Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TONNEAU TRUNK
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
100011 The present application claims priority to the United States patent
application
Ser. No. 14/656,476, filed on March 12, 2015, now United States Patent No.
9,079,548,
and United States patent application Ser. No. 15/046,203, filed on February
17, 2016.
STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable
BACKGROUND
[0003] The various embodiments and aspects described herein relate to a
trunk for a
bed of a truck.
[0004] Trucks are typically used to haul material in its bed area from one
location to
another. However, truck beds have become accessorized so that the truck bed
can be used
for a variety of uses and more than merely hauling material. By way of example
and not
limitation, truck beds can be retrofitted with toolboxes, tonneau covers,
shells and other
accessories that bring additional functionality to truck beds. Unfortunately,
these solutions
are fixed in that once installed, the user typically does not remove these
accessories. Also,
if the user needed to remove these accessories from the truck bed, an extended
period of
time and great strength would be required in order to reconfigure the truck
bed between
different accessories.
[0005] Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved accessory
for bringing
additional functionality to a truck bed.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0006] A trunk for a bed of a trunk is disclosed herein. The trunk may have
various
configurations including but not limited to a first embodiment wherein the
trunk is
traversable between front and back positions, a second embodiment wherein the
trunk is
telescoping in addition to being traversable between the front and back
positions and a third
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embodiment wherein the trunk is collapsible in addition to being traversable
between the
front and back positions. The trunk may provide an isolated enclosed area so
that a user
may place objects in the trunk, isolated from soiled surfaces of the truck
bed. The trunk
may also be traversed between front and back positions by someone without
great strength
and also configured so that the user may use the full length of the bed of the
truck.
[0007] A fourth embodiment involves the trunk that is used in combination
with a
tonneau cover. The trunk of the fourth embodiment may be traversed between
front and
back positions as well as have partitions that may be repositioned to enlarge
or reduce the
size of a trunk space of the fourth embodiment of the trunk.
[0008] More particularly, a trunk for a bed of a truck is disclosed. The
trunk may
comprise an enclosure, left and right rails and a back cover. The enclosure
may have a top
traversable between a lowered closed position and a raised opened position.
The left and
right rails may be attached to left and right sidewalls of the truck bed and
operative to
secure the enclosure at a first position wherein a tailgate of the truck bed
forms a back wall
of the enclosure when the tailgate is in an up position and a second position
adjacent to a
front wall of the truck bed. The back cover may be attached to a back side of
the enclosure
when the enclosure is traversed to the second position to form the back wall
of the
enclosure.
[0009] The trunk may further comprise support arms that may be pivotally
attached to
the left and right sidewalls of the enclosure and the top cover for holding
the top cover in
the raised open position. The support arms may be pivotally attached to the
left and right
rails or the left and right sidewalls of the enclosure.
[0010] The enclosure may have a front wall attached to the left and right
sidewalls and
a bottom wall attached to the front wall and the left and right sidewalls. The
back cover
may be attached to an underside of the top cover when the enclosure is
traversed to the first
position and attached to the left and right sidewalls and bottom wall when the
enclosure is
traversed to the second position.
100111 The back cover may form the back wall. The front wall and the left
and right
sidewalls may have a stepped configuration to accommodate wheel wells of the
truck bed
so that the enclosure is traversable between the first and second positions by
sliding the
enclosure horizontally between the first and second positions.
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[0012] The front wall may be pivoted with respect to the top cover. The
bottom wall
may be pivoted to the front wall. The front and bottom walls may be pivoted to
a position
under the top cover and parallel thereto for traversing the enclosure between
the first and
second positions.
[0013] The left and right sidewalls and the front wall may have upper and
lower halves
that telescope with respect to each other between an up position and a down
position. The
enclosure may slide horizontally between the first and second positions on the
truck bed
when the lower half is in the up position.
[0014] A vertical height of the back cover may be about equal to a vertical
height of
the left and right sidewalls when the left and right sidewalls are in the up
position.
[0015] The left and right rails may have a first part of a male / female
connection
extending along a length of the rails. The left and right sidewalls of the
enclosure may
have a second part of the male / female connection wherein the second part
slides against
the first part as the enclosure is traversed between the first and second
positions. The male
/ female connection may have a detent mechanism to maintain the enclosure in
the first or
second positions.
[0016] The trunk may further comprise a locking mechanism that traverses
left and
right bars under the left and right rails to prevent the top cover from
inadvertently traversing
to the raised open position.
[0017] The trunk may further comprise a protective liner. The protective
liner may
have a plurality of reliefs on a front wall and left and right sidewalls of
the protective liner
to allow a user to compress the protective liner during insertion or removal
of the protective
liner from within the enclosure.
[0018] In another aspect, a storage compartment for a bed of a truck
configurable into
two or more positions for providing a versatile storage solution is disclosed.
The system
may comprise a left rail, a right rail, a top cover and a plurality of panels.
The left rail may
be secured to a left sidewall of the truck bed. The right rail may be secured
to a right
sidewall of the truck bed. The top cover may be pivotally attached to the left
and right rails
at either a first position or a second position. The first position may be
closer to a tailgate
of the truck bed compared to the second position. The plurality of panels may
be deployed
so as to define a storage volume with either the tailgate when the top cover
is in the first
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position or with a back wall when the top cover is in the second position and
the sidewalls
of the truck bed.
[0019] The top cover may have a latching mechanism traversable between a
locked
position and an opened position. In the locked position, locking bars extend
laterally
outward so that opposed distal end portions of the latching mechanism are
disposed under
lips of the left and right sidewalls of the truck bed or the left and right
rails.
[0020] In a different aspect, a method of reconfiguring a trunk attached to
a bed of a
truck is disclosed. The method may comprise the steps of unlocking the trunk
so that the
trunk is operative to be horizontally slid to first or second positions, a
tailgate of the truck
bed forming a part of an enclosed space of the trunk when the trunk is in the
first position,
the trunk being closer to a cab of the truck when the trunk is in the second
position; sliding
the trunk to the second position; attaching a back wall of the trunk to form
the enclosed
space; locking the trunk to the second position; and pivoting a cover of the
trunk to an up
position so that a full length of the truck bed is available for use.
[0021] The method may further comprise a step of collapsing upper and lower
telescoping sections of the trunk. The collapsing step may include the step of
lifting the
lower section into the upper section.
[0022] The method may further comprise a step of pivoting a bottom wall and
a front
wall upon each other under a cover of the trunk.
[0023] The sliding step may include a step of traversing a tongue of the
trunk within
elongate grooves of rails attached to left and right sidewalls of the bed of
the truck.
[0024] In another aspect, a truck with a truck bed convertible into a trunk
is disclosed.
The truck may comprise the truck bed, a tonneau cover, a driver side rail, a
passenger side
rail and a container. The truck bed may define a front wall, a passenger side
sidewall, a
driver side sidewall and a tailgate pivotable between an opened position and a
closed
position. The tonneau cover may be pivoted and attached to a forward portion
of the truck
bed closer to the front wall than the tailgate. The tonneau cover may be
pivoted between
an opened up position and a closed down position. The driver side rail may be
attached to
and extend horizontally along the driver side sidewall. The passenger side
rail may be
attached to and extend horizontally along the passenger side sidewall. The
container may
extend across a width of the truck bed and be slidably attached to the driver
side and
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passenger side rails so that the container is slidable along a length of the
bed and securable
in at least two different positions.
[0025] The container may define an upper edge that is vertically higher
than a lower
edge of the tonneau cover so that rain cascades down the tonneau cover and
over the
container. Alternatively, the container may define an upper edge below a lower
edge of
the tonneau cover.
[0026] The container may have stepped side walls to accommodate wheel wells
protruding into the truck bed. The container may have a rear wall with an
opening and a
selectively positionable panel. The container may have first and second sets
of slots. The
first set of slots may be formed in between the front wall of the container
and the rear wall.
The second set of slots may be formed near the rear wall to close the opening
of the rear
wall. The container may be fabricated from a rigid or resilient material.
[0027] The tonneau cover may extend from the front wall to the tailgate to
cover the
entire truck bed.
[0028] The driver side rail and the passenger side rail may be attached to
interior sides
of the driver side sidewall and the passenger side sidewall.
[0029] Opposed sides of the container may be received into the driver side
and
passenger side rails so that the container may be traversed horizontally
within the truck
bed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
100301 These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments
disclosed
herein will be better understood with respect to the following description and
drawings, in
which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which:
[0031] Figure 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the trunk traversed to a
back position;
[0032] Figure 2 illustrates the trunk with a lid and tailgate in an open
position;
[0033] Figure 2A illustrates an exploded view of the trunk shown in Figure
2;
[0034] Figure 3 illustrates the trunk traversed to a front position with
the lid in the open
position;
[0035] Figure 4 illustrates the trunk shown in Figure 3 with a back panel
forming an
enclosed space;
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[0036] Figure 5 illustrates the trunk shown in Figure 4 with the lid in a
closed position;
[0037] Figure 6 illustrates a second embodiment of the trunk traversed to a
back
position;
[0038] Figure 7 illustrates the trunk with the lid and the tailgate in the
open position;
[0039] Figure 7A illustrates an exploded view of the trunk shown in Figure
7;
[0040] Figure 8 illustrates the trunk in a collapsed position;
[0041] Figure 9 illustrates the trunk shown in Figure 8 traversed to a
front position;
[0042] Figure 10 illustrates the trunk shown in Figure 9 with a back panel
mounted
thereto to form the enclosed space;
[0043] Figure 11 illustrates the trunk with the lid in a closed position;
[0044] Figure 12 is a third embodiment of the trunk traversed to a back
position;
[0045] Figure 13 illustrates the trunk with the lid and the tailgate in the
open position;
[0046] Figure 13A illustrates an exploded view of the trunk shown in Figure
13;
[0047] Figure 14 illustrates a bottom panel being folded upward to traverse
the trunk
in an undeployed state;
[0048] Figure 15 illustrates the trunk with a front panel being folded
upward to traverse
the trunk in the undeployed state;
[0049] Figure 16 illustrates the trunk being traversed to the front
position;
[0050] Figure 17 illustrates the trunk with the front panel being unfolded
to traverse
the trunk in the deployed state;
[0051] Figure 18 illustrates the trunk with the bottom panel being unfolded
to traverse
the trunk in the deployed state;
[0052] Figure 19 illustrates a back panel being mounted to the trunk to
form the
enclosed space;
[0053] Figure 20 illustrates the trunk with the lid in the closed position;
[0054] Figure 21 illustrates the trunk in the undeployed state mounted to a
roof of a
cab of a truck;
[0055] Figure 22 illustrates the trunk shown in Figure 21 with the lid in
an up position;
[0056] Figure 23A illustrates a locking mechanism of the lid;
[0057] Figure 23B illustrates the locking mechanism shown in Figure 23A
incorporated into the trunk and bed of the truck;
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[0058] Figure 24 is an exploded perspective view of the third embodiment of
the trunk
and the trunk liner;
[0059] Figure 25 illustrates the trunk liner inserted into the trunk shown
in Figure 24;
[0060] Figure 26 illustrates the trunk liner being folded along with the
trunk;
[0061] Figure 27 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the trunk in
combination with a
tonneau cover;
[0062] Figure 28 illustrates the trunk shown in Figure 27 with the tonneau
cover in a
raised position and a partition disposed against the front wall of a trunk
container;
[0063] Figure 29 illustrates the trunk shown in Figure 28 with the
partition disposed in
a middle of the trunk container;
[0064] Figure 30 illustrates the trunk container traversed to a back
position with the
partition removed from the trunk container;
[0065] Figure 31 illustrates the trunk container in the back position with
the partition
installed at a rear position of the trunk container; and
[0066] Figure 32 is an enlarged view of the trunk container and the tonneau
cover.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0067] Referring now to the drawings, a trunk 10, 12, 14, 300 for a bed 16
of the truck
18 is shown in Figures 2A, 7A 13A and 28. The trunk 10, 12, 14, 300 provides
an isolated
space within the bed 16 of the truck 18 in that various panels of the trunk
10, 12, 14, 300
provide a barrier from surfaces of the bed 16 of the truck 18 so that objects
(e.g., groceries)
may be placed in the trunk 10, 12, 14, 300 and protected from dirt on the
surfaces of the
bed 16 of the truck 18. The trunk 10, 12, 14 may be positioned in a back
position, as shown
in Figures 1, 6, 12 and 31. Alternatively, the trunk 10, 12, 14 may also be
horizontally
traversed to a front position as shown in Figures 5, 11, 20 and 28. The trunk
10, 12, 14,
300 may be easily traversed between the front and back positions so that great
strength is
not required to reconfigure the position of the trunk 10, 12, 14, 300 within
the truck bed
16. Weaker people may reconfigure the trunk 10, 12, 14, 300 between the front
and back
positions without assistance or help from another person. Additionally, in
both the front
and back positions, the trunk 10, 12, 14, 300 may provide an enclosed space
that may be
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locked to provide security for items placed within the enclosed space.
Additionally, in
Figures 27-32, the trunk 300 may comprise a tonneau cover 302 and a trunk
container 304.
[0068] Referring now more particularly to Figures 1-6, the trunk 10 may be
horizontally slidable and mounted to the left and right rails 20, 22 (see
Figure 2A) that are
attached to upper lips 24, 26 of left and right side walls 28, 30. The trunk
10 may be
traversed to the back position so that groceries 32 and other items may be
easily placed in
the trunk 10 (see Figure 2) and retrieved therefrom. To open the trunk 10, the
user may lift
up a lid 34 of the trunk 10 and/or pull down a tailgate 36 of the truck bed
16. The trunk 10
may also be easily traversed to the front position by sliding the trunk 10 in
a horizontal
direction 40 (see Figure 3) toward the cab 38 of the truck 18. When the trunk
10 is in the
front position, panel 42 may be removed from an underside of the lid 34 and
fixed in place
in order to form the enclosed space of the trunk 10 as shown in Figure 4.
Alternatively, as
shown in Figure 3, the back panel 42 may remain secured under the lid 34 and
the lid 34
flipped up so that a motorcycle 88 may be loaded onto the bed 16 of the truck
18 thereby
utilizing a full length of the truck bed 16.
[0069] The trunk 10 may include a front panel 44, a bottom panel 46, left
and right
sections 48, 50, the lid 34 and the back panel 42 as shown in Figure 2. The
bottom panel
46 may be rigidly fixed to the front panel 44. The left and right sections 48,
50 may be
identical but mirror images of each other and have a step 52, 54 that
accommodates the left
and right wheel wells 56, 58 of the truck bed 16 so that the trunk 10 may be
easily traversed
between the front and back positions without having to vertically lift the
trunk 10 over the
wheel wells 56, 58 of the truck bed 16. The bottom panel 46 may be disposed
close to but
not in contact with a floor 60 (see Figure 2A) of the truck bed 16 so that the
trunk 10 may
easily slide in the horizontal direction. The left and right sections 48, 50
have steps 52, 54.
The steps 52, 54 are positioned above the highest point 62 of the wheel wells
56, 58. The
highest point of the wheel well 58 is not shown but is identical to the
highest point 62 of
the wheel well 56.
[0070] The trunk 10 may be horizontally slidable and mounted to the left
and right side
walls 28, 30 of the truck bed 16. In particular, left and right rails 20, 22
of the trunk 10 may
be fixedly secured to the upper lips 24, 26 of the left and right side walls
28, 30 of the truck
bed 16. In order to secure the left and right rails 20, 22 to the upper lips
24, 26 of the left
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and right side walls 28, 30 of the truck bed 16, the left and right rails 20,
22 may be bolted
to the upper lips 24, 26 of the left and right side walls 28, 30.
Alternatively, the left and
right rails 20, 22 may have enlarged nubs 64 that fit within the keyhole
shaped slot 66
formed in the upper lips 24, 26 of the left and right side walls 28, 30. The
left and right
sections 48, 50 may have tongues 68, 70 that fit within the grooves 72, 74 of
the left and
right rails 20, 22. Preferably, the tongues 68, 70 and the grooves 72, 74 may
have a wedge-
shaped configuration that slideably mates with each other. Moreover, the
grooves 72, 74
may optionally have ball bearings that help to support the trunk 10 and to
allow convenient
and easy horizontal traversal of the trunk 10 between the back and front
positions on the
rails 20, 22.
[0071] The left and right sections 48, 50 may have a cross-sectional
configuration that
conforms to a cross-sectional inner profile of the left and right side walls
28, 30 including
its wheel wells. In this regard, the left and right sections 48, 50 may be
close to but do not
contact the left and right side walls 28, 30 and the wheel wells 56, 58 of the
truck bed 16
to allow for horizontal traversal of the trunk 10 between the front and back
positions
without vertical lifting or traversal of the trunk 10.
[0072] The trunk 10 may be secured in the front or back positions by way of
a set screw
76. When the trunk 10 is in the back position, the set screws 76 are engaged
in the holes
78. The set screws 76 push down and frictionally engage the tongues 68, 70 to
prevent
movement of the trunk 10. When the trunk 10 is in the front position, the set
screws 76 are
engaged in the holes 80. The set screws 76 push down and frictionally engage
the tongues
68, 70 of the trunk 10 to prevent horizontal movement of the trunk 10.
Alternatively or
additionally, a detent may be incorporated into the trunk 10 and rails 20, 22.
The detent
may be operative to lock the trunk 10 in either the back position or the front
position.
[0073] To install the trunk 10 to the truck bed 16, the left and right
rails 20, 22 are
attached to the left and right side walls 28, 30 of the truck bed 16. As
discussed above,
there are at least two methods of attaching or fixedly securing the left and
right rails 20, 22
to the side walls 28, 30. In particular, the keyhole shaped slot 66 may be
formed in the
upper lips 24, 26 of the truck bed 16. These keyhole shaped slots receive nubs
64 of the
left and right rails 20, 22. The nubs 64 are inserted into the keyhole shaped
slot and secured
thereto in order to fix the left and right rails 20, 26. Alternatively, the
left and right rails
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20, 22 may be bolted to the upper lips 24, 26 of the left and right side walls
28, 30. The left
and right rails 20, 22 have grooves 72, 74. These grooves 72, 74 are directed
inwardly
toward the center of the bed 16 of the truck. These grooves 72, 74 may run the
entire length
or a substantial portion of the length of the truck bed 16 so that the trunk
10 may be
traversed horizontally between the front and back positions without having to
lift the trunk
vertically. As shown and described, the grooves 72, 74 formed on the left and
right rails
20, 22 which receive the tongues 68, 70 of the trunk 10. However, the opposite
situation is
contemplated in that the grooves 72, 74 may be formed on the trunk 10 which
receives
tongues 68, 70 formed in the rails 20, 22 along the length of the rails 20,
22.
[0074] Before tightening the left and right rails 20, 22 to the upper lips
24, 26 of the
left and right side walls 28, 30, the left and right rails 20, 22 may be
slightly loose so as to
be capable of rattling. In this state, the tongues 68, 70 of the trunk 10 may
be inserted into
the respective grooves 72, 74 of the left and right rails 20, 22. With the
tongues 68, 70
disposed within the grooves 72, 74, the left and right rails 20, 22 may now be
adjusted and
tightened onto the upper lips 24, 26 of the left and right side walls 28, 30.
[0075] The tongues 68, 70 are linearly traversable within the grooves 72,
74 to allow
the trunk 10 to be horizontally traversable between the front and back
positions. By being
horizontally traversable, a person that might not be that strong may easily
move the trunk
10 between the front and back positions depending on the desired use or nonuse
of the
trunk 10. If the trunk 10 is in the back position, the user may use the trunk
10 as a normal
place to carry his or her groceries. If the trunk 10 is in the front position,
then the user may
use the trunk 10 similar to a toolbox. Alternatively, the lid 34 of the trunk
10 may be
disposed in the up position so that the user may place a motorcycle 88 in the
bed 16 of the
truck as shown in Figure 3.
[0076] The lid 34 of the trunk 10, 12, 14 is lockable in the down position
(see Figure
1). Referring to Figure 23A, B, the lid 34 may have a mechanism 82 with arms
84 that may
extend under the upper lips 24, 26 of the left and right sidewalls 28, 30 to
lock the lid 34
in the down position. In order to traverse the lid 34 to the up position (see
Figures 2), the
user turns a lock 86 in the counterclockwise direction so that the arms 84 may
clear the lips
24, 26 of the side walls 28, 30. The lid 34 may then be pivoted upward to the
up position
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and may be locked or supported in the up position by shocks 134. The lid 34 is
pivotable
about an upper edge of the front panel 44.
[0077] Figure 1 illustrates a trunk 10 installed on the truck bed 16 with
the trunk 10 in
the back position. The trunk 10 is used to isolate things such as grocery bags
from the
soiled surfaces of the truck bed 16 so that things such as grocery bags do not
become soiled
by the dirt on the surfaces of the truck bed. The trunk 10 may be opened in
one of two
ways, namely, by lifting up the lid 34 or pulling down the tailgate 36 of the
truck bed 16.
To move the trunk 10 from the back position to the front position, the user
releases the
trunk 10 either by loosening set screws 76 or releasing detents. The trunk 10
is traversed
forward in the direction of arrow 40 and locked into place with set screws 76
or detent. In
the front position, the trunk 10 may be moved out of the way by simply lifting
the lid 34
as shown in Figure 3. In this manner, a motorcycle 88 may be loaded and
transported in
the bed 16 of the truck 18. Alternatively, the trunk 10 may form an enclosed
space by
removing the back panel 42 and engaging the back panel 42 to the bottom panel
46 and the
left and right sections 48, 50, as shown in Figure 4. To remove the back panel
42 from the
lid 34, straps 90 under the lid 34 with hooks and loops may be released. The
back panel
42 may be secured to the bottom panel 46 and the left and right sections 48,
50 via means
known in the art or developed in the future. The lid 34 may extend beyond
upper edges of
the front panel 44, back panel 42 and left and right sections 48, 50 so that
rainwater does
not enter the enclosed space of the trunk 10. Moreover, other water sealing or
water
proofing methods that are known in the art or developed in the future may be
incorporated
into the trunk 10.
[0078] Referring now the Figures 6-11, a second embodiment of the trunk 12
is shown.
The trunk 12 is identical to the trunk 10 except that the trunk 12 has upper
and lower
telescoping sections 100, 102. Additionally, the trunk 12 does not have steps
in the left and
right sections as in the truck embodiment shown in Figures 1-6 to allow for
the wheel wells
of the truck bed 16.
[0079] The trunk 12 may be disposed either in front of or behind the wheel
wells 56,
58 of the truck bed 16 since the left and right sections 48a, 50a are not
contoured to the
corresponding shape of the wheel wells 56, 58. Rather, the left and right
sections 48a and
50a are vertically flat. The trunk 12 provides more room in the width
direction of the
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enclosed space since the left and right sections 48, 50 do not have the steps
52, 54 as in
trunk 10.
[0080] The trunk 12 is traversable between the front and back positions as
shown in
Figures 6 and 11. The trunk 12 is traversed in the horizontal direction when
traversed
between the front and back positions so that a mother or a person that does
not have great
strength may reconfigure the trunk 12 as needed either for storing things such
as groceries
or reconfiguring the trunk 12 so that a motorcycle may be loaded on the truck
bed 16. In
order to traverse the trunk 12 between the front and back positions, the lower
section 102
must be collapsed into the upper section 100, as shown in Figure 8. By doing
so, the lower
section 102 clears the wheel wells 56, 58 of the truck bed 16 so that the
trunk 12 may be
horizontally traversed to the front position, as shown in Figure 9. The same
is also true
when the trunk 12 is traversed from the front position to the back position.
The lower
section 102 must be raised and collapsed into the upper section 100 so that
the lower section
102 clears the wheel wells 56, 58 of the truck bed 16 when traversing the
trunk 12 between
the front and back positions.
[0081] The lid 34 may be larger than the upper section 100 and the lower
section 102
may be slightly smaller than the upper section 100. When water that falls on
the lid 34 the
water cascades onto the upper section 100, and in turn cascades onto the lower
section 102.
In this manner, the trunk 12 does not collect water in the enclosed space.
Water also
cascades off of the lid 34 and onto the tailgate of the truck bed 16 since the
lid 34 extends
over the tailgate as shown in Figure 6. The oversized nature of the lid 34 is
also
incorporated into the trunks 10, 14.
[0082] The upper and lower sections 100, 102 may be fabricated from left
and right
panels 104, 106, 108, 110. The left and right panels 104, 106, 108, 110 are
attached to front
panel's 112, 114 of the upper and lower section 100, 102. As discussed above,
the lower
section 102 slides up and down within the upper section 100. The lower section
102 may
slide within the upper section 100 via various means such as but not limited
to rails, tongue
and groove connections, gear and pinion, etc. Moreover, the lower section 102
may be
traversable between an up position wherein the lower section 102 is collapsed
into the
upper section 100 or down position wherein the lower section 102 is extended
away from
the upper section 100 to form an enlarged enclosed space.
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[0083] The lower section 102 may be retained in the up or down positions
with a clamp
or detent mechanism known in the art or developed in the future.
[0084] Additionally, when the trunk 12 is disposed in the front position as
shown in
Figure 10, a back panel 42a may be removed from the underside of the lid 34 by
undoing
straps 92a. The straps 92a may be lined with hook and loop fasteners which are
removed
in order to release the back panel 42a from the lid 34. The back panel 42a
mounts onto the
upper section 102 and/or the lower section 100 in order to form the enclosed
space of the
trunk 12. The back panel 42a is shown as being short in order to fit on the
trunk 12 when
the lower section 102 is collapsed into the upper section 100. However, it is
also
contemplated that the back panel 42a may be taller so that the back panel 42a
may fit onto
the trunk 12 when the lower section 102 is in the down position and the trunk
12 is in the
front position. When the back panel 42a is mounted to the trunk 12, the back
panel 42a
may form the enclosed space within the trunk 12. The back panel 42a may extend
from the
bottom panel to the lid 34 when closed. The lower section 102 is shown as
being in the up
position when the trunk 12 is in the front position. However, it is also
contemplated that
the lower section 102 may be in either the up or down positions when the trunk
12 is in the
front position.
[0085] When the trunk is in the back position as shown in Figures 7 and 8 ,
the user
has an option of either creating a larger enclosed space by positioning the
lower section
102 in the down position or creating a smaller enclosed space by traversing
the lower
section 102 to the up position, as shown in Figure 8. Likewise, when the trunk
12 is in the
front position as shown in Figure 10, the user may create a smaller enclosed
space by
traversing the lower section 102 to the up position and fitting the back panel
42a as shown
in Figure 10. Alternatively, the user may remove the back panel 42a and secure
it 42a to
the underside of the lid 34 and draw the lower section 102 to the down
position. With the
lid 34 pivoted upward as shown in Figure 10, the user may load a motorcycle
onto the bed
16 of the truck 18. Alternatively, the trunk 12 may be provided with two
different back
panels 42a. These two different back panels 42a may be a short back panel 42a
wherein
the short back panel 42a mounts to the trunk 12 when the lower section 102 is
disposed in
the up position. The larger of the two back panels 42a may be mounted to the
trunk 12
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when the lower section 102 is disposed in the down position. In this regard,
the trunk 12 is
capable of providing a larger or smaller enclosed space.
[0086] Referring now to Figures 12-22, the trunk 14 is illustrated. The
trunk 14 is
identical to trunk 10 except in the following manner. The trunk 14 is
traversable between
front and back positions as shown in Figures 12 and 20 when deployed. The
trunk 14 also
has various stowaway configurations shown in Figures 15, 16 and 20. In Figure
15, the
trunk 14 is being transitioned to an undeployed state wherein the lid 34 is
secured to the
upper lips 24, 26 of the left and right side walls 28, 30 of the truck bed 16.
Objects may be
slid under the undeployed trunk 12 that can fit through opening 130.
[0087] Figure 16 illustrates the undeployed trunk 12 being traversed to the
front
position. The trunk 12 may be locked to the front position in the undeployed
position so
that objects may be placed at the rear of the truck bed 16, if desired.
Similarly, objects can
be slid under the undeployed trunk 12. Moreover, if desired, the trunk 12 in
its undeployed
state may be mountable to a rooftop 132 of the cab 38 of the truck 18 so that
the user may
have full access to the entire area of the truck bed 16.
[0088] More particularly, the trunk 14 may be pivotally secured to the bed
16 in either
the front or back positions, as shown in Figures 13 and 18 as well as on the
roof 132 of the
cab 38 shown in Figure 22. The lid 34 may be held in the up position by way of
shocks
134. The shocks 134 have an extended position shown in Figures 13 and 18. In
the extended
position, the shocks 134 lift the lid 34 upward a sufficient distance so that
a motorcycle
may be disposed in the trunk 14 or the truck bed 16. In a half extended
position, as shown
in Figure 22, the lid 34 functions as a spoiler. As such, the shocks 134 pivot
the lid 34
upwards a bit along its front edge in order to create downward pressure as the
truck 18
moves forward. When the trunk 14 is disposed at either the front or back
positions, the
shocks 134 are pivotally secured to both the lid 34 and the upper lips 24, 26
of the left and
right side walls 28, 30 of the truck bed 16. When the lid 34 is pivoted
downward, the shocks
134 collapse to allow for the pivoting motion of the lid 34.
[0089] The trunk 14 may have a front panel 150, bottom panel 152 and a back
panel
154. The front panel 115 is pivotally attached to a front of the lid 134 so
that the front panel
150 may be folded under the lid 34. Additionally, the bottom panel 152 is
pivotally attached
to a lower edge of the front panel 150. Moreover, the bottom panel 152 and the
back front
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panel 150 may be folded under the lid 34 and locked in position in order to
have full access
to the truck bed 16 as described above. Additionally, the bottom panel 152 may
additionally
have left and right relief panels 156, 158 that accommodate the wheel wells
56, 58. When
the trunk 14 is in the back position, the relief panels 156, 158 are co-planer
with a bottom
panel 152. However, when the trunk 14 is in the front position, the relief
panels 156, 158
may be pitched upward against the wheel wells 56, 58, as shown in Figure 18.
In the back
position, the tailgate forms an enclosed space of the trunk 14. In the front
position, the back
panel 154 may be removed from the underside of the lid 34 by undoing the
straps 92 and
securing the back panel 154 to the bottom panel 152 in the left and right side
walls 28, 30.
[0090] In all of the trunks 10, 12, 14 described herein, the lid 34 may
have left and
right grooves 94, 96. These grooves 94, 96 receive the upper lips 24, 26 of
the left and right
side walls 28, 30 so that water that drips on the lid 34 cascades off of the
trunk 10, 12, 14
and onto the side walls 28, 30 of the truck bed 16. Moreover, the back side of
the trunk 10,
12, 14 may have a skirt 98 that overhangs the tailgate of the truck bed 16 so
that water that
drips on the trunk 14 cascades over the lid 34 and onto the tailgate in order
to create a water
resistant enclosed space within the trunk 10, 12, 14.
[0091] The trunks 10, 12, 14 may all define a length 200 which is less than
a length
202 of the truck bed 16. The length 202 of the truck bed 16 may be between
about 70 inches
to about 105 inches. The length 200 of the trunk 10, 12, 14 may be about one
half or less
of the length 202 of the truck bed 16. Preferably, the length 200 of the trunk
10, 12, 14 may
be about 20 inches to about 35 inches.
[0092] The trunks 10, 12, 14 may be fabricated from various materials
including but
not limited to carbon fiber, injection molded plastic, metal, aluminum, steel
and other
materials known in the art or developed in the future that is resistant to
degradation from
UV rays and environmental pressures such as rain, wind and dust.
[0093] The trunks 10, 12, 14 all define an enclosed space within the
various panels and
the lid 34. It is also contemplated that the enclosed space may be sealed from
the
environment with weatherstripping, gasket and other sealants to prevent water
from
entering the enclosed space when raining.
[0094] Referring now to Figures 24-26, a barrier 250 is shown. The barrier
250 is
shown as being used in conjunction with trunk 14. However, the barrier 250 may
also be
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used in conjunction with trunks 10, 12. As shown in Figure 25, the barrier 250
may be
inserted into the enclosed space defined by the trunk 14. The barrier 250 may
have left and
right side walls 252, 254 and front wall 256 as well as bottom floor 258. The
barrier 250
may be fabricated from an elastomeric material to allow the barrier 250 to
collapse or be
folded as shown in Figure 26 which illustrates the trunk 14 being traversed to
the
undeployed state. As shown in Figures 24 and 25, the left and right side walls
252, 254
may have a diagonal crease 260. When the bottom panel 152 is pivotted upward
as shown
in Figure 26, the left and right side walls 252, 254 bend at the diagonal
crease 260 to allow
the barrier 250 to fold into a flat configuration so that the trunk 14 may be
traversed to the
undeployed state as shown in Figures 16 and 21.
[0095] Referring now to Figures 27-32, the trunk 300 is shown as being
horizontally
traversable and mountable to left and right rails 320, 322 (see Figure 28)
that are attached
to interior surfaces 306, 308 of the left and right side walls 28, 30 of the
truck bed. The
trunk 300 comprises the tonneau cover 302 and the trunk container 304. To
reconfigure the
trunk 300, the user may traverse the trunk container 304 to the front position
shown in
Figure 28 or to the back position shown in Figures 30 and 31. To do so, the
trunk container
304 rides on the left and right rails 320, 322. The trunk container 304 may
have left and
right male members that engage the left and right rails 320, 322. In Figure
32, only the
passenger side male member 324 is shown to mates with the left rail 320.
However, the
driver side also has a driver side male member that slideably mates with the
right rail 322.
To access the trunk container 304, the user may lift the tonneau cover 302 to
the up position
shown in Figure 28. To close the trunk, the user closes the tonneau cover 302
as shown in
Figure 27. In either of the front and back positions, a partition 310 may be
placed against
a front wall 312 of the trunk container 304 as shown in Figure 28. The front
wall 312 is
covered by the partition 310 and cannot be seen in Figure 28 but is visible in
Figures 29,
30 and 31. The partition 310 may also be placed in the middle of the trunk
container 304
(see Figure 29) as well as at a back side of the trunk container 304 as shown
in Figure 31.
[0096] The partition 310 may be secured to the front middle or back side of
the trunk
container 304 by way of grooves 314 formed by feet 316 wherein the groove 314
is defined
by the feet 316. The feet 316 may be placed at various positions along the
panels of the
trunk container 304. The feet 316 may be placed on both the left and right
sides of the trunk
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container 304 so that the grooves 314 formed by the feet 316 can support the
left and right
sides of the partition 312. The partition 312 may be inserted into the grooves
314 from the
top side of the feet. To reposition the partition 310, the user lifts the
partition 310 out of
one set of grooves/feet 316 and drops the partition 310 into another set of
grooves/feet 316.
By doing so, the size of the enclosure defined by the trunk container 304,
partition 310 and
the tonneau cover 302 is enlarged or reduced as desired by the user. The
partition 310 is
held vertically in place at the front and back of the trunk container 304 with
the aid of the
feet 316 and the front wall 312 or the back lip.
[0097] The left and right sections 348, 350 may be identical but mirror
images of each
other and have a step 352, 354 that accommodates the left and right wheel
wells 56, 58 of
the truck bed so that the trunk container 304 may be easily traversed between
the front and
back positions without having to vertically lift the trunk 10 over the wheel
wells 56, 58 of
the truck bed 16. The bottom panel 346 may be disposed close to but not in
contact with a
floor 60 of the truck bed 16 so that the trunk container may easily slide in
the horizontal
direction. The steps 352, 354 may be positioned above the highest point 62 of
the wheel
wells 56, 58. The highest point of the wheel wells 58 is not shown but is
identical to the
highest point 62 (see Figures 2A) of the wheel well 56.
[0098] The trunk container 304 may be horizontally slidable and mounted to
the left
and right side walls 28, 30 of the truck bed. In particular left and right
rails 320, 322 may
be fixedly secured to interior surfaces 306, 308 of the left and right side
walls 28, 30 of the
truck bed 16. Preferably, the left and right side rails 320, 322 are
positioned parallel and
level with the floor 60 of the truck bed. In order to secure the left and
right rails 320, 322
to the interior surfaces 304, 306 of the left and right side walls 28, 30 of
the truck bed 16,
the left and right rails 320, 322 may be bolted to the interior surfaces 306,
308 of the left
and right side walls 28, 30. Alternatively, the left and right rails 320, 322
may have enlarged
nubs that fit within keyhole shaped slots formed in the interior surfaces 306,
308 of the left
and right side walls 28, 30. The left and right sections may have tongues 324
that fit within
the grooves 326 of the left and right rails 320, 322. Preferably the tongues
324 and the
grooves of the rails 320, 322 may have a wedge shaped configuration (see
Figure 32) that
slidably mates with each other. In order to dispose the tongues 324 into the
grooves 326 of
the left and right rails 320, 322, the rails 320, 322 may be mounted to the
left and right side
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walls of the truck bed. With the tailgate open, the trunk container 304 is
inserted into the
truck bed from the rear of the truck bed so that tongues 324 can slide into
the grooves 326
of the left and right rails 320, 322.
[0099] Moreover, the grooves 326 may optionally have ball bearings that
help to
support the trunk container 304 and to allow convenient and easy horizontal
traversal of
the trunk container 304 between the back and front positions on the rails 320,
322.
[0100] The left and right sections 348, 350 may have cross-sectional
configuration that
conforms to a cross-sectional inner profile of the left and right side walls
28, 30 including
its wheel wells 56, 58. In this regard, the left and right sections 348, 350
may be close to
but not in contact with the left and right side walls 28, 30 and the wheel
wells 56, 58 of the
truck bed to allow for horizontal traversal of the trunk container 304 between
the front and
back positions without vertically lifting or traversal of the trunk.
[0101] The trunk may be secured in the front and back positions by way of a
set screw.
When the trunk is in the back position the set screws are engaged in the
holes. The set
screw is pushed down and frictionally engages the tongues to prevent movement
of the
truck. When the trunk is in the front position, the set screws are engaged in
the holes. The
set screws push down and frictionally engage tongues of the trunk container
304 to prevent
horizontal movement of the trunk container 304. Alternatively or additionally,
a detent may
be incorporated into the trunk container 304 and the rails 320, 322. The
detent may be
operative to lock the trunk container 304 in either the back position or the
front position.
[0102] The trunk 300 was described as having the tongues 324 mounted to the
trunk
container 304 and mating left and right rails 320, 322 having grooves 326.
However, it is
also contemplated that the reverse configuration may be implemented. In
particular, the
grooves 326 may be formed in the members 324 that are attached to the trunk
container
304 and the left and right rails 320, 322 may have tongues that are received
into the grooves
formed in the members 324.
[0103] To install the trunk container 304 to the truck bed 16, the left and
right rails
320, 322 may be attached to the left and right side walls 28, 30 of the truck
bed 16. As
discussed above, there are at least two methods of attaching or fixedly
securing the left and
right rails 320, 322 to the side walls 28, 30. In particular, the keyhole
shaped slots may be
formed in the interior surfaces 306, 308 of the truck bed 16. These keyhole
shaped slots
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receive nubs of the left and right rails 320, 322. The nubs are inserted into
keyhole shaped
slot and secured thereto in order to fix the left and right rails 320, 322.
Alternatively, the
left and right rails 320, 322 may be bolted to the interior surfaces 306, 308
of the left and
right side walls 28, 30. The left and right rails 320, 322 may have grooves
326. These
grooves 326 may be directed inwardly toward the center of the bed of the
truck. These
grooves may run the entire length or a substantial portion of the length of
the truck bed so
that the truck container 304 may be traversed horizontally between front and
back positions
without having to lift the trunk container 304 vertically. As shown and
described, the
groove formed on the left and right rails 320, 322 receive the tongues of the
trunk container
304.
[0104] Before tightening the left and right rails 320, 322 to the interior
surfaces 306,
308 of the left and right side walls 28, 30, the left and right rails 320, 322
may be slightly
loose so as to be capable of rattling. In this state, the tongues 324 of the
trunk container
304 may be inserted into respective grooves of the left and right rails 320,
322. With the
tongues disposed within the grooves, the left and right rails 320, 322 may now
be adjusted
and tightened onto the interior surfaces 306, 308 of the left and right side
walls 28, 30.
[0105] The tongues may be linearly traversable within the grooves to allow
the trunk
container 304 to be horizontally traversable between front and back positions.
By being
horizontally traversable, a person that may not be that strong may easily move
the trunk
container between the front and back positions depending on the desired use of
the trunk
container 304. If the trunk container is in the back position, then the user
may use the trunk
container 304 as a normal place to carry groceries. If the trunk container 304
is in the front
position, then the user may use the trunk container 304 similar to a toolbox.
In this fourth
embodiment, the top of the trunk container 304 is covered by way of the
tonneau cover
302. The tonneau cover 302 extends the full length of the truck bed so that
regardless of
the position of the trunk container 304, the top of the trunk container 304
covers the trunk
container 304 when the tonneau cover 302 is in the down position.
[0106] In operation, the trunk container 304 is locked either to the back
position or the
front position. If the user wants to segregate a portion of the truck bed into
a smaller area
to form a trunk 300, the user lifts the partition 310 and either disposes the
partition in the
middle or in the back side of the trunk container 304 by engaging the
partition 310 into the
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respective grooves. To close the trunk 300, the user traverses the tonneau
cover 302 to the
down position. To access the trunk 300, the user traverses the tonneau cover
302 to the up
position. In this regard, the trunk 300 is versatile in that it utilizes
existing tonneau covers
302.
[0107] The tonneau cover 302 may be a tonneau cover sold in the market
currently or
developed in the future. The trunk container 304 is disposed below the tonneau
cover 302
so that the trunk container 304 operates in conjunction with tonneau covers
302 sold in the
marketplace currently. The tonneau cover 302 shown in the drawings is one
where the
cover 302 is pivoted up and down at a hinge located adjacent to the cab of the
truck. In the
down position, the cover 302 closes the bed area of the truck and also closes
off access to
the truck trunk except through the tailgate when the partition 310 is in
place. In the up
position, the truck trunk is accessible through the top of the bed area. The
tonneau cover
302 shown in the drawings are shown as being disposed above the left and right
sidewalls
of the truck bed. However, other types of tonneau covers 302 are also
contemplated and
may be used in conjunction with the trunk container 304. By way of example and
not
limitation, the trunk container 304 may be used in conjunction with ROLL
COVERS sold
by TRUCK COVERS USA of San Diego, California or a BAKFLIP sold by AMAZING
TRUCK ACCESSORIES LP of Conroe, Texas. In these alternative types of tonneau
covers, the covers are flush or below the upper surfaces of the left and right
sidewalls of
the truck bed.
[0108] The tonneau cover 302, partition 310 and the trunk container 304 may
be
fabricated from a generally rigid material. By way of example and not
limitation, any one
of the tonneau cover 302, partition 310 and the trunk container 304 may be
fabricated from
steel, aluminum, plastic, fiberglass, rubber, carbon fiber, canvas, carpet or
combinations
thereof This means that the tonneau cover 302, partition 310 and the trunk
container 304
may be fabricated from the same material (e.g., 302, 304, 310 may all be
fabricated from
carbon fiber) or different materials (e.g., 302 may be fabricated from steel,
304 may be
fabricated from carbon fiber, 310 may be fabricated from aluminum).
[0109] The above description is given by way of example, and not
limitation. Given
the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devise variations that are
within the scope
and spirit of the invention disclosed herein, including various ways of
locking the lid 34.
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Further, the various features of the embodiments disclosed herein may be used
alone, or in
varying combinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to the
specific
combination described herein. Thus, the scope of the claims is not to be
limited by the
illustrated embodiments.
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