The present invention relates to a locking device for a storage device arrange to lock the storage device in a closed position when the locking device is in a locked position and to allow the storage device to move to an opened position when the locking device is in an unlocked position.

The invention also relates to a storage device comprising such a locking device. A storage device, for example the glove compartment, or glove box, of an automotive vehicle has to be firmly maintained and locked in its closed position to prevent any unwanted opening of the storage device. To this end, various locking devices are known to lock the storage device in its closed position.

On the other hand, the effort required to unlock the locking device and thereby to allow the storage device to move to its opened position has to be minimal for the user such that the storage device has a friendly use.

However these two objectives are contradictory since the more the locking force is important, the greater the effort required to unlock the locking device is. Indeed, unlocking the locking device requires overcoming the locking force, for example applied by one or more resilient elements urging one or more closing rods in a closed position maintaining the storage device in the closed position. The force required to unlock the locking device is consequently generally comprises between 10 N and 15 N, which can be perceived as a too important effort to a user.

One of the aims of the invention is to overcome this drawback by providing a locking device which requires little efforts to be unlocked.

To this end, the invention relates to a locking device for a storage device, comprising:

- a first rod, extending along a first longitudinal axis and movable in translation along said first longitudinal axis, said first rod comprising an actuation element extending substantially radially from a part of the first rod,

- a second rod, extending along a second longitudinal axis, parallel to the first longitudinal axis, and movable in translation along said second longitudinal axis, said second rod comprising an actuated element, extending substantially radially from a part of the second rod, and a locking recess, extending substantially radially from another part of the second rod,

- a locking element, movable in rotation around a third longitudinal axis, parallel to the first longitudinal axis, wherein the locking device is movable between an unlocked position and a locked position, causing the displacement of each of the first rod, the second rod and the locking element between a unlocked position and a locked position,

wherein, in the unlocked position, the actuated element of the second rod faces the actuation element of the first rod and the locking element and the locking recess (34) are longitudinally offset,

the movement of the locking device from the unlocked position to the locked position causing the first rod to move along the first longitudinal axis such that the actuation element pushes the actuated element in the longitudinal direction which causes the second rod to move in translation along the second longitudinal axis, thereby aligning the locking recess and the locking element, which engages the locking recess, thereby locking the second rod in the locked position.

The locking device further comprises a resilient element urging the second rod towards its unlocked position, said resilient element being stressed when the second rod is locked in its locked position.

When the locking device according to the invention is moved to its locking position, the resilient element is stressed and therefore stores energy, when the locking device is in its locked position. The stored energy urges the second rod towards its unlocked position when said energy is liberated, i.e. when the locking element is moved to its unlocked position and frees the second rod. By using the second rod to move the closing rod(s) out of the position maintaining the storage device in the closed position, the stored energy can is used to free the storage device and allow it to move to its opened position. Consequently, the user only needs to move the locking element to its unlocked position to unlock the locking device and to allow the storage device to move to its opened position. The required effort is therefore greatly reduced, which improves the comfort of use of the locking device for the user. By way of example, the force required to unlock the locking device according to the invention is reduced to 2 N to 5 N.

According to other features of the locking device according to the invention:

- the locking device comprises a first resilient element urging the first rod towards its unlocked position, the resilient element urging the second rod towards its unlocked position being a second resilient element, the first and second resilient elements being arranged such that when the locking element is moved towards its unlocked position, the locking device moves to the unlocked position;

- the locking device comprises a third resilient element urging the locking element towards its locked position such that the locking element engages the locking recess when said locking recess is moved opposite the locking element towards the locked position;

- the locking device comprises an unlocking element, said unlocking element being movable between a rest position and an active position, wherein the unlocking element acts on the locking element to move it to its unlocked position;

- the locking element comprises a locking end arranged to engage the locking recess of the second rod in the locked position and an actuation end actuated by the unlocking element in the active position, the locking end extending at the extreme part of a locking arm and the actuation end extending at the extreme part of an actuation arm, the locking arm and the actuation arm being substantially perpendicular and the rotation axis of the locking element extending at the junction between the locking arm and the actuation arm ;

- the second rod is further movable in rotation around the second longitudinal axis between its unlocked position and its locked position, such that the actuated element of the second rod is angularly offset relative to the actuation element of the first rod in the unlocked position of the locking device;

- the locking device comprises a housing receiving at least the first rod and the second rod;

- the housing comprises a ramp arrange to guide the second rod in rotation around the second longitudinal axis ;

- the housing comprises a locking aperture adapted to receive a locking pin, wherein the storage device is in a locked and closed position when said locking pin cooperates with said locking aperture and is movable towards an opened position when said locking pin is out of said locking aperture ;

- the second rod is arranged to push the locking pin out of the locking aperture when said second rod moves to its unlocked position, said second rod extending in said locking aperture in the unlocked position of the locking device.

The invention also relates to a storage device comprising at least a first part and a second part movable relative to each other between a closed position, wherein the first part and the second part define a closed storage volume, and an opened position, wherein the storage volume is accessible, the storage device further comprising a locking device, said locking device being arranged to lock the storage device in the closed position when said locking device is in the locked position and to allow the storage device to move to the opened position when said locking device is in the unlocked position.

According to other features of the storage device according to the invention: - the first rod, the second rod and the locking element are provided on the first part and the locking pin is provided on the second part, said locking pin being arranged to engage the locking aperture when the storage device is in the closed position.

- the first rod, the second rod and the locking element are provided on the first part, the second part comprising an actuation ramp arranged to move the first rod towards its locked position, thereby moving the locking device to its locked position, when the first part and the second part move to the closed position.

Other aspects and advantages of the invention will appear upon reading the following description, given by way of example and made in reference to the appended drawings, wherein:

- Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the locking device according to the invention,

- Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the locking device of Fig. 1 in the unlocked position,

- Figs. 3 and 4 are cross-section views of the locking device along plane Ill-Ill of Fig. 2 when the locking device is moving between the unlocked position and the locked position,

- Figs. 5 and 6 are cross-section views respectively along axis V-V and axis VI-VI of Figs 5 and 6, and

- Figs. 7 and 8 are cross-section views of the locking device when the locking device is moving between the locked position and the unlocked position.

With reference to the figures, there is described a locking device 1 for a storage device, for example for a glove compartment or glove box of an automotive vehicle. The storage device is conventional and will not be described in detail herein. Such a storage device for example comprises a first part and a second part, movable relative to each other between a closed position, wherein the first part and the second part define a closed storage volume, and an opened position, wherein the storage volume is accessible. The first part is for example formed by a housing, attached to the structure of the vehicle, for example to the dashboard of the vehicle, and by a movable door 2, part of which is shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and Figs. 7 and 8.

The locking device 1 is arranged to lock the door 2 in the closed position when the locking device is in a locked position, and to allow the door 2 to move to the opened position, when the locking device is in an unlocked position, as will be described subsequently.

The locking device 1 comprises a housing 4, attached to one of the part of the storage device, for example the first immovable part of the storage device and receiving a first rod 6 and a second rod 8. The first rod 6 extends in the housing 4 along a first longitudinal axis A and is movable relative to the housing 4 in translation along the first longitudinal axis A. The first rod comprises a first end 10 and a second end 12 extending on either side of a central part 14 along the longitudinal axis A. The central part 14 extends in the housing, while the first end 10 and the second end 12 can extend out of the housing 4 by passing through apertures 16 provided in the side walls 18 of the housing 4. The central part 14 comprises, in the vicinity of the second end 12, an actuation element 20 extending substantially radially from the first rod 6. The actuation element 20 forms a radial actuation surface turned towards the first end 10 and protruding radially from the travel path of the first rod, as will be described subsequently. According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the central part 14 further comprises, in the vicinity of the first end 10, a radial shoulder 22 extending substantially radially from the first rod 6 and forming an abutment against which an end of a first resilient element 24 is applied.

The other end of the first resilient element 24 is applied against the side wall 18 of the housing 4 through which the first end 10 of the first rod 6 passes, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. In this manner, when the first rod 6 moves along the first longitudinal axis A in the direction of the first end 10, meaning in the direction wherein the first end 10 extends further out of the housing 4, as shown in Fig. 4, the first resilient element 24 is compressed between the side wall 18 of the housing 4 and the radial shoulder 22 of the central part 14 of the first rod 6 as shown in Fig. 4, thereby urging the first rod 6 in the direction of the second end 12, meaning in the direction wherein the second end 12 extends further out of the housing, as shown in Fig. 3. As shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the resilient element 24 is for example a tubular spring mounted around the first end 10 of the first rod 6. According to another embodiment, the resilient element 24 could have another form such as an elastic tab interposed between the first end 10 of the first rod 6 and the side wall 18 of the housing 4. In this case, the first end 10 remains inside the housing 4 which does not comprise an aperture for this first end 10 and the central part 14 of the first rod 6 does not need to have a radial shoulder 22.

The second rod 8 extends in the housing 4 along a second longitudinal axis B, parallel to the first longitudinal axis A, and is movable relative to the housing 4 in translation along the second longitudinal axis B. The second rod comprises a first end 26 and a second end 28 extending on either side of a central part 30 along the longitudinal axis B. The central part 30 extends in the housing, while the first end 26 and the second end 28 can extend out of the housing 4 by passing through apertures 16 provided in the side walls 18 of the housing 4. The central part 30 comprises, in the vicinity of the second end 28, an actuated element 32 extending substantially radially from the second rod 8. The actuated element 32 forms a radial actuated surface turned towards the second end 28 and protruding radially from the travel path of the second rod, as will be described subsequently. The central part 30 further comprises, next to the actuated element 32 and in the vicinity of the first end 26, a locking recess 34 extending radially in the second rod 8. The locking recess 34 is also angularly offset relative to the actuated element 32, meaning that the locking recess 34 and the actuated element 32 are not aligned along the longitudinal axis B.

The housing 4 comprises a ramp arranged opposite the second rod 8, meaning that the second rod 8 is applied against the ramp when the second rod 8 moves in translation inside the housing 4. The shape of the ramp is arranged such that the second rod 8 moves in rotation around the second longitudinal axis B when the second rod 8 moves in translation along the second longitudinal axis B. Alternatively, the second rod 8 could have a screw shape arranged to cooperate with a complementary shape of the housing 4 such that the second rod 8 moves both in translation along the second longitudinal axis B and in rotation around this axis B when the second rod 8 moves in the housing 4.

Like the first rod 6, the second rod 8 is also urged towards the direction of its second end 28 by a second resilient element 36, except that this second resilient element 38 is also arranged to urge the second rod 8 in rotation around the second longitudinal axis in addition to urge the second rod 8 in translation along the second longitudinal axis. As shown in Fig. 1 to 4, the second resilient element 36 is for example a spring comprising end branches 38 arranged to stress the second rod 8 in rotation.

The locking device 1 further comprises a locking element 40 movable in rotation around a third longitudinal axis C, parallel to the first and second longitudinal axes A and C, relative to the housing 4. The second rod 8- extends between the first rod 6 and the locking element 40, which comprises a locking end 42 extending at the extreme part of a locking arm 44 and arranged to cooperate with the locking recess 34, as will be described subsequently. The locking element 40 further comprises an actuation end 46 extending at the extreme part of an actuation arm 48, which forms with the locking arm 44 a L-shaped locking element 40, the axis of rotation of the locking element 40 extending at the junction between the locking arm 44 and the actuation arm 46. A third resilient element 50 is arranged to urge the locking element 40 in rotation towards the position wherein the locking end 42 cooperates with the locking recess 34 as will be described subsequently.

The locking device 1 further comprises an unlocking element 52 extending along a transversal axis D, substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axes A, B and C, and movable in translation along said transversal axis D. The unlocking element 52 is in the form of a rod having an end 54 arranged opposite the actuation end 46 of the locking element 40 and another end shaped as an actuator 56, for example an actuation knob or surface. A fourth resilient element 58 is arranged to urge the unlocking element 52 towards a position wherein the end 54 extending opposite the actuation end 46 of the locking element 40 is spaced from said actuation end 46.

The housing 4 comprises a locking aperture 60, shown in Figs 7 and 8, said aperture extending according to the second longitudinal axis B of the second rod 8 opposite the second end 28 of the second rod 8 such that the second end 28 of the second rod 8 can engage the locking aperture 60 when the second rod 8 is in a particular position as will be described subsequently and as shown in Fig. 8.

The locking device 1 described above is arranged to cooperate with a locking pin 62, shown in Figs 7 and 8, arranged on the second part of the storage device when the locking device 1 is arranged on the first part of the storage device. The locking pin 62 is arranged to move according to its axis which is a longitudinal axis, i.e. an axis parallel to longitudinal axes A, B and C. The locking pin 62 is arranged such that when the first part and the second part of the storage device are moved to the closed position, the locking pin 62 extends opposite the locking aperture 60 and engages said locking aperture 60 to maintain the storage device in the closed position, as shown in Fig. 7. Such an arrangement of a locking pin 62 is conventional. The locking pin 62 is for example stressed in translation by a resilient element such that the locking pin 62 automatically engages the locking aperture 60 when the locking pin 62 is placed opposite the locking aperture 60.

The locking device 1 is also arranged to cooperate with an actuation ramp 64 arranged on the second part of the storage device when the locking device 1 is arranged on the first part of the storage device. The slope of the actuation ramp 64 is arranged such that when the first part and the second part are moved to the closed position of the storage device, the actuation ramp 64 is applied against the second end 12 of the first rod 6 and moves it in the direction of the first end 10, as shown in Figs 3 and 4.

The functioning of the locking device 1 will now be described.

When the storage device is in the opened position, the locking device 1 is in a unlocked position shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5.

In the unlocked position, the first rod 6 is maintained by the first resilient element 24 in an unlocked position, wherein the second end 12 of the first rod 6 is far out of the housing 4, as best seen in Fig. 3. The second rod 8 is also maintained by the second resilient element 36 in an unlocked position wherein the second end 28 of the second rod 8 is far out of the housing 4, as best seen in Fig. 3 and 8. In this position, the second end In the unlocked position, the first rod 6 and the second rod 8 are positioned such that the actuation surface of the actuation element 20 of the first rod 6 extends opposite the actuated surface of the actuated element 32 of the second rod 8, as shown in Fig. 3. Furthermore, in this position, the locking recess 34 of the second rod 8 is offset in the longitudinal direction relative to the locking end 42 of the locking element 40, which means that the locking end 42 extends outside of the locking recess 34, as shown in Fig. 3 and 5 and the locking element 40 is in an unlocked position. In this position, the third resilient element 50 is stressed.

When the first part and the second part of the storage compartment are moved to the closed position of the storage device, the actuation ramp 64 comes into contact with the second end 12 of the first rod 6 and pushes said first rod 6 along the first longitudinal axis A in the direction of the first end 10. of the first rod 6, as can be understood by comparing Fig. 3 and 4. This movement of the first rod 6 causes the actuation element 20 of the first rod 6 to push on the actuated element 32 of the second rod 8, which is therefore also move in translation along the second longitudinal axis B in the direction of the first end 26 of the second rod 8. This movement also causes the second rod 8 to rotate around its second longitudinal axis B. The movements in translation of the first rod 6 and in translation and in rotation of the second rod 8 cause the first resilient element 24 and the second resilient element 36 to be stressed, i.e. compressed such that they tend to push the first rod 6 and the second rod 8 in the direction of the second ends 2 and 28, as shown in Fig. 4, wherein the first rod 6 and the second rod 8 are in a locked position.

With the movement of the second rod 8, the locking recess 34 is displaced until the locking recess 34 extends opposite the locking end 42 of the locking element 40. Thanks to the third resilient element 50, the locking element 40 is then caused to rotate such that the locking end 42 engages the locking recess 34 and locks the second rod 8 in its locked position, as shown in Fig. 4, 6 and 7.

In this locked position, the second end 28 of the second rod 8 is moved out of the locking recess 60. Since the locking device 1 is arranged to reach its locked position when the storage device reaches its closed position, the locking pin 62 is then placed opposite the locking recess 60 and engages said locking recess 60 to lock the storage device in its closed position as shown in Fig. 7.

It should be noted that during the movement of the second rod 8 between its unlocked position and its locked position, the actuated element 32 is angularly displaced because the second rod 8 moves in rotation. This angular displacement of the actuated element 32 is arranged such that, when the locking device 1 is in the locked position, the actuated element 32 is no longer placed opposite the actuation element 20, meaning that the actuated element 32 is angularly offset relative to the actuation element 20 in the locked position of the locking device 1 such that the actuated element 32 does not extend in the path of the actuation element 20.

The first rod 6 is maintained in its locked position by the actuation ramp 64 which remains applied against the second end 12 of the first rod 6 as long as the storage device remains in its closed position, as shown in Figs. 4 and 8.

When the user wishes to open the storage device, the user simply presses the end in the form of an actuator 56 of the unlocking element 52, which then moves from a rest position to an active position wherein the other end 54 of the unlocking element 52 presses the actuation end 46 of the locking element 40.

This causes the locking element 40 to rotate and the locking end 42 comes out of the locking recess 34 of the second rod 8. The second rod 8 is therefore no longer maintained in its locked position and the energy stored by the second resilient element 36 is liberated and the second rod 8 is pushed by the second resilient element 36 towards its unlocked position. Since the actuated element 32 is angularly offset relative to the actuation element 20, the actuation element 20, which is locked with the first rod 6 in the locked position, by the actuation ramp 64, does not block the actuated element 32 and the second rod 8 can move freely to its unlocked position.

The second end 28 of the second rod 8 is therefore moved in the locking aperture 60 and pushes the locking pin 62 out of said locking aperture 60. The storage device is then no longer locked in its closed position and is free to move to its opened position, as shown in Fig. 8.

When the storage device opens, the actuation ramp 64 is no longer applied against the second end 10 of the first rod 6, which can move to the unlocked position thanks to the first resilient element 24.

Once the unlocking element 52 has been released, the unlocking element 52 returns to its rest position, thanks to the fourth resilient element 58.

As can be understood from above, the only effort required to unlock and open the storage device is the effort needed to actuate the locking element 40 to free the second rod 8 from the locking end 42 of the locking element 40. The only forces opposed to this effort are the forces applied by the third and the fourth resilient elements 50 and 58, which do not need to be important forces to fulfill their functions. The important force required to unlock the locking device is applied by the second resilient element 28, which is charged when the locking device is moved to its locked position. Consequently, the effort needed to unlock and open the storage device is greatly reduced and can be comprised between 2 N and 5 N only. Similarly, the length along which the unlocking element is actuated to unlock the locking device 1 can be reduced to 4 mm to 6 mm.

The locking device described above can be attached to the fixed part or to the movable part of the storage device.