Vehicle console assembly

A console assembly comprising:

• a hood comprising one or more base mounting points configured for installation to a vehicle body structure, and one or more accessory mounting points spaced from and rigidly connected to the one or more base mounting points;
• and
• a shroud defining an enclosed volume, the shroud being configured to install over at least a portion of the hood, with the one or more base mounting points contained within the enclosed volume, and the one or more accessory mounting points located outside the enclosed volume;
• wherein, when the hood is attached to the vehicle body structure and the shroud is installed over the hood, the hood conveys respective loads applied to the one or more accessory mounting points to the one or more base mounting points through the hood and independently of the shroud, and
• wherein the shroud comprises one or more storage locations, and the one or more accessory mounting points comprises a horizontally-extending mounting platform located above the one or more storage locations.

A console accessory mounting hood comprising:

• a first leg having respective front and rear mounting points displaced along a longitudinal direction and configured to secure to a drivetrain tunnel of an automobile body;
• a second leg having respective front and rear mounting points displaced along the longitudinal direction and configured to secure to the drivetrain tunnel;
• and
• a platform connected to the first leg and the second leg and, when the respective front and rear mounting points of the first leg and the second leg are positioned to be secured to the vehicle body, the platform is positioned above the drivetrain tunnel, first leg and the second leg, and extends in a lateral direction transverse to the longitudinal direction;
• wherein the platform comprises at least one accessory mounting point, and
• wherein the platform, the first leg and the second leg are configured to convey loads applied to the at least one accessory mounting point to the vehicle body through the hood,
• wherein the platform is connected to the first leg by one or more first fasteners, and the platform is connected to the second leg by one or more second fasteners, and
• wherein:
• the first leg comprises a first planar portion extending perpendicular to the lateral direction;
• the second leg comprises a second planar portion extending perpendicular to the lateral direction;
• the platform comprises a third planar portion extending perpendicular to the lateral direction and positioned in contact with the first planar portion when the platform is connected to the first leg by the one or more first fasteners;
• and
• the platform comprises a fourth planar portion extending perpendicular to the lateral direction and positioned in contact with the second planar portion when the platform is connected to the second leg by the one or more second fasteners.

A method for installing a console assembly, the method comprising:

• rigidly securing a hood having one or more base mounting points and one or more accessory mounting points spaced from and rigidly connected to the one or more base mounting points to an automobile at a drivetrain tunnel of the automobile via the one or more base mounting points;
• and
• securing a shroud defining an enclosed volume to the automobile with the one or more base mounting points contained within the enclosed volume, and the one or more accessory mounting points located outside the enclosed volume, and
• wherein the hood comprises:
• a first leg having at least one first base mounting point;
• a second leg having at least one second base mounting point;
• and
• a platform having at least one first accessory mounting point, wherein the platform comprises a unitary part that is separate from and configured to be attached to the first leg and the second leg.