US 6,386,409 B1Granted

Vehicle storage box with single hinged double secured compartments and dual actuating cam latches

OwnerDale S. Cheneyinventor

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A vehicle storage box includes a lid pivotally connected to a base structure, and a lid coupler to releasably couple the lid to the base structure. The lid coupler has a first coupling position occurring when the lid is in an opened position. The lid coupler includes a lid latch, a lid actuator, and a hooking cam coupled to the lid actuator to engage the lid latch while the lid is in an opened position. As the lid actuator is rotated, the lid latch tracks along the hooking cam of the lid actuator while the lid is pulled down. A divider can be pivotally connected to the base structure to divide the storage box into two compartments for holding articles. A single hinge can connect the base structure, the divider and the lid. The lid coupler can include first and second adjustable lid actuators coupled together.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A storage box for use with vehicles comprising:

a) a base structure;
b) a lid, pivotally connected to the base structure, shaped to enclose a portion of the base structure;
c) divider means, pivotally connected to the base structure, for dividing the storage box into two compartments for holding articles;
d) divider coupling means, connected to the divider means and the lid, for releasably coupling the divider means to the lid;
and
e) lid coupling means, connected to the lid and the base structure, for releasably coupling the lid to the base structure, and having a first coupling position occurring when the lid is in an opened position;
and
f) the lid coupling means comprises a lid latch, coupled to the lid, and lid actuator means, rotatably coupled to the base structure, for engaging and latching the lid latch while in the first coupling, opened position;
g) the lid actuator means comprises a hooking cam for facilitating closing and securing the lid to the base structure, the hooking cam on the lid actuator engages the lid latch device while the lid is in an opened position such that, as the lid actuator is rotated, the lid latching means tracks along the hooking cam of the lid actuator wherein the lid is pulled down, the lid being securely closed upon complete travel of the lid latch device along the hooking cam, the lid actuator means rotating substantially 180 degrees such that the lid latch is forced through cam action motion.

6 more elements

A vehicle storage box comprising:

a) a base structure;
b) a lid, pivotally connected to the base structure, shaped to enclose the base structure;
c) a divider, pivotally connected to the base structure, shaped to divide the storage box into two compartments for holding articles;
d) a divider coupler, connected to the divider and the lid, shaped to releasably couple the divider to the lid;
and
e) a lid coupler, connected to the lid and the base structure, shaped to releasably couple the lid to the base structure, the lid coupler having a first coupling position occurring when the lid is in an opened position;
and
f) the lid coupler comprises a lid latch coupled to the lid, and a lid actuator, rotatably coupled to the base structure, for engaging and latching the lid latch while in the first coupling, opened position;
and
g) the lid actuator comprises:
a hooking cam for facilitating closing and securing the lid to the base structure, the hooking cam on the lid actuator engages the lid latch device while the lid is in an opened position such that, as the lid actuator is rotated, the lid latch tracks along the hooking cam of the lid actuator wherein the lid is pulled down, the lid being securely closed upon complete travel of the lid latch device along the hooking cam, the lid actuator rotating substantially 180 degrees such that the lid latch is forced through cam action motion.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.