Portable tool storage container for use in pickup trucks and associated method

A portable tool storage container for use in a bed of a pickup truck for assisting a user to efficiently store and easily transport tools to and from a work area, said tool storage container comprising:

• a body including vertically stacked top, middle, and bottom sections respectively, wherein said body is elevated above a bottom surface of the pickup truck bed during transport;
• said top section including a base with a lid pivotally attached thereto, said base defining a hollow cavity therein, said lid fully enclosing said cavity when said lid is biased forwardly and downwardly toward said base;
• said middle section being disposed below said top section, said middle section being monolithically formed with said top section and having a top surface defining a bottom surface of said top section;
• said bottom section being disposed below said middle section, said bottom section being monolithically formed with said middle section and having a top surface defining a bottom surface of said middle section;
• each of said top, middle and bottom sections including isolated compartments for housing objects therein;
• means for independently locking said compartments such that selected ones of said compartments may be accessed while remaining ones of said compartment are locked;
• and
• means for transporting and supporting said body along a ground surface when said body is removed from the pickup truck bed, said body transporting and supporting means further supporting said body in a substantially horizontal position above a ground surface when said body is removed from the pickup truck bed, said body transporting and supporting means being attached to a bottom surface of said body;
• wherein said top section further comprises
• a plurality of handles monolithically formed on outer surfaces of opposite ends of said base, said handles being oriented perpendicular to a longitudinal length of said body and resting exterior of the pickup truck bed so that the user can lift and remove said body while standing exterior of the pickup truck bed;
• and
• left and right fastening members integrally attached to a top surface of said lid for securing an existing ladder to said lid, said left and right fastening members being hook-shaped and linearly displaceable along the longitudinal length of said body, said left and right fastening members facing opposite directions and toward said opposite ends of said base, said left and right fastening members projecting upwardly from said top surface of said lid and oriented at a right angle thereto.

A method for storing and transporting tools to and from a work area comprising the steps of:

• a. providing a body including vertically stacked top, middle, and bottom sections respectively, wherein said body is elevated above a bottom surface of the pickup truck bed during transport, said top section including a base with a lid pivotally attached thereto, said base defining a hollow cavity therein, said lid fully enclosing said cavity when said lid is biased forwardly and downwardly toward said base, said middle section being disposed below said top section, said middle section being monolithically formed with said top section and having a top surface defining a bottom surface of said top section, said bottom section being disposed below said middle section, said bottom section being monolithically formed with said middle section and having a top surface defining a bottom surface of said middle section, each of said top, middle and bottom sections including isolated compartments for housing objects therein;
• b. independently locking said compartments such that selected ones of said compartments may be accessed while remaining ones of said compartment are locked;
• and
• c. transporting and supporting said body along a ground surface when said body is removed from the pickup truck bed such that said body is maintained in a substantially horizontal position above a ground surface when said body is removed from the pickup truck bed;
• wherein said top section further comprises:
• a plurality of handles monolithically formed on outer surfaces of opposite ends of said base, said handles being oriented perpendicular to a longitudinal length of said body and resting exterior of the pickup truck bed so that the user can lift and remove said body while standing exterior of the pickup truck bed;
• and
• left and right fastening members integrally attached to a top surface of said lid for securing an existing ladder to said lid, said left and right fastening members being hook-shaped and linearly displaceable along the longitudinal length of said body, said left and right fastening members facing opposite directions and toward said opposite ends of said base, said left and right fastening members projecting upwardly from said top surface of said lid and oriented at a right angle thereto.