Storage unit slidably mounted to vehicle

• US 6,460,744 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2001
• Issued: 10/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ricky V. Redman
• Original Assignee: Marshall Lance, Sandra Lance
• Inventors: Lance, Sandra, Lance, Marshall
• Primary Examiner(s): Cronin, Stephen K.
• Application Number:
  US09/799,255
• Publication Number:
  US 20020014505A1
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 224/404, 224/403, 224/547, 224/557, 296/37.6
• US Class Current: 224/404
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/14 the object being a workshop for servicing, for maintenance, or for carrying workmen during work lifting devices for movable platforms or cabins for workmen B66F11/04

Abstract

A storage unit adapted to be slidably coupled to a rear floor portion of a vehicle, such as a pickup truck, may be provided with a mounting structure and a cabinet slidably coupled to the mounting structure. The storage unit may be provided with a plurality of drawers disposed in the cabinet and positioned within the cabinet between a pair of cabinet sidewalls, each of the drawers being movable in a direction parallel to the width of the cabinet. The storage unit may have a cover operatively connected to the cabinet, the cover being movable between an open position in which the drawers may be opened and a closed position in which the cover prevents the drawers from being opened, and a cover latch associated with the cover that allows the cover to be latched in its closed position.

Claims

1. A vehicle mounted storage structure mounted to a rear floor portion of a vehicle having a rearwardly facing cab wall, a first vehicle sidewall, a first wheel well having a portion which extends outwardly from a portion of said first vehicle sidewall, a second vehicle sidewall, a second wheel well having a portion which extends outwardly from a portion of said second vehicle sidewall, and a rear door, said vehicle mounted storage structure comprising:

a mounting structure mounted to said rear floor portion of said vehicle, said mounting structure comprising;

a first guide member mounted to said rear floor portion of said vehicle, said first guide member being mounted in a direction substantially parallel to said first vehicle sidewall; and

a second guide member mounted to said rear floor portion of said vehicle, said second guide member being mounted in a direction substantially parallel to said second vehicle sidewall and substantially parallel to said first guide member;

a cabinet slidably coupled to said mounting structure, said mounting structure allowing said cabinet to slide between a first position in which said cabinet is disposed adjacent said rearwardly facing cab wall and a second position in which said cabinet is disposed adjacent said rear door of said vehicle, said cabinet having a length of at least about three feet, a width of at least about twelve inches, and a height of at least about fifteen inches, said cabinet comprising;

a first cabinet sidewall that is spaced from said first vehicle sidewall by at least about four inches in a direction perpendicular to said first cabinet sidewall;

a second cabinet sidewall spaced from said first cabinet sidewall by at least about three feet in a direction parallel to said length of cabinet, said second cabinet sidewall being spaced from said second vehicle sidewall by at least about four inches in a direction perpendicular to said second cabinet sidewall;

a rear cabinet member connected to said first and second cabinet sidewalls; and

a cabinet floor member connected to said first and second cabinet sidewalls;

a first drawer disposed in said cabinet, said first drawer being positioned within said cabinet between said first cabinet side wall and said second cabinet sidewall, said first drawer being movable in a direction parallel to said width of said cabinet, said first drawer comprising;

a first drawer sidewall;

a second drawer sidewall spaced from said first drawer sidewall of said first drawer by at least about two feet in a direction parallel to said length of said cabinet; and

a front drawer wall connected to said first and second drawer sidewalls of said first drawer, said front drawer wall of said first drawer having a first side that is spaced from said first sidewall of said vehicle by at least about eight inches and a second side that is spaced from said second sidewall of said vehicle by at least about eight inches;

at least one first drawer support member that supports said first drawer, said first drawer support member supporting said first drawer so that said first drawer is movable in a direction parallel to said width of said cabinet between an open position and a closed position;

a first drawer latch associated with said first drawer, said first drawer latch being movable between a first position in which said first drawer latch prevents said first drawer from being opened and a second position in which said first drawer latch allows said first drawer to be opened;

a second drawer disposed in said cabinet and positioned below said first drawer, said second drawer being positioned within said cabinet between said first cabinet side wall and said second cabinet sidewall, said second drawer being movable in a direction parallel to said width of said cabinet, said second drawer comprising;

a first drawer sidewall;

a second drawer sidewall spaced from said first drawer sidewall of said second drawer by at least about two feet in a direction parallel to said length of said cabinet; and

a front drawer wall connected to said first and second drawer sidewalls of said second drawer, said front drawer wall of said second drawer having a first side that is spaced from said first sidewall of said vehicle by at least about eight inches and a second side that is spaced from said second sidewall of said vehicle by at least about eight inches;

at least one second drawer support member that supports said second drawer, said second drawer support member supporting said second drawer so that said second drawer is movable in a direction parallel to said width of said cabinet between an open position and a closed position;

a second drawer latch associated with said second drawer, said second drawer latch being movable between a first position in which said second drawer latch prevents said second drawer from being opened and a second position in which said second drawer latch allows said second drawer to be opened;

a cover operatively connected to said cabinet, said cover comprising a first cover portion and a second cover portion that is perpendicular to said first cover portion, said cover being movable between an open position in which said first and second drawers may be opened and a closed position in which said cover prevents said first and second drawers from being opened; and

a cover latch associated with said cover, said cover latch allowing said cover to be latched in its closed position.

2. A vehicle mounted storage structure as recited in claim 1 wherein said rear cabinet member comprises a rear cabinet wall.

3. A vehicle mounted storage structure as recited in claim 1 wherein said first distance is substantially equal to said second distance.

4. A vehicle mounted storage structure as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said first and second drawer latches comprises:

a movable latching member; and

a spring operatively coupled to said latching member that biases said latching member in a latching position in which one of said drawers is prevented from being opened.

5. A vehicle mounted storage structure as recited in claim 1 additionally comprising a pair of cover support assemblies that cause said cover to be retained in its open position.

6. A vehicle mounted storage structure as recited in claim 1 wherein said rear door of said vehicle comprises a tailgate.

7. A vehicle mounted storage structure as recited in claim 1 wherein said first and second guide members of said mounting structure extend for substantially the entire length of said rear floor portion of said vehicle.

8. A vehicle mounted storage structure mounted to a rear floor portion of a vehicle having a rearwardly facing cab wall, a first vehicle sidewall, a first wheel well having a portion which extends outwardly from a portion of said first vehicle sidewall, a second vehicle sidewall, a second wheel well having a portion which extends outwardly from a portion of said second vehicle sidewall, and a rear door, said vehicle mounted storage structure comprising:

a mounting structure mounted to said rear floor portion of said vehicle, said mounting structure comprising;

a first guide member mounted to said rear floor portion of said vehicle, said first guide member being mounted in a direction substantially parallel to said first vehicle sidewall; and

a second guide member mounted to said rear floor portion of said vehicle, said second guide member being mounted in a direction substantially parallel to said second vehicle sidewall and substantially parallel to said first guide member;

a cabinet slidably coupled to said mounting structure, said mounting structure allowing said cabinet to slide between a first position in which said cabinet is disposed adjacent said rearwardly facing cab wall and a second position in which said cabinet is disposed adjacent said rear door of said vehicle, said cabinet having a length of at least about three feet, a width of at least about twelve inches, and a height of at least about fifteen inches, said cabinet comprising;

a first cabinet sidewall that is spaced from said first vehicle sidewall by at least about four inches in a direction perpendicular to said first cabinet sidewall;

a second cabinet sidewall spaced from said first cabinet sidewall by at least about three feet in a direction parallel to said length of cabinet, said second cabinet sidewall being spaced from said second vehicle sidewall by at least about four inches in a direction perpendicular to said second cabinet sidewall;

a rear cabinet member connected to said first and second cabinet sidewalls; and

a cabinet floor member connected to said first and second cabinet sidewalls;

a first drawer disposed in said cabinet, said first drawer being positioned within said cabinet between said first cabinet side wall and said second cabinet sidewall, said first drawer being movable in a direction parallel to said width of said cabinet;

at least one first drawer support member that supports said first drawer, said first drawer support member supporting said first drawer so that said first drawer is movable in a direction parallel to said width of said cabinet between an open position and a closed position;

a first drawer latch associated with said first drawer, said first drawer latch being movable between a first position in which said first drawer latch prevents said first drawer from being opened and a second position in which said first drawer latch allows said first drawer to be opened;

a second drawer disposed in said cabinet and positioned below said first drawer, said second drawer being positioned within said cabinet between said first cabinet side wall and said second cabinet sidewall, said second drawer being movable in a direction parallel to said width of said cabinet;

at least one second drawer support member that supports said second drawer, said second drawer support member supporting said second drawer so that said second drawer is movable in a direction parallel to said width of said cabinet between an open position and a closed position; and

a second drawer latch associated with said second drawer, said second drawer latch being movable between a first position in which said second drawer latch prevents said second drawer from being opened and a second position in which said second drawer latch allows said second drawer to be opened.

9. A vehicle mounted storage structure as recited in claim 8 wherein each of said first and second drawer latches comprises:

a movable latching member; and

a spring operatively coupled to said latching member that biases said latching member in a latching position in which one of said drawers is prevented from being opened.

10. A vehicle mounted storage structure as recited in claim 8 wherein said rear door of said vehicle comprises a tailgate.

11. A vehicle mounted storage structure as recited in claim 8 wherein said first and second guide members of said mounting structure extend for substantially the entire length of said rear floor portion of said vehicle.

12. A vehicle mounted storage structure mounted to a rear floor portion of a vehicle having a rearwardly facing cab wall, a first vehicle sidewall, a first wheel well having a portion which extends outwardly from a portion of said first vehicle sidewall, a second vehicle sidewall, a second wheel well having a portion which extends outwardly from a portion of said second vehicle sidewall, and a rear door, said vehicle mounted storage structure comprising:

a mounting structure mounted to said rear floor portion of said vehicle, said mounting structure comprising;

a first guide structure mounted to said rear floor portion of said vehicle; and

a second guide structure mounted to said rear floor portion of said vehicle; and

a cabinet slidably coupled to said mounting structure, said mounting structure allowing said cabinet to slide between a first position in which said cabinet is disposed adjacent said rearwardly facing cab wall and a second position in which said cabinet is disposed adjacent said rear door of said vehicle, said cabinet having a length of at least about three feet, said cabinet comprising;

a first cabinet sidewall that is spaced from said first vehicle sidewall by at least about four inches in a direction perpendicular to said first cabinet sidewall; and

a second cabinet sidewall spaced from said first cabinet sidewall by at least about three feet in a direction parallel to said length of cabinet, said second cabinet sidewall being spaced from said second vehicle sidewall by at least about four inches in a direction perpendicular to said second cabinet sidewall.

13. A vehicle mounted storage structure as recited in claim 12 wherein said rear door of said vehicle comprises a tailgate.

14. A vehicle mounted storage structure as recited in claim 12 wherein said first and second guide structures of said mounting structure extend for substantially the entire length of said rear floor portion of said vehicle.

15. A vehicle mounted storage structure mounted to a rear floor portion of a vehicle having a rearwardly facing cab wall, a first vehicle sidewall, a first wheel well having a portion which extends outwardly from a portion of said first vehicle sidewall, a second vehicle sidewall, a second wheel well having a portion which extends outwardly from a portion of said second vehicle sidewall, and a rear door, said vehicle mounted storage structure comprising:

a mounting structure mounted to said rear floor portion of said vehicle, said mounting structure comprising;

a first guide structure mounted to said rear floor portion of said vehicle;

a second guide structure mounted to said rear floor portion of said vehicle;

a cabinet slidably coupled to said mounting structure, said mounting structure allowing said cabinet to slide between a first position in which said cabinet is disposed adjacent said rearwardly facing cab wall and a second position in which said cabinet is disposed adjacent said rear door of said vehicle, said cabinet comprising;

a first cabinet sidewall that is spaced from said first vehicle sidewall by at least about four inches in a direction perpendicular to said first cabinet sidewall; and

a second cabinet sidewall spaced from said first cabinet sidewall by at least about three feet in a direction parallel to said length of cabinet, said second cabinet sidewall being spaced from said second vehicle sidewall by at least about four inches in a direction perpendicular to said second cabinet sidewall;

a first drawer disposed in said cabinet, said first drawer being positioned within said cabinet between said first cabinet side wall and said second cabinet sidewall, said first drawer being movable in a direction parallel to said width of said cabinet; and

at least one first drawer support member that supports said first drawer, said first drawer support member supporting said first drawer so that said first drawer is movable in a direction parallel to said width of said cabinet between an open position and a closed position.

16. A vehicle mounted storage structure as recited in claim 15 wherein said rear door of said vehicle comprises a tailgate.

17. A vehicle mounted storage structure as recited in claim 15 wherein said first and second guide structures of said mounting structure extend for substantially the entire length of said rear floor portion of said vehicle.

18. A storage structure capable of being mounted to a rear floor portion of a vehicle having a rearwardly facing cab wall, a first vehicle sidewall, a first wheel well having a portion which extends outwardly from a portion of said first vehicle sidewall, a second vehicle sidewall, a second wheel well having a portion which extends outwardly from a portion of said second vehicle sidewall, and a rear door, said storage structure comprising:

a mounting structure capable of being mounted to said rear floor portion of said vehicle, said mounting structure comprising;

a first guide structure capable of being mounted to said rear floor portion of said vehicle;

a second guide structure capable of being mounted to said rear floor portion of said vehicle; and

a cabinet capable of being slidably coupled to said mounting structure, said mounting structure allowing said cabinet to slide between a first position in which said cabinet is disposed adjacent said rearwardly facing cab wall and a second position in which said cabinet is disposed adjacent said rear door of said vehicle when said mounting structure is mounted to said vehicle and when said cabinet is mounted to said mounting structure, said cabinet comprising;

a first cabinet sidewall that is spaced from said first vehicle sidewall by at least about four inches in a direction perpendicular to said first cabinet sidewall when said mounting structure is mounted to said vehicle and when said cabinet is mounted to said mounting structure; and

a second cabinet sidewall spaced from said first cabinet sidewall in a direction parallel to said length of cabinet, said second cabinet sidewall being spaced from said second vehicle sidewall by at least about four inches in a direction perpendicular to said second cabinet sidewall when said mounting structure is mounted to said vehicle and when said cabinet is mounted to said mounting structure.

19. A storage structure as recited in claim 18 wherein said first and second guide members of said mounting structure having a length approximately equal to length of said rear floor portion of said vehicle.

20. A storage structure capable of being mounted to a rear floor portion of a vehicle having a rearwardly facing cab wall, a first vehicle sidewall, a first wheel well having a portion which extends outwardly from a portion of said first vehicle sidewall, a second vehicle sidewall, a second wheel well having a portion which extends outwardly from a portion of said second vehicle sidewall, and a rear door, said storage structure comprising:

a mounting structure capable of being mounted to said rear floor portion of said vehicle;

a cabinet capable of being slidably coupled to said mounting structure, said mounting structure allowing said cabinet to slide between a first position in which said cabinet is disposed adjacent said rearwardly facing cab wall and a second position in which said cabinet is disposed adjacent said rear door of said vehicle when said mounting structure is mounted to said vehicle and when said cabinet is mounted to said mounting structure, said mounting structure being designed to allow said cabinet to be removed from said mounting structure when said mounting structure is mounted to said vehicle,

said cabinet comprising;

a first cabinet sidewall that is spaced from said first vehicle sidewall by at least about four inches in a direction perpendicular to said first cabinet sidewall when said mounting structure is mounted to said vehicle and when said cabinet is mounted to said mounting structure; and

a second cabinet sidewall spaced from said first cabinet sidewall in a direction parallel to said length of cabinet, said second cabinet sidewall being spaced from said second vehicle sidewall by at least about four inches in a direction perpendicular to said second cabinet sidewall when said mounting structure is mounted to said vehicle and when said cabinet is mounted to said mounting structure.

21. A storage structure as recited in claim 20 wherein said first and second guide members of said mounting structure having a length approximately equal to length of said rear floor portion of said vehicle.

22. A storage structure as recited in claim 20 wherein said mounting structure has a plurality of slots, wherein said cabinet has a plurality of wheels, and wherein said cabinet may be removed from said mounting structure by aligning said slots in said mounting structure with said wheels and then lifting said cabinet.