Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
         [0001]    Not applicable.  
         STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
         [0002]    Not applicable.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0004]    This invention relates generally to storage containers for trucks and, more particularly, to a modular storage container for the bed of a pickup truck.  
           [0005]    2. Related Art  
           [0006]    General use trucks with an open rear body, i.e. pickup trucks, are utilized for a broad range of applications. A wide range of accessories have also been developed to provide enhanced capabilities for pickup trucks. Among the accessories commercially available are basic bed liners constructed from a variety of materials such as synthetic resins, polymers and metals, as well as numerous forms of storage containers and several types of mechanical equipment. The storage containers range in variation from a simple affixed toolbox to multichambered toolbox systems which can exceed the dimensions of the truck bed and reach heights above the truck cab.  
           [0007]    Products which combine multiple accessory features are also available. A plastic bed liner with a drainage channel surface and an added quarter-length cross-bed tool box having an upper surface similar to the bed liner is one example. Alternatively, a storage container having compartments with hinged lids can cover a part of a truck bed. This container might be half the height of the truck&#39;s side rails, and could be combined with an overhanging block and tackle for loading and unloading the compartments.  
           [0008]    One particular form of accessory is a storage container which spans the majority or all of the breadth of a truck bed. Often such a container will rise to a height in between the truck bed floor and the top of the side rails, and will extend close to, but not past the tailgate. An example of this form of storage container is the Weather Guard Pack Rat® Drawer Unit Model 312 sold by the Naack Manufacturing Company of Crystal Lake, Ill. This storage container has a specialized upper surface to prevent slipping and includes a sliding drawer for the containers&#39; contents.  
           [0009]    Existing approaches to truck bed-disposed, drawer-containing storage containers have limitations. The containers need to be capable of supporting significant loads and are hence heavily constructed. The desire to cover a truck bed may require custom construction tailored to individual truck models and will frequently require considerable installation effort. A container of this form is usually installed permanently due to the installation difficulties. The option of readily switching between utilizing the truck with or without the container is thus unavailable. The individual model tailoring also prevents the manufacturer from marketing a particular storage container model for use with a broader range of trucks.  
           [0010]    The prior approaches are unable to provide a user the option of partial or complete coverage of a truck bed with the just one production model of container system. Readily switching a single container system between the sides of a truck bed is also not possible with prior approaches. The limitations of existing truck bed containers systems also restrict their ability to accommodate complementary equipment.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0011]    Accordingly, in view of the prior approaches and limitations, the modular truck bed container system and complementary equipment of the present invention was developed. The present invention is a modular truck bed storage container which is attachable to a second storage container module to form a single storage system which can span the truck bed and has an upper surface for cargo support that may span the truck bed and in which the upper surface may replicate the configuration and/or appearance of a truck bed liner.  
           [0012]    Specifically, the present invention is a modular truck bed storage container which is securable to either side (right or left) of a truck bed. The modular truck bed storage container has horizontal dimensions commensurate with a longitudinally sectioned truck bed, and is securable to a second modular truck bed storage container to form a combined storage container system which can span an entire truck bed. The modular truck bed storage container is readily removable and reinstallable.  
           [0013]    The present invention is also a modular truck bed storage container which is disposable on either side of a truck bed in reversible orientations to fit to the asymmetric configuration of each side of the truck bed and still be able to receive a rearward opening, longitudinally sliding internal drawer regardless of the side disposed on. The modular truck bed storage container has a completely removable internal longitudinally sliding drawer.  
           [0014]    The modular truck bed storage container has an upper cargo support surface that replicates the configuration and/or appearance of a truck bed liner. The upper surface is selectively constructed either to be intermediate the height of the wheel wells and the top of the truck sides, or is constructed to be intermediate the height of the wheel wells and the floor of the truck bed.  
           [0015]    The modular truck bed storage container of the present invention accommodates a wheel well of a truck bed equally well regardless of the side of the truck bed the module is disposed on, for a variety of truck models.  
           [0016]    The present invention is also a modular truck bed storage container which includes at least one support member which extends rearward from the module to assist in the support of an extended interior drawer. The support member has a facilitating component, such as a roller, at one end to ease the loading and unloading of a removable drawer. The modular truck bed storage container has selectively operable stops to restrict the motion of a sliding interior drawer.  
           [0017]    The present invention is also a modular truck bed storage container with an interior drawer and sliding lid for the drawer. The lid may extend along selectable fractions of the drawer&#39;s length to provide selectable variation in the degree of exposure of the drawer&#39;s contents when the drawer is extended from the container.  
           [0018]    When a first modular truck bed storage container module is attached to a second storage container module to form a single storage system, the storage container system provides a space between the modules for the disposition of other accessories such as a goose neck ball.  
           [0019]    The modular truck bed storage container provides space between its side and the truck&#39;s side for other accessories such as a winch and line or a compressed air supply.  
           [0020]    The modular truck bed storage container of the present invention may be combined with a winch for loading and unloading assistance.  
           [0021]    The modular truck bed storage container may also be combined with a crane for loading and unloading assistance.  
           [0022]    The modular truck bed storage container is adaptable to a variety of truck beds. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0023]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, illustrate the embodiments of the present invention. Together with the description, the drawings serve to explain the principles of the invention.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 1 is a top partial cutaway view of a pair of connected storage container modules according to a first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 2 is a rear partially exploded view of the pair of connected storage container modules installed in a truck bed according to a first embodiment of the present invention also shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 3 is an enlarged partially-exploded cross-sectional view taken along line  3 - 3  of FIG. 1 of a left storage container module disposed on a truck bed according to a first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a nut zert element of the storage container module according to a first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 5 is a side view of a housing, drawer and side flange according to a first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0029]    FIGS.  6 A, and  6 B are rear and side views, respectively, of wall brace and roller details of a storage container module according to the present invention.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIGS. 7A and 7B are rear partial cutaway and side partial cutaway views, respectively, of a detail of a storage container module according to the present invention.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIGS. 8A, 8B, and  8 C are rear end, side detail, and enlarged side detail views, respectively, of a nut and bolt assembly according to the present invention.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 9 is an end view of an alternative drawer handle according to the present invention.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIGS. 10A, 10B, and  10 C are rear, top and side views, respectively of a storage container module according to a second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 11 is a side view of a removable drawer and alternative extendible rail according to another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIGS. 12A and 12B are a perspective view and a rear end view, respectively, of an alternative drawer and rail embodiment according to the present invention.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 13 is a side view of a removable drawer and alternative extendible rail according to another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIGS. 14A and 14B are side and end views, respectively, of details of a pivot arm and rail according to the present invention.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 15A is an end view of a separated drawer and wheeled conveyance according to the embodiment of the present invention depicted in FIG. 13.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 15B is an enlarged end view of a detail of the separated drawer and wheeled conveyance depicted in FIG. 15A.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 16 is a top view of another embodiment including a winch and pulley according to the present invention.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 17 is a rear view of another embodiment including an extending duct according to the present invention.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 18 is a side view of connected storage containers mounted in a truck bed with an extending duct and crane according to the present invention.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 19 is an enlarged, end cross-sectional view of the extending duct depicted in FIG. 18.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 20 is a side view of a storage container module with an extending duct and a crane according to another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 21 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of a crane to be combined with the storage container module according to the present invention.  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 22 is a rear view of an auxiliary side-arm in combination with the crane of another embodiment according to the present invention.  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 23 is an enlarged detail view of a z-plate element according to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 22.  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 24 is a side view of an alternative brace element according to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 22.  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 25 is a top view of an embodiment of bracket interconnections of the collar, winch and storage container module according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0050]    In the following detailed descriptions of the drawings, identically numbered elements in different drawings refer to the same element.  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 1 is a top view of a pair of storage container modules  10 L and  10 R according to the first embodiment of the present invention in partial cutaway. Storage container module  10 L is depicted in a first orientation for deploying on a left side of a truck bed  12 . Storage container module  10 R is depicted in a second orientation for deploying on a right side of a truck bed  12 .  
         [0052]    A housing  14  has a first side  16  for positioning adjacent a truck bed side (not depicted) and a second side  18  for positioning in the general vicinity of the truck bed&#39;s longitudinal center line. The housing  14  has a top  20  which has an upper surface  22 . Supports  24  within the housing top  20  reinforce the upper surface  22 . A passageway  26  is formed within the housing  14 . Specifically, a pair of vertical longitudinally-extending walls,  28  and  30 , define passageway  26 . The wall  28  is a part of the first side  16 . The wall  30  is a part of the second side  18 . The upper reaches of the walls  28  and  30  anchor the ends of a series of supports  24 .  
         [0053]    Gussets  32  provide reinforcing support from the wall  28  to the portion of the upper surface  22  extending outward of the wall  28 . The outermost reach of the upper surface  22  includes a vertical joint flange  34 . A series of openings  36  are longitudinally spaced along the joint flange  34 . Aperture  38  penetrates the upper surface  22 .  
         [0054]    A mounting bolt  40  passing through aperture  38  secures the housing  14  to a wheel well (not depicted) in the truck bed  12 . A bottom  42  of the housing  14  is secured to the truck bed  12  by a bolt  44 . In securing the housing  14 , the bolt  44  passes through an aperture  46 . Aperture  46  is located in a mounting plate  48  which is affixed to the bottom  42 . The pair of modules  10 L and  10 R are arranged with their second sides  18  secured together at their joint strips  50 . With a truck tail gate  52  down, a drawer  100 , which is slidably disposed within the housing  14 , may emerge (depicted as partially emerged in FIG. 1).  
         [0055]    [0055]FIG. 2 is an end-on, partial cross-section view, looking forward from the rear of the truck, of the pair of modules  10 L and  10 R arranged as in FIG. 1. The joint strip  50  overlaps second side upper surface tabs  54  for securing together the upper surface  22  upon tightening of the fastener  56 . A space  58  between the right and left modules  10 R and  10 L remains after securing the upper surfaces  22  together. The space  58  is available for disposition of various accessories such as a goose neck ball  60 .  
         [0056]    The drawers  100  are depicted in broken line in their relation to the housings  14 . A pair of rabbets  102  are disposed along the lower longitudinal portion of third and fourth sides  104  of the drawer  100 . Each of the drawers  100  have front faces  106  which have front handles  108  (rear handles  109  are shown in FIG. 16) and locks  110 . The vertical joint flanges  34  are disposed for positioning along the truck bed sides  62 . A carriage bolt  64  interconnects the vertical joint flanges  34  with a side flange  66 . The side flange  66  is positioned for securing to the truck bed sides  62  with a nut and bolt assembly  200 . The nut and bolt assembly  200  includes an asymmetrical nut  202  and a bolt  204 .  
         [0057]    [0057]FIG. 3 is an enlarged, partially-exploded cross-sectional view of the module  10 L and left truck side  62 . The lower right rabbet  102  provides a channel for receiving a series of rollers  104  (which are disposed one behind another from the view of FIG. 3). The rollers  104  are fixed to the wall  30  at their axes to allow free rotation. Receiving a like series of rollers  104  fixed to wall  28  is the rabbet  102  formed in the wall  30  (not depicted). The rollers  104  are supporting the drawer  100  for longitudinal motion in the housing  14 . A stop  69  operating by a screw action is anchored within wall  30 . Rotating the stop  69  extends it into the rail  112 . The stop  69  does not interfere with the motion of the drawer longitudinally when the stop is in a first position away from contact with the drawer  100 . A second position for arresting motion of the drawer by frictional force results from rotating the stop  69  until it makes contact with the drawer  100 . Multiple forms of construction and modes of operation for the stop  69  are well known to those having skill in the art, and lie within the scope of the present invention. The particular embodiment of the stop  69  described is exemplary and is not intended to be limiting.  
         [0058]    A weather strip  70  provides a seal between the truck side rail  68  and the top of the side flange  66 . The top of the truck bed wheel well  72  retains a nut zert device  74  that receives the mounting bolt  40 . Tightening the bolt  40  in the nut zert  74  secures the outer extent of the upper surface  22  to the wheel well  72  (not shown in FIG. 3, but shown in FIG. 10B). A like nut zert  74  in the truck bed  12  receives the bolt  44 . Tightening the bolt  44  in the nut zert  74  secures the mounting plate  48 , and thus the housing bottom  42 , to the truck bed  12 .  
         [0059]    Nut and bolt assembly  200  is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 but omits various components for clarity. A detailed view of assembly  200  is provided in FIGS. 8A, 8B and  8 C.  
         [0060]    [0060]FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the construction and interrelation of the parts of the nut zert device  74 , the mounting plate  48 , and the housing bottom  42  relative to the truck bed  12 . The bolt  44  passes successively through a washer  76 , the aperture  46  in the mounting plate  48 , and an opening  78  in the housing bottom  42 . The nut zert device  74  is receiving the bolt  44 . The nut zert device  74  is disposed within an opening  80  in the truck bed  12  and includes a threaded channel  82  for screwing the bolt into. The nut zert  74  is held in the opening  80  by a washer  84  and nut  86 . A plurality of pads  92  are affixed to the lower outer surface of the bottom  42  for easing the placement of the module  10  into the truck bed  12  as seen clearly in FIG. 4. It should be understood that the pads  92  are only one way of lessening friction to facilitate installation and removal of the present invention. The present invention includes numerous other ways of lessening friction that are well known to those of skill in the art. Thus, the particular embodiment of the pads  92  described is exemplary and is not intended to be limiting.  
         [0061]    [0061]FIG. 5 is a side view of the housing  14 , partially extended drawer  100 , and side flange  66  of the module  10  according to the first embodiment of the present invention. A plurality of holes  88  are arrayed along the upper portion of the side flange  66 . The nut and bolt assemblies  200  comprising asymmetrical nut  202 , bolt  204 , and biasing bolt  205  passing through the holes  88  secure the side flange  66  to the truck side. A plurality of perforations  90  are arrayed along the lower portion of the side flange  66 . The bolts  64  passing through the perforations  90  secure the side flange  66  to the housing top  22 .  
         [0062]    As can be seen from the drawing, FIG. 5 is a view of the side of the truck with the wall  28  closer to the viewer. The optional ports  94 ,  96  (depicted as circular but may also be differing shapes) in the wall  28  provide access for various purposes through the wall  28 . The optional ports  94 ,  96  are each disposed in the general vicinity of the ends  98  of the housing  14 . The optional ports  96  are positioned in the wall  30  at similar relative locations to the optional port  94  in the wall  28 . The optional ports  96  exist to permit user access to the bolt  44  through the wall  30 . Thus, when a user reaches through the optional port  96 , the user can tighten the bolt  44 . The housing end  98  closest to the front end of the truck is secured to the truck bed  12  by tightening of the bolt  44 . When installing two modules  10 L and  10 R, respectively, to span the truck bed, one module, for example module  10 L, is installed first followed by installation of a second module  10 R.  
         [0063]    [0063]FIGS. 6A and 6B show longitudinal and side views, respectively, of optional variations in the construction of the module  10 . Wall braces  300  are welded to walls  28  and  30  at intervals spaced along the walls&#39; longitudinal extents. The wall braces  300  provide reinforcing support to the walls  28  and  30 . The wall braces  300  provide more substantial settings for attaching additional equipment than the unbraced walls  28  and  30  provide. The additional equipment can be attached either directly to the wall braces  300  or to one or more structural bolts  302  that are affixed to the wall braces  300 . The wall braces  300  also provide additional structural support for attaching the rollers  104 .  
         [0064]    [0064]FIGS. 7A and 7B show rear and top views, respectively, of details of the interrelations of parts within the rabbet  102 . In FIG. 7A a rail  112  is disposed within the rabbet  102 . The stop  69  contacts the rail  112  when restricting the sliding motion of the drawer  100 . In FIG. 7B the rollers  104  supporting the drawer  100  are shown in relation to the rail  112 .  
         [0065]    [0065]FIGS. 8A, 8B, and  8 C show rear end-on, side detail, and expanded side detail views, respectively, of the nut and bolt assembly  200 . The threaded hole of the asymmetrical nut  202  receives the cooperatively-dimensioned bolt  204 . A spring  208  is coiled about the bolt  204  in a compressed state between the asymmetrical nut  202  and the flange  66 . The spring  208  biases the asymmetrical nut  202  in an axial direction against the bolt&#39;s threads. The biasing holds the asymmetrical nut  202  in a static orientation relative to the bolt  204  in the absence of other forces. A symmetrical nut  202  extends further downward to receive bolt  205  through hole  207 . A portion  210  of the asymmetrical nut  202  is seen to extend a greater distance from the hole  206  than does a portion  212 . In operation, the asymmetrical nut  202  is adjacent the truck side rail  68 . When positioned adjacent the truck side rail  68 , the open space around the asymmetrical nut  202  is insufficient to permit a complete rotation of the nut portion  210  about the bolt  204 , but is sufficient to permit a complete rotation of the nut portion  212  about the bolt  204 . Rotating the bolt  204  causes a rotation as a whole of the nut and bolt assembly  200  until the portion  210  of nut  202  contacts the side rail  68 . Rotating the bolt  204  further tightens the nut and bolt assembly  200  by moving the asymmetrical nut  202  towards the bolt  204  head. The tightening of nut and bolt assembly  200  thus secures together the side rail  68  and the flange  66  without needing to access the asymmetrical nut directly.  
         [0066]    Once the side rail  68  and the flange  66  are secured by the tightened nut and bolt assembly  200 , the asymmetrical nut  202  is held against further rotation by frictional force between the asymmetrical nut  202  and the flange  66 . Loosening of the nut and bolt assembly  200 , after being tightened to secure together the side rail  68  and the flange  66 , occurs upon counterrotating of the bolt  204 , since the asymmetrical nut  202  is held against also counterrotating. The loosening of nut and bolt assembly  200  can thus be accomplished without needing to access the asymmetrical nut  202  directly. Counterrotating the bolt  204  loosens the asymmetrical nut  202  sufficiently to cease the holding effect of the frictional force on the asymmetrical nut  202 . The nut and bolt assembly  200  then rotates as a whole and the nut and bolt assembly  200  releases the securing of the side rail  68  and the flange  66 .  
         [0067]    [0067]FIG. 9 shows an alternative handle  108 A and lock  110 A for utilization on a drawer front face  106 A. Handle  108 A provides a different form than handle  108  for grasping and sliding the drawer  100  in the housing  14 . Lock  110 A is positioned below handle  108 A, in contrast to the position of lock  110 . The face  106 A may be structured as an integrated unit which includes the lock  110 A and handle  108 A when desirable for manufacturing ease.  
         [0068]    [0068]FIGS. 10A, 10B, and  10 C show a module  1000  according to a second embodiment of the present invention in rear, top and side views, respectively. FIGS. 10A and 10B are depicting a pair of modules  1000 L and  1000 R in their respective orientations on the left and right sides of the truck bed  12 . The module  1000 L or  1000 R differ from the module  10 L or  10 R, respectively, in that the height  1002  of module  1000  is less than the height of the truck wheel well  72 . Hence, the module  1000  has an inset  1003  for fitting around the wheel well  72 . A plurality of stands  1004  provide vertical support for the top  1022 . The stands  1004  are spaced along the longitudinal extent of the portion of the top  1022  which extends beyond the wall  1028 .  
         [0069]    [0069]FIG. 11 shows a side view of an alternative side flange embodiment  66 A. The side flange  66 A has an upper brim  67 A which reaches over the top of the side rail  68 . The operation of the side flange  66 A to the truck side  62  and the joint flange  34  are the same as for the side flange  66 .  
         [0070]    [0070]FIG. 12A shows a perspective view of an alternative detaching drawer  100 A and an alternative rail embodiment  112 A; and FIG. 12B, a depiction which shows a rear view of the detaching drawer  100 A; as well as the interrelation of the detaching drawer  100 A and the rail  112 A. The rail  112 A is of heavy construction to accommodate potentially large weight stresses.  
         [0071]    In an alternative embodiment (not shown) of the invention, the length of an alternative lid  118 A is less than the length of the drawer  100 A and is longitudinally slidable, relative to the drawer  100 A. This alternative lid  118 A is moveable to provide access to a portion of the interior of either end of the drawer  100 A, while still providing coverage of the remainder of the interior of the drawer  100 A, when drawer  100 A is at least partially outside of housing  14 .  
         [0072]    In yet another alternative embodiment (not shown) of the invention, roller  144  can be equipped with an L-shaped, curved fork (not shown) which rotates as roller  144  rotates. Drawer  100 A may then be equipped with a projection such as a flat plate (not show) to catch the furcation (not shown) of the L-shaped, curved fork (not shown) to prevent undesired movement of drawer  100 A.  
         [0073]    [0073]FIG. 13 shows a side view of a removable detaching drawer  100 A and rail  112 A with the additional element of a pivot bar  140 . The detaching drawer  100 A is shown separating from (or being placed in) the rail  112 A. The detaching drawer  100 A is supported at an angle by the pivot bar  140 . The pivot bar  140  eases moving the detaching drawer  100 A by rotating about its longitudinal axis oriented at a right angle to the plane of FIG. 13. Attaching a wheeled conveyance  170  to the lower front corner edge of the detaching drawer  100 A enables the wheeled conveyance  170  to assist in moving detached drawer  100 A when it is separated from the housing  14 .  
         [0074]    It is recommended that the non-wheeled end of drawer  100 A be adapted to receive an attachable handle (not shown) to facilitate maneuvering or wheeling drawer  100 A. It has been determined that a handle (not shown) disposed at an angle to drawer  100 A is best because it provides mechanical advantage (leverage) to the user.  
         [0075]    [0075]FIGS. 14A and 14B show side and rear views, respectively, of details of the construction of the pivot arm  140  and its disposition relative to the rail  112 A. Central rod  142  spans the rails  112 A. The front cross member  126 A is reduced in height to provide space for a rotating pivot tube  144 . The rod  142  is passing through the hollow center of the rotating pivot tube  144 .  
         [0076]    [0076]FIG. 15A shows a view of a separated detaching drawer  100 A and wheeled conveyance  170 ; and FIG. 15B, a depiction which shows an expanded view of details of the construction of the conveyance  170  and its connection to the detaching drawer  100 A. Both FIG. 15A and FIG. 15B are rear views. In FIG. 15A, the studs  120 A are received by the wheeled conveyance  170 . Snap-pin assemblies  180  secure together the wheeled conveyance  170  and the studs  120 A In FIG. 15B, the wheeled conveyance  170  includes a transverse axle beam  171  holding the axles  172 . The wheels  174  are rotating about the axles  172 . The axle nuts  176  are anchoring the wheels  174 . The axle beam  171  is affixed to the detaching drawer  100 A when the struts  120 A are fastened into the linch pin assemblies  180 . The struts  120 A slide in a channel  182  of the linch pin assemblies  180 . A linch pin  184  is inserted through an opening (not depicted) in the struts and channel to lock the struts  120 A.  
         [0077]    The following Figures describe a variety of auxiliary equipment and features of differing embodiments, separately and in combination with the storage container module.  
         [0078]    [0078]FIG. 16 shows a top view of another embodiment of the present invention having a winch  400  and pulley  402  in combination with the storage module  10 . Attaching to the exterior of the wall  28  is a winch  400 . The winch  400  fits between the wall  28  and the truck side  62 , behind the wheel well  72 , and below the top surface  22 . Line  404  extends from the winch  400 , along the pulley  402 , and through the port  94 . The line  404  is releasably connected to the rear drawer handle  109 . In operation, the winch  400 , which is preferably electrically powered, provides assistance to the raising and lowering of the detaching drawer  100 A. Thus, the electric winch  400  assists in passing a heavily loaded detaching drawer  100 A over the pivot arm  140 . The winch can also assist in moving a heavy detaching drawer  100 A over the dividing member  114 A.  
         [0079]    [0079]FIG. 17 shows a rear end-on view of another embodiment of the connected storage container modules with auxiliary equipment including an extending duct  500 . In the space  58  between the connected modules  10 L and  10 R is an extending duct  500  held by structural bolts  302 . The duct  500  is supporting a crane  600 .  
         [0080]    [0080]FIG. 18 shows a side view of the connected storage container modules with auxiliary equipment including an extending duct  500  shown in FIG. 17. The portion of the space  58  closer to the front of the truck is holding a source of compressed air  502 . The source of compressed air  502  may be a compressed air tank, an air compressor, or any other means of providing a source of compressed air well known to those of skill in the art. Including an integral source of compressed air enables the placement of an inflatable bladder (not depicted) in the detaching drawer  100 A, over the contents of the drawer (such as tools). Inflation of the bladder after the drawer has been loaded secures the drawer contents against shifting when the truck is in motion.  
         [0081]    [0081]FIG. 19 shows an expanded end-on, cross-section view of the extending duct  500  of FIG. 17. The duct  500  consists of an inner, sliding sleeve  504  fitting within an outer fixed sleeve  506 . The outer sleeve  506  is attached to brackets  508  mounted on structural bolts  302 . Bolts  302  can be reversed to facilitate removal of outer sleeve  506 .  
         [0082]    [0082]FIG. 20 shows a side view of another embodiment of the storage container module  10  in combination with an extending duct  500  and a crane  600  according to the present invention. Attached to the farthest extending end of the inner sleeve  504  is a collar  510 . The collar  510  provides support to vertically standing auxiliary equipment such as one crane embodiment  600 A depicted in FIG. 20. A vertical column  602  of crane  600 A slides into the collar  510 . A crane arm  604  is pivotally connected to the upper reach of column  602  at an angle controlled by the air cylinder  606 . The air cylinder  606  is pivotally connected to a positioning plate  608  at one of the holes  610 . The crane arm  604  is pivotally connected to the air cylinder  606  at the pin  614 . A crane arm extension  616  slides within the crane arm  604 . A plurality of holes  620  in the crane arm extension  616  provide optional attachment points for a crane arm pin  620 . The ability to attach crane arm pin  620  at differing holes  620  provides a range of extension degrees for the crane arm extension  616  relative to crane arm  604 . An additional alternative embodiment of the crane  600 A may include a solid bar (not depicted) in the place of the air cylinder  606 .  
         [0083]    [0083]FIG. 21 shows an alternative embodiment of the auxiliary crane  600 B. The crane  600 B has a vertical column  622  which stands in the collar  510 . A crane arm  624  is in a fixed relation to vertical column  622 . An arm extension  626  slides within the crane arm  624 . The positioning of arm extension  626 , relative to the crane arm  624 , is variable. A crane arm pin  628  fastening in one of a plurality of holes  630  within an arm extension portion  632  holds the position of the arm extension  626 . The crane  600 B also has a hand winch  400 A for pulling a line  632 . The line  632  passes from the winch  400 A, over the pulley  634 , and over the pulley  636 . The line  632  is terminated by a hook  638 . While both cranes are shown with specific related equipment, either crane can be employed with a variety of well known winch mechanisms, as well as winches positioned in a variety of ways, without departing from the scope of the present invention.  
         [0084]    [0084]FIG. 22 shows a rear view of an additional auxiliary side-arm  700  in combination with the crane  600 A. The side arm  700  pivots within the collar  510  and has a second support collar  510 A at its other end. The crane  600 A fits within the collar  510 A, rotating about its vertical column  602 . When the side arm  700  is not rotated, collar  510  and the vertical column  602  are moved. A support line  702  tethering the crane  600 A, connects an upper crane anchor band  704  to the wheel well  72 . The support line  702  gives compensating support to the top of the crane  600 A when the crane top is pulled in any direction. Supporting the swing arm collar  510 A from below is a z-plate  706  resting on the truck bed  12 , also shown in greater detail in FIG. 23 where a pin  801  is disposed through anchor plate end  803 . FIG. 24A shows a brace  708  of solid construction, an alternative to the line  702 , for providing support to the crane top. The brace  708  compensates for forces pulling both forward as well as rearward.  
         [0085]    The interconnections of the winches and cranes to each other and to the storage module of the present invention may be variably configured without departing from the scope of the present invention. An alternative configuration of the winches relative to a crane  600  is shown in FIG. 25, a depiction which shows a bottom view of a bracket  800 , a rotatable band  900  and an electric winch  400 B.  
         [0086]    Sized to fit closely about the crane vertical column  602 , the rotatable band  900  is able to rotate freely about the crane vertical column  602 . The band  900  is utilized by inserting the crane vertical column  602  through the band  900  prior to inserting the crane vertical column  602  into the collar  510 . Rotating the band  900  about the crane vertical column  602  enables the electric winch  400 B to be optimally positioned with respect to the crane arm  604  position. The bracket  800  is affixed to the band  900  for providing a readily changeable attachment for the electric winch  400 B.  
         [0087]    The bracket  800  includes a bracket fitting  802  and a bracket frame  804 . The bracket frame  804  is open on only one of its four sides. The bracket fitting  802  slides into the open side of the bracket frame  804 . In an alternative arrangement (not depicted), the bracket frame  804  can be affixed to the rotatable band  900  so that its open side faces horizontally instead of downward. The bracket fitting  802  would then be attached to the electric winch  400 B in an orientation rotated  900  relative to the orientation depicted in FIG. 25. The bracket fitting  802  could thus slide sideways in to the bracket frame  804  while still maintaining the electric winch  400 B in the same horizontal orientation as depicted in FIG. 25. A second bracket frame  804  is shown attached to the band  900  for the receipt of a second winch (not depicted). The second winch may be a hand winch, affixed to a second bracket fitting  802  (not depicted). The second bracket frame also alternatively has a side opening (not depicted).  
         [0088]    In view of the above, it will be seen that the various objects and features of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results obtained. The examples contained herein are merely illustrative and are not intended in a limiting sense.

Technology Category: b