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EP-4352329-B1 - PAWL CONNECTOR FOR GLOVE BOX LATCH

EP4352329B1EP 4352329 B1EP4352329 B1EP 4352329B1EP-4352329-B1

Inventors

  • MINNICH, DAVID A.

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20220610

Claims (20)

  1. A vehicle glove box latch (100) for a vehicle glove box, the vehicle glove box latch (100) comprising: an actuator (116) configured to be mounted for movement relative to the vehicle glove box; a rotor (118) coupled to the actuator (116) and configured to be mounted for rotation relative to the vehicle glove box about a rotor (118) axis; and a pawl (120, 122) coupled to the rotor (118) and having opposing ends, the pawl (120, 122) being movable along a pawl (120, 122) axis angled relative to the rotor (118) axis, one end (138) of the opposing ends of the pawl (120, 122) including an engagement portion configured to be engaged with an opening (128, 136) in a vehicle in which the vehicle glove box is mounted, and another end (138) of the opposing ends of the pawl (120, 122) including a coupling portion (120b, 122b) positioned for coupling the pawl (120, 122) to the rotor (118); the coupling portion (120b, 122b) of the pawl (120, 122) defining a recess (124, 124a, 124b) open in a recess direction (120c, 122c) angled relative to the pawl (120, 122) axis and angled relative to the rotor (118) axis; and the rotor (118) having a detent (126a, 126b) extending in a direction (120d, 122d, 168) of the rotor (118) axis and into the recess (124, 124a, 124b) defined by the coupling portion (120b, 122b) of the pawl (120, 122), wherein the recess (124, 124a, 124b) defined by the coupling portion (120b, 122b) of the pawl (120, 122) is shaped to receive the detent (126a, 126b) of the rotor (118) and to resist unintended separation of the detent (126a, 126b) of the rotor (118) from the recess (124, 124a, 124b) in the recess direction (120c, 122c); characterized in that the rotor (118) having a retainer (132, 132a, 132b) spaced from the detent (126a, 126b) and extending in a direction (120d, 122d, 168) transverse to the rotor (118) axis; wherein the retainer (132, 132a, 132b) of the rotor (118) is positioned to limit movement of the coupling portion (120b, 122b) of the pawl (120, 122) in the direction (120d, 122d, 168) of the rotor (118) axis and to resist unintended separation of the coupling portion (120b, 122b) of the pawl (120, 122) from the detent (126a, 126b) of the rotor (118) in the direction (120d, 122d, 168) of the rotor (118) axis.
  2. The vehicle glove box latch (100) of claim 1, wherein the detent (126a, 126b) of the rotor (118) is a stud extending in the direction (120d, 122d, 168) of the rotor (118) axis.
  3. The vehicle glove box latch (100) of claim 2, wherein the stud of the rotor (118) is a cylindrical post (148).
  4. The vehicle glove box latch (100) of claim 1, wherein the retainer (132, 132a, 132b) of the rotor (118) includes a lip (162) extending in a direction (120d, 122d, 168) transverse to the rotor (118) axis.
  5. The vehicle glove box latch (100) of claim 4, wherein the retainer (132, 132a, 132b) includes a contact surface (160) positioned proximal to or contacting the coupling portion (120b, 122b) of the pawl (120, 122).
  6. The vehicle glove box latch (100) of claim 1, the pawl (120, 122) being movable along the pawl (120, 122) axis between a latched position and an unlatched position.
  7. The vehicle glove box latch (100) of claim 6, the coupling portion (120b, 122b) of the pawl (120, 122) having a tapered thickness such that a distance between the coupling portion (120b, 122b) of the pawl (120, 122) and the contact surface (160) of the retainer (132, 132a, 132b) is greater in the unlatched position of the pawl (120, 122) relative to a distance between the coupling portion (120b, 122b) of the pawl (120, 122) and the contact surface (160) of the retainer (132, 132a, 132b) in the latched position of the pawl (120, 122).
  8. The vehicle glove box latch (100) of claim 7, the rotor (118) being movable about the rotor (118) axis between a latched position and an unlatched position.
  9. The vehicle glove box latch (100) of claim 8, the contact surface (160) of the retainer (132, 132a, 132b) of the rotor (118) being moved relative to the coupling portion (120b, 122b) of the pawl (120, 122) when the rotor (118) is moved about the rotor (118) axis between the latched position and the unlatched position.
  10. The vehicle glove box latch (100) of claim 1, the coupling portion (120b, 122b) of the pawl (120, 122) having a rounded surface positioned for contact with the rotor (118), thereby reducing the area of direct contact between the pawl (120, 122) and the rotor (118).
  11. The vehicle glove box latch (100) of claim 10, a surface of the recess (124, 124a, 124b) of the coupling portion (120b, 122b) of the pawl (120, 122) being rounded to reduce the area of direct contact between the recess (124, 124a, 124b) of the coupling portion (120b, 122b) of the pawl (120, 122) and the detent (126a, 126b) of the rotor (118).
  12. The vehicle glove box latch (100) of claim 1 comprising plural pawls (120, 122).
  13. The vehicle glove box latch (100) of claim 12, the rotor (118) having plural detents (126, 126a, 126b) each extending in the direction (120d, 122d, 168) of the rotor (118) axis and into the recess (124, 124a, 124b) defined by the coupling portion (120b, 122b) of a respective one of the plural pawls (120, 122), the rotor (118) also having plural retainers (132a, 132b) each spaced from a respective one of the plural detents (126, 126a, 126b) and extending in the direction (120d, 122d, 168) transverse to the rotor (118) axis.
  14. A vehicle glove box including the vehicle glove box latch (100) of claim 1.
  15. The vehicle glove box of claim 14, further comprising a user actuated paddle (116) providing the actuator (116) and a door (102) to which the paddle (116) and the rotor (118) are coupled.
  16. A method for assembling a vehicle glove box latch (100) of claim 1, the method (200) comprising: orienting a pawl (120, 122) relative to a rotor (118) such that the pawl (120, 122) is movable along a pawl (120, 122) axis angled relative to a rotor (118) axis, one end (138) of the opposing ends of the pawl (120, 122) including an engagement portion configured to be engaged with an opening (128, 136) in a vehicle in which the vehicle glove box is mounted, and another end (138) of the opposing ends of the pawl (120, 122) including a coupling portion (120b, 122b) positioned for coupling the pawl (120, 122) to the rotor (118); orienting the coupling portion (120b, 122b) of the pawl (120, 122) with a recess (124, 124a, 124b) open in a recess direction (120c, 122c) angled relative to the pawl (120, 122) axis and angled relative to the rotor (118) axis; extending a retainer (132, 132a, 132b) of the rotor (118) in a direction (120d, 122d, 168) transverse to the rotor (118) axis; receiving a detent (126a, 126b) of the rotor (118) in the recess (124, 124a, 124b) defined by the coupling portion (120b, 122b) of the pawl (120, 122) and resisting unintended separation of the detent (126a, 126b) of the rotor (118) from the recess (124, 124a, 124b) in the recess direction (120c, 122c); positioning the retainer (132, 132a, 132b) of the rotor (118) to limit movement of the coupling portion (120b, 122b) of the pawl (120, 122) in the direction (120d, 122d, 168) of the rotor (118) axis and resist unintended separation of the coupling portion (120b, 122b) of the pawl (120, 122) from the detent (126a, 126b) of the rotor (118) in the direction (120d, 122d, 168) of the rotor (118) axis; thereby resisting unintended separation of the pawl (120, 122) from the rotor (118) in the direction (120d, 122d, 168) of the rotor (118) axis and in the recess direction (120c, 122c) angled relative to the rotor (118) axis.
  17. The method of claim 16, further comprising mounting a user operated paddle (116) for movement relative to the vehicle glove box.
  18. The method of claim 17, further comprising coupling the rotor (118) to the paddle (116) and mounting the rotor (118) for rotation relative to the vehicle glove box about the rotor (118) axis.
  19. The method of claim 16, further comprising positioning the pawl (120, 122) to interact with a striker for maintaining the latch (100) assembly in a closed state.
  20. The method of claim 16, further comprising orienting plural pawls (120, 122) relative to the rotor (118) such that the pawls (120, 122) are movable along pawl (120, 122) axes angled relative to the rotor (118) axis.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/209,690, filed on June 11, 2021, titled "PAWL CONNECTOR FOR GLOVE BOX LATCH". FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the field of latches configured to provide a mechanical connection between adjacent components, and particularly to latch systems for securing automotive glove box or accessory compartment doors in the closed position. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Automotive door closure systems, such as glove boxes and the like, typically include a housing, a door, and a latch that cooperates with one or more strikers to hold the door in the closed position to cover the housing. It has been found that there is a continuing need to improve upon or provide alternatives to existing door closure systems. FR 2 936 549 A1, CN 110 578 432 A, CN 109 236 070 A, EP 2 090 468 A1, or KR 2003 0076115 A disclose vehicle glove box assemblies in accordance with the preamble of appended claim 1. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a vehicle glove box latch for a vehicle glove box comprises an actuator, a rotor coupled to the actuator, and a pawl coupled to the rotor. The actuator is configured to be mounted for movement relative to the vehicle glove box. The rotor is configured to be mounted for rotation relative to the vehicle glove box about a rotor axis. The pawl includes opposing ends and is movable along a pawl axis angled relative to the rotor axis. One end of the opposing ends of the pawl includes an engagement portion configured to be engaged with an opening in a vehicle in which the vehicle glove box is mounted, and another end of the opposing ends of the pawl includes a coupling portion positioned for coupling the pawl to the rotor. The coupling portion of the pawl defines a recess open in a recess direction angled relative to the pawl axis and angled relative to the rotor axis. The rotor has a detent extending in a direction of the rotor axis and into the recess defined by the coupling portion of the pawl. The rotor also includes a retainer spaced from the detent and extending in a direction transverse to the rotor axis. The recess defined by the coupling portion of the pawl is shaped to receive the detent of the rotor and to resist unintended separation of the detent of the rotor from the recess in the recess direction. The retainer of the rotor is positioned to limit movement of the coupling portion of the pawl in the direction of the rotor axis and to resist unintended separation of the coupling portion of the pawl from the detent of the rotor in the direction of the rotor axis. According to the present invention, a method for assembling the vehicle glove box latch assembly comprises the steps of: orienting a pawl relative to a rotor such that the pawl is movable along a pawl axis angled relative to a rotor axis, one end of the opposing ends of the pawl including an engagement portion configured to be engaged with an opening in a vehicle in which the vehicle glove box is mounted, and another end of the opposing ends of the pawl including a coupling portion positioned for coupling the pawl to the rotor; orienting the coupling portion of the pawl with a recess open in a recess direction angled relative to the pawl axis and angled relative to the rotor axis; extending a retainer of the rotor in a direction transverse to the rotor axis; receiving a detent of the rotor in the recess defined by the coupling portion of the pawl and resisting unintended separation of the detent of the rotor from the recess in the recess direction; positioning the retainer of the rotor to limit movement of the coupling portion of the pawl in the direction of the rotor axis and resist unintended separation of the coupling portion of the pawl from the detent of the rotor in the direction of the rotor axis, thereby resisting unintended separation of the pawl from the rotor in the direction of the rotor axis and in the recess direction angled relative to the rotor axis. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other aspects and features of the present invention will become more apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings. FIG. 1A depicts a perspective view a first exemplary embodiment of a vehicle glove box latch for a vehicle glove box, shown mounted to a door of the vehicle glove box.FIG. 1B depicts another perspective view of the vehicle glove box latch shown in FIG. 1A.FIG. 2A is a top view of a pawl and a rotor of the vehicle glove box latch.FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the pawl and the rotor shown in FIG. 2A.FIG. 3A is a top view of the vehicle glove box latch, wherein the vehicle glove box latch is shown in a latched state.FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the latched state of the vehicle glove box latch of FIG. 3A, taken along the line 3B-3B.FIG. 3C is a detailed vie