Panel assembly for use in variously mounting radio equipment in vehicles

A rectangular frame has two pairs of opposing runners formed along the inner edges of the longitudinal sides thereof which are normally oriented horizontally. The pairs of runners are separated from each other by a space large enough to accomodate the installation of a panel member in each such pair of runners. The panel members have a slider arrangement means formed along the top and bottom edges thereof, the slider arrangement matingly engages an associated pair of the runners for slidable positioning therealong. The panel members have apertures formed therein through which radio control shafts can be fitted. Such panel members can be selectively positioned along their associated runners to accomodate shafts located in various positions. Various such panel members having different mounting structures are provided to suit a variety of different mounting installations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to devices for use in installing radio equipment in 
vehicles and more particularly to a panel assembly for such a device which 
can be adapted for use in a variety of different radio installations. 
2. Description of the Related Art 
With the great variety of different vehicles and radio equipment available 
for installation therein, it is necessary to provide a great variety of 
different mounting hardware and panels to suit the individual installation 
requirements for each vehicle and radio equipment. In the past, this has 
required the provision of a great variety of components for use with 
different radio equipment as installed in each particular vehicle. 
This problem has been alleviated by providing universal mounting systems as 
described in various patents such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,742,978, issued May 
10, 1988 to Robert J. Ponticelli; U.S. Pat. No. 4,699,341 issued Oct. 13, 
1987 to Robert J. Ponticelli; U.S. Pat. No. 4,067,654 issued Jan. 10, 1978 
to Robert P. Maniaci; U.S. Pat. No. 3,685,879 issued Aug. 22, 1972 to Tom 
T. Tsuji; U.S. Pat. No. 4,560,124 issued Dec. 24, 1985 to Roger J. Alves; 
and U.S. Pat. No. 3,922,047 issued Nov. 25, 1975 to Tom T. Tsuji. 
In the Tsuji and Alves patents, elongated openings are provided in the 
panels to permit a small range of lateral adjustment of the panels to 
accomodate different radios having different spacings between their 
control shafts. In Ponticelli('978) and Maniaci, openings for the control 
shafts which are enlarged both horizontally and vertically are provided to 
permit a limited range of accommodation to shafts located in various 
positions. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The device of the present invention is an improvement over the devices of 
the aforementioned prior art patents having the ability to accommodate a 
variety of radio shaft positions in that it both permits a much wider 
range of positional adjustment and allows for the ready installation of a 
variety of different panel assemblies in the mounting frame which can be 
used in attaching the frame to different support structures. 
The device of the present invention achieves this improved end result by 
employing a pair of panel members having slider means along the opposite 
edges thereof. The frame has oppositely positioned pairs of runners 
running along the inner edges of the opposite horizontal portions thereof. 
An opening is provided between the pairs of runners to permit the 
installation of the panel members on the left and right sides of the frame 
with the slider means thereof riding on the runners for slidable 
positioning therealong. The panel members have apertures formed therein 
for receiving the shafts of a radio or other electronic equipment 
therethrough. The positions of these apertures can be adjusted over a wide 
range by slidable positioning of the panel members along the runners of 
the frame as may be desired. A variety of different panel assemblies can 
readily be installed in the frame, such panel assemblies having different 
mounting structures for attachment to different mounting supports.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Referring to FIGS. 1-3A, a preferred embodiment of the invention is 
illustrated. Panel assembly 11 has a lower portion 11a and an upper 
portion 11b which can be used to house sound or radio equipment in a 
vehicle. The panel assembly can be attached to the dashboard of the 
vehicle by means of screws which fit through apertured mounting tabs 14. 
Lower portion 11a has panel sections 15a-15c which are adapted to be 
selectively removed as may be required to accommodate different sound and 
radio installations. Upper portion 11b has an open frame 16. A first pair 
of runners 17a, 17b are formed along the inner edge of the upper frame 
portion 17 and a second pair of runners 18a and 18b are formed along the 
inner edge of the lower frame portion 18. Spaces 19 and 20 are provided 
between runners 17a and 17b and 18a and 18b respectively, these spaces 
being large enough to permit the installation of panel members 22 and 23 
in the runners. 
As best can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 3A, the two panel members 22 and 23 are 
similar except that panel member 22 is adapted for installation in the 
left portion of the frame while panel member 23 is adapted for 
installation in the right portion thereof. Slider means for enabling 
slidable positioning of the panel members along the runners 17a, 17b, 18a, 
and 18b is provided in each of the panel members by single elongated 
projection 24 formed on one side of the panel members and paired elongated 
projections 25 and 26, these projections effectively forming a channel 27 
therebetween in which the runners ride. Elongated apertures 30 are formed 
in the panel members for receiving the control shafts of the equipment 
being mounted. The positions along the frame of each of panel members 22 
and 23 can be varied to accomodate different equipments having various 
spacings between their control shafts. 
Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, a first alternative configuration for the 
panel members of the invention is shown. This panel member is slidably 
installed along the runners of the frame in the same manner as that of the 
preferred embodiment. However, a bracket 35 having mounting slots 36 
formed therein is incorporated in the panel member, this mounting bracket 
being used in mounting the panel assembly. In this second embodiment 
variable positioning of the panel members along the runners is limited. 
Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7 a second alternative configuration for the 
panel members is shown. This embodiment is slidably mounted on the runners 
in the same manner as the previously described embodiments but as for the 
embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 includes means for mounting the panel 
assembly. In this embodiment such mounting means is provided by a pair of 
arms 40 which have pointed end portions which can be fitted into mating 
slots in a support member. With this type of mounting, the adjustment of 
the panel members relative to each other is limited. 
Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, a second alternative configuration for the 
panel members is illustrated. In this embodiment a mounting bracket 42 
having apertures 43 and 44 formed therein for receiving mounting hardware 
is provided for each panel member. As for the two prior embodiments, this 
mounting bracket may be utilized to mount the assembly in the vehicle. The 
panel members are similarly installed in the frame but with the brackets 
attached to the support structure, lateral movement of the panel members 
is limited. 
While the invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is to 
be clearly understood that this is intended by way of illustration and 
example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the scope of the 
invention being limited only by the terms of the following claims.