Lock device and storage device

Abstract

To provide a lock device for a lid body, capable of suppressing the generation of abnormal noise when the lid body is closed and holding the lid body in a predetermined normal position when the lid body is closed even if the lid body is exposed to a high temperature environment.SOLUTION: A locking device of the present invention, which is configured to hold a lid body (11) in a closed position relative to a support body (1), includes an engagement receiving portion (31) provided on the support body (1) and an engagement member (40) provided on the lid body (11), the engagement member (40) having engagement claw portions (45, 55, 65) that engage with the engagement receiving portion (31), the engagement claw portions (45, 55, 65) having base portions (46, 56, 66) and outer layer portions (47, 57, 67) that are formed of a material softer than the base portions (46, 56, 66) and cover at least a portion of the base portions (46, 56, 66), and the base portions (46, 56, 66) having abutment portions (46b, 56b, 66b) that are exposed from the outer layer portions (47, 57, 67) and abut against the engagement receiving portion (31) in the closed position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a locking device for holding a lid in a closed position relative to a support, and to a storage device having the locking device. [Background technology]

[0002] In the interior of a vehicle such as an automobile, a storage device for storing items, such as a glove box or a console box, is generally installed. For example, a glove box is provided in front of the passenger seat in the vehicle. The glove box has a lid that can be opened and closed over an opening formed in the instrument panel.

[0003] The glove box lid is provided with a locking member. When the lid is in a position to close the opening of the instrument panel, the locking portion of the lid engages with a locking receiving portion provided on the opening of the instrument panel, thereby keeping the opening closed (closed state).

[0004] For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-162188 (Patent Document 1) describes a storage device for a vehicle (an openable / closable storage box device for a vehicle). In the storage device of Patent Document 1, a locking member having a locking portion is provided on a lid body, which is an openable / closable body, and a stopper portion that engages the locking portion is provided on the instrument panel side. The locking member is made of synthetic resin. The outer layer of the locking portion is made of a soft material that is softer than the synthetic resin of the locking member. Patent Document 1 also cites elastomer as an example of the soft material of the locking portion.

[0005] According to Patent Document 1, the outer layer of the locking part is made of a soft, flexible material, so even if the locking part comes into contact with the peripheral edge of the opening of the instrument panel when the lid of the storage device is closed, the impact noise produced when the locking part comes into contact is absorbed by the outer layer, so no abnormal noise is generated. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-162188 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, as in Patent Document 1, when the outer layer of the locking portion of the lid body is formed of a soft material such as an elastomer, the outer layer of the locking portion may bend or the quality or performance of the soft material may deteriorate if the storage device is exposed to a high temperature environment, for example.As a result, even if the locking portion is engaged with the stopper portion, there is a risk that the lid body may not be held in the appropriate position relative to the instrument panel.

[0008] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and its purpose is to provide a locking device for a lid that can suppress the generation of abnormal noise when the lid is closed and can hold the lid in a predetermined normal position when the lid is closed even when exposed to a high-temperature environment, and a storage device that has such a locking device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to achieve the above object, the locking device provided by the present invention is a locking device that holds a lid body, which is attached to a support body having an opening so as to be movable between a closed position in which the opening is closed and an open position in which the opening is open, in the closed position, and that has a locking receiving portion provided on the support body and a locking member that is provided on the lid body and is inserted into and removed from the locking receiving portion, the locking member having an engaging claw portion that engages with the locking receiving portion, the engaging claw portion having a base portion and an outer layer portion that is formed from a material softer than the base portion and covers at least a portion of the base portion, and the base portion has an abutment portion that is exposed from the outer layer portion and abuts the locking receiving portion in the closed position.

[0010] In the locking device of the present invention, the engaging claw preferably has a deformation promoting structure that promotes deformation of the engaging claw. In this case, the deformation promoting structure is preferably formed by a hollow portion provided between the base portion and the outer layer portion.

[0011] According to the present invention, there is also provided a storage device that includes the locking device having the above-described configuration and is installed inside a vehicle. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] The locking device and storage device of the present invention can suppress the generation of abnormal noise when the lid is closed, and can hold the lid in an appropriate position when closed, even if the locking device and storage device are exposed to a high-temperature environment. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 2 is a perspective view schematically showing an engaging claw portion of a locking member provided in the storage device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 3] 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of an engaging claw portion shown in FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 4] 3 is an exploded view of the engaging claw portion shown in FIG. 2.

[0023] FIG. [Figure 5] 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which the engaging claw portion comes into contact with the guide portion when the lid body is closed. FIG. [Figure 6] 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which the engaging claw portion is engaged with the engagement receiving portion when the lid body is closed. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an engaging claw portion according to a first modified example. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an engaging claw portion according to a second modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a storage device of this embodiment, while Fig. 2, Fig. 3, and Fig. 4 are a perspective view, a cross-sectional view, and an exploded view, respectively, of an engaging claw portion of a locking member provided in the storage device.

[0015] In the following description of the storage device (glove box) 10 and the locking device, the front-to-rear direction is the direction along which the lid 11 of the storage device 10 is opened and closed, and in particular, the direction along which the lid 11 is opened is referred to as the front, and the direction along which the lid 11 is closed is referred to as the rear. The left-to-right direction and the up-to-down direction are the directions along the width and height directions of the lid 11 when viewed from the front side.

[0016] The storage device 10 of this embodiment is a glove box 10 attached to the instrument panel 1 of an automobile, and is installed in front of the passenger seat. In this case, the instrument panel 1 is a support that attaches and supports the glove box 10. An installation opening 2 is provided in the portion of the instrument panel 1 facing the passenger on the passenger side, and the glove box 10 is installed in this installation opening 2.

[0017] On the left and right sides of the installation opening 2 in the instrument panel 1, left and right support side walls 30 are provided, which extend rearward (toward the front of the vehicle body) from the front of the instrument panel 1 and are disposed on both the left and right sides of the glove box 10 (see FIGS. 5 and 6). Note that in the present invention, the shape of the instrument panel 1 is not particularly limited.

[0018] The glove box 10 includes a lid 11 shaped to close the installation opening 2 of the instrument panel 1, a box body 16 formed integrally with the back side of the lid 11 and equipped with a storage compartment 17 capable of storing small items, and a locking device that holds the lid 11 in a closed position relative to the instrument panel 1 so that the installation opening 2 is closed. Note that the shape and size of the box body 16 are not particularly limited in the present invention.

[0019] The lid 11 and the box body 16 of the glove box 10 are supported so as to be movable (rotatable) between a closed position that closes the installation opening 2 of the instrument panel 1 and an open position that opens the installation opening 2. When the lid 11 and the box body 16 are held in the open position, the storage section 17 of the box body 16 can be opened. The lid body 11 has a substantially plate-shaped lid main body 12 and a cover 13 provided on the rear side of the lid main body 12 and housing at least a part of the locking device (see FIG. 5).

[0020] The locking device has a pair of left and right locking receiving portions (spacers) 31 provided on the left and right support side wall portions 30 of the instrument panel 1, a pair of left and right locking members 40 attached to the lid body 11 so as to be movable in the left and right direction, a biasing portion (not shown) that biases the locking members 40 outward in the left and right direction, and an operating portion 14 provided on the outer surface (the surface facing the passenger seat) of the lid main body portion 12 (see Figures 1 and 5, etc.).

[0021] The support side wall portion 30 of the instrument panel 1 is provided with a guide portion 32 that can push the locking member 40 of the locking device inward in the left-right direction by sliding the engaging claw portion 45 of the locking member 40, which will be described later, into contact with the guide portion 32 before the locking member 40 is inserted into the locking receiving portion 31.

[0022] The locking device of this embodiment is primarily characterized by the engaging member 40, and the specific structures of the biasing portion (not shown) and operating portion 14 of the locking device are not particularly limited, and the biasing portion and operating portion 14 can have structures that are generally known in the art. For example, the operating unit 14 of the locking device has a structure in which the driver or the like performs an operation such as hooking a finger on the operating knob of the operating unit 14 and pulling it toward himself, thereby moving the left and right locking members 40 inward in the left-right direction against the biasing force of the biasing unit, and is operated when opening the glove box 10 from the closed position.

[0023] 5, each of the left and right locking receiving portions 31 is provided in a recessed shape facing outward in the left-right direction on the support side wall portion 30 of the instrument panel 1. The locking receiving portion 31 is formed to have a size that allows a part of the locking member 40 (an engaging claw portion 45 described later) to be inserted into and removed from the locking receiving portion 31.

[0024] The lock receiving portion 31 has a front inner wall surface 31a arranged along the left-right direction and a rear inner wall surface 31b arranged opposite the front inner wall surface 31a. The front inner wall surface 31a of the lock receiving portion 31 has a locking surface that abuts and locks a part of the locking member 40 when the part of the locking member 40 is inserted into the lock receiving portion 31.

[0025] The locking receiving portion 31 can hold the lid 11 and the box main body 16 so as not to move forward (in the direction in which the lid 11 opens) by abutting a part of the locking member 40 against the front inner wall surface 31a and locking it. In the present invention, the locking receiving portion 31 may be formed in the shape of a hole that penetrates the support side wall 30 in the left-right direction, rather than having a recessed shape.

[0026] The left and right locking members 40 are provided on the cover body 11 so as to be movable in the left-right direction, and are formed so as to be insertable into and removable from lock receiving portions 31 provided on the instrument panel 1. The left and right locking members 40 are installed so as to protrude to the outside of the cover portion 13 through left and right through-holes provided in the cover portion 13 of the cover body 11. The left and right locking members 40 are attached to the cover body 11 so that the directions in which they are inserted into the lock receiving portions 31 are opposite to each other.

[0027] The locking member 40 is biased outward in the left-right direction (to the left in the case of FIG. 5 ) by a biasing portion (not shown) of the locking device. The locking member 40 is installed so as to be movable inward in the left-right direction (in other words, into the cover portion 13 of the lid body 11) so that the locking member 40 is pulled into the cover portion 13 against the biasing force of the biasing portion when the operating portion 14 of the locking device is operated by the driver or the like.

[0028] Each of the left and right locking members 40 has an arm portion 41 made of synthetic resin and an engaging claw portion 45 integrally formed at the tip of the arm portion 41. The shape and size of the arm portion 41 are not particularly limited. The engaging claw portion 45 is a portion that is engaged with the front inner wall surface 31a of the locking receiving portion 31 when the locking member 40 is inserted into the locking receiving portion 31 on the instrument panel 1 side.

[0029] The engaging claw portion 45 has a claw front end surface 42 facing the lid main body portion 12 side of the lid body 11, a claw rear end surface arranged on the opposite side of the claw front end surface 42, a claw upper end surface and a claw lower end surface facing the vertical direction and arranged parallel to each other, and a claw tip surface 43 arranged at the tip of the engaging claw portion 45. The claw tip surface 43 of the engaging claw portion 45 is formed into a flat surface or a curved surface that is inclined with respect to the front-to-rear direction so that the protruding length of the engaging claw portion 45 from the arm portion 41 gradually decreases from the claw front end surface 42 toward the claw rear end surface.

[0030] By providing such a claw tip surface 43 on the engaging claw portion 45, when the claw tip surface 43 of the engaging claw portion 45 comes into sliding contact with the guide portion 32 provided on the instrument panel 1 while the lid body 11 of the glove box 10 is moving to the closed position, as shown in Figure 5, for example, the locking member 40 can be pushed inward in the left-right direction against the biasing force of the biasing portion.

[0031] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the engaging claw portion 45 has a base portion extending from the arm portion 41 and an outer layer portion 47 that covers at least a portion of the base portion . The base portion 46 of the engaging claw portion 45 is formed from the same synthetic resin as the arm portion 41. The base portion 46 has a pillar portion 46a that connects to the arm portion 41 and a contact portion 46b that protrudes from the front end surface of the pillar portion 46a. The pillar portion 46a of the base portion 46 extends straight from the arm portion 41 in the left-right direction, and has a rectangular cross section perpendicular to the left-right direction.

[0032] The tip of the pillar portion 46a is provided with a recess 46c that is recessed as if cut out from the rear side (see FIG. 4). The recess 46c of the pillar portion 46a has a bottom surface facing rearward and sidewall surfaces facing outward in the left-right direction. When viewed from above, for example, the recess 46c is formed so that the dimension in the front-to-rear direction from the rear end surface of the pillar portion 46a to the bottom surface of the recess 46c (i.e., the depth dimension of the recess 46c) is 10% to 70%, preferably 30% to 50%, of the dimension from the front end surface to the rear end surface of the pillar portion 46a. Furthermore, the recess 46c of the pillar portion 46a is formed so that the sidewall surface of the recess 46c is located closer to the arm portion 41 in the left-to-right direction than a step portion 46d between the front end surface (contact surface) of the abutment portion 46b and the front end surface of the pillar portion 46a.

[0033] The abutment portion 46b of the base material portion 46 protrudes forward from the pillar portion 46a. The abutment portion 46b has a flat front end surface that is perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction. The front end surface of the abutment portion 46b is exposed to the outside through an opening window 47a (described later) of the outer layer portion 47. When the locking member 40 (engagement claw portion 45) is locked to the lock receiving portion 31 on the instrument panel 1 side (see FIG. 6), the front end surface of the abutment portion 46b abuts and forms a surface contact with the front inner wall surface 31a (locking surface) of the lock receiving portion 31.

[0034] The abutment portion 46b is formed so that the dimension in the front-to-rear direction from the front end surface of the column portion 46a to the front end surface (abutment surface) of the abutment portion 46b (i.e., the protruding dimension of the abutment portion 46b) is the same as or approximately the same as the thickness of the outer layer portion 47 (the dimension between the outer surface and inner surface of the outer layer portion 47).

[0035] The outer layer 47 of the engaging claw 45 is made of a material such as an elastically deformable thermoplastic elastomer or thermosetting rubber that is softer than the synthetic resin that forms the base material 46. The outer layer 47 is provided on the outside of the base material 46 with a substantially constant thickness, and covers the base material 46 from the outside except for the front end surface (contact surface) of the contact portion 46b.

[0036] A rectangular or approximately rectangular opening window 47a for exposing the contact portion 46b of the base portion 46 to the outside is provided in the front portion of the outer layer portion 47, corresponding to the installation position of the contact portion 46b on the base portion 46 (see FIG. 4). The opening window 47a of the outer layer portion 47 is formed so that the opening area of ​​the opening window 47a is the same size or approximately the same size as the cross-sectional area of ​​the portion (base end) where the contact portion 46b of the base portion 46 is connected to the column portion 46a.

[0037] The engaging claw portion 45 of this embodiment is formed by two-color molding of a synthetic resin that forms the base material portion 46 and a soft material (for example, a thermoplastic elastomer) that forms the outer layer portion 47, and the base material portion 46 and the outer layer portion 47 are integrally formed. Note that the engaging claw portion 45 of this embodiment may also be formed, for example, by molding the base material portion 46 and the outer layer portion 47 of the engaging claw portion 45 separately, and then covering the base material portion 46 with the outer layer portion 47 so that the base material portion 46 is inserted inside the outer layer portion 47.

[0038] The engaging claw portion 45 has a deformation promoting structure that promotes deformation of the engaging claw portion 45 (specifically, deformation of the outer layer portion 47). As shown in Fig. 3, the deformation promoting structure of the engaging claw portion 45 is formed by a hollow portion 49 provided between the base portion 46 and the outer layer portion 47 of the engaging claw portion 45. The hollow portion 49 is formed by providing the recess 46c described above at the tip portion of the base portion 46.

[0039] As will be described later, when the lid 11 of the glove box 10 is moved to the closed position, the engaging claw portion 45 having such a deformation-promoting structure can easily be elastically deformed in a direction that concaves the outer layer portion 47 so that the hollow portion 49 of the engaging claw portion 45 is crushed when the engaging claw portion 45 abuts against the guide portion 32 provided on the instrument panel 1 (see Figure 5).

[0040] Next, with reference to Figures 5 and 6, the operation of the locking device in the glove box 10 having the locking device of this embodiment will be described when, for example, the lid 11 of the glove box 10, which is in the open position, is moved to the closed position to close the installation opening 2 of the instrument panel 1 with the lid 11.

[0041] In the glove box 10 of this embodiment, when the lid 11 is held in the open position and the glove box 10 is open, the storage section 17 of the box main body 16 is open so that items can be put in and taken out of the storage section 17. With this open glove box 10, the driver or the like can move the lid 11 from the open position to the closed position by pushing the lid 11, which is held in the open position, backward.

[0042] When the lid body 11 moves from the open position to the closed position, as shown in Figure 5, the engaging claw portion 45 of the locking member 40 provided on the locking device of the glove box 10 abuts against the guide portion 32 provided on the instrument panel 1 while the lid body 11 is moving to the closed position.

[0043] Here, for example, if it is assumed that the entire engaging claw portion 45 of the locking member 40 is formed from a hard synthetic resin, an abnormal noise (contact noise or collision noise) will be generated when the hard engaging claw portion 45 abuts against the guide portion 32 of the instrument panel 1.

[0044] In contrast, in the glove box 10 of this embodiment, the outer layer 47 of the engaging claw 45 is formed of a soft material such as an elastomer, and the engaging claw 45 is provided with a deformation promoting structure formed by a hollow portion 49. This deformation promoting structure is formed to promote elastic deformation of the engaging claw 45 (particularly the outer layer 47).

[0045] By installing such a deformation-promoting structure, when the engaging claw portion 45 abuts against the guide portion 32 of the instrument panel 1, the outer layer portion 47 of the engaging claw portion 45 can be easily elastically deformed, and this elastic deformation of the outer layer portion 47 can prevent or suppress the generation of abnormal contact or collision sounds, or can reduce the contact or collision sounds that are generated.

[0046] Next, as the cover 11 moves further toward the closed position, the engaging claws 45, which have come into contact with the guide portions 32 of the instrument panel 1, have their claw tip surfaces 43 come into sliding contact with the guide portions 32. Due to this sliding contact of the claw tip surfaces 43, as described above, the locking members 40 are pushed inward in the left-right direction against the biasing force of the biasing portions (not shown).

[0047] Thereafter, the tip or front end face of the engaging claw 45 of the locking member 40 moves rearward from the position of the front inner wall surface 31a of the lock receiving portion 31 on the instrument panel 1 side, thereby releasing the contact between the claw tip surface 43 of the engaging claw 45 and the guide portion 32 of the instrument panel 1. As a result, the locking member 40 moves outward in the left-right direction due to the biasing force of the biasing portion, and the engaging claw 45 of the locking member 40 is inserted into the lock receiving portion 31 on the instrument panel 1 side.

[0048] Furthermore, the front end surface of the engaging claw 45 inserted into the locking receiving portion 31 abuts against the front inner wall surface 31a of the locking receiving portion 31 due to the weight of the lid 11 and the box main body 16, so that the locking receiving portion 31 on the instrument panel 1 side can lock the engaging claw 45. As a result, the glove box 10 is closed, and the locking device of this embodiment can hold the lid 11 of the glove box 10 in the closed position and lock it so that it does not move toward the open position.

[0049] Furthermore, in the locking device of this embodiment, the abutment portion 46b provided on the base material portion 46 of the engagement claw portion 45 is exposed through the open window portion 47a of the outer layer portion 47. As a result, when the engagement claw portion 45 of the locking member 40 is inserted into the lock receiving portion 31 on the instrument panel 1 side, the abutment portion 46b, which is harder than the outer layer portion 47 of the engagement claw portion 45, can abut against the front inner wall surface 31a of the lock receiving portion 31. This allows the lock receiving portion 31 to stably lock the engagement claw portion 45. Also, the locked state of the cover 11, in which the engagement claw portion 45 is locked to the lock receiving portion 31, can be stably maintained.

[0050] On the other hand, when opening the glove compartment 10 by moving the lid 11 from the closed position to the open position, the driver or other person operates the operating unit 14 of the locking device to move the locking member 40, which is engaged with the locking receiving portion 31 on the instrument panel 1, inward in the left-right direction. This disengages the engaging claw 45 of the locking member 40 from the locking receiving portion 31, thereby releasing the lock state of the lid 11 by the locking device. Thereafter, the driver or other person can move the lid 11 from the closed position to the open position by pulling the operating unit 14 toward themselves, or by the weight of the lid 11. This opens the glove compartment 10, exposing the storage compartment 17 of the box body 16.

[0051] As described above, according to the glove box 10 of this embodiment, when the lid 11 is moved from the open position to the closed position to close the glove box 10, it is possible to prevent, suppress, or reduce the generation of abnormal noise even if the engaging claw 45 of the locking member 40 abuts against the lock receiving portion 31 on the instrument panel 1. In addition, the abutting portion 46b of the engaging claw 45 allows the lid 11 to be stably maintained in the locked state.

[0052] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the lid body 11 is in the locked state, the base material portion 46 (contact portion 46b) of the engaging claw portion 45 is in contact with the front inner wall surface 31a of the locking receiving portion 31. Therefore, even if the glove box 10 is exposed to a high temperature environment, the locking receiving portion 31 can securely lock the hard contact portion 46b, and stably hold the lid body 11 in the specified normal position (closed position).

[0053] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible as long as they have substantially the same configuration as that described in the claims of the present invention and provide similar effects.

[0054] For example, in the locking device of the above-described embodiment, a hollow portion 49 is provided between the base material portion 46 and the outer layer portion 47 of the engaging claw portion 45 by a recess 46c provided in the base material portion 46. However, in the present invention, as shown in Fig. 7, for example, an engaging claw portion 55 of a locking device according to a first modified example, the engaging claw portion 55 may be formed by providing a rib protruding from the outer layer portion 57 within a recess provided in the base material portion 56.

[0055] 7 has a base portion 56 and an outer layer portion 57 that covers a portion of the base portion 56. The base portion 56 is formed substantially in the same manner as the base portion 46 of the embodiment. That is, the base portion 56 of the first modified example has a pillar portion 56a and a contact portion 56b that protrudes from the front end surface of the pillar portion 56a, and a recess is provided at the tip of the pillar portion 56a.

[0056] The outer layer portion 57 of the first modified example is formed of a material softer than the synthetic resin of the base portion 56. The outer layer portion 57 has an outer layer main body portion 57a ​​and an outer layer side rib 57b that protrudes from the outer layer main body portion 57a ​​into the recess of the column portion 56a. The outer layer side rib 57b can suppress deformation of the engaging claw portion 55. An open window portion is provided in the front portion of the outer layer portion 57 corresponding to the installation position of the abutment portion 56b on the base portion 56.

[0057] According to the locking device having the engaging claw portion 55 of the first modified example, when the engaging claw portion 55 abuts against the guide portion 32 of the instrument panel 1 as shown in Fig. 5, for example, the generation of abnormal noise at the outer layer portion 57 of the engaging claw portion 55 can be prevented or suppressed. Furthermore, even if the glove box is exposed to a high-temperature environment, the outer layer rib 57b can suppress deterioration (such as a decrease in performance) of the soft material such as thermoplastic elastomer that forms the outer layer portion 57 more effectively than the locking device of the above-described embodiment.

[0058] In the first modified example, the rib arranged in the recess of the engaging claw portion 55 is formed by an outer layer side rib 57b protruding from the outer layer main body portion 57a, but in the present invention, the rib arranged in the recess of the engaging claw portion 55 may also be formed by a substrate side rib protruding from the substrate portion 56.

[0059] In the present invention, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, an engaging claw 65 of a locking device according to a second modified example may be formed without providing a recess in a base material 66. 8 has a base portion 66 and an outer layer portion 67 that covers a part of the base portion 66. The base portion 66 of the second modified example has a pillar portion 66a and an abutment portion 66b that protrudes from the front end surface of the pillar portion 66a.

[0060] The outer layer portion 67 of the second modified example is formed substantially in the same manner as the outer layer portion 47 of the embodiment. That is, the outer layer portion 67 of the second modified example is formed of a material that is softer than the synthetic resin of the base material portion 66. An opening window portion is provided in the front portion of the outer layer portion 67.

[0061] The outer layer portion 67 of the second modified example contacts the outer surface of the base material portion 66 except for the front end surface (contact surface) of the contact portion 66b, and entirely covers the outer surface of the base material portion 66. Therefore, no hollow portion is provided between the base material portion 66 and the outer layer portion 67 in the engaging claw portion 65 as in the above-described embodiment.

[0062] In a locking device having the engaging claw 65 of this second modification, since there is no hollow portion within the engaging claw 65, it is possible to generate a small contact sound or collision sound when the engaging claw 65 abuts against the guide portion 32 of the instrument panel 1, for example, as shown in FIG. 5. This is effective when you want to generate a relatively small sound when closing the glove box. Furthermore, even if the glove box is exposed to a high-temperature environment, deterioration of the soft material of the outer layer can be more effectively suppressed.

[0063] Furthermore, in the present invention, as shown in the embodiment of Figures 2 to 6, the first modified example of Figure 7, and the second modified example of Figure 8, it is possible to adjust the presence or absence of a hollow section in the engagement claw section, the presence or absence of a rib in the hollow section, and the material and size of the rib, etc., to adjust the presence or absence of a contact sound or collision sound when closing the glove box and the volume of the contact sound or collision sound that is generated.

[0064] The locking device of the above-described embodiment has a pair of left and right locking receiving portions 31 provided on the instrument panel 1 and a corresponding pair of left and right locking members 40, but the locking device of the present invention may have only one set of left and right locking receiving portions 31 and locking members 40.

[0065] In the above-described embodiment, the locking device is described as being applied to a glove box 10, but the locking device of the present invention can also be applied to various storage devices installed in vehicles other than glove boxes, such as console boxes, etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0066] 1. Instrument panel 2 Installation opening 10 Glove box (storage device) 11 Lid 12 Lid body 13 Cover 14 Control section 16 Box body 17 Storage section 30 Support side wall part 31 Locking receiving part (spacer) 31a Front inner wall surface 31b Rear inner wall surface 32 Guide section 40 Locking member 41 Arm section 42 Front end of claw 43 Claw tip surface 45 Engagement claw 46 Base material part 46a Pillar 46b Contact part 46c recess 46d Step 47 Outer layer 47a Opening window 49 Hollow part 55 Engagement claw 56 Base material part 56a Pillar 56b Contact part 57 Outer layer 57a Outer layer body part 57b Outer layer rib 65 Engagement claw 66 Base material part 66a Pillar 66b Contact part 67 Outer layer

Claims

1. A locking device that holds a lid body, which is attached to a support having an opening so as to be movable between a closed position that closes the opening and an open position that opens the opening, at the closed position, a locking member provided on the cover and inserted into and removed from the locking member, the locking member has an engaging claw portion that is locked to the lock receiving portion, The engaging claw portion has a base portion and an outer layer portion that is made of a material softer than the base portion and covers at least a portion of the base portion, The base material portion has an abutment portion that is exposed from the outer layer portion and abuts against the lock-receiving portion in the closed position. A locking device characterized by:

2. The engaging claw portion has a deformation promoting structure that promotes deformation of the engaging claw portion. The locking device according to claim 1.

3. The deformation promoting structure is formed by a hollow portion provided between the base portion and the outer layer portion.

3. The locking device according to claim 2.

4. A storage device comprising the locking device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, and installed inside a vehicle.

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