Abstract:
A disassemblable orthogonal multilevel storage assembly is configurable into variable sized storage chambers for installation in vehicle passenger compartments and pickup truck beds. The assembly uses a plurality of telescoping panels each having a plurality of apertures spaced apart at equal intervals along designated lines in the panels such that the panels can be interconnected when positioned in horizontal and vertical orientations adjacent one another. Tabs are formed along selected edges of the panels and include a plurality of apertures spaced apart at equal intervals to facilitate interconnection of panels. The storage assembly can be configured to be installed in a passenger compartment when seats are removed from the passenger compartment.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to storage systems. 
     More particularly, the invention relates to storage systems for vehicle passenger compartments and for pickup truck beds. 
     In a further respect, the invention relates to storage systems that can be disassembled and that can be assembled to occupy different sized spaces in vehicles. 
     In another respect, the invention relates to multi-story storage systems. 
     In still a further respect, the invention relates to storage systems that can be configured to extend along side a seat in the passenger compartment of a vehicle. 
     In yet another respect, the invention relates to a storage system that utilizes telescoping assembly components perforated at equivalent spaces to facilitate vertical and horizontal fastening of the components to one another and to other non-perforated components. 
     In still yet another respect, the invention relates to a storage system that utilizes perforated corner tabs to secure the upper level of a multi-level storage system. 
     2. Description of the Art 
     Storage systems for the beds of pickup trucks are known. See for example, my U.S. Pat. No. 4,469,364. Such pre-existing storage systems were not, however, readily configured to fit different sized pickup truck beds and, importantly, were not intended to be used in the passenger compartments of pickup trucks, SUVs, and vans. 
     Accordingly, it would be highly desirable to provide storage systems that could be readily adapted to be used in different sized vehicles. 
     Therefore, it is a principal object of the instant invention to provide an improved storage apparatus. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide an improved construction kit that can be utilized to assemble multi-story storage units including storage compartments of varying sizes and shapes. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide an improved storage apparatus that can be configured to fit different sized vehicle passenger compartments that either have their normal complement of seats or that have had one or more seats removed. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other, further and more specific objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description thereof, taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a telescoping structural component utilized in constructing multi-story storage units in accordance with the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an alternate telescoping structural component utilized in the invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating another panel structural component utilized in the invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating still another telescoping panel structural component of the invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating yet another telescoping panel structural component used in the practice of the invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating still a further telescoping panel structural component utilized in the invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective exploded view illustrating assembly of structural components of the invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a multi-story storage unit of the invention positioned in the bed of a pickup truck; 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a multi-story storage unit of the invention in the passenger compartment of a pickup truck; 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a multi-story storage unit of the invention configured for the passenger compartment of a vehicle after a vehicle seat is removed; 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a multi-story storage unit constructed utilizing the structural components of FIGS. 1 to  6 ; and, 
     FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating the assembly of structural components utilized in the practice of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly, in accordance with the invention, an improved kit for assembling a multi-level storage unit in multiple configurations for a vehicle compartment is shown. The kit includes a lower floor member; an upper floor member; a plurality of telescoping divider panels insertable intermediate the lower and upper floor members in spaced apart relationship and including a plurality of equally spaced apertures formed therethrough; a plurality of fasteners insertable through the apertures to secure the divider panels to the upper and lower floor members; a plurality of telescoping spacer panels mountable on the upper floor member in spaced apart relationship and each having a front end and a back end; and, a plurality of telescoping containment panels mounted on the upper floor member in spaced apart relationship, at least one of the containment panels being mounted at the front ends of at least a pair of the spacer panels and at least another of the containment panels being mounted at the back ends of at least a pair of the spacer panels. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, an improved method is provided for installing a multi-story storage compartment in the passenger compartment of a vehicle, said passenger compartment including at least first and second seats. The improved method includes the steps of removing at least the first seat from the passenger compartment; and, installing the multi-story storage compartment in the passenger compartment such that at least a portion of the storage compartment extends into the area occupied by the first seat prior to removal of the first seat from the passenger compartment. 
     In a further embodiment of the invention, an improved multi-level storage unit is provided in multiple configurations for a vehicle compartment. The unit includes a lower floor member; an upper floor member; a plurality of telescoping divider panels intermediate the lower and upper floor members in spaced apart relationship and including a plurality of equally spaced apertures formed therethrough; a plurality of fasteners each inserted through one of the apertures into one of the upper and lower floor members to secure said divider panels to the upper and lower floor members; a plurality of telescoping spacer panels mounted on the upper floor member in spaced apart relationship and each having a front end and a back end and including a plurality of equally spaced apertures formed therethrough; a plurality of fasteners each inserted through one of the apertures in the spacer panels into the upper floor member to secure the spaced panels to the upper floor member; a plurality of telescoping containment panels mounted on the upper floor member in spaced apart relationship, at least one of the containment panels being mounted at said front ends of at least a pair of the spacer panels and at least another of the containment panels being mounted at the back ends of at least a pair of the spacer panels, each of the containment panels including a plurality of equally spaced apertures formed therethrough; and, a plurality of fasteners each inserted through one of the apertures in the containment panels into the upper floor member to secure the spacer panels to the upper floor member. 
     In still another embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for constructing a multi-story storage unit. The method includes the steps of providing a lower floor member; providing an upper floor member; mounting a plurality of telescoping divider panels intermediate the lower and upper floor members in spaced apart relationship; mounting at least first and second telescoping spacer panels on the upper floor member in spaced apart relationship, each panel having a front end with a tab, and a back end with a tab; mounting a first telescoping containment panel on the upper floor member, the containment panel including a first end with a tab and a second end with a tab, the first end being adjacent the front end of the first spacer panel, the second end being adjacent the front end of the second spacer panel; and, mounting a second telescoping containment panel on the upper floor member, the second containment panel including a primary end with a tab and a secondary end with a tab, the primary end being adjacent the back end of the first spacer panel, the secondary end being adjacent the back end of the second spacer panel. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Turning now to the drawings, which illustrate the presently preferred embodiments of the invention for the purpose of illustrating the practice thereof and not by way of limitation of the scope of the invention, and in which like reference characters refer to corresponding elements throughout the several views, FIG. 1 illustrates a telescoping divider panel member  10  including telescoping sections  8  and  9 . 
     Section  8  includes panel  18  and tabs  15  and  16  normal to panel  18 . The leading edge  8 A of panel  8  can be rolled over in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1 or can simply be a flat edge like edge  51 A in FIG. 5. A plurality of apertures  19 A are formed in section  8 . Groups of apertures  19 A are equally spaced along aperture lines in section  8 . For example, the apertures  19 A lying along aperture line  8 B are equally spaced, as are the apertures  19 A lying along tab  15  and the apertures  19 A lying along tab  16 . 
     Section  9  includes panel  17  and tabs  13  and  14  normal to panel  17 . Tab  11  extends from and is normal to panel  17 . A plurality of apertures  19  are formed in panel  17 . Groups of apertures  19  are equally spaced along aperture lines in section  9 . For example, the apertures  19  lying along aperture line  9 A are equally spaced, as are the apertures  19  lying along tab  13 , the apertures  19  lying along tab  14 , and the apertures lying along aperture line  9 B. The apertures in tab  11  are spaced apart a distance equal to the distance between lines  9 A and  9 B. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a telescoping spacer panel member  20  including telescoping sections  28  and  29 . 
     Section  28  includes panel  27 , tab  26  normal to panel  27 , bent or turned over upper edge  25 , and tab  22  normal to panel  27 . If desired, upper edge  25  can not be turned over on itself and can instead be flat like the upper edge of section  51  (FIG.  5 ). Groups of apertures  19 B are equally spaced along aperture lines in section  28 . For example, the apertures  19 B lying along lines parallel to tab  26  are equally spaced, as are the apertures  19 B lying along tab  26 . The apertures  19 B in tab  22  are spaced apart a distance equal to the afore-mentioned aperture lines in panel  27  that are parallel to tab  26 . 
     Section  29  includes upper edge  23 , panel  27 A, tab  24  normal to panel  27 A, and tab  21  normal to panel  27 A. A plurality of apertures  19 C are formed in panel  27 A. Groups of apertures  19 C are equally spaced along aperture lines  29 A and  29 B in section  27 A parallel to tab  24  and are also equally spaced along tab  24 . The apertures  19 C in tab  21  are spaced apart a distance equal to the distance between aperture lines  29 A and  29 B. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a fixed-length panel member  30  including tabs  31 ,  32 ,  34  normal to panel  35 . Apertures  19 K are formed through tabs  31 ,  32 ,  34 . Apertures  19 K along tab  34  are equally spaced. The distance between each adjacent pair of apertures  19 K in tab  34  is preferably equal to the distance between each adjacent pair of apertures  19 A lying along an aperture line  8 B in panel  18 , each adjacent pair of apertures  9 A lying along an aperture line  9 A or  9 B in panel  17 , each adjacent pair of apertures  19 B lying along an aperture line parallel to tab  26  in panel  27 , and each adjacent pair of apertures  19 C lying along an aperture line  29 A or  29 B in panel  27 A. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a telescoping floor panel member  40  including telescoping sections  48  and  49 . 
     Section  48  includes panel  45  and tabs  41  and  42  normal to panel  45 . A plurality of apertures  19 D are-formed in section  48 . Groups of apertures  19 D are equally spaced along aperture lines in section  28 . For example, the apertures  19 D lying along aperture lines  45 A in panel  45  that are parallel to tabs  41  and  42  are equally spaced, as are the apertures  19 D lying along each tab  41 ,  42 . Each adjacent pair of apertures  19 D in tabs  41  and  42  and along aperture lines  45 A is spaced apart a distance equal to the distance between each adjacent pair of apertures  19 A in aperture line  8 B. 
     Section  49  includes panel  46  and tabs  43  and  44  normal to panel  46 . A plurality of apertures  19 E are formed in section  49 . Groups of apertures  19 E are equally spaced along aperture lines  46 A in section  49  and are spaced along tabs  43  and  44 . The aperture  19 E along aperture lines  46 A are spaced apart a distance equal to the distance between apertures  19  in lines  9 A and  9 B and apertures  19 C in apertures lines  29 A and  29 B. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a telescoping retention panel member  50  including telescoping sections  51  and  52 . 
     Section  51  includes panel  55  and tab  53  normal to panel  55 . A plurality of apertures  19 F are formed in section  51 . Groups of apertures  19 F are equally spaced along aperture lines  55 A in panel  51 . For example, the apertures  19 F lying along aperture lines  55 A in panel  55  that are parallel to tab  53  are equally spaced, as are the apertures  19 F lying along tab  53 . Each adjacent pair of apertures  53 A in tab  53  and along aperture lines  55 A is spaced apart a distance equal to the distance between each adjacent pair of apertures  19 A in aperture line  8 B and between each adjacent pair of apertures  19  in aperture line  9 A. 
     Section  52  includes panel  56  and tab  54  normal to panel  46 . A plurality of apertures  19 G are formed in section  52 . Groups of apertures  19 G are equally spaced along aperture lines  56 A in panel  56  and are equally spaced along tab  54 . Each adjacent pair of apertures  19 G along aperture lines  56 A and along tab  54  is spaced apart a distance equal to the distance between each adjacent pair of apertures  19  in lines  9 A and  9 B and apertures  19 C in aperture lines  29 A and  29 B. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates a telescoping containment panel member  60  including telescoping sections  61  and  62 . 
     Section  61  includes panel  67 , tab  91  normal to panel  67 , bent or turned over upper edge  63 , and tab  65  normal to panel  67 . If desired, upper edge  63  can be flat and not be turned over on itself. A plurality of apertures  19 H are formed in section  61 . Groups of apertures  19 H are equally spaced along aperture lines  67 A and  67 B in panel  67 , and are equally spaced along tab  65 . Each adjacent pair of apertures  19 H in tab  65  and along lines  67 A and  67 B are spaced apart a distance equal to the distance each adjacent pair of apertures  19 C are spaced apart along aperture lines  29 A and  29 B. The apertures  19 H in tab  91  are spaced apart a distance equal to the distance between aperture lines  29 A and  29 B. 
     Section  62  includes panel  68 , tab  92  normal to panel  68 , and tab  66  normal to panel  68 . A plurality of apertures  19 J are formed in section  62 . Groups of apertures  19 J are equally spaced along aperture lines  68 A and  68 B in panel  68  parallel to tab  66  and are also equally spaced along tab  66 . Each pair of adjacent apertures along aperture lines  68 A and  68 B and,along tab  66  are spaced apart a distance equal to the distance each adjacent pair of apertures  19 C are spaced apart along aperture lines  29 A and  29 B. The apertures  19 J in tab  92  are spaced apart a distance equal to the distance between aperture lines  68 A and  68 B. 
     FIG. 7 illustrates the assembly of a divider panel member  10 , an upper floor member  70  comprising a piece of plywood, an upper floor panel member  40 , and a spacer panel member  20 . Apertures  19 B in tab  26  in section  28  of panel member  20  align with apertures  19 D in section  48  of floor panel member  40 , align with a hole (not visible) formed through the plywood, and align with apertures  19 A in tab  15  of section 8 of divider panel member  10 . A bolt  100  is inserted through each group of registered apertures  19 B,  19 D, and  19 A to secure together a divider panel member  10 , floor member  70 , floor panel member  40 , and spacer panel member  20 . A nut  101  is threaded onto the bolt  100 . Alternatively, a first wood screw can be turned through apertures  19 B and  19 D into member  70 , and, a second wood screw can be turned through aperture  19 A into member  70 . Bolts, wood screws, or other desired fasteners are inserted through apertures  19 A and  19  in tabs  16  and  14 , respectively, to secure tabs  16  and  14  to a bottom wood floor member  91 A (FIG.  11 ). 
     FIG. 12 illustrates the attachment of a containment member  60  to a spacer member  20 . The tab  21  of a section  29  of a spacer member  20  is positioned against the inner face of a section  61  of a containment member  60 . Apertures  19 C in tab  21  are, as indicated by axis K, in alignment with apertures  19 H in section  61  such that bolts/nut can be inserted through aligned aperture pairs  19 C- 19 H to secure tab  21  to section  61 . The tab  91  of section  61  extends around the outer surface of section  29  in the manner shown such that apertures  19 H in tab  91  are, as indicated by axis L 1 , in alignment with apertures  19 C in panel  27 A of section  29 . Bolts/nuts are inserted through such aligned aperture pairs to secure tab  91  to section  29 . The overlapping-innerlapping tab arrangement illustrated in FIG. 12 strengthens the corners where spacer members  20  meet containment members  60 . 
     Lower floor member  91  and upper floor member  70  can be made from any desired material. Wood, specifically plywood, is presently preferred because it facilitates construction and facilitates the sliding removal of tools or other equipment into and out of the storage unit of the invention. 
     FIG. 8 illustrates a storage unit  74  mounted in the space  73  in the bed of a pickup truck  71 . Truck  71  includes, in conventional fashion, a passenger compartment with a rear window  96 . A cover  72  is mounted on the bed of truck  71 . Cover  72  can be opened and closed. In FIG. 8, a first side of cover  72  is opened on one side of the truck bed. The other side of cover  72  can also be raised, or opened, in the manner that the first side is opened. 
     As will be described, the storage unit of the invention can be assembled into a variety of orthogonal configurations. As shown in FIG. 9, one configuration  77  of the storage unit of the invention can be placed on the floor  94  in the back of the passenger compartment of a pickup truck behind front seats  78  and  79  when the back seat is removed. As used herein, the back seat is removed either by physically removing the back seat from the passenger compartment of the pickup truck or by folding the back seat down such that storage unit  77  can be placed in the back of the passenger compartment. In FIG. 9, unit  77  has only a single story. Unit  77  can be multi-story like the unit  90  illustrated in FIG.  11 . 
     Another multi-story configuration  75  of the storage unit of the invention can, as indicated in FIG. 10, be utilized on the floor  95  in the passenger compartment of a van, mini-van, or SUV. As used herein, the passenger compartment of a van, mini-van, or SUV includes the interior of the vehicle, including interior areas where each passenger seat is placed and including any auxiliary storage area inside the vehicle. One particular advantageous feature of the invention is that one or more seats of a van, mini-van, or SUV can be removed and the area that was occupied by the seat before it was removed can be occupied in whole or in part by a portion of a storage unit constructed in accordance with the invention. In FIG. 10, a portion of unit  75  extends along side front seat  76  into the area that was occupied by the other front seat before the other front seat was removed by folding the front seat down or by physically removing the front seat from the vehicle. 
     The components illustrated in FIGS. 1 to  6  can be fabricated from any desired material but presently preferably are fabricated from sheets of galvanized steel or other metals. 
     Since the majority of pickup trucks, vans, mini-vans, and SUVs on the market have known maximum storage areas, the telescoping panel members illustrated in FIGS. 1,  2 ,  4  to  6  are preferably pre-fabricated in known sizes. For example, the telescoping divider panel members  10  and spacer panel members  20  each have a length that can be slidably adjusted between twenty-eight inches and fifty-five inches by sliding the sections comprising the panel members in the directions indicated by arrows A and B, respectively. Similarly, each telescoping containment panel member  60  and retaining panel member  50  can be adjusted by sliding the sections comprising the panel members in the directions indicated by arrows D and Z, respectively, to lengths between twenty-seven inches and forty-eight inches. Each telescoping floor panel member  40  has a length than can be adjusted by sliding the sections  48 ,  49  in the directions indicated by arrows C. 
     In use, a pickup truck bed, passenger compartment, or other vehicle compartment to be occupied by a storage unit  90  is selected. A user may select the bed of a pickup truck as the vehicle compartment to be occupied by a unit  90 , or, may select a portion of the interior of a van, mini-van, or SUV. Once the vehicle compartment or portion thereof is selected, the user determines the size of the selected compartment by measuring the length(s), height(s), and width(s) of the compartment. For this example, it is assumed that the user selects the bed of a pickup truck and elects to fill only the portion of the bed that has the outer dimensions of the storage unit  90  illustrated in FIG.  11 . 
     The lower floor member  91 A is prepared by cutting one or more pieces of plywood to form a floor member  91 A having a generally L-shaped peripheral edge with the dimensions indicated by arrows L to Q. 
     An upper floor member  70  is prepared by cutting one or more pieces of plywood to form a floor member  70  also having a generally L-shaped peripheral edge with the dimensions indicated by arrows L to Q. 
     If desired, a metal telescoping floor member  40  can also be used in place of member  70  or in combination with member  70  in the manner illustrated in FIG.  7 . If the member  40  is utilized, the length of member  40  is adjusted by sliding section(s)  48  and/or  49  in the directions indicated by arrow C until the length indicated by arrow  110  equals the length indicated by arrows L in FIG.  11 . If the width, indicated by arrows  111 , less than the width indicated by arrows M in FIG. 11, then additional members  40  can be utilized by, if necessary, cutting them to size, or, by using other members to complete an upper generally L-shaped metal floor having the peripheral dimensions indicated by arrows L to Q. 
     The number of divider panel members  10  desired is determined, along with the desired spacing between members  10 . The six panel members  10  illustrated in FIG. 11 are selected. Three of members  10  have a length indicated by arrows N. The other three members  10  have a length indicated by arrows M. The sections comprising each member  10  are slidably adjusted until the length of three members  10  is the length indicated by arrows N and the length of the remaining three members  10  is the length indicated by arrows M. Wood screws (or bolts) are inserted through apertures  19 A,  19  in tabs  13  to  16  to secure members  10  to floor members  70  and  91 A in the manner and spacing illustrated in FIG.  11 . In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 11, each adjacent pair of members  10  is equally spaced. The spacing between each pair of members  10  can vary as desired. 
     The number of spacer panel members  20  desired is determined, along with the desired spacing between members  20 . The four members  20  illustrated in FIG. 11 are selected. Three of members  20  have a length indicated by arrows N. The remaining member  20  has a length indicated by arrows M. The sections comprising each member  20  are slidably adjusted until the length of three members  20  is the length indicated by arrows N and the length of the remaining member  20  is the length indicated by arrows M. Members  20  are secured to the upper floor member(s)  40  and  70  in the manner illustrated in FIG. 11 by inserting wood screws (or bolts) through apertures  19 B and  19 C in tabs  26  and  24  and, if appropriate, through apertures  19 ,  19 A,  19 D and apertures in member  70  that may be aligned with apertures  19 B and  19 C in the manner illustrated in FIG.  7 . 
     Three containment panel members  60  are selected. As can be seen in FIG. 11, one member  60  has a length indicated by arrows L, another member  60  has a length indicated by arrows O, and the remaining member  60  has a length indicated by arrows Q. The sections of each member  60  are slidably adjusted in the manner indicated by arrows Z until one member  60  has a length L, another has a length O, and the remaining member  60  has the length Q. The containment members  60  are secured to the upper floor member(s)  40  and  70  in the manner illustrated in FIG. 11 by inserting wood screws (or bolts) through apertures  19 H and  19 J in tabs  65  and  66  and, if appropriate, through apertures  19 ,  19 A,  19 D and apertures in member  70  that may be aligned with apertures  19 H and  19 J. In addition, where one end of a member  70  meets an end of a member  20  in the manner illustrated in FIG. 12, metal screws or bolts are inserted through apertures  19 C and  19 H in the manner described with respect to FIG. 12 to secure together members  70  and  20 . 
     The number and length of each fixed-length panel member  30  (FIG. 3) is determined. Panel members  30  having fixed lengths  112  are typically stocked, along with members  10 ,  20 ,  50 ,  50 ,  60  as part of the construction kit of the invention to facilitate the rapid assembly of a storage unit  90 . Similarly, the height  113  (FIG. 1) of each member  10 ,  20 ,  30 ,  60  is normally identical and fixed at a selected value to facilitate the rapid assembly of a storage unit  90 . Members  30  having fixed lengths of five inches, nine inches, eleven inches, thirteen inches, and eighteen inches are presently utilized. The height  113  is presently eight and one-half inches. It is understood that custom members  10 ,  20 ,  30 ,  40 ,  50 ,  60  of any desired shape and dimension, and that may or may not be slidably adjustable to alter the length of the member, can be fabricated in the practice of the invention. Since one important objective of the invention is to provide a construction kit that can be quickly assembled into a variety of storage units with different configurations that will fit a selected vehicle compartment, it is generally preferred that each component in the storage unit construction kit of the invention be pre-made and ready for assembly so that a variety of different sized and different shaped storage units can be quickly assembled with the members  10 ,  20 , etc., fasteners, wood, and other desired parts at hand. 
     The location of each member  30  in unit  90  is selected and members  30  are positioned in the manner shown in FIG.  11 . Metal screws or bolts are inserted through apertures  19 K in tabs  31  and  32  and through apertures  19 B or  19 C aligned with apertures  19 K. This secures each member  30  to members  20 . Wood screws, metal screws, or bolts are inserted through apertures  19 K in tab  34  and, if appropriate through apertures  19 D or  19 E. This secures each member  30  to member  40  and/or  70 . 
     A pair of retention members  50  are selected. One member  50  is slidably adjusted to the length indicated by arrows O. The other member  50  is slidably adjusted to the length indicated by arrows Q. The member  50  with a length Q is placed at the position indicated in FIG. 11 beneath the member  60  have a length Q. Wood screws are turned through apertures  19 F and  19 G in tabs  53  and  54  into wood floor member  91 A. Metal screws or bolts are inserted through apertures  19 F and  19 G in panels  55  and  56  and into apertures  19  in tabs  11  to secure member  50  to members  10 . The member  50  with a length O is similarly installed directly beneath the member  60  with a length O.