Removable floor-mounted console

• US 5,338,081 A
• Filed: 07/29/1993
• Issued: 08/16/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Prince (Wellman Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Prince (Wellman Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shafer, Russell P. Jr., Young, Nathan W.
• Primary Examiner(s): PAPE, JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US08/099,178
• Time in Patent Office: 383 Days
• Field of Search: 296/37.14, 296/37.8, 224/273, 224/275, 224/42.42, 224/42.45 R, 297/192, 248/503, 248/503.1
• US Class Current: 296/37.14
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/04 in driver or passenger space , e.g. using racks B60R7/005, B60R7/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/926 Vehicle attached carrier for beverage container or bottle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/928 Trash receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/929 Article carrier for electrical device

Abstract

A removable floor-mounted console includes a frame having a base with a seat mounting mechanism attached thereto for removably mounting the base and frame to the vehicle in an area where a seat has been removed. The console frame includes a storage area which, in one embodiment, includes a slide-out storage bin. The frame may also include, in an upper portion thereof, integrally formed container holders and storage trays. Further, in one embodiment of the present invention, the console includes an electronic entertainment device such as a small screen LCD television for use by the rear seat occupants of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A removable floor-mounted console and vehicle seat attachment structure comprising:

a seat attachment structure for mounting to the floor of a vehicle for the removable attachment of a vehicle seat thereto;

a frame having an upper segment defining at least one storage receptacle and downwardly depending legs terminating in a base; and

said base including means for removably attaching said frame to said vehicle mounted seat attachment structure when a correspondingly located vehicle seat has been removed therefrom.

2. The console as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for removably attaching said base to said seat attachment structure includes latch means for lockably attaching said console to the vehicle. attaching said console to the vehicle.

3. The console as defined in claim 2 wherein said upper segment includes container holding recesses for receiving containers therein.

4. The console as defined in claim 3 wherein said frame includes open and front access areas under said upper segment and above said base and wherein said upper segment includes guide means for receiving a slide-out storage bin.

5. The console as defined in claim 1 and further including an electronic entertainment device mounted to said upper segment of said frame.

6. The console as defined in claim 5 wherein said frame includes an open area under said upper segment and above said base for receiving a storage bin.

7. The console as defined in claim 6 wherein said upper segment includes guide means for slidably receiving a storage bin and further including a storage bin slidable mounted to said guide means.

8. A console and vehicle seat attachment structure for removably attaching said console to a vehicle when a removable seat has been removed therefrom comprising:

a seat attachment structure for mounting to the floor of a vehicle for the removable attachment of a vehicle seat thereto;

a mounting base having means for removably attaching said base to said seat attachment structure mounted on the floor of a vehicle;

a plurality of legs extending upwardly from said base; and

a storage tray supported above said base by said legs.

9. The console as defined in claim 8 wherein said storage tray is defined by a rim extending around and supported by said legs and further including a mounting bracket attached to said rim for holding a vehicle accessory to said rim.

10. The console as defined in claim 9 wherein said vehicle accessory comprises an electronic entertainment device.

11. The console as defined in claim 9 wherein said legs define an open area under said tray and above said base and further including a storage bin mounted in said open area.

12. The console as defined in claim 11 wherein said storage bin is slidably mounted under said tray.

13. The console as defined in claim 12 and further including a second storage bin removably mounted to said base under said first named storage bin.

14. The console and attached structure as defined in claim 8 wherein said storage tray includes at least one container holder therein.

15. A console and attached structure for a vehicle comprising:

a support base;

mounting brackets attached to said support base for removably mounting said base to the floor of a vehicle using existing seat mounting hardware in the vehicle;

a support rim coupled in spaced relationship above said base for supporting an electronic entertainment device thereon; and

an electronic entertainment device mounted to said rim.

16. The console as defined in claim 15 wherein said entertainment device comprises a television receiver.

17. The console as defined in claim 16 and further including a storage tray integrally formed with said support rim for storing items therein.

18. A console and attached structure for a vehicle comprising:

a support base;

mounting brackets attached to said support base for removably mounting said base to the floor of a vehicle using existing seat mounting hardware in the vehicle;

a support rim coupled in spaced relationship above said base; and

a storage tray coupled to said support rim for storing articles therein.

19. The console as defined in claim 18 wherein said storage tray is integrally formed with said rim.

20. The console as defined in claim 19 and further including a removable storage bin slidably mounted to the underside of said rim.

21. The console as defined in claim 20 and further including a container holder mounted to said rim.