Abstract:
A multiple-part hinged bracket assembly for pivotally supporting a toolbox or other container in a slightly elevated position towards the rear of the truck bed, abutting the tailgate. The elevated position allows the full truck bed area to be utilized when hauling large dimensional sheets of material. The toolbox or container is accessible from the rear of the truck in its stored position or outside the truck in the deployed position. The bracket assembly may include a brace that allows the toolbox to be deployed and secured in a preselected pivotal position.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of provisional application Serial No. 60/370,481, filed Apr. 5, 2002. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to truck-mounted toolboxes, and more specifically to a mounting bracket therefore. Toolboxes typically mount to the truck bed, or to the sidewalls of the truck, directly behind the passenger area. Some designs utilize a T-shaped cross section that allows the upper lip on either side of the toolbox to extend over the width of the truck sidewalls, while others employ standard rectangular shapes and mount directly to the truck bed.  
           [0003]    Prior art toolboxes have a number of drawbacks. First, access to tools can be difficult. Because a T-shaped toolbox may extend a number of inches above the highest point of the truck sidewall, a person outside of the vehicle must reach quite high to access tools contained therein. For shorter people, vision into the toolbox can be blocked. Additionally, most users cannot reach into the central portion of the toolbox from outside the vehicle, and must climb into the truck bed to do so. Smaller rectangular boxes, when mounted behind the cab, suffer similar access difficulty. Conversely, if the toolbox is mounted near the rear of the truck bed to allow easier access, the toolbox hinders access to the remaining available cargo area.  
           [0004]    Other drawbacks to conventional toolboxes include other limitations on the utility of the truck. Many truck beds are sized according to standardization in various industries. For example, many are dimensioned just large enough to accommodate standard 4′×8′ dimensional sheets of material (such as plywood or drywall) lying flat in the bed, while still allowing closure of the tailgate. Toolboxes that mount to the truck bed negate this capability. Additionally, toolboxes that are taller than the truck sidewalls cut into the rearward view of the driver. And because many toolboxes are manufactured using shiny metals, the visible areas that extend above the sidewalls reflect light and can blind other motorists.  
           [0005]    For instance, Smith (U.S. Pat. No. 4,564,167) suggests a pivoting toolbox mounting assembly that is located near the rear of a vehicle. However, Smith does not have a support frame for handling toolboxes that would extend across the entire width of a vehicle bed. Furthermore, when swung outwardly from the vehicle bed, the toolbox prevents access to the vehicle bed.  
         SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
         [0006]    The present invention comprises a two-part bracket assembly for pivotally supporting a toolbox in a slightly elevated position towards the rear of the truck bed, abutting the tailgate. The elevated position allows the full truck bed area to be utilized when hauling several 4′×8′ dimensional sheets of material. Depending upon the style of toolbox installed in the bracket, the location of the bracket may provide added security by preventing the toolbox from being opened when the tailgate is latched and locked.  
           [0007]    The bracket assembly comprises a U-shaped frame having a hinge structure located on one upstanding arm of the frame and a latch structure on the opposing side. A toolbox support frame is hingedly attached to an upstanding arm of the U-shaped frame. A locking mechanism located on the support frame interacts with the latch structure to secure the toolbox in a closed position. The bracket assembly allows the toolbox to swing out of the truck bed about a vertical axis. Thus, a person may easily access all areas of the toolbox comfortably from the back of the truck and from outside the truck. The toolbox mobility also allows the toolbox to move out of the way during loading and unloading of cargo.  
           [0008]    In an alternate embodiment of the invention, a support plate is attached with a hinge to the U-shaped frame at a proximal end. The distal end of the support plate is hingedly attached to another support plate. An additional latching mechanism may be provided between the first support plate and the toolbox support frame. When latched, the toolbox support frame can pivot about the vertical axis at one side of the U-shaped frame. When unlatched, the toolbox support frame can pivot relative to the first support plate and pivot relative to the U-shaped frame. This allows two degrees of motion. For ease of movement, a handle may be attached to the upstanding portion of the toolbox support frame.  
           [0009]    Another feature of the present invention is a brace that allows the toolbox to be securely held in place when the toolbox is swung out from the vehicle bed. This allows access to the vehicle bed without concern for the toolbox swinging back towards the vehicle bed.  
           [0010]    One of the benefits of the present design resides in the U-shaped frame. The frame may be attached to the bed of the pickup truck with fasteners, such as carriage bolts, or any other conventional means. The frame adds strength and rigidity to the truck bed, thereby allowing a heavy load within the toolbox to be evenly distributed along the back of the truck. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a rear fragmentary perspective view of a truck including the toolbox support frame supporting a toolbox in the closed position.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a rear fragmentary perspective view of the truck showing the toolbox support frame and toolbox deployed outwardly of the bed of the truck.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the toolbox support frame and of a typical toolbox supported thereby.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of a brace used to secure the toolbox support frame when the frame has been deployed to a selected position.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the brace of FIG. 4 interacting with the support frame.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 is a rear fragmentary perspective view of the latching assembly of the support frame.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 7 is a front fragmentary perspective view of the latching assembly of the support frame.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of a second embodiment of the current invention and a toolbox to be supported thereby.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the hinge assembly of the second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of the second embodiment in a fully deployed operating position. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0022]    Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention, which may be embodied in other specific structure. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 1 shows a perspective rear view of a first embodiment of the bracket assembly, generally designated by the numeral  20 . The bracket assembly  20  pivotally supports a toolbox  22  at the rear of a vehicle  24 . The assembly  20  is preferably assembled to the truck  24  in an elevated position spaced above a vehicle bed  26 . The elevated bracket assembly  20  allows access to the vehicle bed  26  even when the bracket assembly  20  is in a closed position. A tailgate  28  is shown in the open position, and it will be observed that the bracket assembly  20  will not interfere with closing of the tailgate  28 . The bracket assembly  20  is comprised of three primary sections: a first hinge plate comprising a U-shaped frame  30 , a hinge assembly  40 , and a second hinge plate  50 . For clarity in the specification, the first hinge plate will be referred to as the U-shaped frame  30 , and the second hinge plate will be referenced as the hinge plate  50 . Each of these sections will be described in further detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the hinge plate  50  and the toolbox  22  swung outwardly from the vehicle bed  26 . This allows a better view of the U-shaped frame  30 . The U-shaped frame  30  comprises a first upstanding arm  32 , a base  33 , and a second upstanding arm  34  integral with and projecting upwardly from the base  33 . The first upstanding arm  32  is attached to a first sidewall  36  and the second upstanding arm  34  is attached to a second sidewall  38 . The U-shaped frame  30  may be attached to the first truck sidewall  36 , the second truck sidewall  38 , and the vehicle bed  26  by nut and bolt fasteners or by any conventional fastening means (not shown).  
         [0025]    As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, it is possible to access the vehicle bed  26  without moving the bracket assembly  20  from either a locked or a closed position. Thus, if it is desired to haul drywall, plywood, or other sheet material  39 , one or several of the sheets  39  may be loaded or removed without interfering with the elevated toolbox  22  and the bracket assembly  20 . This is also an added safety measure. Because the sheets of material  39  are usually 4′×8′, they would normally fit in the bed  26  of a pickup truck. A conventionally mounted toolbox would require the drywall  39  to rest upon the opened tailgate  28  when being transported. Since the present invention is elevated above the bed  26 , the drywall  39  may be positioned underneath the toolbox  22  and the hinge plate  50 , and the tailgate  28  may be shut without interference. This also means less sliding of the sheet material  39  when being transported, thereby lessening the possibility of the sheet material  39  sliding off of the vehicle bed  26  and causing damage to the sheet material  39  or to persons or objects located in the vicinity.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the bracket assembly  20 . The U-shaped frame  30  is attached to the hinge assembly  40  at the first upstanding arm  32  (see FIG. 2). The hinge assembly comprises a hinge pin  42 , a tubular support  44 , and a receiving hole  46 . The hinge pin  42  is slid through the receiving hole  46  and the tubular support  44 , allowing the hinge plate  50  to be pivotally attached to the U-shaped frame  30 . Thus, the hinge plate  50  and the toolbox  22  may be swung outwardly from the U-shaped frame  30  and the vehicle bed  26  (see FIG. 2). The hinge pin  42  allows easy removal of the hinge plate  50  and the toolbox  22 , should extra space be needed in the vehicle bed  26 . An upper lip  47  is located at the top of the hinge pin to allow a user to easily grasp the hinge pin. The hinge pin  42  may be slightly tapered to assist in insertion and removal. In a preferred embodiment, a stiffening rib  48  is added where the hinge assembly  40  and the upstanding arm  32  of the U-shaped frame  30  are connected to give added support to the bracket assembly  20 .  
         [0027]    Still referring to FIG. 3, the tubular support  44  is attached to the hinge plate  50 . The hinge plate  50  also provides the main support for the toolbox  22 . The hinge plate  50  is comprised of a first elongate member  52  and a second elongate member  54  each have a length approximately the width of the truck bed  26 . The hinge plate  50  further comprises a first side member  56  and a second side member  58 . The two side members  56  and  58  are generally upstanding and are attached to the elongate members  52  and  54  at substantially right angles. The side members  56  and  58  contribute support for the toolbox  22  by means of the inwardly formed base portions  57  and  59 . The toolbox  22  rests upon the respective base portions  57  and  59  and may be attached to the side members  56  and  58  in any suitable manner, such as conventional bolt and nut assembly (not shown). Likewise the toolbox  22  may be supported in any suitable manner, including an extended bottom conforming in configuration of the bottom of the toolbox  22  (not shown).  
         [0028]    Further referring to FIG. 3 and the hinge plate  50 , two other elements are noted. The first element, a bracing rod or support rod  60 , is connected to the outside of the first side member  56 . The second element, a latching assembly  70 , is connected to the hinge plate  50  opposite the hinge assembly  40 . The bracing rod  60  and its function will be described in further detail with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, and the latching assembly  70  will be described in further detail with regard to FIGS. 6 and 7.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIGS. 4 and 5 show fragmented views of the bracket assembly  20 , highlighting the bracing rod  60 . The bracing rod  60  is used to secure the toolbox  22  and hinge plate  50  when the hinge plate  50  is in an open position (as shown in FIG. 2). The bracing rod  60  is pivotally attached to the first side member  56  and is received by the bore of the tubular formed tab  66  formed integrally of the side member  56 . A slot or notch  66   a  located in the tab  66  allows the bracing rod to be secured in place when not in use. The bracing rod is formed to provide two approximately ninety-degree (90 ° angles, thereby allowing the rod  60  to provide a male portion  62  arranged for insertion into an aperture  64  formed in the base  33  of the U-shaped frame  30  (see FIG. 5). The tubular formed tab  66  of the side member  56  secures the opposite end  68  of the bracing rod  60 . The bracing rod  60  is slid into the bore of the tab  66 . The bracing rod  60  is prevented from sliding out of the holding bore  66  by way of a spring  67  and a roll pin  69 . When the rod  60  is pivotally moved to cause the male end portion  62  to enter the aperture  64 , the hinge plate  50  will be securely held in place, which allows for easy access into the toolbox  22  and prevent the toolbox  22  from moving or swaying. The bracing rod  60  also would be advantageous if used in vehicles, such as SUVs, for holding open the rear doors when accessing the back of the vehicles.  
         [0030]    Referring next to FIGS. 6 and 7, the latching assembly  70  is shown in detail. FIG. 6 shows a rear perspective of the latching assembly  70 . FIG. 7 shows a front perspective view of the latching assembly  70 . The latching assembly  70  comprises a plate  72  located between the first elongate member  52  and the second elongate member  54  of the hinge plate  40 . The latching assembly further comprises a handle  74  that will allow a latching dead bolt  76  to be engaged or disengaged with the strike plate  78  secured to the upstanding arm  34  of the U-shaped frame  30 . The locking deadbolt  76  allows the latching assembly  70  to interact with the strike plate  78  (see FIGS. 2 and 3), allowing the latching assembly  70  to hold the bracket assembly  20  in a secured, closed position. Overall, the latching assembly  70  may be of any conventional design to securely lock or release the hinge plate  50 .  
         [0031]    FIGS.  8 - 11 , inclusive, illustrate a second embodiment  100  of the present invention. The second embodiment  100  differs from the first bracket assembly embodiment  20  in that the second embodiment  100  has an additional degree of freedom when swung or deployed outwardly from the vehicle  24 . As will be shown, the extra degree of freedom allows the bracket assembly  100  to be swung around to the outside of the first sidewall  36  (see FIG. 11). The U-shaped frame  30 , the hinge assembly  40 , and a latching assembly  170 , are substantially the same as shown in the first embodiment of the bracket assembly  20 .  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the second embodiment  100 . A hinge plate  150  consists of a first section (or a second hinge plate)  152  and a second section (or a third hinge plate)  154 . The hinge assembly  40  pivotally connects the first section  152  to the U-shaped frame  30 . A second locking mechanism  160 , located on the first section  152 , will be described in further detail with reference to FIG. 10. The first section  152  pivotally connects to the second section  154  by means of a second hinge assembly  156 . An adjustable strut  158  attached to the second section  154  also interacts with the first section  152 . The second hinge assembly  156  and the strut  158  will be described further in connection with the view of FIG. 10.  
         [0033]    Still referring to FIG. 9, the second section  154  forms the bulk of the support frame for the toolbox  22 . The second section comprises a first bar  162  and a second bar  164 , which are relatively parallel to one another. Located at the end of the second section opposite where the first section  152  and the second section  154  meet, a latching assembly  170  is housed on a plate  176  between the first bar  162  and the second bar  164 . The latching assembly  170  is essentially the same as the latching assembly  70  described in the first embodiment above (see FIGS. 6 and 7).  
         [0034]    Referring further to FIG. 9, the toolbox  22  is supported by the second section  154 . A corner brace  178  attaches the toolbox  22  to the first section  154  near the second hinge assembly  156 . A triangular brace  180  attaches the toolbox to the second section  154  near the latching assembly  170 . The toolbox  22  may be attached to the braces  178  and  180  in any suitable manner, such as conventional bolt and nut assembly (not shown). A floor  181  formed in the corner brace  178  provides additional support for the toolbox  22 . Likewise, as previous mentioned for the first embodiment, the toolbox  22  may be supported in any suitable manner, including an extended bottom conforming in configuration of the bottom of the toolbox  22  (not shown).  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view detailing the surrounding area of the second hinge assembly  156 . The second hinge assembly  156  allows the second section  154  to pivot nearly parallel to the first section  152 . The adjustable strut  158  is secured at one end to the second section  154 , and releasably attached to the first section  152 . A releasable locking pin  182  is located on the first section  152  and can interact with various similarly sized apertures  184  located on the adjustable strut  158 . The strut  158  may be attached by nut and bolt or by any other conventional attachment means.  
         [0036]    Still referring to FIG. 10, the second locking mechanism  160  is located on the first section  152 . A handle  186  located on the corner brace  178  interacts with the second locking mechanism  160 . When the locking mechanism  160  is latched on the handle  186 , the second section  154  cannot pivot independently from the first section  152 , but can still pivot about the vertical axis of the U-shaped frame  30  as in the first embodiment. When unlatched, the second section  154  and the toolbox  22  can pivot relative to the first section  44  and pivot independently with respect to the U-shaped frame  30 . This adds a second degree of freedom for the hinge plate  150 , which is evidenced in FIG. 11.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 11 details the two degrees of freedom for the hinge plate  150 . When the second section  154  is not connected to the first section  152 , the hinge plate  150  has two degrees of motion relative to the U-shaped frame  30 . The second section  154  and the toolbox  22  can pivot clear of the vehicle bed  26 , around to the outside of the first sidewall  36 . The strut  158  allows the hinge plate  150  to be held in this deployed position. This provides complete access to the vehicle bed  26 . This arrangement is especially useful when loading or unloading drywall or other similar sheet material  39  from the vehicle  24  (see FIGS. 1 and 2).  
         [0038]    It should be noted that the configuration for support of the toolbox  22  formed by either the hinge plate  50  of the first embodiment  20  or the second section  150  of the second embodiment  100  is not decisive to the present invention. Support for the toolbox  22 , or another container, could consist of an elevated rectangular shape that the toolbox  22  would sit on, or even a cage-like design that the toolbox would slide in and out of. Provided that sufficient support is available for the toolbox  22  in a manner that will not interfere with other components of the present invention, any configuration is acceptable.  
         [0039]    For security and safety reasons, the hinge assembly  40  may be locked in place, securing the U-shaped frame  30  to the hinge plate  50 . As can be seen most clearly in FIGS. 2,3 and  8 - 10 , an opening  80  is located on the top of hinge pin  42 . The opening is arranged to receive either a bolt  82  (see FIG. 9) or a padlock  84  (see FIG. 3) or other similar locking device. A nut  86  may be threaded onto the bolt  82  to secure the bolt  82  in place. Locking the assembly prevents unwanted removal of the hinge pin  42 , while not interfering with the pivotability of the assembly.  
         [0040]    Also, while the bracket assembly  100  is shown to pivot on the passenger&#39;s side of the vehicle and latch on the driver&#39;s side of the vehicle, it is conceivable that the bracket may be slightly modified to pivot on the driver&#39;s side and latch on the passenger&#39;s side and still remain with the scope of the present invention.  
         [0041]    The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.