Universal console chassis for the car

There is described an on-vehicle unit which permits removal and attachment of various optional modules from and to a center module and which enables easy addition and removal of various functions. The on-vehicle unit is provided in a dashboard of a vehicle, and a center module--into which there are built as standard devices a radio receiving unit and a car navigation unit--has a plurality of module loading sections. Optional modules, such as a television tunermodule, a cassette deck module, and a VICS module, can be built into the center module, as required. The center module (7) has a central control section for controlling the standard units and various optional modules. The control mode of the control section is switched according to a combination of optional modules to be built into the center module.

On-vehicle unit

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

Reconfigurable console mount

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.

Reconfigurable console mount having a plurality of interchangeable tongue-and-groove blank and equipment mounting panels and quick disconnect clamps

A vehicle console having a quick release fastener and being formed of a console frame comprising two side panels and two end panels; spaced apart mounting lip portions provided on the console frame; a face plate comprising connection portions thereof securable with a respective one of the mounting lip portions; and a quick release fastener comprising an actuator operable through the face plate adjacent to one of the connection portions, and a jaw portion that is responsive to actuation of the actuator for moving between an unclamped state extended over the respective connection portion and spaced away therefrom, and a clamped state adjacent to the respective connection portion with a portion of the mounting lip portion clamped therebetween

Quick release fasteners for a vehicle console

The invention disclosed here is a dashboard accessory item in the form of an add-on housing that enables the repositioning of certain instrument panels closer to the driver, thereby making the instruments on such panels more accessible. In use, the instrument panels are first detached from a stock dashboard, and the housing is mounted to the dashboard over the location where the panels were originally located. The add-on housing projects forwardly of the dashboard, and the panels are remounted to its forward or frontal face. Such face angles toward the driver as it extends along the dashboard from the steering wheel toward the right-hand side of the cab. This repositions the panels much closer to the driver than they were when originally mounted to the stock dashboard.

John W. Anderson

Papers

Add-on wrap-around dashboard