VEHICLE MOUNTED STORAGE UNIT

ARMOIRE DE RANGEMENT POUR VEHICULE

English Abstract

A vehicle-mounted storage unit for use with a vehicle having a rear door, comprising a cabinet having front and back portions, a door in the front portion of the cabinet, a locking device for the door, a mounting device attached to the floor of a vehicle, and mounting means for attaching the cabinet to the mounting device such that the mounting means is located inside the cabinet such that the mounting means may be accessed only if the door is open, wherein the storage unit is located adjacent to a door of the vehicle, and the door in the front portion of the cabinet opera toward the door of the vehicle.

French Abstract

Une unité de stockage montée sur véhicule destinée à être utilisée avec un véhicule ayant une porte arrière, comprenant un coffret ayant des parties avant et arrière, une porte dans la partie avant du coffret, un dispositif de verrouillage pour la porte, un dispositif de montage fixé au plancher d'un véhicule et un moyen de montage pour fixer le coffret au dispositif de montage de telle sorte que le moyen de montage est situé à l'intérieur du coffret de telle sorte que le moyen de montage peut être accessible uniquement si la porte est ouverte, l'unité de stockage étant située adjacente à une porte du véhicule, et la porte dans la partie avant du coffret fonctionne vers la porte du véhicule.

Claims

CLAIMS:


1. A vehicle mounted storage unit mounted to a rear bed of a
pickup truck having a sidewalk a wheel well having a portion
which extends outwardly from said sidewall by a first distance,
and a tailgate that is movable between a closed position and an
open position, said tailgate being spaced from a rear portion of
said wheel well by a second distance, said sidewall of said
pickup truck extending above said bed of said pickup truck by a
height corresponding to a third distance, said vehicle mounted
storage unit comprising:
a mounting bracket fixed to said bed of said pickup truck, said
mounting bracket having a width that is less than said first
distance and a length that is less than said second distance,
said mounting bracket being fixed to said bed of said pickup
truck at a mounting point adjacent said sidewall of said pickup
truck and between said wheel well and said tailgate;
means for fixing said mounting bracket to said bed of said pickup
truck at said mounting point;
a cabinet attached to said mounting bracket, said cabinet being
removable from said mounting bracket and having a width not
greater than said first distance, a length not greater than said
second distance, and a height not greater than said third
distance, said cabinet being disposed adjacent said sidewall of
said pickup truck and between said wheel well and said tailgate
of said pickup truck, with no portion of said cabinet extending
outside of a hexahedral-shaped space defined by a first
horizontal plane coinciding with said bed of said pickup truck,
a second horizontal plane disposed at an elevation coinciding
with a top portion of said sidewall, a first vertical plane
coinciding with an interior portion of said sidewall of said
pickup truck, a second vertical plane coinciding with said

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outwardly extending portion of said wheel well, a third vertical
plane coinciding with said rear portion of said wheel well, and
a fourth vertical plane coinciding with an interior portion of
said tailgate;
a plurality of drawers disposed in said cabinet;
a plurality of drawer support members for supporting said
drawers, at least one of said drawer support members supporting
at least one of said drawers so that said one drawer is movable
in a direction parallel to said first and second vertical planes
between an open position and a closed position, a portion of said
one drawer extending beyond said fourth vertical plane and
outside of said hexahedral-shaped space when said one drawer is
in its open position and when said tailgate is in its open
position, said one drawer being disposed between said first and
second vertical planes when said one drawer is in its open
position, said portion of said one drawer not extending outside
of said hexahedral-shaped space when said one drawer is in its
closed position; and
a door connected to said cabinet, said door being movable between
an open position in which said drawers are exposed and a closed
position in which said door covers said drawers, said door being
oriented in a direction parallel to said third and fourth
vertical planes when said door is in its closed position.
2. A vehicle mounted storage unit as defined in claim 1
additionally comprising a lock for locking said door connected
to said cabinet.
3. A vehicle mounted storage unit mounted to a rear bed of a
pickup truck having a sidewall, a wheel well having a portion
which extends outwardly from said sidewall by a first distance,
and a tailgate that is movable between a closed position and an



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open position, said tailgate being spaced from a rear portion of
said wheel well by a second distance, said sidewall of said
pickup truck extending above said bed of said pickup truck by a
height corresponding to a third distance, said vehicle mounted
storage unit comprising:
a cabinet fixed to said bed of said pickup truck, said cabinet
having a width not greater than said first distance, a length not
greater than said second distance, and a height not greater than
said third distance, said cabinet being disposed adjacent said
sidewall of said pickup truck and between said wheel well and
said tailgate of said pickup truck, with no portion of said
cabinet extending outside of a hexahedral-shaped space defined
by a first horizontal plane coinciding with said bed of said
pickup truck, a second horizontal plane disposed at an elevation
coinciding with a top portion of said sidewall, a first vertical
plane coinciding with an interior portion of said sidewall of
said pickup truck, a second vertical plane coinciding with said
outwardly extending portion of said wheel well, a third vertical
plane coinciding with said rear portion of said wheel well, and
a fourth vertical plane coinciding with an interior portion of
said tailgate;
a plurality of drawers disposed in said cabinet;
a plurality of drawer support members for supporting said
drawers, at least one of said drawer support members supporting
at least one of said drawers so that said one drawer is movable
in a direction parallel to said first and second vertical planes
between an open position and a closed position, a portion of said
one drawer extending beyond said fourth vertical plane and
outside of said hexahedral-shaped space when said one drawer is
in its open position and where said tailgate is in its open
position, said one drawer being disposed between said first and
second vertical planes when said one drawer is in its open



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position, said portion of said one drawer not extending outside
of said hexahedral-shaped space when said one drawer is in its
closed position; and
a door connected to said cabinet, said door being movable between
an open position in which said drawers are exposed and a closed
position in which said door covers said drawers, said door being
oriented in a direction parallel to said third and fourth
vertical planes when said door is in its closed position.
4. A vehicle mounted storage unit as defined in claim 3
additionally comprising a lock for locking said door connected
to said cabinet.
5. A vehicle mounted storage unit adapted to be mounted to a rear
bed of a pickup truck having a sidewall, a wheel well having a
portion which extends outwardly from said sidewall by a first
distance, and a tailgate that is spaced from a rear portion of
said wheel well by a second distance, said sidewall of said
pickup truck extending above said bed of said pickup truck by a
height corresponding to a third distance, said vehicle mounted
storage unit comprising:
a cabinet having a width not greater than said first distance,
a length not greater than said second distance, and a height not
greater than said third distance, said cabinet being adapted to
be disposed adjacent said sidewall of said pickup truck and
between said wheel well and said tailgate of said pickup truck,
with no portion of said cabinet extending outside of a
hexahedral-shaped space defined by a first horizontal plane
coinciding with said bed of said pickup truck, a second
horizontal plane disposed at an elevation coinciding with a top
portion of said sidewall, a first vertical plane coinciding with
an interior portion of said sidewall of said pickup truck, a
second vertical plane coinciding with said outwardly extending



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portion of said wheel well, a third vertical plane coinciding
with said rear portion of said wheel well, and a fourth vertical
plane coinciding with an interior portion of said tailgate;
a plurality of drawers disposed in said cabinet; and
a plurality of drawer support members for supporting said
drawers, at least one of said drawer support members supporting
at least one of said drawers so that said one drawer is movable
in a direction parallel to said first and second vertical planes
between an open position and a closed position, a portion of said
one drawer extending beyond said fourth vertical plane and
outside of said hexahedral-shaped space when said one drawer is
in its open position, said one drawer being disposed between said
first and second vertical planes when said one drawer is in its
open position, said portion of said one drawer not extending
outside of said hexahedral-shaped space when said one drawer is
in its closed position.
6. A vehicle mounted storage unit adapted to be mounted to a rear
bed of a pickup truck having a sidewall, a wheel well having a
portion which extends outwardly from said sidewall by a first
distance, and a tailgate that is spaced from a rear portion of
said wheel well by a second distance, said vehicle mounted
storage unit comprising:
a cabinet having a width not greater than said first distance and
a length not greater than said second distance, said cabinet
being adapted to be disposed adjacent said sidewall of said
pickup truck and between said wheel well and said tailgate of
said pickup truck, with no portion of said cabinet extending
outside of a space bounded by a first vertical plane coinciding
with an interior portion of said sidewall of said pickup truck,
a second vertical plane coinciding with said outwardly extending
portion of said wheel well, a third vertical plane coinciding



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with said rear portion of said wheel well, and a fourth vertical
plane coinciding with an interior portion of said tailgate;
at least one drawer disposed in said cabinet; and
a plurality of drawer support members for supporting said drawer,
said drawer support members supporting said drawer so that said
drawer is movable in a direction parallel to said first and
second vertical planes between an open position and a closed
position, a portion of said drawer extending beyond said fourth
vertical plane and outside of said bounded space when said drawer
is in its open position, said drawer being disposed between said
first and second vertical planes when said drawer is in its open
position, said portion of said drawer not extending outside of
said bounded space when said drawer is in its closed position.
7. A vehicle mounted storage unit mounted to a rear floor portion
of a vehicle having a vehicle sidewall, a wheel well having a
portion which extends outwardly from a portion of said sidewall
by a first distance in a first direction, and a rear vehicle door
that is movable between a closed position and an open position,
said rear vehicle door being spaced from a rear portion of said
wheel well by a second distance in a second direction
perpendicular to said first direction and parallel to said
vehicle sidewall, said vehicle mounted storage unit comprising:
a cabinet having a bottom portion mounted to said rear floor
portion of said vehicle between a first line coinciding with a
rear portion of said wheel well and extending in said first
direction and a second line extending in said first direction and
coinciding with an interior portion of said rear vehicle door
when said rear vehicle door is in its closed position, with no
portion of said cabinet extending outside of a space bored by a
horizontal plane coinciding with said floor portion of said
vehicle, a first vertical plane coinciding with said rear portion



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of said wheel well, and a second vertical plane coinciding with
said interior portion of said rear door when said rear door is
in its closed position, said cabinet not extending over said
sidewall of said vehicle, said cabinet having a width, a length
greater than said width and a depth, said cabinet comprising:
a first exterior cabinet wall portion;
a second exterior cabinet wall portion spaced from said first
exterior cabinet wall portion in a direction parallel to said
width of said cabinet;
a first interior cabinet wall portion parallel to said first
exterior cabinet wall portion, said first interior cabinet wall
portion being spared from said first exterior cabinet wall
portion in a direction parallel to said width of said cabinet;
and
a second interior cabinet wall portion parallel to said second
exterior cabinet wall portion, said second interior cabinet wall
portion being spaced from said second exterior cabinet wall
portion in a direction parallel to said width of said cabinet;
at least one connecting member that attaches said cabinet to said
rear floor portion of said vehicle at a mounting point between
said first line and said second line;
a first drawer disposed in said cabinet, said first drawer being
positioned within said cabinet between said first interior
cabinet wall portion and said second interior cabinet wall
portion with no other drawer disposed between said first interior
cabinet wall portion and said first drawer and with no other
drawer disposed between said second interior cabinet wall portion
and said first drawer, said first drawer comprising:



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a first drawer sidewall having a length that is less than said
second distance, said first drawer sidewall of said first drawer
having an exterior surface and an interior surface;
a second drawer sidewall having a length that is less than said
second distance, said second drawer sidewall of said first drawer
being parallel to said first drawer sidewall of said first
drawer, and said second drawer sidewall of said first drawer
having an exterior surface and an interior surface, and
said interior surface of said first drawer sidewall of said first
drawer facing said interior surface of said second drawer
sidewall of said first drawer, said interior surface of said
first drawer sidewall of said first drawer being spaced from said
interior surface of said second drawer sidewall of said first
drawer by a distance that is not greater than said first
distance;
at least one first drawer support member that supports said first
drawer, said first drawer support member supporting said first
drawer so that said first drawer is movable in a direction
parallel to said length of said cabinet between an open position
and a closed position, a portion of said first drawer extending
beyond said second vertical plane and outside of said space when
said first drawer is in its open position and when said rear door
of said vehicle is in its open position;
a second drawer disposed in said cabinet, said second drawer
being positioned within said cabinet between said first interior
cabinet wall portion and said second interior cabinet wall
portion with no other drawer disposed between said first interior
cabinet wall portion and said second drawer and with no other
drawer disposed between said second interior cabinet wall portion
and said second drawer, said cabinet not having any drawer
disposed therein that has a length greater than said second



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distance, said second drawer comprising:
a first drawer sidewall having a length that is less than said
second distance, said first drawer sidewall of said second drawer
having an exterior surface and an interior surface;
a second drawer sidewall having a length that is less than said
second distance, said second drawer sidewall of said second
drawer being parallel to said first drawer sidewall of said
second drawer, and said second drawer sidewall of said second
drawer having an exterior surface and an interior surface, and
said interior surface of said first drawer sidewall of said
second drawer facing said interior surface of said second drawer
sidewall of said second drawer, said interior surface of said
first drawer sidewall of said second drawer being spaced from
said interior surface of said second drawer sidewall of said
second drawer by a distance that is not greater than said first
distance; and
at least one second drawer support member that supports said
second drawer, said second drawer support member supporting said
second drawer so that said second drawer is movable in a
direction parallel to said length of said cabinet between an open
position and a closed position, a portion of said second drawer
extending beyond said second vertical plane and outside of said
space when said second drawer is in its open position and when
said rear door of said vehicle is in its open position
8. A vehicle mounted storage unit as defined in claim 7
additionally comprising a retention member that is connectable
to said cabinet, said retention member being movable between a
first position in which said retention member prevents said first
and second drawers from being opened and a second position in
which said retention member does not prevent said first and



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second drawers from being opened.
9. A vehicle mounted storage unit as defined in claim 8
additionally comprising a lock associated with said retention
member, said lock allowing said retention member to be locked in
said first position in which said first and second drawers are
prevented from being opened,
10. A vehicle mounted storage unit as defined in claim 7 wherein
said retention member comprises a door that is pivotally
connected to said cabinet via a hinge.
11. A vehicle mounted storage unit as defined in claim 7
additionally comprising a mounting bracket fixed to said rear
floor portion of said vehicle, said mounting bracket having a
length that is less than said second distance, said mount bracket
being fixed to said rear floor portion of said vehicle at a
mounting point between said first line and said second line, said
cabinet being attachable to said mounting bracket and removable
from said mounting bracket.
12. A vehicle mounted storage unit mounted to a rear floor
portion of a vehicle having a vehicle sidewall, a wheel well
having a portion which extends outwardly from a portion of said
sidewall by a first distance in a first direction, and a rear
vehicle door that is movable between a closed position and an
open position, said rear vehicle door being spaced from a rear
portion of said wheel well by a second distance in a second
direction perpendicular to said first direction and parallel to
said vehicle sidewall, said vehicle mounted storage unit,
comprising:
a cabinet having a bottom portion mounted to said rear floor
portion of said vehicle between a first line coinciding with a
rear portion of said wheel well and extending in said first



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direction and a second line extending in said first direction and
coinciding with an interior portion of said rear vehicle door
when said rear vehicle door is in its closed position, no portion
of said cabinet extending beyond a vertical plane coinciding with
said interior portion of said rear door when said rear door is
in its closed position, said cabinet not extending over said
sidewall of said vehicle, said cabinet having a width, a length
greater than said width and a depth, said cabinet comprising a
first cabinet wall portion and a second cabinet wall portion
spaced from said first cabin wall portion in a direction parallel
to said width of said cabinet;

at least one connecting member that attaches said cabinet to said
rear floor portion of said vehicle at a mounting point between
said first line and said second line;
a first drawer disposed in said cabinet, said first drawer being
positioned within said cabinet between said. first cabinet wall
portion and said second cabinet wall portion with no other drawer
disposed between said first cabinet wall portion and said first
drawer and with no other drawer disposed between said second
cabinet wall portion and said first drawer, said first drawer
comprising:
a first drawer sidewall having a length that is less than said
second distance, said first drawer sidewall of said first drawer
having an exterior surface and an interior surface;
a second drawer sidewall having a length that is less than said
second distance, said second drawer sidewall of said first drawer
being parallel to said first drawer sidewall of said first
drawer, and said second drawer sidewalk of said first drawer
having an exterior surface and an interior surface, and
said interior surface of said first drawer sidewall of said first


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drawer facing said interior surface of said second drawer
sidewall of said first drawer, said interior surface of said
first drawer sidewall of said first drawer being spaced from said
interior surface of said second drawer sidewall of said first
drawer by a distance that is not greater than said first
distance;

at least one first drawer support member that supports said first
drawer, said first drawer support member supporting said first
drawer so that said first drawer is movable in a direction
parallel to said length of said cabinet between an open position
and a closed position, a portion of said first drawer extending
beyond said vertical plane when said first drawer is in its open
position and when said rear door of said vehicle is in its open
position;
a second drawer disposed in said cabinet, said second drawer
being positioned within said cabinet between said first cabinet
wall portion and said second cabinet wall portion with no other
drawer disposed between said first cabinet wall portion and said
second drawer and with no other drawer disposed between said
second cabinet wall portion and said second drawer, said second
drawer comprising:
a first drawer sidewall having a length that is less than said
second distance, said first drawer sidewall of said second drawer
having an exterior surface and an interior surface;
a second drawer sidewall having a length that is less than said
second distance, said second drawer sidewall of said second
drawer being parallel to said first drawer sidewall of said
second drawer, and said second drawer sidewall of said second
drawer having an exterior surface and an interior surface, and
said interior surface of said first drawer sidewall of said


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second drawer facing said interior surface of said second drawer
sidewall of said second drawer, said interior surface of said
first drawer sidewall of said second drawer being spaced from
said interior surface of said second drawer sidewall of said
second drawer by a distance that is not greater than said first
distance; and

at least one second drawer support member that supports said
second drawer, said second drawer support member supporting said
second drawer so that said second drawer is movable in a
direction parallel to said length of said cabinet between an open
position and a closed position, a portion of said second drawer
extending beyond said vertical plane when said second drawer is
in its open position and when said rear door of said vehicle is
in its open position.

13. A vehicle mounted storage unit as defined in claim 12
additionally comprising a retention member that is connectable
to said cabinet, said retention member being movable between a
first position in which said retention member prevents said first
and second drawers from being opened and a second position in
which said retention member does not prevent said first and
second drawers from being opened.

14. A vehicle mounted storage unit as defined in claim 13
additionally comprising a lock associated with said retention
member, said lock allowing said retention member to be locked in
said first position in which said first and second drawers are
prevented from being opened.

15. A vehicle mounted storage unit as defined in claim 12 wherein
said retention member comprises a door that is pivotally
connected to said cabinet via a hinge.

16. A vehicle mounted storage unit as defined in claim 12


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additionally comprising a mounting bracket fixed to said rear
floor portion of said vehicle, said mounting bracket having a
length that is less than said second distance, said mounting
bracket being fixed to said rear floor portion of said vehicle
at a mounting point between said first line and said second line,
said cabinet being attachable to said mounting bracket and
removable from said mounting bracket.

17. A vehicle mounted storage unit as defined in claim 12 wherein
said cabinet comprises:
a first exterior cabinet wall portion;
a second exterior cabinet wall portion spaced from said first
exterior cabinet wall portion in a direction parallel to said
width of said cabinet;
a first interior cabinet wall portion parallel to said first
exterior cabinet wall portion, said first interior cabinet wall
portion being spaced from said first exterior cabinet wall
portion in a direction parallel to said width of said cabinet;
and
a second interior cabinet wall portion parallel to said second
exterior cabinet wall portion, said second interior cabinet wall
portion being spaced from said second exterior cabinet wall
portion in a direction parallel to said width of said cabinet.

18. A vehicle mounted storage unit mounted to a rear floor
portion of a vehicle having a vehicle sidewalk a wheel well
having a portion which extends outwardly from a portion of said
sidewall by a first distance in a first direction, and a rear
vehicle door that is movable between a closed position and an
open position, said rear vehicle door being spaced from a rear
portion of said wheel well by a second distance in a second


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direction perpendicular to said first direction and parallel to
said vehicle sidewall, said vehicle mounted storage unit
comprising:
a cabinet having a bottom portion mounted to said rear floor
portion of said vehicle between a first lime coinciding with a
rear portion of said wheel well and extending in said first
direction and a second line extending in said first direction and
coinciding with an interior portion of sand rear vehicle door
when said rear vehicle door is in its closed position, no portion
of said cabinet extending beyond a vertical plane coinciding with
said interior portion of said rear door when said rear door is
in its closed position, said cabinet not extending over said
sidewall of said vehicle, said cabinet having a width, a length
greater than said width and a depth, said cabinet comprising a
first cabinet wall portion and a second cabinet wall portion
spaced from said first cabinet wall portion in a direction
parallel to said width of said cabinet;
at least one connecting member that attaches said cabinet to said
rear floor portion of said vehicle at a mounting point between
said first line and said second line;
a first drawer disposed in said cabinet, said first drawer being
positioned within said cabinet between raid first cabinet wall
portion and said second cabinet wall portion with no other drawer
disposed between said first cabinet wall portion arid said first
drawer and with no other drawer disposed between said second
cabinet wall portion and said first drawer, said first drawer
comprising:
a first drawer sidewall having a length that is less than said
second distance, said first drawer sidewall of said first drawer
having an exterior surface and an interior surface;


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a second drawer sidewall having a length that is less than said
second distance, said second drawer sidewall of said first drawer
being parallel to said first drawer sidewall of said first
drawer, and said second drawer sidewall of said first drawer
having an exterior surface and an interior surface, and
said interior surface of said first drawer sidewall of said first
drawer facing said interior surface of said second drawer
sidewall of said first drawer, said interior surface of said
first drawer sidewall of said first drawer being spaced from said
interior surface of said second drawer sidewall of said first
drawer by a distance that is not greater than said first
distance;
at least one first drawer support member that supports said first
drawer, said first drawer support member supporting said first
drawer so that said first drawer is movable in a direction
parallel to said length of said cabinet between an open position
and a closed position, a portion of said first drawer extending
beyond said vertical plane when said first drawer is in its open
position and when said rear door of said vehicle is in its open
position;
a second drawer disposed in said cabinet, said second drawer
being positioned within said cabinet between said first cabinet
wall portion and said second cabinet wall portion with no other
drawer disposed between said first cabinet wall portion and said
second drawer and with no other drawer disposed between said
second cabinet wall portion and said second drawer, said cabinet
not having any drawer disposed therein that has a length greater
than said second distance, said second drawer comprising:
a first drawer sidewall having a length that is less than said
second distance, said first drawer sidewall of said second drawer
having an exterior surface and an interior surface;



21


a second drawer sidewall having a length that is less than said
second distance, said second drawer sidewall of said second
drawer being parallel to said first drawer sidewall of said
second drawer, and said second drawer sidewall of said second
drawer having an exterior surface and an interior surface, and
said interior surface of said first drawer sidewall of said
second drawer facing said interior surface of said second drawer
sidewall of said second drawer, said interior surface of said
first drawer sidewall of said second drawer being spaced from
said into surface of said second drawer sidewall of said second
drawer by a distance that is no greater than said first distance;
and
at least one second drawer support member that supports said
second drawer, said second drawer support member supporting said
second drawer so that said second drawer is movable in a
direction parallel to said length of said cabinet between an open
position and a closed position, a portion of said second drawer
extending beyond said vertical plane when said second drawer is
in its open position and when said rear door of said vehicle is
in its open position.

19. A vehicle mounted storage unit as defined in claim 18
additionally comprising a retention member that is connectable
to said cabinet, said retention member being movable between a
first position in which said retention member prevents said first
and second drawers from being opened and a second position in
which said retention member does not prevent said first and
second drawers from being opened.

20. A vehicle mounted storage unit as defined in claim 19
additionally comprising a lock associated with said retention
member, said lock allowing said retention member to be locked in
said first position in which said first and second drawers are



22


prevented from being opened.

21. A vehicle mounted storage unit as defined in claim 18 wherein
said retention member comprises a door that is pivotally
connected to said cabinet via a hinge.

22. A vehicle mounted storage unit as defined in claim 18
additionally comprising a mounting bracket fixed to said rear
floor portion of said vehicle, said mounting bracket having a
length that is less than said second distance, said mounting
bracket being fixed to said rear floor portion of said vehicle
at a mounting point between said first line and said second line,
said cabinet being attachable to said mounting bracket and
removable from said mounting bracket.

23. A vehicle mounted storage unit as defined in claim 18 wherein
said cabinet comprises:
a first exterior cabinet wall portion;
a second exterior cabinet wall portion spaced from said first
exterior cabinet wall portion in a direction parallel to said
width of said cabinet;
a first interior cabinet wall portion parallel to said first
exterior cabinet wall portion, said first interior cabinet wall
portion being spaced from said first exterior cabinet wall
portion in a direction parallel to said width of said cabinet;
and
a second interior cabinet wall portion parallel to said second
exterior cabinet wall portion, said second interior cabinet wall
portion being spaced from said second exterior cabinet wall
portion in a direction parallel to said width of said cabinet.



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24. A storage unit sized to be capable of being mounted to a rear
floor portion of a vehicle having a vehicle sidewall, a wheel
well having a portion which extends outwardly from a portion of
said sidewall by a first distance in a first direction, and a
rear vehicle door that is movable between a closed position and
an open position, said rear vehicle door being spaced from a rear
portion of said wheel well by a second distance in a second
direction perpendicular to said first direction and parallel to
said vehicle sidewall, said storage unit comprising:
a cabinet having a bottom portion capable of being mounted to
said rear floor portion of said vehicle between a first line
coinciding with a rear portion of said wheel well and extending
in said first direction and a second line extending in said first
direction and coinciding with an interior portion of sad rear
vehicle door if said rear vehicle door were in its closed
position, said cabinet being shaped such that no portion of said
cabinet would extend outside of a space bounded by a horizontal
plane coinciding with said floor portion of said vehicle, a first
vertical plane coinciding with said rear portion of said wheel
well, and a second vertical plane coinciding with said interior
portion of said rear door if said storage unit were mounted to
said vehicle and if said rear door were in its closed position,
and such that said cabinet would not extend over said sidewall
of said vehicle if said storage unit were mounted to said
vehicle, said cabinet having a width, a length greater than said
width and a depth, said cabinet comprising:
a first exterior cabinet wall portion;
a second exterior cabinet wall portion spaced from said first
exterior cabinet wall portion in a direction parallel to said
width of said cabinet;
a first interior cabinet wall portion parallel to said first


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exterior cabinet wall portion, said first interior cabinet wall
portion being spaced from said first exterior cabinet wall
portion in a direction parallel to said width of said cabinet;
and
a second interior cabinet wall portion parallel to said second
exterior cabinet wall portion, said second interior cabinet wall
portion being spaced from said second exterior cabinet wall
portion in a direction parallel to said width of said cabinet;
a first drawer disposed in said cabinet, said first drawer being
positioned within said cabinet between said first interior
cabinet wall portion and said second interior cabinet wall
portion with no other drawer disposed between said first interior
cabinet wall portion and said first drawer and wall no other
drawer disposed between said second interior cabinet wall portion
and said first drawer, said first drawer comprising:
a first drawer sidewall hang a length that is less than said
second distance, said first drawer sidewall of said first drawer
having an exterior surface and an interior surface;
a second drawer sidewall having a length that is less than said
second distance, said second drawer sidewall of said first drawer
being parallel to said first drawer sidewall of said first
drawer, and said second drawer sidewall of said first drawer
having an exterior surface and an interior surface, and
said interior surface of said first drawer sidewall of said first
drawer facing said interior surface of said second drawer
sidewall of said first drawer, said interior surface of said
first drawer sidewall of said first drawer being spaced from said
interior surface of said second drawer sidewall of said first
drawer by a distance that is not greater than said first
distance;


25


at least one first drawer support member that supports said first
drawer, said first drawer support member supporting said first
drawer so that said first drawer is movable in a direction
parallel to said length of said cabinet between an open position
and a closed position, said first drawer support member
supporting said first drawer so that a portion of said first
drawer would extend beyond said second vertical plane and outside
of said space if said storage unit were mounted to said vehicle,
if said first drawer were in its open position, and if said rear
door of said vehicle were in its open position;
a second drawer disposed in said cabinet, said second drawer
being positioned within said cabinet between said first interior
cabinet wall portion and said second interior cabinet wall
portion with no other drawer disposed between said first interior
cabinet wall portion and said second drawer and with no other
drawer disposed between said second interior cabinet wall portion
and said second drawer, said cabinet not having any drawer
disposed therein that has a length greater than said second
distance, said second drawer comprising:
a first drawer sidewall having a length that is less than said
second distance, said first drawer sidewall of said second drawer
having an exterior surface and an interior surface;
a second drawer sidewall having a length that is less than said
second distance, said second drawer sidewall of said second
drawer being parallel to said first drawer sidewall of said
second drawer, and said second drawer sidewall of said second
drawer having an exterior surface and are interior surface, and
said interior surface of said first drawer sidewall of said
second drawer facing said interior surface of said second drawer
sidewall of said second drawer, said interior surface of said

26


first drawer sidewall of said second drawer being spaced from
said interior surface of said second drawer sidewall of said
second drawer by a distance that is not greater than said first
distance; and
at least one second drawer support member that supports said
second drawer, said second drawer support member supporting said
second drawer so that said second drawer is movable in a
direction parallel to said length of said cabinet between an open
position and a closed position, said second drawer support member
supporting said second drawer so that a portion of said second
drawer would extend beyond said second vertical plane and outside
of said space if said storage unit were mounted to said vehicle,
if said second drawer were in its open position, and if said rear
door of said vehicle were in its open position.
25. A storage unit as defined in claim 24 additionally comprising
a retention member that is connectable to said cabinet, said
retention member being movable between a first position in which
said retention member prevents said first and second drawers from
being opened and a second position in which said retention member
does not prevent said first and second drawers from being opened.
26. A storage unit as defined in claim 25 additionally comprising
a lock associated with said retention member, said lock allowing
said retention member to be locked in said first position in
which said first and second drawers are prevented from being
opened.
27. A storage unit as defined in claim 24 additionally comprising
a mounting bracket that is capable of being fixed to said rear
floor portion of said vehicle, said mounting bracket having a
length that is less than said second distance, said cabinet being
attachable to said mounting bracket and removable from said
mounting bracket.



27


28. A storage unit sized to be capable of being mounted to a rear
floor portion of a vehicle having a vehicle sidewall, a wheel
well having a portion which extends outwardly from a portion of
said sidewall by a first distance in a first direction, and a
rear vehicle door that is movable between a closed position and
an open position, said tear vehicle door being spaced from a rear
portion of said wheel well by a second distance in a second
direction perpendicular to said first direction and parallel to
said vehicle sidewall, said storage unit comprising:
a cabinet having a bottom portion that is capable of being
mounted to said rear floor portion of said vehicle between a
first line coinciding with a rear portion of said wheel well and
a second line coinciding with an interior portion of said rear
vehicle door if said rear vehicle door were in its closed
position, said cabinet being shaped so that no portion of said
cabinet would extend beyond a vertical plane coinciding with said
interior portion of said rear door if said storage unit were
mounted to said vehicle and if said rear door were in its closed
position and so that said cabinet would not extend over said
sidewall of said vehicle it said storage unit were mounted to
said vehicle, said cabinet having a width, a length greater than
said width and a depth, said cabinet comprising a first cabinet
wall portion and a second cabinet wall portion spaced from said
first cabinet wall portion in a direction parallel to said width
of said cabinet;
a first drawer disposed in said cabinet, said first drawer being
positioned within said cabinet between said first cabinet wall
portion and said second cabinet wall portion with no other drawer
disposed between said first cabinet wall portion and said first
drawer and with no other drawer disposed between said second
cabinet wall portion and said first drawer, said first drawer
comprising:



28


a first drawer sidewall having a length that is less than said
second distance, said first drawer sidewall of said first drawer
having an exterior surface and an interior surface;
a second drawer sidewall having a length that is less than said
second distance, said second drawer sidewall of said first drawer
being parallel to said first drawer sidewall of said first
drawer, and said second drawer sidewall of said first drawer
having an exterior surface and an interior surface, and
said interior surface of said first drawer sidewall of said first
drawer facing said interior surface of said second drawer
sidewall of said first drawer, said interior surface of said
first drawer sidewall of said first drawer being spaced from said
interior surface of said second drawer sidewall of said first
drawer by a distance that is not greater than said first
distance;
at least one first drawer support member that supports said first
drawer, said first drawer support member supporting said first
drawer so that said first drawer is movable in a direction
parallel to said length of said cabinet between an open position
and a closed position, said first drawer support member
supporting said first drawer so that a portion of said first
drawer would extend beyond said vertical plane and outside of
said space if said storage unit were mounted to said vehicle, if
said first drawer were in its open position, and if said rear
door of said vehicle were in its open position;
a second drawer disposed in said cabinet, said second drawer
being positioned within said cabinet between said first cabinet
wall portion and said second cabinet wall portion with no other
drawer disposed between said first cabinet wall portion and said
second drawer and with no other drawer disposed between said
second cabinet wall portion and said second drawer, said second



29


drawer comprising:
a first drawer sidewall having a length that is less than said
second distance, said first drawer sidewall of said second drawer
having an exterior surface and an interior surface;
a second drawer sidewall having a length that is less than said
second distance, said second drawer sidewall of said second
drawer being parallel to said first drawer sidewall of said
second drawer, and said second drawer sidewall of said second
drawer having an exterior surface and an interior surface, and
said interior surface of said first drawer sidewall of said
second drawer facing said interior surface of said second drawer
sidewall of said second drawer, said interior surface of said
first drawer sidewall of said second drawer being spaced from
said interior surface of said second drawer sidewall of said
second drawer by a distance that is not greater than said first
distance; and
at least one second drawer support member that supports said
second drawer, said second drawer support member supporting said
second drawer so that said second drawer is movable in a
direction parallel to said length of said cabinet between an open
position and a closed position, said second drawer support member
supporting said second drawer so that a portion of said second
drawer would extend beyond said vertical plane and outside of
said space if said storage unit were mounted to said vehicle, if
said second drawer were in its open position, and if said rear
door of said vehicle were in its open position.
29. A storage unit as defined in claim 28 additionally comprising
a retention member that is connectable to said cabinet, said
retention member being movable between a first position in which
said retention member prevents said first and second drawers from



30


being opened and a second position in which said retention member
does not prevent said first and second drawers from being opened.
30. A storage unit as defined in claim 29 additionally comprising
a lock associated with said retention member, said lock allowing
said retention member to be locked in said first position in
which said first and second drawers are prevented from being
opened.
31. A storage unit as defined in claim 28 wherein said retention
member comprises a door that is pivotally connected to said
cabinet via a hinge.
32. A storage unit as defined in claim 28 additionally comprising
a mounting bracket that is capable of being fixed to said rear
floor portion of said vehicle, said mounting bracket having a
length that is less than said second distance, said cabinet being
attachable to said mounting bracket and removable from said
mounting bracket.
33. A storage unit as defined in claim 28 wherein said cabinet
comprises:
a first exterior cabinet wall portion;
a second exterior cabinet wall portion spaced from said first
exterior cabinet wall portion in a direction parallel to said
width of said cabinet;
a first interior cabinet wall portion parallel to said first
exterior cabinet wall portion, said first interior cabinet wall
portion being spaced from said first exterior cabinet wall
portion in a direction parallel to said width of said cabinet;
and



31


a second interior cabinet wall portion parallel to said second
exterior cabinet wall portion, said second interior cabinet wall
portion being spaced from said second exterior cabinet wall
portion in a direction parallel to said width of said cabinet.
34. A storage unit sized to be capable of being mounted to a rear
floor portion of a vehicle having a vehicle sidewall, a wheel
well having a portion which extends outwardly from a portion of
said sidewall by a first distance in a first direction, and a
rear vehicle door that is movable between a closed position and
an open position, said rear vehicle door being spaced from a rear
portion of said wheel well by a second distance in a second
direction perpendicular to said first direction and parallel to
said vehicle sidewall, said storage unit comprising:
a cabinet having a bottom portion that is capable of being
mounted to said rear floor portion of said vehicle between a
first line coinciding with a rear portion of said wheel well and
a second line coinciding with an interior portion of said rear
vehicle door when said rear vehicle door is in its closed
position, said cabinet being shaped so that no portion of said
cabinet would extend beyond a vertical plane coinciding with said
interior portion of said rear door if said storage unit were
mounted to said vehicle and if said rear door were in its closed
position, and so that said cabinet would not extend over said
sidewall of said vehicle if said storage unit were mounted to
said vehicle, said cabinet having a width, a length greater than
said width and a depth, said cabinet comprising a first cabinet
wall portion and a second cabinet wall portion spaced from said
first cabinet wall portion in a direction parallel to said width
of said cabinet;
a first drawer disposed in said cabinet, said first drawer being
positioned within said cabinet between said first cabinet wall
portion and said second cabinet wall portion with no other drawer



32


disposed between said first cabinet wall portion and said first
drawer and with no other drawer disposed between said second
cabinet wall portion and said first drawer, said first drawer
comprising:
a first drawer sidewall having a length that is less than said
second distance, said first drawer sidewall of said first drawer
having an exterior surface and an interior surface;
a second drawer sidewall having a length that is less than said
second distance, said second drawer sidewall of said first drawer
being parallel to said first drawer sidewall of said first
drawer, and said second drawer sidewall of said first drawer
having an exterior surface and an interior surface, and
said interior surface of said first drawer sidewall of said first
drawer facing said interior surface of said second drawer
sidewall of said first drawer, said interior surface of said
first drawer sidewall of said first drawer being spaced from said
interior surface of said second drawer sidewall of said first
drawer by a distance that is not greater than said first
distance;
at least one first drawer support member that support said first
drawer, said first drawer supporter supporting said first drawer
so that said first drawer is movable in a direction parallel to
said length of said cabinet between an open position and a closed
position, said first drawer support member supporting said first
drawer so that a portion of said first drawer would extend beyond
said vertical plane if said storage unit were mounted to said
vehicle, if said first drawer were in its open position, and if
said rear door of said vehicle were in its open position;
a second drawer disposed in said cabinet, said second drawer
being positioned within said cabinet between said first cabinet



33




wall portion and said second cabinet wall portion with no other
drawer disposed between said first cabinet wall portion and said
second drawer and with no other drawer disposed between said
second cabinet wall portion and said second drawer, said cabinet
not having any drawer disposed therein that has a length greater
than said second distance, said second drawer comprising:

a first drawer sidewall having a length that is less than said
second distance, said f first drawer sidewall of said second drawer
having an exterior surface and an interior surface;

a second drawer sidewall having a length that is less than said
second distance, said second drawer sidewall of said second
drawer being parallel to said first drawer sidewall of said
second drawer, and said second drawer sidewall of said second
drawer having an exterior surface and an interior surface, and

said interior surface of said first drawer sidewall of said
second drawer facing said interior surface of said second drawer
sidewall of said second drawer, said interior surface of said
first drawer sidewall of said second drawer being spaced from
said interior surface of said second drawer sidewall of said
second drawer by a distance that is not greater than said first
distance;

at least one second drawer support member that supports said
second drawer, said second drawer support member supporting said
second drawer so that said second drawer is movable in a
direction parallel to said length of said cabinet between an open
position and a closed position, said second drawer support member
support said second drawer so that a portion of said second
drawer would extend beyond said vertical plane if said storage
unit were mounted to said vehicle, if said second drawer were in
its open position, and if said rear door of said vehicle were in
its open position; and



34


a mounting bracket associated with said cabinet, said mounting
bracket being capable of being fixed to said rear floor portion
of said vehicle, said mounting bracket having a length that is
less than said second distance, said cabinet being attachable to
said mounting bracket and removable from said mounting bracket.

35. A storage unit as defined in claim 34 additionally comprising
a retention member that is connectable to said cabinet, said
retention member being movable between a first position in which
said retention member prevents said first and second drawers from
being opened and a second position in which said retention member
does not prevent said first and second drawers from being opened.

36. A storage unit as defined in claim 35 additionally comprising
a lock associated with said retention member, said lock allowing
said retention member to be locked in said first position in
which said first and second drawers are prevented from being
opened.

37. A storage unit as defined in claim 34 wherein said retention
member comprises a door that is pivotally connected to said
cabinet via a hinge.

38. A storage unit as defined in claim 34 wherein said cabinet
comprises:

a first exterior cabinet wall portion;
a second exterior cabinet wall portion spaced from said first
exterior cabinet wall portion in a direction parallel to said
width of said cabinet;

a first interior cabinet wall portion parallel to said first
exterior cabinet wall portion, said first interior cabinet wall


35



portion being spaced from said first exterior cabinet wall
portion in a direction parallel to said width of said cabinet;
and

a second interior cabinet wall portion parallel to said second
exterior cabinet wall portion, said second interior cabinet wall
portion being spaced from said second exterior cabinet wall
portion in a direction parallel to said width of said cabinet.


36

Description

CA 02167256 1996-02-16
VEtIICLE MOUNTED STORAGE UNIT
The present invention relates to a storage unit for installation in a vehicle
and, more
particularly, to a tool box for installation in a pickup truck, van, or sport
utility vehicle.
Background of the Invention
Tool boxes which are installed in work vehicles, such as pickup trucks, are
known in
the art. Such tool boxes generally open at the top, having a lid which may be
lifted to access
the contents of the tool box. These traditional tool boxes are usually
installed along the
sidewalk of the cargo area of the vehicle to permit the remainder of the cargo
area to be
used to carry cargo. To access the contents of these tool boxes, the user must
then climb
into the cargo area, or reach over the sidewall of the vehicle. Retrieving
tools from these
tool boxes by reaching over the sidewall or climbing into the vehicle may be
difficult and
physically strenuous. In addition, use of these traditional tool boxes may be
impractical if
the cargo area is covered because of the need for clearance to open the lid.
Finally,
traditional vehicle-mounted tool boxes are generally too large and heavy to be
readily
removed from the vehicle.
It is, therefore, an object of this inventian to provide a vehicle-mounted
tool box in
which the contents may be accessed without reaching over the sidewalk or
climbing into the
vehicle.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a vehicle-mounted tool box
which
may be used in covered vehicles, such as vans and sport utility vehicles.

CA 02167256 1996-02-16
i b ~2Jb
It is also an object of this invention to provide a vehicle-mounted tool box
which may
be readily removed from the vehicle and, alternately, may be secured to the
vehicle to deter
theft.
Summary of the Invention
These objects and others are achieved by the vehicle-mounted storage unit of
the
present invention, which is comprised of a cabinet, having front and back
portions, a door in
the front portion of the cabinet which may be opened to provide access to the
contents of the
cabinet, a lock for the door, and means for removably mounting the cabinet to
the vehicle
when the door is open. The storage unit is mounted adjacent to a side or rear
door, or the
tailgate, of the vehicle.
Further objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become evident
from a
consideration of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction
with the
accompanying drawings and the appended claims.
Brief Description of the Drawings
For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the invention there are
illustrated
in the accompanying drawings preferred embodiments thereof, frorr~ an
inspection of which,
when considered in connection with the following description, the construction
and operation
of the invention, and many of its advantages, should be readily understood and
appreciated.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the storage unit of the present invention;
2

CA 02167256 1996-02-16
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a portion of the interior of the
cabinet of
the storage unit;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, perspective: view of the cabinet of the storage unit;
and
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a vehicle in which the storage unit of the
present
invention is installed.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment
The storage unit of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. As shown,
the
storage unit 100 comprises a cabinet 106 having a front 101, a back 102, a
bottom 103, a top
104 and two sides 105. A door 120 in the front 101 provides access to the
contents of the
cabinet. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the door 120 is mounted at holes 122 to a
continuous
hinge 126, which is mounted at holes 123 to the cabinet 106. A cam lock 117
mounted in
the door 120 allows the cabinet 106 to be lacked, thereby securing the
contents.
The cabinet 106 may be mounted to the cargo area of a vehicle by attaching it
to a
maunting bracket 108, as shown in FIG. 1. The mounting bracket 108 may be
bolted 109 or
otlxerwise firmly attached to the floar 113 of the cargo area so that the
mounting bracket may
nor be quickly and easily removed. The cabinet 106 may then be secured to the
mounting
bracket 108 by screws 127, which extend through holes 128 in the cabinet into
holes 125 in
the. mounting bracket. Holes 128 are located inside of cabinet 106 such that
screws 127 may
be inserted or removed only if door 120 is open. This mounting arrangement
allows the
cabinet 106 to be easily detached and removed from the vehicle by simply
removing the
3

CA 02167256 1996-02-16
screws 127, but deters theft by preventing removal of the cabinet 106 when the
door 120 is
closed and locked.
The storage unit may be made of any of a variety of materials. In a preferred
embodiment, the cabinet 106 is made of sheet metal, and the top 104 and door
120 are
reinforced with aluminum tread plates 116 and 118. The lock 117 extends
through the door
120, at hole 121, and through the aluminum tread plate 118, at hole 119. As
shown in
FIGS. 1 and 3, the panels are joined by rivets 124, but any known method may
be used to
join the panels. In a preferred embodiment, the top 104 and one side 105 are
formed from a
single piece of material, and the back 102 and second side 105 are formed from
a single
piece of material. This construction reduces production costs and results in a
stronger
cabinet.
The interior of the cabinet 106 may be fitted with drawers 107 to provide
easier
access to the contents of the cabinet 106. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, to
accommodate
drawers 107 the interior of the cabinet 106 may be fitted with side walls 111.
The side walls
may comprise a drawer slide mounting assembly 110 having slide rails 114 on
which the
drawers 107 may slide, and locating shear forms 112 an which the slide rails
114 may be
mounted. Corresponding slide rails 115 may then be mounted on the drawers 107.
In a
preferred embodiment, the slide rails 114 permit the drawers 107 to be fully
extended or
removed from the cabinet 106, as shown in FIG. 1, so that the entire length of
each drawer
may be used.
The storage unit 100 of the present invention may be mounted to the vehicle
bed 113,
as shown in FIG. 4, along the sidewall of the cargo area 129 behind the wheel
well 131 and
4

CA 02167256 1996-02-16
?~ ~~'~5b
adjacent to the tailgate or rear 130 of the vehicle. In other types of
vehicle, such as vans,
the storage unit 100 may be mounted adjacent a rear or side door. These
locations allow
easy access to the contents of the storage unit, without reaching over the
sidewall or climbing
into the cargo area, and minimize interference with use of the cargo area for
carrying cargo.
The invention has been described above in an illustrative manner and it is to
be
understood that terminology which has been used is intended to be in the
nature of
description rather than of limitation, Obviously, many modifications and
variations of the
present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is
therefore to be understood
that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced
otherwise than
as specifically described.

Representative Drawing