Tool tray

• US 4,915,437 A
• Filed: 03/27/1989
• Issued: 04/10/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cherry, Kim
• Original Assignee: Cherry, Kim
• Inventors: Cherry, Kim
• Primary Examiner(s): Pedder, Dennis H.
• Application Number:
  US07/328,879
• Time in Patent Office: 379 Days
• Field of Search: 296/26, 296/37.6, 224/42.23, 224/42.41-42.44, 312/DIG. 33, 312/333, 108/44, 211/151
• 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

Abstract

A tool tray 10 which is attachable to the underside of a flatbed utility truck 1 and slidably supported by a pair of receiving channels 19 and 20 which are attached to the underside of a flatbed.

Tool tray 10 is constructed from a rectangular frame having a pair of side members 11 and 12 and a pair of end members 13 and 14 which define the front and back ends. A rectangular bottom panel 15 is welded to the lower edges of side and end members thereby constructing a tray. A first pair of rollers 16 are each attached toward the back end of each side member and are disposed toward the upper edges of their respective side members to engage the upper lips of receiving channels 19 and 20. Likewise, a second pair of rollers 17 are disposed on respective side members toward the lower edges of the side members to engage the lower lips of the receiving channels 19 and 20.

A rod 21 is provided and is rotatably attached substantially along the length of left side member 12. Rod 21 has a plurality of stop dogs 23, each having a V-shaped notch, radially aligned and attached for engaging retaining dog 24 which is attached to the adjacent receiving channel 20. Handle 25 is attached to an extending end of rod 21 for imparting an axial rotation thereto.

Claims

1. A tool tray for storing tools on the underside of the bed of a utility truck, said truck including a pair of longitudinal frame members, said members forming receiving channels having an upper lip and a lower lip, and being abutted in a parallel spaced relation to the underside of the bed, which comprises:

a rectangular frame having first and second length defining side members and front and back width defining end members, wherein said side and end members each have an upper edge and lower edge;

a rectangular bottom panel having a similar length and width to that of said rectangular frame and being attached to said frame along the lower edges of said side and end members;

roller means being attached to said rectangular frame and in constant slidable engagement with said upper and lower lips of said receiving channels and bearing against said lower lip, in the manner of a fulcrum and against said upper lip to allow cantilever support for said tray for slidably supporting said rectangular frame in said receiving channels; and

engagement means cooperatively attached between said rectangular frame and said receiving channels for holding said rectangular frame in any one of a plurality of preselected displacement positions with respect to said receiving channels, said plurality of displacement positions including an open position, a closed position, and positions therebetween.

2. The tool tray of claim 1 wherein said roller means comprises:

a first pair of rollers, one being attached to said first side member and one being attached to said second side member, where both rollers of said first pair are disposed on their respective side members toward an end of the respective side member directly adjacent said back end member and further toward the upper edges of their respective side members such that a portion of each roller of the first pair rotatably engages the upper lip of an adjacent receiving channel; and

a second pair of rollers, one being attached to said first side member and one being attached to said second side member, where both rollers of said second pair are disposed on their respective side members in front of the rollers of said first pair and further toward the lower edges of their respective side members such that a portion of each roller of the second pair rotatably engages the lower lip of an adjacent receiving channel.

3. The tool tray of claim 2 wherein the engagement means comprises:

a rod being rotatably attached substantially along the length of said first side member and having an actuator handle extending radially therefrom and disposed in front of said front end member for imparting a rotation to the rod;

a plurality of dogs, each having a notch, being radially aligned and attached to said rod; and

a retaining dog being attached to the receiving channel adjacent said first side member and further being disposed to selectively engage one of any of the plurality of stop dogs.

4. The tool tray of claim 1 wherein the engagement means comprises:

a rod being rotatably attached substantially along the length of said first side member and having an actuator handle extending radially therefrom and disposed in front of said front end member for imparting a rotation to the rod;

a plurality of stop dogs, each having a notch, being radially aligned and attached to said rod; and

a retaining dog being attached to the receiving channel adjacent said first side member and further being disposed to selectively engage one of any of the plurality of stop dogs.