Storage Box with Slide Out Storage Tray

• US 20110037286A1
• Filed: 10/18/2010
• Published: 02/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael W. Nebel
• Original Assignee: Michael W. Nebel
• Inventors: Nebel, Michael W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,757,458 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/37.6
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/06 for tools or spare parts for vehicle roof parts B60J7/20; for spare wheels B62D
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 9/00 Supplementary fittings on vehicle exterior for carrying loads, e.g. luggage, sports gear or the like

Abstract

A storage box comprises a housing with open ends and a tray that slides out either open end and up to at least fifty percent or up to at least sixty percent of the length of the tray may slide out either open end. Latch members operable from either open end of the housing selectively hold the tray in a centered position and can be released to allow the tray to slide out a selected end of the housing. Multiple latch member mating members may be associated with the housing for selective engagement by the latch members to latch the tray in multiple extended positions between the centered position and fully retracted positions out either the first or second open ends. Latch engagement members mounted on the doors engage latches connecting the tray to the housing when the doors are shut to prevent the latches from becoming unlatched when the doors are shut.

Claims

1. A storage box comprising:

a housing including a first end and a second end, the first end and the second end being positioned opposite each other along a lengthwise axis of the housing; and

a tray that moves between a first position where the tray extends out of the first end of the housing and a second position where the tray extends out the second end of the housing.

2. A truck comprising a bed and the storage box of claim 1 positioned transverse across the bed.

3. The truck of claim 2 wherein the truck is a flatbed truck.

4. The storage box of claim 1 comprising a first door that covers the first end and a second door that covers the second end.

5. The storage box of claim 1 wherein the housing has an open bottom but is otherwise enclosed.

6. The storage box of claim 1 wherein the tray is slidably coupled to the housing.

7. The storage box of claim 1 wherein the tray is supported by a plurality of roller bearings projecting inward from the housing.

8. The storage box of claim 1 comprising a first stop member that limits the length the tray may extend out of the first end of the housing and a second stop member that limits the length the tray may extend out of the second end of the housing.

9. The storage box of claim 8 wherein the first stop member and the second stop member are positioned on opposite sides of the tray.

10. The storage box of claim 1 comprising a first latch assembly that prevents the tray from extending out of the first end of the housing when the tray is retracted in the housing and a second latch assembly that prevents the tray from extending out of the second end of the housing when the tray is retracted in the housing.

15. The storage box of claim 1 wherein the tray is slidably coupled to the housing.

11. A storage box comprising

a housing including a first end positioned at one end of a lengthwise axis of the housing;

a door that covers the first end of the housing and moves between an open position and a closed position;

a tray that moves out of the first end of the housing; and

a latch assembly that prevents the tray from moving out the first end of the housing, the latch assembly moving between a latched position and an unlatched position;

wherein the door includes a latch engagement member that engages the latch assembly when the tray is in the housing and the door is in the closed position to prevent the latch assembly from moving to the unlatched position.

12. A truck comprising a bed and the storage box of claim 11 positioned transverse across the bed.

13. The truck of claim 12 wherein the truck is a flatbed truck.

14. The storage box of claim 11 wherein the door is a first door, the latch assembly is a first latch assembly, and the latch engagement member is a first latch engagement member,

wherein the housing includes a second end positioned opposite the first end;

the storage box comprising;

a second door that covers the second end of the housing and moves between an open position and a closed position;

a second latch assembly that prevents the tray from moving out the second end of the housing, the second latch assembly moving between a latched position and an unlatched position;

wherein the second door includes a second latch engagement member that engages the second latch assembly when the tray is in the housing and the second door is in the closed position to prevent the second latch assembly from moving to the unlatched position.

16. A storage box comprising:

a housing including a first end and a second end, the first end and the second end being positioned opposite each other along a lengthwise axis of the housing; and

a tray that moves between a first position where the tray extends out of the first end of the housing and a second position where the tray extends out the second end of the housing;

a first latch assembly that prevents the tray from extending out of the first end of the housing when the tray is retracted in the housing;

a second latch assembly that prevents the tray from extending out of the second end of the housing when the tray is retracted in the housing;

a first stop member that limits the length the tray may extend out of the first end of the housing; and

a second stop member that limits the length the tray may extend out of the second end of the housing.

17. A truck comprising a bed and the storage box of claim 16 positioned transverse across the bed.

18. The truck of claim 17 wherein the truck is a flatbed truck.

19. The storage box of claim 16 comprising a first door that covers the first end and a second door that covers the second end.

20. The storage box of claim 16 wherein the tray is slidably coupled to the housing.