Reconfigurable console mount having a plurality of interchangeable tongue-and-groove blank and equipment mounting panels and quick disconnect clamps
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A reconfigurable vehicle console, comprising:
- opposing first and second substantially rigid side panels, each side panel further comprising an upper mounting lip;
opposing first and second substantially rigid end panels substantially rigidly interconnected between first and second end portions of the side panels;
a plurality of substantially rectangular removable panels comprising opposing side lip portions sized to mate with a respective one of the upper mounting lip of the first and second side panels, and further comprising;
a tongue positioned along a first edge thereof between the opposing side lip portions,a groove positioned along a second edge thereof between the opposing side lip portions opposite from the tongue and sized to mate therewith,first and second clamp actuator receivers formed therethrough and spaced inwardly of the respective side lip portions, andone or more of the panels further comprising a cutout positioned between the side lip portions and the first and second edges and sized to receive an equipment piece therethrough, and one or more fastener receivers structured for retaining the equipment piece relative thereto;
a plurality of pairs of quick release clamps, each quick release clamp comprising an actuator operable through a respective one of the clamp actuator receivers of one of the panels, and a jaw portion, the jaw portion of each clamp being responsive to actuation of the actuator for moving between a first unclamped state extended over the respective side lip portion and spaced away therefrom, and a second clamped state adjacent to the respective side lip portion with a portion of the upper mounting lip of the respective first and second side panel clamped therebetween.
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Abstract
A reconfigurable vehicle console having a plurality of interchangeable tongue-and-groove blank and equipment mounting panels and quick disconnect clamps associated with each panel.
104 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A reconfigurable vehicle console, comprising:
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opposing first and second substantially rigid side panels, each side panel further comprising an upper mounting lip; opposing first and second substantially rigid end panels substantially rigidly interconnected between first and second end portions of the side panels; a plurality of substantially rectangular removable panels comprising opposing side lip portions sized to mate with a respective one of the upper mounting lip of the first and second side panels, and further comprising; a tongue positioned along a first edge thereof between the opposing side lip portions, a groove positioned along a second edge thereof between the opposing side lip portions opposite from the tongue and sized to mate therewith, first and second clamp actuator receivers formed therethrough and spaced inwardly of the respective side lip portions, and one or more of the panels further comprising a cutout positioned between the side lip portions and the first and second edges and sized to receive an equipment piece therethrough, and one or more fastener receivers structured for retaining the equipment piece relative thereto; a plurality of pairs of quick release clamps, each quick release clamp comprising an actuator operable through a respective one of the clamp actuator receivers of one of the panels, and a jaw portion, the jaw portion of each clamp being responsive to actuation of the actuator for moving between a first unclamped state extended over the respective side lip portion and spaced away therefrom, and a second clamped state adjacent to the respective side lip portion with a portion of the upper mounting lip of the respective first and second side panel clamped therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A reconfigurable vehicle console, comprising:
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opposing first and second substantially rigid side panels, each side panel further comprising an upper mounting lip formed with a plurality of discrete openings substantially evenly spaced along a length thereof; opposing first and second substantially rigid end panels substantially rigidly interconnected between first and second end portions of the side panels; a plurality of substantially rectangular removable blank panels each comprising opposing side lip portions each having a detent positioned thereon to mate with a respective one of the plurality of discrete openings spaced along the upper mounting lip of the first and second side panels, and further comprising; a tongue positioned along a first edge thereof between the opposing side lip portions, a groove positioned along a second edge thereof between the opposing side lip portions opposite from the tongue and sized to mate therewith, and first and second clamp actuator clearance passages formed between inner and outer surfaces and positioned spaced inwardly of the respective detents and substantially aligned therewith; a plurality of substantially rectangular removable equipment mounting panels, each equipment mounting panel comprising; opposing side lip portions each having a detent positioned thereon to mate with a respective one of the plurality of discrete openings spaced along the upper mounting lip of the first and second side panels, a tongue positioned along a first edge thereof between the opposing side lip portions and sized to mate with the groove of the blank panels, a groove positioned along a second edge thereof between the opposing side lip portions opposite from the tongue and sized to mate therewith and with the tongue of the blank panels, first and second clamp actuator clearance passages formed between opposing inner and outer surfaces and positioned inwardly of the respective detents and substantially aligned therewith, first and second substantially upright projections positioned on the inner surface between the first and second edges and inwardly of respective side lip portions, each projection further comprising a pair of fastener receivers positioned on opposite sides of the respective clamp actuator clearance passage and spaced outwardly thereof along the respective side lip portion and toward the first and second edges, and a clearance notch positioned between the respective clamp actuator clearance passage and detent, a cutout positioned between the side lip portions and the first and second edges and sized to receive an equipment piece therethrough; and first and second pairs of releasable clamps, each clamp comprising an actuator operable through a respective one of the clamp actuator clearance passages of one of the blank panels and equipment mounting panels, and a jaw portion, each clamp being movable by actuation of the actuator between a clamping position having the jaw portion oriented substantially transverse of and extended over a respective one of the opposing side lip portions with the upper mounting lip of a respective one of the opposing first and second substantially rigid side panels being positioned therebetween, and a release position having the jaw portion spaced inwardly of the respective opposing side lip portion, and wherein in the clamping position the jaw portion is further responsive to actuation of the actuator for moving between a first unclamped state substantially transverse of the respective side lip portion and spaced away therefrom in a position extended thereover, and a second clamped state substantially transverse of the respective side lip portion and adjacent thereto with a portion of the upper mounting lip of the respective first and second side panel clamped therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A reconfigurable vehicle console, comprising:
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opposing first and second substantially rigid end panels, the first end panel being formed with a tongue along an inwardly facing edge thereof, and the second end panel being formed with a groove along an inwardly facing edge thereof and sized to receive the tongue thereinto; opposing first and second substantially rigid side panels spaced apart by the first and second end portions of the side panels substantially rigidly interconnected therewith, each side panel comprising a plurality of fastener passages, and further comprising a substantially rigid upper mounting lip each facing the opposing side panel and being formed with a plurality of notches substantially evenly spaced along an inner edge thereof; a plurality of substantially rectangular removable blank panels, each blank panel comprising; a substantially planar outer surface and an opposing inner surface, opposing side lip portions each having a detent positioned thereon to mate with a respective one of the plurality of notches spaced along the upper mounting lip of the first and second side panels, a tongue positioned along a first edge thereof between the opposing side lip portions and sized to be received into the groove of the first end panel, a groove positioned along a second edge thereof between the opposing side lip portions opposite from the tongue and sized to receive thereinto the tongue of the second end panel, and first and second clamp actuator clearance passages formed between the opposing inner and outer surfaces and positioned spaced inwardly of the respective detents and substantially in alignment therewith; a plurality of first pairs of releasable clamps, each of the clamps comprising an actuator operable through a respective one of the clamp actuator clearance passages of one of the blank panels, and a jaw portion, each clamp being movable by actuation of the actuator between a clamping position having the jaw portion oriented substantially transverse of and extended over a respective one of the opposing side lip portions with the upper mounting lip of a respective one of the opposing first and second substantially rigid side panels being positioned therebetween, and a release position having the jaw portion spaced inwardly of the respective opposing side lip portion, and wherein in the clamping position the jaw portion is further responsive to actuation of the actuator for moving between a first unclamped state substantially transverse of the respective side lip portion and spaced away therefrom in a position extended thereover, and a second clamped state substantially transverse of the respective side lip portion and adjacent thereto with a portion of the upper mounting lip of the respective first and second side panel clamped therebetween; a plurality of substantially rectangular removable equipment mounting panels, each equipment mounting panel comprising; a substantially planar outer surface and an opposing inner surface, opposing side lip portions each having a detent positioned thereon to mate with a respective one of the plurality of notches spaced along the upper mounting lip of the first and second side panels, a tongue positioned along a first edge thereof between the opposing side lip portions and sized to mate with the groove of the first end panel, a groove positioned along a second edge thereof between the opposing side lip portions opposite from the tongue and sized to mate with the tongue of the second end panel, first and second clamp actuator clearance passages formed between the inner and outer surfaces and positioned inwardly of the respective detents and substantially in alignment therewith, first and second substantially upright projections positioned on the inner surface between the first and second edges and inwardly of respective side lip portions, each projection further comprising a pair of fastener receivers positioned on opposite sides of the respective clamp actuator clearance passage and spaced outwardly thereof along the respective side lip portion and toward the first and second edges, and a clearance notch positioned between the respective clamp actuator clearance passage and detent, a cutout communicating between the opposing inner and outer surfaces and positioned between the side lip portions and the first and second edges and sized to receive an equipment piece therethrough; and a plurality of second pairs of releasable clamps, each of the clamps comprising an actuator operable through a respective one of the clamp actuator clearance passages of one of the equipment mounting panels, and a jaw portion, each clamp being movable by actuation of the actuator between a clamping position having the jaw portion oriented substantially transverse of and extended over a respective one of the opposing side lip portions with the upper mounting lip of a respective one of the opposing first and second substantially rigid side panels being positioned therebetween, and a release position having the jaw portion spaced inwardly of the respective opposing side lip portion, and wherein in the clamping position the jaw portion is further responsive to actuation of the actuator for moving between a first unclamped state substantially transverse of the respective side lip portion and spaced away therefrom in a position extended thereover, and a second clamped state substantially transverse of the respective side lip portion and adjacent thereto with a portion of the upper mounting lip of the respective first and second side panel clamped therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification