A swing-out tool chest provides a multi-drawer tool storage chest for organization of tools. The multi-drawer tool storage chest is pivotally mounted in the rear corner of the pickup bed or near the rear doors of a utility van. When not in use, the swing-out tool chest nestles against the side of th
A swing-out tool chest provides a multi-drawer tool storage chest for organization of tools. The multi-drawer tool storage chest is pivotally mounted in the rear corner of the pickup bed or near the rear doors of a utility van. When not in use, the swing-out tool chest nestles against the side of the vehicle between the tailgate (or rear doors of a utility van) and the wheel well. To gain access to the tools, the operator opens the tailgate and swings the swing-out tool chest toward the rear of the bed. The tools are easily accessible and, in the case of a pickup, the tail gate provides a convenient work area. The present invention further includes a method of converting a commercially available locking tool storage chest to a swing-out tool chest mounted in a pickup bed, van, utility truck, or other vehicle.
대표청구항▼
I claim: 1. A swing-out tool chest for mounting in a rear corner of the bed of a pickup, wherein the pickup bed is characterized as having a front wall, two side walls, a rail portion on each side wall, a floor, and a tailgate, the swing-out tool chest comprising: a tool storage chest, further comp
I claim: 1. A swing-out tool chest for mounting in a rear corner of the bed of a pickup, wherein the pickup bed is characterized as having a front wall, two side walls, a rail portion on each side wall, a floor, and a tailgate, the swing-out tool chest comprising: a tool storage chest, further comprising: a large rectangular section having a front end portion and a rear portion; a projecting arm section extending from a top of the front end portion of the large rectangular section; and a gusset-like section between the large rectangular section and the projecting arm section; mounting means for pivotally mounting the rear portion of the large rectangular section in the rear corner of the pickup bed; a front end portion support assembly for supporting the front end portion of the large rectangular section, so the tool storage chest is supported by the mounting means and the front end portion support assembly; and wherein the tool storage chest is deployable between a stowed position, wherein the tool storage chest is nestled against the sidewall of the pickup and a use position, wherein the tool storage chest extends across the rear of the pickup in general alignment with the tailgate. 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the large rectangular section of the tool storage chest further comprises a hinged cover, a rear, a top, a bottom, a forward end, an aft end, and a plurality of drawers contained therein. 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the projecting arm section of the tool storage chest further comprises a hinged cover, a rear, a top, a bottom, a forward end, an aft end, and a plurality of drawers contained therein. 4. The device of claim 1, further comprising latching means for securing the tool storage chest in the stowed position or the use position. 5. The device of claim 1, further comprising a handle attached to the tool storage chest for use in moving the tool storage chest between the stowed position and the use position. 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the mounting means for pivotally mounting the rear portion of the large rectangular section in the rear corner of the pickup bed further comprises: a top mounting assembly attached to the rail portion of the sidewall of the pickup; a bottom mounting assembly attached to the floor of the bed of the pickup; and wherein the rear portion of the large rectangular section of the tool storage chest is supported by the bottom mounting assembly and the rear portion is suspended between the top mounting assembly and the bottom mounting assembly. 7. The device of claim 6, wherein the top mounting assembly further comprises: a top stub axle welded to the top of the aft end of the large rectangular chest portion of the tool storage chest; a top bearing member a top sealed ball bearing welded to a top mounting plate, the top mounting plate having a lip potion, the lip portion having a plurality of bores therethrough, so the top sealed ball bearing fits down over the top bearing member; and attachment screws for attaching the lip portion of the top mounting plate to the rail portion of the sidewall of the pickup bed. 8. The device of claim 7, wherein the bottom mounting assembly further comprises: a bottom mounting plate having a plurality of bores therethrough for attachment of the bottom mounting plate to the floor of the pickup bed using a plurality of attachment screws; a bottom stub axle attached to the bottom mounting plate; a thrust washer received by the bottom stub axle and supported by the bottom mounting plate; a bottom bearing member received by the bottom stub axle and supported by the thrust washer; a bottom sealed ball bearing welded to the bottom of the large rectangular portion of the tool storage chest; and wherein the bottom sealed ball bearing fits down over the bottom bearing member so the rear portion of the swing-out tool chest is supported by the bottom mounting assembly. 9. The device of claim 1, wherein the front end portion support assembly further comprises: two parallel columns of transverse rollers attached to the bottom of the large rectangular section of the tool storage chest, wherein the transverse rollers in the first parallel column are offset with respect to the transverse rollers in the second parallel column, so the front end portion of the swing-out tool chest is supported at all times by several of the transverse rollers as the front end portion of the swing-out tool chest moves across the floor of the pickup bed. 10. The device of claim 9, wherein the front end portion support assembly is positioned on the bottom of the large rectangular section of the tool storage chest so that the parallel columns form an angle of 5 to 15 degrees with respect to the end of the large rectangular section. 11. The device of claim 1, wherein the front end portion support assembly further comprises a plurality of transverse rollers disposed within a frame, the frame being attached to the bottom of forward end of the large rectangular section. 12. The device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of transverse rollers disposed within a frame, the frame being attached to the bottom of the large rectangular section essentially midway between the front end portion support assembly and the rear portion of the swing-out tool chest. 13. The device of claim 1, wherein the front end portion support assembly further comprises: a two-section track, the two-section track further comprising: a straight short section attached to the bottom of the forward end of the large rectangular section of the tool storage chest, the straight short section having a hinge extending just beyond the front cover of the large rectangular section; and a longer curved section attached to the straight short section at the hinge, whereby the longer curved section folds upwardly across the front cover when the swing-out tool chest is in the stowed position and whereby the longer curved section folds down onto the floor of the pickup bed for movement of the swing-out tool chest from the stowed position to the use position; a plurality of transverse rollers rotatably mounted in a frame attached to the bottom of the large rectangular section by at least one attachment screw; a rotatable tab attached to the front cover to secure the longer curved section in position against the front cover when the swing-out tool chest is in the stowed position; and wherein, when the tab is moved to release the longer curved section, the longer curved section folds down onto the floor of the pickup bed, and the transverse rollers attached to the bottom of the large rectangular section travel upon the longer curved section as the tool storage chest is moved from the stowed position to the use position. 14. The device of claim 9, wherein each of the parallel columns contains at least six transverse rollers. 15. The device of claim 9, wherein the parallel columns are disposed within a single frame welded to the bottom of the large rectangular section. 16. The device of claim 9, wherein the parallel columns are disposed within a single frame attached to the bottom of the large rectangular section by screws. 17. The device of claim 1, wherein the front end portion support assembly consists of adjacent unconnected parallel columns of transverse rollers, the frame being attached to the bottom of the large rectangular section at the forward end thereof.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (4)
Hines ; Jr. Robert S., Carry-all box for mounting on vehicle beds.
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