Modular console system

• US 20100090490A1
• Filed: 04/13/2009
• Published: 04/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey D Carnevali
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey D Carnevali
• Inventors: Carnevali, Jeffrey D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,157,310 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/24.34
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0007 Mid-console
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/04 in driver or passenger space , e.g. using racks B60R7/005, B60R7/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49716 Converting

Abstract

A reconfigurable vehicle console system having a plurality of interchangeable side panels of different lengths. The system also includes a plurality of interchangeable blank and equipment mounting face plates and quick disconnect clamps associated with each panel.

Claims

1. :

A reconfigurable modular console system, comprising;

a pair of end panels;

a pair of side panels interconnectable with the pair of end panels; and

a plurality of face plates each comprising portions thereof interconnectable with a respective one of the pair of side panels.

a plurality of connectors operable for securing each of the face plates to a respective portion of each of the side panels.

2. :

The console of claim 1, further comprising at least two of the pairs of side panels, the two pairs of side panels comprising different lengths.

3. :

The console of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of connection points between side mounting portions of the end panels and end connection portions of each of the side panels of the two pairs of side panels.

4. :

The console of claim 6 wherein the side mounting portions at least one of the end panels further comprises a recessed side mounting portion.

5. :

The console of claim 1 wherein each side panel further comprises a clamping surface structured for interconnecting with each of the face plates.

wherein a spacing between the clamping surfaces of the side panels is substantially constant.

6. :

The console of claim 5, further comprising a locator between each of the face plates and each of the side panels.

7. :

The console of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of face plates is further positionally interchangeable with a different one of the face plates.

8. :

A reconfigurable vehicle console system, comprising;

first and second end panels each terminating in opposing side mounting surfaces, each of the opposing side mounting surfaces further comprising one or more connection points;

a plurality of pairs of opposing first and second side panels, each side panel of each pair further comprising opposing end connection portions with each of the opposing end connection portions further comprising one or more connection points positioned to cooperate with the one or more connection points of the opposing side mounting surfaces of the end panels, wherein a length between the end connection portions of each pair of side panels is further different from a length of an other pair of the side panels;

a first plurality of connectors alternately securing the end connection portions of the different pairs of side panels to the opposing side edge mounting surfaces of the first and second end panels at the one or more cooperating connection points, the different pairs of side panels being spaced apart by the end panels;

a plurality of removable face plates each comprising opposing side connection portions positioned to cooperate with mounting portions of the pair of spaced apart side panels; and

a second plurality of connectors securing one of the respective side connection portions of one of the face plates to a portion of the mounting portion of a respective one of the side panels.

9. :

The console of claim 8 wherein one of the mounting portions of the pair of side panels are substantially identical to a different one of the mounting portions thereof.

10. :

The console of claim 9 wherein the side connection portions of one of the plurality of removable face plates are substantially identical to the side connection portions of a different one of the plurality of removable face plates.

11. :

The console of claim 10 wherein the mounting portions of the pair of side panels are substantially uniform between the opposing end connection portions thereof.

12. :

The console of claim 8 wherein a first one of the face plates further comprises a unit width; and

wherein a different one of the face plates further comprises a width that is substantially equal to a plural integer multiple of the unit width of the first face plate.

13. :

The console of claim 12 wherein each side panel of each pair further comprises an upright wall portion terminating in the mounting lip portion thereof.

14. :

The console of claim 8 wherein the second plurality of connectors further comprises a plurality of quick release connectors.

15. :

A method of configuring a reconfigurable vehicle console, the method comprising;

providing first and second substantially rigid end panels;

interconnecting a pair of substantially rigid side panels with the first and second end panels;

providing a plurality of face plates each comprising portions thereof matable with each of the side panels;

mating the matable portions of the plurality of face plates with each of the side panels; and

securing each of the face plates to each of the side panels.

16. :

The method of claim 15 wherein securing each of the face plates to each of the side panels further comprises operating a quick release connector.

17. :

The method of claim 15, further comprising providing a first pair of side panels having first length, and a second pair of side panels having a second length different from the first length; and

selecting between the first and second pairs of side panels for interconnecting with the first and second end panels.

18. :

The method of claim 17 wherein interconnecting a pair of substantially rigid side panels with the first and second end panels further comprises substantially uniformly spacing portions of the side panels matable with the face plates.

19. :

The method of claim 18 wherein the portions of the side panels matable with the face plates are further substantially uniformly distributed along the side panels between the end panels.

20. :

The method of claim 19, further comprising moving one of the face plates from an initial position relative to the side panels to a different position.