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US 10,941,590 B2Granted
Inertial lock systems for push-push latch style vehicle drawers
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsJames Andrew Giddings, Michael Neumann, Tien Vo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Inertial lock systems for push-push latch style vehicle drawers or storage bins including an inertia lock to maintain a drawer in a closed position under a g-force. A shaft is rotatably mounted on a drawer housing; an inertia member is mounted on the shaft; and a confining member is mounted on the shaft and disposed opposite to the inertia member. The confining member is configured to move to a position to restrict movement of a rotating latch of the drawer when a g-forced applied to the drawer exceeds a predetermined level.
Claims14
An inertia lock to maintain a drawer in a closed position under a g-force by acting on a rotating latch mounted on the drawer, the inertia lock comprising:
- a shaft rotatably mounted on a drawer housing;
- an inertia member mounted on the shaft;
- and
- a confining member mounted on the shaft and disposed opposite to the inertia member;
- and
- two side stoppers disposed on the shaft,
- wherein the confining member is configured to move to a position to restrict movement of the rotating latch of the drawer when a g-force applied to the drawer exceeds a predetermined level;
- wherein the inertia lock is adapted to be disposed above a portion of the rotating latch and the confining member is configured to enclose a body of the rotating latch when activation of the inertial member causes the confining member to rotate down to the position to restrict the movement of the rotating latch;
- and
- wherein the confining member is disposed between the two side stoppers, wherein each side stopper is configured to engage with a corresponding shoulder portion on the drawer housing to prevent lateral movement of the shaft.
7 more elements
An inertial lock system in a drawer, comprising:
- a rotating latch mounted on a surface of the drawer and configured to rotate around an axis on a drawer housing between a latched and unlatched position;
- an inertia lock mounted on the drawer housing, wherein the inertia lock includes a shaft rotatably mounted on the drawer housing, an inertia member and a confining member, wherein the confining member and the inertia member are mounted on the shaft and disposed opposite each other,
- wherein the inertia lock is configured to be activated to cause the confining member to move to a position to restrict movement of the rotating latching such that the rotating latch is maintained in a latched position when a g-forced applied the drawer exceeds a predetermined level;
- wherein the inertia lock is disposed above a portion the rotating latch and the confining member is configured to enclose a body the rotating latch when activation of the inertial member causes the confining member to rotate down to the position to restrict the movement of the rotating latch;
- and
- wherein the inertia lock further includes two side stoppers disposed adjacent and outside to two side walls of the confining member, respectively, wherein each side stopper is configured to engage with a corresponding shoulder portion on the drawer housing to prevent lateral movement of the shaft.
3 more elements
A drawer in a vehicle, comprising:
- a pin;
- a drawer housing enclosing the drawer;
- a rotating latch mounted on an outer surface of the drawer housing and configured to retain and release the pin of the drawer via rotation, wherein the drawer is capable of being opened when the pin is released from the rotating latch and is closed when the pin is retained in the rotating latch;
- an inertia lock mounted on the outer surface of the drawer housing, wherein the inertia lock includes a shaft rotatably mounted on the drawer housing, an inertia member mounted on the shaft and a confining member mounted on the shaft, wherein the confining member is disposed opposite to the inertia member, and wherein the inertia lock is configured to be activated to cause the confining member to move to a position to restrict movement of the rotating latching when a g-force applied the drawer exceeds a predetermined level, and
- a spring mounted on the drawer and configured to bias the drawer to an open position when the pin is released from the rotating latch;
- wherein the inertia lock is disposed above a portion the rotating latch and the confining member is configured to enclose a body the rotating latch when activation of the inertial member causes the confining member to rotate down to the position to restrict the movement of the rotating latch;
- and
- wherein the inertia lock further includes two side stoppers disposed adjacent and outside to the confining member, wherein each side stopper is configured to engage with a corresponding shoulder portion on the drawer housing to prevent lateral movement of the shaft.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.