The Dual Point Coupler: A Flexible Glove Box Latching Solution

From conception to execution, automotive engineers are tasked with designing interior solutions that are not only functional, but can change directions with overall styling adjustments as well. With interior styling constantly evolving to keep up with the latest design trends in the automotive industry, it is essential for design engineers to anticipate and prepare for changes to interior applications throughout the design process. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the specifications of glove box latching applications.

When designing for a new glove box application, the challenge lies in securing a core latching product that not only meets the standard requirements of the application, but also offers flexibility, allowing for easy incorporation into future application designs as well. By specifying an adaptable, validated glove box latching system, design engineers can be prepared for the fluctuating preferences of studio designers – whether this involves changes in actuation or mounting style modifications.

Shifting Application Trends

Historically, automotive manufactures have created “one-and-done” solutions, involving individual designs for each new glove box application that also affect the hardware necessary for it to be operational. New trends featuring a variety of door actuation styles such as lift paddle, side pull, electromechanical and push button options are becoming more widely used in glove box applications, raising a challenge to the engineers who must integrate these styles into the design.

With the rise of these new actuation trends, automotive manufacturers are at a crossroads with respect to how to produce these new features in a manner that is cost effective and easy to assemble. In order to address the demands of ever-changing actuation preferences, while still controlling costs associated with tooling and production, the incorporation of a core latching solution is key.

The Dual Point Coupler: Southco’s Flexible Latching Solution

The flexibility offered by Southco’s Dual Point Coupler makes it the off-the-shelf, core glove box solution for the automotive industry. The Dual Point Coupler features a two-point, dependent pawl latching system which retracts both pawls simultaneously, preventing the risk of false latching. Because movement need only be provided to one pawl to operate the latch, the Dual Point Coupler is suitable for all glove box applications and is compatible with a wide variety of actuation options, regardless of the styling.

The Dual Point Coupler accommodates both locking and non-locking actuation needs, and can be integrated with an electromechanical locking system as well. Constructed of robust materials, the compact, cartridge-style of the Dual Point Coupler translates to a clean look and surface design in glove box applications. The Dual Point Coupler provides roughly twice as much pawl travel compared to standard market solutions, facilitating assistance with door assembly and gap conditions that exist between the door and surrounding instrument panel. The result is consistent and controllable actuation, and door opening and closing efforts.

With the Dual Point Coupler, there is no need to reinvent a new glove box latching solution for each application, saving design, development, tooling and validation costs associated with new applications involving different actuation styles. Southco’s Dual Point Coupler is a high capacity solution that is production-ready and acts as flexible, global platform for the latching mechanism which enables automotive manufacturers to easily adapt to design changes and trends as they develop.

Key Product Features and Benefits

Southco’s Dual Point Coupler is designed with best-in-class features providing a proven cartridge solution which greatly reduces door assembly labor time and significant tooling investments, making it a low risk, versatile option for integration into glove box applications.

The Dual Point Coupler offers the following features and benefits:

• Dependent pawl system prevents a false latching situation from occurring and allows design flexibility for different actuation options
• Packaging space is minimized, reducing overall door thickness (108 mm wide x 35 mm tall x 15 mm thick)
• Sound abatement features added for sound reduction on pawl closing
• Pawl connectors allow customers to snap in multiple lengths of pawl, enabling blind assembly
• Gear-driven system that ensures predictable opening and closing efforts
• Opening and closing efforts can be tuned for each customer or actuation style
• Unlimited mounting configurations (e.g., screw or heat staking)
• Best-in-class pawl travel: 17 mm (twice the industry standard of existing pawl travel)
• Lightweight and robust construction designed to withstand 100 g impact
• Clean look on the inner door surface – without visible hanging parts (i.e., traditional pull/single point)

Conclusion

As automotive industry trends continue to shift and evolve, engineers must anticipate design changes by implementing a validated, core hardware solution which allows for flexible actuation methods and mounting options in a wide variety of high-volume applications. By selecting Southco’s Dual Point Coupler, automotive manufacturers will ensure best-in-class adaptability in glove box applications, as well as reduced labor and production costs, while preserving the clean look and quality functionality that end users desire.