Article holder for an open dashboard compartment

A casette or article holder for installation in an open glove compartment type storage space in a vehicle instrument panel, where the unique cassette holder is easily and quickly installed into the opening and particularly arranged for holding articles such as cassettes in position, which article holder is restrained from movement in the opening, and the article holder can be quickly installed and removed without damaging the dashboard of the vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
There are vehicles including automobiles and trucks that have open 
compartments in the vehicle's dashboard or instrument panel. These spaces 
are used for placing or storing various articles. Where the spaces are 
small, then it is oftentimes impractical to place various small articles 
in such open compartments. However, where the compartments are relatively 
large, as in dashboards in some trucks for example; the spaces are so 
large that the compartments are oftentimes not used. Because large 
articles placed in the space can easily fall out, especially where the 
vehicle is a truck that is subject to a lot of vehicle vibrations or where 
the truck is for example, used on bumpy roads or in other environments. So 
it is advantageous to turn this oftentimes useless space in the dashboards 
of vehicles such as trucks and the like, into something useful. However, 
to remove the dashboard to provide a new dashboard that has a covered 
compartment, or to insert some type of means for retaining articles within 
the open compartment, oftentimes requires a modification such as a 
permanent installation of some type, that mars or damages the vehicle 
instrument panel, should it ever be removed. 
It is therefore very advantageous to provide a means for holding audio 
cassettes or other articles in a retained position in the open 
compartments, which then turns the useless space in the compartment into 
something that is useful, and which provides a cover to the opening that 
conceals the user's tapes or other valuables from outside visibility. This 
holder means should be fashioned for easy insertion into the opened glove 
compartment, be secured against movement in the compartment, and yet be 
easily and quickly removed without damaging or marring the compartment or 
the dashboard of the vehicle. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention resulted from the recognition by the inventor that a 
need existed to turn into useful space the open compartments in the 
dashboard of vehicles, such as in truck dashboards. This required that the 
opening in the dashboard be more than just closed; that the open 
compartment be converted to a holder that retains articles from falling 
out of the opening, and also to have an article holder particularly 
adapted for storing cassettes or other similar type articles. Further this 
use of space should be utilized in an efficient manner, but yet not 
require that the dashboard be removed, or that installations be made that 
would mar or otherwise damage the dashboard, which could result in a 
devaluation of the vehicle should it be desirable to remove whatever was 
inserted at a later date. 
The inventor accordingly has devised a new and useful article holder device 
that is quickly and easily adapted for insertion into the particularly 
configured, open compartments in the dash of existing trucks and vehicles, 
which holder is particularly adapted for holding cassettes, and which 
article holder can be easily and quickly removed; and at the same time the 
article holder is substantially, rigidly held within the opening so that 
the article holder and/or cassettes in the article holder do not bounce 
and vibrate around in the open compartment, or tend to cause the cassettes 
or holder to fall out of an open compartment. 
In doing this, the inventor provides an article or cassette holder for 
installation into the opened compartment which holder comprises a base 
member for fitting into the compartment. The base member has a vertical 
member that is shaped to fit into the compartment and yet to abut against 
the top of the compartment with the base member abutting against the 
bottom of the compartment, in a manner that holds the article or cassette 
holder from moving vertically or bouncing around within the compartment. A 
pivotal cover is connected to the base member and pivots to open and close 
the compartment, and not just to cover the cassette holder. This cover 
contacts the front edge of the vertical member and is releasably secured 
to the vertical member in the closed pivotal position. The cassette holder 
also has side members and back members that aid in holding the cassettes 
in a stacked position in a given sized compartment, and for retaining 
cassettes in the stacked position. 
In another embodiment, the vertical members are connected to the base 
member at each end and coact with the pivotal cover panel to provide a 
holder that is insertable within the open compartment in the dash. The 
vertical members function as previously described to hold the holder 
within the compartment. In this embodiment, no back member is necessary 
since the holder comprises a means for converting the open compartment 
into a closed dashboard compartment. 
In still another embodiment, the cassette or article holder comprises an 
elongated rack member which has a plurality of cassette holder sections 
and which utilizes two end vertical members and a centrally located 
vertical member for coacting with a pair of pivotally supported covers to 
provide a cassette holder rack to be fitted within a long and otherwise 
normally useless open compartment space. In this embodiment, the rack is 
held in position by securing the base member of the rack to the bottom 
wall of the compartment. 
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a new and improved 
article holder for holding cassettes or other articles, which holder is 
insertable and removable from an open compartment in the dash or dashboard 
of an automotive vehicle, without drilling holes in or otherwise damaging 
the dash, or dashboard. 
The foregoing and other objects of the present invention as well as the 
invention itself, may be more fully understood from the following 
description when it is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings 
and in which like numerals designate like parts throughout and in which:

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) 
Referring now to FIG. 1 there is illustrated a portion of dashboard 12 of a 
motor vehicle, such as a truck, that has an open compartment 42 with the 
opening lying in a plane that is angled toward vertical, as illustrated in 
FIG. 2. This open compartment 42 has a top wall 68, a bottom wall 60 and 
end walls 58. The open compartment is characterized by having a front rim 
or compartment ledge 64 that forms a shoulder or raised edge 65 to the 
bottom of the compartment 60, to hold articles from sliding easily out of 
the opening 42. 
An embodiment of the inventor's holder for articles or cassettes as 
illustrated in FIG. 3, comprises a base member or back wall 20 with a back 
member 22 and side members 24 and 36. Front pieces or holder ledges 38 and 
40 project upwardly and support respective hinges 32 and 34 that are 
connected to the front cover 44. Positioned midway the length of the base 
member 20 is a vertical member 26. Vertical member 26 is secured at the 
rear surface to the back member 22 and at the lower edge surface to the 
base member 20. The upper edge 28 of the vertical member 26 is angled to 
fit against the angled surface of the top wall 68 of the open compartment 
42. 
The front cover 44 pivots on hinges 32 and 34 to an open position as 
illustrated in FIG. 1 or to a closed position as illustrated in FIG. 2. A 
releasable holding means 30 is provided which retains the cover 44 in the 
closed position. This releasable means may be a velcro connection as 
illustrated, or it can be any type of known magnetic or friction type 
holding means. Knob 50 connected to the cover 44 is used to open and close 
the cover. It may be understood that the cover 44 fits into the opening 42 
of the compartment and thus closes the compartment. 
The holder 10 is inserted into the open compartment, see FIG. 2, by sliding 
the entire unit over the rim or shoulder 65 of the bottom piece of the 
open compartment 42. Thus member 38 then fits or abuts against the rim 
surface 65 sufficiently to retain the holder 10 in position. To further 
secure the holder in position, adhesive members 66 are used to secure the 
base 20 of the holder 10 to the bottom wall 60 of the compartment 42. In 
this position, the upper edge 28 of the vertical member 44 presses against 
the upper top wall on the angled forwardly rear edge 68 of the compartment 
42, which restricts the holder 10 from vertical movement. 
In operation, cassettes 46 and 48 or other similar articles are placed in 
the holder 10 to rest on the base 20. The cover 44 is pivoted in or out of 
the closing position to access the holder. If it is desired to remove the 
holder 10 from the compartment 42, then the holder is merely grasped and 
pulled out of the compartment 42 by overpowering the adhesive connections 
66. The adhesive connections 66 can then be removed from the bottom of the 
compartment. It may thus be understood that the holder 10 is quickly and 
easily inserted into a retained positive position within the open 
compartment 42, and may be quickly and easily removed without any holes or 
other damages to the dashboard 12. 
Referring now to FIG. 4, a second modification of the cassette or article 
holder 14 has a base member 78 with two vertical members 72 and 74 that 
are also the end members. Secured to the end members 72 and 74 are blocks 
or holder ledges 82 and 83 on which are secured hinge members 80 and 81. 
The blocks respectively aid in holding the vertical or side members 72 and 
74 to the base holder 78. A pivotal cover or panel 70 is attached to the 
hinge members 80 and 81, and pivots in the same manner as previously 
described regarding the embodiment of FIG. 3. Velcro fasteners 86 
releasably hold the cover in the closed position. The upper end of the 
vertical members 74 have the angled edge surfaces 76 that fit against the 
top wall 68 of the compartment 42, see FIGS. 1 and 2. 
The embodiment 14 in FIG. 4 is inserted into the open compartment 42 in the 
same manner as previously described with regard to FIGS. 1 and 2. In this 
embodiment, there is no back member 22. So compartment 42 is relatively 
open except for the vertical members 72 and 74. There is an open space, 
but other than this, the compartment is completely closed by the cover 70. 
The embodiment in FIG. 4 is held against vertical movement and against 
front and back movement and is secured to the bottom wall 60 in the same 
manner as previously described relative to the embodiment in FIG. 3. 
Referring now to FIG. 6, there is still another embodiment of the invention 
that is to be inserted into the open compartment 100 in the dashboard 18, 
which is the dashboard of a truck. The opening 100 has an open compartment 
that has top wall 119, a rear wall 121 and a bottom wall 123 and a pair of 
end walls 125. The plane of the opening of compartment 100 is at an angle 
as illustrated in FIG. 7. 
The cassette or article holder of this embodiment, see FIG. 6, comprises a 
base 112 with side ends 116 and 120 and with a back member 114. The two 
side members or end members 120 and 116 are also vertical members that are 
the same as the mid-vertical member 118, and all are secured both to the 
back member and to the base member 112. The front edge surfaces 122 of 
each of the vertical members 118, 120 and 116 are at the angle and in the 
same plane as is the plane of the opening in the open compartment 118. 
Connected to the front edge of the base 112 are a plurality of hinges 106 
that are connected to the lower side of the front covers 102 and 104. 
Accordingly these covers or panels pivot from the open position as 
illustrated in FIG. 6, to the closed position as illustrated FIG. 7. 
Releasable fastening means such as velcro connections 110 and 126, 
releasably hold the front covers in the closed position. The article or 
cassette holder also has partitions 124 and 132 that are spaced along the 
length of the base member 112, for retention of cassettes that are placed 
in the holder in stacked storage. One end of the back member 114 is angled 
downwardly at 175 to provide a recess for fitting around a projection that 
goes into the recess 100, resulting from an open and closeable ash tray, 
see FIG. 5. It may be thus understood that the holder 16 is specifically 
and easily adaptable for fitting around projections within the open 
compartments and still facilitate the easy insertion, and removable if 
necessary, and the securing in position of the holder 16 in the open 
compartment 100. 
In operation, one side of the adhesive member 130 is secured to the bottom 
wall 123 of the compartment 100. The holder 16 is then placed into the 
compartment with the cover 102 in the down or open position. Hand pressure 
is then exerted against the upper surface of the base 112, pressing the 
base against the adhesive 130, securing the holder in position. The holder 
is then used in the manner previously described. Should it be desired to 
remove the holder from the compartment 100 in the dash 18, then the holder 
16 is grasped and pulled out of the compartment 100, with sufficient force 
to override the adhesive connection 130. 
Again it may be understood that in all of the inventor's embodiments, the 
respective cassette or article holders are easily and quickly installed 
and can be similarly easily and quickly removed from the open 
compartments, without damaging or marring the respective dashboards. 
The respective cassette or article holder illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 
fit into open compartments in all of the Chevrolet S-10 trucks and 
Blazers, the Chevrolet S-15 trucks and the S-15 Jimmy truck models 
1986-1991. This specifically applies to the particular embodiment 
illustrated in FIG. 6. The embodiments of the invention in FIGS. 1-4 fit 
all of the Ford Bronco II models and the Ford Ranger pickup truck models 
1983-1988.