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A device for movably mounting a storage container in relation to the storage bed of a pickup truck. The device includes a container support frame with a mounting member configured to be fixedly secured in relation to the pickup truck storage bed, and a lift arm having a first end coupled to the cont

A device for movably mounting a storage container in relation to the storage bed of a pickup truck. The device includes a container support frame with a mounting member configured to be fixedly secured in relation to the pickup truck storage bed, and a lift arm having a first end coupled to the container support frame for pivotal movement about a first pivot axis and a second end configured to be coupled to the storage container for pivotal movement about a second pivot axis. The second end of the lift arm is movable along an arcuate path about the first pivot axis between a stowed position in which the storage container is disposed between the side rails and an extended position in which the storage container is disposed above a side rail. The storage container is pivotable about the second pivot axis to maintain an upright orientation in the stowed and extended positions, providing a variety of convenient access and storage options. Also, the frame can be confined to a very small portion of the storage bed or hidden within existing components of the storage bed to allow substantially unimpeded top and rear access to the storage bed.

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1. A storage device for a pickup truck having a storage bed with laterally opposed side rails, said device comprising: a first storage container with first and second sides and an upright orientation in which the first side faces laterally inward towards an interior of the storage bed and the second

1. A storage device for a pickup truck having a storage bed with laterally opposed side rails, said device comprising: a first storage container with first and second sides and an upright orientation in which the first side faces laterally inward towards an interior of the storage bed and the second side faces laterally outward;a second storage container with first and second sides and an upright orientation in which the first side faces laterally inward towards an interior of the storage bed and the second side faces laterally outward;a frame with first and second mounting members configured to engage respective upper edges of the rails and first and second extensions adjacent the upper edges and extending laterally inward from respective first and second mounting members;a first lift arm having first and second ends, the first end of the first lift arm being coupled to the first extension for pivotal movement about a first pivot axis and the second end of the first lift arm being coupled to the first storage container for pivotal movement about a second pivot axis;a second lift arm having first and second ends, the first end of the second lift arm being coupled to the second extension for pivotal movement about a third pivot axis and the second end of the second lift arm being coupled to the second storage container for pivotal movement about a fourth pivot axis;wherein respective second ends of the first and second lift arms are movable along first and second arcuate paths about the first and third pivot axes between stowed positions in which the first and second storage containers are disposed between the side rails and extended positions in which the first and second storage containers are disposed on and supported by the upper edges of the side rails and respective second sides are spaced laterally outwardly from the rails; andwherein the first and second storage containers are pivotable about the second and fourth pivot axes, respectively, to maintain the upright orientation of the storage containers in the stowed and extended positions;wherein the mounting members are longitudinal mounting members configured to rest on the rails of the storage bed and the frame further includes a cross member extending laterally between forward ends of the longitudinal mounting members so as to be disposed adjacent a forward end of the storage bed when the frame is secured; andfurther comprising a drive mechanism coupled to the lift arm and including a cam configured to provide a greater mechanical advantage in the stowed position than in the extended position. 2. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism is mounted on the frame and coupled with the first and second lift arms to cause the lift arms to pivot and the first and second storage containers to move between their respective stowed and extended positions. 3. The storage device of claim 2, wherein the drive mechanism includes a rotary drive shaft extending longitudinally along one of the rails when the frame is secured. 4. The storage device of claim 3, wherein a terminal end of the rotary drive shaft is adapted to be driven by a portable driver. 5. The storage device of claim 2, wherein the drive mechanism includes a rotary drive shaft extending laterally across the storage bed when the frame is secured. 6. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the mounting members are configured to conform to a peripheral portion of the pickup storage bed to allow substantially unimpeded top access to the storage bed when the storage containers are in the extended position. 7. The storage device of claim 1, wherein mounting members are longitudinal mounting members configured to rest on the rails of the storage bed and the frame further includes a cross member extending laterally between forward ends of the longitudinal mounting members so as to be disposed adjacent a forward end of the storage bed when the frame is secured. 8. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the second and fourth pivot axes are above respective vertical centers of the storage containers, for maintaining the storage containers in the upright orientation between the stowed and extended positions. 9. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the cross-member includes left and right portions connected by a coupling allowing the distance between first and second mounting members to be adjusted. 10. A storage device for a pickup truck having a storage bed with laterally opposed side rails, said device comprising: a storage container with first and second sides and an upright orientation in which the first side faces laterally inward towards an interior of the storage bed and the second side faces laterally outward;a frame with a mounting member configured to engage an upper edge of one of the rails and an extension adjacent the upper edge and extending laterally inward from the mounting member;a lift arm having first and second ends, the first end of the lift arm being coupled to the extension for pivotal movement about a first pivot axis and the second end of the lift arm being coupled to the storage container for pivotal movement about a second pivot axis, the second end of the lift arm being movable along an arcuate path about the first pivot axis between a stowed position in which the storage container is disposed between the side rails and an extended position in which the storage container is disposed on and supported by the upper edge of the side rail and the second side is spaced laterally outwardly from the rail, and the storage container being pivotable about the second pivot axis so as to be maintained in the upright orientation in the stowed and extended positions; anda drive mechanism coupled to the lift arm and including a cam configured to provide a greater mechanical advantage in the stowed position than in the extended position. 11. The storage device of claim 10, wherein the frame is configured such that, when secured, the first and second pivot axes are oriented horizontally and parallel to the side rails. 12. The storage device of claim 11, wherein the second pivot axis extends through the storage container. 13. The storage device of claim 10, wherein the mounting member is an L-shaped bracket member configured to wrap around the upper edge of one of the rails. 14. The storage device of claim 10, wherein the drive mechanism is mounted on the frame and coupled with the lift arm to pivot the lift arm about the first pivot axis between the stowed and extended positions. 15. The storage device of claim 10, wherein the second pivot axis is above a vertical center of the storage container, for maintaining the storage container in the upright orientation between the stowed and extended positions. 16. A storage device for a pickup truck having a storage bed with laterally opposed side rails, said device comprising: a first storage container with first and second sides and an upright orientation in which the first side faces laterally inward towards an interior of the storage bed and the second side faces laterally outward;a second storage container with first and second sides and an upright orientation in which the first side faces laterally inward towards an interior of the storage bed and the second side faces laterally outward;a frame with first and second mounting members configured to engage respective upper edges of the rails and first and second extensions adjacent the upper edges and extending laterally inward from respective first and second mounting members;a first lift arm having first and second ends, the first end of the first lift arm being coupled to the first extension for pivotal movement about a first pivot axis and the second end of the first lift arm being coupled to the first storage container for pivotal movement about a second pivot axis;a second lift arm having first and second ends, the first end of the second lift arm being coupled to the second extension for pivotal movement about a third pivot axis and the second end of the second lift arm being coupled to the second storage container for pivotal movement about a fourth pivot axis;wherein respective second ends of the first and second lift arms are movable along first and second arcuate paths about the first and third pivot axes between stowed positions in which the first and second storage containers are disposed between the side rails and extended positions in which the first and second storage containers are disposed on and supported by the upper edges of the side rails and respective second sides are spaced laterally outwardly from the rails; andwherein the first and second storage containers are pivotable about the second and fourth pivot axes, respectively, to maintain the upright orientation of the storage containers in the stowed and extended positions;wherein the mounting members are longitudinal mounting members configured to rest on the rails of the storage bed and the frame further includes a cross member extending laterally between forward ends of the longitudinal mounting members so as to be disposed adjacent a forward end of the storage bed when the frame is secured; andwherein the cross-member includes a tubular member, and further comprising a drive mechanism including a drive member extending laterally through the tubular member. 17. A storage device for a pickup truck having a storage bed with laterally opposed side rails, said device comprising: a first storage container with first and second sides and an upright orientation in which the first side faces laterally inward towards an interior of the storage bed and the second side faces laterally outward;a second storage container with first and second sides and an upright orientation in which the first side faces laterally inward towards an interior of the storage bed and the second side faces laterally outward;a frame with first and second mounting members configured to engage respective upper edges of the rails and first and second extensions adjacent the upper edges and extending laterally inward from respective first and second mounting members;a first lift arm having first and second ends, the first end of the first lift arm being coupled to the first extension for pivotal movement about a first pivot axis and the second end of the first lift arm being coupled to the first storage container for pivotal movement about a second pivot axis;a second lift arm having first and second ends, the first end of the second lift arm being coupled to the second extension for pivotal movement about a third pivot axis and the second end of the second lift arm being coupled to the second storage container for pivotal movement about a fourth pivot axis;wherein respective second ends of the first and second lift arms are movable along first and second arcuate paths about the first and third pivot axes between stowed positions in which the first and second storage containers are disposed between the side rails and extended positions in which the first and second storage containers are disposed on and supported by the upper edges of the side rails and respective second sides are spaced laterally outwardly from the rails; andwherein the first and second storage containers are pivotable about the second and fourth pivot axes, respectively, to maintain the upright orientation of the storage containers in the stowed and extended positions;wherein the mounting members are longitudinal mounting members configured to rest on the rails of the storage bed and the frame further includes a cross member extending laterally between forward ends of the longitudinal mounting members so as to be disposed adjacent a forward end of the storage bed when the frame is secured;wherein the cross-member includes left and right portions connected by a coupling allowing the distance between first and second mounting members to be adjusted; andfurther comprising a drive mechanism including left and right drive members extending laterally along the cross-member, wherein the coupling is configured to be selectively engageable to cause the drive members to move in unison or disengageable to allow the drive members to move independently of one another.