Opening and closing body locking device

Abstract

To provide an opening / closing body lock device capable of improving operability by a smooth movement of a rod.SOLUTION: The opening / closing body lock device includes a coil spring 31 that connects one rod 21 with another rod 21 such that the other rod 21 moves downward to be inserted in correspondence to the one rod 21 being inserted, and such that the other rod 21 moves upward to be withdrawn in correspondence to the one rod 21 being withdrawn. At least one of the two rods 21 includes a pressing part 25 that presses the coil spring 31 by an insertion of the rod 21 to move the coil spring 31 downward.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an opening / closing body locking device that holds an opening / closing body, such as a lid provided in a glove box, in a closed state.

Background Art

[0002] Among the instrument panels provided in a passenger car, a glove box is attached at a position facing the passenger seat in the front-rear direction of the passenger car. The glove box is provided with an opening / closing body locking device for holding the lid of the glove box in a closed state. When a knob for opening the lid is pushed by a passenger, the holding by the opening / closing body locking device is released and the lid opens.

[0003] An example of the opening / closing body locking device includes a housing, two rods, a coil spring, and a support column. The housing supports the two rods in a pluggable and extractable manner. The housing guides the two rods in a plugging operation that brings the rods closer to each other and an extraction operation that moves the rods away from each other in the extending direction of the rods.

[0004] The coil portion of the coil spring is externally mounted on the support column. One end of the coil portion in the axial direction is connected to one rod via one arm. The other end of the coil portion in the axial direction is connected to the other rod via the other arm. The coil portion of the coil spring biases the two rods in the extraction direction. When one rod is inserted against the biasing force of the coil spring, the housing guides the support column in a pulling direction orthogonal to the insertion direction. Along with this, the other rod is inserted into the housing. When the operating force for inserting the rod is removed from one rod, the two rods move in the extraction direction according to the biasing force of the coil spring. At this time, the housing guides the support column in a pushing direction opposite to the pulling direction (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] In the above-described opening / closing body locking device, the operating force for inserting a rod into the housing is input from an arm connected to the rod to one end of the coil portion. Even if the operating force is input only to one end of the coil portion, the coil portion externally mounted on the support column is less likely to generate a waveform or a helical twist along the axis of the coil portion. On the other hand, since the support column itself with the coil portion externally mounted has the operating force input only to one end of the support column, the axis of the support column is tilted to a certain extent due to the difference in input at both ends of the support column. Such tilting of the support column causes catching on the support column moving in the retracting direction or the pushing-out direction, and also causes catching on the rod moving in the inserting direction or the extracting direction. For this reason, improvement in operability by smooth movement of the rod is desired in the above-described opening / closing body locking device.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The opening / closing body locking device for solving the above problems includes a housing in which two rods are detachably inserted and withdrawn in the extending direction, the two rods that approach each other in the extending direction to release the lock of the opening / closing body, and a connecting member that is accommodated in the housing while being connected to the connecting portion of each rod, and moves in the retracting direction so that the other rod is inserted in response to the insertion of one rod, and moves in the pushing-out direction, which is the direction opposite to the retracting direction, so that the other rod is withdrawn in response to the withdrawal of one rod, and the connecting member that connects the other rod to one rod, and at least one of the two rods includes a pressing portion that presses the connecting member to move the connecting member in the retracting direction by the insertion of the rod.

[0008] According to the above configuration, the pressing portion of the rod presses the connecting member in the retracting direction by inserting the rod. Therefore, the connecting member smoothly moves in the retracting direction so that the insertion of one rod is converted into the insertion of another rod. As a result, the movement load of the rod due to the movement of the connecting member being hindered is reduced, and the rod can smoothly move in the extending direction.

[0009] In the above opening / closing body locking device, each of the rods includes the pressing portion, the connecting member includes a portion extending in a direction orthogonal to the retracting direction, and each of the pressing portions may be arranged in the extending direction of the connecting member and press the portion in the connecting member.

[0010] According to the above configuration, the pressing portion of one rod presses the connecting member in the retracting direction by inserting the rod, and the pressing portion of the other rod presses the connecting member in the retracting direction by inserting the rod. At this time, since the pressing portions of the respective rods are arranged in the extending direction of the connecting member, the pressing of the connecting member by the pressing portions of the two rods acts on the connecting member from two positions in the extending direction of the connecting member. Thereby, since it is difficult for the pressing of the connecting member by the pressing portion to incline the extending direction of the connecting member, it becomes possible to move the connecting member more smoothly in the retracting direction.

[0011] In the above opening / closing body locking device, the pressing portion may include a curved surface protruding in the retracting direction, and the curved surface may be brought into sliding contact with the connecting member so as to press the connecting member in the retracting direction by the curved surface while inserting the curved surface together with the rod.

[0012] According to the above configuration, the curved surface of the pressing portion is in sliding contact with the connecting member while being inserted into the housing together with the rod. Then, moving the connecting member in the retracting direction proceeds by the pressing of the connecting member by the curved surface of the pressing portion. For this reason, the movement of the connecting member is further smoothly advanced so as to be interlocked with the insertion of the rod. As a result, the movement of the rod is further smoothly advanced.

[0013] In the above-described opening / closing body locking device, the rod may include a rod main body portion extending in the extending direction of the rod and a pressing portion integral with the rod main body portion. According to the above configuration, it is also possible to reduce the number of members of the opening / closing body locking device as compared with the case where the pressing portion is separate from the rod main body portion.

[0014] In the above-described opening / closing body locking device, the extending direction of the rod may be orthogonal to the pulling-in direction. When the extending direction in which the rod is inserted is orthogonal to the pulling-in direction of the connecting member, since the direction of the force for inserting the rod is orthogonal to the pulling-in direction of the connecting member, it is difficult for the connecting member to move in the pulling-in direction. Therefore, when the opening / closing body locking device in which the extending direction of the rod is orthogonal to the pulling-in direction is provided with the above-described pressing portion, the smoothing of the movement of the rod by the movement assistance of the connecting member by the pressing portion becomes a more remarkable effect.

[0015] In the above-described opening / closing body locking device, the connecting member may be a coil spring that biases the two rods in the direction of being pulled out from the housing. According to the above configuration, when the input of the force for inserting one rod into the housing is released, the biasing force of the coil spring moves the two rods in the direction of being pulled out from the housing. Therefore, it becomes easy to pull out the two rods.

[0016] In the above-described opening / closing body locking device, the housing may include a restricting portion that restricts the movement of the connecting member in the pulling-in direction and the pushing-out direction. According to the above configuration, since the restricting portion restricts the direction in which the connecting member moves, the stabilization of the direction in which the connecting member moves is achieved.

[0017] In the above-described opening / closing body locking device, the connecting member is a coil spring including an arm connected to each rod and a hollow coil portion connected to the arm. Each rod includes the pressing portion, the axis of the coil portion extends in a direction orthogonal to the pulling-in direction, and the pressing portions may be arranged along the axis of the coil portion and press the outer peripheral surface of the coil portion.

[0018] According to the above configuration, the pressing portions of the respective rods press the outer peripheral surface of the coil portion in the pulling-in direction by inserting the rods. At this time, since the pressing portions of the respective rods are arranged along the axis of the coil portion, the pressing by the pressing portions acts on the outer peripheral surface of the coil portion from two positions arranged along the axis of the coil portion. Therefore, even if the coil portion is a hollow body that is likely to buckle, it becomes possible to smoothly move the coil portion in the pulling-in direction.

[0019] In the above-described opening / closing body locking device, the extending direction of the rod is orthogonal to the pulling-in direction, the connecting member is a coil spring including an arm connected to each rod and a hollow coil portion connected to the arm, and biases the two rods to be pulled out from the housing. The pressing portion includes a curved surface protruding in the pulling-in direction, and presses the connecting member by bringing the curved surface into sliding contact with the outer peripheral surface of the coil portion. The curved surface may have a shape that reduces the amount of displacement in the pulling-in direction of the portion where the curved surface is in sliding contact with the coil portion as the curved surface is inserted together with the rod.

[0020] According to the above configuration, the translation of the rod's linear motion caused by inserting the rod is to rotate the arm connected to the rod and the coil part while translating the arm in the insertion direction and turning the extending direction of the arm in the retracting direction. The rotational force of the arm received by the coil part is converted into a reaction force that pushes the rod back in the extraction direction opposite to the insertion direction and a force that moves the coil part in the retracting direction. At this time, the arm that rotates so that its extending direction faces the retracting direction reduces the displacement amount of the arm in the retracting direction as the rod is inserted. And the curved surface of the pressing part inserted together with the rod reduces the displacement amount of the part in contact with the coil part in the retracting direction as the rod is inserted. For this reason, the displacement amount of the coil part in the retracting direction by the pressing part is likely to follow the displacement amount of the arm in the retracting direction.

[0021] If the inserted pressing part excessively presses the coil part in the retracting direction and the coil part is excessively displaced in the retracting direction, the excessively displaced coil part and the rod that moves little by little in the insertion direction will apply a large tension to the arm. On the contrary, if the pressing of the coil part by the pressing part is insufficient, the coil part that is difficult to be displaced in the retracting direction and the rod that moves little by little in the insertion direction will apply a large compressive force to the arm. In this regard, if the configuration is such that the coil part is displaced in the retracting direction by pressing so as to follow the displacement of the arm in the retracting direction, it becomes possible to reduce the load applied to the arm and, consequently, the moving load of the rod caused by the load applied to the arm.

Advantages of the Invention

[0022] According to the opening / closing body locking device of the present disclosure, the operability of the opening / closing body locking device is enhanced by the smooth movement of the rod.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0023]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0024] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the opening / closing body locking device will be shown. An example of the opening / closing body is a glove box. The opening / closing body locking device holds the lid provided in the glove box in a closed state. The opening / closing body locking device releases the holding of the closed state by operating the glove box.

[0025] [Opening / Closing Body Locking Device 10] As shown in FIG. 1, the opening / closing body locking device 10 includes a housing 11, two rods 21, and a coil spring 31 (see FIG. 2).

[0026] The housing 11 has a box shape for accommodating the coil spring 31. The housing 11 has an upper surface opening 11A communicating with the inside of the housing 11 on the upper surface, and side surface openings 11B, one on each of the left and right side surfaces. The coil spring 31 is accommodated inside the housing 11 through the upper surface opening 11A. Each rod 21 is inserted into the housing 11 through the side surface opening 11B. The front wall 12 and the rear wall 13 of the housing 11 each have a rod locking hole 14 extending in the left-right direction DL. Each rod locking hole 14 penetrates from the inside of the housing 11 to the outside of the housing 11. The housing 11 may be an integral resin molded product, or a combination of a resin molded body having the front wall 12 and a resin molded body having the rear wall 13.

[0027] Each rod 21 has a columnar shape extending in the left-right direction DL. One rod 21 has the same shape as the other rod 21. A straight line passing through the center of the housing 11 in the left-right direction DL and extending in the up-down direction DT is the center line LC. The two rods 21 are attached to the housing 11 so as to be rotationally symmetric about the center line LC as the center of rotation. Each rod 21 is arranged along the left-right direction DL in the extending direction of the rod 21. Each rod 21 has a tip portion in the extending direction arranged inside the housing 11. Each rod 21 has a base end portion in the extending direction arranged outside the housing 11. The two rods 21 are inserted into the housing 11 in the extending direction of the rod 21 and are detachably attached to the housing 11.

[0028] Hereinafter, the configuration of the rod 21 arranged on the right side of FIG. 1 will be mainly described, and the description of the configuration common to the rod 21 arranged on the right side among the configurations of the rod 21 arranged on the left side of FIG. 1 will be omitted.

[0029] The base end portion of the rod 21 is provided with a fitting portion 22. The fitting portion 22 fits a lid opening / closing arm 51 (see FIG. 7) to the rod 21. The lid opening / closing arm 51 receives a holding force for holding the lid in a closed state from the opening / closing body locking device 10. The holding force is the biasing force of the coil spring 31. The two rods 21 are withdrawn from the housing 11 and move away from each other in the extending direction which is the left-right direction DL, thereby locking the state of the lid in the closed state.

[0030] The lid opening / closing arm 51 transmits an operating force F21 for opening the lid to the opening / closing body locking device 10. The operating force F21 is the force for inserting one rod 21 into the housing 11. The two rods 21 approach each other in the extending direction by being inserted into the housing 11, thereby releasing the lock on the state of the lid.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 2, the opening / closing body locking device 10 includes a coil spring 31 which is an example of a connecting member. The coil spring 31 includes two arms 32 and a hollow coil portion 33 connected to each arm 32. The coil spring 31 is housed inside the housing 11. With the coil spring 31 housed inside the housing 11, one arm 32 is arranged on the right side of the coil portion 33. With the coil spring 31 housed inside the housing 11, the other arm 32 is arranged on the left side of the coil portion 33. With the coil spring 31 housed inside the housing 11, the axis 3L of the coil portion 33 is arranged along the front-rear direction DF.

[0032] The rod 21 includes a rod main body portion 23 and a pressing portion 25. The rod main body portion 23 has a quadrangular prism shape extending in the left-right direction DL. The front surface of the right rod main body portion 23 is provided with a rod locking claw 24 that protrudes forward. The rod locking claw 24 is inserted into the rod locking hole 14 of the housing 11. The engagement between the rod locking hole 14 and the rod locking claw 24 restricts the moving direction of the rod 21 in the left-right direction DL. The rod locking hole 14 restricts the moving range of the rod locking claw 24 in the left-right direction DL, thereby restricting the moving range of the rod 21 in the left-right direction DL.

[0033] The rear surface of the right rod main body 23 is provided with a biasing piece 23S that protrudes rearward. The biasing piece 23S has a cantilever beam shape extending in the extending direction of the rod 21. One end in the extending direction of the biasing piece 23S is a fixed end fixed to the tip of the rod main body 23. The other end in the extending direction of the biasing piece 23S is a free end biased toward the inner surface of the housing 11. The biasing acting on the free end of the biasing piece 23S, as the rod 21 moves, continues to slidably contact the free end of the biasing piece 23S with the rear inner surface of the housing 11 while pressing the front surface of the rod main body 23 against the front inner surface of the housing 11. Thereby, the biasing piece 23S stabilizes the position of the rod 21 in the front-rear direction DF within the housing 11.

[0034] The tip of the rod main body 23 is provided with a latching part 23T which is an example of a connecting part. The latching part 23T can latch the tip of the arm 32 of the coil spring 31. The positions of the coil spring 31 in the arm 32 in the vertical direction DT and the left-right direction DL are fixed by the latching part 23T of the rod 21.

[0035] The pressing part 25 is integral with the tip of the rod main body 23. The pressing part 25 has a single tab-like shape protruding from the tip of the rod main body 23 in the extending direction and the retracting direction of the rod 21. The retracting direction is the downward direction which is one direction of the vertical direction DT and is perpendicular to the left-right direction DL and the front-rear direction DF which are the extending direction of the rod 21. The pressing part 25 has a fan-shaped plate shape having a side extending in the extending direction of the rod 21 and a side extending in the retracting direction. The end face of the pressing part 25 has a curved surface 25S in the shape of an arc. The arc-shaped curved surface 25S connects arcs with a side extending in the extending direction of the rod 21 or a side extending in the retracting direction as the radius in the front-rear direction DF.

[0036] The position of the right pressing part 25 in the front-rear direction DF is biased forward from the center of the right rod main body 23 in the front-rear direction DF (see FIG. 6). The position of the left pressing part 25 in the front-rear direction DF is biased rearward from the center of the left rod main body 23 in the front-rear direction DF (see FIG. 6).

[0037] [Internal Structure of the Opening / Closing Body Locking Device 10] As shown in FIG. 3, the housing 11 includes two main body case inner walls 15, one coil case inner wall 16, and two arm case inner walls 17.

[0038] The main body case inner wall 15 has a rectangular tubular shape extending along the left - right direction DL. The main body case inner wall 15 includes a part of the front wall 12 of the housing 11, a part of the rear wall 13, the upper wall, and the lower wall 15A. The two main body case inner walls 15 are provided in the housing 11 to be rotationally symmetric about the center line LC as the rotation center. Hereinafter, the configuration of one of the main body case inner walls 15 will be mainly described, and the description of the configuration common to the two main body case inner walls 15 among the configurations of the other main body case inner wall 15 will be omitted.

[0039] The right - hand main body case inner wall 15 defines the right - hand side surface opening 11B in the housing 11. The right - hand main body case inner wall 15 extends from the right end of the housing 11 to the coil case inner wall 16. The right - hand main body case inner wall 15 has a size that allows the rod main body part 23 to be inserted into and withdrawn from the inside of the main body case inner wall 15.

[0040] The part of the right - hand main body case inner wall 15 that constitutes the rear wall 13 includes a sliding contact protrusion 11S extending in the left - right direction DL. The sliding contact protrusion 11S is arranged to face the biasing piece 23S of the rod 21 inserted into the main body case inner wall 15. The biasing piece 23S slidably contacts the sliding contact protrusion 11S to stabilize the position of the rod 21 in the front - rear direction DF.

[0041] The part of the left - hand main body case inner wall 15 that constitutes the rear wall 13 includes a rod locking hole 14 extending in the left - right direction DL. The rod locking hole 14 is arranged to face the rod locking claw 24 of the rod 21 inserted into the main body case inner wall 15.

[0042] On the lower surface wall 15A of the inner wall 15 of the main body portion case, a pressing portion guide groove 5S extending along the left - right direction DL is open. The pressing portion guide groove 5S penetrates the lower surface wall 15A from the inside of the inner wall 15 of the main body portion case downward toward the lower side of the housing 11. The pressing portion guide groove 5S opening in the right - hand side lower surface wall 15A opens at the right end of the housing 11 and is connected to the lower surface wall 15A over the entire left - right direction DL of the inner wall 15 of the main body portion case. When the pressing portion 25 is inserted into the housing 11 from the right side of the housing 11, the pressing portion 25 passes through the pressing portion guide groove 5S on the right side.

[0043] The position in the front - rear direction DF of the pressing portion guide groove 5S on the right side is offset forward from the center in the front - rear direction DF of the inner wall 15 of the main body portion on the right side (see Fig. 6). The pressing portion guide groove 5S on the right side enables the pressing portion 25 on the right side to move in the left - right direction DL together with the rod main body portion 23 on the right side. The position in the front - rear direction DF of the pressing portion guide groove 5S on the left side is offset rearward from the center in the front - rear direction DF of the inner wall 15 of the main body portion on the left side (see Fig. 6). The pressing portion guide groove 5S on the left side enables the pressing portion 25 on the left side to move in the left - right direction DL together with the rod main body portion 23 on the left side.

[0044] Returning to Fig. 3, the inner wall 16 of the coil portion case has a rectangular cylindrical shape rising along the up - down direction DT from the lower surface wall of the housing 11. The inner wall 16 of the coil portion case includes a part of the front wall 12 of the housing 11, a part of the rear wall 13 of the housing 11, the left side wall 16L, and the right side wall 16R (see Fig. 6). The inner wall 16 of the coil portion case is an example of a restricting portion. The inner wall 16 of the coil portion case is arranged at the center in the left - right direction DL of the housing 11. The two inner walls 15 of the main body portion case are arranged so as to sandwich the inner wall 16 of the coil portion case in the left - right direction DL.

[0045] The inside of the inner wall 16 of the coil portion case communicates with the upper surface opening 11A of the housing 11. The coil portion 33 accommodated in the housing 11 is arranged from the upper surface opening 11A of the housing 11 inside the inner wall 16 of the coil portion case.

[0046] On the left wall 16L of the inner wall 16 of the coil portion, there is an opening 16S that communicates with the left pressing portion guide groove 5S. The pressing portion 25 inserted along the left pressing portion guide groove 5S enters the inside of the inner wall 16 of the coil portion through the opening 16S. The right wall 16R of the inner wall 16 of the coil portion also has an opening 16S that communicates with the right pressing portion guide groove 5S. The pressing portion 25 inserted along the right pressing portion guide groove 5S also enters the inside of the inner wall 16 of the coil portion through the opening 16S.

[0047] The inner wall 17 of the arm guide extends upward from the lower wall of the housing 11 on both the left and right sides respectively. The two inner walls 17 of the arm guide are arranged so as to sandwich the inner wall 16 of the coil portion in the left-right direction DL. The two inner walls 17 of the arm guide are provided in the housing 11 so as to be rotationally symmetric about the center line LC as the center of rotation. Hereinafter, the configuration of one inner wall 17 of the arm guide will be mainly described, and the description of the configuration common to the two inner walls 17 of the arm guide among the configurations of the other inner wall 17 of the arm guide will be omitted.

[0048] The left inner wall 17 of the arm guide is arranged on the left side of the inner wall 16 of the coil portion and in front of the left pressing portion guide groove 5S. That is, the left inner wall 17 of the arm guide is arranged in front of the pressing portion 25 inserted into the left pressing portion guide groove 5S. The left inner wall 17 of the arm guide includes a part of the front wall 12 of the housing 11. The left inner wall 17 of the arm guide forms a gap between the front wall 12 of the housing 11 and the left pressing portion guide groove 5S. The left inner wall 17 of the arm guide has an inclined surface 17S that extends upward and to the left from the lower wall of the inner wall 16 of the coil portion.

[0049] The right inner wall 17 of the arm guide is arranged on the right side of the inner wall 16 of the coil portion and behind the right pressing portion guide groove 5S. That is, the right inner wall 17 of the arm guide is arranged behind the pressing portion 25 inserted into the right pressing portion guide groove 5S. The right inner wall 17 of the arm guide has an inclined surface 17S that extends upward and to the right from the lower wall of the inner wall 16 of the coil portion.

[0050] As shown in Fig. 4, when the coil portion 33 is disposed at the upper end inside the inner wall 16 of the coil portion case, the left arm 32 is hooked on the hooking portion 23T of the left rod main body portion 23. The left arm 32 enters inside the inner wall 17 of the left arm case and approaches the upper end of the left inclined surface 17S.

[0051] The angle formed by the extending direction of the inclined surface 17S and the left - right direction DL is larger than the angle formed by the extending direction of the arm 32 and the left - right direction DL in the coil spring 31 disposed at the upper end of the inner wall 16 of the coil portion case. The left arm 32 is arranged such that when the coil portion 33 moves further inward from the upper end of the inner wall 16 of the coil portion case, the left arm 32 abuts against the upper end of the inclined surface 17S. The upper end of the inclined surface 17S has a shape that rotates the arm 32 such that when the left arm 32 in contact with the inclined surface 17S moves further downward, the extending direction of the arm 32 faces the extending direction of the inclined surface 17S while the arm 32 moves in the insertion direction.

[0052] Thus, when the coil portion 33 moves further inward from the upper end of the inner wall 16 of the coil portion case, the left arm 32 rotates so as to bring the extending direction of the arm 32 closer to the extending direction of the left inclined surface 17S.

[0053] As shown in Fig. 5, when the coil portion 33 is disposed at the upper end inside the inner wall 16 of the coil portion case, the curved surface 25S of the left pressing portion 25 abuts against the upper - left portion of the outer peripheral surface of the coil portion 33. When the left pressing portion 25 is further inserted rightward, the curved surface 25S of the left pressing portion 25 may or may not press the outer peripheral surface of the coil portion 33 so as to push the coil portion 33 in the retracting direction. In this embodiment, when the left pressing portion 25 is inserted rightward, it does not press the outer peripheral surface of the coil portion 33. Note that when the left pressing portion 25 is inserted rightward, it may or may not contact the outer peripheral surface of the coil portion 33. In this embodiment, when the left pressing portion 25 is inserted rightward, it contacts the outer peripheral surface of the coil portion 33.

[0054] When the coil part 33 is arranged at the upper end part inside the inner wall 16 of the coil part case, the curved surface 25S of the right pressing part 25 abuts on the upper right part of the outer peripheral surface of the coil part 33. When the right pressing part 25 is further inserted leftward, the curved surface 25S of the right pressing part 25 presses the outer peripheral surface of the coil part 33 so as to push the coil part 33 in the drawing direction.

[0055] At this time, the insertion of the left pressing part 25 is guided along the left - right direction DL by the left - side pressing - part guide groove 5S. The insertion of the right pressing part 25 is guided along the left - right direction DL by the right - side pressing - part guide groove 5S. And the drawing of the coil part 33 is guided along the up - down direction DT by the inner wall 16 of the coil part case.

[0056] As shown in FIG. 6, when the coil part 33 is arranged at the upper end part inside the inner wall 16 of the coil part case, the position of the left - right direction DF of the left pressing part 25 is deviated to the rear side from the center of the left - right direction DF of the outer peripheral surface of the coil part 33. The position of the left - right direction DF of the right pressing part 25 is deviated to the front side from the center of the left - right direction DF of the outer peripheral surface of the coil part 33. Thus, the pressing parts 25 of the respective rods 21 are arranged in the direction in which the axis 3L of the coil part 33 extends. And the pressing of the coil part 33 by the pressing part 25 of the right rod 21 acts on the coil spring 31.

[0057] When the left pressing part 25 is inserted rightward, the curved surface 25S of the left pressing part 25 maintains the position in the left - right direction DF and is displaced rightward while abutting on the outer peripheral surface of the coil part 33. When the right pressing part 25 is further inserted leftward, the curved surface 25S of the right pressing part 25 maintains the position in the left - right direction DF and is displaced leftward while pressing the outer peripheral surface of the coil part 33. Thus, the pressing of the coil part 33 by the pressing part 25 of the right rod 21 continues to act on the coil spring 31.

[0058] [Operation of the opening - closing body locking device 10] As shown in Fig. 7, when the lid of the glove box, which is an example of the opening / closing body, is closed, the rod locking claw 24 on the right rod 21 is disposed at the right end in the rod locking hole 14 of the housing 11. Note that the rod locking claw 24 on the left rod 21 is disposed at the left end in the rod locking hole 14 of the housing 11. The coil portion 33 of the coil spring 31 is disposed at the upper end inside the inner wall 16 of the coil portion case. The arm 32 of the coil spring 31 is hooked on the rod 21, and applies a biasing force F31 in the extraction direction to the right rod 21 in the right direction and to the left rod 21 in the left direction, i.e., to each rod 21.

[0059] Thereby, the coil spring 31 fixes the rod locking claw 24 on the right rod 21 to the right end in the right rod locking hole 14. The coil spring 31 fixes the rod locking claw 24 on the left rod 21 to the left end in the left rod locking hole 14. Then, the opening / closing body locking device 10 locks the state of the lid in the closed state.

[0060] Here, when an operating force F21 against the biasing force F31 acts on the right rod 21 through the lid opening / closing arm 51, the right rod 21 begins to be inserted into the housing 11. Further, the rod locking claw 24 on the right rod 21 begins to move leftward from the right end in the rod locking hole 14 of the housing 11.

[0061] As shown in Fig. 8, the translation of the rod 21 due to the insertion of the right rod 21 rotates the right arm 32 connected to the right rod 21 and the coil portion 33 so that the extending direction of the arm 32 approaches downward in the drawing direction while translating the right arm 32 in the left direction, which is the insertion direction.

[0062] A part of the rotational force of the arm 32 received by the coil portion 33 is converted into a reaction force that pushes back the right rod 21 in the right direction, which is the extraction direction opposite to the insertion direction. As a result, the coil spring 31 applies an operating force suitable for inserting the right rod 21 to the right rod 21. Also, a part of the rotational force of the arm 32 received by the coil portion 33 moves the coil portion 33 in the downward direction, which is the retraction direction.

[0063] On the other hand, the translation of the pressing portion 25 due to the insertion of the right rod 21 causes the curved surface 25S of the pressing portion 25 to be in sliding contact with the outer peripheral surface of the coil portion 33 while translating the curved surface 25S of the pressing portion 25 in the left direction, which is the insertion direction. The arc-shaped curved surface 25S connects arcs having a side extending in the extending direction of the rod 21 or a side extending in the retraction direction in the front-rear direction DF. Therefore, the curved surface 25S of the pressing portion 25 smoothly advances the coil portion 33 in the retraction direction by bringing the curved surface 25S into sliding contact with the outer peripheral surface of the coil portion 33. Also, such a shape of the curved surface 25S reduces the amount of displacement of the portion in sliding contact with the coil portion 33 in the retraction direction as the curved surface 25S is inserted together with the right rod 21.

[0064] At this time, the right arm 32 that rotates so as to bring the extending direction closer in the retraction direction reduces the amount of displacement of the arm 32 in the retraction direction as the right rod 21 is inserted. Also, the curved surface 25S of the pressing portion 25 inserted together with the right rod 21 also reduces the amount of displacement of the portion in sliding contact with the coil portion 33 in the retraction direction as the right rod 21 is inserted. Therefore, the amount of displacement of the coil portion 33 in the retraction direction by the pressing portion 25 is likely to follow the amount of displacement of the arm 32 in the retraction direction.

[0065] When the coil portion 33 is displaced in the retracting direction, the left arm 32 abuts against the left inclined surface 17S. When the coil portion 33 is further displaced in the retracting direction, the left arm 32 rotates so that the extending direction of the left arm 32 approaches the extending direction of the inclined surface 17S. That is, the left arm 32 rotates so that the extending direction of the left arm 32 faces downward while the left arm 32 is inserted rightward. Then, as the left arm 32 is inserted rightward, the left rod 21 is inserted rightward. As a result, the left rod 21 moves in the retracting direction so as to be inserted according to the insertion of the right rod 21.

[0066] When the input of the actuating force F21 is released from the right rod 21, the two arms 32 move so that the angle formed by the two arms 32 widens. At this time, the positions in the vertical direction DT at the upper end portions of the respective arms 32 are fixed to the positions in the vertical direction DT of the rod 21. For this reason, the two rods 21 are withdrawn from the housing 11, and the coil portion 33 moves upward in the pushing-out direction. In this way, the coil spring 31 moves in the pushing-out direction, which is the direction opposite to the retracting direction, so that the other rod 21 is withdrawn according to the withdrawal of one rod 21.

[0067] [Effect] As described above, according to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. (1) The pressing portion 25 of the rod 21 presses the coil portion 33 in the retracting direction by the insertion of the rod 21. For this reason, the coil portion 33 smoothly moves in the retracting direction so that the insertion of one rod 21 is converted into the insertion of the other rod 21. As a result, the movement load of the rod 21 due to the movement of the coil spring 31 being hindered is reduced, and the rod 21 can smoothly move in the extending direction.

[0068] (2) The pressing portion 25 of the right rod 21 presses the coil portion 33 in the retracting direction by the insertion of the right rod 21. The pressing portion 25 of the left rod 21 may press the coil portion 33 in the retracting direction by the insertion of the left rod 21.

[0069] At this time, since the pressing portions 25 of the respective rods 21 are aligned in the extending direction of the axis 3L of the coil portion 33, the pressing of the coil portion 33 by the pressing portions 25 of the two rods 21 acts on the coil portion 33 from two positions in the extending direction of the coil portion 33. For this reason, since it is difficult for the pressing of the coil portion 33 by the pressing portion 25 to tilt the axis 3L of the coil portion 33, it becomes possible to move the coil portion 33 more smoothly in the retracting direction.

[0070] (3) The curved surface 25S of the pressing portion 25 is in sliding contact with the coil portion 33 while being inserted into the housing 11 together with the rod 21. Then, moving the coil portion 33 in the retracting direction proceeds by the pressing of the coil portion 33 by the curved surface 25S of the pressing portion 25. For this reason, the movement of the coil portion 33 is further advanced smoothly so as to be interlocked with the insertion of the rod 21. As a result, the movement of the rod 21 is further advanced smoothly.

[0071] (4) Since the pressing portion 25 is integral with the rod main body portion 23, it is also possible to reduce the number of members of the opening / closing body locking device 10 as compared with the case where the pressing portion 25 is separate from the rod main body portion 23.

[0072] (5) When the extending direction of the rod 21 into which the rod 21 is inserted is orthogonal to the retracting direction of the coil portion 33, since the direction of the operating force F21 for inserting the rod 21 is orthogonal to the retracting direction of the coil portion 33, it is difficult for the coil portion 33 to move in the retracting direction. For this reason, when the opening / closing body locking device 10 in which the extending direction of the rod 21 is orthogonal to the retracting direction is provided with the pressing portion 25, the effect of smoothing the movement of the rod 21 according to the above (1) to (4) becomes more remarkable.

[0073] (6) The coil spring 31 biases the two rods 21 in the extracting direction. For this reason, when the operating force F21 for inserting the rod 21 into the housing 11 is released from the rod 21, the biasing force F31 of the coil spring 31 moves the two rods 21 in the extracting direction. As a result, it becomes easy to extract the two rods 21.

[0074] (7) Since the inner wall 16 of the coil part restricts the movement of the coil part 33 in the pulling-in direction and the pushing-out direction, the movement of the coil spring 31 in the moving direction is stabilized. (8) If the inserted pressing part 25 presses the coil part 33 excessively in the pulling-in direction and the coil part 33 is excessively displaced in the pulling-in direction, the excessively displaced coil part 33 and the rod 21 that moves little by little in the insertion direction will apply a large tension to the arm 32. On the contrary, if the pressing of the coil part 33 by the pressing part 25 is insufficient, the coil part 33 that is difficult to be displaced in the pulling-in direction and the rod 21 that moves little by little in the insertion direction will apply a large compressive force to the arm 32.

[0075] In this regard, the curved surface 25S of the pressing part 25 displaces the coil part 33 in the pulling-in direction by pressing so as to follow the displacement of the arm 32 in the pulling-in direction. For this reason, it becomes possible to reduce the load applied to the arm 32, and thus the moving load of the rod 21 caused by the load applied to the arm 32.

[0076] The above embodiment can also be implemented with the following modifications. [Pressing part 25] · The coil part 33 of the coil spring 31 may be externally mounted on a support column. The support column may extend so as to be orthogonal to the insertion direction of the rod 21 and the pulling-in direction of the coil spring 31.

[0077] · As shown in FIG. 9, the support column with the coil part 33 externally mounted may be inserted into the synchronization slit 25S1 formed in the pressing part 25. At this time, the support column with the coil part 33 externally mounted may be pressed in the pulling-in direction by the peripheral surface that defines the synchronization slit 25S1 in the pressing part 25. And the pressing part 25 may omit the curved surface 25S.

[0078] As shown by the solid line in FIG. 9, for example, the right pressing portion 25 includes a synchronous slit 25S1 formed by a slit extending in the left direction and a slit extending from the tip of the slit upward and leftward. The synchronous slit 25S1 formed in the right pressing portion 25 is inserted through the front end portion of the support column 35 that houses the coil portion 33. As shown by the dashed-dotted line in FIG. 9, for example, the left pressing portion 25 includes a synchronous slit 25S1 formed by a slit extending in the right direction and a slit extending from the tip of the slit upward and rightward. The synchronous slit 25S1 formed in the left pressing portion 25 is inserted through the rear end portion of the support column 35 that houses the coil portion 33.

[0079] Here, when an operating force F21 for inserting the right pressing portion 25 in the left direction is input to the right pressing portion 25, the right synchronous slit 25S1 moves leftward together with the right pressing portion 25. The circumferential surface of the right synchronous slit 25S1 moving leftward pushes down the support column 35 in the retracting direction. When the support column 35 is pushed down in the retracting direction, the support column 35 presses the circumferential surface of the left synchronous slit 25S1 so that the left synchronous slit 25S1 moves rightward. Further, as the coil portion 33 housed in the support column 35 moves in the retracting direction, the left arm 32 inserts the left pressing portion 25 in the right direction. Thereby, the insertion in the right rod 21 is synchronized with the insertion in the left rod 21 via the left and right pressing portions 25.

[0080] As shown in FIG. 10, when the arrangement of the support column 35 reaches the slit extending leftward in the right synchronous slit 25S1, pushing down the support column 35 in the retracting direction stops. Then, when the input of the operating force F21 is released, the biasing force of the coil spring 31 moves the two pressing portions 25 away from each other in the left-right direction DL. As a result, the support column 35 begins to move in the pushing-out direction, and the two rods 21 begin to be withdrawn from the housing 11.

[0081] ·One of the two rods 21 may be provided with the pressing portion 25, and the pressing portion 25 may be omitted from the other rod 21. · The pressing part 25 may be separate from the rod main body part 23 and connected to the rod main body part 23 such that it is inserted in conjunction with the insertion of the rod main body part 23 and withdrawn in conjunction with the withdrawal of the rod main body part 23.

[0082] · The extending direction of the rod 21 may be a direction other than the direction orthogonal to the pulling-in direction and may be a direction intersecting the pulling-in direction. · The operating force F21 input to the rod 21 may be input to the right rod 21, may be input to the left rod 21, or may be input to both of the two rods 21.

[0083] [Connecting member] · The coil spring 31 may bias the two rods 21 in the insertion direction. Also in this configuration, the two rods 21 are connected to the coil spring 31 such that when one rod 21 is inserted, the other rod 21 is pulled in. Further, the two rods 21 are connected to the coil spring 31 such that when one rod 21 is withdrawn, the other rod 21 is withdrawn.

[0084] · The connecting member may be a link mechanism connected to the two rods 21. The link mechanism converts the insertion of one rod 21 into the insertion of the other rod 21 and the movement of the link mechanism in the pulling-in direction. The link mechanism converts the withdrawal of one rod 21 into the withdrawal of the other rod 21 and the movement of the link mechanism in the pushing-out direction. The connecting member may be a combination of a spring that biases the two rods 21 in the insertion direction or a spring that biases the two rods 21 in the withdrawal direction and the link mechanism. The link mechanism may include, for example, one link connected to one rod 21, another link connected to the other rod 21, and one joint that connects the two links in a V shape. And one joint may rotatably connect one link to the other link and may move in the pulling-in direction and the pushing-out direction.

Explanation of reference numerals

[0085] 10... Opening / closing body locking device 11... Housing 15…Inner wall of the main body part 16…Inner wall of the coil part 17…Inner wall of the arm 21…Rod 23…Rod main body part 23T…Latching part 24…Rod locking claw 25…Pressing part 25S…Curved surface 31…Coil spring 32…Arm 33…Coil part

Claims

1. A housing in which two rods are inserted and removably attached in an extending direction, the two rods that approach each other in the extending direction to release the lock of the opening / closing body, a connecting member that is housed in the housing while being connected to the connecting portion of each rod, and moves in a retracting direction so that the other rod is inserted in response to the insertion of one rod, and moves in an extrusion direction, which is opposite to the retracting direction, so that the other rod is withdrawn in response to the withdrawal of one rod, the connecting member that connects the other rod to one rod, An opening / closing body locking device comprising: at least one of the two rods includes a pressing portion that presses the connecting member by inserting the rod to move the connecting member in the retracting direction, An opening / closing body locking device characterized by this.

2. Each rod includes the pressing portion, The connecting member includes a portion extending in a direction orthogonal to the retracting direction, Each pressing portion is arranged in the extending direction of the connecting member and presses the portion in the connecting member, The opening / closing body locking device according to claim 1.

3. The pressing portion includes a curved surface protruding in the retracting direction, and the curved surface is slidably contacted with the connecting member so as to press the connecting member in the retracting direction by the curved surface while inserting the curved surface together with the rod, The opening / closing body locking device according to claim 1.

4. The rod includes a rod main body portion extending in the extending direction of the rod and the pressing portion integrated with the rod main body portion, The opening / closing body locking device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The extending direction of the rod is orthogonal to the retracting direction, The opening / closing body locking device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

6. The connecting member is a coil spring that biases the two rods in a direction in which they are withdrawn from the housing, The opening / closing body locking device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

7. The housing includes a regulating portion that regulates the movement of the connecting member in the retracting direction and the extrusion direction, The opening / closing body locking device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

8. The connecting member is a coil spring including an arm connected to each rod and a hollow coil portion connected to the arm, Each rod includes the pressing portion, The axis of the coil portion extends in a direction orthogonal to the pulling-in direction. Each of the pressing portions is arranged along the axis of the coil portion and presses the outer peripheral surface of the coil portion. The opening / closing body locking device according to claim 1.

9. The extending direction of the rod is orthogonal to the pulling-in direction. The connecting member includes an arm connected to each rod and a hollow coil portion connected to the arm, and is a coil spring that biases the two rods to be pulled out from the housing. The pressing portion includes a curved surface protruding in the pulling-in direction, and presses the connecting member by bringing the curved surface into sliding contact with the outer peripheral surface of the coil portion. The curved surface has a shape that reduces the amount of displacement of the portion in contact with the coil portion in the pulling-in direction as the curved surface and the rod are inserted. The opening / closing body locking device according to claim 1.

Images