Abstract:
Truck bed tool box. The truck bed tool box includes a tool box holder attachable to a bed of a truck and plural removable tool boxes that fit securely into the tool box holder. The tool box holder includes security mechanism to keep the plural removable tool boxes safe from theft and prevent them from moving around the truck bed.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/736,512, filed Nov. 14, 2005, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to tool boxes. More specifically, it relates to a truck bed tool box. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   There are many types of tool boxes. These tool boxes are often placed in pick-up or other trucks with open beds. Such tool boxes are exposed to the weather and are subject to theft and loss. Such tool boxes are also not secured and often slide around the bed of the truck, causing damage to the toolbox and the interior of the bed of the truck. In addition, carpenters, mechanics and other professionals often have many different types toolboxes with many different types of tools that are commonly used for various jobs. 
   There have been attempts to solve some of the problems associated with truck bed tool boxes. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,006,971, entitled “Truckbed toolbox system,” that issued to Coleman, et al., teaches “Provided herein is a toolbox system especially well suited for use on pickup trucks. The system provides quick and easy access to a wide variety of tools which may be contained in the toolboxes. The assemblies are modular and are readily loaded and unloaded from the bed portion of a pickup truck. An increased degree of safety and convenience is realized from use of the devices herein set forth.” 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,007,129, “Long handled tool holder,” that issued to Kearney, teaches “an apparatus for holding and restraining long handled tools is described. The tool box is comprised of a top wall, two side walls and a bottom wall within which separate compartments are formed by slidable shelves. The shelves may further compartmentalize the enclosed areas by having partitioning walls to subdivide longitudinal sections. The shelves are supported by brackets and the entire tool box rests within the bed of a truck. The tool holder is retained within the bed of the truck by attaching bolts which extend outward from the truck side wall and through the side wall of the tool box. The tool box may also rest upon the wheel well of the truck in the truck bed to provide further support.” 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,328,365, entitled “Integrated bed drawer assembly for vehicles,” that issued to Adsit teaches “An integrated bed drawer assembly is provided for a vehicle having a bed with a floor and sides extending upwardly and along the sides. The integrated bed drawer assembly includes a plurality of rails adapted to be spaced longitudinally and extend laterally between the sides above the floor of the bed. The integrated bed drawer assembly also includes a drawer operatively cooperating with the rails for sliding movement therealong. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,923,354 entitled “Tailgate toolbox,” that issued to Axelson teaches “A toolbox assembly for mounting in the box of a pickup truck includes a rectangular casing with an open front end; a drawer slidable in said casing; a lock on said drawer for locking the drawer in the casing; a pair of L-shaped brackets for mounting on the floor of the box immediately rearwardly of the wheel wells, the brackets slidably receiving the casing; and a lock mechanism for releasably locking the casing in said brackets. 
   However, none of these solutions solves all of the problems associated with truck bed tool boxes. Thus, it is desirable to provide truck bed tool boxes. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention, some of the problems associated with truck bed tool boxes are overcome. A truck bed tool box is presented. 
   The truck bed tool box includes a tool box holder attachable to a bed of a truck and plural removable tool boxes that fit securely into the tool box holder. The tool box holder includes security mechanism to keep the plural removable tool boxes safe from theft and prevent them from moving around the truck bed. 
   The foregoing and other features and advantages of preferred embodiments of the present invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description. The detailed description proceeds with references to the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a side view of a truck box tool box; 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating a top view of truck box tool box; 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating a perspective view of the truck tool box including a security door in an open position; and 
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating a perspective view of the truck tool box including a security door in a closed position. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a side view  10  of a truck bed tool box. The truck bed tool box includes a tool box holder  12  with plural openings  14 ,  16 ,  18 , for attaching plural removable toolboxes  20 ,  22 ,  24  (only three of which are illustrated). The truck box holder  12  includes plural truck box attachment means  26  (two or which are illustrated) that are used to attach the tool box holder  12  to a truck bed. 
   In one embodiment, the plural openings  14 ,  16 ,  18  in the tool box holder  12  include plural openings specifically sized and shaped for large, medium, or small removable toolboxes or any combination thereof. The plural openings  14 ,  16 ,  18  can be the same size or different sizes to accommodate removable toolboxes of different sizes. 
   For example, a carpenter may have a large rectangular toolbox including general tools, and a small square tool box for a saw and a medium size rectangular toolbox for a nailing tool, etc. The plural openings  14 ,  16 ,  18  would be specifically sized and shaped to accommodate such toolboxes. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment and other sized and shape openings can also be used to practice the invention 
     FIG. 1  illustrates rectangular toolboxes openings. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment and toolboxes of other shapes, such as square, trapezoidal, oval, round, etc. can also be used to practice the invention. 
   In one embodiment, the plural removable toolboxes  20 ,  22 ,  24 , extend above the tool box holder  12  (e.g., illustrated in  FIG. 1 ). In another embodiment, the plural removable toolboxes  20 ,  22 ,  24 , do not extend above the tool box holder  12  and are flush (i.e., even) with the top of the tool box holder  12 . 
   In one embodiment, the tool box holder  12  is attached to a bed of a truck nearest the truck cab. In another embodiment, the tool box holder is attached to a bed of a truck at an end nearest the truck tailgate. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment and the tool box holder  12  can be attached in other positions in a truck bed. 
   In one embodiment, the plural removable toolboxes  20 ,  22 ,  24  include one or more openings through which a security means  28  (e.g., a rod, pole, cable, etc. to which a lock or other security device can be attached) passes through to secure the plural removable toolboxes  20 ,  22 ,  24  to the tool box holder  12 . 
   In one embodiment, the plural toolboxes  20 ,  22 ,  24  includes at least two openings (e.g., one on a left side and one on a right side) in a top portion of the toolboxes that extend above the tool box holder  12  (illustrated in  FIG. 2 ) through which the security means  28  passes through horizontally. In another embodiment, the plural toolboxes  20 ,  22 ,  24  include at least two openings in a bottom portion of the toolboxes. In such an embodiment, the security means  28  horizontally extends through a portion of the truck bed and the tool box holder  12 . A lock is attached to one or both ends of the horizontal security means  28 . 
   In another embodiment, the plural toolboxes  20 ,  22 ,  24  include a first opening in a top portion of the toolbox and a second opening in a bottom portion of the plural toolboxes  20 ,  22 ,  24 . In such an embodiment, two security means  28  are used, both passing through horizontally passing the first opening and second openings. A lock is attached to one or both ends of the vertical security means  28 . 
   In another embodiment the security means  28  does not extend through a portion of the truck bed, but extends only through the tool box holder  12 . In another embodiment, the security means  28  is included in a top portion of the plural toolboxes  20 ,  22 ,  24 . In such an embodiment, separate security means  28  attaches through the top portion of the plural toolboxes  20 ,  22 ,  24 , vertically into the tool box holder  12 . 
   In another embodiment the plural toolboxes  20 ,  22 ,  24  each include one opening in which a lock or other security means is placed to lock the toolboxes to the tool box holder  12  (e.g., through a front of the tool box holder  12  and the front of the plural toolboxes  20 ,  22 ,  24 ). Other various types of security mechanisms can also be used. Each of the plural toolboxes  20 ,  22 ,  24 , also has its own lock or other security mechanism to lock the top of the toolboxes to prevent opening while stored in the tool box holder. 
     FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating a top view  30  of the truck box tool box in an open truck bed  32  with pre-existing pocket holes  34  in truck bed rails. 
     FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating a perspective view  36  of the truck tool box  12  including a security door  38  in an open position. 
     FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating a perspective view  40  of the truck tool box  12  including a security door  38  in a closed position. 
   In another embodiment the security means  28  includes a security door  38  ( FIGS. 3 ,  4 ) that when closed engages the tops of the plural toolboxes  20 ,  22 ,  24  to prevent unauthorized removal. When the security door  38  is open, the security door  38  does not engage the plural toolboxes  20 ,  22 ,  24  and the plural toolboxes  20 ,  22 ,  24  can be removed. In another embodiment the security door  38  includes security strips. 
   The security door  38  comprises, metal, plastic, composite materials or other security and weatherproof material to prevent unauthorized removal of the plural toolboxes  20 ,  22 ,  24 . However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment and other embodiments can also be used to practice the invention. 
   In one embodiment, the truck bed attachment means  26  includes a flap or flange to attach the tool box holder to the bed of a truck. In one embodiment, the flap or flange includes metal, plastic, composite materials, or other durable materials that prevent unauthorized removal. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment and other embodiments can also be used to practice the invention. 
   In one embodiment, the truck bed attachment means  26  is specifically sized and shaped and includes brackets to securely attach to pre-existing openings (e.g., pocket holes, etc.) in the truck bed rails. In such an embodiment, the pre-existing openings are provided by the truck manufacturer in the truck bed rails when the truck is manufactured. Such pre-existing openings are provided in most every truck bed by most every truck manufacturer. In another embodiment, the truck bed attachment means  26  include brackets to attach the flap or flange of the tool box holder directly to the truck bed  32 . 
   In one embodiment, a top portion of each of the plural removable toolboxes  20 ,  22 ,  24 , includes a weatherproof material such as rubber, plastic, composite materials, etc. that are resistant to weather and can be stored in truck bed exposed to weather. In such an embodiment, a bottom portion of the plural removable toolboxes includes metal, composite materials, wood, or other materials. In another embodiment, each of the plural removable toolboxes  20 ,  22 ,  24  are made entirely out of the weatherproof material. 
   The present invention allows plural toolboxes with plural different types of tools to be selectively and securely removed and stored in an open truck bed while being protected from the weather and from theft. The present invention, thus allows the plural toolboxes  20 ,  22 ,  24  in the tool box holder  12  to be stored in a truck with an open bed to be securely left on a street, on a job site, etc. 
   It should be understood that the processes, methods and system described herein are not related or limited to any particular type of component unless indicated otherwise. Various combinations of general purpose, specialized or equivalent components combinations thereof may be used with or perform operations in accordance with the teachings described herein. 
   In view of the wide variety of embodiments to which the principles of the present invention can be applied, it should be understood that the illustrated embodiments are exemplary only, and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the present invention. For example, the steps of the flow diagrams may be taken in sequences other than those described, and more or fewer or equivalent elements may be used in the block diagrams. 
   The claims should not be read as limited to the elements described unless stated to that effect. In addition, use of the term “means” in any claim is intended to invoke 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6, and any claim without the word “means” is not so intended. 
   Therefore, all embodiments that come within the scope and spirit of the following claims and equivalents thereto are claimed as the invention.