move about the lower pin (not shown) as shown by the arrow h. Then, the opening  86  of the pocket  83  protrudes outwardly from the instrument panel  80  to open the pocket  83  (that is, the storage box  82 ).  
         [0090]     The locking means has substantially the same structure as the locking means  50  in the first embodiment (see  FIGS. 4 and 5 ).  
         [0091]     To close the pocket  83 , pressure is applied to the lid  85  to push the pocket  83  in about the lower pin (not shown) as shown by the arrow i. The opening  86  of the pocket  83  is fitted in the instrument panel  80  to close the pocket  83 .  
         [0092]     Like the push button  21  in the first embodiment, even when the button body  94  of the push button  91  in the second embodiment is pushed into the button housing  96  by the specified distance D 1  from the pushing-in starting position P 3  to an unlocking starting position P 4 , the locking means of the push-button box-opening structure  90  is kept in a locking position.  
         [0093]     By further pushing the button body  94  in from the unlocking starting position P 4  to which the button body  94  has been pushed in by the specified distance D 1 , the locking means of the push-button box-opening structure  90  is operated.  
         [0094]     When the pushing-in distance of the button body  94  becomes equal to the operating distance D 2  and the button body  94  reaches the unlocking position P 5 , the locking means is released from the locking position.  
         [0095]     The release from the locking position causes the pocket  83  to swingingly move about the lower pin (not shown) as shown by the arrow h to open the pocket  83 , that is, the storage box  82 ,  
         [0096]     Thereafter, by further pushing the button body  94  in by a bottom-touching distance D 3 , the button body  94  abuts on a stopper (not shown) and rests, and a passenger confirms that the button body  94  is certainly pushed into the unlocking position.  
         [0097]     Next, an instance of opening the pocket  83  with the push button  91  of the push-button box-opening structure  90  according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to  FIGS. 10A and 10B .  
         [0098]     Referring to  FIG. 10A , the push button  91  is retained in the pushing-in starting position P 3  by the tension spring  93  and the locking means. The button body  94  of the push button  91  is pushed against the spring force of the tension spring  93  into the button housing  96  as shown by arrow g.  
         [0099]     Referring to  FIG. 10B , the button body  94  is pushed in by the specified distance D 1  to the unlocking starting position P 4  (see  FIG. 9 ). From this position, the button body  94  is further pushed in to operate the locking means of the push-button box-opening structure  90 .  
         [0100]     When the button body  94  is pushed in by the specified distance D 1 +the operating distance D 2  to the unlocking position P 5 , the locking means is released from the locking position, and the pocket  83  swingingly moves about the lower pin (not shown) as shown by arrow h to open the pocket  83 , that is, the storage box  82 .  
         [0101]     Next the operation of the push-button box-opening structure  90  in the second embodiment when an impacting object  65  strikes the push button  91  will be described with reference to  FIG. 11 .  
         [0102]     When the impacting object  65  strikes the button body  94  of the push button  91  as shown by arrow j, the impacting object  65  is sustained by the rim  96   a  of the button housing  96  and the outer surface  96   b  around the rim  96   a . Thus, the intruding distance of the impacting object  65  into the button housing  96  is restricted by the rim  96   a  of the button housing  96  and the outer surface  96   b  around the rim  96   a , and the intruding distance of the button body  94  is limited to D 4 . The intruding distance D 4  is smaller than the specified distance D 1 .  
         [0103]     The intruding distance D 4  of the button body  94  made smaller than the specified distance D 1  allows the locking means to be kept in the locking position even when the impacting object  65  strikes the button body  94 . This allows the pocket  83  to rest in a closed position to keep the storage box  82  closed.  
         [0104]     In the first embodiment, the storage box (glovebox)  12  provided in the instrument panel  10  is illustrated as a box to which the present invention is applied. The present invention is also applied to an ashtray, a cup holder and the like.  
         [0105]     The first embodiment has been described with the example in which the specified distance D 1  for preventing the storage box  12  from opening is provided by disposing the distal end portion  71   a  of the first lever  71  at a certain distance from the pushing protrusion  67 . However, the structure for providing the specified distance D 1  is not limited thereto. Another means such as elongating the connection hole  76  for connecting the lock bar  58  to the slider  73  can also provide the specified distance D 1 .  
         [0106]     As described above, a push-button box-opening structure of the present invention is so constructed that a box in a closed position is opened by pushing a push button in, and is suitable for application to automobiles.  
         [0107]     Obviously, various minor changes and modifications of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teaching. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8