US 6,471,278 B2 · Vehicle bed storage box

Abstract

A collapsible storage device includes a first panel and a second panel, with one end of the first panel rotatably secured to one wall of a vehicle bed. One end of the second panel is rotatably secured to the opposite end of the first panel. The device has a deployed or storage position in which the first panel is generally horizontal and the second panel is generally vertical so that the two panels, in cooperation with the existing walls of the bed, form an enclosed container. The device also has a folded position in which the second panel is folded against the first panel, and the first panel together with the second is folded against a wall of the vehicle bed. The collapsible storage device has an arrangement for locking the device in the deployed and/or the folded position. Alternatively, the device may have an arrangement for locking the two panels together during deployment and/or retraction, or the device may be interposed between two storage bins along a wall of the vehicle bed. A track or tracks may be provided on one or both sides of the storage device to coact with a track follower on one or both sides of the second panel to provide easier collapse or deployment of the device.

Claims27

Dependent claims

A collapsible vehicle bed storage assembly mountable on a vehicle having a generally horizontal storage bed surrounded by a front wall, a first sidewall, a second sidewall and a back wall, said assembly comprising:

a first panel having an outer face and inner face, a first end, a second end, a first side and a second side, said first end of said first panel configured to be secured adjacent to one of said walls so that said first panel is rotatable about a generally horizontal first axis;
and
a second panel having an outer face, an inner face, a first end, a second end, a first side, and a second side, said first end of said second panel secured to said second end of said first panel so as to be rotatable about a generally horizontal second axis;
said first panel and said second panel being lockable in a folded-together orientation wherein said inner face of said second panel faces said inner face of said first panel, said assembly being freely rotatable about said first end of said first panel, while said first panel and said second panel are locked in said orientation, said assembly being configured to have a range of motion that includes a position in which said assembly is rested against one of said walls in a substantially vertical position and depends from said first axis.

1 more element

a first panel having an outer face and inner face, a first end, a second end, a first side and a second side, said first end of said first panel being securable to one of said walls so as to be rotatable about a generally horizontal first axis;
a second panel having an outer face, an inner face, a first end, a second end, a first side, and a second side, said first end of said second panel secured to said second end of said second panel so as to be rotatable about a generally horizontal second axis;
and
at least one track mountable in the vehicle storage bed on one side of the assembly and at least one track follower mounted on the corresponding side of said second panel, said track and said follower being adapted to cooperate to control the deployment of said assembly;
said assembly being configured to have a collapsed position in which said first panel and said second panel are generally vertical and said inner face of said first panel and said inner face of said second panel face one another, and a deployed position in which said first panel is generally horizontal and said second panel is generally vertical, said outer face of said first panel facing outward away from said storage bed and said outer face of said second panel facing outward away from said first panel;
wherein said track has a relatively straight, substantially horizontal upper portion.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Vehicle bed storage box

Life of this patent

Vehicle bed storage box

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims27