Southco, Inc.

A vehicle glove box latch and a method of assembling thereof is disclosed. The latch includes an actuator mounted for movement relative to the vehicle glove box; a rotor coupled to the actuator and mounted for rotation about a rotor axis; and a pawl coupled to the rotor and movable along a pawl axis angled relative to the rotor axis. An engagement portion of the pawl engages an opening in a vehicle in which the vehicle glove box is mounted. A coupling portion of the pawl defines a recess for receiving a detent of the rotor and resisting unintended separation of the detent from the recess in a recess direction. A retainer of the rotor is positioned to limit movement of the coupling portion in the direction of the rotor axis and to resist unintended separation of the coupling portion from the detent in the direction of the rotor axis.

A latch system for remotely monitoring an engaged or disengaged status of a latch cam includes an enclosure having a panel mounted for movement relative to a frame, a latch mounted to the panel or to the frame, and a latch cam sensor mounted to the other one of the panel or the frame. The latch cam sensor detects the engaged status when the latch cam is in an engaged position and the panel is in a closed position and the disengaged status when the latch cam is in a disengaged position and the panel is in an opened position. When the latch cam is in the engaged position, the latch cam is spaced laterally from a facing surface of the latch cam sensor, such that a space or gap is maintained between the facing surface of the latch cam sensor and the latch cam.

A latch system for capturing a striker, the latch system comprising an actuator, a position sensor, or a combination thereof is disclosed. The latch system includes a latch having a latch cam and a trigger; an actuator having a connector and a motor; and a sensor assembly having a sensing arm and a sensor. The latch cam of the latch is configured to capture the striker when in a closed position. The latch cam is retained in the closed position when the trigger of the latch is in the locked position. The trigger of the latch is moved from an unlocked position toward the locked position by the connector of the actuator when it is moved by the motor from the unlocking position toward the locking position. The sensing arm contacts the striker when the striker is captured by the latch system. The sensor is deactivated when the sensing arm is in one of the latched position or the unlatched position and activated when the sensing arm is in the other one of the latched position or the unlatched position.

A hinged system includes a preassembled hinge module for pivotally coupling a first component to a second component. The preassembled hinge module includes a shaft, a torque element frictionally engaging the shaft, and a housing. The housing includes a cover, a side wall, and a rear wall that define an interior space enclosed within the housing. The interior space receives the torque element inside the housing. The cover defines a first aperture, and the rear wall defines a second aperture, the first aperture and the second aperture aligned with a pivot axis of the shaft. The shaft extends through at least the first aperture, the interior space, and the second aperture. The shaft is separate from, and configured to be mounted to, the first component. The housing is separate from, and configured to be mounted to, the second component.

A captive fastener attachable to a panel along a fastener axis is provided. The captive fastener includes a fastener having a head portion and a shaft extending from the head portion and along the fastener axis. The captive fastener also includes a knob having a proximal end portion engaged to the head portion of the fastener and an annular portion extending radially around the fastener axis and the shaft of the fastener. A ferrule is associated with the knob, the ferrule defining an opening extending along the fastener axis and receiving the shaft of the fastener. The ferrule has a proximal end portion configured to prevent separation of the knob from the ferrule along the fastener axis and a distal end portion configured for engagement to the panel. A spring is positioned to bias the knob or the fastener proximally relative to the ferrule and to inhibit tilting of the knob or the fastener relative to the fastener axis. The proximal end portion of the ferrule having been positioned to be associated with the knob in an insertion direction along the fastener axis, and the head portion of the fastener having been inserted within the knob for engagement to the knob in the insertion direction. The engagement between the proximal portion of the knob and the head portion of the fastener is configured to resist axial movement of the knob relative to the fastener along the fastener axis, rotational movement of the knob relative to the fastener about the fastener axis, and pivotal movement of the knob relative to the fastener axis.

An electronic device may comprise a chassis and an ejection mechanism coupled to the chassis. The chassis can house an electronic component and can be removably received within a system chassis of an electronic system. The ejection mechanism may be reversibly configurable between a first state and a second state. When the chassis is in an installed position in the system chassis and in the first state, actuation of an actuatable portion of the ejection mechanism from a first position to a second position moves the chassis from the installed position into an ejected position relative to the system chassis. But when the chassis is in the installed position in the system chassis and in the second state, actuation of the actuatable portion of the ejection mechanism from the first position to the second position does not move the device into the ejected position relative to the system chassis.