Patent Description:
Generally, an instrument panel called a dashboard is installed in front of a driver's seat of a vehicle, and an instrument cluster, in which various instruments and warning lights aiding in more safe driving of the vehicle by allowing a driver to frequently check a state of the traveling vehicle to drive the vehicle more stably and smoothly are gathered, is installed on the instrument panel.

That is, in the instrument cluster installed on the instrument panel, a tachometer for displaying revolutions per minute (RPM) of an engine to aid the driver in selecting a time of changing speed determined by the driver while traveling and to recognize an over rotation state of the engine to prevent the over rotation state, a speedometer for displaying a vehicle running speed to prevent overspeed, a trip odometer for displaying a traveling distance of the vehicle, a cumulative odometer, and the like are installed.

In addition, in the instrument cluster, various attention warning lights such as a turn indicator lamp, an emergency warning lamp, a battery warning lamp which is turned on when a battery is not charged, and a warning lamp which is turned on when an amount of engine oil is low as well as a thermometer for displaying an engine coolant temperature, and a fuel gauge for displaying a remaining fuel in a fuel tank are gathered, and various levers or buttons necessary for operating heating and cooling devices such as a heater and an air conditioner are installed at a right side of the instrument cluster.

In addition, since a portion positioned in front of a passenger seat in the instrument panel is too far away from a sight of the driver, the instruments and warning lights are not installed therein, and thus a glove box, in which objects necessary for the driver are accommodated, is installed using a space thereof.

The glove box may be divided into an open type glove box or closed type glove box.

When a double rail of an open type structure is applied to the closed type glove box, there is a problem in that a capacity of the glove box decreases.

When a single rail is applied to the closed type glove box, since a length of the rail is too long, there is a problem in that a passenger is seriously injured due to collision with the long rail when a vehicle crash accident occurs.

In addition, when the single rail is simply cut in order to reduce a length of the conventional single rail structure, since a retainer may be pulled out of an inner rail, an operational problem may occur.

<CIT> discloses a sliding glove box comprising: a glove box including an inner space for accommodating an object; and a case which accommodates the glove box, wherein a plurality of wheels are disposed at each of two sides of the glove box, the plurality of wheels are configured to move on a rail disposed in the case, and at least one of the plurality of wheels has one side that is in contact with the rail, whereas the rail has a "⊂" shape; and the wheel is disposed in an accommodation space formed in the rail.

<CIT> relates to a slide with a stationary rail and a movable block.

The present disclosure is directed to solving a problem occurring when a double rail or single rail is applied to a closed type glove box.

Objectives to be solved by the present disclosure are not limited to the above-described objectives, and other objectives, which are not described above, will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a sliding glove box includes a glove box including an inner space for accommodating an object and a case which accommodates the glove box, in which a plurality of wheels are disposed at each of two sides of the glove box, the plurality of wheels move on a rail disposed in the case, and at least one of the plurality of wheels includes one side that is in contact with the rail.

The rail has a "c" shape, and the wheel is disposed in an accommodation space formed in the rail.

The plurality of wheels are installed on fixing brackets and fixed to fixing parts disposed at the two sides of the glove box.

The fixing parts protrude from a lower portion of the glove box.

The rail is disposed in a groove formed in a lower surface of the case.

The number of the plurality of wheels may be at least three, and each of the plurality of wheels may be in contract with any one side of an upper portion or a lower portion of the rail.

The plurality of wheels may be disposed to be alternately in contact with the upper portion and the lower portion of the rail.

A stopper may be disposed on an end portion of the rail, and a bumper may be disposed at one side of one of the fixing parts.

At least one of the stopper or the bumper may include an elastic material.

An accommodation groove may be disposed in the wheel, and protruding parts mat be inserted into the accommodation groove.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by describing exemplary embodiments thereof in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In addition, unless clearly and specifically defined otherwise by context, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein can be interpreted as having customary meanings to those skilled in the art, and meanings of generally used terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, will be interpreted by considering contextual meanings of the related technology.

In addition, the terms used in the embodiments of the present disclosure are considered in a descriptive sense and not for limiting the present disclosure.

In the present specification, unless clearly indicated otherwise by the context, singular forms include the plural forms thereof, and in a case in which "at least one (or one or more) among A, B, and C" is described, this may include at least one combination among all possible combinations of A, B, and C.

In addition, in descriptions of components of the present disclosure, terms such as "first," "second," "A," "B," "(a)," and "(b)" can be used.

The terms are only to distinguish one element from another element, and an essence, order, and the like of the element are not limited by the terms.

In addition, it should be understood that, when an element is referred to as being "connected or coupled" to another element, such a description may include both a case in which the element is directly connected or coupled to another element and a case in which the element is connected or coupled to another element with still another element disposed therebetween.

In addition, in a case in which any one element is described as being formed or disposed "on or under" another element, such a description includes both a case in which the two elements are formed or disposed in direct contact with each other and a case in which one or more other elements are interposed between the two elements. In addition, when one element is described as being disposed "on or under" another element, such a description may include a case in which the one element is disposed at an upper side or a lower side with respect to another element.

Hereinafter, in the detailed description of the example embodiments of the disclosure with reference to the accompanying drawings, components that are the same or correspond to each other will be denoted by the same reference numerals regardless of the figure numbers, and redundant descriptions will be omitted.

<FIG> are views clearly illustrating main feature portions in order to conceptually and clearly understand the present disclosure, and thus, various modifications of the drawings are expected, and the scope of the present disclosure is not necessarily limited by specific shapes illustrated in the drawings.

<FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a sliding glove box according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, <FIG> is a view illustrating a state in which components of <FIG> are separated, <FIG> is a view illustrating a wheel installation structure of the glove box which is a component of <FIG>, <FIG> is an exploded perspective view illustrating the wheel installation structure of <FIG>, <FIG> is a view illustrating a structure of a case which is a component of <FIG>, <FIG> is a view illustrating a coupling structure of a wheel and a rail in <FIG>, <FIG> is a view illustrating a structure of a stopper disposed in the case of <FIG>, and <FIG> and <FIG> are views illustrating examples of a layout of the wheel which is a component of <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, a sliding glove box <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present disclosure includes a glove box <NUM> and a case <NUM>.

The glove box <NUM> includes an inner space capable of accommodating an object. The glove box <NUM> may include a handle <NUM> for opening or closing the glove box <NUM>.

A plurality of wheels <NUM> are disposed on each side surface of the glove box <NUM>. The plurality of wheels <NUM> are disposed to stably move along rails <NUM>, and at least three wheels <NUM> may be disposed on each of the both side surfaces of the glove box <NUM> in order to prevent vertical movement when moving on the rail <NUM>.

The wheel <NUM> has a structure directly installed on the glove box <NUM>. However, the wheels <NUM> are fixed to the glove box <NUM> using separate fixing brackets <NUM> for ease of operation to easily replace the wheel <NUM> when the wheel <NUM> is broken.

In addition, the fixing brackets <NUM> may be fixed to fixing parts <NUM> disposed at two sides of the glove box <NUM>. As an embodiment, the fixing part <NUM> may be provided as a structure protruding from a lower portion of the glove box <NUM> such that the volume of the inner space of the glove box <NUM> is not decreased, and thus the utilization of the inner space of the glove box <NUM> may not be degraded.

The fixing bracket <NUM> may include one bent portion and may be disposed in a structure inserted into a fixing groove formed in the fixing bracket <NUM>, and when the fixing bracket <NUM> is assembled, a position of the fixing bracket <NUM> may be fixed, and the fixing bracket <NUM> may be fixed to the fixing part <NUM> using a separate coupling member <NUM>.

The case <NUM> includes an inner space formed to accommodate the glove box <NUM>. A plurality of drive wheels <NUM> may be provided on a lower surface of the case <NUM> so that the glove box <NUM> moves easily in a sliding manner.

In addition, the rails <NUM>, on which the plurality of wheels <NUM> disposed on the both side surfaces of the glove box <NUM> are seated, are disposed in the inner space of the case <NUM>.

The rails <NUM> are disposed in seating grooves <NUM> formed in the lower surface of the case <NUM>. The seating grooves <NUM> formed in the lower surface of the case <NUM> are provided in a shape recessed downward from the case <NUM>, and the rails <NUM> are disposed on side surfaces of the seating grooves <NUM>.

The rail <NUM> is formed in a "c" shape, and the wheel <NUM> is disposed in an accommodation space formed in the rail <NUM>. In this case, protruding parts <NUM> may be disposed on upper and lower portions of the rail <NUM> to face each other, an accommodation groove <NUM> may be formed in an outer circumferential surface of the wheel <NUM>, and the protruding parts <NUM> may be inserted into the accommodation groove <NUM>. Specifically, the accommodation groove <NUM> may be concavely formed in the outer circumferential surface of the wheel <NUM> in a circumferential direction. In addition, the protruding parts <NUM> may be disposed in the accommodation groove <NUM>. Accordingly, the protruding parts <NUM> may guide movement of the wheel <NUM>.

As an embodiment, the protruding part <NUM> may be formed in the form extending along the rail <NUM> and may include a curved surface in order to minimize a frictional force.

The accommodation groove <NUM> having a curved surface to be engaged with the protruding part <NUM> may be formed in the wheel <NUM> inserted into the rail <NUM>.

As described above, since the wheel <NUM> inserted into the rail <NUM> moves in a state in which the accommodation groove <NUM> are inserted into the protruding parts <NUM>, the wheel <NUM> is prevented from being separated from the rail <NUM>.

A stopper <NUM> may be disposed on an end portion of the rail <NUM>, and a bumper <NUM> may be disposed at one side of the fixing part <NUM>. In the case of the glove box <NUM> having a sliding structure, since the glove box <NUM> is moved in a sliding manner according to a manipulation of a user, there is a possibility of separation of the wheel <NUM> from the rail <NUM>.

In order to prevent such a problem, the bumper <NUM> may be disposed on the front of the fixing part <NUM> protruding downward from the glove box <NUM>, and when the glove box <NUM> moves, the bumper <NUM> may come into contact with the stopper <NUM> disposed on the end portion of the rail <NUM> to prevent separation of the wheel <NUM>.

As an embodiment, at least one of the stopper <NUM> and the bumper <NUM> may be formed of an elastic material to absorb impact when the bumper <NUM> collides with the stopper <NUM>.

In addition, in the present disclosure, at least one of the plurality of wheels <NUM> disposed on the rail <NUM> is disposed such that one side thereof is in contact with the rail <NUM>.

When the wheels <NUM> disposed on the rail <NUM> are disposed to be in contact with the upper and lower portions of the rail <NUM>, gaps may be generated due to product tolerances and may cause wobble of the wheels <NUM> or separation of the wheels <NUM> from the rail <NUM> while moving along the rail <NUM>.

In the present disclosure, in order to cope with a product distribution, at least one of the plurality of wheels <NUM> may be disposed such that one side thereof is in contact with the rail <NUM>.

In the present disclosure, at least three wheels <NUM> may be installed on the fixing bracket <NUM> for stable contact between the wheels <NUM> and the rail <NUM>.

<FIG> are views illustrating examples of a case in which three wheels <NUM> are disposed.

Referring to <FIG>, the plurality of wheels <NUM> may be disposed to be in contact with any one side of the upper portion and the lower portion of the rail <NUM>. As an embodiment, the plurality of wheels <NUM> may be alternately in contact with the upper portion and the lower portion of the rail <NUM>. Specifically, a rotation center of the wheel <NUM> in contact with the upper portion of the rail <NUM> and a rotation center of the wheel <NUM> in contact with the rail <NUM> may be disposed to have a predetermined off-set. In this case, the wheel <NUM> in contact with the upper portion of the rail <NUM> may be referred to as an upper wheel, and the wheel <NUM> in contact with the lower portion of the rail <NUM> may be referred to as a lower wheel.

In the wheels <NUM> disposed in a line, when a first wheel <NUM> is in contact with a lower end of the rail <NUM>, the wheels <NUM> may be disposed to be sequentially in contact with the lower end, an upper end, and the lower end. In addition, when the first wheel <NUM> is in contact with the upper end of the rail <NUM>, the wheels <NUM> may be disposed to be sequentially in contact with the upper end, the lower end, and the upper end. Accordingly, when the glove box <NUM> moves, a tilting phenomenon of the glove box <NUM> may be prevented.

<FIG> are views illustrating examples of a case in which four wheels <NUM> are disposed.

Referring to <FIG>, even when four wheels <NUM> are disposed, the wheels <NUM> may be disposed to be alternately in contact with the upper end, the lower end, the upper end, and the lower end. In addition, as illustrated in <FIG>, the wheels <NUM> may be disposed to be sequentially in contact with the lower end, the upper end, the upper end, and the lower end of the rail <NUM>.

Referring to layouts of the wheels <NUM> of <FIG> and <FIG>, when four wheels <NUM> are disposed to be sequentially in contact with the upper end, the upper end, the lower end, and the lower end, the glove box <NUM> may be inclined due to product tolerances. Accordingly, for stable contact of the wheel <NUM> regardless of the number of the wheels <NUM>, the wheels <NUM> may be disposed to be sequentially in contact with the upper end, the lower end, and the upper end or the lower end, the upper end, and the lower end.

According to the embodiments, there is an effect in that a capacity of a glove box of a closed type design is secured.

In addition, since a length of a rail is minimized, a free space prepared for a vehicle crash can be secured, and thus the performance thereof can be improved.

In addition, operational quality can be improved by reducing an operational problem occurring due to a product distribution of outer rails, retainers, and inner rails by using a distribution absorption structure in which a partial touch is performed using a wheel.

Various useful advantages and effects of the present disclosure are not limited to the above-described content and may be more easily understood while specific embodiments of the present disclosure are described.

Claim 1:
A sliding glove box comprising:
a glove box (<NUM>) including an inner space for accommodating an object; and
a case (<NUM>) which accommodates the glove box (<NUM>),
wherein a plurality of wheels (<NUM>) are disposed at each of two sides of the glove box (<NUM>), wherein the plurality of wheels (<NUM>) are installed on fixing brackets (<NUM>) and are fixed to fixing parts (<NUM>) disposed at the two sides of the glove box (<NUM>), wherein the fixing parts (<NUM>) protrude from a lower portion of the glove box (<NUM>)
wherein the plurality of wheels (<NUM>) are configured to move on rails (<NUM>) disposed in the case (<NUM>), wherein the rails (<NUM>) are disposed in seating grooves (<NUM>) formed in a lower surface of the case (<NUM>), wherein the seating grooves (<NUM>) are provided in a shape recessed downward from the case (<NUM>), and the rails (<NUM>) are disposed on side surfaces of the seating grooves (<NUM>), and
wherein the rail (<NUM>) has a "c" shape,
wherein the wheel (<NUM>) is disposed in an accommodation space formed in the rail (<NUM>); and
wherein at least one of the plurality of wheels (<NUM>) has one side that is in contact with the rail (<NUM>).