CA2167256C - Vehicle mounted storage unit - Google Patents

Vehicle mounted storage unit Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2167256C
CA2167256C CA002167256A CA2167256A CA2167256C CA 2167256 C CA2167256 C CA 2167256C CA 002167256 A CA002167256 A CA 002167256A CA 2167256 A CA2167256 A CA 2167256A CA 2167256 C CA2167256 C CA 2167256C
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Canada
Prior art keywords
drawer
cabinet
sidewall
wall portion
vehicle
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
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CA002167256A
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French (fr)
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CA2167256A1 (en
Inventor
Sandra L. Lance
Marshall R. Lance
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Geneva Manufacturing Co
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Geneva Manufacturing Co
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Publication date
Application filed by Geneva Manufacturing Co filed Critical Geneva Manufacturing Co
Priority to CA002167256A priority Critical patent/CA2167256C/en
Publication of CA2167256A1 publication Critical patent/CA2167256A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA2167256C publication Critical patent/CA2167256C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60RVEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R9/00Supplementary fittings on vehicle exterior for carrying loads, e.g. luggage, sports gear or the like
    • B60R9/06Supplementary fittings on vehicle exterior for carrying loads, e.g. luggage, sports gear or the like at vehicle front or rear
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60RVEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R11/00Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for
    • B60R11/06Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for for tools or spare parts

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Body Structure For Vehicles (AREA)
  • Lock And Its Accessories (AREA)

Abstract

A vehicle-mounted storage unit for use with a vehicle having a rear door, comprising a cabinet having front and back portions, a door in the front portion of the cabinet, a locking device for the door, a mounting device attached to the floor of a vehicle, and mounting means for attaching the cabinet to the mounting device such that the mounting means is located inside the cabinet such that the mounting means may be accessed only if the door is open, wherein the storage unit is located adjacent to a door of the vehicle, and the door in the front portion of the cabinet opera toward the door of the vehicle.

Description

VEtIICLE MOUNTED STORAGE UNIT
The present invention relates to a storage unit for installation in a vehicle and, more particularly, to a tool box for installation in a pickup truck, van, or sport utility vehicle.
Background of the Invention Tool boxes which are installed in work vehicles, such as pickup trucks, are known in the art. Such tool boxes generally open at the top, having a lid which may be lifted to access the contents of the tool box. These traditional tool boxes are usually installed along the sidewalk of the cargo area of the vehicle to permit the remainder of the cargo area to be used to carry cargo. To access the contents of these tool boxes, the user must then climb into the cargo area, or reach over the sidewall of the vehicle. Retrieving tools from these tool boxes by reaching over the sidewall or climbing into the vehicle may be difficult and physically strenuous. In addition, use of these traditional tool boxes may be impractical if the cargo area is covered because of the need for clearance to open the lid.
Finally, traditional vehicle-mounted tool boxes are generally too large and heavy to be readily removed from the vehicle.
It is, therefore, an object of this inventian to provide a vehicle-mounted tool box in which the contents may be accessed without reaching over the sidewalk or climbing into the vehicle.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a vehicle-mounted tool box which may be used in covered vehicles, such as vans and sport utility vehicles.

i b ~2Jb It is also an object of this invention to provide a vehicle-mounted tool box which may be readily removed from the vehicle and, alternately, may be secured to the vehicle to deter theft.
Summary of the Invention These objects and others are achieved by the vehicle-mounted storage unit of the present invention, which is comprised of a cabinet, having front and back portions, a door in the front portion of the cabinet which may be opened to provide access to the contents of the cabinet, a lock for the door, and means for removably mounting the cabinet to the vehicle when the door is open. The storage unit is mounted adjacent to a side or rear door, or the tailgate, of the vehicle.
Further objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become evident from a consideration of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.
Brief Description of the Drawings For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the invention there are illustrated in the accompanying drawings preferred embodiments thereof, frorr~ an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, the construction and operation of the invention, and many of its advantages, should be readily understood and appreciated.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the storage unit of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a portion of the interior of the cabinet of the storage unit;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, perspective: view of the cabinet of the storage unit;
and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a vehicle in which the storage unit of the present invention is installed.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment The storage unit of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. As shown, the storage unit 100 comprises a cabinet 106 having a front 101, a back 102, a bottom 103, a top 104 and two sides 105. A door 120 in the front 101 provides access to the contents of the cabinet. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the door 120 is mounted at holes 122 to a continuous hinge 126, which is mounted at holes 123 to the cabinet 106. A cam lock 117 mounted in the door 120 allows the cabinet 106 to be lacked, thereby securing the contents.
The cabinet 106 may be mounted to the cargo area of a vehicle by attaching it to a maunting bracket 108, as shown in FIG. 1. The mounting bracket 108 may be bolted 109 or otlxerwise firmly attached to the floar 113 of the cargo area so that the mounting bracket may nor be quickly and easily removed. The cabinet 106 may then be secured to the mounting bracket 108 by screws 127, which extend through holes 128 in the cabinet into holes 125 in the. mounting bracket. Holes 128 are located inside of cabinet 106 such that screws 127 may be inserted or removed only if door 120 is open. This mounting arrangement allows the cabinet 106 to be easily detached and removed from the vehicle by simply removing the screws 127, but deters theft by preventing removal of the cabinet 106 when the door 120 is closed and locked.
The storage unit may be made of any of a variety of materials. In a preferred embodiment, the cabinet 106 is made of sheet metal, and the top 104 and door 120 are reinforced with aluminum tread plates 116 and 118. The lock 117 extends through the door 120, at hole 121, and through the aluminum tread plate 118, at hole 119. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the panels are joined by rivets 124, but any known method may be used to join the panels. In a preferred embodiment, the top 104 and one side 105 are formed from a single piece of material, and the back 102 and second side 105 are formed from a single piece of material. This construction reduces production costs and results in a stronger cabinet.
The interior of the cabinet 106 may be fitted with drawers 107 to provide easier access to the contents of the cabinet 106. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, to accommodate drawers 107 the interior of the cabinet 106 may be fitted with side walls 111.
The side walls may comprise a drawer slide mounting assembly 110 having slide rails 114 on which the drawers 107 may slide, and locating shear forms 112 an which the slide rails 114 may be mounted. Corresponding slide rails 115 may then be mounted on the drawers 107.
In a preferred embodiment, the slide rails 114 permit the drawers 107 to be fully extended or removed from the cabinet 106, as shown in FIG. 1, so that the entire length of each drawer may be used.
The storage unit 100 of the present invention may be mounted to the vehicle bed 113, as shown in FIG. 4, along the sidewall of the cargo area 129 behind the wheel well 131 and ?~ ~~'~5b adjacent to the tailgate or rear 130 of the vehicle. In other types of vehicle, such as vans, the storage unit 100 may be mounted adjacent a rear or side door. These locations allow easy access to the contents of the storage unit, without reaching over the sidewall or climbing into the cargo area, and minimize interference with use of the cargo area for carrying cargo.
The invention has been described above in an illustrative manner and it is to be understood that terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of description rather than of limitation, Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

Claims (38)

1. A vehicle mounted storage unit mounted to a rear bed of a pickup truck having a sidewalk a wheel well having a portion which extends outwardly from said sidewall by a first distance, and a tailgate that is movable between a closed position and an open position, said tailgate being spaced from a rear portion of said wheel well by a second distance, said sidewall of said pickup truck extending above said bed of said pickup truck by a height corresponding to a third distance, said vehicle mounted storage unit comprising:
a mounting bracket fixed to said bed of said pickup truck, said mounting bracket having a width that is less than said first distance and a length that is less than said second distance, said mounting bracket being fixed to said bed of said pickup truck at a mounting point adjacent said sidewall of said pickup truck and between said wheel well and said tailgate;
means for fixing said mounting bracket to said bed of said pickup truck at said mounting point;
a cabinet attached to said mounting bracket, said cabinet being removable from said mounting bracket and having a width not greater than said first distance, a length not greater than said second distance, and a height not greater than said third distance, said cabinet being disposed adjacent said sidewall of said pickup truck and between said wheel well and said tailgate of said pickup truck, with no portion of said cabinet extending outside of a hexahedral-shaped space defined by a first horizontal plane coinciding with said bed of said pickup truck, a second horizontal plane disposed at an elevation coinciding with a top portion of said sidewall, a first vertical plane coinciding with an interior portion of said sidewall of said pickup truck, a second vertical plane coinciding with said outwardly extending portion of said wheel well, a third vertical plane coinciding with said rear portion of said wheel well, and a fourth vertical plane coinciding with an interior portion of said tailgate;
a plurality of drawers disposed in said cabinet;
a plurality of drawer support members for supporting said drawers, at least one of said drawer support members supporting at least one of said drawers so that said one drawer is movable in a direction parallel to said first and second vertical planes between an open position and a closed position, a portion of said one drawer extending beyond said fourth vertical plane and outside of said hexahedral-shaped space when said one drawer is in its open position and when said tailgate is in its open position, said one drawer being disposed between said first and second vertical planes when said one drawer is in its open position, said portion of said one drawer not extending outside of said hexahedral-shaped space when said one drawer is in its closed position; and a door connected to said cabinet, said door being movable between an open position in which said drawers are exposed and a closed position in which said door covers said drawers, said door being oriented in a direction parallel to said third and fourth vertical planes when said door is in its closed position.
2. A vehicle mounted storage unit as defined in claim 1 additionally comprising a lock for locking said door connected to said cabinet.
3. A vehicle mounted storage unit mounted to a rear bed of a pickup truck having a sidewall, a wheel well having a portion which extends outwardly from said sidewall by a first distance, and a tailgate that is movable between a closed position and an open position, said tailgate being spaced from a rear portion of said wheel well by a second distance, said sidewall of said pickup truck extending above said bed of said pickup truck by a height corresponding to a third distance, said vehicle mounted storage unit comprising:
a cabinet fixed to said bed of said pickup truck, said cabinet having a width not greater than said first distance, a length not greater than said second distance, and a height not greater than said third distance, said cabinet being disposed adjacent said sidewall of said pickup truck and between said wheel well and said tailgate of said pickup truck, with no portion of said cabinet extending outside of a hexahedral-shaped space defined by a first horizontal plane coinciding with said bed of said pickup truck, a second horizontal plane disposed at an elevation coinciding with a top portion of said sidewall, a first vertical plane coinciding with an interior portion of said sidewall of said pickup truck, a second vertical plane coinciding with said outwardly extending portion of said wheel well, a third vertical plane coinciding with said rear portion of said wheel well, and a fourth vertical plane coinciding with an interior portion of said tailgate;
a plurality of drawers disposed in said cabinet;
a plurality of drawer support members for supporting said drawers, at least one of said drawer support members supporting at least one of said drawers so that said one drawer is movable in a direction parallel to said first and second vertical planes between an open position and a closed position, a portion of said one drawer extending beyond said fourth vertical plane and outside of said hexahedral-shaped space when said one drawer is in its open position and where said tailgate is in its open position, said one drawer being disposed between said first and second vertical planes when said one drawer is in its open position, said portion of said one drawer not extending outside of said hexahedral-shaped space when said one drawer is in its closed position; and a door connected to said cabinet, said door being movable between an open position in which said drawers are exposed and a closed position in which said door covers said drawers, said door being oriented in a direction parallel to said third and fourth vertical planes when said door is in its closed position.
4. A vehicle mounted storage unit as defined in claim 3 additionally comprising a lock for locking said door connected to said cabinet.
5. A vehicle mounted storage unit adapted to be mounted to a rear bed of a pickup truck having a sidewall, a wheel well having a portion which extends outwardly from said sidewall by a first distance, and a tailgate that is spaced from a rear portion of said wheel well by a second distance, said sidewall of said pickup truck extending above said bed of said pickup truck by a height corresponding to a third distance, said vehicle mounted storage unit comprising:
a cabinet having a width not greater than said first distance, a length not greater than said second distance, and a height not greater than said third distance, said cabinet being adapted to be disposed adjacent said sidewall of said pickup truck and between said wheel well and said tailgate of said pickup truck, with no portion of said cabinet extending outside of a hexahedral-shaped space defined by a first horizontal plane coinciding with said bed of said pickup truck, a second horizontal plane disposed at an elevation coinciding with a top portion of said sidewall, a first vertical plane coinciding with an interior portion of said sidewall of said pickup truck, a second vertical plane coinciding with said outwardly extending portion of said wheel well, a third vertical plane coinciding with said rear portion of said wheel well, and a fourth vertical plane coinciding with an interior portion of said tailgate;
a plurality of drawers disposed in said cabinet; and a plurality of drawer support members for supporting said drawers, at least one of said drawer support members supporting at least one of said drawers so that said one drawer is movable in a direction parallel to said first and second vertical planes between an open position and a closed position, a portion of said one drawer extending beyond said fourth vertical plane and outside of said hexahedral-shaped space when said one drawer is in its open position, said one drawer being disposed between said first and second vertical planes when said one drawer is in its open position, said portion of said one drawer not extending outside of said hexahedral-shaped space when said one drawer is in its closed position.
6. A vehicle mounted storage unit adapted to be mounted to a rear bed of a pickup truck having a sidewall, a wheel well having a portion which extends outwardly from said sidewall by a first distance, and a tailgate that is spaced from a rear portion of said wheel well by a second distance, said vehicle mounted storage unit comprising:
a cabinet having a width not greater than said first distance and a length not greater than said second distance, said cabinet being adapted to be disposed adjacent said sidewall of said pickup truck and between said wheel well and said tailgate of said pickup truck, with no portion of said cabinet extending outside of a space bounded by a first vertical plane coinciding with an interior portion of said sidewall of said pickup truck, a second vertical plane coinciding with said outwardly extending portion of said wheel well, a third vertical plane coinciding with said rear portion of said wheel well, and a fourth vertical plane coinciding with an interior portion of said tailgate;
at least one drawer disposed in said cabinet; and a plurality of drawer support members for supporting said drawer, said drawer support members supporting said drawer so that said drawer is movable in a direction parallel to said first and second vertical planes between an open position and a closed position, a portion of said drawer extending beyond said fourth vertical plane and outside of said bounded space when said drawer is in its open position, said drawer being disposed between said first and second vertical planes when said drawer is in its open position, said portion of said drawer not extending outside of said bounded space when said drawer is in its closed position.
7. A vehicle mounted storage unit mounted to a rear floor portion of a vehicle having a vehicle sidewall, a wheel well having a portion which extends outwardly from a portion of said sidewall by a first distance in a first direction, and a rear vehicle door that is movable between a closed position and an open position, said rear vehicle door being spaced from a rear portion of said wheel well by a second distance in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction and parallel to said vehicle sidewall, said vehicle mounted storage unit comprising:
a cabinet having a bottom portion mounted to said rear floor portion of said vehicle between a first line coinciding with a rear portion of said wheel well and extending in said first direction and a second line extending in said first direction and coinciding with an interior portion of said rear vehicle door when said rear vehicle door is in its closed position, with no portion of said cabinet extending outside of a space bored by a horizontal plane coinciding with said floor portion of said vehicle, a first vertical plane coinciding with said rear portion of said wheel well, and a second vertical plane coinciding with said interior portion of said rear door when said rear door is in its closed position, said cabinet not extending over said sidewall of said vehicle, said cabinet having a width, a length greater than said width and a depth, said cabinet comprising:
a first exterior cabinet wall portion;
a second exterior cabinet wall portion spaced from said first exterior cabinet wall portion in a direction parallel to said width of said cabinet;
a first interior cabinet wall portion parallel to said first exterior cabinet wall portion, said first interior cabinet wall portion being spared from said first exterior cabinet wall portion in a direction parallel to said width of said cabinet;
and a second interior cabinet wall portion parallel to said second exterior cabinet wall portion, said second interior cabinet wall portion being spaced from said second exterior cabinet wall portion in a direction parallel to said width of said cabinet;
at least one connecting member that attaches said cabinet to said rear floor portion of said vehicle at a mounting point between said first line and said second line;
a first drawer disposed in said cabinet, said first drawer being positioned within said cabinet between said first interior cabinet wall portion and said second interior cabinet wall portion with no other drawer disposed between said first interior cabinet wall portion and said first drawer and with no other drawer disposed between said second interior cabinet wall portion and said first drawer, said first drawer comprising:

a first drawer sidewall having a length that is less than said second distance, said first drawer sidewall of said first drawer having an exterior surface and an interior surface;
a second drawer sidewall having a length that is less than said second distance, said second drawer sidewall of said first drawer being parallel to said first drawer sidewall of said first drawer, and said second drawer sidewall of said first drawer having an exterior surface and an interior surface, and said interior surface of said first drawer sidewall of said first drawer facing said interior surface of said second drawer sidewall of said first drawer, said interior surface of said first drawer sidewall of said first drawer being spaced from said interior surface of said second drawer sidewall of said first drawer by a distance that is not greater than said first distance;
at least one first drawer support member that supports said first drawer, said first drawer support member supporting said first drawer so that said first drawer is movable in a direction parallel to said length of said cabinet between an open position and a closed position, a portion of said first drawer extending beyond said second vertical plane and outside of said space when said first drawer is in its open position and when said rear door of said vehicle is in its open position;
a second drawer disposed in said cabinet, said second drawer being positioned within said cabinet between said first interior cabinet wall portion and said second interior cabinet wall portion with no other drawer disposed between said first interior cabinet wall portion and said second drawer and with no other drawer disposed between said second interior cabinet wall portion and said second drawer, said cabinet not having any drawer disposed therein that has a length greater than said second distance, said second drawer comprising:
a first drawer sidewall having a length that is less than said second distance, said first drawer sidewall of said second drawer having an exterior surface and an interior surface;
a second drawer sidewall having a length that is less than said second distance, said second drawer sidewall of said second drawer being parallel to said first drawer sidewall of said second drawer, and said second drawer sidewall of said second drawer having an exterior surface and an interior surface, and said interior surface of said first drawer sidewall of said second drawer facing said interior surface of said second drawer sidewall of said second drawer, said interior surface of said first drawer sidewall of said second drawer being spaced from said interior surface of said second drawer sidewall of said second drawer by a distance that is not greater than said first distance; and at least one second drawer support member that supports said second drawer, said second drawer support member supporting said second drawer so that said second drawer is movable in a direction parallel to said length of said cabinet between an open position and a closed position, a portion of said second drawer extending beyond said second vertical plane and outside of said space when said second drawer is in its open position and when said rear door of said vehicle is in its open position
8. A vehicle mounted storage unit as defined in claim 7 additionally comprising a retention member that is connectable to said cabinet, said retention member being movable between a first position in which said retention member prevents said first and second drawers from being opened and a second position in which said retention member does not prevent said first and second drawers from being opened.
9. A vehicle mounted storage unit as defined in claim 8 additionally comprising a lock associated with said retention member, said lock allowing said retention member to be locked in said first position in which said first and second drawers are prevented from being opened,
10. A vehicle mounted storage unit as defined in claim 7 wherein said retention member comprises a door that is pivotally connected to said cabinet via a hinge.
11. A vehicle mounted storage unit as defined in claim 7 additionally comprising a mounting bracket fixed to said rear floor portion of said vehicle, said mounting bracket having a length that is less than said second distance, said mount bracket being fixed to said rear floor portion of said vehicle at a mounting point between said first line and said second line, said cabinet being attachable to said mounting bracket and removable from said mounting bracket.
12. A vehicle mounted storage unit mounted to a rear floor portion of a vehicle having a vehicle sidewall, a wheel well having a portion which extends outwardly from a portion of said sidewall by a first distance in a first direction, and a rear vehicle door that is movable between a closed position and an open position, said rear vehicle door being spaced from a rear portion of said wheel well by a second distance in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction and parallel to said vehicle sidewall, said vehicle mounted storage unit, comprising:
a cabinet having a bottom portion mounted to said rear floor portion of said vehicle between a first line coinciding with a rear portion of said wheel well and extending in said first direction and a second line extending in said first direction and coinciding with an interior portion of said rear vehicle door when said rear vehicle door is in its closed position, no portion of said cabinet extending beyond a vertical plane coinciding with said interior portion of said rear door when said rear door is in its closed position, said cabinet not extending over said sidewall of said vehicle, said cabinet having a width, a length greater than said width and a depth, said cabinet comprising a first cabinet wall portion and a second cabinet wall portion spaced from said first cabin wall portion in a direction parallel to said width of said cabinet;

at least one connecting member that attaches said cabinet to said rear floor portion of said vehicle at a mounting point between said first line and said second line;
a first drawer disposed in said cabinet, said first drawer being positioned within said cabinet between said. first cabinet wall portion and said second cabinet wall portion with no other drawer disposed between said first cabinet wall portion and said first drawer and with no other drawer disposed between said second cabinet wall portion and said first drawer, said first drawer comprising:
a first drawer sidewall having a length that is less than said second distance, said first drawer sidewall of said first drawer having an exterior surface and an interior surface;
a second drawer sidewall having a length that is less than said second distance, said second drawer sidewall of said first drawer being parallel to said first drawer sidewall of said first drawer, and said second drawer sidewalk of said first drawer having an exterior surface and an interior surface, and said interior surface of said first drawer sidewall of said first drawer facing said interior surface of said second drawer sidewall of said first drawer, said interior surface of said first drawer sidewall of said first drawer being spaced from said interior surface of said second drawer sidewall of said first drawer by a distance that is not greater than said first distance;

at least one first drawer support member that supports said first drawer, said first drawer support member supporting said first drawer so that said first drawer is movable in a direction parallel to said length of said cabinet between an open position and a closed position, a portion of said first drawer extending beyond said vertical plane when said first drawer is in its open position and when said rear door of said vehicle is in its open position;
a second drawer disposed in said cabinet, said second drawer being positioned within said cabinet between said first cabinet wall portion and said second cabinet wall portion with no other drawer disposed between said first cabinet wall portion and said second drawer and with no other drawer disposed between said second cabinet wall portion and said second drawer, said second drawer comprising:
a first drawer sidewall having a length that is less than said second distance, said first drawer sidewall of said second drawer having an exterior surface and an interior surface;
a second drawer sidewall having a length that is less than said second distance, said second drawer sidewall of said second drawer being parallel to said first drawer sidewall of said second drawer, and said second drawer sidewall of said second drawer having an exterior surface and an interior surface, and said interior surface of said first drawer sidewall of said second drawer facing said interior surface of said second drawer sidewall of said second drawer, said interior surface of said first drawer sidewall of said second drawer being spaced from said interior surface of said second drawer sidewall of said second drawer by a distance that is not greater than said first distance; and at least one second drawer support member that supports said second drawer, said second drawer support member supporting said second drawer so that said second drawer is movable in a direction parallel to said length of said cabinet between an open position and a closed position, a portion of said second drawer extending beyond said vertical plane when said second drawer is in its open position and when said rear door of said vehicle is in its open position.
13. A vehicle mounted storage unit as defined in claim 12 additionally comprising a retention member that is connectable to said cabinet, said retention member being movable between a first position in which said retention member prevents said first and second drawers from being opened and a second position in which said retention member does not prevent said first and second drawers from being opened.
14. A vehicle mounted storage unit as defined in claim 13 additionally comprising a lock associated with said retention member, said lock allowing said retention member to be locked in said first position in which said first and second drawers are prevented from being opened.
15. A vehicle mounted storage unit as defined in claim 12 wherein said retention member comprises a door that is pivotally connected to said cabinet via a hinge.
16. A vehicle mounted storage unit as defined in claim 12 additionally comprising a mounting bracket fixed to said rear floor portion of said vehicle, said mounting bracket having a length that is less than said second distance, said mounting bracket being fixed to said rear floor portion of said vehicle at a mounting point between said first line and said second line, said cabinet being attachable to said mounting bracket and removable from said mounting bracket.
17. A vehicle mounted storage unit as defined in claim 12 wherein said cabinet comprises:
a first exterior cabinet wall portion;
a second exterior cabinet wall portion spaced from said first exterior cabinet wall portion in a direction parallel to said width of said cabinet;
a first interior cabinet wall portion parallel to said first exterior cabinet wall portion, said first interior cabinet wall portion being spaced from said first exterior cabinet wall portion in a direction parallel to said width of said cabinet;
and a second interior cabinet wall portion parallel to said second exterior cabinet wall portion, said second interior cabinet wall portion being spaced from said second exterior cabinet wall portion in a direction parallel to said width of said cabinet.
18. A vehicle mounted storage unit mounted to a rear floor portion of a vehicle having a vehicle sidewalk a wheel well having a portion which extends outwardly from a portion of said sidewall by a first distance in a first direction, and a rear vehicle door that is movable between a closed position and an open position, said rear vehicle door being spaced from a rear portion of said wheel well by a second distance in a second
19 direction perpendicular to said first direction and parallel to said vehicle sidewall, said vehicle mounted storage unit comprising:
a cabinet having a bottom portion mounted to said rear floor portion of said vehicle between a first lime coinciding with a rear portion of said wheel well and extending in said first direction and a second line extending in said first direction and coinciding with an interior portion of sand rear vehicle door when said rear vehicle door is in its closed position, no portion of said cabinet extending beyond a vertical plane coinciding with said interior portion of said rear door when said rear door is in its closed position, said cabinet not extending over said sidewall of said vehicle, said cabinet having a width, a length greater than said width and a depth, said cabinet comprising a first cabinet wall portion and a second cabinet wall portion spaced from said first cabinet wall portion in a direction parallel to said width of said cabinet;
at least one connecting member that attaches said cabinet to said rear floor portion of said vehicle at a mounting point between said first line and said second line;
a first drawer disposed in said cabinet, said first drawer being positioned within said cabinet between raid first cabinet wall portion and said second cabinet wall portion with no other drawer disposed between said first cabinet wall portion arid said first drawer and with no other drawer disposed between said second cabinet wall portion and said first drawer, said first drawer comprising:
a first drawer sidewall having a length that is less than said second distance, said first drawer sidewall of said first drawer having an exterior surface and an interior surface;
20 a second drawer sidewall having a length that is less than said second distance, said second drawer sidewall of said first drawer being parallel to said first drawer sidewall of said first drawer, and said second drawer sidewall of said first drawer having an exterior surface and an interior surface, and said interior surface of said first drawer sidewall of said first drawer facing said interior surface of said second drawer sidewall of said first drawer, said interior surface of said first drawer sidewall of said first drawer being spaced from said interior surface of said second drawer sidewall of said first drawer by a distance that is not greater than said first distance;
at least one first drawer support member that supports said first drawer, said first drawer support member supporting said first drawer so that said first drawer is movable in a direction parallel to said length of said cabinet between an open position and a closed position, a portion of said first drawer extending beyond said vertical plane when said first drawer is in its open position and when said rear door of said vehicle is in its open position;
a second drawer disposed in said cabinet, said second drawer being positioned within said cabinet between said first cabinet wall portion and said second cabinet wall portion with no other drawer disposed between said first cabinet wall portion and said second drawer and with no other drawer disposed between said second cabinet wall portion and said second drawer, said cabinet not having any drawer disposed therein that has a length greater than said second distance, said second drawer comprising:
a first drawer sidewall having a length that is less than said second distance, said first drawer sidewall of said second drawer having an exterior surface and an interior surface;
21 a second drawer sidewall having a length that is less than said second distance, said second drawer sidewall of said second drawer being parallel to said first drawer sidewall of said second drawer, and said second drawer sidewall of said second drawer having an exterior surface and an interior surface, and said interior surface of said first drawer sidewall of said second drawer facing said interior surface of said second drawer sidewall of said second drawer, said interior surface of said first drawer sidewall of said second drawer being spaced from said into surface of said second drawer sidewall of said second drawer by a distance that is no greater than said first distance;
and at least one second drawer support member that supports said second drawer, said second drawer support member supporting said second drawer so that said second drawer is movable in a direction parallel to said length of said cabinet between an open position and a closed position, a portion of said second drawer extending beyond said vertical plane when said second drawer is in its open position and when said rear door of said vehicle is in its open position.

19. A vehicle mounted storage unit as defined in claim 18 additionally comprising a retention member that is connectable to said cabinet, said retention member being movable between a first position in which said retention member prevents said first and second drawers from being opened and a second position in which said retention member does not prevent said first and second drawers from being opened.

20. A vehicle mounted storage unit as defined in claim 19 additionally comprising a lock associated with said retention member, said lock allowing said retention member to be locked in said first position in which said first and second drawers are
22 prevented from being opened.

21. A vehicle mounted storage unit as defined in claim 18 wherein said retention member comprises a door that is pivotally connected to said cabinet via a hinge.

22. A vehicle mounted storage unit as defined in claim 18 additionally comprising a mounting bracket fixed to said rear floor portion of said vehicle, said mounting bracket having a length that is less than said second distance, said mounting bracket being fixed to said rear floor portion of said vehicle at a mounting point between said first line and said second line, said cabinet being attachable to said mounting bracket and removable from said mounting bracket.
23. A vehicle mounted storage unit as defined in claim 18 wherein said cabinet comprises:
a first exterior cabinet wall portion;
a second exterior cabinet wall portion spaced from said first exterior cabinet wall portion in a direction parallel to said width of said cabinet;
a first interior cabinet wall portion parallel to said first exterior cabinet wall portion, said first interior cabinet wall portion being spaced from said first exterior cabinet wall portion in a direction parallel to said width of said cabinet;
and a second interior cabinet wall portion parallel to said second exterior cabinet wall portion, said second interior cabinet wall portion being spaced from said second exterior cabinet wall portion in a direction parallel to said width of said cabinet.
24. A storage unit sized to be capable of being mounted to a rear floor portion of a vehicle having a vehicle sidewall, a wheel well having a portion which extends outwardly from a portion of said sidewall by a first distance in a first direction, and a rear vehicle door that is movable between a closed position and an open position, said rear vehicle door being spaced from a rear portion of said wheel well by a second distance in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction and parallel to said vehicle sidewall, said storage unit comprising:
a cabinet having a bottom portion capable of being mounted to said rear floor portion of said vehicle between a first line coinciding with a rear portion of said wheel well and extending in said first direction and a second line extending in said first direction and coinciding with an interior portion of sad rear vehicle door if said rear vehicle door were in its closed position, said cabinet being shaped such that no portion of said cabinet would extend outside of a space bounded by a horizontal plane coinciding with said floor portion of said vehicle, a first vertical plane coinciding with said rear portion of said wheel well, and a second vertical plane coinciding with said interior portion of said rear door if said storage unit were mounted to said vehicle and if said rear door were in its closed position, and such that said cabinet would not extend over said sidewall of said vehicle if said storage unit were mounted to said vehicle, said cabinet having a width, a length greater than said width and a depth, said cabinet comprising:
a first exterior cabinet wall portion;
a second exterior cabinet wall portion spaced from said first exterior cabinet wall portion in a direction parallel to said width of said cabinet;
a first interior cabinet wall portion parallel to said first exterior cabinet wall portion, said first interior cabinet wall portion being spaced from said first exterior cabinet wall portion in a direction parallel to said width of said cabinet;
and a second interior cabinet wall portion parallel to said second exterior cabinet wall portion, said second interior cabinet wall portion being spaced from said second exterior cabinet wall portion in a direction parallel to said width of said cabinet;
a first drawer disposed in said cabinet, said first drawer being positioned within said cabinet between said first interior cabinet wall portion and said second interior cabinet wall portion with no other drawer disposed between said first interior cabinet wall portion and said first drawer and wall no other drawer disposed between said second interior cabinet wall portion and said first drawer, said first drawer comprising:
a first drawer sidewall hang a length that is less than said second distance, said first drawer sidewall of said first drawer having an exterior surface and an interior surface;
a second drawer sidewall having a length that is less than said second distance, said second drawer sidewall of said first drawer being parallel to said first drawer sidewall of said first drawer, and said second drawer sidewall of said first drawer having an exterior surface and an interior surface, and said interior surface of said first drawer sidewall of said first drawer facing said interior surface of said second drawer sidewall of said first drawer, said interior surface of said first drawer sidewall of said first drawer being spaced from said interior surface of said second drawer sidewall of said first drawer by a distance that is not greater than said first distance;
25 at least one first drawer support member that supports said first drawer, said first drawer support member supporting said first drawer so that said first drawer is movable in a direction parallel to said length of said cabinet between an open position and a closed position, said first drawer support member supporting said first drawer so that a portion of said first drawer would extend beyond said second vertical plane and outside of said space if said storage unit were mounted to said vehicle, if said first drawer were in its open position, and if said rear door of said vehicle were in its open position;
a second drawer disposed in said cabinet, said second drawer being positioned within said cabinet between said first interior cabinet wall portion and said second interior cabinet wall portion with no other drawer disposed between said first interior cabinet wall portion and said second drawer and with no other drawer disposed between said second interior cabinet wall portion and said second drawer, said cabinet not having any drawer disposed therein that has a length greater than said second distance, said second drawer comprising:
a first drawer sidewall having a length that is less than said second distance, said first drawer sidewall of said second drawer having an exterior surface and an interior surface;
a second drawer sidewall having a length that is less than said second distance, said second drawer sidewall of said second drawer being parallel to said first drawer sidewall of said second drawer, and said second drawer sidewall of said second drawer having an exterior surface and are interior surface, and said interior surface of said first drawer sidewall of said second drawer facing said interior surface of said second drawer sidewall of said second drawer, said interior surface of said
26 first drawer sidewall of said second drawer being spaced from said interior surface of said second drawer sidewall of said second drawer by a distance that is not greater than said first distance; and at least one second drawer support member that supports said second drawer, said second drawer support member supporting said second drawer so that said second drawer is movable in a direction parallel to said length of said cabinet between an open position and a closed position, said second drawer support member supporting said second drawer so that a portion of said second drawer would extend beyond said second vertical plane and outside of said space if said storage unit were mounted to said vehicle, if said second drawer were in its open position, and if said rear door of said vehicle were in its open position.
25. A storage unit as defined in claim 24 additionally comprising a retention member that is connectable to said cabinet, said retention member being movable between a first position in which said retention member prevents said first and second drawers from being opened and a second position in which said retention member does not prevent said first and second drawers from being opened.
26. A storage unit as defined in claim 25 additionally comprising a lock associated with said retention member, said lock allowing said retention member to be locked in said first position in which said first and second drawers are prevented from being opened.
27. A storage unit as defined in claim 24 additionally comprising a mounting bracket that is capable of being fixed to said rear floor portion of said vehicle, said mounting bracket having a length that is less than said second distance, said cabinet being attachable to said mounting bracket and removable from said mounting bracket.
28. A storage unit sized to be capable of being mounted to a rear floor portion of a vehicle having a vehicle sidewall, a wheel well having a portion which extends outwardly from a portion of said sidewall by a first distance in a first direction, and a rear vehicle door that is movable between a closed position and an open position, said tear vehicle door being spaced from a rear portion of said wheel well by a second distance in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction and parallel to said vehicle sidewall, said storage unit comprising:
a cabinet having a bottom portion that is capable of being mounted to said rear floor portion of said vehicle between a first line coinciding with a rear portion of said wheel well and a second line coinciding with an interior portion of said rear vehicle door if said rear vehicle door were in its closed position, said cabinet being shaped so that no portion of said cabinet would extend beyond a vertical plane coinciding with said interior portion of said rear door if said storage unit were mounted to said vehicle and if said rear door were in its closed position and so that said cabinet would not extend over said sidewall of said vehicle it said storage unit were mounted to said vehicle, said cabinet having a width, a length greater than said width and a depth, said cabinet comprising a first cabinet wall portion and a second cabinet wall portion spaced from said first cabinet wall portion in a direction parallel to said width of said cabinet;
a first drawer disposed in said cabinet, said first drawer being positioned within said cabinet between said first cabinet wall portion and said second cabinet wall portion with no other drawer disposed between said first cabinet wall portion and said first drawer and with no other drawer disposed between said second cabinet wall portion and said first drawer, said first drawer comprising:

a first drawer sidewall having a length that is less than said second distance, said first drawer sidewall of said first drawer having an exterior surface and an interior surface;
a second drawer sidewall having a length that is less than said second distance, said second drawer sidewall of said first drawer being parallel to said first drawer sidewall of said first drawer, and said second drawer sidewall of said first drawer having an exterior surface and an interior surface, and said interior surface of said first drawer sidewall of said first drawer facing said interior surface of said second drawer sidewall of said first drawer, said interior surface of said first drawer sidewall of said first drawer being spaced from said interior surface of said second drawer sidewall of said first drawer by a distance that is not greater than said first distance;
at least one first drawer support member that supports said first drawer, said first drawer support member supporting said first drawer so that said first drawer is movable in a direction parallel to said length of said cabinet between an open position and a closed position, said first drawer support member supporting said first drawer so that a portion of said first drawer would extend beyond said vertical plane and outside of said space if said storage unit were mounted to said vehicle, if said first drawer were in its open position, and if said rear door of said vehicle were in its open position;
a second drawer disposed in said cabinet, said second drawer being positioned within said cabinet between said first cabinet wall portion and said second cabinet wall portion with no other drawer disposed between said first cabinet wall portion and said second drawer and with no other drawer disposed between said second cabinet wall portion and said second drawer, said second
29 drawer comprising:
a first drawer sidewall having a length that is less than said second distance, said first drawer sidewall of said second drawer having an exterior surface and an interior surface;
a second drawer sidewall having a length that is less than said second distance, said second drawer sidewall of said second drawer being parallel to said first drawer sidewall of said second drawer, and said second drawer sidewall of said second drawer having an exterior surface and an interior surface, and said interior surface of said first drawer sidewall of said second drawer facing said interior surface of said second drawer sidewall of said second drawer, said interior surface of said first drawer sidewall of said second drawer being spaced from said interior surface of said second drawer sidewall of said second drawer by a distance that is not greater than said first distance; and at least one second drawer support member that supports said second drawer, said second drawer support member supporting said second drawer so that said second drawer is movable in a direction parallel to said length of said cabinet between an open position and a closed position, said second drawer support member supporting said second drawer so that a portion of said second drawer would extend beyond said vertical plane and outside of said space if said storage unit were mounted to said vehicle, if said second drawer were in its open position, and if said rear door of said vehicle were in its open position.
29. A storage unit as defined in claim 28 additionally comprising a retention member that is connectable to said cabinet, said retention member being movable between a first position in which said retention member prevents said first and second drawers from
30 being opened and a second position in which said retention member does not prevent said first and second drawers from being opened.
30. A storage unit as defined in claim 29 additionally comprising a lock associated with said retention member, said lock allowing said retention member to be locked in said first position in which said first and second drawers are prevented from being opened.
31. A storage unit as defined in claim 28 wherein said retention member comprises a door that is pivotally connected to said cabinet via a hinge.
32. A storage unit as defined in claim 28 additionally comprising a mounting bracket that is capable of being fixed to said rear floor portion of said vehicle, said mounting bracket having a length that is less than said second distance, said cabinet being attachable to said mounting bracket and removable from said mounting bracket.
33. A storage unit as defined in claim 28 wherein said cabinet comprises:
a first exterior cabinet wall portion;
a second exterior cabinet wall portion spaced from said first exterior cabinet wall portion in a direction parallel to said width of said cabinet;
a first interior cabinet wall portion parallel to said first exterior cabinet wall portion, said first interior cabinet wall portion being spaced from said first exterior cabinet wall portion in a direction parallel to said width of said cabinet;
and a second interior cabinet wall portion parallel to said second exterior cabinet wall portion, said second interior cabinet wall portion being spaced from said second exterior cabinet wall portion in a direction parallel to said width of said cabinet.
34. A storage unit sized to be capable of being mounted to a rear floor portion of a vehicle having a vehicle sidewall, a wheel well having a portion which extends outwardly from a portion of said sidewall by a first distance in a first direction, and a rear vehicle door that is movable between a closed position and an open position, said rear vehicle door being spaced from a rear portion of said wheel well by a second distance in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction and parallel to said vehicle sidewall, said storage unit comprising:
a cabinet having a bottom portion that is capable of being mounted to said rear floor portion of said vehicle between a first line coinciding with a rear portion of said wheel well and a second line coinciding with an interior portion of said rear vehicle door when said rear vehicle door is in its closed position, said cabinet being shaped so that no portion of said cabinet would extend beyond a vertical plane coinciding with said interior portion of said rear door if said storage unit were mounted to said vehicle and if said rear door were in its closed position, and so that said cabinet would not extend over said sidewall of said vehicle if said storage unit were mounted to said vehicle, said cabinet having a width, a length greater than said width and a depth, said cabinet comprising a first cabinet wall portion and a second cabinet wall portion spaced from said first cabinet wall portion in a direction parallel to said width of said cabinet;
a first drawer disposed in said cabinet, said first drawer being positioned within said cabinet between said first cabinet wall portion and said second cabinet wall portion with no other drawer disposed between said first cabinet wall portion and said first drawer and with no other drawer disposed between said second cabinet wall portion and said first drawer, said first drawer comprising:
a first drawer sidewall having a length that is less than said second distance, said first drawer sidewall of said first drawer having an exterior surface and an interior surface;
a second drawer sidewall having a length that is less than said second distance, said second drawer sidewall of said first drawer being parallel to said first drawer sidewall of said first drawer, and said second drawer sidewall of said first drawer having an exterior surface and an interior surface, and said interior surface of said first drawer sidewall of said first drawer facing said interior surface of said second drawer sidewall of said first drawer, said interior surface of said first drawer sidewall of said first drawer being spaced from said interior surface of said second drawer sidewall of said first drawer by a distance that is not greater than said first distance;
at least one first drawer support member that support said first drawer, said first drawer supporter supporting said first drawer so that said first drawer is movable in a direction parallel to said length of said cabinet between an open position and a closed position, said first drawer support member supporting said first drawer so that a portion of said first drawer would extend beyond said vertical plane if said storage unit were mounted to said vehicle, if said first drawer were in its open position, and if said rear door of said vehicle were in its open position;
a second drawer disposed in said cabinet, said second drawer being positioned within said cabinet between said first cabinet wall portion and said second cabinet wall portion with no other drawer disposed between said first cabinet wall portion and said second drawer and with no other drawer disposed between said second cabinet wall portion and said second drawer, said cabinet not having any drawer disposed therein that has a length greater than said second distance, said second drawer comprising:

a first drawer sidewall having a length that is less than said second distance, said f first drawer sidewall of said second drawer having an exterior surface and an interior surface;

a second drawer sidewall having a length that is less than said second distance, said second drawer sidewall of said second drawer being parallel to said first drawer sidewall of said second drawer, and said second drawer sidewall of said second drawer having an exterior surface and an interior surface, and said interior surface of said first drawer sidewall of said second drawer facing said interior surface of said second drawer sidewall of said second drawer, said interior surface of said first drawer sidewall of said second drawer being spaced from said interior surface of said second drawer sidewall of said second drawer by a distance that is not greater than said first distance;

at least one second drawer support member that supports said second drawer, said second drawer support member supporting said second drawer so that said second drawer is movable in a direction parallel to said length of said cabinet between an open position and a closed position, said second drawer support member support said second drawer so that a portion of said second drawer would extend beyond said vertical plane if said storage unit were mounted to said vehicle, if said second drawer were in its open position, and if said rear door of said vehicle were in its open position; and a mounting bracket associated with said cabinet, said mounting bracket being capable of being fixed to said rear floor portion of said vehicle, said mounting bracket having a length that is less than said second distance, said cabinet being attachable to said mounting bracket and removable from said mounting bracket.
35. A storage unit as defined in claim 34 additionally comprising a retention member that is connectable to said cabinet, said retention member being movable between a first position in which said retention member prevents said first and second drawers from being opened and a second position in which said retention member does not prevent said first and second drawers from being opened.
36. A storage unit as defined in claim 35 additionally comprising a lock associated with said retention member, said lock allowing said retention member to be locked in said first position in which said first and second drawers are prevented from being opened.
37. A storage unit as defined in claim 34 wherein said retention member comprises a door that is pivotally connected to said cabinet via a hinge.
38. A storage unit as defined in claim 34 wherein said cabinet comprises:

a first exterior cabinet wall portion;
a second exterior cabinet wall portion spaced from said first exterior cabinet wall portion in a direction parallel to said width of said cabinet;

a first interior cabinet wall portion parallel to said first exterior cabinet wall portion, said first interior cabinet wall portion being spaced from said first exterior cabinet wall portion in a direction parallel to said width of said cabinet;
and a second interior cabinet wall portion parallel to said second exterior cabinet wall portion, said second interior cabinet wall portion being spaced from said second exterior cabinet wall portion in a direction parallel to said width of said cabinet.
CA002167256A 1996-01-15 1996-01-15 Vehicle mounted storage unit Expired - Lifetime CA2167256C (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA002167256A CA2167256C (en) 1996-01-15 1996-01-15 Vehicle mounted storage unit

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA002167256A CA2167256C (en) 1996-01-15 1996-01-15 Vehicle mounted storage unit

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CA2167256A1 CA2167256A1 (en) 1997-07-16
CA2167256C true CA2167256C (en) 2004-03-16

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
USD817045S1 (en) 2014-05-21 2018-05-08 Newage Products, Inc. Cabinet
USD830740S1 (en) 2017-01-18 2018-10-16 Newage Products, Inc. Cabinet

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