Vehicle console having molded end parts

• US 20100090492A1
• Filed: 03/27/2009
• 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 8,162,368 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/37.8
• 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

Abstract

A reconfigurable vehicle console having two substantially rigid end panels, wherein at least one and optionally both of the two end panels consist of a molded material. A pair of substantially rigid side panels are interconnectable with the two end panels. A plurality of face plates are securable with the side panels.

Claims

1. :

A reconfigurable modular console, comprising;

two substantially rigid end portions, at least one of the two end portions further consisting of a molded material;

a pair of substantially rigid side panels interconnectable with the two end portions; and

a face plate comprising portions thereof securable with a respective one of the side panels.

2. :

The console of claim 1 wherein the one end portion that consists of a molded material further comprises a plurality of substantially smooth edge contours.

3. :

The console of claim 2 wherein two of the plurality of substantially smooth edge contours further intersect at a substantially smooth corner contour.

4. :

The console of claim 3 wherein one or more of the plurality of substantially smooth edge contours further comprises a round.

5. :

The console of claim 4 wherein the corner contour further comprises a round.

6. :

The console of claim 5 wherein each of the two end portions further consists of a molded material.

7. :

The console of claim 2 wherein each side panel further comprises a clamping surface structured to receive one or more of the connectors operable for securing the face plate thereto; and

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

8. :

The console of claim 7, further comprising a plurality of the pairs of substantially rigid side panels, at least two of the plurality of pairs of side panels having different lengths.

9. :

A reconfigurable vehicle console, comprising;

two substantially rigid end panels, at least one of the end panels further comprising a molded end panel terminating in opposing side mounting surfaces each formed with one or more connection points and further consisting of a molded material;

spaced apart first and second substantially rigid side panels interconnected between the two end panels, each side panel further comprising an upright wall portion terminating in at least one connection portion comprising one or more connection points corresponding to the one or more connection points of the opposing side mounting surfaces of the molded end panel;

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

a plurality of substantially rectangular removable face plates each comprising opposing side portions positioned to nest with mounting lip portions of the spaced apart side panels; and

a second plurality of connectors operable for securing the face plates to the mounting lip portions of the side panels.

10. :

The console of claim 9 wherein a spacing between the mounting lip portions of the spaced apart side panels is further substantially constant.

11. :

The console of claim 10 wherein the molded end panel further comprises a plurality of substantially smooth edge contours exposed by the side panels, the plurality of substantially smooth edge contours intersecting at substantially smooth corner contours.

12. :

The console of claim 11 wherein each of the edge contours further comprises a round edge contour.

13. :

The console of claim 12 wherein each of the two end panels further comprises a molded end panel terminating in opposing side mounting surfaces each formed with one or more connection points and further consisting of a molded material;

wherein each of the side panels further comprises an upright wall portion terminating in two opposing connection portions each comprising one or more connection points positioned to cooperate with the one or more connection points of the opposing side mounting surfaces of a different one of the molded end panels; and

wherein the first plurality of connectors further comprises a plurality of connectors securing the two opposing connection portions of the side panels to the opposing side edge mounting surfaces of each of the two the molded end panels at the one or more cooperating connection points.

14. :

The console of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of pairs of the first and second substantially rigid side panels, at least two of the plurality of pairs of side panels having different lengths.

15. :

A reconfigurable vehicle console, comprising;

two substantially rigid molded end panels each further comprising a plurality of substantially continuous smooth and rounded edge contours intersecting in substantially smooth and rounded corner contours and terminating in opposing recessed side mounting surfaces each formed with one or more connection points, and each of the molded end panels further consisting of a molded material;

a pair of spaced apart substantially rigid side panels each further comprising an upright wall portion terminating in a mounting lip extended between opposing end portions sized to fit within the recessed side mounting surfaces of the two end panels, the opposing end portions each comprising one or more connection points positioned to cooperate with the one or more connection points of the opposing side mounting surfaces of a different one of the molded end panels

a first plurality of connectors interconnecting the opposing end portions of the side panels to the opposing side edge mounting surfaces of the molded end panel at the one or more cooperating connection points, the mounting lip portions of the side panels being spaced apart a substantially constant distance by the end panels;

a plurality of substantially rectangular removable face plates each comprising opposing side portions positioned to nest with the spaced apart mounting lip portions of the side panels; and

a second plurality of connectors operable for securing the face plates to the mounting lip portions of the side panels.

16. :

The console of claim 15, further comprising a plurality of pairs of the first and second substantially rigid side panels, at least two of the plurality of pairs of side panels having different lengths.

17. :

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

providing two substantially rigid end panels, wherein providing two substantially rigid end panels further consists of molding at least one of the two end panels;

interconnecting a pair of substantially rigid side panels of substantially identical length with the two end panels;

providing a plurality of face plates each matable with each of the side panels; and

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

18. :

The method of claim 17 wherein the molding at least one of the two end panels further comprises molding a plurality of round edge contours intersecting at round corner contours.

19. :

The method of claim 18 wherein the providing two substantially rigid end panels further consists of molding each of the two end panels.

20. :

The method of claim 19 wherein the interconnecting a pair of substantially rigid side panels of substantially identical length with the two end panels further comprises interconnecting a pair of substantially rigid side panels of a different length with the two end panels.