Glove Compartment

Glove Compartment, A glove compartment or glovebox, also known as a little cupboard, is a compartment built into the dashboard, located over the front-seat passenger’s footwell in an automobile, often used for miscellaneous storage. The name derives from the original purpose of the compartment, to store gloves.

In most vehicles, the glove compartment closes with a latch, with the option of being locked with a key (often desirable when using valet service, or when parking while the convertible top is down). Gloves were originally worn to keep the hands clean. Driving gloves were considered necessary equipment in early cars, many without a hard top, to prevent the cooling effect of fast-moving air from numbing drivers’ hands.

On some vehicles, the inside of the compartment’s door may have an area for holding cups when open, and a section for holding a pen or pencil. On some newer cars, the glove compartment is temperature controlled, allowing for its use as a cooler. On others, such as the Toyota Yaris hatchback, multiple glove compartments are provided.

A glove compartment is occasionally referred to as a “jockey box,” especially in the U.S. Upper Rocky Mountain states such as Idaho and Montana, but is found as far south as Texas. In South Africa, it is called a “cubby-hole”. In Turkey, it is called “Torpedo Compartment”.

According to the BBC Four programme “Penelope Keith and the Fast Lady” it was Dorothy Levitt who first coined the phrase ‘glove compartment’ as she advised motorists to carry a number of pairs of gloves to deal with many eventualities.

Armed Man President Home

Armed Man President Home, The Secret Service detained, questioned and released a man who had a firearm in his vehicle as he pulled up outside the north Dallas home of former President George W. Bush.

Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan says the unidentified man showed up “uninvited” about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, saying he wanted to see Bush. While agents and Dallas police questioned him, the man revealed that he had a gun in his nearby vehicle.

Donovan says the man had a permit for the gun and his answers checked out, so he was released and left.

A Bush spokesman says the Bushes weren’t home at the time. The street leading to the house is blocked by a gate.

Donovan declined to comment on how the man made it past the gate.