U.S. patent application number 15/855430 was filed with the patent office on 2019-06-27 for glovebox assembly with an interlocking downstop.
The applicant listed for this patent is FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC. Invention is credited to Francis Raymond Gillis, Frank Qiukui Liu.
Application Number | 20190193640 15/855430 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 65363794 |
Filed Date | 2019-06-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20190193640 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Liu; Frank Qiukui ; et
al. |
June 27, 2019 |
GLOVEBOX ASSEMBLY WITH AN INTERLOCKING DOWNSTOP
Abstract
A glovebox assembly includes a support substrate, a glovebox
rotationally displaceable with respect to the support substrate, a
downstop carried on the support substrate and an interlock feature
carried on the support substrate. The downstop includes a stalk and
a head. The interlock feature overlaps the stalk adjacent the
head.
Inventors: |
Liu; Frank Qiukui; (Canton,
MI) ; Gillis; Francis Raymond; (Farmington Hills,
MI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC |
Dearborn |
MI |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
65363794 |
Appl. No.: |
15/855430 |
Filed: |
December 27, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R 7/06 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B60R 7/06 20060101
B60R007/06 |
Claims
1. A glovebox assembly, comprising: a support substrate; a glovebox
rotationally displaceable with respect to said support substrate; a
downstop carried on said support substrate, said downstop including
a stalk and a head carried on said stalk; and an interlock feature
carried on said support substrate and overlapping said stalk
adjacent said head.
2. The glovebox assembly of claim 1, wherein said support substrate
is a glovebox surround.
3. The glovebox assembly of claim 1, wherein said support substrate
is a portion of an instrument panel.
4. The glovebox assembly of claim 1, wherein said glovebox includes
a door and a storage compartment.
5. The glovebox assembly of claim 4, further including a hinge
connecting said glovebox to said support substrate.
6. The glovebox assembly of claim 5, wherein said stalk includes a
proximal end connected to said support substrate and a distal end
carrying said head.
7. The glovebox assembly of claim 6, wherein said head includes an
installation feature and a glovebox retention feature.
8. The glovebox assembly of claim 7, wherein said installation
feature defines a first included angle A.sub.1 with said stalk and
said glovebox retention feature defines a second included angle
A.sub.2 with said stalk wherein A.sub.1>A.sub.2.
9. The glovebox assembly of claim 8, wherein said first included
angle A.sub.1 is provided inside said second included angle
A.sub.2.
10. The glovebox assembly of claim 9, wherein said first included
angle A.sub.1 is between 120 degrees and 160 degrees and said
second included angle A.sub.2 is between 90 degrees and 130
degrees.
11. The glovebox assembly of claim 9, wherein said first included
angle A.sub.1 is about 140 degrees and said second included angle
A.sub.2 is about 110 degrees.
12. The glovebox assembly of claim 11, wherein said interlock
feature is oriented on said support substrate toward said
glovebox.
13. The glovebox assembly of claim 12, wherein said proximal end of
said stalk is connected to said support substrate by a hinge.
14. The glovebox assembly of claim 13, wherein said glovebox
includes a rear wall opposite said door, said rear wall including a
radiused cam.
15. The glovebox assembly of claim 14, wherein said radiused cam is
oriented to engage said installation feature when said glovebox is
installed in said glovebox assembly.
16. The glovebox assembly of claim 1, wherein said stalk is
displaced from a home position to a first deflected position away
from said interlock feature when installing said glovebox or
removing said glovebox for service.
17. The glovebox assembly of claim 16, wherein said stalk is
displaced from said home position to a second deflected position in
engagement with said interlock feature when said glovebox is fully
opened and an additional load is placed upon said glovebox in an
opening direction.
18. The glovebox assembly of claim 17, wherein said home position
is between said first deflected position and said second deflected
position.
19. The glovebox assembly of claim 18, wherein said second
deflected position is toward a storage compartment of said
glovebox.
20. A glovebox assembly, comprising: a support substrate; a
glovebox rotationally displaceable with respect to said support
substrate; a downstop carried on said support substrate by a hinge;
and an interlock feature carried on said support substrate and
overlapping said downstop.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This document relates generally to the motor vehicle
equipment field, and more particularly, to a glovebox assembly
including an interlocking downstop.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Motor vehicles today are almost universally equipped with a
glovebox assembly mounted within a dashboard or instrument panel of
the motor vehicle. Such a glovebox assembly typically includes a
support substrate, a glovebox compartment and an access door that
is pivotally mounted and may be rotationally displaced to open the
glovebox assembly and allow access to the glovebox compartment.
[0003] This document relates to a new and improved glovebox
assembly incorporating an interlocking downstop that advantageously
provides low disengagement effort to allow for ease of installation
and removal for maintenance of the glovebox door while also meeting
the seemingly conflicting goal of providing a robust design to
better withstand customer abuse loads.
SUMMARY
[0004] In accordance with the purposes and benefits described
herein, a new and improved glovebox assembly is provided. That
glovebox assembly comprises a support substrate, a glovebox
rotationally displaceable with respect to the support substrate, a
downstop carried on the support substrate and an interlock feature
carried on the support substrate. The downstop may include a stalk
and a head carried on the stalk. The interlock feature may overlap
the stalk adjacent the head.
[0005] In some of the many possible embodiments, the support
substrate may comprise a glovebox surround. In some of the many
possible embodiments, the support substrate may comprise a portion
of a dashboard or instrument panel.
[0006] The glovebox may include a door and an integral storage
compartment. A hinge may connect the glovebox to the support
substrate.
[0007] The stalk may include a proximal end connected to the
support substrate and a distal end carrying the head. The head may
include an installation feature and a glovebox retention feature.
The installation feature may define a first included angle A.sub.1
with the stalk and the retention feature may define a second
included angle A.sub.2 with the stalk. Further, the first included
angle A.sub.1 may be provided inside the second included angle
A.sub.2. In some of the many possible embodiments, the first
included angle A.sub.1 may be between 120 degrees and 160 degrees
while the second included angle A.sub.2 may be between 90 degrees
and 130 degrees.
[0008] In some of the many possible embodiments, the first included
angle A.sub.1 may be about 140 degrees and the second included
angel A.sub.2 may be about 110 degrees. The interlock feature may
be oriented on the support substrate toward the glovebox.
[0009] The proximal end of the stalk may be connected to the
support substrate by a hinge. In addition, the glovebox may include
a rear wall opposite the door. That rear wall may include a
radiused cam. That radiused cam may be oriented to engage the
installation feature when the glove box is installed in the
glovebox assembly.
[0010] The stalk may be displaced from a home position to a first
deflected position away from the interface feature when installing
the glovebox or removing the glovebox for service. The stalk may be
displaced from the home position to a second deflected position in
engagement with the interlock feature when the glovebox is fully
opened and an additional load (i.e. a customer abuse load) is
placed upon the glovebox in an opening direction. The home position
may be between the first deflected position and the second
deflected position. Further, the second deflected position may be
toward a storage compartment of the glovebox.
[0011] In the following description, there are shown and described
several preferred embodiments of the glovebox assembly. As it
should be realized, the glovebox assembly is capable of other,
different embodiments and its several details are capable of
modification in various, obvious aspects all without departing from
the glovebox assembly as set forth and described in the following
claims. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions should be
regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
[0012] The accompanying drawing figures incorporated herein and
forming a part of the specification, illustrate several aspects of
the glovebox assembly and together with the description serve to
explain certain principles thereof.
[0013] FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of the glovebox assembly
illustrating the glovebox in a fully closed position.
[0014] FIG. 2a is a detailed side elevational view of a downstop
and cooperating interlock feature of the glovebox assembly
illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0015] FIG. 2b is a perspective view from below of the structure
illustrated in FIG. 2a.
[0016] FIG. 2c is a perspective view from above of the structure
illustrated in FIGS. 2a and 2b.
[0017] FIG. 3a is a cross sectional view illustrating the glovebox
assembly in the fully open position.
[0018] FIG. 3b is a detailed view of the downstop and interlock
feature of the glovebox assembly in the fully open position.
[0019] FIGS. 4a and 4b illustrate installation of the glovebox into
the glovebox assembly. More specifically, FIG. 4a is a cross
sectional view of the entire glovebox assembly while FIG. 4b is a
detailed view of the downstop and interlock feature during
installation.
[0020] FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of injection molding
tooling for the interlock and downstop design.
[0021] Reference will now be made in detail to the present
preferred embodiments of the glovebox assembly, examples of which
are illustrated in the accompanying drawing figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] Reference is now made to FIG. 1 illustrating the glovebox
assembly 10 in a closed position. The glovebox assembly 10 includes
a support substrate 12, a glovebox 14, a downstop 16, carried on
the support substrate, and an interlock feature 18 carried on the
support substrate. The support substrate 12 may comprise, for
example, a glovebox surround or a portion of the dashboard or
instrument panel.
[0023] The glovebox 14 in the illustrated embodiment includes a
door 20 and a storage compartment 22. A hinge, generally designated
by reference numeral 24 connects the glovebox 14 to the support
substrate 12 so that the glovebox may be rotationally displaceable
with respect to the support substrate.
[0024] As best illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2a, 2b and 2c, the downstop
16 includes a stalk 26 and a head 28. More specifically, the head
28 is connected to the distal end of the stalk 26 while the
proximal end of the stalk is connected to the support substrate 12
by means of a hinge 30. The head 28 includes an installation
feature 32 and a glovebox retention feature 34 described in greater
detail below.
[0025] As illustrated in FIG. 2a, the installation feature 32
defines a first included angle A.sub.1 with the stalk 26 and the
glovebox retention feature 34 defines a second included angle
A.sub.2 with the stalk. As shown, the first included angle A.sub.1
is provided inside the second included angle A.sub.2. Consistent
with this, the installation feature 32 and the first included angle
A.sub.1 are closer to the hinge 30 at the proximal end of the stalk
26 than the glovebox retention feature 34 and the second included
angle A.sub.2. It should also be appreciated that the installation
feature 32 is oriented toward the hinge 30 at the proximal end of
the stalk 26 while the glovebox retention feature is oriented away
from the hinge.
[0026] In some of the many possible embodiments of the glovebox
assembly 10, the first included angle A.sub.1 is between 120
degrees and 160 degrees and the second included angle A.sub.2 is
between 90 degrees and 130 degrees. In one particularly useful
embodiment, the first included angle A.sub.1 is about 140 degrees
and the second included angle A.sub.2 is about 110 degrees.
[0027] As should be appreciated from reviewing FIGS. 1 and 3a, the
interlock feature 18 is carried on the support substrate 12 and
overlaps the stalk 26 adjacent or near the head 28. Further, the
interlock feature 18 is oriented on the support substrate 12 toward
the glovebox 14.
[0028] The glovebox 14 includes a rear wall 36 opposite the door
20. That rear wall 36 includes a radiused cam 38 at its terminal
edge. As illustrated in FIG. 4a and FIG. 4b, the radiused cam 38 is
oriented to engage the installation feature 32 when the glovebox 14
is installed in the support substrate 12 of the glovebox assembly
10.
[0029] More specifically, first the installer engages the hook 40
with the pivot shaft 42 of the support substrate 12 in order to
complete assembly of the hinge 24. The glovebox 14 is then rotated
in the direction of action arrow B about the hinge 24 until the
radiused cam 38 engages the installation feature 32 of the downstop
16. As the installer continues to rotate the glovebox 14 in the
direction of action arrow B, the radiused cam 38 rides along the
sloped face of the installation feature 32 causing the installation
feature 32 to pivot about the hinge 30 in the direction of action
arrow C until the downstop 16 is pivoted sufficiently (see phantom
line position in FIG. 4a) to allow the radiused cam 38 on the rear
wall 36 to pass the head 28 and complete the installation of the
glovebox 14. Accordingly, it should be appreciated that the
glovebox 14 may be installed in a simple and efficient manner
without placing any substantial stress on the downstop 16 and thus,
protecting the downstop from any damage.
[0030] When the installed glovebox 14 is displaced by rotation
about the hinge 24 from the fully closed position illustrated in
FIG. 1 to the fully open position illustrated in FIG. 3a, the rear
wall 36 of the glovebox, behind the radiused cam 38 engages the
glovebox retention feature 34 on the head 28 of the downstop 16.
When this occurs, the downstop 16 pivots about the hinge 30 in the
direction of action arrow D in FIG. 3b providing a damping effect
for improved feel and smooth operation.
[0031] In the event the user intentionally or inadvertently pushes
down on the glovebox 14 in the opening direction (note action arrow
E in FIG. 3a), the stalk 26 of the downstop 16 engages the
interlock feature 18 as shown in phantom line in FIG. 3b. As a
result, the interlock feature 18 effectively supports the downstop
16, preventing the downstop from disengaging from the rear wall 36
of the glovebox 14 and effectively holding the glovebox 14 in the
fully open position against the abuse load.
[0032] Should it ever be necessary to remove the glovebox 14 from
the support substrate 12 for maintenance purposes, that may be done
in a simple and efficient manner without placing any stress on the
downstop 16 thereby allowing the downstop to be protected from
inadvertent damage. Toward this end, one uses a finger, screwdriver
or other tool to pivot the downstop 16 upward in the direction of
action arrow C as illustrated in FIG. 4a until the downstop is in
the illustrated phantom line position. This provides the necessary
clearance to allow the rear wall 36 of the glovebox 14 to pass the
head 28 of the downstop. It is then a simple matter to disengage
the hook 40 from the pivot shaft 42 of the hinge 24 and fully
remove the glovebox 14 from the support substrate 12.
[0033] As should be appreciated from viewing FIG. 2c, it is a
relatively simple matter to fine tune the performance
characteristics of the downstop 16. This may be done by optimizing
the downstop length L, the downstop width W and the downstop
thickness T.
[0034] It should also be noted that the downstop 16 may be
integrally formed as a part of the support substrate 12 by
injection molding. While the integrated interlocking feature 18
generates an undercut condition, a lifter 50 may be used to solve
the issue. Note FIG. 5 showing how the interlock feature 18 may be
injection molded between the cavity steel 52, the lifter 50 and the
core steel 54. The lifter 50, cavity steel 52 and core steel 54 may
be opened as per the action arrows in order to remove the support
substrate 12 and downstop 16 from the mold when cured.
[0035] The foregoing has been presented for purposes of
illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive
or to limit the embodiments to the precise form disclosed. Obvious
modifications and variations are possible in light of the above
teachings. For example, the glovebox assembly 10 could include one,
two or more downstops 16 with interlocking features 18 depending
upon the particular application and size of the glovebox 14. All
such modifications and variations are within the scope of the
appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to
which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled.
* * * * *