Interlocking latch striker design
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsFrank Qiukui Liu, Vijaykumar Hegde, Thomas Junior Luckett
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A glove box assembly includes a surround structure having a central opening and a striker opening in the surround structure. The surround structure includes an interlock structure that is spaced inwardly from the striker opening and aligned with the striker opening. A striker is mounted in the striker opening of the surround structure adjacent the central opening. The striker includes an interlocking extension engaging the interlock structure. A glove compartment door is received in the central opening of the surround structure. The glove compartment door includes at least one latch pawl that is configured to releasably engage the striker.
Claims20
A glove box assembly comprising:
- a surround structure having a central opening and a striker opening in an upright sidewall of the surround structure, the sidewall having an outer side, at least a portion of which faces the central opening and an inner side, at least a portion of which faces away from the central opening, the surround structure further including a first interlock structure that is spaced inwardly from the inner side of the sidewall adjacent the striker opening and aligned with the striker opening;
- a striker mounted in the striker opening of the surround structure adjacent the central opening, the striker including a flange engaging the upright side wall adjacent the striker opening;
- a glove compartment door movably disposed in the central opening and including at least one latch pawl that is configured to releasably engage the striker to retain the glove compartment door in a closed position;
- and wherein the striker includes an interlocking projection engaging the first interlock structure such that the interlocking extension substantially prevents rotation of the striker due to outward forces caused by the latch pawl acting on the striker.
A glove box assembly comprising:
- a surround structure having a central opening and a striker opening in a sidewall of the surround structure, the surround structure further including an interlock opening that is spaced inwardly from the striker opening and aligned with the striker opening;
- a striker mounted in the striker opening of the surround structure adjacent the central opening;
- a glove compartment door movably disposed in the central opening and including at least one latch pawl that is configured to releasably engage the striker to retain the glove compartment door in a closed position;
- and wherein the striker includes an interlocking projection received in the interlock opening.
A method of assembling a striker to a surround of a glove box assembly, the method comprising:
- providing a surround having a central opening and a striker opening in a sidewall of the surround structure, the surround structure further including an interlock structure that is spaced inwardly from the striker opening;
- providing a striker having a pawl-engaging portion and an interlocking projection;
- positioning at least a portion of the striker in the striker opening;
- and
- causing the interlocking projection of the striker to engage the interlock structure by shifting the striker into an engaged position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.