Reconfigurable console mount
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of configuring a modular console, comprising:
- forming a plurality of substantially continuous and uninterrupted face plates, and further comprising forming a tongue along a first joining edge thereof, and forming a support lip formed along a second joining edge thereof opposite from the first joining edge and positioned to mate with the tongue of a different one of the face plates;
providing a console frame comprising two opposing side panels and two opposing end panels with a substantially constant separation between opposing mounting portions of the two side panels; and
coupling a plurality of the face plates to the mounting portions of the two side panels between the two opposing end panels.
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Abstract
A reconfigurable vehicle console having a plurality of interchangeable overlapping blank and equipment mounting face plates, including both tongue-and-groove joints between adjacent face plates, as well as optional lap joints.
48 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of configuring a modular console, comprising:
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forming a plurality of substantially continuous and uninterrupted face plates, and further comprising forming a tongue along a first joining edge thereof, and forming a support lip formed along a second joining edge thereof opposite from the first joining edge and positioned to mate with the tongue of a different one of the face plates; providing a console frame comprising two opposing side panels and two opposing end panels with a substantially constant separation between opposing mounting portions of the two side panels; and coupling a plurality of the face plates to the mounting portions of the two side panels between the two opposing end panels. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of configuring a modular console, comprising:
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forming a console frame comprising a pair of substantially rigid end panels joined with a pair of substantially rigid side panels, each side panel further comprising an upright wall portion terminating in a mounting lip portion formed along a length thereof, and a substantially constant separation between the mounting lip portions; molding a plurality of substantially rectangular face plates each comprising opposing side nesting lip portions positioned to nest with the mounting lip portions of the pair of side panels, and further comprising; molding a tongue along a first joining edge thereof between the opposing side nesting lip portions, molding a support lip along a second joining edge between the opposing side nesting lip portions thereof opposite from the tongue and structured to mate in a lap joint with the tongue of a different one of the face plates, and forming a clearance passage between inner and outer surfaces thereof and spaced inwardly of each of the side nesting lip portions; operating a releasable connector through the clearance passages of one of the face plates, and connecting the respective side nesting lip portions with the mounting lip portions of the respective side panels. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of configuring a modular console, comprising:
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forming first and second substantially rigid end panels, and further comprising forming the first end panel with a tongue along a joining edge thereof and forming the second end panel with a support lip portion along a joining edge thereof; forming a pair of substantially rigid side panels each comprising a substantially rigid mounting lip portion along one edge thereof, the pair of side panels being interconnectable with the end panels having the respective mounting lip portions thereof spaced apart a substantially uniform distance; forming a plurality of substantially rectangular face plates each having a substantially planar outer surface and an opposing inner surface, and further comprising; forming each of the face plates with opposing first and second joining edges spaced apart by a width that is substantially equal to an integer multiple of a minimum unit width, forming each of the face plates with a tongue extended along the first joining edge thereof in a position to be received on the support lip of the second end panel, forming each of the face plates with a support lip along the second joining edge thereof in a position to receive thereover the tongue of the first end panel, forming each of the face plates with opposing side nesting lip portions adjacent to opposite ends thereof between the opposing first and second joining edges thereof in a position to be received on a respective one of the mounting lip portions of the side panels, forming each of the face plates with connector clearance passages adjacent to each of the side nesting lip portions, forming substantially upright projections on the inner surface of at least one of the face plates adjacent to each of the side nesting lip portions, and further comprising forming a pair of fastener receivers on opposite sides of the respective connector clearance passage, and at least one cutout communicating between the opposing inner and outer surfaces; interconnecting the pair of side panels with the end panels having the tongue of the first end panel facing toward the support lip of the second end panel, and having the respective mounting lip portions of the side panels spaced apart a substantially uniform distance; positioning a plurality of the face plates on the side panels with respective side nesting lip portions seated on the mounting lip portions thereof, and further comprising; receiving the tongue of one of the face plates over the support lip of the second end panel, receiving the tongue of the first end panel over the support lip of a different one of the face plates, receiving the tongue of each of a remainder of the plurality of face plates over the support lip of a different one of the face plates positioned adjacent thereto; and releasably connecting each of the face plates to the respective mounting lip portions of the side panels by operating releasable connectors through the connector clearance passages. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification