Patent ID: 7383707

Claim:
A locking apparatus for a glove box provided in front of a passenger seat of a vehicle, the locking apparatus comprising: the glove box; a case attached to an end edge of a door of the glove box; a locking member slidably supported by the case for engaging with and disengaging from a supporting member; a first urging member that urges the locking member in a direction of the supporting member; an operating handle for unlocking the door of the glove box; a lever mechanism for sliding the locking member against the first urging member by pivoting the operating handle, said lever mechanism including a link member; and an operating space disposed between the supporting member and the operating handle, the operating handle including an operating claw, wherein: the operating handle is pivotably supported by the case at a portion that is distal to the end edge of the door of the glove box, the operating handle is pivoted from a side of the supporting member to a side of the door of the glove box at a portion that is proximal to the end edge of the door of the glove box, when the door of the glove box is unlocked; and the operating space is formed by hollowing a portion of the supporting member which corresponds to the operating handle; and wherein when the operating handle is pulled, the locking apparatus is unlocked by moving the operating claw toward an upper side of the glove box, the link member changes a direction of moving, and the locking member disengages from a striker.