This invention relates to tool boxes, and, more particularly, to a self-adjusting striker assembly for use with latches in tool boxes that accommodates misalignment between the lid of the box and the latches.
One of the most popular accessories for trucks and recreational vehicles is a truck tool box used to store and secure a variety of tools and other items in the bed of the vehicles. There are a number of different types of truck boxes, including cross-over boxes, side mount boxes, chest boxes, top mount boxes, RV boxes and others. Each truck box is typically formed of aluminum tread plate, and comprises a front wall, a back wall, a bottom wall and opposed end walls which are interconnected to define a hollow interior. The truck box interior is closed by a top lid that is pivotal on one or more hinges, usually with the assistance of gas springs.
In many truck box designs, one or more latch mechanisms and striker bars are provided to maintain the top lid in a closed and locked position to secure the contents of the box. The latch mechanism(s) may be mounted to the front wall of the box, for example, in which case the striker bar(s) is mounted to the top lid. When the top lid is closed, each striker bar engages a latch mechanism to lock the top lid in place. In order for the striker bar and latch to properly engage one another, they must be in alignment, which, in turn, depends on appropriate alignment of the top lid and the body of the truck box. Many factors can contribute to altering the relationship between the top lid and box body, including rough handling during shipment, improper installation on the vehicle, damage to the body panels of the box during off-road adventures or the like and other factors. If each latch does not align with a striker bar, adjustment must be made in order for the top lid to properly close and lock.
Many striker bar—latch constructions in the prior art permit manual adjustment of the striker bar with respect to the latch. Typically, the position of the striker bar may be altered by loosening nuts securing the striker bar to the top lid or front wall of the box and then manually shifting its position relative to the latch. This can be a tedious exercise, and seems to invariably occur when the vehicle owner has the least amount of time to correct the situation.
Self-adjusting striker bar assemblies have been suggested in the prior art as a means of providing at least some adjustment of the position of the striker bar relative to the latch without the need for manual intervention. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,416,228 and 5,342,103. In these patents, the striker bar is pivotally mounted to the top lid or box body and can move in a swinging, pendulum-type motion relative to the latch mechanism which is mounted on or adjacent to a plate formed with a notch. In the event of misalignment between the striker bar and latch mechanism, the striker bar contacts a side of the notch and pivots to a position in alignment with the latch mechanism.
This invention is directed to a self-adjusting striker assembly for use with a truck box, or essentially any other type of box, having a hollow interior defined by a front wall, a back wall, a bottom wall, opposed end walls and a pivotal top lid. The self-adjusting striker assembly provides for linear movement of a striker bar, in a direction between the end walls of the box, so that it can properly align with a latch mechanism even if the relationship between the top lid of the box and the box body is altered.
In one presently preferred embodiment, the self-adjusting striker assembly of this invention may comprise a base mounted to the top lid of the box assuming the latch mechanism is connected to the box body. The base is formed with an elongated recess within which first and second threaded studs are mounted. A generally L-shaped bracket is provided including a bottom plate formed with first and second openings separated by a partition, and a perpendicular side plate having a slot for mounting a striker bar. The first and second studs of the base are received within respective openings in the bottom plate of the bracket, and such openings at least partially overlie the elongated recess in the base. A first spring is placed in the recess of the base, and extends into the first opening of the bottom plate of the bracket between the first stud and partition. A second spring is placed in the same position in the second opening of the bottom plate. The bottom plate of the bracket is sandwiched between the base and a capture plate which rests atop the bottom plate and mounts to the studs extending from the base.
Unlike the prior art noted above, the self-adjusting striker assembly of this invention permits movement of the bracket, and, in turn, the striker bar, in a linear, side-to-side direction. A guide plate formed with a notch may be mounted to or in proximity with each latch mechanism so that in the event of misalignment between the striker bar and latch mechanism the striker bar may contact the notch in the guide plate and shift its position from side-to-side so as to properly align with and engage the latch mechanism. Additionally, the position of the striker bar within the slot in the side plate of the bracket may be manually adjusted.
The structure, operation and advantages of the presently preferred embodiment of this invention will become further apparent upon consideration of the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Referring initially to
Referring now to
The bottom plate 34 of bracket 32 is formed with a first opening 38 having opposed ends 40 and 42, and, a second opening 44 having opposed ends 46 and 48. The ends 42 and 46 of openings 38, 44, respectively, are separated by a partition 50. The side plate 36 of the bracket 32 is formed with a vertically extending, elongated slot 52 which mounts a striker bar 54, preferably in the form of a U-bolt. The striker bar 54 has spaced arms 56 and 58 connected by a cross member 60. The end of each arm 56, 58 is threaded to receive nuts 62, one located on either side of the side plate 36, and the position of the striker bar 54 may be adjusted vertically along the slot 52 by loosening the nuts 62, sliding the striker bar 54 to the desired position, and then tightening the nuts 62. A capture plate 64 is also provided which is formed with spaced through holes 66 and 68. Each through hole 66, 68 receives a flange washer 70 and 71, respectively.
The striker assembly 22 may be assembled as follows. Initially, the bottom plate 34 of the bracket 32 is placed onto the base plate 24 so that the stud 28 extends through the first opening 38 in the bottom plate 34 and the stud 30 extends through the second opening 44. As best seen in
With the coil springs 72, 74 in place, the capture plate 64 may be positioned atop the bottom plate 34 of bracket 32 such that the stud 28 of base 24 extends through the opening 66 of the capture plate 64 and the stud 30 extends through the opening 68 therein. The flange washer 70 is inserted through the through hole 68 in capture plate 64, and then through the opening 38 in the bottom plate 34 of bracket 32, onto the stud 28. A portion of the stud 28 protrudes upwardly from the capture plate 64 to receive a cap nut 76. The flange washer 71 is assembled in the same way onto stud 30, and a second cap nut 78 may be tightened down on the exposed end of the stud 30.
As noted above, the striker assembly 22 of this invention is employed with a latch to close, and in some designs, lock the box 10. Referring to
In the presently preferred embodiment, a guide plate 88 is either mounted on or immediately adjacent to the latch 80. The guide plate 88 is formed with a notch 90 having an expanded mouth or open end 92. A cutout 94 is formed in the top plate 82 of mounting rail 78, and a slot 96 extends along its side plate 84. As seen in
In the preferred embodiment, the striker assembly 22 may be mounted to the top lid 20 of the box 10 and the latch 80 may be connected to the moving rail 78 in alignment with the striker assembly 22, e.g. the orientation depicted in
The first and second coil springs 72, 74 bias the bracket 32 to a neutral position as depicted in
Referring to
The striker assembly 22 provides a convenient means of accommodating misalignment between the striker bar 54 and latch 80 in a side-to-side direction, e.g. linearly, generally along axis 102. In some instances, the striker bar 54 may fail to properly engage the latch 80 due to a vertical misalignment. The term “vertical misalignment” refers to the relative position of the striker bar 54 and latch 80 when the top lid 20 is closed, wherein the striker bar 54 fails to seat within the latch 80 or is positioned too close to the latch 80. In that event, as noted above, the striker bar 54 may be moved along the slot 52 in the side plate 36 of bracket 22 in a direction toward or away from the latch 80 when the top lid 20 is closed.
While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.