Door safety disconnect

A glove box door assembly connectable to an automobile console, said door assembly comprising:

• a door adapted to be pivotably coupled to the console;
• and
• a latch mechanism coupled to said door for releasably coupling the door to the console, said latch mechanism including
• a locking rod that is movable from an engaged position wherein said locking rod lockingly engages the console to prevent movement of the door relative to the console to a disengaged position wherein said locking rod is removed from engagement with the console to allow movement of the door to the open position,
• a handle coupled to the door for movement from a locked position to an unlocked position,
• a connecting rod having a longitudinal axis and coupled to said handle;
• coupling means for connecting said locking rod to said connecting rod in normal use to move said locking rod into said disengaged position upon movement of said handle into said unlocked position and allowing said connecting rod to move out of operative engagement with said locking rod in response to a predetermined force impacting said connecting rod transverse to said connecting rod axis;
• and
• a biasing element that urges said locking rod toward said engaged position.

A latch mechanism for coupling a door to a striker, said latch mechanism comprising:

• a support member;
• a locking rod having a coupling hub, a locking tab, and an axis, said locking rod coupled to said support member for movement from an engaged position wherein said locking tab is adapted to engage the striker to prevent movement of the door relative to the striker to a disengaged position wherein said locking tab is adapted to be removed from engagement with the striker to allow movement of the door to an open position, said coupling hub including an end face and a track extending axially from said end face toward said locking tab, said track extending transverse to said axis through said coupling hub;
• a handle adapted to be coupled to the door for movement from a locked position to an unlocked position;
• a connecting rod coupled to said handle and disposable in said track for movement from a first position to a second position in response to a predetermined force impacting said connecting rod transverse to a connecting rod axis, said connecting rod being coupled to said locking rod when in said first position to move said locking rod into said disengaged position upon movement of said handle into said unlocked position, said connecting rod being operatively disengaged from said locking rod when said connecting rod is in said second position;
• and
• a biasing element that urges said locking rod toward said engaged position.