Locking mechanisms and toolboxes including locking mechanisms

Locking mechanisms and toolboxes including locking mechanisms are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a locking mechanism includes a frame including an opening, a lid, a latch coupled to the lid, the latch including a latching post and a flange, and a locking device including a draw mechanism coupled to the tab, where the draw mechanism is translatable with respect to the frame, the draw mechanism including a slot that includes a narrow end and a wide end positioned opposite the narrow end, where the flange has a width that is greater than a width of the narrow end of the slot of the draw mechanism, and where the draw mechanism is repositionable between a latched position in which the narrow end is axially aligned with the latching post of the latch and an unlatched position, in which the wide end is axially aligned with the latching post of the latch.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application generally relates to locking mechanisms, and more particularly to locking mechanisms for toolboxes.

BACKGROUND

Pickup trucks may be designed to have an enclosed cab and an open truck bed, and the open truck bed can be utilized to transport a variety of materials. For some users, it is desirable to carry tools in the open truck bed. To contain the tools in the open truck bed, pickup trucks may be equipped with a toolbox located in the open truck bed. Toolboxes may be equipped with locking mechanisms to selectively restrict access to the toolbox.

To selectively restrict access to the toolbox and to protect tools within the toolbox from environmental elements, locking mechanisms that assist in forming a relatively tight seal between a lid and the toolbox are desirable. Accordingly, a need exists for alternative locking mechanisms and toolboxes including locking mechanisms.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, a locking mechanism includes a frame including an opening, a lid that is hingedly coupled to the frame, a latch coupled to the lid, where the latch is selectively positioned at least partially within the opening of the frame, the latch including a latching post and a flange coupled to the latching post, and a locking device including a handle, a tab coupled to the handle, and a draw mechanism coupled to the tab, where the draw mechanism is translatable with respect to the frame, the draw mechanism including a slot that includes a narrow end and a wide end positioned opposite the narrow end, where the flange has a width that is greater than a width of the narrow end of the slot of the draw mechanism, and where the draw mechanism is repositionable between a latched position in which the narrow end is axially aligned with the latching post of the latch and an unlatched position, in which the wide end is axially aligned with the latching post of the latch.

In another embodiment, a toolbox for a vehicle includes a sidewall that extends in an upward direction from a floor, the sidewall including an opening, a lid that is hingedly coupled to the sidewall, where the lid may be selectively positioned between an open position and a closed position, a latch coupled to the lid, where the latch is selectively positioned at least partially within the opening of the side wall, the latch including a latching post and a flange coupled to the latching post, and a locking device including a handle, a tab coupled to the handle, and a draw mechanism coupled to the tab, where the draw mechanism is translatable with respect to the sidewall, the draw mechanism including a slot that includes a narrow end and a wide end positioned opposite the narrow end, where the flange has a width that is greater than a width of the narrow end of the slot of the draw mechanism, and where the draw mechanism is repositionable between a latched position in which the narrow end is axially aligned with the latching post of the latch and an unlatched position in which the wide end is axially aligned with the latching post of the latch.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to locking mechanisms and toolboxes that include locking mechanisms. The locking mechanisms include a frame including an opening, and a locking mechanism including a handle, a tab, and a draw mechanism. The draw mechanism may be translatable with respect to the frame. The draw mechanism includes a slot having a narrow end and a wide end that is positioned opposite the narrow end. The draw mechanism is repositionable between a latched position in which the narrow end is axially aligned with the opening of the frame and an unlatched position in which the wide end is axially aligned with the opening of the frame. A lid is hingedly coupled to the frame. A latch is coupled to the lid, where the latch is selectively positioned at least partially within the opening of the frame. In some embodiments, the locking device is included in a toolbox for a vehicle in which the toolbox includes a sidewall and a floor. These and other embodiments will be described in more detail below in reference to the appended drawings.

As used herein, the term “longitudinal direction” refers to the forward-rearward direction of the toolbox (i.e., in the +/−X-direction depicted inFIGS. 1-10). The term “lateral direction” refers to the cross-toolbox direction (i.e., in the +/−Y-direction depicted inFIGS. 1-10), and is transverse to the longitudinal direction. The term “vertical direction” refers to the upward-downward direction of the toolbox (i.e., in the +/−vehicle Z-direction depicted inFIGS. 1-10).

Referring generally toFIG. 1one embodiment of a toolbox100is depicted. The toolbox100may be installed in a vehicle, for example, the bed of a pickup truck. The toolbox100includes a frame132. The frame132may include a floor101, a front sidewall102and a rear sidewall103extending upward from the floor101and positioned to oppose one another. The toolbox100also includes a first end wall104and a second end wall105extending upward from the floor101, and the first end wall104and second end wall105are coupled to the front sidewall102and rear sidewall103to form an open-topped enclosed structure. The toolbox also includes a lid106. The lid106is configured to cover an opening134of the open-topped enclosed structure. The lid106may be hingedly coupled to the rear sidewall103, so that the lid106may be selectively positioned in a closed position and an open position to allow access to the toolbox100.

The length and width of the floor101of the toolbox may be selected to fit inside an open truck bed of a pickup truck. As shown inFIG. 1, the first end wall104and second end wall105may be shaped such that the length of the toolbox100in the lateral direction at a position proximate to the floor101in the vertical direction is less than a length of the toolbox100in the lateral direction at a position distal from the floor101in the vertical direction. The length of the toolbox in the lateral direction at a position distal from the floor101in the vertical direction may be selected to hang over the side of the open truck bed of a pickup truck. Further, the front sidewall102and rear sidewall103of the toolbox100may be shaped such that a length of the toolbox100in the longitudinal direction is less at a position proximate to the floor101in the vertical direction than it is at a position opposite the floor101.

The lid106may be hingedly coupled to the rear sidewall103of the toolbox100. The lid106is sized and positioned to fully cover the opening134created by the front sidewall102, rear sidewall103, and the first end wall104and second end wall105. The lid106also includes a first latch107and/or a second latch108positioned on the lid106. The first latch107and the second latch108are positioned to engage the front sidewall102when the lid106is in the closed position.

As shown inFIG. 1, the toolbox100includes a draw mechanism109, which is shown in greater detail inFIGS. 2-6. The draw mechanism109may be engagable with a lock110that is positioned on the first end wall104adjacent to the front sidewall102near the top surface111of the front sidewall102. The lock110may be positioned in a compartment112of the first end wall104. Although various locks may be used, a padlock style lock with a u-shaped shank is depicted inFIGS. 2-6. The u-shaped shank113of the lock110may be coupled to the compartment112of the first end wall104by an anchor114.

Referring toFIG. 2, the lock110is depicted in a locked position, and is coupled to the compartment112, with one end of the u-shaped shank113engaging a tab115that is coupled to the draw mechanism109. As shown inFIG. 3, the draw mechanism109is shown in a latched position, with a handle116that is coupled to the draw mechanism109positioned within the compartment112of the first end wall104. When the lock110is positioned in the locked position and the draw mechanism109is positioned in a latched position, the tab115that is coupled to the draw mechanism109is constrained within the u-shaped shank113of the lock110. The lock110is repositionable between the locked position depicted inFIGS. 2 and 3and an unlocked position, shown inFIGS. 4 and 5. Similarly, the draw mechanism109is repositionable between the latched position depicted inFIGS. 2 and 3and an unlatched position depicted inFIG. 6.

Turning now toFIG. 4, the lock110is depicted in the unlocked position, with the padlock swung downward in the vertical direction. With the lock110in the unlocked position, the tab115that is coupled to the draw mechanism109is not constrained by the lock110, and as shown inFIG. 6, the handle116may be used to pull the draw mechanism109in an outward direction117from the first end wall104.

Referring now toFIGS. 1 and 7, the draw mechanism109includes a bar118that extends along the top of the front sidewall102. The draw mechanism109may be at least partially enclosed within the front sidewall102may translate with respect to the front sidewall102. The bar118includes at least one slot. The bar118may include a first slot119and a second slot120. The first slot119and second slot120include an opening121that extends axially along the bar118in the lateral direction. As shown inFIG. 7, the opening121of the first slot119and the second slot120have a varying width, such that the slot has a narrow end122with a width (c) and a wide end123with a width (d) that is positioned opposite the narrow end122. As is clearly shown inFIG. 7, the width (c) of the narrow end122is less than the width (d) of the wide end123.

The bar118may include a formed area126that may be positioned at the narrow end122of the first slot119and second slot120. The formed area126of the narrow end122at least partially offsets a bottom surface131of the bar118at the narrow end122in a downward direction127with respect to the wide end123.

Referring now toFIGS. 1, 8, and 9, the draw mechanism109is depicted. The top surface111of the front sidewall102includes an opening. The top surface111may include a first opening124and a second opening125that are positioned to align with the first slot119and the second slot120of the bar118. Referring toFIGS. 8 and 9top view of an opening representative of the first opening124and the second opening125of the front sidewall102with the draw mechanism109in the latched and unlatched position respectively. As shown inFIGS. 8 and 9, the first opening124and second opening125on the top surface111of the front sidewall102partially expose the first slot119and second slot120of the draw mechanism109. When the handle116of the draw mechanism109is pushed in to the first end wall104to place the draw mechanism109in the latched position, the bar118of the draw mechanism109translates in the lateral direction such that the narrow end122of the first slot119and second slot120is axially aligned with the first opening124and the second opening125, as shown inFIG. 8. When the handle116of the draw mechanism109is pulled out from the first end wall104to place the draw mechanism109in the unlatched position, the wide end123of the first slot119and second slot120is axially aligned with the first opening124and the second opening125, as shown inFIG. 9.

The first slot119and second slot120of the draw mechanism109are configured to engage the first latch107and/or the second latch108that are positioned on the lid106of the toolbox100. Referring now toFIG. 10, a latch representative of the first latch107and second latch108includes an flange128coupled to a latching post129. The latching post129may be coupled to the lid106by a housing130that allows the latching post129freedom of movement within the housing130in a radial direction. The flange128is coupled to the latching post129, and may be adjusted in an axial direction on the latching post129. The latching post129has a diameter (e), and the flange128has a width (f) that is larger than the diameter (e) of the latching post129. The width (f) of the flange128is less than the width (d) of the first slot119and second slot120at the wide end123. However, the width (f) of the flange128may be selected to be larger than the width (c) of the first slot119and second slot120at the narrow end122. The diameter (e) of the latching post129may be smaller than the width (c) of the first slot119and second slot120at the narrow end122, and smaller than the width (d) of the first slot119and second slot120at the wide end123.

When the lid106of the toolbox100is brought to the closed position, the first latch107and the second latch108on the lid106engage the first slot119and second slot120of the draw mechanism109. When the handle116of the draw mechanism109is pulled out from the first end wall104such that the draw mechanism109is in the unlatched position, then the wide end123of the first slot119and second slot120are axially aligned with the first opening124and the second opening125. The first latch107and the second latch108are axially aligned with the first opening124and the second opening125, respectively. Accordingly, the latching post129and flange128of the first latch107and second latch108may pass through the draw mechanism109when the lid106is brought to the closed position. Once the lid106is closed, a user may push the handle116of the draw mechanism109into the first end wall104, and the draw mechanism109will move in an axial direction to reposition the draw mechanism109into the latched configuration. In the latched configuration, the first latch107and second latch108may engage the narrow end122of the first slot119and second slot120of the draw mechanism109. With the lid106of the toolbox100in the closed position, and the draw mechanism109in the latched position, the flanges128of the first latch107and the second latch108are captured underneath the narrow end122of the first slot119and second slot120of the draw mechanism109. Because the diameter (f) of the flange128larger than the width (c) of the narrow end122of the first slot119and second slot120of the draw mechanism109, the lid106of the toolbox100may not be opened when the draw mechanism109is in the latched position.

With the draw mechanism109in the latched position, the flange128is engaged with the bottom surface131of the bar118. The formed area126at the narrow end122of the first slot119and second slot120may apply a downward force in the vertical direction to the first latch107and second latch108with respect to the front sidewall102as a result of the partial offset of the bottom surface131of the bar118at the narrow end122. As the first latch107and the second latch108are pushed in a downward direction with respect to the front sidewall102, the lid106is consequently pushed in a downward direction with respect to the front sidewall102. The downward force applied to the lid106assures a relatively tight engagement between the lid106and the front sidewall102, first end wall104, and second end wall105. Because the downward force applied to the lid106creates a relatively tight engagement, the draw mechanism109may prevent environmental elements from accessing an interior of the toolbox100in the latched position. In some embodiments, the draw mechanism109may create a water-tight engagement with the lid106.

Once in the latched position, the tab115of the draw mechanism109may be engaged with the u-shaped shank113of the lock110. When the lock110positioned in the locked position, the tab115of the draw mechanism109is trapped by the lock110, preventing a user from pulling the handle116from the front sidewall102to move the draw mechanism109to the unlatched position. As such, a user would not be able to open the lid106of the toolbox100without unlocking the lock110.

When the lock110is in the unlocked position, the tab115is not constrained by the u-shaped shank113of the lock110, and a user may pull the handle116in an outward direction117from the first end wall104, translating the draw mechanism109to the unlatched position. With the draw mechanism109in the unlatched position, the first latch107and the second latch108of the lid106may be aligned with the wide end123of the first slot119and second slot120of the draw mechanism109. Because the width (d) of the wide end123of the first slot119and second slot120of the draw mechanism109is larger than the diameter (f) of the flange128of the first latch107and the second latch108, a user may freely open the lid106of the toolbox100to gain access.

The sidewalls, end walls, lid, and locking mechanism of the toolbox may be made of various materials suitable for outdoor environments, including but not limited to steel, stainless steel, and coated steel.

The latching post may be a threaded post formed from metal material suitable for an outdoor environment, including but not limited to stainless steel. The flange may be a metal nut, the metal a material suitable for an outdoor environment, including but not limited to stainless steel and brass.

It should now be understood that the present disclosure describes locking systems and toolboxes that include locking systems. The toolboxes of the above described disclosure allow a user to lock a toolbox in the open bed of a truck, which may prevent theft of expensive tools. Further, the above described toolboxes allow a user to lock the toolbox using a common, off-the-shelf padlock. In some embodiments, the locking device may include a formed area that applies a downward force to the lid when the locking device is in a latched position, such that the lid forms a relatively tight seal with the toolbox. By forming a relatively tight seal with the toolbox, the locking device may prevent environmental elements from accessing an interior of the toolbox in the latched position.