Vehicle console for mounting and enclosing radios and the like

A vehicle console for mounting and enclosing radios and the like characterized by a box-like enclosure having a frontwardly facing access opening that is coverable by an access door. The access door is lockable, and outwardly pivotable so that a radio and the like, having frontwardly presented control panels, may be easily adjusted when the door is downwardly opened. The box-like enclosure is pivotable with respect to a bracket that is adapted to be mounted upon an vehicle surface. To ensure secure anti-theft mounting of the bracket to a vehicle surface, square aperture holes are provided in a downwardly disposed flange of the bracket so that the carriage head bolts may be downwardly inserted therethrough, thereby rendering it impossible to remove the mounting bolts from above. In a preferred embodiment the console is particularly adapted for mounting upon the drive shaft tunnel of a vehicle, wherein removal of the carriage bolts necessitates access from beneath the vehicle, in the vicinity of the drive shaft. The console of the present invention significantly provides a lockable box-like enclosure, for such electronic items as CB radios, wherein the provision of knock-outs and vented surfaces of the enclosure even permit transmitting and receiving on the radio while the access door is locked securely in place, leaving a conventional hand microphone attached to an external bracket on the outside of the enclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION: 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates in general to an anti-theft vehicle console for a 
secure encompassing mounting for CB radios and the like upon any vehicle 
surface. The present vehicle console is broadly adaptable to any form of 
vehicle, and significantly allows an enclosed CB radio to be operated even 
with the frontwardly open access door in the locked position. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
The present vehicle console provides a mounting for a CB radio and the like 
which is significantly characterized by completely encompassing the radio 
device with a lockable enclosure. Various other forms of mounting devices 
have been proposed for portable communications equipment, and 
representative of various known forms of vehicle-mounted consoles and 
radio mounts are the following U.S. patents: JOHNSON, U.S. Pat. No. 
3,827,771; BOOTHE, U.S. Pat. No. 3,632,158; BASSINGER, U.S. Pat. No. 
3,589,577; HANLEY, U.S. Pat. No. 3,500,001; KRECHMAN, U.S. Pat. No. 
3,405,944; MILLER, U.S. Design Pat. No. 238,973; WESTMORELAND, U.S. Design 
Pat. No. 237,134; WICKEL, U.S. Design Pat. No. 228,898; 
The patents to Johnson, Boothe, and Hanely collectively illustrate the 
concept of a theft-resistant vehicle mounting for CB radios and the like. 
The patent to Johnson illustrates a vehicle mounting arrangement that 
prevents console removal from above, though the mounting itself does not 
illustrate a box-like enclosure including the ability to enclose an access 
door upon the control panels of the radio, while still operating the radio 
device. The vehicle console of Boothe is adapted to be positioned upon a 
driving seat, and typifies the external mounting of a communications 
system externally, and without encompassing structure. The patent to 
Hanley illustrates a radio mounting wherein the front control panel is 
titled at a fixed angle, though without the provision for an enclosure as 
is taught to be a signficant characteristic of the presently disclosed 
invention. 
The patents to Bassinger and Krechman illustrate further accessory devices 
for radios and the like that may be affixed to a portion of the vehicle 
frame, though without structural or functional relationship to the 
presently disclosed invention. The design patents to Miller and Wickel 
illustrate boxes that are specially configured for vehicular application, 
and particularly for holding articles such as tools. The design patent to 
Westmoreland illustrates a combined lunch box and radio that is without 
functional or structural similarity to the lockable vehicle console as 
taught herein. 
The prior art is replete with devices for mounting radios and the like upon 
vehicle surfaces, though there is found no prior art teaching that 
recognizes that a CB radio and the like may be completely enclosed within 
a box-like enclosure, having a frontwardly facing access opening that is 
coverable by an access door, and locked. The present invention allows 
operation of a CB radio with the access door either downwardly pivotable 
upon a horizontally disposed hinge, or with the door locked in its upward 
position. CB radios conventionally include a transmitting switch on the 
hand held microphone, where the present invention provides for such a hand 
microphone to be mounted externally to the box-like enclosure, whereby 
transmitting may be simply accomplished without need to readjust the 
controls upon the radio itself. Therefore, the present invention is a 
basic departure from the attempts of others in that a box-like enclosure 
is provided which allows for a complete enclosure of a CB radio and the 
like, while allowing for use of the radio even while the box is still 
enclosed. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is a vehicle console for mounting and enclosing CB 
radios and the like, and essentially comprises a vertically extending 
bracket that includes a lower flanged surface for mounting upon a vehicle 
surface, such as a floor tunnel. The flange itself includes a plurality of 
apertures for receiving a bolt mounting means, and in a preferred 
embodiment carriage bolts are disclosed for preventing removal of the 
bracket from above. 
Extending upwardly from the fixed bracket is a bracket extension, with this 
bracket extension being pivotably mounted to the fixed bracket so that the 
bracket extension may be angularly positioned about a horizontal axis 
through the fixed bracket. A housing adapted for enclosing a CB radio and 
the like is rigidly mounted to an upper surface of the bracket extension, 
and the pivotable mounting between the bracket extension and the bracket 
is further disclosed, in a preferred embodiment, to include a tension 
screw for maintaining a fixed angular position of the superposed housing. 
The housing further comprises a closed box-like enclosure having a 
frontwardly facing access opening that is selectively coverable by an 
access door. The access door, in a preferred embodiment, is downwardly 
pivotable upon a horizontally disposed hinge, and the door further 
includes a lock means operable for maintaining the interior of the 
enclosure secured against unauthorized entry. 
Within the interior of the enclosure of the box-like enclosure, there is 
provided means for mounting CB radios and the like, of the type having 
frontwardly presenting control panels. The frontwardly presented control 
panels therefore are positioned for easy access from the frontwardly 
facing access opening in the box-like enclosure, and the control panels on 
the radios and the like may be adjusted and then be covered by the 
lockable access door. In order to resiliently mount the CB radio or the 
like within the present invention, there is provided at least one fixed 
anchor proximate one side of the enclosure interior, with a movable anchor 
means operable to be adjustably spaced from this fixed anchor, towards the 
other side of the enclosure interior. Since mobile communications systems, 
such as CB radios, come in various heights and widths, this adjustable 
anchor arrangement allows for distending an elastomeric strap from the 
fixed anchor, over the radio to be anchored, and finally anchored upon the 
movable anchor which has been adjustably positioned to accommodate that 
particular radio. Furthermore, since it is conventional for CB radios to 
have a built-in speaker projecting through the bottom surface of the 
radio, the present resilient mounting means further comprises a U-shaped 
resilient pad to be disposed between the bottom surface of the radio, and 
the interior surface of the bottom of the box-like enclosure. This 
resilient pad is preferably placed so that the open end of the U extends 
frontwardly, and allows direct communication between the speaker and a 
plurality of openings in the bottom surface of the enclosure. The present 
invention further comprehends the provision of vent apertures upon various 
sides of the box-like enclosure, to allow for cooling air to travel by 
natural convection around the radio and without the enclosure. 
Additionally, the present invention contemplates knock-out panels 
proximate the sides and/or back of the box-like enclosure, so that 
electrical connections, antenna connections and microphone cable 
connections are simply accomplished without derogation of the overall 
integrity of the enclosure when the access door is locked in place. Other 
objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become 
more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of 
the preferred embodiments, with references made to the attached drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS: 
With reference to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates in perspective view one 
embodiment of a vehicle console for mounting and enclosing radios and the 
like according to the present invention. The housing for enclosing a radio 
and the like comprises a closed box-like enclosure 2, wherein said 
box-like enclosure has a frontwardly facing access opening which is 
selectively coverable by an access door 6. The access door is hinged upon 
a horizontally disposed hinge 30, and includes a locking means 8 operable 
for maintaining the interior of the enclosure closed against unauthorized 
entry, while yet allowing operation of an enclosed radio and the like, as 
will become more apparent hereinafter. In the embodiment of FIG. 1 the 
box-like enclosure 2 is supported upon a vertically extending bracket 4 
that has a lower flange surface 14. The vertically extending bracket 4 in 
FIG. 1 is shown to include a plurality of apertures, one being indicated 
at 12, for receiving a mounting means for mounting the lower flange 14 
upon a vehicle surface. In the preferred embodiment the plurality of 
vehicle mounting apertures 12 are substantially square, to allow for a 
carriage bolt 10 to be held against rotation when inserted downwardly 
through one of the apertures 12. 
In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the vertically extending bracket comprises a 
pair of vertically extending brackets, wherein each vertically disposed 
bracket side is proximate respective left and right sides of the box-like 
enclosure 2. The box-like enclosure 2 is rigidly mounted to an upper 
surface of the bracket 4, such as by spot welding or the like. As further 
shown in FIG. 1, the present vehicle console for mounting and enclosing 
radios and the like, further includes vents through at least one of the 
surfaces of the box-like enclosure. In FIG. 1 vents are illustrated on the 
right side of the box-like enclosure 2, and are shown to be elongated 
louvered vents identified by the numeral 34. Any other form of venting, 
such as simple drilled holes is contemplated according to the principles 
of the present invention wherein the purpose of these vents 34 are to 
allow for natural convective cooling of the electronic device disposed 
within the enclosure. Also shown in FIG. 1 is an external microphone hand 
set mounting bracket 28, with this hand set bracket 28 being disposed on 
the right side of the closed box-like enclosure 2. In the embodiment of 
FIG. 1, the bracket 4 shown for supporting the box-like enclosure 2 has a 
fixed angle orientation about a horizontal axis. The present invention is 
adapted for use upon a plurality of vehicle surfaces, wherein the term 
vehicle contemplates automobiles, trucks, tractors, boats, and the like. 
For widest vehicle application, the preferred embodiments includes 
adjustable angular positioning of the enclosure about a horizontal axis. 
FIG. 2 illustrates, schematically, how a lock may be interposed on the 
upper edge of the access door 6, such that the frontwardly facing access 
opening in the box-like enclosure 2 is easily and securely coverable by 
the access door, so as to maintain the interior of the enclosure closed 
against unauthorized entry. The locking mechanism 8 comprises a cylinder 
having a locking member 24 which is displaceable to engage the inner 
surface of a lock detent 22, with this lock detent 22 securely extending 
downwardly from the interior of the upper surface of the box-like 
enclosure 18. The access door 6 is further shown with a flange 20 which 
may further include an environmental seal, such as a gasket, as is 
conventionally known. While a schematic illustration for a key is shown at 
26, any form of tooth or circular key device is contemplated, and since 
locks for this purpose are well known, further illustration of a locking 
device is not considered necessary. 
FIG. 3 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 
1, insofar as the embodiment of FIG. 3 illustrates a bracket 38 together 
with a bracket extension 36 to allow for an angular positioning of a 
box-like enclosure 32 about a horizontal axis. The horizontal axis for 
this pivoting is along the centerline of the rivet 40, as is shown in FIG. 
4. The box-like enclosure 32 further includes a frontwardly facing access 
door which is hinged about a horizontally disposed hinge, 54, and a 
variant on vent openings from that shown in FIG. 1 is further illustrated 
by the plurality of vents 35. The bracket extension 36 extends upwardly 
from the vertically extending bracket 38 and an upward surface of the 
bracket extension 36 is rigidly mounted to the housing 32. To control the 
amount of angular movement of the housing 32, there is provided an arcuate 
channel 37 which has a center of curvature coincident with the horizontal 
axis through the rivet 40. The arcuate channel 37 is preferably between 
90.degree. and 180.degree. of rotation around the rivet 40, in this 
preferred embodiment. A tension screw 42 is shown disposed within the 
arcuate channel 37 so as to tension the bracket extension 36 against the 
bracket 38 through an inward progress of the screw thread 52 through a 
nut-like member 50. It should be noted that removal of the tension screw 
42 in no way impairs the integrity of the connection between the bracket 
extension 36 and the vertically extending bracket section 38 since the 
rivet 40 securely maintains the connection between these members. Details 
of this pivoting arrangment are shown in FIG. 4, for only one of the 
vertically extending bracket extension assemblies, and one or more 
additional pivoting bracket arrangements may be employed without departing 
from the present invention. For example, in FIG. 4 it is illustrated that 
the vertically extending bracket 38 is proximate the left side of the 
box-like enclosure 32, and a similarly disposed pivoting bracket may be 
vertically disclosed proximate the right side of the box-like enclosure 
32. Also shown in FIG. 4 is the provision of a fixed anchor 56 proximate 
one side of the enclosure interior. This anchor 56 as shown is preferably 
rigidly attached to the bottom surface of the box-like enclosure 32, and 
the bottom of the box-like enclosure 32 is further illustrated to have a 
series of apertures 48 for a purpose which will now be more completely 
described. 
FIG. 5 illustrates one significant feature of the present invention to be a 
manner of mounting of a radio, such as a CB radio 66, shown in phantom, 
within an enclosure 32. This enclosure mounting is equally applicable to 
the box-like enclosure 2, as shown in FIG. 1, and consists of the fixed 
anchor 56, and a movable anchor 58 that is operable to be adjustably 
spaced from the fixed anchor 56. Between the two anchors, 56 and 58, there 
is shown an elastomeric strap 60 which is operable to be extended from the 
fixed anchor, over the radio 66, and secured to the movable anchor 58. For 
this respective securing to the two anchors, a D-ring 62 may be disposed 
on one end of the elastomeric strap 60 and a similar form of D-ring 64 
disposed at the other end. With reference to FIG. 5, there is shown a 
plurality of openings 68-82 disposed in the bottom surface of the box-like 
enclosure 32. The movable anchor 58 has an anchor head at its proximate 
end that is larger than each of the plurality of apertures 68-82, and a 
hook at its distal end smaller than the diameter of each of said 
apertures. A preferred configuration for a movable anchor 58 is shown at 
FIG. 7 wherein the movable anchor 58 includes a hook 84 at its distal end, 
with an anchor head 86 at its proximate end. Again with reference to FIG. 
5, the movable anchor 58 may be positioned at any one of the plurality of 
apertures extending through the bottom surface of the enclosure, to 
accommodate various sizes of radios, such as shown in phantom at 66. The 
apertures 68-82 are illustrated to be in spaced relation away from the 
fixed anchor, and these plurality of apertures may also serve as a 
plurality of openings adapted to allow a sound communication between the 
bottom of the radio 66 and the region external and below the bottom 
surface of the enclosure. Conventional CB radios, for example, include an 
outward projecting speaker through the bottom of the radio and the present 
invention provides for accommodating various sized CB radios while 
allowing the plurality of apertures for the movable anchor to also 
function as a sound passing structure. Of course, a number of elastomeric 
straps, such as the strap schematically shown at 60 in FIG. 6, may be 
disposed to secure the exemplary CB radio 66, of FIG. 5, resiliently 
against the bottom of the enclosure exterior. Again with reference to FIG. 
5, the resilient radio mounting means further contemplates an elastomeric 
spacing between the bottom of the radio 66 and the lower interior surface 
of the enclosure. As shown in FIG. 9, this elastomeric spacer may comprise 
a U-shaped pad, 98 wherein the pad may be operably disposed with its open 
edge facing forwardly while maintaining the bottom of the radio 66 
resiliently cushioned against the bottom of the box-like enclosure 32. As 
shown further in FIG. 9, this resilient spacer 98 provides for sound 
communication external to the bottom of the box-like housing 32, either 
through the plurality of openings 48, or the plurality of apertures, for 
example 68, and 82. 
As shown in FIG. 8, the box-like enclosure includes a rearwardly facing 
surface 88, which may be provided with a plurality of vents 96. 
Additionally, the upper surface of the box-like enclosure is shown 
provided with a plurality of vents 90. On the right-most surface of the 
box-like enclosure is shown a microphone hand set mounting bracket 28, 
which allows for external mounting of the microphone hand set whether or 
not the access cover is in the locked position. This advantageous feature 
is ensured by the provision of a number of knock-out panels which are 
disposed upon at least one of the surfaces of the box-like enclosure. A 
knock-out panel 92 is shown on the rear surface of the box-like enclosure, 
88, and another knock-out panel 94 is shown disposed on the upwardly 
facing portion of the box-like enclosure. These knock-out panels may be 
selectively removed for making, for example, an electrical communication 
between a microphone hand set supported upon a bracket 28 and the CB radio 
within the device. Other of the knock-out panels may be selectively 
removed so to provide an electrical power communication to the radio 
disposed therein, or electric communication between an external antenna 
and the radio disposed therewithin. As further shown in FIG. 8, there is a 
pair of mounting brackets vertically disposed supporting the device upon a 
vehicle surface, with two carriage bolts 10 positioned to a pair of square 
holes 46, to be thereby held against rotation upon the securing of a nut 
to a downward end of the carriage bolts 10. 
In use, it is clear that a CB radio may be operated after the frontwardly 
disposed controls on the radio have been set, simply by energizing the 
microphone hand set which is externally mounted upon a bracket as at 28. 
It is known that CB radio operators tend to monitor a single channel, and 
the present invention allows for the CB radio to be turned on and set to a 
single channel, adjusted for appropriate squelch and fine tuning 
parameters, and thereafter totally enclosed by the front access door. Even 
with the front access door closed, an operator can constantly monitor the 
channel because of the sound communication provided through the box-like 
enclosure even with the access door in the locked position. If the 
operator desires to transmit, he simply removes the microphone handset 
from its external support bracket, 28, and activates the transmission 
button on the microphone handset, all without the necessity of opening the 
closed access door. 
Having now described certain embodiments according to the principles of the 
present invention, it is understood that my invention is to be limited 
solely to the scope of the appended claims.