Vehicle bed storage box

• US 6,471,278 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2001
• Issued: 10/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lund Motion Products Inc (Truck Hero, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: American Moto Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Leitner, Horst, Weisel, Jonathan E.
• Primary Examiner(s): PAPE, JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US09/846,577
• Publication Number:
  US 20010017474A1
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• Field of Search: 296/37.6, 296/37.5, 296/57.1, 296/180.1, 224/404, 224/402, 224/403, 224/543
• US Class Current: 296/37.6
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 9/00 Supplementary fittings on vehicle exterior for carrying loads, e.g. luggage, sports gear or the like

Abstract

A collapsible storage device includes a first panel and a second panel, with one end of the first panel rotatably secured to one wall of a vehicle bed. One end of the second panel is rotatably secured to the opposite end of the first panel. The device has a deployed or storage position in which the first panel is generally horizontal and the second panel is generally vertical so that the two panels, in cooperation with the existing walls of the bed, form an enclosed container. The device also has a folded position in which the second panel is folded against the first panel, and the first panel together with the second is folded against a wall of the vehicle bed. The collapsible storage device has an arrangement for locking the device in the deployed and/or the folded position. Alternatively, the device may have an arrangement for locking the two panels together during deployment and/or retraction, or the device may be interposed between two storage bins along a wall of the vehicle bed. A track or tracks may be provided on one or both sides of the storage device to coact with a track follower on one or both sides of the second panel to provide easier collapse or deployment of the device.

Claims

1. A collapsible vehicle bed storage assembly mountable on a vehicle having a generally horizontal storage bed surrounded by a front wall, a first sidewall, a second sidewall and a back wall, said assembly comprising:

a first panel having an outer face and inner face, a first end, a second end, a first side and a second side, said first end of said first panel configured to be secured adjacent to one of said walls so that said first panel is rotatable about a generally horizontal first axis; and

a second panel having an outer face, an inner face, a first end, a second end, a first side, and a second side, said first end of said second panel secured to said second end of said first panel so as to be rotatable about a generally horizontal second axis;

said first panel and said second panel being lockable in a folded-together orientation wherein said inner face of said second panel faces said inner face of said first panel, said assembly being freely rotatable about said first end of said first panel, while said first panel and said second panel are locked in said orientation, said assembly being configured to have a range of motion that includes a position in which said assembly is rested against one of said walls in a substantially vertical position and depends from said first axis.

2. The assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said assembly is configured to be rested against one of said walls in a substantially vertical position.

3. The assembly as defined in claim 1, further comprising means for locking said assembly in a deployed position.

4. The assembly as defined in claim 1, further comprising means for locking said assembly in a collapsed position.

5. The assembly as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a first retaining portion located on said first panel;

a second retaining portion located on said second panel;

said first retaining portion and said second retaining portion being selectively engageable to lock said first panel and said second panel in said folded-together orientation.

6. The assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said assembly further comprises:

at least one opening in one of said first side or said second side of said first panel;

at least one opening in one of said first side or said second side of said second panel; and

at least one rigid member selectively extendable through said openings in said first panel and said second panel;

said rigid member being configured to lock said first panel and said second panel in said folded-together orientation.

7. The assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said assembly further comprises:

at least one opening in said first side of said first panel;

at least one opening in said second side of said first panel;

at least one opening in said first side of said second panel;

at least one opening in said second side of said second panel;

at least one rigid member selectively extendable through said openings in said f first sides of said first and second panel; and

at least one rigid member selectively extendable through said openings in said second sides of said first and second panel;

said rigid members being configured to lock said first panel and said second panel in said folded-together orientation.

8. The assembly as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a first interlock surface located on said first panel; and

a second interlock surface located on said second panel;

said first and second interlock surfaces being interlockable to lock said first panel and said second panel in said folded-together orientation.

9. The assembly as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

at least one interlock surface attached to said first panel adjacent to said inner face of said first panel.

10. The assembly as defined in claim 9, wherein said retaining surface extends inward toward the center of said inner face of said first panel, said retaining surface being of a sufficient length, and formed of material sufficiently resilient, to create an interference fit with one of said second end, said first side or said second side of said second panel when rotating said second panel to or from a closed position against and substantially parallel to said first panel.

11. The assembly as defined in claim 1, further comprising a first storage bin mountable along said front wall adjacent to said first sidewall, a second storage bin mountable along said front wall adjacent to said second sidewall, wherein said first panel and said second panel are mountable along said front wall between said first storage bin and said second storage bin.

12. The assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said first end of said first panel is rotatably attachable to an inward-facing surface of said first sidewall and to an inward-facing surface of said second sidewall.

13. The assembly as defined in claim 11, wherein said first end of said first panel is rotatably attachable to an inward-facing surface of said first storage bin and to an inward-facing surface of said second storage bin.

14. The assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said first panel further comprises:

at least one opening intersecting said outer face and said inner face of said first panel; and

at least one door rotatably attached to said first panel and adapted to cover said at least one opening when in a closed position against said first panel.

15. The assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said first panel and/or said second panel comprises:

a frame element in the form of a sheet of substantially rigid material, having a number of integrally formed stiffening elements which are raised and/or in relief with respect to immediately adjacent areas of said sheet, including a recessed area; and

a substantially planar cover composed of substantially rigid material, the cover being adapted to fit into said recessed area and be securely affixed to said frame element.

16. The assembly as defined in claim 3, wherein said means for locking is operable by a key and/or by the input of a combination of indicia.

17. The assembly as defined in claim 4, wherein said means for locking is operable by a key and/or by the input of a combination of indicia.

18. A collapsible vehicle bed storage assembly mountable on a vehicle having a generally horizontal storage bed surrounded by a front wall, a first sidewall, a second sidewall and a back wall, said assembly comprising:

a first panel having an outer face and inner face, a first end, a second end, a first side and a second side, said first end of said first panel being securable to one of said walls so as to be rotatable about a generally horizontal first axis;

a second panel having an outer face, an inner face, a first end, a second end, a first side, and a second side, said first end of said second panel secured to said second end of said second panel so as to be rotatable about a generally horizontal second axis; and

at least one track mountable in the vehicle storage bed on one side of the assembly and at least one track follower mounted on the corresponding side of said second panel, said track and said follower being adapted to cooperate to control the deployment of said assembly;

said assembly being configured to have a collapsed position in which said first panel and said second panel are generally vertical and said inner face of said first panel and said inner face of said second panel face one another, and a deployed position in which said first panel is generally horizontal and said second panel is generally vertical, said outer face of said first panel facing outward away from said storage bed and said outer face of said second panel facing outward away from said first panel;

wherein said track has a relatively straight, substantially horizontal upper portion.

19. The assembly as defined in claim 18, wherein said track further comprises a relatively straight, substantially lower portion.

20. The assembly as defined in claim 18, further comprising a first storage bin mountable along said front wall adjacent to said first sidewall, a second storage bin mountable along said front wall adjacent to said second sidewall, wherein said first panel and said second panel are mountable along said front wall between said first storage bin and said second storage bin, and wherein said at least one track is located on an inward-facing side of said first storage bin and/or said second storage bin.

21. The assembly as defined in claim 20, wherein said at least one track is integral with an inward-facing side of said first storage bin and/or said second storage bin.

22. The assembly as defined in claim 20, wherein one or both of said first storage bin and said second storage bin further comprises an opening on a side of said storage bin, and said opening is at least partially covered by a net.

23. The assembly as defined in claim 18, wherein said at least one track includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein said first portion defines a first partial path of movement of said follower, said second portion defines a second partial path of said follower, and said second partial path is closer to said bed than said first partial path.

24. The assembly as defined in claim 23, wherein one of said first partial path and said second partial path is configured to be closer to said front wall than the other of said first partial path and said second partial path.

25. The assembly as defined in claim 24, wherein said first partial path is configured to be closer to said front wall than said second partial path.

26. The assembly as defined in claim 25, wherein said track further comprises:

a first cam surface, said first cam surface directing said track follower downward as said track follower is moved in a direction associated with placing said assembly in said collapsed position, thereby permitting a simultaneous downward angular displacement of said assembly.

27. The assembly as defined in claim 26, wherein said track further comprises:

a second cam surface, said second cam surface directing the track follower upward and closer to an axis of rotation of said first panel as said track follower is moved in a direction associated with placing the assembly in the collapsed position, thereby reducing an included angle formed by said first panel and said second panel.