Abstract:
A dual-compartment storage apparatus is a toolbox system for pickup trucks with a recessed receiving zone in the middle, wherein a wheel of a motorcycle to fit into the receiving zone and allows the entire motorcycle to fit in into the truck bed. Additionally, the tool box provides tie-down points to secure the motorcycle during transport and prevent it from moving about. Finally, a storage compartment across the back of the box holds a collapsible ramp to allow the motorcycle to roll into and out of the bed with a minimum of effort.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   The present invention was first described in Disclosure Document Registration 526,123 filed on Feb. 13, 2003 under 35 U.S.C. §122, 37 C.F.R. §1.14 and MPEP § 1706. There are no previously filed, nor currently any co-pending applications, anywhere in the world. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to dual compartment storage apparatuses for trucks, and more particularly, to a storage apparatus having two compartments spaced about a receiving zone for a wheel, wherein the compartments are suspendingly elevated above the plane of the cargo bed, and is accompanied by a collapsible ramp that is storable in a ramp storage compartment. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   With sales at an all-time high, the popularity of the pick-up style truck as an everyday vehicle is more wide spread than it ever has been. Their utility and convenience in hauling items coupled with the availability of luxury interiors and extended cab space have made the pickup a popular alternative to other vehicles. The availability of aftermarket accessories also enhances the attractiveness of pickup trucks as well. Perhaps one of the most common accessories is that of the “behind-the-cab” type toolbox, for carrying tools and other smaller objects. However, these tool boxes shorten the available bed space, which becomes a problem for those hauling large, long items such as motorcycles. Typically, the tool box must be removed which takes time and reduces its versatility. Accordingly, the need has arisen for a means by which the functionality of a bed mounted tool box can be enjoyed without affecting the pickup trucks ability to carry large items such as motorcycles. The development of the present invention fulfills this need. 
   A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention; however, the following references were considered related: 
   U.S. Pat. No. 3,963,129, issued in the name of Clayton, discloses a motorcycle carrier comprising a crane mounted to a truck with a power-winch actuated lift cable; 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,034,872, issued in the name of Jager, discloses a motorcycle rack adapted for mounting to a tow truck comprising a V-shaped bracket and a cross-bar; 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,932,829, issued in the name of Miller, discloses an articulated motorcycle carrier pivotally mounted and engaged with the bed of a truck; 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,921,152, issued in the name of Kemming, discloses a combination storage container and motorcycle holder comprising two spaced apart storage compartments, the space therebetween for receiving the wheel of a motorcycle; 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,730,577, issued in the name of Jones, discloses a motorcycle loading and unloading device comprising a ramp having a pair of spaced, parallel ramp rails; 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,176,672, issued in the name of Egan et al., discloses a telescoping personal motorcycle support structure comprising a support frame mountable to the bed of a truck which supports at least one telescoping, pivotal ramp assembly; and 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,186,727, issued in the name of Hamilton, discloses an apparatus and method of transporting motorcycles comprising front and rear chocks respectively coupled to dollies. 
   Consequently, there exists a continuous need for new product ideas and enhancements for existing products in the motorcycle transporting industry. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a dual storage compartment apparatus for a truck bed with a receiving zone for a wheel of a vehicle, a collapsible ramp and a ramp storage compartment for the ramp when not in use. 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide a storage apparatus wherein each storage compartment is enclosed by an articulating lid. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a storage apparatus wherein each storage compartment includes a removable tray comprising compartments for individualized and specialized storage of smaller objects. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a storage apparatus wherein each storage compartment comprises an upper anchoring plate and a lower anchoring plate, the upper anchoring plate for attachment to the sidewalls of a cargo area, and for receiving an option cap, the lower anchoring plate for attachment to the cargo bed of the cargo area. The upper anchoring plate and lower anchoring plate cooperatively act together to securely hold the storage apparatus in position during transport and use. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a storage apparatus wherein each storage compartment comprises at least one channel and a dowel, the channel and dowel provided for attaching straps, cables, rope or other similar items thereto, circumscribing an object, and then attaching to a channel and dowel of the opposite storage compartment. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a storage apparatus wherein each storage compartment comprises a first storage cell and a second storage cell, the first storage cell accessible via the articulating lid, the second storage cell accessible via an articulating door, the lid and door articulating in planes perpendicular to one another. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a storage apparatus comprising an optional cap for covering the storage apparatus, the cap comprising a wheel well for accommodating the wheel of a vehicle to be transported by the truck. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a storage apparatus comprising a retractable cable with lock, the retraction reel housed within the storage compartment, and the cable penetrating an orifice provided in the rear wall of the storage compartment. 
   Briefly described according to one embodiment of the present invention, a dual-compartment storage apparatus is a toolbox system for pickup trucks with a recessed receiving zone in the middle. It is designed to allow the wheel of a motorcycle to fit into the slot and thus allows the entire motorcycle to fit in into the truck bed. The receiving zone accepts a tire of a motorcycle or bicycle, thus allowing the entire motorcycle to fit into the bed of the truck, which is usually impossible with a conventional tool box placed within the cargo area of a truck. Additionally, the tool box provides tie-down points to secure the motorcycle during transport and prevent it from moving about. Finally, a storage compartment across the back of the box holds a collapsible ramp to allow the motorcycle to roll into and out of the bed with a minimum of effort. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the storage apparatus affixed within the cargo area of a truck; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the storage apparatus; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a single storage compartment serving as a representative model for each storage compartment, the removable tray exploded from storage and illustrating contours within the interior of the walls of a compartment; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a single storage compartment illustrating optional pegs that might be used to hold the tray; 
       FIG. 5   a  is an exploded perspective of the ramp; 
       FIG. 5   b  is a perspective view of the ramp assembled; 
       FIG. 6  is a top view of the storage apparatus illustrating the ramp storage compartment configuration. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 6 . 
   1. Detailed Description of the Figures 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 6 , a storage apparatus  10  is shown in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The storage apparatus  10  is placed within and affixed to the cargo area  2  of a truck  1 . The cargo area  2  is defined by a pair of parallel sidewalls  3  and  4  each depending from a forward wall  5 , and a pivotal tail wall (tailgate)  6  parallel to the forward wall  5 . The sidewalls  3  and  4 , the forward wall  5  and the tailgate  6  each depend from a cargo bed  7 . The storage apparatus  10  comprises two spaced apart storage compartments  12  and  14  and a receiving zone  16  intermediately therebetween. Each one of the storage compartments  12  and  14  comprises an articulating lid  18 , an upper anchoring plate  20  and a lower anchoring plate  22 , wherein each one of the storage compartments  12  and  14  is suspendingly elevated above the cargo bed  7  and forms a storage space  24  and  26  therebetween. A ramp storage compartment  28  is externally coupled to the storage compartments  12  and  14 , and adjacently engages the forward wall  5  of the cargo area  2  when the storage apparatus  10  is positioned. A collapsible ramp  30  for facilitating loading onto and unloading from the cargo area  2  is provided. The ramp  30  is storable in the ramp storage compartment  28 . 
   The storage compartments  12  and  14  are mirror images of one another, therefore description of one storage compartment serves as a representative model of the other storage compartment. Each storage compartment  12  or  14  comprises at least one storage cell  32  formed by four upstanding walls  34 ,  36 ,  38  and  40  (an exterior sidewall  34 , an interior sidewall  36 , a front wall  38  and a rear wall  40 , specifically) depending from a floor  42 . The storage cell  32  is accessible via the articulating lid  18  (articulating via at least one hinge, or a plurality of hinges, commonly known in the art), wherein the lid  18  may be a spring-loaded lid  18  actuated by a push button lock  54  recessed and set at an approximate forty-five degree (45°) angle along the outer perimeter of lid  18 . In another embodiment, the lid  18  may include at least one or a plurality of handles for grasping and articulating the lid  18 . It is envisioned that the lid  18  may also include a plurality of slots  55  provided in the top corners of the lid  18  for securement of bungee or other similar securing devices. It is also envisioned that a removable storage tray  44  may be provided, the tray  44  suspendingly resting near or at the top of the storage cell  32  via mateable hooks and pegs  60  (pegs shown in  FIG. 4 ), integral channels and pegs, interference and gravity impingement by contours  58  provided along the interior of the upstanding walls  34 ,  36 ,  38  and  40  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ), or other similar means for suspending the tray  44  at the proscribed profile. The tray  44  is envisioned as having a plurality of compartments  46  for storing a plurality of items therein. It is further envisioned that a second storage cell  48  may be provided in addition to the first storage cell  32 . The first storage cell  32  remains accessible via the lid  18  (articulating in a plane parallel to the cargo bed  7 ), while the second storage cell  48  is envisioned as accessible via the lid  18  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ) or an articulating door  50  (articulating in a plane perpendicular to the cargo bed  7  via at least one hinge, or a plurality of hinges, commonly known in the art, shown in  FIG. 4 ). In a two storage cell  32  and  48  arrangement, it is envisioned that the first storage cell  32  assumes an upper profile, while the second storage cell  48  assumes a lower profile, thereby providing two sources of enclosed storage easily accessible via articulating lids  18  and/or doors  50 , respectively, and also providing the opportunity for convenience by allowing multiple users to access separate cells  32  and  48  simultaneously to retrieve stowed objects and/or items. In another embodiment, the doors  50  are permanently affixed to the storage compartments  12  and  14  so as to provide a secure structure for attachment of straps, bands, rope or other similar means for securing objects to the channels  62  and dowels  64 . 
   Each of the storage compartments  12  and  14  also include an upper anchoring plate  20  and a lower anchoring plate  22 . The upper anchoring plate  20  depends from an exterior sidewall  34  of a storage compartment  12  or  14 . It is envisioned that one arrangement of the upper anchoring plate  20  is coextensive with the top of the exterior sidewall  34  and depending perpendicularly therefrom. The upper anchoring plate  20  comprises a plurality of apertures  52  for attachment of the upper anchoring plate  20  to a sidewall  3  or  4 . Furthermore, the apertures  52  allow for attachment of a bed top (not shown, but known in the art as substantially orthogonal apparatus secured to the bed of a pick up truck for enclosing the bed and protecting the contents from environmental elements). The lower anchoring plate  22  depends from an interior sidewall  36  and includes a plurality of apertures  56  for attaching the lower anchoring plate  22  to the cargo bed  7 . The lower anchoring plate  22  is dimensioned so as to suspendingly elevate the storage compartments  12  and/or  14  above the plane of the cargo bed  7 . The suspended elevation of the storage compartments  12  and  14  form additional storage spaces  24  and  26  between the floor  42  of each storage compartment  12  and  14  and the cargo bed  7 . These storage spaces  24  and  26  are envisioned as accommodating items, such as boards, pipe or other items of length that might not otherwise fit into the cargo area  2  without the additional length and space provided by the storage spaces  24  and  26 . By way of example only, and not intended as a limitation of the scope of the claims, additional wooden boards used for loading, of a length between six (6) feet and eight (8) feet, are comfortably accommodated in the cargo area  2  by sliding the boards lengthwise into the storage spaces  24  and  26 , and allowing for the tailgate  6  to fully and securely close against the sidewalls  3  and  4 , as intended. 
   Along one of the upstanding walls  40  (rear wall  40 ), a plurality of channels  62  are provided, wherein each one of said plurality of channels  62  comprise at least one dowel  64 . Cooperatively, the channels  62  and dowels  64  act in permitting attachment of straps, bands, rope and other means of securement, so that these means are attachable to each of the storage compartments  12  and  14 . By way of example only, and not intended as a limitation on the scope of the claims, a nylon strap might be attached to one channel  62  and dowel  64  of storage compartment  12 , and the strap then circumscribed about an object that might otherwise shift during transport (such as a motorcycle), and then the strap may be attached to a channel  62  and dowel  64  on the opposite storage compartment  14 . 
   Further envisioned along the upstanding wall  40  (rear wall  40 ) is a lockable cable  66  for securing a wheel  9  of a vehicle  8 . The lockable cable  66  retractably affixed to at least one of the storage compartments  12  or  14 . The cable  66  is envisioned as retractable by a spring-biased reel commonly known in the art of retractable reels. The reel is envisioned as being housed within the storage compartments  12  and  14 , protecting the reels from tampering and environmental changes. The cable  66  is envisioned as penetrating an orifice  68  formed in the rear wall  40 . The lock  70  provided on the cable  66  provides a two-fold function, first, securely connecting the cable  66  between the storage compartments  12  and  14 , and second, discouraging theft of the object secured by the cable  66 . The lock  70  is envisioned as either a key lock commonly known in the art, or a combination lock of the varieties commonly known in the art. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 5   a  and  FIG. 5   b , the ramp  30  comprises an intermediate section  84 , an upper section  86  detachably affixed to an end of the intermediate section, and a lower section  88  detachably affixed to an end of the intermediate section  84  opposite of the upper section  86 . The upper section  86  and lower section  88  are collapsible about the intermediate section  84 , either by foldably pivoting along locking pins  90  inserted to couple the upper section  86  to the intermediate section  84  and the lower section  88  to the intermediate section  84 , respectively, or by removal of the locking pins  90  and laying the sections  84 ,  86  and  88 , respectively, upon one another. The locking pins  90  are envisioned as having an outwardly biased ball bearing  92  (biased by a spring, commonly known in the art). The pins  90  are inserted through pin apertures  94   a ,  94   b ,  94   c  and  94   d  formed in the intermediate, upper and lower sections  84 ,  86  and  88 , respectively. Pin apertures  94   a  are aligned with either pin apertures  94   c  or  94   d  with a pin  90  inserted therethrough, connecting either the upper or lower section  86  or  88  with intermediate section  84  via complimentary fit. Pin apertures  94   b  are aligned with the remaining pin apertues  94   c  or  94   d  with a pin  90  inserted therethrough, connecting either the upper or lower section  86  or  88  with intermediate section  84  via complimentary fit. The pins  90  act to maintain the three sections  84 ,  86  and  88  in a relatively planar configuration so that ingress and egress from the cargo area  2  is easily achieved and the integrity of the ramp  30  is maintained. The ramp  30  allows for the loading and unloading of material to and from the cargo area  2  of a truck  1 , and then after use, the convenient storage of the ramp  30  without consuming valuable space. 
   Ramp storage compartment  28  is externally coupled to the storage compartments  12  and  14  along an upstanding wall  38  (front wall  38 ). The ramp storage compartment  28  comprises four upstanding walls  72 ,  74 ,  76  and  78  depending from a base wall  80 . The walls  72 ,  74 ,  76 ,  78  and  80  are arranged and dimensioned so as accommodate the ramp  30  in a foldably collapsed arrangement. Thus, the ramp storage compartment  28  is envisioned to have a longitudinal width (“w”) of no greater than six (6) inches, with lesser widths envisioned to conserve space and materials. The ramp storage compartment  28  further comprises at least one attachment tab  96  affixed to the ramp storage compartment  28 , wherein at least one attachment tab  96  is provided for affixing the storage apparatus  10  to the forward wall  5  of the truck  1 . 
   2. Operation of the Preferred Embodiment 
   To use the present invention, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a user will affix the storage apparatus  10  to the cargo area  2  of a truck  1  by permanent or semi-permanent attachment of threaded screws or bolts through the upper anchoring plates  20  into the sidewalls  3  and  4 , through the lower anchoring plates  22  into the cargo bed  7 , and through at least one attachment tab  92  into the forward wall  5 . By securing the storage apparatus  10  in this manner, the storage compartments  12  and  14  are suspendingly elevated above the plane of the cargo bed  7 , providing additional storage spaces  58  and  60 , and retaining a receiving zone  16  for accommodate a wheel or wheels  9  of a vehicle  8 . 
   A user may store any items that may be accommodated in the various compartments provided in the storage apparatus  10 , including small hand tools, large hand tools, automatic battery powered tools, tool accessories, attachment means (such as screws, nuts, bolts, nails, tacks, etc.), containers of engine fluid (such as motor oil, two-cycle oil, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, anti-freeze, windshield wiper fluid, water, etc.). 
   A user may store a bi-wheeled vehicle  8 , such as a motorcycle, moped or bicycle, by assembling the ramp  30  at the tailgate  6  so that the bi-wheeled vehicle may be rolled onto the cargo bed  7 . The user will then place the wheel  9  into the receiving zone  16  and secure the wheel  9  in place via the lockable cable  66 . The user can then disassemble the ramp  30  and store in the ramp storage compartment  28 . The user may then transport the vehicle  8  safely without concern for shifting or tipping of the vehicle  8 . 
   The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the following claims.