Locking device for opening / closing element

Abstract

A locking device (10) for an opening / closing element (7) that is mounted in an opening section in a mounting base element for opening and closing, comprising: a housing (20) which is attached to one of the mounting base element and the opening / closing element (7); a rotor (50) which is rotatably attached to the housing (20); a rod (60, 61) which is attached to the rotor (50) to move in a coupled manner with the rotor (50) and to engage or disengage from an engagement section which is provided on the other by the mounting base element and the opening / closing element (7); a bearing section (55) which is provided on the rotor (50); a return spring (58) which biases the rotor (50) directly or via the rod (60, 61) by rotating it, so that the rod (60, 61) is brought into engagement with the engagement section; a knob (70) rotatably attached to the housing (20) and having a retaining section (73) at one end thereof; and a push element (77) formed at the other end of the knob (70) to overlap the bearing section (55) with a predetermined overlap width (L), and which, when the knob (70) is pulled, presses on the bearing section (55) to rotate the rotor (50) against a preload force of the return spring (58) in order to pull the rod (60, 61) out of the engagement section, wherein, when the rod (60, 61) is held in engagement with the engagement section, a pivot point (C1) of the knob (70) is positioned closer to the holding section (73) of the knob (70) than a contact point between the bearing section (55) and the push element (77), wherein the knob (70) comprises a front wall (71) and a pair of side walls (72) projecting from two opposite sides of the front wall (71) onto the housing (20), wherein an arc-shaped groove (75) is formed in each of the two side walls (72), wherein two arc-shaped projections (45) or two projections consisting of several pin-shaped projections are formed on the housing (20) such that they are each inserted into the arc-shaped grooves (75), and wherein the knob (70) rotates about a midpoint of an arc of the arc-shaped grooves (75) as the center of rotation (C1) of the knob (70).

Description

Technical area

[0001] The present invention relates to an opening / closing member locking device for locking an opening / closing member in a locked state, such as a lid mounted, for example, in an opening portion in a dashboard or the like of a motor vehicle to be opened and closed. State of the art

[0002] US 2007 / 0 080 542 A1 discloses a locking device comprising a housing, a rotor to which a rod is attached for coupled movement with the rotor, and a knob operable to actuate the rotor. For example, a glove compartment is provided in a dashboard or the like of a motor vehicle, and a flap is mounted in an opening portion in the glove compartment for opening and closing. A locking device is provided for locking the flap to be closed relative to the opening portion of the glove compartment and for unlocking the flap to be opened.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 describes a side lock device including: a holding member fixed to a rear side of a lid; a rotor rotatably supported on a rear surface of the holding member; a pair of rods coupled at point-symmetrical positions of the rotor so that distal end portions thereof can appear from and disappear into both sides of the lid; a knob attached to a front side of the holding member so that, when pushed / pulled, the rotor rotates; and a return spring that normally rotates the rods in directions in which the rods protrude from both sides of the lid. When the knob is pushed / pulled, the rotor rotates against the return spring, so that the rods are pulled inward with respect to the lid.

[0004] If one refers to Fig. 12, in such a knob 1, a pair of support pieces 2 protrude from both sides of a distal end portion thereof. Each support piece 2 has a shaft hole. Rotating shafts protrude from both sides of the holding member, and these rotating shafts are respectively inserted into the shaft holes 2a. Thus, the knob 1 is fixed to the holding member so as to be rotatable about a rotation center C1. A pusher element 3 is provided at a distal end portion of the knob 1 and at an inner side of one of the support pieces 2 so as to be aligned with the shaft hole 2a of the same support piece 2. Namely, when the knob 1 is viewed from one side, the pusher element 3 and the shaft hole 2a are provided almost on the same line. On the other hand, a bearing portion 5 protrudes from the rotor 4, and the pusher element 3 overlaps it with a predetermined overlap width L. When the knob 1 is pulled as indicated by an imaginary line in Fig. 12, the pusher element 3 presses on the bearing section 5 of the rotor 4, and the rotor 4 rotates about a rotation center C2 against a biasing force of the return spring. Prior art documentsPatent documents

[0005] Patent Document 1 JP-2007-100343-A Summary of the inventionProblem to be solved by the invention

[0006] In the side locking device of Patent Document 1, since the pusher element 3 and the shaft hole 2a are provided almost on the same line, the overlap width L of the pusher element 3 with respect to the bearing portion 5 gradually decreases when the knob 1 is rotated and the pusher element 3 presses the bearing portion 5 while the rotor 4 rotates. During this process, the pusher element 3 may be displaced from the bearing portion 5, preventing the rotor 4 from rotating.

[0007] To solve this problem, the length of one of the pusher element 3 and the bearing portion 5 may be increased to ensure a larger overlap width L between the pusher element 3 and the bearing portion 5. However, while doing this, the knob 1 and the rotor 4 may become thick, and thus the entire locking device may also become thick.

[0008] It is an object of the invention to provide an opening / closing member locking device which can not only prevent a reduction in the overlap width between a push member and a bearing portion when a knob rotates, but also realize a reduction in the overall thickness of the device. Means of solving the problem

[0009] With the intention of solving the problem, the invention provides a locking device for an opening / closing element having all the features of claim 1.

[0010] According to a first aspect disclosed herein, a locking device for an opening / closing member mounted in an opening portion in a mounting base member to be opened and closed comprises: a housing attached to one of the mounting base member and the opening / closing member; a rotor rotatably mounted on the housing; a rod fixed to the rotor to slide in a coupled manner with the rotor and to be engaged with or disengaged from an engaging portion provided on the other of the mounting base member and the opening / closing member; a bearing portion provided on the rotor; a return spring which biases the rotor directly or via the rod to rotate so that the rod is engaged with the engaging portion; a knob rotatably mounted on the housing and having a holding portion at one end thereof; and a pusher element formed at the other end of the knob to overlap the bearing portion with a predetermined overlap width, and which, when the knob is pulled, presses on the bearing portion to rotate the rotor against a biasing force of the return spring, thereby pulling the rod out of the engagement portion, wherein, when the rod is held in engagement with the engaging portion, a rotation center of the knob is positioned closer to the holding portion of the knob than a contact point between the bearing portion and the pusher element.

[0011] The knob includes a front wall and a pair of side walls projecting from two opposite sides of the front wall toward the housing, wherein an arcuate groove is formed in each of the two side walls, wherein two arcuate projections or two projections made up of a plurality of pin-shaped projections are formed on the housing so as to be respectively fitted into the arcuate grooves, and wherein the knob rotates about a center point of an arc of the arcuate grooves as the rotation center of the knob.

[0012] It may also be provided: the locking device, wherein, upon pulling the knob, the knob stops rotating and the rod is pulled out of the engaging portion within a rotation range such that the overlap width of the pusher member with respect to the bearing portion does not become smaller than an overlap width in an initial state in which the rod is engaged with the engaging portion.

[0013] It may also be provided: the locking device, wherein when the knob is pulled, the knob stops rotating and the rod is pulled out of the engaging portion within a rotation range such that the contact point between the bearing portion and the pusher element does not go beyond a line passing through the rotation center of the knob and being parallel to a rotation shaft of the rotor.

[0014] It may also be provided: the locking device, wherein a key cylinder is rotatably mounted in the knob, wherein a projection protrudes from a distal end of the key cylinder while being offset from a rotational center of the key cylinder, wherein, when the key cylinder is in a predetermined rotational position, the projection engages with a locking portion of the housing to restrict the pulling of the knob, and wherein the locking portion of the housing is arranged adjacent to the rotor. Advantage of the invention

[0015] According to the invention, when the opening portion in the mounting base is closed with the opening / closing member, the rotor is rotationally biased by the return spring, and the rod engages the engaging portion while being coupled with the rotation of the rotor. Therefore, the opening / closing member can be locked in such a state where the opening / closing member closes the opening portion. On the other hand, when the knob is pulled in this locking state, the pusher member of the knob presses the bearing portion of the rotor, causing the rotor to rotate against the biasing force of the return spring, and the rod is pulled out of the engaging portion. Thus, the locking of the opening / closing member is released, allowing the opening portion in the mounting base to be opened.

[0016] When the rod is held in engagement with the engagement portion, the rotation center of the knob is positioned closer to the holding portion of the knob than the contact point between the bearing portion and the pusher element. Thus, when the knob is pulled, the overlap width between the bearing portion of the rotor and the pusher element of the knob can be gradually increased. Therefore, the locking device can be manufactured thin and compact, while preventing the pusher element from shifting from the rest position by ensuring the overlap width between the bearing portion of the rotor and the pusher element of the knob. Short description of the drawings Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of an opening / closing member locking device according to the present invention. Fig. Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the locking device, from a direction opposite to the direction in Fig. 1 different direction seen. Fig. 3A and Fig. 3B show a housing that constitutes the locking device. Fig. 3A shows a perspective view of the housing, and Fig. 3B shows a perspective view, unlike in Fig. 3A considered. Fig. 4A and Fig. 4B show a rotor that constitutes the locking device. Fig. 4A shows a perspective view of the rotor, and Fig. 4B shows a perspective view, unlike in Fig. 4A is considered. Fig. 5A and Fig. 5B show a knob that constitutes the locking device. Fig. 5A shows a perspective view of the knob, and Fig. 5B shows a perspective view, different from Fig. 5A is considered. Fig. 6A and Fig. 6B show the locking device. Fig. 6A shows a perspective view of the locking device, and Fig. 6B shows a perspective view, different from Fig. 6A is considered. Fig. 7A and Fig. 7B show the locking device. Fig. Figure 7A shows a rear view of the locking device, and Fig. 7B shows a top view thereof. Fig. Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the locking device. Fig. 9 is an explanatory diagram of the locking device showing an initial state before the knob is pulled. Fig. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the locking device showing a state in which the knob is pulled. Fig. 11 is an explanatory diagram of the locking device showing a rotation locus of a pusher member, an overlap width between a bearing portion and the pusher member, and the like. Fig. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a conventional side locking device according to the prior art. Implementation of the invention

[0017] An embodiment of an opening / closing element locking device according to the invention is described.

[0018] As in the Fig. 9 and Fig. 10, an opening / closing member locking device (locking device) 10 of this embodiment is adapted to lock a lid (opening / closing member) 7 mounted in an opening portion not shown in a glove box (mounting base member) provided in an instrument panel of a vehicle, thereby inhibiting an opening / closing movement of the lid 7.

[0019] As in the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, this locking device 10 comprises a housing 20, a rotor 50, a pair of right and left rods 60, 61, a bearing portion 55, a return spring 58, a knob 70, a pusher element 77, a knob preload spring 80 and a key cylinder 90. The housing 20 is mounted in a mounting hole 8 (see Fig. 9 and Fig. 10) is mounted in the lid 7. The rotor 50 is rotatably mounted on the housing 20. The pair of left and right rods 60, 61 are attached to the rotor 50 to be engaged with or disengaged from engaging holes (engaging portion) not shown provided in the opening portion in the glove box. The bearing portion 55 is provided on the rotor 50. The return spring 58 rotationally biases the rotor 50 directly or via the pair of rods 60, 61 so that the rods 60, 61 are engaged with the engaging holes. The knob 70 is rotatably mounted on the housing 20 and has a holding portion 73 at one end thereof. The pusher member 77 is formed at the other end of the knob 70 to engage the bearing portion 55 with a predetermined overlap width L (see Fig. 9, Fig. 10) and, upon pulling the holding portion 73 of the knob 70, presses the bearing portion 55 to rotate the rotor 50 against a biasing force of the return spring 58, thereby pulling the rods 60, 61 out of the engaging holes. The knob biasing spring 80 is disposed between the other end portion of the knob 70 and the housing 20 to bias the knob 70 to move away from the housing 20. The key cylinder 90 is rotatably attached to the knob 70 and has a projection 95 to thereby lock the knob 70 with respect to the housing 20 to rotate or not rotate.

[0020] With reference to the Fig. 3A and Fig. 3B, the housing 20 has a box shape of a rectangular parallelepiped that is elongated in a predetermined direction. The housing 20 includes a bottom portion 21, side walls 22, 22, side walls 23, 24, and a rotor mounting wall 25. The bottom portion 21 is horizontally long. The side walls 22, 22 are erected from long sides of the bottom portion 21. The side walls 23, 24 are erected from short sides of the bottom portion 21. The rotor mounting wall 25 is connected to the side wall 23 and parts of the side portions of the side walls 22, 22. A space portion surrounded by the side walls 22, 22 and the side wall 24 and adjacent to the rotor mounting wall 25 constitutes a cylinder receiving space 27. The key cylinder 90 is received in the cylinder receiving space 27.

[0021] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 3A, a rotor shaft hole 28 having a keyhole-like shape is formed in the rotor mounting wall 25. The rotor shaft hole 28 rotatably supports the rotor 50. The rotor shaft hole 28 is positioned centrally in the short side direction of the housing 20 and offset from the cylinder receiving space 27. A pusher element moving hole 30 is formed in the rotor mounting wall 25 adjacent to the rotor shaft hole 28 so that the pusher element 77 of the knob 70 is pivotally inserted therein. A spring holding recess portion 31 and a spring supporting projection 31a, which support one end of the knob biasing spring 80, are formed in a front surface of the rotor mounting wall 25. The spring holding recess portion 31 and the spring supporting projection 31a are provided opposite the pusher element moving hole 30 with respect to the rotor shaft hole 28.

[0022] As in Fig. 3B, a rotor receiving recess portion 33 is formed in the bottom portion 21. The rotor receiving recess portion 33 has a circular shape centered on the rotor shaft hole 28 and is provided on a rear side of the rotor fixing wall 25. A cylindrical wall 34 is concentrically formed within the rotor receiving recess portion 33 across a predetermined gap. An arcuate wall 35 protrudes from a rear surface of the rotor fixing wall 25 in the rotor receiving recess portion 33, and a rotation restricting wall 36 is formed between the arcuate wall 35 and the cylindrical wall 34.

[0023] A key groove 37 is formed in the rear surface of the bottom portion 21 at a position corresponding to the cylinder receiving space 27 (see Fig. 3B). The projection 95 of the key cylinder 90 is inserted into the key groove 37. This key groove 37 has a long groove-shaped open portion 38 and an arcuate groove-shaped locking portion 39. The open portion 38 extends along the long side direction of the housing 20, and the locking portion 39 extends from the end portion of the open portion 38 on one side of the rotor receiving recess portion 33 along the short side direction of the housing 20. Pulling of the knob 70 is permitted when the projection 95 of the key cylinder 90 is inserted into the open portion 38, and pulling of the knob 70 is restricted when the projection 95 is inserted into the locking portion 39. Namely, the locking portion 39 is provided adjacent to the rotor 50 housed in the rotor receiving recess portion 33.An engaging claw portion 40 projects from the bottom portion 21 at a peripheral edge of the side wall 24 to engage with a peripheral edge at a rear side of the mounting hole 8 (see . Fig. 9, Fig. 10) to be engaged in the flap 7. Guide projections 41, 41 protrude from the bottom portion 21 at positions corresponding to the cylinder receiving space 27, that is, at respective peripheral edges of the side walls 22, 22. The guide portions 41, 41 represent sliding guides for the rods 60, 61.

[0024] An engagement claw 43 is formed substantially centrally on each side wall 22 in a longitudinal direction thereof, and this engagement claw 43 is deflectable via a U-shaped slot 43a and engages with the peripheral edge on the rear side of the mounting hole 8. A plurality of projection pieces 44, 44 are formed on both sides of the engagement claw 43 to engage with a peripheral edge of a front side of the mounting hole 8. An arcuate projection 45 is formed on an edge portion of each side wall 22 opposite the bottom portion 21. The arcuate projection extends from a position corresponding to the rotor shaft hole 28 to a position corresponding to the cylinder receiving space 27. This projection 45 has the function of rotatably supporting the knob 70. Although the projection 45 of this embodiment has the arcuate shape, the projection 45 may be made up of a plurality of pins.

[0025] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 3A, a knob rotation limiting hole 46 having a long hole-like shape is formed on the side wall 24 at a center in the height direction thereof. A damper mounting hole 47 is formed in a corner portion between the side wall 24 and the side wall 22, and a damper 48 consisting of an elastic member or the like is mounted therein (see Fig. 1).

[0026] As in the Fig. 1, Fig. 2 and Fig. 4, the rotor 50 is rotatably mounted on the housing 20. The rotor 50 mainly includes a main body 51, a rotating shaft 52, a pair of rod fixing portions 53, 53, and a cylindrical bearing portion 55. The circular main body 51 is housed in the rotor receiving recess portion 33 of the housing 20. The rotating shaft 52 protrudes from a center of a front surface of the main body 51 to be inserted into the rotor shaft hole 28 to be rotatably supported therein. The pair of rod fixing portions 53, 53 protrude from a rear surface of the main body 51 at point-symmetrical positions to support the rods 60, 61. The cylindrical bearing portion 55 protrudes from the front surface of the main body 51 to be pressed by the pusher member 77 of the knob 70.The rotor 50 is biased by a return spring 58 to rotate in a predetermined direction, or in a direction indicated here by an arrow B in . Fig. 6B. A return spring may be used which is adapted to bias at least one of the rods 60, 61 in a projecting direction.

[0027] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 4A, the main body 51 has a double-walled construction in which two cylindrical walls are formed on an outer periphery of the main body 51, and an annular groove 51a is provided between them. A protruding portion 52a protrudes from a distal end portion of the rotary shaft 52, and this protruding portion 52a corresponds to the rotor shaft hole 28, which has a keyhole-like shape. As shown in Figures Fig. 4A and Fig. 4B, a rotation limiting claw 56 is formed on the main body 51 near the projecting portion 52a of the rotary shaft 52 to deflect via a U-shaped slot 57.

[0028] As in the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, fastening recesses 63 are provided in proximal end portions of the rods 60, 61, and the rod fastening portions 53, 53 of the rotor 50 are respectively inserted into the fastening recesses 63, whereby the rods 60, 61 are fixed to the rotor 50. Thus, distal end portions of the rods 60, 61 are pushed out from both side edge portions of the lid 7 by the return spring 58 to normally engage with the engaging holes in the opening portion of the glove box via the rotor 50, which is rotationally driven into the position indicated by arrow B in Fig. 6B. Guide grooves 65 are formed in the rods 60, 61 along a longitudinal direction, respectively adjacent to the mounting recesses 63, to be slidably mounted on the guide projections 41.

[0029] With reference to the Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 5A and Fig. 5B, the knob 70 is rotatably mounted on the housing 20. The knob has a front wall 71 and side walls 72. The horizontally long front wall 71 extends long in a horizontal direction to correspond to the horizontally long box shape of the rectangular parallelepiped of the housing 20. The side walls 72 protrude from both longitudinal sides of the front wall 71. One end of the front wall 71 of the knob 70 in the longitudinal direction functions as a holding portion 73. A connecting wall 74 connects one end side of the side walls 72, 72. The connecting wall 74 not only increases the rigidity of the side walls 72, 72, but also covers the knob rotation limiting hole 46 in the housing 20 in such a state that the knob 70 is not rotated (see Fig. 8).

[0030] Arcuate grooves 75 are formed in the side walls 72, 72, respectively, at positions corresponding to the other end of the front wall 71 in the longitudinal direction. The arcuate projections 45 on the housing 20 are respectively inserted into these arcuate grooves 75, so that the knob 70 is rotatably attached to the housing 20. As shown in the Fig. 9 and Fig. 10, the knob 70 is caused to rotate about centers of arcs of the arcuate grooves 75 as its rotation center C1 while being guided by the arcuate projections 45 inserted into the arcuate grooves 75.

[0031] The pusher element 77, which presses the bearing portion 55 of the rotor 50, and a spring support projection portion 78, which holds the other end of the knob biasing spring 80, protrude from a rear surface of the front wall 71. The pusher element 77 and the spring support projection portion 78 are provided adjacent to each other and, compared to the arcuate grooves 75, closer to the other end of the front wall 71 in the longitudinal direction. As shown in the Fig. 9 and Fig. 10, the pusher element 77 overlaps the bearing portion 55 of the rotor 50 with a predetermined overlap width L (which means a length over which the pusher element 77 overlaps the bearing portion 55). By pulling the holding portion 73 of the knob 70 away from the housing 20 (see Fig. 10), is pressed onto the bearing portion 55 to rotate the rotor 50 against the biasing force of the return spring 58, thereby pulling the distal end portions of the rods 60, 61 out of the engaging holes in the opening portion of the glove box. A contact surface 77a of the pusher member 77 for contacting the bearing portion 55 has a flat surface shape.

[0032] A key cylinder insertion hole 81 is formed in the front wall 71 of the knob 70 near the holding portion 73 at the rotation center C1. The key cylinder insertion hole 81 is aligned with the key groove 37 provided in the bottom portion 21 of the housing 20 when the knob 70 is attached to the housing 20. As shown in Fig. 5B, a key cylinder retaining wall 82 protrudes from the rear surface of the front wall 71 at a peripheral edge of the key cylinder insertion hole 81. A stopper claw 83 protrudes from a distal end portion of the key cylinder retaining wall 82 near the retaining portion 73, and this stopper claw 83 engages with a hole edge of the knob rotation limiting hole 46 in the housing 20 to limit the rotation of the knob 70 (see Fig. 10).

[0033] When the locking device 10 is viewed from an axial direction of the rotation center C1 of the knob 70, as shown in Fig. 9, with the distal end portions of the rods 60, 61 held in engagement with the engagement holes in the glove box, the rotation center C1 of the knob 70 is positioned closer to the holding portion 73 than a contact point P between the bearing portion 55 of the rotor 50 and the pusher member 77 of the knob 70.

[0034] Preferred settings of the overlap width L of the pusher element 77 over the bearing portion 55 or the contact point P between the bearing portion 55 and the pusher element 77 are described with reference to Fig. 11 as follows. Fig. 11 shows a rotation locus T of the pusher element 77 of the knob 70 rotating around the rotation center C1. Reference symbol S denotes a line (overlap width line S) intersecting a rotation center C2 of the rotor 50 at a right angle from a dimensional reference point of the overlap width L of the pusher element 77 above the support portion 55 in an initial state in which the distal end portions of the rods 60, 61 engage with the engagement holes in the opening portion of the glove box. In the rotation locus T, an inner circumferential side, as portions where the overlap width line S intersects, represents a region where the overlap width L is more reduced than in the initial state in which the distal end portions of the rods are engaged with the engaging holes, while an outer circumferential side represents a region where the overlap width L is more increased than in the initial state.

[0035] It is preferable that when the distal end portions of the rods 60, 61 are pulled out from the engagement holes in the glove box by pulling the knob 70 with respect to the housing 20, the knob 70 stops rotating, and the distal end portions of the rods 60, 61 are pulled out within such a rotation range W1 that the overlap width L of the pusher member 77 with respect to the support portion 55 does not become smaller than the overlap width L in the initial state in which the rods 60, 61 are engaged with the engagement holes.

[0036] It is more preferable that when the distal end portions of the rods 60, 61 are pulled out from the engagement holes in the glove box by pulling the knob 70 with respect to the housing 20, the knob 70 stops rotating, and the distal end portions of the rods 60, 61 are pulled out within such a rotation range W2 that the contact point P between the support portion 55 and the pusher member 77 does not go beyond a line C3 passing through the rotation center C1 of the knob 70 and being parallel to the rotation shaft (see the rotation center C2) of the rotor 50.

[0037] When the knob 70 is pulled to rotate with respect to the housing 20 as in Fig. 10, in this embodiment, the stopper claw 83 of the knob 70 engages with a hole edge of the knob rotation limiting hole 46 in the housing 20 to limit the rotation of the knob 70. In this state, the knob 70 is caused to stop rotating within such a rotation range that the contact point P between the support portion 55 and the pusher member 77 is slightly ahead of the line C3 passing through the rotation center C1 of the knob 70 and parallel to the rotation shaft (see the rotation center C2) of the rotor 50.

[0038] As in the Fig. 1 and Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the key cylinder 90 is inserted into the key cylinder insertion hole 81 in the knob 70 while being held by the key cylinder holding wall 82. The key cylinder includes a box 91, a rotary body 93 rotatably disposed in the box 91 and having a keyhole 93a, and the projection 95 protruding from a distal end portion of the rotary body 93. The projection 95 is offset from a rotation center of the rotary body 93 and rotatably inserted into the key groove 37 in the housing 20. When the projection 95 is positioned in the open portion 38 of the key groove 37 (see Fig. 7A), the projection 95 slides within the open portion 38 while the knob 70 rotates, thereby allowing the knob 70 to rotate. On the other hand, when the projection 95 is positioned in the locking portion 39 (see Fig. 8), the projection 95 engages with the locking portion 39 to thereby prevent the knob 70 from being pulled, thereby locking the knob 70 from rotating.

[0039] A relationship between the components is now described. As in Fig. 9, the rotation center C1 of the knob 70 intersects the rotation center C2 of the rotor 50 at a right angle and is positioned closer to the holding portion 73 of the knob 70 than the rotation center C2 of the rotor 50.

[0040] The pusher element 77 of the knob 70 is positioned a predetermined distance away from the rotation center C1 opposite the holding portion 73 and protrudes toward the side of the rotor 50. In the initial state in which the knob 70 does not rotate and the distal end portions of the rods 60, 61 are engaged with the engagement holes (see Fig. 9), in this embodiment the pusher element 77 extends substantially parallel to the center of rotation C2 of the rotor 50.

[0041] As in Fig. 9, on the other hand, in the initial state in which the knob 70 does not rotate and the distal end portions of the rods are engaged with the engaging holes, a rotation center C4 of the key cylinder 90 is substantially parallel to the rotation center C2 of the rotor 50, and is located a predetermined distance away from the rotation center C1 of the knob 70 and closer to the holding portion 73.

[0042] Next, the action of the opening / closing member locking device 10 constructed as above will be described.

[0043] The locking device 10 is constructed as described below. Namely, one end of the knob biasing spring 80 is held on the spring support projection 31a in the spring support recess portion 31, while the other end thereof is held on the spring support projection portion 78 of the knob 70. In this state, the arcuate projections 45, 45 on the housing 20 are inserted into the corresponding arcuate grooves 75, 75 in the knob 70. Thus, the knob 70 is rotatably fixed to the housing 20 while being biased away from the housing 20 by the knob biasing spring 80, which is interposed between the housing 20 and the knob 70 in a compressed state.

[0044] Then, a coil portion 58a of the return spring 58 is arranged on the rotating shaft 52 of the rotor 50, and one of the leg portions 58b of the return spring 58 is locked to the arcuate wall 35 of the housing 20, while the other leg portion 58b is locked to the main body 51 of the rotor 50. In this state, the rotor 50 is displaced after the projection portion 52a of the rotating shaft 52 of the rotor 50 is aligned with the keyhole-shaped rotor shaft hole 28 in the housing 20. By rotating the rotor 50 against the biasing force of the return spring 58 in a direction indicated by an arrow A in Fig. 3B, the rotation limiting claw 56 in this state moves over the rotation limiting wall 36 on the housing 20, whereby not only the rotary shaft 52 is rotatably supported in the rotor shaft hole 28, but also the main body 51 of the rotor 50 is received in the rotor receiving recess portion 33. Then, the cylindrical wall 34 on the housing 20 is inserted into the annular groove 51a (see Fig. 8), whereby the rotor 50 is rotatably secured to the housing 20 while preventing it from being displaced therefrom. In this way, the knob 70 and the rotor 50 are mounted on the housing 20. In this state, the rotor 50 is rotationally biased by the biasing force of the return spring 58 in the direction indicated by an arrow B in Fig. 6B. Although the rotor 50 attempts to continue rotating in the direction indicated by arrow B, the rotation limiting claw 56 of the rotor 50 engages the rotation limiting wall 36 of the housing 20, thereby limiting further rotation of the rotor 50.

[0045] Then the housing 20, on which the knob 70 and the rotor 50 are mounted, is inserted into the mounting hole 8 (see Fig. 9) is inserted into the flap 7 from the rear side thereof. After the engaging claw portion 40 is inserted through the mounting hole 8 and then pulled backward to engage with a peripheral edge on a rear side of the mounting hole 8, the housing 20 is pushed in so that the engaging claw portion 40 and the engaging claws 43, 43 engage with the peripheral edge on the rear side of the mounting hole 8 and the plurality of projection pieces 44 each engage with the peripheral edge on the front side of the mounting hole 8, whereby, as shown in Fig. 9, the housing 20, to which the knob 70 and the rotor 50 are mounted, can be installed in the mounting hole 8 in the flap 7. Thereafter, the fastening sections 53, 53 of the rotor 50 are respectively inserted into the fastening recesses 63 of the rods 60, 61, whereby the pair of rods 60, 61 are aligned with each other with respect to the rotation center C2 (see Fig. 11) of the rotor 50 are arranged point-symmetrically. The distal end portions of the rods 60, 61 are pushed out of both side edge portions of the lid 7 by the rotor 50, which is rotationally biased by the return spring, toward the engaging holes in the opening portion of the glove box to engage therewith.

[0046] When the lid 7 is pushed in to close the not-shown opening portion in the glove box, tapered rear surfaces of the not-shown distal end portions of the rods 60, 61 are pressed by a peripheral edge of the opening portion in the glove box to slide inward against the biasing force of the return spring 58. When the distal end portions of the rods 60, 61 reach the not-shown engaging holes in the opening portion, the rotor 50 is again rotationally biased by the return spring 58, causing the distal end portions of the rods 60, 61 to respectively engage the not-shown engaging holes, thereby locking the lid 7 in the locked state in which the not-shown opening portion in the glove box is covered by the lid 7.

[0047] This condition is Fig. 9. Here, a key (not shown) is inserted into the keyhole 93a of the key cylinder 90, the rotary body 93 is rotated relative to the box 91, and the projection 95 is inserted into the locking portion 39 of the key groove 37 in the housing 20 to be engaged therewith, whereby the knob 70 can be locked so that it does not rotate relative to the housing 20 (see Fig. 6B and Fig. 8).

[0048] Since the locking portion 39 is provided in the bottom portion 21 of the housing 20 adjacent to the rotor 50, while this occurs, the locking portion 39 can be positioned near the rotation center C1 of the knob 70, and this reduces the travel distance of the stopper portion between the projection 95 of the key cylinder 90 and the locking portion 39, which is triggered by a change in the rotation angle of the knob 70. Therefore, although the projection 95 is relatively short, the projection 95 securely engages the locking portion 39, therefore shortening the length of the projection 95 and reducing the thickness of the housing 20, thereby enabling the locking device 10 to be manufactured in a compact size.

[0049] On the other hand, when the knob 70 is released from the locked state in which the knob 70 is locked so as not to rotate relative to the housing 20, the key is inserted into the keyhole 93a to rotate the rotating body 93 so that the projection 95 is positioned in the open portion 38 of the key groove 37, whereby the knob 70 can be rotated (see Fig. 7A). When the holding portion 73 is pulled away from the housing 20, the pusher element 77 of the knob 70 presses the bearing portion 55 of the rotor 50, thereby rotating the rotor 50 against the biasing force of the return spring 58. When the distal end portions of the rods 60, 61 are pulled out of the engagement holes in the glove box, the lid 7 can be opened from the opening portion (not shown) in the glove box.

[0050] According to this locking device 10, in such a state that the distal end portions of the rods 60, 61 are engaged with the engagement holes in the glove box, the rotation center C1 of the knob 70 is positioned closer to the holding portion 73 than the contact point P between the bearing portion 55 and the pusher member 77, as shown in Fig. 9. Thus, as in Fig. 10, when the knob 70 is pulled, the overlap width L of the pusher element 77 of the knob 70 with respect to the bearing portion 55 of the rotor 50 can be gradually increased. As a result, the overlap width L of the pusher element 77 over the bearing portion 55 of the rotor 50 can be ensured, and therefore, not only can the rotor 50 be securely rotated by preventing the pusher element 77 from being displaced from the bearing portion 55, but also the pusher element 77 and the bearing portion 55 do not need to be made long, whereby the knob 70 and the rotor 50 can be formed as thin as possible, thereby making the locking device 10 thin and compact in size.

[0051] When the knob 70 is pulled, the knob 70 may stop rotating, and the distal end portions of the rods 60, 61 may be completely pulled out of the engagement holes in the opening portion in the glove box within such a rotation range W1 that the overlap width L of the pusher element 77 with respect to the bearing portion 55 does not become smaller than the overlap width L in the initial state in which the rods 60, 61 are engaged with the engagement holes (see Fig. 11). When adjusted as described above, when the knob 70 is pulled, the distal end portions of the rods 60, 61 can be pulled out of the engagement holes without reducing the overlap width L of the pusher member 77 with respect to the support portion 55 to be smaller than the overlap width L in the initial state. As a result, the displacement of the pusher member 77 from the support portion 55 can be more securely prevented.

[0052] When the knob 70 is pulled, the knob 70 may stop rotating, and the distal end portions of the rods 60, 61 may be completely pulled out of the engagement holes in the opening portion in the glove box within such a rotation range W2 that the overlap width L of the pusher element 77 with respect to the bearing portion 55 does not become smaller than the overlap width L in the initial state in which the rods 60, 61 are engaged with the engagement holes (see Fig. 11). When adjusted as described above, when the knob 70 is pulled, the distal end portions of the rods 60, 61 can be pulled out of the engagement holes, while the overlap width L of the pusher member 77 with respect to the support portion 55 is increased to become larger than the overlap width L in the initial state. As a result, the displacement of the pusher member 77 from the support portion 55 can be prevented in a much more secure manner.

[0053] In this embodiment, the arcuate grooves 75 are formed in the knob 70, and the knob 70 rotates around the centers of the arcs of the arcuate grooves 75 as the center of rotation C1 (see Fig. 9 and Fig. 10). This makes it possible to provide the center of rotation near the front surface of the knob 70, making the entire locking device 10 thinner.

[0054] While in the above-described embodiment, the locking device 10 is attached to the lid 7, which is the opening / closing member, the locking device 10 may also be attached to the glove box or the like, which is the mounting base member, and thus, no particular limitation is imposed on where the locking device 10 is to be attached. The locking device of the embodiment is applied to the structure in which the lid 7 is installed in the opening portion in the glove box to be opened and closed.On the other hand, the locking device can also be applied, for example, to a structure in which a box-shaped glove box is installed in an opening portion in a dashboard so as to be opened and closed, or to a structure in which a lid is installed in an opening portion in a dashboard so as to be opened and closed, or the like (in this case, the dashboard constitutes the "mounting base member" of the invention, and the glove box and the lid constitute the "opening / closing member" of the invention). Thus, the locking device of the embodiment can be used in various mounting base members having an opening portion.While in the embodiment, the "engagement portion" with which the rod is to be engaged is described as the engagement hole provided in the opening portion in the glove box, the engagement portion may be, for example, a peripheral edge portion of the opening portion or the like, and thus any portion with which the rod is to be engaged may be used as the engagement portion. Description of reference symbols

[0055] 10 Opening / closing element locking device (locking device); 20 Housing; 39 Locking section; 50 Rotor; 55 Bearing section; 58 Return spring; 60, 61 Rod; 70 Knob; 73 Holding section; 75 Arc-shaped groove; 77 Handle element; 80 Knob preload spring; 90 Key cylinder; 95 Projection

Claims

[1] A locking device (10) for an opening / closing member (7) mounted in an opening portion in a mounting base member to be opened and closed, comprising: a housing (20) fixed to one of the mounting base member and the opening / closing member (7); a rotor (50) rotatably mounted on the housing (20); a rod (60, 61) fixed to the rotor (50) to slide in a coupled manner with the rotor (50) and to be engaged with or disengaged from an engagement portion provided on the other of the mounting base member and the opening / closing member (7); a bearing portion (55) provided on the rotor (50); a return spring (58) which biases the rotor (50) directly or via the rod (60, 61) to rotate so that the rod (60, 61) is brought into engagement with the engagement portion; a knob (70) rotatably mounted on the housing (20) and having a holding portion (73) at one end thereof; and a pusher element (77) formed at the other end of the knob (70) to overlap the bearing portion (55) with a predetermined overlap width (L), and which, when the knob (70) is pulled, presses on the bearing portion (55) to rotate the rotor (50) against a biasing force of the return spring (58) to thereby pull the rod (60, 61) out of the engagement portion, wherein, when the rod (60, 61) is held in engagement with the engagement portion, a rotation center (C1) of the knob (70) is positioned closer to the holding portion (73) of the knob (70) than a contact point between the bearing portion (55) and the pusher element (77), wherein the knob (70) comprises a front wall (71) and a pair of side walls (72) projecting from two opposite sides of the front wall (71) toward the housing (20), wherein an arcuate groove (75) is formed in each of the two side walls (72), wherein two arcuate projections (45) or two projections made up of a plurality of pin-shaped projections are formed on the housing (20) so that they are respectively inserted into the arcuate grooves (75), and wherein the knob (70) rotates around a center point of an arc of the arcuate grooves (75) as the center of rotation (C1) of the knob (70). [2] The locking device (10) according to claim 1, wherein when the knob (70) is pulled, the knob (70) stops rotating and the rod (60, 61) is pulled out from the engaging portion within such a rotation range that the overlap width (L) of the pusher member (77) with respect to the bearing portion (55) does not become smaller than an overlap width in an initial state in which the rod (60, 61) is engaged with the engaging portion. [3] The locking device (10) according to claim 2, wherein when the knob (70) is pulled, the knob (70) stops rotating and the rod (60, 61) is pulled out of the engaging portion within a rotation range such that the contact point (P) between the bearing portion (55) and the pusher element (77) does not go beyond a line (C3) passing through the rotation center (C1) of the knob (70) and being parallel to a rotation shaft (C2) of the rotor (50). [4] The locking device (10) according to claim 1, wherein a key cylinder (90) is rotatably mounted in the knob (70), wherein a projection (95) projects from a distal end of the key cylinder (90) while being offset from a rotational center of the key cylinder (90), wherein, when the key cylinder (90) is in a predetermined rotational position, the projection (95) engages with a locking portion (39) of the housing (20) to restrict the pulling of the knob (70), and wherein the locking portion (39) of the housing (20) is arranged adjacent to the rotor (50).

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