Rotary Pawl Glove Box Latch

Abstract

A slam to close, glove box latch includes a housing, a paddle structure connected to rotate on the housing, a rotary pawl mounted to rotate in the housing, and a lock plate carried by the paddle structure to selectively engage the rotary pawl to inhibit its movement. The rotary pawl is spring biased to the open position. The paddle structure is spring biased to the closed position. The paddle structure includes guideways in which the lock plate operates. When the paddle is moved to the open position, the pawl is released to rotate open and the lock plate is carried to an interference-friction position with the pawl whereby the paddle is held in the open position. When the pawl is closed by the slam action of the latch, the interference-friction with the lock plate is released and the paddle structure returns to the closed position. Biasing is limited to two springs. The volume (envelope) of the latch is minimized.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features, advantage and operation of the present invention will become readily apparent and further understood from a reading of the following detailed description with the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer to like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the outside of the glove box latch assembly of the present invention in the closed position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the inside, i.e., underside, of the closed glove box latch assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an outside plan view of the closed glove box latch assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 a is the striker engaging end view of the closed glove box latch assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 b is the handle/paddle end view of the closed glove box latch assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a right side view of the closed glove box latch assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a left side view of the closed glove box latch assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an inside, underside, plan view of the closed glove box latch assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the outside of the glove box latch assembly of the present invention in the open position;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the inside of the open glove box latch assembly of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an outside plan view of the open glove box latch assembly of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 a is the striker engaging end view of the open glove box latch assembly of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 b is the handle/paddle end view of the open glove box latch assembly of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a right side view of the open glove box latch assembly of FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is a left side view of the glove box latch assembly of FIG. 7;

FIG. 12 is an inside plan view of the glove box latch assembly of FIG. 7;

FIG. 13 is a perspective exploded view of the glove box latch assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a perspective exploded view of the housing sub-assembly of the glove box latch of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a perspective inside view of the assembled housing sub-assembly of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a perspective exploded view of the housing sub-assembly and the paddle;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the glove box latch assembly of the present invention after the paddle is snapped onto the housing sub-assembly;

FIG. 18 is a perspective outside view of the glove box latch assembly in the closed position and mounted to a drop-open glove box door;

FIG. 19 is a perspective inside view of the glove box latch assembly and door of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a perspective outside view of the glove box latch assembly in the closed position and mounted to a removable panel;

FIG. 21 is a perspective inside view of the glove box latch assembly and panel of FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view of the glove box latch assembly in the closed position and taken through the rotary pawl as shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view of the glove box latch assembly in the closed position and taken through the rotary pawl axel mounting as shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view of the glove box latch assembly in the closed position and taken through a mid-point between the rotary pawl and the pawl axel mounting as shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view of the glove box latch assembly in the open position and taken through the rotary pawl as shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view of the glove box latch assembly in the open position and taken through the rotary pawl axel mounting as shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 27 is a perspective outside view of the glove box latch assembly in the closed position engaging a striker wire;

FIG. 28 is a perspective inside view of the glove box latch assembly in the closed position engaging the striker wire of FIG. 27;

FIG. 29 is an outside, top, plan view of the closed glove box latch assembly and the striker of FIG. 27;

FIG. 30 is a right side view of the closed glove box latch assembly and the striker of FIG. 27;

FIG. 31 is a left side view of the closed glove box latch assembly and the striker;

FIG. 32 is an inside, bottom, plan view of the closed glove box latch assembly and the striker;

FIG. 33 is a cross-sectional view of the glove box latch assembly in the closed position and engaging the striker taken through the rotary pawl as shown in FIG. 32;

FIG. 34 is an outside, top, plan view of the open glove box latch assembly and the striker;

FIG. 35 is a left side view of the open glove box latch assembly and striker prior to engaging the striker;

FIG. 36 is an inside, bottom, plan view of the open glove box latch assembly and the striker;

FIG. 37 is a cross-sectional view of the glove box latch assembly in the open position prior to engaging the striker taken through the rotary pawl as shown in FIG. 36;

FIGS. 38 a through 38e are perspective, top plan and side views of the paddle member;

FIGS. 39 a through 39e are perspective, top plan, side and end views of the housing member;

FIGS. 40 a through 40d are perspective, top plan and side views of the lock plate member;

FIGS. 41 a through 41c are views of the rotary pawl member and the pawl biasing spring member sub-assembly shown assembled and individually unassembled;

FIGS. 42 a through 42d are left and right side views and top and bottom plan views of the rotary pawl member;

FIG. 43 is a perspective view of the rotary pawl biasing spring member; and

FIGS. 44 a and 44b are perspective and top plan views of the paddle biasing spring member;

Claims

1. A latch assembly, comprising: a housing;a paddle mounted to rotate on said housing between an open position and a closed position;a rotary pawl mounted to rotate in said housing between an open position and a closed position; anda lock plate carried on the paddle and positioned by said paddle movement to engage said pawl when said paddle is fully in the open position;wherein, when said paddle is fully open, said lock plate holds said pawl with a friction interference contact whereby said paddle is also held in said open position.

2. The latch assembly of claim 1, also including a first torsion spring biasing said paddle to said closed position, and a second torsion spring biasing said pawl to said open position.

3. The latch assembly of claim 2, wherein said paddle includes a pair of goosed neck pivot point pivot arms, each said arm having a guideway channel, said channels extending in parallel, and wherein said lock plate is elongate having a foot at each end thereof for riding in a respective paddle guideway channel with said lock plate extending there between.

4. The latch assembly of claim 3, also wherein when said paddle is closed said lock plate holds said pawl in said closed position, and wherein said lock plate also includes a first tapered surface for holding said pawl with said friction interference contact and also includes a second surface for holding said pawl in said closed position by abutment interference.

5. The latch assembly of claim 4, wherein said pawl includes a pair of stub shafts for rotation thereon, a curved rear edge, a striker engagement slot, a biasing spring slot, and a rear catch finger, and wherein said second torsion spring includes a loop which engages said pawl biasing spring slot, a pair of spring coils connected to said loop, and a pair of end legs extending one form each coil to operate against the housing when said coils are mounted on said stub shafts, and wherein further said pawl rear catch finger contacts said lock plate first tapered surface in said friction interference contact.

6. The latch assembly of claim 5, wherein said housing includes a pair of stub shafts upon which said paddle rotates, with one of said stub shafts being longer, and wherein second torsion spring includes a single coil and a pair of end legs one of which operates against said paddle and the other of which operates against said housing, wherein said second torsion spring coil is mounted to said longer housing stub shaft.

7. The latch assembly of claim 6, wherein said housing includes a ring bumper, said paddle abutting said ring bumper when said paddle is in said closed position, and wherein said paddle arms each include a journal, and opening there beneath, and a living spring operating in said opening and extending into said journal, said living spring having a curved contact surface for engaging a respective housing stub shaft.

8. The latch assembly of claim 7, wherein said paddle has a downward extending skirt and said housing has a back wall with an upward extending skirt and a pair of abutment tips, wherein said paddle skirt and said housing skirt close off the outside back of said latch assembly when said paddle is in said closes position, said abutment tips keep said paddle and housing skirts from full contact.

9. The latch assembly of claim 8 being able to be assembled without tools.

10. A low profile glove box latch assembly, comprising: a housing;a paddle-type handle mounted to rotate on said housing with a goosed neck high pivot point and operable between an open position and a closed position, said handle having at least one guideway thereon;a lock plate engaging each of said handle guideways for sliding movement therein;a pawl mounted to rotate in said housing between an open position and a closed position;a first torsion spring biasing said handle to said closed position;a second torsion spring biasing said pawl to said open position; andwherein said lock plate holds said pawl closed with one face of said lock plate and holds said pawl open with another face of said lock plate.

11. The glove box latch assembly of claim 10, wherein said lock plate also includes an outwardly extending movement arm, said movement arm being in constant contact with said housing.

12. The glove box latch assembly of claim 11, wherein said first torsion spring has a first leg abutting said handle and a second leg abutting said housing; and wherein said second torsion spring includes a loop engaging said pawl and a pair of legs engaging said housing.

13. The glove box latch assembly of claim 12, wherein said lock plate moves along each said handle guideway as said handle is moved between said open and closed positions.

14. The glove box latch assembly of claim 13, wherein lock plate is in abutment interference with said pawl when said pawl is in said closed position, and is in friction interference with said pawl when said pawl is in said open position, said friction interference also holding said handle in said open position.

15. A slam to close latch assembly, comprising: a housing;a paddle mounted to rotate on said housing between an open position and a closed position, said paddle having a plurality of walls, two of which extend in parallel;a rotary pawl mounted to rotate within said housing between an open position and a closed position;a pair of opposed guideway channels extending in parallel said two parallel paddle walls;a lock plate extending between said pair of paddle opposed guideway channels and riding therein, said lock plate including a tapered surface;wherein said lock plate selectively engages said pawl at said tapered surface when said paddle is in said open position.

16. The latch assembly of claim 15, where said lock plate tapered surface engagement with said pawl is a friction interference engagement.

17. The latch assembly of claim 16, wherein said lock plate engages said pawl on another surface by abutment when said paddle is in said closed position.

18. The latch assembly of claim 17, wherein said lock plate is carried by said paddle between said friction interference position with said pawl and said abutment engagement position with said pawl by the movement of said paddle.

19. The latch assembly of claim 18, wherein said movement of said paddle is from said open position to said closed position.

20. The latch assembly of claim 19, wherein said friction interference of said lock plate also holds said paddle in said open position and said abutment engagement holds said pawl in said closed position.

21. The latch assembly of claim 18, wherein said lock plate includes a movement arm extending therefrom to be in constant contact with said housing.

22. The latch assembly of claim 21, also including a first torsion spring biasing said paddle to said closed position, said first torsion spring having a first leg abutting said paddle and a second leg abutting said housing.

23. The latch assembly of claim 22, also including a second torsion spring biasing said pawl to said open position, said second torsion spring having a loop engaging said pawl and a pair of legs engaging said housing.

24. The latch assembly of claim 23, also including a living spring operating in contact between said paddle and said housing.

25. The latch assembly of claim 24, wherein lock plate movement arm action, said first and second torsion springs, and said living spring act to dampen vibration in said latch assembly.

26. The latch assembly of claim 25, wherein said paddle pivots on said two parallel extending walls, each wall having a pivot point which provides said paddle with a raised goose neck type pivot, and wherein each said paddle pivot wall includes a finger which abuts said housing when said paddle reaches said open position, said abutment action of each said finger against said housing providing an audible indication of said paddle reaching said open position.