초록

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.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 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 s

What is claimed is: 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, 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. 2. The console of claim 1 wherein each of the clamps further comprises a biasing member positioned to urge the jaw portion into the first unclamped state, and the actuator is further configured to force the jaw portion into the second clamped state. 3. The console of claim 2 wherein each clamp is further responsive to actuation of the actuator for moving between a clamping position having the jaw portion 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 the first unclamped state and the second clamped. 4. The console of claim 3 wherein the actuator of each of the clamps is further configured to rotate the jaw portion between the clamping position and the release position; and wherein each of the panels further comprises a substantially rigid stop portion positioned to engage the jaw portion of each of the clamps in at least one of the clamping position and the release position. 5. The console of claim 3 wherein one of the opposing first and second substantially rigid end panels further comprises a tongue positioned along an edge thereof between the opposing side lip portions and sized to mate with the groove of one of the removable panels, and an other one of the end panels further comprises a groove positioned along an edge thereof between the opposing side lip portions and sized to mate with the tongue of one of the removable panels. 6. The console of claim 5 wherein the upper mounting lip of each side panel further comprises a plurality of detent receivers substantially evenly spaced there along; and wherein each of the plurality of removable panels further comprises a detent on each of the side portions thereof being positioned to mate with one of the plurality of detent receivers in the upper mounting lip of a respective one of the first and second side panels. 7. The console of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of substantially rigid L-brackets each comprising a substantially rigid equipment interface portion and a substantially rigid panel interface portion substantially rigidly interconnected by a substantially rigid right angle portion forming a substantially right angle therebetween, wherein the equipment interface portion further comprises a plurality of substantially parallel equipment interface slots oriented substantially perpendicularly of the right angle portion, and wherein the panel interface portion further comprises a pair of panel interface slots oriented substantially perpendicularly of the right angle portion and positioned to substantially align with a pair of the fastener receivers positioned on an inner surface of the panel and further comprising a plurality of substantially parallel grooves scoring a surface of the panel interface portion at substantially regular intervals between the right angle portion and an outer end of the panel interface portion distal from the right angle portion; and further comprising a connector coupled between each of the panel interface slots and respective ones of the pair of fastener receivers. 8. A reconfigurable vehicle console, comprising: 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. 9. The console of claim 8 wherein each of the first and second pairs of clamps further comprises a biasing member positioned to urge the jaw portion into the first unclamped state spaced away from the respective side lip portion, and the actuator is further configured to force the jaw portion into the second clamped state adjacent to the respective side lip portion. 10. The console of claim 9 wherein the actuator of each of the first and second pairs of clamps is further configured to compress the biasing member against the inner surface of the equipment mounting panel. 11. The console of claim 10 wherein the actuator of each of the first and second pairs of clamps is further configured to rotate the jaw portion between the clamping position and the release position. 12. The console of claim 11 wherein the first and second substantially upright projections positioned on the inner surface of the equipment mounting panels each further comprises a substantially upright stop portion adjacent to the respective clamp actuator clearance passage; and wherein the jaw portion of each of the second pair of clamps is further sized to pass through the clearance notch in a respective one of the first and second substantially upright projections between the clamping and release positions thereof, and is further sized to engage the substantially upright stop portion in each of the clamping position and the release position. 13. The console of claim 12 wherein the actuator of the each of the first and second pairs of clamps further comprises a threaded shaft portion sized to pass through a respective one of the first and second clamp actuator clearance passages in the respective blank panel and equipment mounting panel, and a slotted head portion positioned externally of the outer surface thereof; and wherein each of the first and second pairs of clamps further comprises a bore having the actuator shaft passing therethrough and the biasing member being compressible therein, and a threaded portion substantially aligned with the bore and threadedly mated with the threaded shaft portion of the actuator. 14. The console of claim 13 wherein each of the first and second pairs of clamps further comprises a socket substantially aligned with the bore, and a clearance passage substantially aligned with the bore and a counterbore and communicating therebetween and having a portion of the actuator shaft passing therethrough; and wherein the threaded portion of each of the first and second pairs of clamps further comprises an internally threaded nut at least partially retained within the socket of the respective one of the clamps and substantially constrained from rotation therein. 15. The console of claim 11 wherein one of the opposing first and second substantially rigid end panels further comprises a tongue positioned along an edge thereof between the opposing side lip portions and sized to mate with the groove of the blank and equipment mounting panels, and an other one of the end panels further comprises a groove positioned along an edge thereof between the opposing side lip portions and sized to mate with the tongue of the blank and equipment mounting panels. 16. The console of claim 15, further comprising a plurality of substantially rigid L-brackets each comprising a substantially rigid equipment interface portion and a substantially rigid panel interface portion substantially rigidly interconnected by a substantially rigid right angle portion forming a substantially right angle therebetween, wherein the equipment interface portion further comprises a plurality of substantially parallel equipment interface slots oriented substantially perpendicularly of the right angle portion, and wherein the panel interface portion further comprises a pair of panel interface slots oriented substantially perpendicularly of the right angle portion and positioned to substantially align with the pair of fastener receivers of the substantially upright projections positioned on the inner surface of the equipment mounting panel and further comprising a plurality of substantially parallel grooves scoring a surface of the panel interface portion at substantially regular intervals between the right angle portion and an outer end of the panel interface portion distal from the right angle portion. 17. A reconfigurable vehicle console, comprising: 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. 18. The console of claim 17 wherein the actuator of each of the clamps is further configured to rotate the jaw portion between the clamping position and the release position. 19. The console of claim 18 wherein each of the blank panels and equipment mounting panels further comprises a substantially rigid stop portion positioned on the inner surface thereof adjacent to the respective clamp actuator clearance passage; wherein each of the clamps further comprises a biasing member positioned between jaw portion thereof and the inner surface of the respective blank and equipment mounting panel for urging the jaw portion into the first unclamped state; wherein the actuator of the each of the clamps further comprises a threaded shaft portion sized to pass through a respective one of the first and second clamp actuator clearance passages in the respective blank panel and equipment mounting panel, and a head portion positioned externally of the outer surface thereof; and wherein the jaw portion of each of the clamps is further sized to engage the substantially rigid stop portion in each of the clamping position and the release position. 20. The console of claim 19 wherein each of the clamps further comprises a body portion comprising the jaw portion thereof, the body portion further comprising a bore therein having the actuator shaft passing therethrough and the biasing member being compressible therein, and a threaded portion substantially aligned with the bore and threadedly mated with the threaded shaft portion of the actuator.