Vehicle equipment console

• US 7,210,725 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2005
• Issued: 05/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Auto Additions Inc. (Bowmer & Kirkland Limited)
• Original Assignee: Auto Additions Inc. (Bowmer & Kirkland Limited)
• Inventors: Moore, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan; D. Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): Blankenship; Greg
• Application Number:
  US11/032,755
• Publication Number:
  US 20050116489A1
• Time in Patent Office: 841 Days
• Field of Search: 296/24.34, 296/37.8, 296/37.12, 296/37.14, 296/70, 296/74, 224/483
• US Class Current: 296/37.8
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/774 on or in the centre console
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/774 on or in the centre console
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 37/00 Dashboards as road-vehicle superstructure sub-units B62D25/14
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0262 Mid-console liners
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0007 Mid-console
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0052 using screws, bolts, rivets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2304/076 by add-on parts, e.g. retrofit

Abstract

An equipment console for use in a vehicle having a driver compartment including a dashboard, floor and driver seat. The equipment console has a console body for supporting equipment in a location accessible to a person seated in the driver seat. The front of the console body includes a front portion configured to receive and support the equipment. The console body also has a back generally opposite the front of the console body. The back of the console body may be integrated with the dashboard by providing the back with a profile that conforms at least partially to a contour of the dashboard. In addition, the console body may be adapted to cover an area of the dashboard in which climate controls were originally installed, with an upper portion of the console body being adapted to receive and secure the climate controls in a relocated position so that they may be operated from the front of the console body.

Claims

1. An equipment console for supporting add-on equipment in a vehicle driver compartment having a dashboard, climate control panel, floor and driver seat, the equipment console comprising:

a console body having sidewall members comprising a pair of sides, a top, and a bottom, wherein said pair of sides are substantially planar and extend substantially parallel to each other;

said console body further comprises a front and a back, wherein said front is angled no more than substantially 45 degrees from vertical when installed on the floor of a vehicle driver compartment;

each of said sides has a back edge;

each of said top and bottom have back edges;

said back is disposed substantially opposite said front and is defined by the back edges of the sidewall members, wherein said back edges of the sides have a contour with a shape that substantially conforms to at least a portion of the dashboard;

at least one of said back edges of said sides includes at least one tab for securing the console body to the vehicle driver compartment, wherein said back is proximate said dashboard when installed in the vehicle driver compartment;

said bottom includes at least one slot for securing the console body to the vehicle driver compartment;

said front having a front face,

said front face is angled toward the dashboard when the console body is installed in the vehicle driver compartment;

said console body further comprises a hollow interior region for housing the add-on equipment;

said front face includes an opening communicating with said hollow interior region;

at least one mounting flange is disposed on the front, wherein said at least one mounting flange at least partially surrounds said opening;

said at least one mounting flange includes equipment mounting means;

said top and sides are substantially planar and at least a portion of said bottom is substantially planar;

said bottom is disposed substantially opposite said top and said portion of the bottom is substantially parallel to the top;

said console body comprises substantially a wedge shape;

the distance between the front face and the back defines a depth that varies from the top to the bottom, wherein the depth at the top is less than the depth at the bottom;

said front further comprises an upper panel portion disposed on an end of the opening proximate the top; and

said upper panel portion includes an upper opening for mounting the climate control panel in the vehicle driver compartment.

2. The equipment console of claim 1, wherein said console body is substantially between the dashboard and the driver seat when installed in the vehicle driver compartment.

3. The equipment console of claim 1, wherein said equipment mounting means comprises at least one hole for securing the add-on equipment to at least one mounting flange.