Glove box hinge detent device
AssigneeHawg Wired
InventorPaul T. Hughes
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Glove box hinge detent devices are disclosed. One aspect includes a curved plate configured to conform to a curvature of a door of a vehicle glove box, and two ball plungers attached to the curved plate. When the door is opened via a first external force to a first spatial position, the ball plungers are pushed against an edge of the vehicle glove box. With a further force applied to extend the door beyond the first spatial position, the ball plungers are depressed by the edge from a first and a second resting state, allowing the door to be extended beyond the first spatial position. When the door is extended beyond the first spatial position, the ball plungers return to the first resting place and the second resting place. The door is held open at a second spatial position by the ball plungers resting against the edge.
Claims21
An apparatus comprising:
- a curved plate including a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface is configured to conform to a curvature of a curved portion of a door of a vehicle glove box;
- a first ball plunger attached to the curved plate;
- and
- a second ball plunger attached to the curved plate, wherein:
- the curved plate is adhered to the curved portion of the door via the first surface;
- when the door is opened via a first external force to a first spatial position, the first ball plunger and second ball plunger are pushed against an edge of the vehicle glove box;
- with a further force applied to extend the door beyond the first spatial position, the first ball plunger and the second ball plunger are depressed by the edge from a first resting state and a second resting state, respectively, allowing the door to be extended beyond the first spatial position;
- and
- when the door is extended beyond the first spatial position, the first ball plunger and the second ball plunger return to the first resting place and the second resting place, respectively, and the door is held open at a second spatial position by the first ball plunger and the second ball plunger resting against the edge.
An apparatus comprising:
- a curved plate including a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface is configured to conform to a curvature of a curved portion of a door of a vehicle glove box;
- a ramp plate attached to the curved plate on the second surface via a hinge, wherein the ramp plate is movable about the hinge, between a first plate position wherein the ramp plate is in contact with the curved plate and a second plate position wherein the ramp plate is in contact with a mechanical stop to limit a range of motion of the ramp plate about the hinge;
- and
- a spring-loaded ball plunger enclosed between the curved plate and the ramp plate, wherein:
- the curved plate is adhered to the curved portion of the door via the first surface;
- the ball plunger is configured to hold the ramp plate at the second plate position via a spring action;
- when the door is opened via a first external force to a first spatial position, the ball plunger and the ramp plate are pushed against an edge of the vehicle glove box;
- with a further force applied to extend the door beyond the first spatial position, the ball plunger and the ramp plate are depressed by the edge so that the ramp plate moves from the second plate position in a direction towards the first plate position about the hinge, allowing the door to be extended beyond the first spatial position;
- and
- when the door is extended beyond the first spatial position, an edge of the ramp plate rests on the edge of the vehicle glove box and the door is held open at a second spatial position by the spring action and the edge of the ramp plate resting against the edge of the vehicle glove box.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.