Glovebox latch
AssigneeSouthco, Inc.
InventorsRobin Talukdar, Fabrice Vitry
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A latch assembly is re-configurable for plural orientations. A slide lock plate engages a claw-typed pawl. A rotating activation mechanism links an operator handle to the slide plate. The handle causes the activation mechanism to rotate, thereby retracting the sliding lock plate form the pawl. A cam follower, activated by a pocket cam, is rotated with handle operation. A first pinion gear on the sliding lock plate and a friction clutch dampen movement. A rotating paddle/blade cam, substituted for the paddle/blade, has a projecting arm. The second pinion gear engages teeth on the edge of the slide lock plate. A dog leg-shaped projection, added to the handle end of the slide plate, accommodates second teeth facing opposite the first teeth.
Claims21
A latch assembly, comprising:
- an elongate housing;
- a pawl for engagement with a keeper and release therefrom, said pawl being mounted for movement at a location at one end of said housing;
- a locking plate slidingly mounted in said housing, said locking plate being shaped at one end thereof for engagement with said pawl for locking the operation thereof;
- a biasing return spring operating to encourage said locking plate into engagement with said pawl;
- an activation mechanism for transferring movement of an operator handle to said sliding locking plate for unlocking said pawl;
- wherein said activation mechanism includes a transversely projecting transfer member for transferring handle motion to said locking plate;
- and
- wherein said slidingly mounted locking plate has carried thereon a sliding motion damper being in operative connection thereto so as to regulate the velocity thereof.
A latch assembly, comprising:
- an elongate housing;
- a pawl for engagement with a keeper and release therefrom, said pawl being mounted for movement at a location at one end of said housing;
- a locking plate slidingly mounted in said housing, said locking plate being shaped at one end thereof for engagement with said pawl for locking the operation thereof;
- and
- an activation mechanism for transferring movement of an operator handle to said sliding locking plate for unlocking said pawl;
- wherein said activation mechanism includes a transversely projecting transfer member for transferring handle motion to said locking plate;
- and
- wherein said slidingly mounted locking plate carries a sliding motion damper being in operative connection thereto so as to regulate the velocity thereof;
- wherein said transversely projecting transfer member includes a pocket cam member with a radially projecting finger, said projecting finger being capable of being engaged by said handle and thereby rotating said pocket cam.
A latch assembly, comprising:
- an elongate housing;
- a pawl for engagement with a keeper and release therefrom, said pawl being mounted for movement at a location at one end of said housing;
- a locking plate slidingly mounted in said housing, said locking plate being shaped at one end thereof for engagement with said pawl for locking the operation thereof;
- and
- an activation mechanism for transferring movement of an operator handle to said sliding locking plate for unlocking said pawl;
- wherein said activation mechanism includes a transversely projecting transfer member for transferring handle motion to said locking plate;
- wherein said transversely projecting transfer member includes a pocket cam member with a radially projecting finger, said projecting finger being capable of being engaged by said handle and thereby rotating said pocket cam;
- wherein said pocket cam member includes a pivot lobe and cam lobe offset therefrom, and wherein said sliding locking plate carries a cam follower pin on the end thereof opposite said pawl, said cam follower pin engaging said cam lobe;
- wherein said pocket cam member is symmetrically shaped and said cam lobe is oval;
- and
- wherein said sliding locking plate carries a sliding motion damper and being in operative connection thereto so as to regulate the velocity thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.