Locking Device for the Lid of a Storage Compartment of a Motor Vehicle

Abstract

A locking device for a cover of a glove compartment of a motor vehicle is positioned so as to swivel on an associated frame and is held in the closed condition by two locking sections of the locking bar engaging behind an associated locking contour on the frame. The locking bars can be synchronously displaced from their locked position to the release position in order to open the cover by way of an actuation element. In order to minimize installation space, especially in the area of the cover, the actuation element is positioned on the frame side and, for opening the cover, interacts with its locking section on the associated locking bar, displacing it in the opening direction, while the other locking bar is moved into its release position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURE

FIG. 1 is a cutaway depiction of a glove compartment with a cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a cutaway depiction of a glove compartment of a motor vehicle with a closed cover cut horizontally in the assembled position. The illustration is limited to the assembled location of the cover of the glove compartment and the adjacent means for opening actuation. The cover 2 of the glove box 1 is positioned basically in an inclined, protruding manner on the side of the instrument panel of a vehicle facing the passenger. The cover 2 comprises a swivel axis positioned horizontally in the assembled position. The housing 1.1 of the glove compartment 1 encloses the glove box volume in a box-shaped manner. On the side facing the passenger, the housing 1.1 forms a frame 3 for receiving the cover 2. The glove compartment box 1 is housed in an installation space behind the car interior lining 7, in this case the instrument panel of the motor vehicle. The cover 2 closing the glove compartment 1 in the frame 3 is fitted to the surface outline of the car interior lining 7. The cover 2 comprises a cover rear part 2.1 facing the housing 1.1 of the glove compartment 1, as well as a cover front part 2.2 facing the passenger, which is provided with a decorative covering 2.3. Two locking bars 4 and 5 are disposed in a hollow space formed between the cover rear part 2.1 and the cover front part 2.2.

The locking bars are configured as sliding locks, each having an elongated shape and serving as a push rod. The locking bars 4 and 5 are held in the cover 2 by means of slide guides and, when the cover is closed, engage in the pass-through openings in the cover rear part 2.1, which openings function as slide guides.

The pass-through openings of the locking bar in the cover rear part 2.1 are disposed on two opposite narrow sides of the cover 2. Wall sections of the frame 3 exhibit lock openings 3.1 and 3.2 disposed opposite to these pass-through openings, the respective edges of which are positioned in the opening direction of the cover and function as locking contours for the locking bars 4 and 5. When the cover 2 is closed, the wall sections are positioned opposite to these two narrow sides of the cover and are aligned parallel to them. The end areas of the locking bars 4 and 5 protruding through the pass-through openings of the cover 2 form locking sections 4.1 and 5.1 of the locking bars, which engage in the locking contour of the frame. The locking sections 4.1 and 5.1 exhibit stop chamfers on the sides positioned forward in the closing direction of the cover 2, by means of which chamfers the locking bars can engage in the cover when coming in contact with the edge of the frame in the cover. The locking bars 4 and 5 exhibit, in their end areas facing away from the locking sections 4.1 and 5.2, a common overlapping area with toothed rack sections 4.2 and 5.2 facing each other. A gear wheel 8 positioned in the cover rear part 2.1 is located between the toothed rack sections 4.2 and 5.2 and meshes with the two toothed rack sections 4.2 and 5.2. The gear comprising the toothed rack sections 4.2 and 5.2 and the gear wheel 8 effects a coupling of the pushing movements of the locking bars 4 and 5 in opposite movement directions, so that as a result, when the locking bar 4 is moved in its direction of opening, the locking bar 5 moves in its opening direction.

The locking bar 4 is spring-loaded by a return spring 4.3 in the detent advancement direction and is secured by a stop to prevent it from sliding through the pass-through opening. The locking bar 4 and the locking bar 5 coupled thereto via the toothed rack sections 4.2 and 5.2 and the gear wheel 8 are moved independently via the spring loading into the locked position.

An actuation element 6 is positioned on the frame 3 of the housing 1.1 in the assembled position laterally next to the cover 2 of the glove compartment 1 at the height of the locking bar. The actuation element 6 exhibits a push button 6.1 and a disengaging element 6.2. The push button 6.1 is guided substantially perpendicularly to the surface of the car interior lining 7. The push button 6.1 exhibits a drive chamfer, by means of which the disengaging element 6.2 is driven, which is guided displacably transversely to the push button's 6.1 direction of push. The drive chamfer of the push button 6.1 effects a displacing movement of the disengaging element 6.2 aimed in the direction of the associated locking bar 4. When the disengaging element 6.2 engages on the locking section 4.1 of the locking bar 4, the locking bar 4 is pushed out of the locking contour on the lock opening 3.1 on the frame 3 of the housing 1.1, in order to release the locking device. The movements of the locking bars 4 and 5 coupled via the toothed rack sections 4.2 and 5.2 and the gear wheel 8 cause the locking bar 5 to be moved out of the locking contour of the lock opening 3.2 positioned opposite thereof. As a result, the cover 2 in the frame 3 of the glove compartment 1 is released and can swing, for example under its own weight combined with spring force, into the open position. The disengaging element 6.2 is spring-loaded against the actuation direction, whereupon the disengaging element 6.2 and the push button 6.1 automatically move back to their original position after release.

Located in the cover rear part 2.1 is a detent pawl 9 which, as soon as locking bar 5 assumes its open position and the cover swings open, automatically engages due to spring-loading behind a catch flange 5.2 on the locking bar 5 and, as a result, holds the locking bar 5 and the locking bar 4 coupled in its movement in the open positions. As a result, the locking sections 4.1 and 5.2 of locking bars 4 and 5 remain hidden in the cover housing when the cover is opened. When closing the cover, the locking sections 4.1 and 5.1 of the locking bars therefore need to be pressed in across their chamfers, resulting in a very comfortable operation for closing the cover while eliminating the associated force application. When the cover 2 is completely closed via a tracer pin 10, which is pushed across a stop in the cover 2 positioned on the frame side, the detent pawl 9 is automatically brought to the release position and allows the locking bars 4 and 5 to move into their locked position via their spring-loading by the spring 4.3 acting in the detent advancement direction. In the process, a separate tracer pin 10 is especially secure in its function and has an advantageously simple appearance. A variety of other actuation devices for the detent pawl 9 controlled by the cover position are also conceivable. For example, a flange constructed as one piece on the detent pawl 9 may be provided. In addition, the cover rear part 2.1 can have a catch protrusion that can be brought in engagement with the locking bar in its open position. It is elastic, so that it can, for example, be brought to the release position by placing the cover on the frame.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A locking device for a cover of a glove compartment of motor vehicles, which is positioned so as to swivel on an associated frame, comprising: first and second locking bars, the locking bars having locking sections engaging behind an associated locking contour on the frame to hold the cover in a closed position, andan actuation element by which the locking bars are synchronously displaceable from a locked position to a release position for opening the cover,wherein the actuation element is positioned on a frame side and, for opening the cover, interacts with its locking section on the first locking bar, displacing it in the opening direction, the second locking bar also being moved into its release position.

12. The locking device according to claim 11, wherein the locking bars are spring-loaded in the direction of their detent advancement.

13. The locking device according to claim 11, wherein both locking bars of the cover are constructed as sliding locks.

14. The locking device according to claim 11, wherein the locking bars are mechanically coupled to each other by a gear.

15. The locking device according to claim 11, wherein the locking sections of both locking bars are disposed on opposite narrow sides of the cover, and wherein the direction of each detent advancement of the locking bars occurs in opposite directions.

16. The locking device according to claim 11, wherein the locking bars comprise toothed rack sections with which a gear wheel meshes reversing the movement direction.

17. The locking device according to claim 11, wherein the actuation element comprises a push button and a disengaging element, moving transversely to its advancement direction, by which the locking section of the first locking bar can be displaced into its release position.

18. The locking device according to claim 11, wherein the cover is spring-loaded in the direction of opening.

19. The locking device according to claim 11, wherein the locking bars are held in open positions by a locking element, the locking element being automatically brought to the release position during a closing movement.

20. The locking device according to claim 11, wherein locking sections of the locking bars exit from pass-through openings on narrow sides of the cover and engage in locking recesses which are positioned in wall sections of the frame opposite the pass-through openings.

21. The locking device according to claim 19, wherein the locking element is a detent pawl