A vehicle includes a compartment mounted to a frame of the vehicle. The compartment includes a box coupled to the frame in a fixed position relative to the frame and a latch system coupled to the box to allow a user to access the box. The latch system includes a shape-memory alloy wire guided by a pulley during actuation of the latch system.

An electronic latch includes a housing, a motor having an output shaft, a gear arrangement comprising at least one gear that is configured to be driven by the output shaft of the motor, a rack coupled to the gear arrangement and configured to move in response to motion of the gear arrangement, and at least one pawl or pawl connector that is connected to the rack. Motion of the rack causes or permits the at least one pawl or pawl connector to move between (i) a withdrawn position and (ii) a deployed position in which the pawl or pawl connector is extended further from the housing as compared with the withdrawn position.

An electronic latch includes a housing, a motor having an output shaft, a gear arrangement comprising at least one gear that is configured to be driven by the output shaft of the motor, a rack coupled to the gear arrangement and configured to move in response to motion of the gear arrangement, and at least one pawl or pawl connector that is connected to the rack. Motion of the rack causes or permits the at least one pawl or pawl connector to move between (i) a withdrawn position and (ii) a deployed position in which the pawl or pawl connector is extended further from the housing as compared with the withdrawn position.

A vehicle includes a compartment mounted to a frame of the vehicle. The compartment includes a box coupled to the frame in a fixed position relative to the frame and a latch system coupled to the box to allow a user to access the box. The latch system includes a shape-memory alloy wire guided by a pulley during actuation of the latch system.

A vehicle includes a compartment mounted to a frame of the vehicle. The compartment includes a box coupled to the frame in a fixed position relative to the frame and a latch system coupled to the box to allow a user to access the box. The latch system includes a shape-memory alloy wire guided by a pulley during actuation of the latch system.

A latch assembly for closing a door of a glovebox compartment includes a key cylinder having an eccentric shaft; a striker connected to the key cylinder to form a scotch-yoke connection to the eccentric shaft so that a rotation of the key cylinder is transformed to a linear movement of the striker; and a pair of latching members to lock the door. The pair of latching members includes a first latching member having an operation portion to engage or disengage from the striker, and a second latching member connected to the first latching member to simultaneously move with the first latching member. The key cylinder rotates to switch between an unlocked state in which the striker engages the operation portion and a locked state in which the striker is disengaged from the operation portion.

A latch assembly for closing a door of a glovebox compartment includes a key cylinder having an eccentric shaft; a striker connected to the key cylinder to form a scotch-yoke connection to the eccentric shaft so that a rotation of the key cylinder is transformed to a linear movement of the striker; and a pair of latching members to lock the door. The pair of latching members includes a first latching member having an operation portion to engage or disengage from the striker, and a second latching member connected to the first latching member to simultaneously move with the first latching member. The key cylinder rotates to switch between an unlocked state in which the striker engages the operation portion and a locked state in which the striker is disengaged from the operation portion.

A vehicle glove box latch sub-assembly includes a rotor that is pivotably connected to a rotor mounting portion of a housing, and at least one pawl rotatably coupled to the rotor and having opposing ends. The rotor includes a body, a post disposed on the body, and rotation limiters extending from the post. One end of the opposing ends of the pawl includes an engagement portion that is configured to be engaged with an opening in the vehicle in which the glove box is mounted, and the other end of the opposing ends of the pawl includes a socket that is mounted to the post of the rotor for securing the pawl to the rotor. The socket includes a rotation limiter that is configured to bear on the rotation limiter of the post upon relative rotation between the post and the socket.

A vehicle glove box latch sub-assembly includes a rotor that is pivotably connected to a rotor mounting portion of a housing, and at least one pawl rotatably coupled to the rotor and having opposing ends. The rotor includes a body, a post disposed on the body, and rotation limiters extending from the post. One end of the opposing ends of the pawl includes an engagement portion that is configured to be engaged with an opening in the vehicle in which the glove box is mounted, and the other end of the opposing ends of the pawl includes a socket that is mounted to the post of the rotor for securing the pawl to the rotor. The socket includes a rotation limiter that is configured to bear on the rotation limiter of the post upon relative rotation between the post and the socket.

An electronic striker for releasing a door or access panel includes a housing defining an opening and a passageway extending from the opening for receiving a pawl on the door or access panel. A plunger is coupled to the housing and is mounted for movement within the passageway. A motor is configured for moving the plunger between a withdrawn position, in which the plunger is withdrawn within the passageway, and a deployed position, in which the plunger is extended within the passageway relative to the withdrawn position. The plunger is configured to move the pawl out of the passageway upon moving the plunger from the withdrawn position to the deployed position, thereby releasing the door or access panel from the passageway.