Electronic equipment console for a vehicle

Abstract

An electronic equipment console for a vehicle includes an equipment shelf supported by a bracket and defining a plane. A laptop rack is supported by the equipment shelf and is oriented relative to the defined plane thereof to be elevated, pitched upwardly and rearwardly, rotated, and tilted.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, features and advantages will occur to those skilled in the art from the following description of a preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an example of an interior cab layout for a military HMMWV;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of one embodiment an electronic equipment console for a vehicle in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is another schematic view of the electronic equipment console of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4A-4C are schematic views of the electronic equipment console of the present invention showing orientation angles;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the electronic equipment console of the present invention shown in relation to the vehicle seat pan;

FIG. 6 is another schematic view of an electronic equipment console for a vehicle in accordance with the present invention showing electrical components which may be used therewith; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of an electronic equipment console for a vehicle in accordance with the present invention as shown from within the interior of a vehicle.

DISCLOSURE OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Aside from the preferred embodiment or embodiments disclosed below, this invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Thus, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. If only one embodiment is described herein, the claims hereof are not to be limited to that embodiment. Moreover, the claims hereof are not to be read restrictively unless there is clear and convincing evidence manifesting a certain exclusion, restriction, or disclaimer.

As discussed in the Background section above, electronic equipment such as computers and laptops are often used in military or law enforcement vehicles to receive information or issue mission commands. Placement and orientation of the equipment in the vehicle is key, and improved placement of the electronic equipment within the vehicle can be achieved by a compound angle mounting system, particularly, an electronic equipment vehicle console.

One example of such an electronic equipment vehicle console 10 in accordance with the present invention is shown in FIG. 2. Equipment shelf 12 typically defines a horizontal plane 14 and is supported by angled bracket 16. One or more legs 18a and 18b may be included for additional support.

Bracket 16 may be attached directly or indirectly to the interior dashboard 17 of the vehicle where console 10 is used. In the example shown, bracket 16 extends rearwardly from equipment shelf 12 and is angled upwardly with respect to plane 14.

Computer or laptop rack 20 is supported by equipment shelf 12 and is oriented relative to defined plane 14 such that laptop rack 20 is elevated therefrom. Equipment shelf 12 may include side extension portion 15 to support laptop rack 20, and in one example, laptop rack 20 is fixed with respect to equipment shelf 12. To provide a softer surface for laptop, mounting pad 22 may be added.

In one example laptop rack 20 is supported by posts 30 which extend between laptop rack 20 and equipment shelf 12, including right forward post 30a, FIG. 2, left forward post 30b, FIG. 3, and right and left more rearwardly posts 30c and 30d, where right and left are defined from the perspective of the computer or SLAMRAAM operator when facing laptop rack 20. Right rearwardly post 30c extends to equipment shelf bracket 16. To tilt laptop rack 20, left forward post 30b is shorter than right rearward post 30c. To pitch laptop rack 20 upwardly and rearwardly, left more rearwardly post 30d is longer than left forward post 30b. The number of and lengths of posts may be varied, or other means may be used depending on a particular application, and the four post embodiment shown is not a necessary limitation of the invention.

In accordance with the present invention, laptop rack 20, FIG. 3 is pitched upwardly and rearwardly, rotated, and tilted with respect to the plane of shelf 12 defined by axis X and Y. In one embodiment, laptop rack 20 is pitched upwardly and rearwardly at an angle θ, FIG. 4A, between 18.8° and 28.8° degrees relative to the plane of shelf 12, rotated at an angle φ, FIG. 4B, between 34.4° and 44.4° degrees relative to the X-axis, and tilted at an angle α, FIG. 4C, between 2.1° and 12.1° degrees relative to the plane of shelf 12. In one variation, laptop rack is pitched upwardly and rearwardly, rotated, and tilted at angles of approximately 23.8°, 39.4°, and 7.1° respectively.

In one preferred embodiment, center 21 of laptop rack 20, FIG. 5 is elevated at a height H of between 11.6 inches and 18.6 inches above the center 23 of the vehicle operator's seat pan, and a height H of approximately 16.6 inches is particularly suitable for increased visibility and ergonomics. Center 21 of laptop 20 is defined herein as the geometrical center of laptop rack 20, not necessarily the physical center of laptop rack 20 such as when laptop rack 20 defines a perimeter area with no center portion as shown in the figures. Accordingly, the subject invention orients laptop rack 20 within any vehicle by pitch angle θ, rotation angle φ, tilt angle α, and height H.

For some uses, such as with a SLAMRAAM Fire Unit for launching missiles from a HMMWV vehicle using a SCORPION configured laptop 34, FIG. 6, the laptop can be removable so that the operator can exit the vehicle and remain at a distance therefrom while still maintaining the ability to launch missiles from the HMMWV. To keep the laptop (computer or other electronic equipment) removably in place on laptop rack 20, clamps 32, quick-release mounts or other such means may be used. A cable or other electrical connecting means (not shown) is utilized to establish the connection between the HMMWV fixed-in-place equipment and the laptop, after the operator leaves the vehicle and laptop 34 is removed.

Also as shown in FIG. 6, other electronic equipment 36 and associated connections may be placed on laptop rack 20 as desired, depending on the size of laptop rack 20 which may be varied according to a particular application or need.

It is not unusual that in some situations, such as use of a laptop with the SLMRAAM Fire Unit, that the interior cab of the vehicle is filled with various types of equipment 40 and 42 near or under console 10. In such cases, the importance of placement and orientation of console 10 becomes even more readily apparent. In addition, console 10 of the subject invention does not prevent access to the HMMWV engine compartment underneath.

As discussed above, electronic equipment vehicle console 10 in accordance with the subject invention meets the requirements of ease of accessibility to the laptop or other electronic equipment, as well as ready egress from (and ingress to) the vehicle. Further, it maintains good visibility outside from vehicle operator's seat (in a U.S. vehicle), as shown for example in FIG. 7. In this view from the U.S. driver's perspective of a HMMWV vehicle, it can be seen that laptop 34 on console 10 does not interfere with visibility to any significant extent. In fact, regardless of the driver's position, screen portion 35 of laptop 34 may be adjusted to increase visibility. For example, screen 35 may be adjusted in order to align it with fording stack 50 or HMMWV “A” pillar 52 such that there is virtually no decrease in visibility. In addition, curb side-view mirror 54 may be adjusted. Further, although drivers may vary in size and seat positions may be changed, it is important to note that the view shown in FIG. 7 is not stereoscopic, unlike the view of most if not all vehicle drivers. When stereoscopic vision is taken into account, it is clear that even this minimal interference from screen 35 is even further decreased, if it interferes at all. Further, it can be seen that for non-U.S. vehicles where drivers and front seat passengers are reversed, the laptop rack of this invention would work equally well by reversing its location and orientation to correspond to the reversed driver and passenger locations, all while still within the purview and parameters of the subject invention.

Thus, even considering drivers of different sizes and a variety of vehicle seat positions, the electronic equipment vehicle console of the present invention provides an improved vehicle console for mounting electronic equipment such as a laptop computer. The console of the present invention makes the equipment more easily accessible to the passenger and driver, is less cumbersome, and provides for improved egress from the vehicle, better visibility, and increased safety.

Although specific features of the invention are shown in some drawings and not in others, this is for convenience only as each feature may be combined with any or all of the other features in accordance with the invention. The words “including”, “comprising”, “having”, and “with” as used herein are to be interpreted broadly and comprehensively and are not limited to any physical interconnection. Moreover, any embodiments disclosed in the subject application are not to be taken as the only possible embodiments. Other embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art and are within the following claims.

In addition, any amendment presented during the prosecution of the patent application for this patent is not a disclaimer of any claim element presented in the application as filed: those skilled in the art cannot reasonably be expected to draft a claim that would literally encompass all possible equivalents, many equivalents will be unforeseeable at the time of the amendment and are beyond a fair interpretation of what is to be surrendered (if anything), the rationale underlying the amendment may bear no more than a tangential relation to many equivalents, and/or there are many other reasons the applicant can not be expected to describe certain insubstantial substitutes for any claim element amended.

Claims

1. An electronic equipment console for a vehicle comprising: an equipment shelf supported by a bracket and defining a plane; anda laptop rack supported by the equipment shelf and oriented relative to the defined plane thereof to be elevated, pitched upwardly and rearwardly, rotated, and tilted.

2. The electronic equipment console of claim 1 in which said bracket extends rearwardly from said shelf and is angled upwardly with respect to said plane.

3. The electronic equipment console of claim 1 in which the equipment shelf is supported by one or more legs.

4. The electronic equipment console of claim 3 in which there are two front legs.

5. The electronic equipment console of claim 1 in which said plane is horizontal.

6. The electronic equipment console of claim 1 in which said shelf has a side extension portion for supporting said laptop rack.

7. The electronic equipment console of claim 1 in which said laptop rack includes a mounting pad thereon.

8. The electronic equipment vehicle of claim 1 in which said laptop rack is pitched upwardly and rearwardly at an angle of between 18.8° and 28.8°.

9. The electronic equipment vehicle of claim 1 in which said laptop rack is rotated at an angle of between 34.4° and 44.4°.

10. The electronic equipment vehicle of claim 1 in which said laptop rack is tilted at an angle of between 2.1° and 12.1°.

11. The electronic equipment console of claim 1 in which the laptop rack front portion is elevated above said equipment shelf.

12. The electronic equipment console of claim 1 in which the center of the laptop rack is elevated above a seat pan of the vehicle between 11.6 inches and 18.6 inches.

13. The electronic equipment console of claim 12 in which the seat pan is the vehicle operator seat pan.

14. The electronic equipment console of claim 1 in which the laptop rack is fixed with respect to the equipment shelf.

15. The electronic equipment console of claim 1 in which the laptop rack is supported by posts extending between the laptop rack and the equipment shelf.

16. The electronic equipment console of claim 15 in which there are right and left forward posts and right and left more rearwardly spaced posts.

17. The electronic equipment console of claim 16 in which the left forward post is shorter than the right rearward post to tilt the laptop rack.

18. The electronic equipment console of claim 16 in which the left more rearwardly post is longer than the left forward post to pitch the laptop rack upwardly and rearwardly.

19. The electronic equipment console of claim 16 in which the right more rearwardly post extends to the equipment shelf bracket.

20. The electronic equipment console of claim 1 in which the laptop rack further includes clamps for securing a laptop computer to the laptop rack.

21. An electronic equipment console for a vehicle comprising: an equipment shelf supported by a bracket and defining a plane; anda laptop rack supported by the equipment shelf and oriented relative to the defined plane thereof to be elevated, pitched upwardly and rearwardly at an angle between 18.8° and 28.8°, rotated at an angle between 34.4° and 44.4°, and tilted at an angle between 2.1° and 12.1°.

22. An electronic equipment console for a vehicle comprising: an equipment shelf supported by a bracket and defining a plane; anda laptop rack supported by the equipment shelf and including right and left forward posts and right and left more rearwardly spaced posts, the left forward post shorter than the right rearward post to tilt the laptop rack, the left more rearwardly post longer than the left forward post to pitch the laptop rack upwardly and rearwardly, the laptop rack oriented relative to the defined plane of the equipment shelf to be elevated, pitched upwardly and rearwardly, rotated, and tilted.

23. An electronic equipment console for an HMMWV comprising: an equipment shelf supported by a bracket and defining a plane;a laptop rack supported by the equipment shelf and oriented relative to the defined plane thereof to be elevated, pitched upwardly and rearwardly, rotated and tilted, said laptop rack pitched upwardly and rearwardly at an angle between 18.8° and 28.8°, rotated at an angle between 34.4° and 44.4°, and tilted at an angle between 2.1° and 12.1°.

24. The electronic equipment console of claim 23 in which the center of said laptop rack is between 11.6 inches and 18.6 inches above a seat pan of the HMMWV.

25. The electronic equipment console of claim 24 in which the seat pan is the HMMWV operator seat pan.