Abstract:
A mobile work station assembly for a vehicle. The work station incorporates a docking station, toolbox, file organizer, power inverter, storage container and a mobile phone assembly on a sliding load floor that can extend outwardly from the interior of the vehicle. The work station is removably attached to the load floor. The work station is adapted for mounting in a vehicle interior or within a pickup truck bed.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to mobile vehicle mounted work stations.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Consumer demand has led to the development of vehicles that provide versatility for different uses. U.S. Pat. No. 5,964,492 discloses a storage container for a pickup truck bed that is equipped to slide over the tailgate in order to provide greater access to the items stored in the container. U.S. Pat. No. 6,161,896 discloses a rear seat storage system for an automobile. While these storage systems may be adequate for their intended use, they do not provide a platform that can function as a fully integrated mobile work space. What is needed is a versatile platform that is accessible from the side of the vehicle and can function as a storage system and a mobile work space.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a mobile work station and storage system is disclosed. In one form, the present invention provides a work station including a load floor slidingly coupled to a vehicle and moveable between a first position in which a portion of the load floor extends beyond an exterior plane of the vehicle and a second position in which the load floor does not extend beyond the exterior plane. The load floor is coupled to a work surface with a DC-AC voltage converter adjacently located thereto.  
           [0004]    In another form, the present invention provides a work station including a DC-AC voltage converter, a docking station for a portable computer, and a mobile phone assembly mounted adjacent a surface of the work station.  
           [0005]    In yet another form the present invention provides a storage system for a vehicle including a load floor with a first end and a second end. The load floor is slidingly coupled to the vehicle and moveable between a first position, in which the first end of the load floor extends beyond an exterior plane of the vehicle, and a second position, in which the first end of the load floor does not extend beyond the exterior plane. The exterior surface of the vehicle defines the exterior plane. The storage compartment has a lid and is removably attached to the load floor. A door is hingedly supported to a lateral side of the vehicle.  
           [0006]    Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary vehicle for incorporating a mobile work station conforming to the teachings of the present invention.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a mobile work station according to the invention mounted in the vehicle of FIG. 1.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the mobile work station of FIG. 2, in an extended position.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a mobile work station in a truck bed according to the present invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 4, but illustrating the work station in an extended position.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a mobile work station according to the invention.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the mobile workstation of FIG. 6, in an extended position. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0015]    The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 illustrates a vehicle  10  including a cab  12  and a bed  14 . Preferably, vehicle  10  is an extended cab truck. Cab  12  includes an outer surface  16  defining an exterior plane of vehicle  10  and an access door  20  coupled to cab  12  by hinges  22 . Access door  20  rotates about the axes of hinges  22  from a closed position to an open position.  
         [0017]    With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, cab  12  also includes a work station  32  located behind seats  30 . Work station  32  includes a load floor  36 , a catch mechanism  40 , and a sliding mechanism  42 . Sliding mechanism  42  is interposed between load floor  36  and cab  12 , and allows load floor  36  to move between a stowed position (FIG. 2), wherein load floor  36  is located within cab  12 , and an extended position (FIG. 3), wherein at least a portion of load floor  36  extends beyond a plane defined by door  20 . Catch mechanism  40  is moveable between a restrained position, wherein sliding mechanism  42  is restricted from lateral movement of load floor  36  relative to cab  12 , and an unrestrained position wherein sliding mechanism  42  permits lateral movement of load floor  36  relative to cab  12 . Load floor  36  can be locked in the extended position, the stowed position, or in any intermediate position by catch mechanism  40 . Catch mechanism  40  is preferably a conventional mechanism for restraining movement of sliding mechanism  42 . Load floor  36  includes at least one storage compartment  44  removably attached thereto. Storage compartment  44  includes a lid  46  hingedly supported to a box assembly  48 . Lid  46  is moveable between a closed position, in which lid  46  is adjacent box assembly  48 , and an open position, in which lid  46  is positioned relative box assembly  48  so as to provide access to the inside of storage compartment  44 . Storage compartment  44  is preferably collapsible to provide more available space within vehicle  10  when storage compartment  44  is not needed.  
         [0018]    Work station  32  further includes a mobile office  50 . Mobile office  50  includes a table surface  56 , a docking station  60  for a portable computer, a 120 volt AC converter  62 , a mobile phone assembly  64 , and an office file organizer  66 . Table surface  56  may be defined by an exterior surface of storage compartment  44 . Mobile phone assembly  64  preferably includes a frequency transmitter/receiver for wireless communication capability and a speaker phone.  
         [0019]    In use, access door  20  is rotated to the open position to provide access to work station  32 . A portable computer can be coupled to docking station  60  and office file organizer  66  accessed in order to provide a mobile working location. Mobile phone assembly  64  includes a speaker phone with a cellular phone sending/receiving apparatus. The portable computer can be connected to mobile phone assembly  64  to provide internet or intranet access. The 120 volt AC converter  62  has a 12 VDC input and is available to provide power to work station  32  devices that require an alternating current supply.  
         [0020]    Typically, catch mechanism  40  is in the restrained position when work station  32  is accessed, thereby providing a stable work location. When desired, catch mechanism  40  is translated to the unrestrained position wherein load floor  36  is moved to the extended position. Catch mechanism  40  is then translated to the restrained position, thereby preventing undesired movement of work station  32  when in use. It would be apparent that work station  32  provides greater access to storage compartment  44  when load floor  36  is in the extended position. It would also be apparent that vehicle  10  provides a secured, protected environment for work station  32  and storage compartment  44  when load floor  36  is in the stowed position and access door  20  is in the closed position. In this manner, vehicle  10  is provided with a mobile, secure working space. While vehicle  10  is described with one access door  20 , it would be recognized by one skilled in the art that vehicle  10  may include additional access doors, either to the rear or opposite side of cab  12 , to provide greater access to work station  32 . It would also be recognized that work station  32  could be utilized with access door  20  in the closed position.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the mobile work station  32  described above located in bed  14  in which bed  14  includes a floor  80 , a front wall  82 , side walls  84  and a tailgate  86 . Bed  14  further includes a lateral outside surface  88  defining an exterior plane of bed  14 . At least one side wall  84  is defined, in part, by an access door  90 . Preferably, a hinge  92  allows access door  90  to rotate 180° about a vertical axis relative to bed  14 . Floor  80  has a sliding mechanism  142  attached thereto. A storage compartment  144  is removably attached to the sliding mechanism  142  and moveable between a stowed position (FIG. 4) and an extended position (FIG. 5). Storage compartment  144  includes a lid  146  hingedly supported to a box assembly  148 . Lid  146  is moveable between a closed position, in which lid  146  is adjacent box assembly  148 , and an open position, in which lid  146  is positioned relative box assembly  148  so as to provide access to the inside of storage compartment  144 . Lid  146  overlaps box assembly  148  in such a manner as to provide a weather proof seal when lid  146  is in the closed position. Storage compartment  144  also includes a locking mechanism  94  operably coupled between lid  146  and box assembly  148 . Locking mechanism  94  is preferably a conventional locking mechanism that is switchable from a locked position to an unlocked position. Locking mechanism  94  retains lid  146  in the closed position to provide a secured compartment. Manipulation of locking mechanism  94  such as turning a key or entering a security code into a key pad, is required to access the inside of storage compartment  144  when locking mechanism  94  is in the locked position and lid  146  is in the closed position.  
         [0022]    Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, vehicle  10  is illustrated including a work station  32 ′ as an alternate embodiment of work station  32  wherein load floor  36  is attached to a frame  100  located behind seat  30 . In this embodiment, storage compartment  44  is slideable between a first position (FIG. 6) and a second position (FIG. 7). Frame  100  encompasses a cavity having a drawer  102  slideably coupled therein such that drawer  102  is moveable between a closed position (FIG. 6) and an open position (not shown), wherein drawer  102  extends beyond the plane defined by cab outer surface  16 . A toolbox  104  is located adjacent frame  100 .  
         [0023]    While FIGS. 1-7 depict vehicle  10  as a truck, it will be appreciated that virtually any vehicle could be modified with the present invention as disclosed. It would also be appreciated that  
         [0024]    The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.