LOCKING MECHANISM FOR AN UNDER-SEAT DRAWER IN A CAR

Abstract

Device for storage under a car seat, comprising: a drawer (10) movable in a direction of movement (T) from under the automobile seat; a lock (14) movable transversely to the direction of movement (T) from a locked position keeping the drawer (10) closed and an unlocked position, the lock (14) including a plunger; a vertically movable handle (20) including a cam that cooperates with the plunger to move the lock (14) into the unlocked position to release the drawer (10) for opening; and wherein the handle (20) is guided for movement in a vertical direction (V) along a front wall (10a) of the drawer (10), the front wall (10a) comprising a pair of spaced lateral guides (22) for connecting to corresponding projections (20a, 20b) of the handle (20) and a central guide (24) comprising a groove (24a) for connecting to a portion (20c) of the handle (20) between the projections (20a, 20b).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This document relates generally to the field of motor vehicles and, more particularly, to a locking mechanism for an under-seat drawer in an automobile. BACKGROUND

[0002] Underseat drawers provide convenient and secure storage for items in an automobile. Opening and closing the drawer can be achieved using a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism should be cost-effective, easy to use, reliable in operation, and perhaps most importantly, not result in excessive noise during vehicle operation. For various reasons, past approaches to this issue have been unsuccessful, particularly with regard to the noise problem.

[0003] DE 197 27 131 C1 discloses a drawer assembly for a motor vehicle for accommodation between the seat, which is slidably mounted on a seat base frame, and the floor panel of the vehicle. US 6 431 615 B1 discloses a locking assembly for releasably securing a movable element to a base element. DE 94 07 734 U1 discloses a drawer locking mechanism with double locking. DE 10 2009 031 686 A1 discloses a locking mechanism for locking drawers in vehicles. DE 103 25 099 A1 discloses a side locking device.

[0004] Accordingly, a need is identified for an improved locking mechanism for an underseat drawer in an automobile. SUMMARY

[0005] According to one aspect of the disclosure, a device enables storage under an automobile seat. The device includes a drawer movable in a direction of travel from under the automobile seat. A latch is movable transversely to the direction of travel from a latched position holding the drawer closed and an unlocked position, the latch including a plunger. A vertically movable handle includes a cam that cooperates with the plunger to move the latch to the unlocked position to release the drawer for opening. The handle is guided for movement in a vertical direction along a front wall of the drawer, the front wall including a pair of spaced lateral guides for coupling with corresponding projections of the handle, and a central guide including a groove for coupling with a portion of the handle between the projections.

[0006] In one embodiment, a second lock is also provided, which is movable transversely to the direction of movement from a locked position, which keeps the drawer closed, and an unlocked position to release the drawer for opening. The second lock includes a second plunger for engaging a second cam of the handle. The first and second locks are movable in opposite directions between the locked and unlocked positions.

[0007] Each plunger may include an inclined wall on the latch. Each cam may include a pin for engaging the inclined wall and moving the latch inward as the handle moves upward in the vertical direction. Guides on a front wall of the drawer may support the latch and handle. A spring may also be provided for urging the latch into the locked position.

[0008] A guide may also be provided for receiving a first portion of the latch in the locked position. The first portion of the latch can disengage from the guide to release the drawer for opening. The guide may include an opening elongated in a vertical direction. The guide may further include a wall for engaging a second portion of the latch in the locked and unlocked positions.

[0009] According to another aspect of the disclosure, the under-seat storage device for an automobile includes a drawer movable in a direction of travel from under the automobile seat, and opposing latches movable in a direction transverse to the direction of travel from locked positions that keep the drawer closed and unlocked positions. A handle is adapted to move the opposing latches toward each other in the transverse direction to an unlocked position to release the drawer for opening.

[0010] Each latch may include a sloped wall, and the handle may include a pin for engaging the sloped wall and moving the latch inward as the handle moves upward in a vertical direction. The drawer may include a wall that includes a first guide for guiding the handle for movement in a vertical direction and a second guide for guiding the first latch for movement in a direction transverse to the direction of movement.

[0011] Yet another aspect of the disclosure relates to a device for storing items under an automobile seat, including a drawer movable in a direction of travel from a closed position under the automobile seat to an open position. A first latch is provided for locking the drawer in the closed position, and a handle is provided for releasing the first latch. The drawer includes a wall having a first guide for guiding the handle for movement in a vertical direction and a second guide for guiding the first latch for movement in a direction transverse to the direction of travel.

[0012] A second lock may be provided for locking the drawer in the first position, the handle for releasing the second lock, and the wall may include a third guide for guiding the second lock in the transverse direction. The second guide may include a T-shaped projection, and the first lock includes a groove for receiving the projection.

[0013] In the following description, various embodiments of locking mechanisms for an under-seat drawer in an automobile are shown and described. It should be noted that the arrangement is capable of other, different embodiments and its several details are capable of modification in various, obvious aspects without departing from the locking mechanism for an under-seat drawer in an automobile as set forth and described in the following claims. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions are to be considered as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[0014] The accompanying drawing figures, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate several aspects of the disclosed locking mechanism for an under-seat drawer in an automobile and serve to explain certain principles thereof. In the drawing figures: Fig. 1 is a partially cutaway side view of an automobile illustrating one possible application of certain aspects of this disclosure; Fig. 2 is a front view of an under-seat drawer with a locking mechanism according to the disclosure; Fig. 3 is a front view of a front wall of the drawer showing the positioning of opposing latches for locking the drawer in the closed position; Fig. 3A is a sectional view taken along line 3A-3A of Fig. 3; Fig. 4 is a partially cutaway view of the underside of one end of the drawer; Fig. Figure 5 is an isometric view showing the engagement of the handle and locks; Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 are cutaway front views illustrating the relative movement of the handle and the locks; and Fig. 8, Fig. 9 and Fig. 10 are cutaway side views illustrating further details of the locking mechanisms.

[0015] Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the locking mechanism, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing figures. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] Now we turn to the Fig. 1-10, which illustrate a drawer 10 with an improved locking mechanism 12, which is one aspect of the disclosure. The drawer 10 can be used in a passenger compartment C of an automobile A, and in particular below or beneath a seat S for a vehicle operator or passenger, and can be arranged for movement in a direction of movement T, which typically corresponds to the direction of vehicle movement when driving. The illustration in Fig. Figure 1 shows the drawer 10 in use in conjunction with a rear seat (arrow R), but it will be understood that the drawer may also be used in conjunction with the front seat (arrow F) or possibly at other suitable locations in an automobile.

[0017] With reference to the Fig. 2-3, the locking mechanism 12 is illustrated in detail. The mechanism 12 includes a pair of opposing locks 14, 16 for locking or closing the drawer 10 in a closed position and for unlocking or opening to allow the drawer to move to an open position to access an associated storage space and any items therein. The locks 14, 16 are arranged for sliding movement along corresponding guides 18 (only one in Fig. 3A) which are supported by the drawer 10, and in the illustrated embodiment, particularly by a front wall 10a thereof. As shown in Fig. 3A, the guides 18 may take the form of T-shaped projections 18a which slidably fit into elongated grooves 14a, 16a formed in the locks 14, 16 (see Fig. 5), and thus permit relative sliding movement in a direction D transverse to the direction of movement T. The use of a secure type of unidirectional connection such as this advantageously allows the locks 14, 16 to reciprocate in a highly repeatable manner with a minimal amount of rattling and resulting noise.

[0018] A cooperating handle 20 may also be provided for jointly moving the latches 14, 16 to release the drawer 10 for opening. With particular reference to the Fig. 2 and Fig. 4, the handle 20 is guided for movement in a vertical direction V along the front wall 10a of the drawer 10 according to the invention. According to the invention, the front wall 10a may include a pair of spaced, lateral guides 22 for connecting to the corresponding projections 20a, 20b on the handle 20. A central guide 24 is also provided according to the invention, which includes a groove 24a for connecting to a portion 20c of the handle between the projections 20a, 20b. Due to such engagement with the guides 22, 24, the stable and reliable movement of the handle 20, such as when an outwardly projecting portion 20d is grasped and lifted by a seated user, is ensured without lateral displacement or rattling.This further contributes to overcoming the noise problem that can disrupt conventional drawer locking mechanisms, particularly those used in automobiles in the under-seat position, which are subject to significant vibration throughout their service life.

[0019] With combined reference to the Fig. 5-8 illustrates the manner in which the locks 14, 16 are actuated by the handle 20 when lifted in the vertical direction V to release the drawer 10 for opening. As is perhaps best understood from the Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, each lock 14, 16 includes a plunger which may take the form of a surface 14b, 16b which is inclined inwards in the vertical direction V towards the center of the drawer 10. The handle 20 in turn includes cams in the form of projecting pins 20e which are arranged to engage, such as by moving along, the respective surfaces 14b, 16b of the locks 14, 16 in response to the linear movement in the vertical direction V. As a result of this engagement and as can be seen by comparing the Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, when the handle 20 is raised in the vertical direction V, the locks 14, 16 are caused to move inwards in an opposite manner in alignment with the transverse direction D (note the positions 16' and 20' in Fig. 7). The surfaces 14b, 16a may also extend in the transverse direction D to provide a support point for the cams or pins 20e when the handle 20 is in the initial state, thus meaning that the locks 14, 16 partially surround and retain the pins.

[0020] The inward movement of the locks 14, 16 is completed by lifting the handle 20 until the unlocked position is reached and the drawer 10 can move freely into the open position. As can be seen from the Fig. 8 and Fig. 9, the movement of the handle 20 may cause the locks (only lock 16 shown) to move out of a corresponding opening 26a, which may be formed in an associated rail 26 extending in the direction of movement T. This rail 26 may also serve to support and guide the drawer 10 for reciprocating movement in the direction of movement T during opening and closing.

[0021] As in the Fig. 9 and Fig. 10, a guide 28 may also be attached to the drawer 10 for guiding the lock 16 into the locked position. In particular, the guide 28 may include a retaining element, such as a vertically elongated opening 28a, for receiving a first projecting portion 16c of the lock 16 and guiding it into the opening 26a in a guide rail 26 when aligned therewith. To add stability to the assembly and provide guidance during opening of the drawer 10, the guide 28 may further include a front 28b for engaging a second projecting portion 16d of the lock 16, which may extend outwardly to engage a corresponding retaining element, such as a wall 26b, extending vertically from the rail 26 (and disposed in a different vertical plane, as shown in FIGS. Fig. 6 and Fig. 7). A spring 30 may also extend between the drawer 10 and the latch 16, as a similar construction may be provided for the latch 14, but when operating with this latch, operation of the handle 20 will, of course, result in movement in the opposite direction.

[0022] With further reference to the Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 it can be seen that when the lock 16 is moved out to the maximum extent by lifting the handles, the projections 16c, 16d are moved out of engagement with the corresponding retaining elements, which are the opening 26a and the wall 26b of the rail 26. As can be seen from Fig. 2, a spring 30 may also extend between the drawer 10 and each latch 14, 16 to urge them toward the locked state. Vertical movement of the handle 20 and the resulting cam engagement thus cause the springs 30 to extend simultaneously.

[0023] Thus, once the locks 14, 16 are released, the drawer 10 is freed to move to the open position by pulling on the portion 20d once it is in the raised position. The handle 20 can then be released once it has been moved forward. The combined forces of gravity acting thereon and the springs 30 return the locks 14, 16 toward the locked position, but disengaged from the opening 26a and wall 26b to allow free movement.

[0024] To re-establish the locking engagement, the handle 20 can simply be lifted and the drawer 10 returned to the closed position. The handle 20 can then be released when the projections 16c, 16d are correctly aligned with the respective retaining elements (opening 26a and wall 26b). To aid in providing the correct alignment function, the opening 26a can be elongated in the vertical direction V, thus forming a slot, as shown in Fig. 8 shown.

[0025] The bodies of the latches 14, 16 and the handle 20 may be formed from lightweight, durable materials, such as plastic. These parts can be easily formed using existing injection molding techniques and in a manner that allows for a relatively tight engagement during assembly. This method of manufacture, in combination with the aforementioned construction, prevents metal-to-metal contact from being created and thus contributes to reduced noise associated with rattling or the like during operation of the automobile A. The secure engagement provided between the latches 14, 16 and the associated retaining elements, as well as the reliable dual opposing movement provided by the single handle 20, provide a robust and reliable assembly.

[0026] In summary, an improved locking mechanism 12 is provided for an under-seat drawer 10 in an automobile. The locking mechanism 12 includes opposing locks 14, 16 slidably mounted on a guide 18 on a common support with a handle 20 mounted for movement in a vertical direction V by also sliding along the guides 22, 24. The result is a secure locking arrangement that can be manufactured from inexpensive plastic parts without compromising safety and without increasing noise in the vehicle due to rattling and the like.

[0027] The foregoing has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or limit the embodiments to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, while two latches 14, 16 provide a secure arrangement, only one latch could be used, in which case the handle 20 would engage only the single latch 14 or 16. Furthermore, the latches may not be of the same or similar construction. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the appended claims when construed according to the breadth to which they are legally, equitably, and fairly entitled.

Claims

[1] A device for storage under a car seat, comprising: a drawer (10) movable in a direction of movement (T) from under the automobile seat; a lock (14) movable transversely to the direction of movement (T) from a locked position keeping the drawer (10) closed and an unlocked position, the lock (14) including a plunger; a vertically movable handle (20) including a cam that cooperates with the plunger to move the lock (14) into the unlocked position to release the drawer (10) for opening; and wherein the handle (20) is guided for movement in a vertical direction (V) along a front wall (10a) of the drawer (10), the front wall (10a) comprising a pair of spaced lateral guides (22) for connecting to corresponding projections (20a, 20b) of the handle (20) and a central guide (24) comprising a groove (24a) for connecting to a portion (20c) of the handle (20) between the projections (20a, 20b). [2] The device of claim 1, further comprising a second lock (16) movable transversely to the direction of movement (T) from a locked position holding the drawer (10) closed and an unlocked position to release the drawer (10) for opening, the second lock (16) including a second plunger for engaging a second cam of the handle (20). [3] Device according to claim 2, wherein the locks (14, 16) are movable in opposite directions between the locked and unlocked positions. [4] A device according to claim 2, wherein each plunger comprises an inclined wall (14b, 16b) on the respective lock (14, 16) and each cam comprises a pin (20e) for engaging the inclined wall (14b, 16b) and moving the respective lock (14, 16) inwardly as the handle (20) moves upwardly in a vertical direction (V). [5] Device according to claim 1, further comprising a guide (18) on the front wall (10a) of the drawer (10) for the locking device (14). [6] The device of claim 1, further including a spring (30) for urging the lock (14) into the locked position. [7] The device of claim 1, further including a guide (28) for receiving a first portion of the lock (14) in the locked position, wherein the first portion of the lock (14) disengages from the guide (28) to release the drawer (10) for opening. [8] Device according to claim 7, wherein the guide (28) comprises an opening (28a) elongated in a vertical direction (V). [9] The device of claim 7, wherein the guide (28) includes a wall (28b) for engaging a second portion of the lock (16) in the locked and unlocked positions. [10] Automobile (A) comprising the device according to claim 1. [11] A device for storage under a car seat, comprising: a drawer (10) movable in a direction of movement (T) from under the automobile seat; opposing locks (14, 16) movable in a direction transverse to the direction of movement (T) from locked positions keeping the drawer (10) closed and unlocked positions; a handle (20) adapted to move the opposite locks (14, 16) in the transverse direction (D) towards each other into an unlocked position to release the drawer (10) for opening; and wherein the handle (20) is guided for movement in a vertical direction (V) along a front wall (10a) of the drawer (10), the front wall (10a) comprising a pair of spaced lateral guides (22) for connecting to corresponding projections (20a, 20b) of the handle (20) and a central guide (24) comprising a groove (24a) for connecting to a portion (20c) of the handle (20) between the projections (20a, 20b). [12] The device of claim 11, wherein each lock (14, 16) includes an inclined wall (14b, 16b) and wherein the handle (20) includes a pin (20e) for engaging the inclined wall (14b, 16b) and moving the locks (14, 16) inwardly as the handle (20) moves upwardly in a vertical direction (V). [13] The apparatus of claim 11, further including a spring (30) for urging each lock (14, 16) to the locked position. [14] Device according to claim 11, wherein the front wall (10a) of the drawer (10) includes second guides (18) for guiding the locks (14, 16) for movement in a direction transverse to the direction of movement (T). [15] The device of claim 14, wherein the second guides (18) comprise a T-shaped projection (18a) and the first of the locks (14) includes a groove (14a) for receiving the projection (18a). [16] Automobile (A) comprising the device according to claim 11. [17] Device for storing objects under a car seat, comprising: a drawer (10) movable in a direction of movement (T) from a closed position under the automobile seat to an open position; a first lock (14) for locking the drawer (10) in the closed position; a handle (20) for releasing the first lock (14); wherein the drawer (10) includes a front wall (10a) having a pair of spaced lateral guides (22) for guiding the handle (20) for movement in a vertical direction (V) along the front wall (10a) of the drawer (10) and a second guide (18) for guiding the first lock (14) for movement in a direction transverse to the direction of movement (T); and wherein the lateral guides (22) are provided for connection to corresponding projections (20a, 20b) of the handle (20) and the front wall (10a) comprises a central guide (24) which comprises a groove (24a) for connection to a portion (20c) of the handle (20) between the projections (20a, 20b). [18] The device of claim 17, further comprising a second lock (16) for locking the drawer (10) in the first position, the handle (20) for releasing the second lock (16), and wherein the front wall (10a) includes a third guide for guiding the second lock (16) in the transverse direction (D). [19] The device of claim 18, wherein the second guide (18) comprises a T-shaped projection (18a) and the first lock (14) includes a groove (14a) for receiving the projection (18a). [20] Automobile (A) comprising the device according to claim 17.

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