Portable console

Claim 2

An integrally molded plastic portable console for an automobile having a floor and a seat, the seat having a driver''s side and a passenger''s side, said console comprising: an L-shaped container having an open interior and an open top, said container comprising a shallow rear portion that rests on the automobile seat and an inwardly tapering depending front portion that extends downwardly over the front of the seat toward the floor, said container having an inner side adjacent the driver''s side and an outer side adjacent the passenger''s side, said rear portion being subdivided into a plurality of individual compartments by means of integrally formed dividers; a top comprising a top panel and depending side walls pivotally connected to the container by living hinges at the outer side thereof, said top being pivotable from a closed position, wherein the top closes the top of the container, to an open position, wherein the container is open and the top extends outwardly from the outer side of the container, the top being formed such that the top serves as an open tray when the top is open and serves as an arm rest when the top is closed; stop means mounted on the outer side of the console for holding the top in a generally level position when it is open; and a carrying handle integrally formed in the console, said carrying handle comprising a hand opening at the top of the depending front portion of the container and a corresponding opening in the front of the top, with the openings being positioned so as to be in juxtaposition when the top is closed, the portions of the top and container between the openings forming the carrying handle.

Claim 3

A portable console as claimed in claim 1 wherein the stop means comprises at least one stop projection integrally formed on the exterior surfaces of the outer side of the container, said stop projection being positioned adjacent the top of the container and extending outwardly therefrom a sufficient distance to engage the outer side wall on the top when the top is open and in a level position.

Claim 4

A portable console as claimed in claim 2 wherein the stop means comprises three evenly spaced stop projections on the outer side of the container, and the top and container are interconnected by a pair of living hinges positioned between the stop projections.

Claim 5

A portable console as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising: an outwardly extending ridge formed around the upper portion of the container; and an integrally molded flexible clasp extending downwardly from the inner side wall of the top to a position adjacent the ridge on the container, said clasp having a protrusion thereon that resiliently fits over the ridge on the container when the top is closed, thereby removably holding the top in its closed position.

Claim 6

A portable console as claimed in claim 4 wherein: the clasp is formed on the exterior surface of the inner side wall of the top; depending guide members are integrally formed on the interior surface of the inner side wall of the top adjacent each side of the protrusion on the clasp, said guide members being spaced apart from the clasp such that the guide members and clasp form a narrow channel in which the inner side of the container snugly fits when the top is closed, thereby assuring firm clasping action when the top is closed.

Claim 7

An integrally molded, one piece, moldable plastic portable console for an automobile seat having a driver''s side and a passenger side comprising: an L-shaped container having an open interior and open top, said container comprising a back portion that rests on the seat and a depending front portion that extends downwardly over the front of the automobile seat toward the floor of the automobile, said front portion being tapered inwardly as it extends downwaRdly, said container further comprising an inner side adjacent the driver''s side and an outer side adjacent the passenger''s side; a domed top comprising a top surface and inner, outer, front, and back depending side walls corresponding to the four sides of the container, said top being formed so as to removably fit over the top of the container, said top serving as an arm rest when closed on the top of the container; an integrally molded living hinge interconnecting the top to the top of the container at the outer sides thereof, said hinge permitting pivotal movement of the top from a closed position, wherein the top is closed, to an open position, wherein the top of the container is open and the top extends outwardly from the outer side of the container and serves as an open tray; a plurality of stop projections extending outwardly from the upper portion of the exterior surface on the outer side of the container, said projections being formed so as to engage and hold the top in a level position when it is opened; a protrusion formed on the upper portion of the exterior surface of the inner side of the container; an integrally molded flexible clasp extending downwardly from the exterior surface of the inner side wall of the top at a position adjacent the protrusion on the container, said clasp having a protrusion thereon that resiliently fits over the protrusion on the container when the top is closed, thereby holding the top in its closed position; depending guide members integrally formed on the interior surface of the inner side wall of the top adjacent each side of the protrusion on the clasp, said guide members being positioned immediately adjacent the interior surface of the container when the container is closed, such that the guide members and clasps form a narrow channel in which the inner side of the container snugly fits when the top is closed; integrally molded dividers that subdivide the back portion into a plurality of individual compartments; and an integrally formed carrying handle in the front of the console comprising an elongated hand opening in the container adjacent the top of the front portion thereof and a corresponding elongated hand opening in the front side wall of the top opposite the hand opening in the container, said hand openings being formed so as to leave a section of top and container therebetween, which forms the carrying handle.

Claim 8

An integrally molded, one piece, moldable plastic portable console for an automobile seat having a driver''s side and a passenger side comprising: an L-shaped container having an open interior and open top, said container comprising a back portion that rests on the seat and a depending front portion that extends downwardly over the front of the automobile seat toward the floor of the automobile, said front portion being tapered inwardly as it extends downwaRdly, said container further comprising an inner side adjacent the driver''s side and an outer side adjacent the passenger''s side; a domed top comprising a top surface and inner, outer, front, and back depending side walls corresponding to the four sides of the container, said top being formed so as to removably fit over the top of the container, said top serving as an arm rest when closed on the top of the container; an integrally molded living hinge interconnecting the top to the top of the container at the outer sides thereof, said hinge permitting pivotal movement of the top from a closed position, wherein the top is closed, to an open position, wherein the top of the container is open and the top extends outwardly from the outer side of the container and serves as an open tray; a plurality of stop projections extending outwardly from the upper portion of the exterior surface on the outer side of the container, said projections being formed so as to engage and hold the top in a level position when it is opened; a protrusion formed on the upper portion of the exterior surface of the inner side of the container; an integrally molded flexible clasp extending downwardly from the exterior surface of the inner side wall of the top at a position adjacent the protrusion on the container, said clasp having a protrusion thereon that resiliently fits over the protrusion on the container when the top is closed, thereby holding the top in its closed position; depending guide members integrally formed on the interior surface of the inner side wall of the top adjacent each side of the protrusion on the clasp, said guide members being positioned immediately adjacent the interior surface of the container when the container is closed, such that the guide members and clasps form a narrow channel in which the inner side of the container snugly fits when the top is closed; integrally molded dividers that subdivide the back portion into a plurality of individual compartments; and an integrally formed carrying handle in the front of the console comprising an elongated hand opening in the container adjacent the top of the front portion thereof and a corresponding elongated hand opening in the front side wall of the top opposite the hand opening in the container, said hand openings being formed so as to leave a section of top and container therebetween, which forms the carrying handle.