Patent Abstract:
The invention is a truck tool box that is attached to the bed of a pickup truck. The tool box is attached using brackets, a hinge system, and a latch system that allows a user to unlatch the tool box and swing it to the user.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not Applicable. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
       [0002]    Not Applicable. 
       APPENDIX 
       [0003]    Not Applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0005]    The present invention relates to tool boxes and, more specifically, to a tool box that can be mounted to the bed of a truck. 
         [0006]    2. Related Art 
         [0007]    Prior tool boxes have been mounted to the bed of a truck. Some tool boxes have often been extremely large, and consequently have removed a great deal of usable space from the bed area. Other tool boxes are located in a position that makes access extremely difficult. Yet other tool boxes are fixed in a single position. 
         [0008]    All of the present tool boxes that are mounted in the bed of a truck have advantages and disadvantages, but there is a need in the art to provide maximize usable space, and still provide ease of access. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The invention is a truck tool box that is mounted in a bed of a truck. The tool box is mounted using a truck bracket, and a first and second mating hinge members connecting the box plate to the truck bracket. There is preferably provided a box plate for attaching the first mating hinge member. The tool box is adapted to the shape of the wheel well of the truck, and is further adapted to provide clearance with the bed of the truck to permit a swinging action of the tool box. 
         [0010]    In the primary embodiment, the first mating hinge member may be male and the second hinge member may be female. In an alternate embodiment, the first mating hinge member may be female, and the second mating hinge member male. In a further alternative embodiment, the first mating hinge member may be both male and female, with the second mating hinge member being oppositely female and male. 
         [0011]    There are a number of important innovations with the truck tool box itself. The first and second body portions of the truck tool box are each provided with an exterior seam. This seam provides structural rigidity and allows for ease of manufacturing. The lid of the truck tool box provides functionality by exterior contouring, and a panel is bonded beneath the lid to provide structural rigidity. A latching mechanism is provided on the exterior of the box, and which is actuated by a spring biased pull rod that runs along the bottom of the tool box. The mate for the latching mechanism may be provided on the truck bracket or on the truck. A small tray may be disposed in the shallow portion of the tool box for providing a light. 
         [0012]    It is important to the invention to control the dimension of the hinge pivot area to ensure proper swinging action of the tool box. Accordingly, the hinge pivot area is defined on one side as two inches plus the distance between the lightwell to the bed side, and defined on the other side as five inches from the tailgate forward. 
         [0013]    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 
         [0014]    The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is an elevated view of the truck tool box of the present invention installed in a truck bed in a latched position; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is an elevated view of the truck tool box of  FIG. 1 , wherein the tool box is in a non-latched position; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a plan left side view of the truck tool box of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a plan right side view of the truck tool box of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a plan rear end view of the truck tool box of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a plan bottom view of the truck tool box of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a top plan view of the truck tool box of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 8A  is a bottom elevated view of the bottom portion of the truck tool box of the present invention, wherein the hinge system is attached at the rear of the truck tool box; 
           [0023]      FIG. 8B  is a bottom elevated view of the bottom portion of the truck tool box of an alternate embodiment of the present invention, wherein the hinge system is attached is attached at the side of the truck tool box, and wherein a Bowden cable is used instead of a rod as a longitudinal member; 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is a rear elevated assembly view of the truck tool box of the present invention wherein the male hinge pins are disposed on the truck bracket; 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  is a rear elevated assembly view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention wherein the male and female hinge members are equally shared between the truck bracket and the box bracket; 
           [0026]      FIG. 11  is a rear elevated assembly view of another alternate embodiment of the present invention wherein the male hinge pins are disposed on the box bracket; 
           [0027]      FIG. 12  is a rear elevated assembly view of the truck tool box of the present invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 13  is a rear elevated assembly view of an alternate embodiment of the truck tool box of the present invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 14  is a partial top plan view that defines the hinge pivot area area for the truck tool box of the present invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 15  is a partial top plan view of the truck tool box in a latched position, and the truck bed hinge pivot area; and 
           [0031]      FIG. 16  is a partial top plan view of the truck tool box in an unlatched position, and the truck bed hinge pivot area. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0032]    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. As shown in the drawings, according to  FIGS. 1-13 , there is shown a truck toolbox, generally at  50  installed in the bed, generally at  52 , of a truck.  FIG. 1  shows toolbox  50  in a latched position, and  FIG. 2  shows toolbox  50  in an unlatched position. 
         [0033]    Truck tool box  50  has first body portion  54  shown with first exterior seam  56 , having first rectangular area  58 . Similarly, truck tool box  50  has second body portion  60  with second exterior seam  62 , having second rectangular area  64 . As best shown in  FIG. 12  and  FIG. 13 , first rectangular area  58  of first exterior seam  56  of first body portion  54  is joined with second rectangular area  64  of second exterior seam  62  of second body portion  60 . Thus joined, first body portion  54  and second body portion  60  defined interior space  65 . 
         [0034]    Truck tool box  50  is also provided with a lid  66 . A lock  68  is provided on lid  66 . Lid  66  is joined to first body portion  54  via first lid hinge member  70  and second lid hinge member  72 . Preferably, lid  66  is reinforced by lid panel  74  which provides structural rigidity and integrity. Lid  66  is also provided with cup holder recess  108  and rectangular recess  110  for depositing small objects such as screws, nails, or nuts. 
         [0035]    The joinder of first body portion  54 , second body portion  60 , and lid  66  form the basic tool box  50 . As shown in the drawings, the joinder of these elements provide a tool box  50  having a front, rear, right side, left side, top, and bottom. At the rear of tool box  50 , a box plate is preferably attached. To the bed  52  of the truck, a truck bracket  78  is attached. Then, between box plate  76  and truck bracket  78  is placed a first mating hinge member  82 , alternately referred to as “L-shaped box bracket,” and second hinge mating member  84 . As shown more specifically in  FIG. 9-11 , male pins  86  may be disposed on second hinge mating member  84 , or alternately on each of L-shaped box bracket  82  and second hinge mating member  84 , or alternately on L-shaped box bracket  82  alone. 
         [0036]    Thus, attached to the bed  52  of the pickup truck, tool box  50  may assume a latched or unlatched position. To accomplish this, spring-biased male latch portion  94  is disposed on the front of truck tool box  50 , and female latch portion  80  may be disposed on truck bracket  78 . In an alternate embodiment, female latch portion  80  may be disposed on the bed  52  of the pickup truck (not shown). Longitudinal member  92 , alternately referred to as rod  92  or as Bowden cable, is disposed along the bottom of truck tool box  50 . At one end, rod  92  pulls spring-biased male latch portion  94  to release it from female latch portion  80 . The other end of rod  92  extends beyond the rear plane of tool box  50  in ergonomic accessible manner, preferably a hook shape. Spring-biased male latch portion  94  is adapted to close with female latch portion  80  upon the application of sufficient force. 
         [0037]    It will be appreciated that L-shaped box bracket  82  has a first body portion  120  and a second body portion  122 . Said second body portion  122  of said L-shaped box bracket  82  is adapted for attachment to truck tool box  50  while the first body portion  120  has a first mating hinge connector  124 . Second mating hinge connector  84  has a first body portion  126  attached to truck bracket  78 , a second body portion  128  disposed at an angle to the first body portion  126 , and a third body portion  130  disposed at an angle to the second body portion  128 . The third body portion  130  of second hinge mating member  84  is adapted to mate with first mating hinge connector  124  of L-shaped box bracket  82 . 
         [0038]    The geometric details regarding L-shaped box bracket  82  and second hinge mating member  84  are important because the hinge and swinging action of truck tool box  50  will not be successful unless sufficient clearance is provided from the lightwell  138  at the rear of the bed  52 . In order to have sufficient clearance from the lightwell  138 , there is defined a hinge pivot area  134  best shown in  FIGS. 14 ,  15  and  16 . It is critical to the operability and utility of the invention that the hinge pivot point  150  be located in the area defined by the hinge pivot area  134 . The hinge pivot point is the point where the second mating hinge connector  84  mates with first mating hinge connector  124  of box bracket  82 . In particular, this hinge pivot area  134  is defined on one side as the dimension of five inches along the inside sidewall of the truck bed from the tailgate edge forward to the cab, and on the other side as the dimension of two inches from the outer edge of the lightwell  138  measured away from the nearest truck bed inside sidewall, minus the area occupied by the lightwell  138  itself. As clearly seen in  FIGS. 15 and 16 , the hinge pivot point  150  in the present invention must be located within the hinge pivot area  134  in order to have an appropriate swing action, for convenience of unlatching, and to avoid damaging the lightwell  138 . Accordingly, from  FIG. 8A , both the L-shaped box bracket  82  and the second mating hinge connector  84 , and their respective body portions,  120 ,  122 ,  126 ,  128 ,  130 , respectively, are specifically adapted and dimensioned such that the hinge pivot point  150  is located within the hinge pivot area  134 , which provides clearance from lightwell  138 . In the alternate embodiment of  FIG. 8B , both the box bracket  82  and the second mating hinge connector  84  are likewise adjusted in the various dimensions of body portions  144  and  146  in order to place the hinge pivot point  150  within the hinge pivot area  134 , and guaranteeing that there will be no interference in movement of the hinge system or from the truck tool box  50  with lightwell  138 . 
         [0039]    In the alternate embodiment of  FIG. 8B , there is shown a longitudinal member  144  alternately referred to as Bowden cable  144 . Bowden cable  144  may be used instead of rod  92  as a different longitudinal member  144 . In addition, it can be seen in this alternate embodiment that second mating hinge member  84  can have only two body portions, first body portion  144  and second body portion  146 . More importantly, it can be seen that box bracket  82  is not L-shaped as the embodiment of  FIG. 8A  and is attached to the side of truck tool box  50 , instead of being attached at the rear of truck tool box  50  (shown in the primary embodiment in  FIG. 8A ). 
         [0040]    A tray  96  may be bonded within interior space  65  of truck tool box  50 . This tray  96  is preferably provided with a light  98 . In an alternate embodiment, a removable tray  102  may further be provided. Such removable tray has a lip  103  disposed in circumference and which rests on contours provided within interior space  65 . 
         [0041]    In operation, the truck tool box  50  assumes the position of  FIG. 1 , a latched position. A user inserts his or her finger into the hook provided in rod  92  and pulls. Pulling rod  92  longitudinally releases spring-biased male latch portion  94  from female latch portion  80 , and the tool box swings according to L-shaped box bracket  82  and second hinge mating member  84  towards the user. Importantly, because the hinge pivot point  150  is located within hinge pivot area  134 , the truck tool box  50  swings without any touching of the lightwell  138  by either the truck tool box  50  or the hinge system. Then the user may open lid  66  and access interior space  65 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . Should the user need to take truck tool box  50  out of the bed  52  of the truck, the user may lift the tool box  50  (best shown in  FIG. 9 ) and carry truck tool box  50 . For convenience, a handle  112  is provided ( FIG. 6 ). 
         [0042]    As various modifications could be made to the exemplary embodiments, as described above with reference to the corresponding illustrations, without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting. For example, it is understood that the various body portions  54 ,  60  may be made in a variety of shapes and colors for aesthetics. In addition, the lid  66  may be provided with a translucent top and be made to glow via light provided on the other body side. Additional magnetic pads, not shown, may be introduced in order to facilitate storage of tools or hardware. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims appended hereto and their equivalents.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1