Patent ID: 7451628

Claim:
An apparatus for opening and closing a glovebox door, the apparatus comprising: an instrument panel; a glovebox mounted in the instrument panel, the glovebox comprising a door; a latch movably mounted to a first one of either the door or the instrument panel between a locked position, at which it abuts a part of a second one of either the door or the instrument panel and constrains relative movement between the door and the instrument panel, and an unlocked position, at which it is unlatched from the part of the second one of either the door or the instrument panel, and allows relative movement between the door and the instrument panel; a push button mounted to the second one of either the door or the instrument panel; a rack bar connected to the push button and extending in an inward direction of the instrument panel; a pinion engaged with the rack bar; a link having a rack gear engaged with the pinion, the link being movable to lock and unlock the latch; and a locking unit comprising a locking member with open and closed positions and cooperating with the link to directly block movement of the link in the closed position, the locking unit being spaced apart from the push button.