U.S. patent application number 09/764971 was filed with the patent office on 2002-07-18 for interior enclosure for vehicles.
Invention is credited to Owsiany, Mark J., Richardson, Wayne A. II.
Application Number | 20020093224 09/764971 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26931811 |
Filed Date | 2002-07-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020093224 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Richardson, Wayne A. II ; et
al. |
July 18, 2002 |
INTERIOR ENCLOSURE FOR VEHICLES
Abstract
An interior enclosure extends along a door frame of a sport
utility vehicle from a rollover bar to a dashboard. The interior
enclosure comprises two parallel bars. Each parallel bar has a
horizontal portion with a rear edge which is adapted to mount to a
rollover bar. Each parallel bar further has a leading portion which
extends forwardly and downwardly from the horizontal portion. The
distal end of the leading portion being mounted to a dashboard. A
center cross bar extends between the two horizontal portions
proximate to the leading portion.
Inventors: |
Richardson, Wayne A. II;
(Glendale, AZ) ; Owsiany, Mark J.; (Peoria,
AZ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FRANK J. MCGUE
10801 N. 32ND STREET SUITE 5
PHOENIX
AZ
85028
|
Family ID: |
26931811 |
Appl. No.: |
09/764971 |
Filed: |
January 16, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60238605 |
Oct 6, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
296/203.02 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R 21/13 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
296/203.02 |
International
Class: |
B60J 007/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An interior enclosure extending along a door frame of a sport
utility vehicle from a rollover bar to a dashboard, the interior
enclosure comprising: two parallel bars having a horizontal portion
having a rear edge adapted to mount to a rollover bar and a leading
portion which extends forwardly and downwardly from the horizontal
portion, a distal end of the leading portion having means for
mounting to a dashboard, and a center cross bar extending between
the two horizontal portions proximate to the leading portion.
2. The interior enclosure of claim 1 wherein the leading portion is
adapted to conform in shape to a front edge of a window portion of
a door frame.
3. The interior enclosure of claim 1 herein the leading portion
extends downward to the top and side of a dashboard of a
vehicle.
4. The interior enclosure of claim 1 wherein the rear edge is
attached to a rollover bar.
5. The interior structure of claim 1 wherein the means for mounting
to a dashboard comprises a back piece and a front piece adapted to
capture a door jam of a vehicle therebetween, the front piece being
mounted to the distal end, a dashboard piece mounted to the distal
end adapted to engage the top of a dashboard.
6. The interior enclosure of claim 5 further having a mounting
bracket mounted to the distal end, the dashboard piece and the
front piece being mounted to the mounting bracket.
7. The interior enclosure of claim 6 wherein the mounting bracket
is a right triangular, planar piece of metal having a base is
mounted to the distal end, the mounting bracket extending
downwardly therefrom, the mounting bracket having a leading edge
which extends straight downwardly and forms a right angle with the
front piece.
8. The interior enclosure of claim 5 wherein the front piece and
the back piece are bolted together.
9. The interior enclosure of claim 5 wherein the dashboard piece is
a horizontally oriented flat piece which extends laterally inward
from the distal end to engage the top of the dashboard of the
vehicle.
10. An interior enclosure extending along a door frame of a sport
utility vehicle from a rollover bar to a dashboard, the interior
enclosure comprising: two parallel bars having a horizontal portion
having a rear edge attached to a rollover bar and a leading portion
which extends forwardly and downwardly from the horizontal portion,
the leading edge being adapted to conform in shape to a front edge
of a door frame and extending downwardly to the top and side of a
dashboard of a vehicle, a distal end of the leading portion having
means for mounting to a dashboard, the means for mounting to a
dashboard comprising a back piece and a front piece adapted to
capture a door jam of a vehicle therebetween, the front piece being
mounted to the distal end, a dashboard piece mounted to the distal
end adapted to engage the top of a dashboard; and a center cross
bar extending between the two horizontal portions proximate to the
leading portion.
11. The interior enclosure of claim 10 further having a mounting
bracket mounted to the distal end, the dashboard piece and the
front piece being mounted to the mounting bracket.
12. The interior enclosure of claim 11 wherein the mounting bracket
is a right triangular, planar piece of metal having a base is
mounted to the distal end, the mounting bracket extending
downwardly therefrom, the mounting bracket having a leading edge
which extends straight downwardly and forms a right angle with the
front piece.
13. The interior enclosure of claim 10 wherein the front piece and
the back piece are bolted together.
14. The interior enclosure of claim 10 wherein the dashboard piece
is a horizontally oriented flat piece which extends laterally
inward from the distal end to engage the top of the dashboard of
the vehicle.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of provisional
application serial No. 60/238,605 filed Oct. 6, 2000.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This invention relates in general to interior enclosures,
and, more particularly, to interior enclosures for sport utility
vehicles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Interior enclosures are known in the art for use with sport
utility vehicles, particularly such vehicles as the Jeep.RTM.
Wrangler.RTM. and the like. Such enclosures are found to be
aesthetically pleasing and offer mounting points for speakers,
storage devices and the like within the sport utility vehicle.
[0004] However, such enclosures are generally floor mounted and
require drilling to install. Further, the present systems block air
vents for air conditioning and heating or interfere with the window
cranks on vehicles. Thus, there is a need for an interior enclosure
which does is not floor mounted and does not block vents or window
cranks yet offers the same aesthetics and mounting points as the
present systems.
[0005] The present invention meets these needs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is an object of this invention to provide an
aesthetically pleasing interior enclosure which does not require
drilling to install.
[0007] It is a further object of this invention to provide a dash
mounted interior enclosure which is aesthetically pleasing and
offers mounting points for desired accessories.
[0008] Further objects and advantages of the invention will become
apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of
novelty which characterize this invention will be pointed out with
particularity in the specification annexed hereto.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an interior enclosure of the
present invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a rear and side perspective view of the interior
enclosure of the present invention installed on a vehicle;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 2 with the
vehicle's top removed;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 2 with the
vehicle's top on; and
[0013] FIG. 5 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0014] The present invention is shown in FIGS. 1-5 is an interior
enclosure 10 extending along a door frame 16 a sport utility
vehicle 18 from a rollover bar 27 to a dashboard 29. Interior
enclosure 10 comprises two parallel bars 12 having a horizontal
portion 14 with a rear edge 25 which is adapted to mount to
rollover bar 27, preferably by welding or bolting. A leading
portion 20 extends forwardly and downwardly from horizontal portion
14. A distal end 30 of leading portion 20 has means 28 for mounting
to dashboard 29.
[0015] Parallel bars 12 are preferably steel tubes and are adapted
to conform in shape to the upper edge of door frame 16 of a
particular sport utility vehicle 18. Leading portion 20 is adapted
to conform in shape to a front edge 22 of the window portion 24 of
door frame 16. Leading portion 20, in the illustrated embodiment,
extends downward to the top and side of dashboard 29 of vehicle
18.
[0016] In the illustrated example, sport utility vehicle 18 is a
Jeep.RTM. TJ.RTM.. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the
exact shapes that bars 12 conform to is dependent upon which sport
utility vehicle is used.
[0017] Extending between horizontal portions 14 proximate to the
leading portion 20 is a center cross bar 26 which provides lateral
support for enclosure 10 and further provides mounting points for
automobile accessories.
[0018] Means for mounting 28 to dashboard 29 provided at the distal
end 30 of vertical portion 20 is best seen in FIGS. 3 and 5. In the
presently preferred embodiment, mounting means 28 comprises a back
piece 32, a front piece 34, a dashboard piece 36 and a mounting
bracket 38.
[0019] Mounting bracket 38 is a generally right triangular, planar
piece of metal having a base 39 which is mounted, preferably by
welding, to distal end 30 and extending downwardly therefrom. A
leading edge 40 thereof extends straight downwardly and forms a
right angle with front piece 34. Front piece 34 is vertically
oriented and extends laterally outwardly from mounting bracket 38
to flatly engage a door jam 42 of vehicle.
[0020] Back piece 32 is positioned behind door jam 42 thereby, in
combination with front piece 34, capturing door jam 42
therebetween. Bolts (not shown) are inserted through back piece 32
and front piece 34 to secure said pieces together.
[0021] Dashboard piece 36 is a horizontally oriented flat piece
which extends laterally inward from bracket 38 to engage the top of
the dashboard of vehicle 18. Dashboard piece 36 provides vertical
support for enclosure 10.
[0022] Although only certain embodiments have been illustrated and
described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that
various changes and modifications may be made therein without
departing from the spirit of the invention.
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