Pickup Toolbox System

A pickup toolbox system includes a pickup truck having a pickup bed. A storage module is coupled to and positioned on the pickup bed. The storage module and the pickup truck collectively define a container forming a storage compartment. A top side of the container is open to the storage compartment. The storage module also comprises a toolbox, which is positionable in a closed position such that the toolbox covers the storage compartment. The toolbox is slidable to at least partially expose the storage compartment. The toolbox also comprises a box that has a chamber positioned therein.

(b) CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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(d) THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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(g) BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to toolbox systems and more particularly pertains to a new toolbox system for storing tools in compartments housed on a bed of a pickup truck.

The prior art relates to toolbox systems for pickup truck beds, including myriad examples of toolbox systems which include a plurality of lockable storage compartments. The prior art also discloses a toolbox system which has a cover for the truck bed that slides to reveal compartments for tool storage.

(h) BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a pickup truck having a pickup bed. The pickup bed has a floor panel, a first lateral panel, and a second lateral panel. Each of the first lateral panel and the second lateral panel extends upwardly from the floor panel and has an upper edge. The pickup bed has a front end and a rear end, with a tailgate positioned at the rear end of the pickup bed.

A storage module is coupled to and positioned on the pickup bed. The storage module and the pickup truck collectively define a container forming a storage compartment. A top side of the container is open to the storage compartment. The storage module also comprises a toolbox, which is positionable in a closed position such that the toolbox covers the storage compartment. The toolbox is slidable to at least partially expose the storage compartment. The toolbox also comprises a box that has a chamber positioned therein.

(j) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As best illustrated inFIGS.1through8, the pickup toolbox system10generally comprises

a pickup truck12with a pickup bed14. The pickup bed14has a floor panel16, a first lateral panel18, and a second lateral panel20. Each of the first lateral panel18and the second lateral panel20extends upwardly from the floor panel16. The first lateral panel18has an upper edge22, and the second lateral panel20has an upper edge24. The pickup bed14also has a front end26and a rear end28, with a tailgate30positioned at the rear end28.

A front panel32is coupled to the pickup bed14and is positioned to extend between the first lateral panel18and the second lateral panel20adjacent to the front end26of the pickup bed14. A rear panel34is also coupled to the pickup bed14and is positioned to extend between the first lateral panel18and the second lateral panel20adjacent to the tailgate30of the pickup bed14. The pickup bed14, the front panel32, and the rear panel34collectively define a container36forming a storage compartment38. A top side46of the container36is open to the storage compartment38.

A toolbox40is slidably coupled to the front panel32and the rear panel34. The toolbox40is positioned on an upper surface42of the front panel32and an upper surface44of the rear panel34and covers the storage compartment38when in a closed position48. The toolbox40is movable from the closed position48in a first direction over the upper edge22of the first lateral panel18to expose the storage compartment38adjacent to the second lateral panel20and in a second direction over the upper edge24of the second lateral panel20to expose the storage compartment38adjacent to the first lateral panel18. In alternative embodiments the toolbox40may expose the storage compartment38by sliding a different direction from the first direction and the second direction. Positioning handles50may be attached to the toolbox40for facilitating moving the toolbox40.

The toolbox40comprises a box52with a chamber54positioned therein. The box52has a base wall56and a perimeter wall58extending upwardly therefrom. The box52also has a top side60which is open to the chamber54and faces upwardly away from the pickup bed14. The chamber54has a first lateral portion62positioned adjacent the first lateral panel18and a second lateral portion64positioned adjacent the second lateral panel20when the toolbox40is in the closed position48. A first lid66is mounted to the box52for covering and exposing the first lateral portion62of the chamber54and a second lid68mounted to the box52for covering and exposing the second lateral portion64of the chamber54. Each of the first lid66and the second lid68are pivotably coupled to the box52, but may be slidably coupled, removably coupled, or the like. Lid handles70may also be attached to each of the first lid66and the second lid68for facilitating opening and closing the first lid66and the second lid68. The toolbox40may also include locks, latches72, or the like for securing each of the first lid66and the second lid68to the box52.

In one embodiment, the toolbox40is slidably coupled to the front panel32and the rear panel34via at least one slider member74movable along a channel76. In this embodiment, the channel76may at least partially surround the slider member74such that the toolbox40cannot be lifted laterally away from the channel76. Other embodiments may include wheels, rollers, runners, or the like to slide the toolbox40along one or more tracks. These embodiments may also include flanges or other obstructions for preventing lateral removal of the toolbox40. Instead of a front panel32and a rear panel34, the system10may alternatively include other conventional structures for mounting the toolbox40to the pickup bed14such as one or more columns, cross beams extending over the pickup bed14, brackets, or the like. In some cases, the storage compartment38may be entirely formed by the pickup bed14with the toolbox40mounted directly to the pickup bed14.

The system10may also include a securement mechanism78for securing the toolbox40in the closed position48such that it does not inadvertently shift, for example, while the pickup truck12is in motion. This securement mechanism78may include a lock, latch, strap, or the like engaging the toolbox40and at least one of the front panel32, the rear panel34, and the pickup bed14.

A drive assembly80engages the toolbox40and is configured for selectively moving the toolbox40relative to the pickup bed14. The drive assembly80may have its own power source which may include a battery. Or the drive assembly80may use the pickup truck's12engine, battery, or the like. The drive assembly80may also be configured for securing the toolbox40in the closed position48when not operating to move the toolbox40. The drive assembly80may comprise a front module82engaging the front panel32and the toolbox40and a rear module84engaging the rear panel34and the toolbox40. The drive assembly80includes a motor86, a pinion88, and a rack90such that the motor86rotates the pinion88to travel along the rack90when the drive assembly80is actuated. Alternatively, the drive assembly80may include a hydraulic ram, belt drive, or the like to move the toolbox40. A controller92is operatively coupled to the drive assembly80which comprises a control circuit94and an input module96. The input module96includes a close input98for moving the toolbox40to the closed position48, a first open input100for moving the toolbox40in the first direction, and a second open input102for moving the toolbox40in the second direction.

An extendable support member104is slidably mounted to the rear panel34such that the support member is extendable rearwardly of the rear panel34. The extendable support member104includes a pair of lateral sliders106and a cross member108is coupled to and extends between the pair of lateral sliders106. The rear panel34has a pair of apertures118extending therethrough and into the storage compartment38such that each of the pair of apertures118receives one of the lateral sliders106therethrough. The extendable support member104is positionable in a retracted position110such that the cross member108is positioned adjacent the rear panel34and is positionable in an extended position112such that the cross member108is spaced rearwardly away from the rear panel34. The extendable support member104is configured for supporting a workpiece across the pair of lateral sliders106when in the extended position112. The extendable support member104may also have a support member handle114for facilitating moving the extendable support member104.

In use, each of the first lid66and the second lid68are opened to access the chamber54of the toolbox40for storage of items including, for example tools116. The first open input100is actuated to operate the drive assembly80to open the toolbox40in the first direction such that the storage compartment38is accessible adjacent the first lateral panel18. The second open input102is actuated to operate the drive assembly80to open the toolbox40in the second direction such that the storage compartment38is accessible adjacent the second lateral panel20. And the close input98is actuated to operate the drive assembly80to move the toolbox40to the closed position48. The extendable support member104is positioned in the extended position112to support a workpiece across the pair of lateral sliders106. The workpiece may be, for example, an item meant to be cut, in which case the extendable support member104may be used in the manner of a sawhorse.