Abstract:
An insert is provided for the hollow interior of a trick tool box including one or more rails having mounting structure for supporting bins, trays, tool racks, tool holders, hooks, pegs and other means for storing items within the box interior.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to truck tool boxes, and, more particularly, to inserts for truck tool boxes that mount bins, trays, tool holders and other objects within the interior of the box. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   One of the most popular accessories for trucks and recreational vehicles is a truck box used to store and secure a variety of tools and other items in the bed of the vehicles. There are a number of different types of truck boxes, including cross-over boxes, side mount boxes, chest boxes, top mount boxes, RV boxes and others. Each truck box is typically formed of aluminum tread plate, and comprises a front wall, a back wall, a bottom wall and opposed end walls which are interconnected to define a hollow interior. The truck box interior is closed by a top lid that is pivotal on one or more hinges, usually with the assistance of gas springs. In many truck box designs, latch mechanisms connected by an operating rod are provided to maintain the top lid in a closed and locked position to secure the contents of the box. The latch mechanisms and operating rod may be protected from damage by a rail located along the front wall of the box. 
   Depending upon the types of tools or other items to be stored in the box, it is advantageous to provide separate storage areas within the box interior. This has been achieved in past designs by providing the box with drawers, shelves, compartments defined by vertically extending panels and similar structures. Drawers and shelves typically extend across the entire width of the box, e.g. from the front wall to the back wall, and may also span the length of the box between the opposed end walls. The compartments noted above may be formed by inserting panels into vertical slots formed in the front and back walls of the box, such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,634,691, but like the drawers and shelves such compartments extend all the way across the width of the box. Very little flexibility is provided in the way interior space within the box may be arranged in such designs, which can create difficulties for those who have different types and sizes of items to be stored. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention is directed to inserts for the hollow interior of a truck tool box defined by a front wall, a back wall, a bottom wall, opposed end walls and a pivotal top lid. The inserts include at least one rail having a variety of means for mounting objects such as bins, trays, tools and other objects within the box interior. 
   In one presently preferred embodiment, the insert of this invention may comprise a one-piece stamped and bended assembly, having opposed first and second side plates connected by a bottom plate. The first side plate is mounted to the front wall of the truck box, and the second side plate is mounted to the back wall. The first and second side plates preferably extend along the entire length of the truck box between its opposed end walls. Each side plate includes a rail formed with an array of holes similar to those of a peg board, a number of keyholes, slots and/or other types of openings, a number of pegs and/or hooks extending outwardly from the surface thereof and similar mounting structure capable of supporting bins, containers, tool racks, tool holders and similar means for storing items within the box interior. Each of the rails may also be formed with a seat at its lower end. The rails face one another within the box interior so that a tray may be inserted into the facing seats of the rails to support items therein, and to slide such items with the tray from one end of the box to the other. 
   In an alternative embodiment of the insert of this invention, the bottom plate of the insert described above is removed and the side plates are provided as separate structures. One or both of the side plates may be employed and mounted to respective front and back walls of the truck box. Each of the side plates has a rail, as discussed above, for supporting items within the box interior. 
   The truck box may also be provided with an insert located along one or both of its end walls, and extending across the width of the box between its front and back walls. These end inserts may have the same construction as the inserts located along the front and back walls, including mounting structure capable of supporting bins, containers, tool racks, tool holders and similar means for storing items within the box interior. 
   The inserts of this invention provide for a great deal of flexibility in configuring the interior of a truck box to accommodate different types and sizes of items to be stored. Bins, tool holders, trays, hooks, pegs and other mounting structures of different sizes may be mounted to the rail of the inserts in any desired location along the length and/or width of the truck box, and they may be removed in the event other items need to be stored. Smaller items, such as nails, screws and other fasteners may be contained within a bin, for example, and larger items such as hand tools, power tools, extension cords, etc. may be stored on a peg or hook carried by a rail or in the main portion of the box interior to provide easy access to both types of items. The bins may be removed from the box at a job site, and then mounted back in place on a side wall, as desired. Such flexibility in the storage capability of the tool box of this invention is advantageous compared to the prior art. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The structure, operation and advantages of the presently preferred embodiment of this invention will become further apparent upon consideration of the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the insert of this invention; 
       FIG. 2  is view similar to  FIG. 1  except showing a number of structures for mounting items to the insert herein; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the insert of  FIGS. 1 and 2  in position within the interior of a truck box; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the insert of this invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the insert as shown in  FIG. 2 ; and 
       FIG. 6  is a view similar to  FIG. 3  except including an insert located at one of the end walls of the truck box. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring initially to  FIGS. 1-3  and  5 , a truck tool box  10  is schematically depicted which comprises a front wall  12 , a back wall  14 , a bottom wall  16 , opposed end walls  18  and  20 , and, a top lid  22  pivotally mounted to the back wall  14  by a hinge  23 . The walls  12 - 20  are interconnected to form a hollow interior  24  within which inserts according to this invention are located, as described in detail below. It should be understood that the particular configuration of the tool box  10  shown in  FIG. 3  is intended for purposes of illustration only, and various other types of truck tool boxes such as side mount boxes, chest boxes, top mount boxes, RV boxes and others could be employed with the inserts herein and are considered within the scope of this invention. For purposes of the present discussion, terms “front,” “rear,” “top,” “bottom,” “upwardly,” “downwardly,” “inwardly,” “outwardly” and the like refer to the orientation of the truck tool box  10  as viewed in  FIG. 3 . 
   One embodiment of an insert  26  according to this invention is depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The insert  26  may be formed of a single section of a suitable metal such as aluminum which is stamped or punched and then undergoes a series of bending operations to assume the shape shown in the Figs. Alternatively, the insert  26  may be formed of plastic, such as by injection molding, or other materials including wood, steel and the like. The insert  26  comprises a first side plate  28  and a second side plate  30  connected by a bottom plate  32 . The insert  26  is located within the interior  24  of the box  10  in position for mounting the first side plate  28  to the front wall  12  and the second side plate  30  to the back wall  14 , with the bottom plate  32  extending along the bottom wall  16  of the box  10 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the length of the insert  26  is such that it preferably extends between the end walls  18  and  20  of the box  10 . 
   In order to fit against the front and back walls  12 ,  14  of the box  10 , the first and second side plates  28 ,  30  have a stepped configuration. Each of the side plates  28 ,  30  has an upper section  34  and a lower section  36  connected by a horizontally extending step  38 . The upper section  34  may be formed with openings  35  to avoid interference with latches (not shown) and/or with other structure within the box  10 . A stepped top plate  40  is joined to the upper section  34 , and the bottom plate  32  of the insert  26  is joined to the lower section  36 . The top plate  40  has an inner edge joined to a vertically extending rail  42 . The rail  42 , in turn, is joined to a generally U-shaped structure formed by an upper leg  44  and a lower leg  46  separated by a connector plate  48 . The space between the horizontally extending legs  44  and  46  defines a seat  50  that extends from one end wall  18  of the box  10  to the other end wall  20 . 
   In the presently preferred embodiment, the rail  42  of each side plate  28  and  30  is capable of supporting a variety of containers, supports, racks and other supports for tools and other items. The mounting structure of each rail  42  may include an array of holes  52  similar to those found on a peg board for supporting hooks  54  and essentially any other tool holder or the like that is typically mounted to a peg board, and keyholes  56 , slots  58  and other openings, preferably at least some of which differ in size and shape, to mount bins  60 , tool racks, containers or other supports (not shown) within the interior  24  of the box  10 . Any one of the holes  52 , keyholes  56  and slots  58  may mount a peg (not shown) or similar support, or, alternatively, such pegs or supports may be permanently affixed to the rail  42 . As seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the first and second side plates  28 ,  30  face one another and their respective seats  50  align. A tray  64  may be carried between the aligning seats  50 , and moveable from end-to-end between the end walls  18 ,  20  of the box  10 , to provide an additional structure for supporting items with the box interior  24 . It is contemplated that the bins  60 , tray  64 , tool racks, containers and other supports carried by the insert  26  may be formed of metal, plastic, wood or any other suitable material. 
   Although it is contemplated that the rail  42  of each side plate  28  and  30  of insert  26  will provide the majority of the mounting structure for the support of items within the box interior  24 , the top plate  40  and lower leg  46  of side plates  28  and  30  may also be formed with holes  52 , keyholes  56  and/or slots  58  to provide additional locations for the support of items. See  FIGS. 2 and 5 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 4 , an alternative embodiment of an insert  66  according to this invention is shown. The insert  66  is preferably formed in a one-piece construction from a section of metal such as aluminum which is stamped or punched and then undergoes a series of bending operations to assume the shape depicted in  FIG. 4 . Alternatively, the insert  66  may be formed of plastic, such as by injection molding, or other materials including wood, steel and the like. The insert  66  is similar to each of the first and second side plates  28  and  30  of insert  26 , and the same reference numbers are therefore used to denote common structure. The primary difference between inserts  26  and  66  is that with insert  66  the bottom plate  32  is removed, except for a short extension  68  joined with the lower section  36 , and only one of the side plates  28  or  30  can be employed if desired, instead of both of them. The insert  66  may be mounted to the front wall  12  or to the back wall  14  of the box  10 , but not both. Alternatively, two inserts  66  may be used with one mounted to each of the front and back walls  14 ,  16  to provide additional structure for mounting items with the box interior  24 , and to permit the use of a tray  64  extending between the seats  50 , as described above. Otherwise, the structure and operation of the insert  66  is the same as that discussed above in connection with insert  26 . 
   A still further embodiment of this invention is shown in  FIG. 6 . An end wall insert  68  is illustrated which is mounted to the end wall  18  of the truck box  10  and extends across its width between the front wall  12  and back wall  14 . A second end wall insert (not shown) may be mounted to the end wall  20  of box  10 , if desired. The insert  68  has the same construction as the insert  66  shown in  FIG. 4 , and described above. 
   The inserts  26 ,  66  and  68  provide substantial flexibility in configuring the storage area within the box interior  24  compared to the prior art. The structures for supporting or housing items to be stored, such as hooks  54 , bins  60 , tool racks, containers or other supports may be located in any position along the rail  42 , and different sizes and numbers of such supports may be employed, as desired. Supports such as bins  60  and other containers may be detached from the rail  42  and removed from the box  10  at a job site for ready access where needed, and then re-attached for storage when not in use. The hooks  54  and pegs may also be readily detached and repositioned along the rails  42 , or removed, at any time. The tray  64  may take the form of a flat section of wood, plastic, metal or other material, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , or it may be formed in the shape of a tray or bin  60 . Further, the length of the tray  64  as measured in a direction between the end walls  18 ,  20 , may be varied, or, alternatively, the tray  64  may be eliminated altogether. Any of the supports connected to the mounting structures of the rails  42  may be used to store a variety of items with the box interior  42 , e.g. hand tools, power tools, nails, screws, bolts etc. 
   While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.