Vehicle equipment console

An aftermarket equipment console for use in a vehicle driver compartment having a dashboard, floor and driver seat, the equipment console comprising:

• a console body configured for aftermarket installation into a vehicle, the console body having:
• a front configured to receive and support multiple pieces of add-on equipment so that front faces of the pieces of add-on equipment define a generally planar instrument panel operable from the front of the console body;
• and
• a back shaped to integrate the equipment console with the dashboard, where the console body is proportioned so that, when the console body is installed in the vehicle, the instrument panel is located entirely forward of mounting hardware used to secure the driver seat to the floor;
• and
• a floor plate configured to be mounted within the vehicle driver compartment so that the floor plate extends adjacent the floor between the driver seat and a passenger seat included in the vehicle driver compartment, where a front end of the floor plate is secured to a bottom of the console body.

An equipment console for use in a vehicle driver compartment having a dashboard, floor and driver seat, the equipment console comprising:

• a generally wedge-shaped equipment case integrated with and extending outward from the dashboard, the equipment case including:
• a front configured to receive and support multiple pieces of add-on equipment so that front faces of the pieces of add-on equipment define a generally planar instrument panel operable from the front of the equipment case;
• and
• two sides spaced from each other and extending parallel to each other from the front of the equipment case, the sides each including an elongate back edge portion generally opposite the front of the equipment case, where each elongate edge portion is shaped to conform to a cross section of the dashboard, where the equipment case is proportioned so that the instrument panel is entirely forward of mounting hardware used to secure the driver seat to the floor, and where the equipment case covers an area of the dashboard in which climate controls were originally installed, an upper portion of the equipment case being adapted to receive and secure the climate controls in a relocated position so that the climate controls are operable from the front of the console body equipment case;
• and
• a floor plate configured to be mounted within the vehicle driver compartment so that the floor plate extends adjacent the floor between the driver seat and a passenger seat included in the vehicle driver compartment, where a front end of the floor plate is secured to a bottom of the equipment case.

An automobile, comprising:

• a driver compartment having a dashboard, floor and driver seat;
• and
• a console installed in the driver compartment and having a console body for supporting add-on equipment in a location accessible to a driver seated in the driver seat, the console body having:
• a front, including a mounting frame configured to receive and support the add-on equipment;
• and
• a back generally opposite the front, the back having a profile that conforms at least partially to a contour of the dashboard, where the console body covers an area of the dashboard in which climate controls were originally installed, and where an upper portion of the console body is adapted to receive and secure the climate controls in a relocated position so that they may be operated from the front of the console body;
• and
• a floor plate configured to be mounted within the driver compartment so that the floor plate extends adjacent the floor between the driver seat and a passenger seat included in the driver compartment, where a front end of the floor plate is secured to a bottom of the console body.