1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of storage containers for vehicles. More particularly, the invention relates to a storage box for attaching to the underbed of a truck for storing a variety of equipment during transport.
2. Description of Related Art
The prior art reveals a variety of storage containers for vehicles, including underbed boxes for trucks. These boxes are mounted to the underbed of trucks and used to store various tools or other equipment during transport. All of the known boxes, however, suffer from common shortcomings.
Since the boxes are located on the underbed of a truck and typically open to only a specified amount, it can be difficult to access the interior of the boxes in order to load or retrieve the contents. Further, there are occasions that the set openings of the boxes do not accommodate the size or orientation of the items to be stored. None of the known boxes has an adjustable opening to facilitate the loading and retrieval of the box contents.
Another shortcoming of the prior art boxes is related to the material of construction. Most known boxes are made of either steel or aluminum. Steel is very durable but highly susceptible to corrosion. Aluminum, conversely, effectively guards against corrosion but is a very soft and fragile metal, and therefore can be adversely affected by the roughness of the ride. None of the known boxes is made of a material sturdy enough to endure the roughness of the ride while underneath the truck, while also being capable of upstanding inclement weather that may lead to corrosion.
Accordingly, there is a need in the prior art for an underbed box that has an adjustable opening in order to improve access to the contents of the box. There is a further need for an underbed box that is constructed of a material that is strong and durable to endure the roughness of the ride while also successfully protecting against corrosion resulting from the elements.
The present invention meets the shortcomings of the prior art by providing an underbed box that has an adjustable opening to improve access to its contents. The box includes adjustable and removable chains that connect the door to the box, and allow the door to be opened to any angle between 0° and 180°. This feature provides the user with improved access to the contents of the box while it is still attached to the truck.
The present invention further meets the needs of the prior art by providing a box made of a combination of steel and aluminum. The walls of the box are made of steel so they are very strong and durable. The door of the box is constructed of aluminum, welded to an aluminum panel hinge, and then bolted to the steel walls for superior corrosion resistance. This combination of materials of construction ensures that the box can withstand any type of extreme situation resulting from the working environment of the box.
With reference to
Referring to
As shown in
When the “D”-shaped handle 80 is rotated, it in turn causes the rotary plate 71 to rotate. This rotation causes the latch 76 to move out of engagement with a lip 66 of the frame 55 and the free ends of the arms 72 and 74 to move out of engagement with lips 62 and 64 of the frame 55. Thus, with the latch 76 and the arms 72, 74 out of engagement with the lips of the frame, the user can open the door 20 and access the interior of the box.
Referring again to
As best seen in
In the preferred embodiment, the adjustable linking members 100 comprise chains. A first end 102 of each chain 100 is connected to the adjacent side wall 50, 52 by a hook 106, as seen in
The first end 102 and second end 104 of the chains 100 can be completely un-latched from the hooks 106. Thus, the door 20 can be opened at any angle from 0° to 180°. With the door 20 completely in the 180° position, the user can easily load or unload large size items or odd-dimensioned items from the box with no interference from the door 20. Thus, this feature gives the user greater flexibility with respect to the size and orientation of objects that can be stored in the box, as the objects are not limited by the size of a set opening.
The walls 30, 40, 42, 50, and 52 of the underbed box are made of steel, a highly durable metal, to ensure that the box will be able to withstand any type of extreme situation, including bumpy roads and rough treatment by the user. The door 20, however, is constructed of aluminum, with stainless steel bolts and hinges used to fasten the door 20 to the edge of the second wall 30. The use of the aluminum material for both the door and the fasteners eliminates the fabrication issue of bare metal surfaces, which are normally susceptible to corrosion. The combination of the aluminum door and steel walls enhances the strength and durability of the box, while also helping to protect the box from corrosion when it is hauled through inclement weather, including rain and snow.
While certain features and embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail herein, it is to be understood that the invention encompasses all modifications and enhancements within the scope and spirit of the following claims.