Watertight, secured truck enclosure

• US 4,685,695 A
• Filed: 12/16/1985
• Issued: 08/11/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert C. Levee
• Original Assignee: Robert C. Levee
• Inventors: LeVee, Robert C.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Watts, Charles R.
• Application Number:
  US06/809,020
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 280/769, 280/770, 280/423 R, 280/423 B, 280/433, 280/425 A, 224/315, 224/42.42, 296/24 R, 296/37.6, 296/100
• US Class Current: 280/441.2
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 53/0828 Removable or fold-away traction couplings for non-specialised tractor vehicles

Abstract

The secured enclosure of the instant invention includes a multi-compartmental enclosure, each compartment having a watertight door. The enclosure includes a powered vent system to provide circulation of air through the enclosure and a hitch receiving well formed in the enclosure for receiving a hitch for attaching a pulled vehicle to the pickup truck frame. The fifth wheel hitch of the invention includes an engagement mechanism for engaging a pulling vehicle, a mount for the engagement mechanism, which is shiftable between an extended and retracted position, and an obstruction sensor which is operable to detect an impending impact between the pulling vehicle and the towed vehicle during the hitching process. A warning device means are operable with the sensor to alert the operator of the impending impact.

Claims

1. A secured enclosure in combination with a pickup truck frame comprising:

a multi-compartmental structure, each compartment therein having an opening and closure means associated therewith, said closure means having a watertight seal at its juncture with said compartment opening; and

a hitch receiving watertight well formed in said structure extending between a top side thereof and a bottom side thereof for receiving a hitch for attaching a towed vehicle threto, said well having a substantially frusto-conical form.

2. The enclosure of claim 1 which further includes powered vent means to provide circulation of air through said structure to prevent condensation of moisture therein, said vent means including blowers mounted in said structures adjacent a front end thereof and louvered slots located in the rear end of said structure, for allowing air flow and preventing the introduction of water into the structure.

3. The enclosure of claim 1 which further includes a truncated V-shaped groove extending from a rear end of said enclosure to the rearward portion of said hitch receiving well.

4. The enclosure of claim 1 wherein said structure includes a pair of spaced apart side storage means each having plural watertight compartments therein, a bed carried on the truck frame extending in an integral, watertight sealed relationship between said side storage means, and bed covering means extending between the upper margins of said side storage means spaced above said bed, said covering means being removably secured in a watertight relationship to said side storage means, and, with said side storage means and said bed, defines a central watertight compartment.

5. The enclosure of claim 4 wherein said covering means includes a rear portion and a forward portion, said rear portion being openably and removably secured to said forward portion, and including a top cover section hinged to said forward portion, and a rear door section hinged to said top cover section, and which further includes a spring fastener which is operable to release and secure said top cover section when said rear door section is opened and closed, respectively.

6. The enclosure of claim 4 wherein said well extends between said covering means and said bed and which further includes towed vehicle alignment means mounted adjacent the rear portion of said well on said covering means.

7. The enclosure of claim 4 which includes covering means fasteners, said covering means having receptacles for said fasteners formed therein, said fasteners including cam means receivable in said receptacles for securing said covering means in a sealed relationship.

8. The enclosure of claim 1 which includes hinge means for swingably securing said closure means to said structure, said hinge means having a fixed segment attached to the structure and a swinging segment attached to said closure means, said first and second segments being rotatable about a hinge pin, said swinging segment having a first arcuate portion and a second arcuate portion constructed and arranged to allow the closure mcans to swing clear of the compartment opening when the closure means is in an open condition and to promote the forming of said watertight seal when the closure means is in a closed condition.