Modular console assembly for vehicles having transmission shifter and parking brake mechanisms pre-assembled thereto and method for mounting the console assembly to a vehicle interior

A console assembly for mounting to a portion of a vehicle in an area between a pair of seats, the vehicle having a first quick connect fastener operably interconnected to a vehicle transmission and a second quick connect fastener operably interconnected to a vehicle parking brake, the console assembly comprising:

• a carrier adapted to mount to a portion of a vehicle in an area between the seats;
• a transmission shift lever pivotally mounted on the carrier for movement between first and second positions, the transmission shift lever having a third quick connect fastener adapted to mate with the first quick connect fastener, the third quick connect fastener movably mounted to the carrier wherein the pivotal movement of the transmission shift lever is converted to linear movement of the third quick connect fastener;
• a parking brake lever also mounted to the carrier for pivotal movement between first and second positions, the parking brake lever having a fourth quick connect fastener adapted to mate with the second quick connect fastener, the fourth quick connect fastener movably mounted to the carrier wherein the pivotal movement of the parking brake lever is converted to linear movement of the fourth quick connect fastener;
• whereby the assembly of the transmission shift lever, the parking brake lever and the carrier can then be mounted as a unit to the vehicle, and the transmission shift lever and the parking brake lever are respectively interconnected to the vehicle transmission and to the parking brake by simply pivoting the transmission shift lever and the parking brake lever which, in turn, lineraly extends the third and fourth quick connect fasteners into engagement with the first and second quick connect fasteners, respectively.

A console assembly for mounting to a vehicle interior between a pair of vehicle seats, the vehicle interior having a first quick connect fastener operably interconnected to a vehicle transmission and facing the console assembly from a first direction and a second quick connect fastener operably interconnected to a vehicle parking brake and facing the console assembly from a second direction, the console assembly comprising:

• a housing having a wall adapted to face the vehicle interior and to be mounted to the vehicle interior, the housing having a first opening and a second opening spaced from the first opening located in the wall;
• a transmission shift lever mounted to the housing, and provided with a third quick connect fastener thereon adapted to mate with the first quick connect fastener and having a handle extending from the first opening in the housing, the third quick connect fastener maintained in axial alignment with the first direction;
• a parking brake lever mounted to the housing, and provided with a fourth quick connect fastener thereon adapted to mate with the second quick connect fastener and having a handle extending from the second opening in the housing, the fourth quick connect fastener maintained in axial alignment with the second direction;
• wherein the third and fourth quick connect fasteners on the transmission shift lever and the parking brake lever, respectively, register with the vehicle transmission and parking brake mechanisms when the housing is located between the pair of vehicle seats so that the transmission shift lever and parking brake lever can be pre-assembled to the housing before installation within the vehicle interior and the handles on the transmission shift lever and the parking brake lever extend from the respective first and second openings for grasping by an operator of the vehicle after the housing is mounted therein, and an initial pivotal movement of the transmission shift lever handle and the parking brake lever handle extend the third and fourth quick connect fasteners into engagement with the.

In a vehicle with a passenger compartment having a pair of laterally spaced passenger seats and a console assembly located between the seats mounted to a vehicle support member, the console assembly enclosing at least one of a transmission shift lever and a parking brake lever pivotally mounted to the console assembly between a first and a second position, wherein the at least one of a transmission shift lever and a parking brake lever are interconnected to a corresponding transmission and parking brake, an improved console assembly which facilitates installation thereof comprises:

• a first quick connect fastener connected to the at least one of a transmission shift lever and a parking brake lever;
• a second quick connect fastener connected to the corresponding transmission and parking brake and adapted to mate with the first quick connect fastener;
• wherein the second quick connect fastener is axially aligned with the first quick connect fastener when the console assembly is mounted to the vehicle support member, and a mounting between the at least one of a transmission shift lever and a parking brake lever and the corresponding transmission and parking brake is accomplished through the interengagement of the first and second quick connect fasteners without the use of additional tools by moving the at least one of a transmission shift lever and a parking brake lever from the first position to the second position, which, in turn, extends the first quick connect fastener into interengagement with the second quick connect fastener.

A method for installing a console assembly within a vehicle interior for operably interconnecting at least one operational lever provided on the console assembly to a vehicle shifting/braking system, the at least one operational lever pivotally mounted to the console assembly for movement between a first position and a second position, comprising the steps of:

• providing a first quick connect fastener on the at least one operational lever for linear movement with the pivotal movement of the operational lever between the first and second positions;
• providing a second quick connect fastener on the vehicle shifting/braking system and adapted to be releasably interconnected to the first quick connect fastener;
• aligning the first and second quick connect fasteners when the console assembly is mounted within the vehicle;
• and
• pivotally moving the operational lever from the first position to the second position wherein the first quick connect fastener is linearly extended and engaged within the second quick connect fastener.