BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     Storage space within modern vehicles is at a premium. One area within vehicles that has become more utilized is the center console, typically located between two front bucket seats. The size of the center console varies based on the size of the vehicle&#39;s passenger compartment. Because the center console space is easily accessible by the vehicle driver and thus, desirable, maximizing the amount of useful space in the center console is important. Space within the center console is especially useful for items that the driver uses while driving or otherwise seated in the driver&#39;s seat, such as change for tolls, cell phones, computer messaging devices, auxiliary music devices, and maps. The center console may also be beneficial for writing use, including the storage of pencils, pens and paper, the ability to view paper and maps while the vehicle driver is in the driver&#39;s seat, and the ability to write on these items.  
         [0002]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,565,137 to Snook et al. discloses a center console assembly that includes a table disposed therein. A linear drive mechanism pushes a table assembly out from the interior of the center console at an angle and then aligns the table horizontally. The table assembly shown, however, utilizes all of the working area within the center console and as a result is undesirable. U.S. Pat. No. 5,671,686 to Hurley et al. discloses a writing table housed within a vehicle center console. The writing table is attached via a hinge to the center console at a forward end. The writing table is unfolded from a position over the center console toward the dashboard. However, this writing table is located at an extreme forward end of the console and also covers a large area of useful space in the center console when not in use.  
         [0003]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,372,403 to Puerto discloses a writing table that can be withdrawn from an armrest. The writing table slides out from the armrest and can be completely retracted therein. When extracted from the armrest, the writing table may be tilted into an inclined position. However, the writing table prevents use of a large area of the console for other purposes. U.S. Pat. No. 6,032,587 to Salenbauch et al. discloses a folding table that can be pulled forward from a vehicle center console. Although the table is stored within the lid of the console and, thus, does not limit full use of the console, the table can not be moved from a horizontal position and as a result is not ergonomic for the driver while seated in the driver&#39;s seat.  
         [0004]     What is desired is an easily accessible, simple and ergonomic writing table that takes up a minimum amount of storage area in a console when not in use.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The present invention provides an improvement over the prior art by providing an expandable writing panel system that is simple to use and store and that takes up very little room within a center console or other vehicle console. A vehicle console includes a console body defined by a front wall, a rear wall, first and second spaced side walls, a base wall and a lid. Stored within the console is an expandable writing panel having an upper edge and a lower edge and a support leg having an upper edge and a lower edge. The support leg upper edge is hingedly attached to the writing panel. The expandable writing panel also includes writing panel guide tracks and support leg guide tracks adjacent to the writing panel guide tracks. When in an unextended state, the writing panel fits within the console body, adjacent to the support leg, both the writing panel and support leg are oriented generally vertical. In an extended state, the writing panel guide tracks divert the lower edge of the writing panel away from the lower edge of the support leg, thus, providing the writing panel with an inclined orientation.  
         [0006]     The writing panel system takes up very little room when in a retracted state which is a significant improvement over the prior art. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a passenger compartment of a vehicle including an expandable writing panel system of the present invention in a fully retracted position;  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a top view of a passenger compartment of a vehicle including an expandable writing panel system;  
         [0009]      FIG. 2   a  is a detailed cross-sectional view of a first variation of a track and channel of a writing panel system;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2   b  is a detailed cross-sectional view of a second variation of a track and channel of a writing panel system;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a side elevated view of an expandable writing panel system of the present invention in a first extended position;  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a side elevated view of an expandable writing panel system of the present invention in a second extended position;  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of an expandable writing panel system of the present invention in a fully extended position;  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an expandable writing panel system of the present invention in a fully retracted position;  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an expandable writing panel system of the present invention in a partially extended position;  
         [0016]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an expandable writing panel system of the present invention in a fully extended position; and  
         [0017]      FIG. 9  is a side elevational view of an alternate embodiment of an expandable writing panel system. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]     Referring to the  FIGS. 1 and 6 , an expandable writing panel system  10  for a vehicle console assembly  12  according to the present invention is illustrated. The expandable writing panel system  10  includes a writing panel  14 , support leg  16 , a pair of forward guide tracks  18  and  19 , a pair of rearward guide tracks  20  and  21 , a pair of writing panel guide pins  22  fixed to the writing panel  14  and a pair of support leg guide pins  24  fixed to the support leg  16 . The guide pins  22  are slidably received within the guide tracks  20  and  21 , and the guide pins  24  are slidably received within the guide tracks  18  and  19 .  
         [0019]     The console  12  is used to secure items that vehicle occupants wish to access easily for storage in a preferred orientation. Such items include cell phones, personal digital assistants (PDA), a notebook computer, gloves, an ice scraper, MP3 player, beverage container, or change. Referring to  FIG. 2 , a center console  12  is located between two front bucket seats of a vehicle  13 , as is well known in the art. Alternatively, a vehicle console  12  may be located between bucket seats in the rear of the vehicle or located flanking any seat in the vehicle. The console  12  has a generally rectangular shape and includes, generally, a front wall  26 , a rear wall  28 , first and second spaced side walls  30  and  32 , a base wall  34 , at least one internal dividing wall  35  that defines multiple storage spaces  37 ,  38 ,  39  and a lid  36  that covers at least one of the storage spaces.  
         [0020]     The expandable writing panel system  10  is configured within a storage space  38  of the console  12  when not in use. The location of the expandable writing panel system  10  is preferably within a storage space  38  between a storage space  37  for beverage containers and a storage space  39  for change, but may be located anywhere along the length, front to rear, of the console  12 . The expandable writing panel system  10  can function as a space divider within the console storage space  38  as described in more detail below. The writing panel  14  of the expandable writing panel system  10  is oriented perpendicular to the length of the console  12 .  
         [0021]     The expandable writing panel system  10  includes a writing panel  14  that functions as a work surface for the vehicle driver or passenger. The writing panel  14  is flat and when in a use position, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 7 , is inclined for easy viewing of, or writing on papers disposed thereon or attached thereto. The writing panel  14  includes an upper edge  40  and a lower edge  42 . A clip  44  is attached to or formed within the upper edge  40  of the writing panel  14 . The clip  44  clampingly secures papers or maps to the writing panel  14 . The lower edge  42  includes pins  22  for securing the writing panel  14  to the writing panel guide tracks  20  and  21 . Preferably, the pins  22  protrude from the sides of the writing panel  14  at the lower edge  42 . To provide smoother movement of the writing panel  14  within the writing panel guide tracks  20  and  21 , rollers may be used instead of pins  22 .  
         [0022]     The expandable writing panel system  10  also includes a support leg  16  that functions to support the writing panel  14  in an inclined position. The support leg  16  includes an upper edge  50  and a lower edge  52 . The upper edge  50  of the support leg  16  is hingedly affixed to the writing panel  14 . Preferably, the hinged connection  54  comprises a pin  55  on each side of the writing panel  14  that passes through the support leg  16  and allows relative rotational movement between the writing panel  14  and support leg  16 . Preferably, a spring  56  is attached to the support leg  16  and writing panel  14  at the hinged connection  54 . The spring  56  biases the support leg  16  and writing table  14  apart. This separating force assists the vehicle user in placing the writing table  14  into an inclined position, when desired. A pin type hinged connection  54  ( FIGS. 3-5 ) may be replaced by a living hinge ( FIGS. 6-8 ). A living hinge simply utilizes the elastic deformation properties of a polymer material to provide a structure where the writing panel  14  and support leg  16  force each other apart. The writing panel  14  and support leg  16  may be completely formed of a polymer or a polymer hinge may be attached to a non-polymer writing surface  14  and/or support leg  16 . The support leg lower edge  52  includes pins  24  for securing the support leg  16  to the support leg guide tracks  18  and  19 . Preferably, the pins  24  protrude from the sides of the support leg  16  at the lower edge  52 . To provide smoother movement of the support leg  16  within the support leg guide tracks  18  and  19 , rollers may be used instead of pins  24 .  
         [0023]     Referring to  FIG. 2   a ,  2   b  and  6 , the support leg guide tracks  18  and  19  are affixed to ( FIG. 2   b ) or formed within ( FIG. 2   a ) opposite side walls  30  and  32  of the console  12 . A channel  62  is defined in each of the support leg guide tracks  18  and  19 . Referring to  FIG. 3 , a first or lower section  66  of channel  62  is generally vertical. A second or upper section  68  of each channel  62  is continuous with, but is significantly shorter than the first section  66 . The second section  68  is oriented perpendicular to the first section  66  and in a forward direction. At an end of the second section  68  opposite the junction with the first section  66 , a seat  70  is provided. The seat  70  is a portion of the second section  68  with expanded dimensions on a lower side. The seat  70  functions as a resting place for the pins  24  in the support leg  16  when the writing table  14  is in an inclined position. The pins  24  will not easily pop out of the seat  70  unless the user is in the process of retracting the expandable writing panel system  10 .  
         [0024]     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the writing panel guide tracks  20  and  21  are positioned rearward of the support panel guide tracks  18  and  19  and also each define a channel  72  similar to the writing panel guide tracks  18  and  19 . The support panel guide tracks  20  and  21  are affixed to or formed in opposite side walls  30  and  32  of the console  12 , on the inner side of the side walls  30  and  32 , and function to guide the writing panel  14  in a desired direction. Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4  a first or lower section  76  of each channel  72  is generally vertical. The lower section  76  of each channel  72  is parallel and adjacent to the lower section  66  of each channel in the support leg guide tracks  18  and  19 . A second or upper section  78  of each channel  72  is continuous with the first section  76  and is oriented perpendicular to the first section  76  and in a rearward direction. The first section  76  is connected to the second section  78  through a gentle curve. A stop  79  is provided at the end of the second section  78  opposite the connection with the first section  76 .  
         [0025]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the writing panel  14 , in a retracted position, is housed between two barrier walls  15 . The barrier walls  15  act as a divider between two storage areas within the storage area  38  of the console  12 . When the writing panel  14  is extended and placed into an inclined position, the barrier walls  15  do not move. When the writing panel  14  is retracted within the console  12 , the barrier walls  15  also help protect the writing surface  14  from damage.  
         [0026]     Referring to  FIG. 9 , in an alternate embodiment of the expandable writing panel system  110 , the configuration of the writing panel guide tracks  120  and  121  (not shown) and support leg guide tracks  118  and  119  (not shown) are reversed. The writing panel guide tracks  120  and  121  are to the rear of the support leg guide tracks  118  and  119 . Specifically, the first or lower section  166  of each channel  162  of the support leg guide tracks  118  is generally vertical, but the upper section  168  is oriented perpendicular to the first section  166  and in a forward direction. The first or lower section  176  of each writing panel support track channel  172  is generally vertical and the upper section  178  is continuous with the first section  176  and is oriented perpendicular to the first section  176  and in a rearward direction. In this embodiment of the invention, the writing panel  114 , in a retracted position, may be placed very close to the lid  136  of the console  132 . The writing panel  114  can be extended and tilted into position without opening the lid  136  of the console  112 .  
         [0027]     In another embodiment of the invention shown in phantom lines, the writing panel guide track  120  is located directly below the console lid  136  and as a result, the writing panel  114  is partially or fully hidden from view when not in use. The lid must be raised during extension or retraction of the expandable writing panel system  110 , but may be closed when the panel system  110  is fully extended. In any of the configurations described above the expandable writing panel system  110  can be located within a section of the console fully enclosed by the lid  136 . When in such a location, in order to use the writing panel  114 , the lid  136  must be kept in an open position.  
         [0000]     Operation  
         [0028]     Referring to  FIGS. 3-5  and  6 - 9 , the operation of the first embodiment of the invention is shown beginning with the expandable writing panel system  10  in its retracted position. The user then grasps the writing panel  14  by the clip  44  or the panel&#39;s upper edge  40  adjacent to the clip  44  and pulls the writing panel  14  directly upward and outward from the storage area  38  of the console  12 . As the pins  24  at the lower edge of the support leg  16  arrive at the uppermost point of the support leg guide tracks  18  and  19 , the pins  22  in the writing panel  14  are entering the gentle curve of the writing panel guide tracks  20 - 21 . The upper edge  40  of the writing panel  14  is then tilted forward at which time the pins  24  on the lower edge of the support leg  16  move into the seats  70  on the second section  68  of the support leg guide tracks  18  and  19 . Force from the spring or living hinge  56  causes the pins  22  at the lower edge  42  of the writing panel  14  move to the stop  79  of the second section  78  of the writing panel guide tracks  20 .  
         [0029]     Once in place, maps and papers can be affixed to the writing panel  14  using the clip  44 . Additionally or alternatively, cell phones, MP3 players, etc. can be clipped to the writing panel  14  utilizing clip  44  or a clip on the device itself. To place the writing panel  14  once more into storage, the upper edge  40  of the writing panel  14  is grasped and pulled backwards against the resistance of the spring  56  or live hinge. The bottom edge  42  of the writing panel  14  is, thus, brought together with the bottom edge  52  of the support leg  16 . The writing panel  14  is then pulled upwards slightly to cause the pins  24  at the bottom of the support leg  16  to move out of the seats  70  and into the first section  66  of the writing panel guide tracks  18 . The writing panel  14  is then pushed downward until the expandable writing panel system  10  is in a completely retracted position.  
         [0030]     Referring to  FIG. 9 , the illustrated alternate embodiment of the expandable writing panel  110  is moved in a similar manner, except that the bottom edge  142  of the writing panel  114  rests in the seat  170  and the support leg  116  abuts the stop  179  when the writing panel  114  is in an extended position.  
         [0031]     The present invention provides a significant advantage by providing a writing table system that fits within a vehicle console without taking up much room. The present invention also provides an embodiment where the console lid hides the expandable writing panel from view when in a retracted position.  
         [0032]     Although the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain preferred and alternate embodiments, the invention is not limited to these specific embodiments. Minor variations and insubstantial differences in the various combinations of materials and methods of application may occur to those of ordinary skill in the art while remaining within the scope of the invention as claimed and equivalents.
The present invention is directed to an expandable writing panel system for a vehicle, the system including a writing panel and a support leg wherein the support leg upper edge is hingedly attached to the writing panel. The expandable writing panel system also includes writing panel guide tracks and support leg guide tracks adjacent to the writing panel guide tracks. When in an unextended state, the writing panel fits within the console body and is configured adjacent to the support leg and both are generally vertical and, in an extended state, the writing panel guide tracks divert the lower edge of the writing panel away from the lower edge of the support leg and the writing panel into an angled orientation.