Tool box assembly

• US 5,398,987 A
• Filed: 08/02/1993
• Issued: 03/21/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Geneva Manufacturing, Inc.
• Original Assignee: John C. Sturgis
• Inventors: Sturgis, John C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kramer, Dean J.
• Application Number:
  US08/100,245
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• Field of Search: 296/37.1, 296/37.6, 224/42.32, 224/42.42, 224/42.43, 224/42.44, 312/310, 312/311, 312/902, 206/372
• 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 tool box assembly for use in a bed of a pick-up truck comprising, a storage container having a bottom, a top, a door attached to the bottom, the door pivotable from a vertical closed position to a horizontal open position and a mechanism for affixing the storage container to the pickup truck bed, a tool box pivotably attached to the storage container, the tool box manually pivotable about a vertical axis between a storage position and an operable position, the tool box disposed substantially within the storage container in the storage position and disposed partially outside the storage box in the operable position, the tool box including a mechanism engageable with the door in the open position for facilitating the pivoting of the tool box between the storage position and the operable position.

Claims

1. A tool box assembly for use in a bed of a pick-up truck comprising:

a storage container affixable to said bed, said storage container having a bottom, a top, a door attached to said bottom, said door pivotable from a vertical closed position to a horizontal open position;

a tool box pivotably attached to said storage container, said tool box manually pivotable about a vertical axis between a storage position and an operable position, said tool box disposed substantially within said storage container in said storage position and disposed partially outside said storage box in said operable position;

said tool box including one or more rollers engageable with said door in said open position for facilitating said pivoting of said tool box between said storage position and said operable position;

a vertically extending hinge; and

a stabilizing locking member extending from said top of said tool box and receivable in a cooperating channel provided within said top of said storage container wherein said locking member is received within said channel when said tool box is in said storage position.

2. The tool box assembly as in claim 1 wherein said tool box has a circular bearing member extending from said base of said tool box and said storage container has a cooperating circular journal, said circular bearing member pivotably supported within said circular journal for pivotably connecting said tool box to said storage container.

3. The tool box assembly as in claim 2 wherein said tool box further includes a second circular bearing member extending from said top of said tool box and a second cooperating circular journal provided within said top of said storage container, said second circular bearing member pivotably supported within said second circular journal for pivotably connecting said tool box to said storage container.

4. A tool box assembly for use in a bed of a pick-up truck comprising:

a storage container affixable to said bed, said storage container having a bottom, a top, a door attached to said bottom, said door pivotable from a vertical closed position to a horizontal open position;

a tool box pivotably attached to said storage container, said tool box manually pivotable about a vertical axis between a storage position and an operable position, said tool box disposed substantially within said storage container in said storage position and disposed partially outside said storage box in said operable position;

said tool box including one or more rollers engageable with said door in said open position for facilitating said pivoting of said tool box between said storage position and said operable position; and

a rear wall extending from said top to said bottom and at least one shock absorbent member attached to said rear wall, said at least one shock absorbing member engaging said tool box in said storage position to reduce the vibration of said tool box within said storage container.

5. A tool box assembly for use in a bed of a truck comprising:

a storage container affixable to said bed, said storage container having a bottom, a top, a door attached to said bottom, pivotable from a vertical closed position to a horizontal open position;

a tool box pivotably attached to said storage container, said tool box pivotable about a vertical axis between a storage position and an operable position, said tool box being substantially disposed within said storage container in said storage position and being partially disposed outside said storage box in said operable position; and

a support platform attached to said tool box, said support platform including a means for rollingly supporting said support platform and a means for locking said support platform in a stationary position, said rolling means allowing pivotable movement of said tool box and support platform about said vertical axis, said rolling means rollingly engaging said door in said open horizontal position facilitating the pivoting of said tool box between said storage position and said operable position.

6. A tool box assembly as in claim 5 wherein said means for locking said support platform in a stationary position comprises:

an elongate member having a tapered segment on one end;

a truss member affixed to said support platform including at least one extending leg member, said leg member having a support aperture provided therethrough, said elongate member passes through said support aperture and slidably supports said elongate member in a horizontal position;

a first shoulder member affixed to said support platform adjacent said truss member, said shoulder member having a throughbore;

a second shoulder member affixed to said support platform adjacent said first shoulder member, said second shoulder member having a throughbore coaxial with said first shoulder member throughbore;

an actuating member disposed between said first and second shoulder members, said actuating member cooperable with a locking hole provided in said bottom of said support container to lock said support platform in said stationary position, said actuating member including an opening receiving said tapered segment of said elongate member, said tapered segment translating a horizontal displacement of said elongate member into vertical displacement of said actuating member, said vertical displacement between a locking position and a free position wherein said actuating member is partially disposed within said locking hole in said locking position and is completely outside said locking hole in said free position.

7. The tool box assembly as in claim 6 further comprising a spring member biasing said elongate member in a horizontal direction selected to place said actuating member in said locking position.